The present invention refers to an apparatus for packaging products in punnets.

More specifically, the present invention refers to an apparatus for packaging products typically, but not exclusively, for alimentary use for instance vegetables and/or fruits arranged in a basket (typically referred to as punnet) closed by means of a net made of a plastic material, non-woven fabric or the like, or even wrapped-up by another material having a tubular shape likewise suitable for this purpose and also provided with an identifying label to identify the product contained in said punnet .

It is known that alimentary products like vegetables and fruits can be packaged in different ways, for instance by means of an envelope internally to a net which is subsequently closed (by means of a welding or metal clips or another known way) or put inside punnets wrapped-up by a net which, after winding said punnet, is closed in correspondence with its opposite ends.

A label is secured to one of said two opposite ends, on which product identification information is printed, including for instance the manufacturer's logo, the name and type of the product, its packaging and use-by or best- before dates, etc.; this type of label is typically referred to as "flag label" or is otherwise known as "wine glass " .

According to other packaging modes, the label can be integrated in a band, made of a plastic or paper material or a material otherwise known and suitable for this purpose and possibly shaped, secured to the tubular net that wraps up the product in correspondence with the opposite ends of said net .

The band so arranged with respect to the net that wraps up the loose vegetables and fruits product or the punnet that contains said product performs a twofold function, i.e. defining a medium for the product information (printed on said band) and, simultaneously, making-up a gripping and carrying means that is stable and safe for users.

Such shaped band can be welded to the net that wraps up the product or be glued or even be secured to said net by means of clips or others elements or by using different closing techniques that fasten its opposite ends.

However, especially when packing vegetables and fruits products arranged in a punnet, the positioning of said band is affected by a number of substantial drawbacks related to its correct centering with respect to the punnet and to its correct fastening with respect to the opposite ends of the tubular net that wraps up the punnet itself.

W02012 / 076195 , for instance, makes reference to an apparatus for packaging vegetables and fruits products that, besides wrapping up a punnet in a net closed at its two opposite ends, is also used to arrange a longitudinal band made of a thermoplastic material defining a longitudinal label; however, such document does not solve the problems related to a correct and optimum centering and positioning of such longitudinal band with respect to the punnet, account being taken of the fact that the tubular net in which the punnet is wound is closed at its ends and the longitudinal band is fastened to the opposite ends of said tubular net while the punnet is moving.

An object of the present invention is to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for packaging products in punnets suitable for allowing a correct and optimum positioning and centering of the band defining the label with respect to the punnet .

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for packaging punnets wrapped-up by a tubular material (for instance a tubular net or another cut-work tubular element or a plastic tubular film) that is suitable for reducing the number of rejections and, consequently, increasing the production quality.

A further object of the present invention is to put at users' disposal an apparatus for packaging vegetables and fruits products suitable for guaranteeing a high strength and reliability over time and also such as to be implemented in an easy and economical way.

These and others objects are achieved by the invention featuring the characteristics according to claim 1.

According to the invention, an apparatus is provided for packaging products in punnets containing products, comprising a lower base for supporting workstations arranged in-line and comprising a loading station suitable for moving punnets containing products, an internally hollow tubular element, longitudinally developed according to a horizontal axis, provided with an internal pusher for said punnets and on the outer lateral surface of which a tubular material is put suitable for wrapping up the punnets that go through said tubular element, a labeling station suitable for feeding bands defining a label to be applied onto said punnets wrapped-up by said tubular material, a further labeling station (26), and a closing station provided with a closing and cutting head suitable for implementing a closing and a simultaneous cutting or shearing of said tubular material and, additionally, a punnet-stopping device cooperating with said closing and cutting head and provided with means suitable for implementing a timed stop of said punnet wrapped-up by the tubular material.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims.

The mechanical and functional characteristics of the apparatus for packaging typically, but not exclusively, vegetables and fruits products according to the present invention might be better understood from the following detailed description wherein reference is made to the attached drawing tables which represent a preferred but not limitative embodiment thereof and wherein:

figure 1 schematically shows a front view of an apparatus for packaging products in punnets according to the invention;

figure 2 schematically shows an axonometric view of a workstation of the packaging apparatus according to the invention;

figure 3 schematically shows a bottom view of the workstation of figure 2;

figure 4 schematically shows a front view of said workstation including a punnet filled with products;

figure 5 shows a side view of said workstation;

figure 6 schematically shows a top view of a punnet packaged and labeled by using a packaging apparatus according to the invention.

With reference to the mentioned figures, the apparatus for packaging products in punnets according to the present invention, identified by the reference numeral 10 as a whole, comprises a lower support base 12 suitable for accommodating means for driving, moving, and controlling a plurality of stations arranged in-line to perform sequential operations on punnets 14 containing typically vegetables and fruits products 15.

Said punnets 14 are typically made of a plastic material for instance polypropylene or the like.

Such punnets 14 are fed and filled with products 15 manually or in an automated manner in workstations arranged upstream of the mentioned packaging apparatus 10 (said workstations arranged upstream of said loading station are not shown in the figures and are not described here because they are well known) and, more specifically, upstream of the first workstation and specifically a loading station 16 comprising a conveyor belt (not shown in the figure) driven by a motor 17 secured to the base 12 and suitable for moving the punnets 14 containing the products in the direction of the workstations downstream.

The punnets 14 filled with the product 15, moved by the conveyor belt, pass through an internally hollow tubular element 18 secured to the base 12, longitudinally developing according to a horizontal axis and on the outer lateral surface of which there is put a tubular material consisting, for instance, of a tubular net 20 made of a plastic material, for instance polypropylene or the like or of another tubular material suitable for this purpose.

The function of said tubular net 20 is, as detailed below, that of wrapping up the punnet 14 filled with the products 15 that is pushed out of the tubular element 18 by a pusher internal to said tubular element (not shown) and is moved towards a closing station 22 downstream suitable for performing a closing of the stapling or clipping or welding type or another similar way to close the opposite ends of said tubular net in correspondence with opposite faces of said punnets 14. In correspondence with said closing station 22 and before closing the tubular material 20, on the assembly consisting of the punnet 14 filled with the products 15 a band 24 (shown in figure 6) is also placed which, as described in details below, makes-up a product identification label and simultaneously a handle for manually lifting and carrying said punnet .

Such band 24, as schematically shown in figure 6, comprises a central portion 50, from each of the opposite ends of which a longitudinally extending narrow portion 52 develops; the central portion 50 features a width greater than that of the narrow portions 52, can have different shapes as a function of the specific graphical representation requirements, and defines a surface on which there are printed logos, graphical drawings, captions, and similar graphical elements related to the product contained in the punnet .

The bands 24 are fed by way of a labeling station 30 placed upstream of the closing station 22 and comprising a reel 33 on which there is wound a roll of bands 24 and a printer 35 suitable for printing said bands 24.

A further labeling station 26, placed upstream of the closing station 22 and comprising a head 27 equipped with a reel 28 on which there is wound a roll of flag labels or "wine glasses" (not shown in the figures) to be applied onto the tubular material 20 that wraps up the punnet 14 (such labels are suitable for being fastened to one of the ends of the tubular material 20 that wraps up the punnet 14 with the products 15) in addition or as an alternative to the band 24 according to what detailed below.

The printer 29 might even be used to print the bands 24; this as a function of the type of information and graphical elements to be printed on the band 24 (thermal printing or another type of printing) .

In the preferred embodiment according to the figures, the closing station is suitable for closing the opposite ends of that portion of the tubular net which wraps up the punnet 14 and simultaneously it shall also fasten the opposite ends of the narrow portions 52 of the band 24 (and/or of the flag label) to said opposite ends of the tubular net portion 20.

The closing station 22 comprises a closing and cutting head 34 and a punnet-stopping device 36.

The closing and cutting head 34, which is not described here in detail because already known, comprises a so-called "scissors" system comprising an upper head 34' and a lower counter-arm 34 ' ' opposite to each other and aligned according to a vertical plane, said upper head 34' and counter-arm 34 ' ' being moved in such a way as to reciprocally get closer/move away, in order to implement the closing of the opposite ends of that portion of the tubular net 20 which wraps up the punnet 14, the simultaneous fastening of the band 24, and the cutting of the net tubular portion and of the shaped band secured thereto in correspondence with the closing point, said closing and fastening operations being implemented by way of clips or gluing, welding, or similar closing ways in correspondence with said closing station 22.

In another alternative embodiment, the upper head 34' is fixed whereas the counter-arm 34 ' ' is movable so as to get closer to/move away in the direction of said upper head. In a further alternative embodiment, the counter-arm 34' ' is fixed whereas the upper head 34 ' is movable so as to get closer/moved away in the direction of said counter-arm. Downstream of the closing and cutting station 34 there is placed a punnet-stopping device 36 schematically shown in details in figures 2 thru 5.

The punnet-stopping device 36 is fastened to the base 12 and comprises a pair of opposite shoulders 38 transversally to which there are rotatably arranged (in an idle mode) a plurality of parallel rollers 40 the function of which is to make it possible for the punnets 14 containing the products 15 to slide in the direction of the unloading zone after the tubular material 20 is closed, the band 24 is simultaneously applied and said closed tubular material is cut .

According to an alternative embodiment, the rollers 40 might be replaced by a band conveyor belt or by another known type of conveyor.

In a further alternative embodiment, the rollers 40 might be replaced by an assembly consisting of rollers of the type 40 and a portion of conveyor belt; this in order for the packaged products to be unloaded rapidly.

The punnet-stopping device 36 is secured to the base 12 so as to define an inclined plane sloping down from the closing station 22 in the direction of the unloading section of the apparatus 10 so as to make it easier for the punnets 14 filled with the products 15, wrapped up by the tubular material portion 20 closed at its opposite ends and provided with the band 24, to go down.

A pair of opposite and parallel vertical plates 42 is secured to the opposite shoulders 38 to define a punnet containment element.

The opposite shoulders 38 also support means suitable for implementing a timed stop of the punnet 14 wrapped up by the tubular net 20 during the closing step. More specifically, said timed stopping means comprise a gripping device which comprises a pair of opposite and parallel levers or arms 54, each of which is hinged at an end with respect to the shoulders 38 and at the opposite ends of each of said levers or arms 54 which supports, by way of a further hinge constraint, a plate-like valve or jaw 56 provided, on the surface opposite to the connection one with respect to the lever or arm 54, with a pad 58 made of rubber or by another suitable material whose function will be apparent from the following description.

Each of the valves or jaws 56, hinged with respect to each individual lever or arm 54 as described above, can pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the forward direction of the punnets.

The levers or arms 54 supporting said valves or jaws 56 can also rotate about the end hinged to the shoulders 38 so as to reciprocally get closer and move away via a pair of actuators 60, typically consisting of pneumatic cylinders, arranged below the rollers 40 or equivalent sliding means, every actuator being secured at one end to a shoulder 38, and one end of the retractable stem, opposite to that secured to the shoulder 38, being secured to the end of each individual lever or arm 54 hinged to the shoulders 38. Above the punnet-stopping device 36 and in correspondence with the temporary stopping means there is arranged a roller 61, preferably of a brush type, having an axis of rotation arranged transversally to the forward direction of the punnets 14 and driven into rotation by an electric motor not shown in the figure.

The apparatus 10 according to the invention is also provided with a control panel (not shown in the figures) which defines an operator interface to a control unit (also not shown) and enables the operator to display and set the manufacturing steps, monitor the work cycle, modify the operating parameters (forward speed of the punnets, feeding speed of the labels, characteristics of the electronic cams, if any, used to synchronize the movements of the individual workstations, etc.) .

The apparatus according to the invention also comprises product presence sensors, meters, and the like suitable for acquiring the data of the manufacturing cycle that is sent to the control unit to enable the operator to adjust and modify the manufacturing cycle.

The operation of the apparatus for packaging products in punnets according to the present invention, as described in details above with reference to its own components parts, is described below.

The punnets 14 containing the products 15 and fed in the loading station 16 are moved in the direction of the tubular element 18 which is provided outside with the tubular material 20.

Said punnets go through the tubular element 18, the tubular material 20 wrapping up said punnets leaving the tubular element 18.

It is worth noting that, upon apparatus started-up, the end of the tubular material opposite to the end of the punnets 14 in correspondence with which the latter are input to the tubular element 18 is fastened by way of a closing element (clip, welding, etc.); such operation is performed upon apparatus start-up to prevent the first punnet moved from getting out of the tubular material that wraps up it.

During this previous operating step whereby the end of the tubular material 20 is closed, an end of the band 24 is secured to said end of said tubular material; the end is closed by way of the closing and cutting head 34 of the closing station 22. The punnet 14, pushed into the tubular material 20 by way of the pusher element of the tubular element 18, still by way of the mentioned pusher element, is moved in the direction of the closing station 22 where the upper cutting head 34' and the counter-arm 34'' get closer and close the end of the tubular material 20 opposite to that already closed and simultaneously cut said tubular material just upstream of the closed portion.

More specifically, the cutting head and the counter-arm of the closing station 22, in their reciprocal movement (or, alternatively, the moving head moving in the direction of the fixed one or vice versa) aiming at fastening and cutting the tubular material and closing it at its ends, perform a cutting of the tubular material that wraps up a punnet that is already closed and held stopped by the punnet-stopping device, one of the ends of said tubular material that wraps up the incoming or next punnet being already closed.

While the punnet moves in the tubular material 20, said punnet is moved towards the punnet-stopping device 36 where the opposite levers or arms 54 operated by way of the actuators 60 one towards the other hold the punnet 14 stopped during the closing and cutting step operated by the closing and cutting head 34.

While the punnet 14 moves in the tubular material 20 and in the direction of the closing station 22, the band 24 coming from the labeling station 30 and provided with an end previously secured to the tubular material in correspondence with the end of said tubular material 20, is applied to and laid down on the tubular material that wraps up the punnet, the narrow portion 52 opposite to that secured to the closed end of the tubular material 20 facing that end of the tubular material 20 which is open and the central portion 50 of said and the same band 24 being arranged centrally with respect to the punnet.

The roller 61, arranged above with respect to the punnet, makes the laying down of the band onto the tubular material 20 that wraps up the punnet easier and simultaneously guarantees the centering of said band with respect to the width dimension of the punnet; such roller also makes it easier for the closed punnet to go out in the direction of the unloading station. As a matter of fact, whenever the punnet is in correspondence with the fastening device, the roller 61 comes down with a movement synchronized to that of the closing and cutting head to get in contact with the upper part of the punnet, this way making it easier a centered laying down of the band 24 and, owing to the fact that said roller 61 is motor driven, facilitating and accompanying the punnet while leaving the fastening device. After the closing station 22 closes the open end of the tubular material 20 and secures the narrow portion 52 to said end, the levers or arms 54 move away from each other thus allowing the punnet, wrapped and closed in the tubular material, to move down in the direction of the unloading station, thanks to the inclined-plane configuration of the punnet-stopping device 36. This way, the punnet-stopping device 36 is ready to receive a forthcoming punnet.

According to the previous description, the advantages achieved by using the packaging apparatus according to the invention are apparent.

The apparatus for packaging products in punnets according to the present invention advantageously makes it possible to package typically, but not exclusively, vegetables and fruits products, said products being put in a punnet wrapped by a tubular material closed at its opposite ends and provided with a band secured to said ends of the tubular material, centered in an accurate and optimum manner with respect to said punnet and defining a label and simultaneously a handle suitable for easily gripping and carrying said punnet.

A further advantage consists in that the apparatus according to the invention, thanks to the presence of a punnet-stopping device which implements a timed-stop of the punnet wrapped up by the tubular material while said material is being closed and the label-defining band is secured, makes it possible to perform the operations whereby the tubular material is closed and the band is applied in an accurate and optimum manner, while reducing the number of rejections and consequently increasing the production values.

Even though the invention has been described above with a special reference to one embodiment thereof which is given for explanatory non limitative purposes only, numerous modifications and variants will be apparent to those skilled in this sector in the light of the above description. Therefore, the present invention is construed to embrace any modifications and variants that fall in the scope of the following claims.