Machine for composite package, packaging method and winding means

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the sector concerning the packaging and the packages preparation and refers to a machine for package comprising a base, for example a pallet, and a load, such as a set of packages or boxes, and able, for example, to wind by means of film or extensible film also the upper and lower faces of the packages that constitute the load of a pallet, a flat stillage or similar and possibly to replace such pallets, flat stillage with another type ones or with the support means. The present invention also refers to a packing method and to a winding means.

Background Art

[0002] The pallets, racks or flat stillage, for example according U.S. standards

(800mm x 1200mm), EPAL (1000mm x 1200mm), Grocery Manufacturers' Association (GMA) and CHEP, 10 are assigned to be loaded with packages, packaging materials or products in order to facilitate their handling or storing. These pallets with their loads are composite package indicated as "tertiary packaging" or "palletized packing". Often four sides of the composite package are wrapped by "stretch film".

[0003] The pallets of various sizes and standards, may be realized in different quality, material and costs and is often appropriate to transfer the load from one pallet to another, for example to replace a robust and expensive transport pallet with a cheaper storage pallet or to replace a pallet possible vector of contamination with a clean one.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to propose a machine for composite package able to wrap with the stretch film the upper, lower and two interposed lateral faces only of the load of the composite package without that the film wraps also the pallet.

[0005] Further object is to propose a machine able to operate with pallets of

almost any type, even with the smooth upper supporting floor and free of grooves and to separate from these pallets their loads to wrap also their upper and lower faces. [0006] Another object is to propose a machine able to maintain the original pallet or to replace it with a different one or with support means.

[0007] Further object of the present invention is to propose a method to wrap in packaging film also the horizontal faces of the composite package load and able to operate virtually with any type of pallets, even with the smooth upper supporting floor and free of grooves.

[0008] Another object is to propose a winding means able to wrap with film also horizontal portions, namely the upper and lower faces, of a load or a package or packaging.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0009] The characteristics of the invention are highlighted in the following with particular reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Fig. 1 shows an axonometric view of the machine for composite

package, object of the present invention, in an initial operating state wherein a first entry translating means brings a composite package comprising a pallet and its load in boxes and whose side faces are already wrapped with stretch film and wherein a feeding translating means, coplanar and orthogonally oriented with respect to the first has a template means which houses a plurality of support means;

- Fig. 2 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state wherein the composite package has been moved from the first entry means to a central travelling-lifting means in a lowered state in which is coplanar to the first entry translating means;

- Fig. 3 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state wherein the composite package has been lifted by the central travelling-lifting means in a lifted state at a predetermined height;

- Fig. 4 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state in which a plurality of rod means have been shifted horizontally and inserted in grooves formed in the load face of the pallet, below the load composite package;

- Fig. 5 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state in which the travelling-lifting means lowered the pallet while the rod means maintain lifted the load; - Fig. 6 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state wherein the travelling-lifting means moved the pallet onto a second translating means while the feeding translating means moves the template means on the travelling-lifting means and gluing means applies an adhesive material on the upper faces of the support means and the rod means maintain lifted the load;

- Fig. 7 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state wherein a winding means applies a stretchable film to four faces, whose an upper and a lower ones, the load kept lifted by the rod means;

- Fig. 8 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state in which the travelling-lifting means lifts the template means bringing the upper faces, bearing the adhesive material, the support means in contact with the stretchable film that covers the lower face of the load causing the mutual adherence;

- Fig. 9 shows an axonometric view of the machine in an operating state in which the travelling-lifting means has lowered the empty template means by sending it over the second entry carrier means and the winding means applies the stretchable film above the support means applied to the lower face of the load and above other three sides of the load including the upper one;

- Figs 10 and 1 1 show isometric views of the machine in operating

states wherein the travelling-lifting means is lifted matching the support means and the rod means are shifted in backward direction

disengaging from the load supported by support means supported by the travelling-lifting means;

- Figs 12 and 13 show isometric views of the machine in operating

states wherein the travelling-lifting means lowers the composite package based on the support means and completely wrapped by the film and moves such a composite package on a third translating means exit from which it is derived;

- Fig. 14 shows an isometric view of the drive means and the respective rod means of Fig. 1 ; - Fig. 15 shows an axonometric view of a variant of the rod means of Fig. 14;

- Fig. 16 shows an isometric view of a variant of the machine of Fig. 1 ;

- Figs. 17 to 20 show isometric and projected views of a drive means for rod means and of two side pressing means of Fig. 16 wherein said drive means and side pressing means, which are separated and reciprocally movable, are in a state of mutual proximity.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] With reference to Figs. 1 to 14, the number 1 indicates the machine for composite package, object of the present invention, assigned in its operating state to receive a composite package C comprising a pallet B, for example of EURO, EPAL or similar type and provided with a plurality of upper parallel and coplanar grooves G, and an overlying load S for example consisting of boxes, containers or products and whose side faces are already wrapped in packaging material, such as films or stretch film, while the faces of the upper and lower load C, lying on the pallet, are free of that winding.

[001 1] In the following directions, lines, heights or quotas, are referred to the

machine 1 in the operating state.

[0012] The machine 1 for composite packages comprises an entry first carrier means 3 nearly horizontal and oriented in a first carrying direction D1 defined by the direction of the motion of its moving elements preferably consisting of chains or motorized belts.

[0013] The first carrier means 3 is assigned to receive, both to support and to carry, by one of its entries to an exit thereof in said first carrying direction, said composite package C whose pallet B is supported by its chains or belts. In this way, the first carrier means 3 transfers the composite package C, received as entry, to a travelling-lifting means 5 of the machine 1 , located at the exit of the first carrier means 3 and which receives this package.

[0014] The travelling-lifting means 5 comprising a first translating means 7 is

assigned to receive, support and move in the first carrying direction the package, i.e. the pallet B and the overlying load S. [0015] The travelling-lifting means 5 also includes lifting means 9 assigned to move vertically the first translating means 7, the pallet B and load S between the three states at different heights or units.

[0016] In particular the lifting means 9 places the first translating means 7, the pallet B and the load S in a first lowered state, shown in Fig. 2, in which first translating means 7 is aligned to the first carrying direction, and in a lifted state, shown for example in Fig. 3, wherein the grooves of the pallet B are at a certain predetermined height.

[0017] The travelling-lifting means 5 is also equipped with a third element

consisting of a second translating means 21 having a second carrying direction D2 virtually horizontal and inclined, preferably 90°, with respect to the first carrying direction.

[0018] The above mentioned lifting means 9 is also assigned to put the first

translating means 7 to a third height that corresponds to a second lowered state, lower than the first and shown in Figs. 5 to 7, and wherein first translating means 7 is lower than the second translating means 21 such as to allow the first translating means 7 itself to deposit a pallet B on the second translating means 21.

[0019] In said second lowered state the second translating means 21 can transfer the pallet that has been transferred from the first translating means 7 to a second carrier means 23 adjacent to a travelling-lifting means 5 side.

[0020] The second carrier means 23 is coplanar and aligned to the second

carrying direction for receiving and removing from the second translating means 21 of the means of travelling-lifting means 5.

[0021] The machine 1 is also equipped with a drive means 13 having a plurality of rod means 15 parallel to the second carrying direction and kept by the drive means 13 at a height or altitude equal to the predetermined height of the grooves of the pallet B in the lifted state.

[0022] The composite package is placed on the first carrier means 3 with an

orientation such that the grooves G of the respective pallet B are orthogonal to the first carrying direction and, especially, parallel to the second carrying direction and to the rod means 15; then when composite package is in the lifted state, each rod means 15 is aligned with a corresponding groove G of the pallet.

[0023] The drive means 13 is assigned to move the rod means 15 parallel to

themselves between a state of total disengagement and a state of engagement in the grooves G of the upper pallet, underlying the load S.

[0024] The rod means 15 consist of a plurality of elongated elements having a length equal or greater than the grooves G one and square or rectangular cross sections inscribed in the corresponding sections of the grooves where each groove corresponds to one of those elements which are mutually arranged for the insertion in the respective grooves, between the pallet and the load.

[0025] The rod means 15 are made of steel and their surface is provided with anti-friction treatment or coatings to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the rods that can get in touch with the pallet, the load and against film or stretch film wrapping.

[0026] The machine 1 also comprises a winding means 19 for packaging

materials such as films or stretch wrapping, for example orbital with horizontal axis, assigned to wind up at least the two horizontal faces and two lateral faces of the load S supported by the rod means 15.

[0027] The winding means 19 of the machine 1 comprises a reel means or a

rotation shaft for a reel of a film wrapping material F.

[0028] Such reel means is slidable along an annular rail means 25 for describing by effect of its motorized drive, a rotary orbital motion about a rotation axis coincident with the main geometrical axis of the annular rail means 25 and, as the geometrical axis passing through the centre of the annular rail means and perpendicular to the geometric plane defined by the latter.

[0029] This rotation axis is horizontal and is approximately incident to the central area of the load in the lifted state.

[0030] The annular rail means 25 is mounted on a set of trucks sliding along two straight guide means 27 for engaging, travelling and disengaging the load area in the lifted state. [0031] Preferably, the geometrical rotation or longitudinal axis of the reel means, the annular rail means 25 and the longitudinal axis of the guide means 27 and the rod means 15 are parallel to the second carrying direction.

[0032] The reel means is preferably provided with a controlled brake so as to ensure a homogeneous film tensioning or stretch wrapping around the load. Alternatively, the invention provides that the winding means adopted in the machine for coating film of two side faces vertical and the two horizontal faces of the load may be different from what is shown and described above and that it can also be of a known type.

[0033] The machine 1 comprises a third translating means 31 exit on the side of the travelling-lifting means 5 opposite to the first carrier means 3 and aligned to the first carrying direction of the latter to receive from the first translating means 7 and move up to a state of the package consists processed by the machine.

[0034] The machine comprises a feeding carrier means 33 on the side of the travelling-lifting means 5 opposite the second carrier means 23 and aligned to the second carrying direction of the second translating means 21 for supplying travelling-lifting means 5 with replacement pallet, with substitute support means or preferably with template means housing a support means set.

[0035] Each template means 35 is equipped with a set of concave housings for removably accommodate a support means A set.

[0036] The support means A can be provided with projecting and concave feet and gluing upper surfaces and be made of plastic materials, such as recycled, of wood and metal derivatives.

[0037] The machine also includes gluing means 37, schematically shown only in Fig. 6, placed for example between the travelling-lifting means 5 and the feeding carrier means 33 or above the latter. The gluing means 37 are assigned to apply an adhesive means, for example thermal - activated glue, double-sided tape or the like, the gluing surface of the upper face of the support means A or to activate an adhesive means already applied and present on the surfaces to be glued of the support means A. [0038] Preferably the first carrier means 3, the first translating means 7, the second carrier means 23 and the third translating means 31 are of the chain and/or belt type; the second translating means 21 and the feeding carrier means 33 are preferably of motorized rollers type; the lifting means 9 is preferably of pantographs type.

[0039] The drive means 13 comprises a type of stand or supporting frame,

preferably having a yieldable connection, the rod means 15. The invention provides that the stand or frame can be equipped with adjustable sockets for the rod means 15 provided of interchangeable type so as to adapt its position and type to different types of pallets with different upper grooves.

[0040] The stand or frame of the drive means 13 is provided with base sliding trolleys, due to associated drive motors, along track means rectilinear and parallel to the second carrying direction.

[0041] The motors and drives of the machine 1 are controlled and activated by control means preferably digital electronic, of the programmable type.

[0042] A variant of the invention provides that the template means is adjustable to adapt the mutual distance between the seats of the support means to the measures of the load base. Furthermore the template means can be provided with interchangeable or adjustable seats to accommodate different support means types.

[0043] The variant of Fig. 15 provides that the rod means 15 are constituted by a set, for example two, of elongated plate-shaped elements having a length equal or greater than the maximum of the pallet and flattened rectangular cross-sections for the sliding insertion between the pallet and the load. This variant is also suitable for pallets with the upper face completely flat and free of grooves.

[0044] Even the elongated plate-shaped elements are made of steel and their surface is provided with anti-friction treatment or coating. The tip of these plate-shaped elements can be bevelled or tapered, for example the upper face of these elements may be flat or almost on the tip and the lower face may be joined with an inclined plane or a bevel at the upper face.

[0045] The variant of the machine of Figs 16-20, which is shown with the rod

means of Fig. 14 but which can be fitted with plate-shaped ones of Fig. 15, comprises two lateral pressing means 51 plate shaped, facing, vertical, perpendicular to the first carrying direction and for example made of two flat steel plates with the outer faces optionally coated anti-friction material.

[0046] The two side pressing means 51 are connected to a respective first

support means 55 by first actuator means 53, for example pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, for mutual approaching and removing of the side pressing means 51. The first support means 55 can be, for example, of a portal-type vertical or inverted U-shaped frame placed on the side of the drive means 13 with respect to the travelling-lifting means 5 or place between the travelling-lifting means 5 and the drive means 13. The first support means 55 holds the side pressing means 51 at height of the load S in the lifted state by the lifting means 9 of the composite package C.

[0047] The first actuator means 53 moves away the two side pressing means 51 to allow, without interference, the load S lifting between them and approach them to the abutment with the side faces of said load S.

[0048] Immediately prior inserting of the rod means between the pallet and the load, or before separating the pallet from the load supported by the rod means, the pressing means 51 are placed in abutment to the lateral faces of the load; thereby and particularly if the load is not so stable, for example consisting of light and/or yielding boxes, it is avoided that the stresses due to the inserting the rod means, particularly those consisting of elongated plate-shaped elements, at the pallet separation, or due to stresses caused by winding the film can cause shifting or load falling down.

[0049] At the end of the winding the first support means 55, which is equipped with respective sliding means in the second forward direction and drive means, movable with respect to the load obtaining the unthreading of the pressing means 51 from the side film wrapped around the load.

[0050] The machine of this variant also comprises a front first pressing means 57, vertical, parallel to the first carrying direction and connected, via a respective second actuator means 59 for horizontal translation, to a respective second support means 61 placed on the opposite side with respect to the drive means 13 relative to the first support means 55. [0051] The second support means 61 holds the first pressing means at the load S height e in the lifted position of the lifting means 9.

[0052] The second actuator means 59 moves the first pressing means 57 in the direction opposite to the drive means 13 to allow the lifting of the load S without interference and towards the drive means 13 to cause the abutment of the first pressing means 57 with a face of said load S parallel to the first carrying direction.

[0053] Said machine comprises a pusher means 63 having a stroke on the order of centimetres or decimetres, fixed to the first support means 55 and acting in a direction parallel to the second carrying direction, towards the first pressing means 57.

[0054] The first support means 55 holds the pusher means at the height of the pallet B in the lifted state of the lifting means 9 to act, in this state, on the pallet B in opposition to the first pressing means 57 obtaining a partial translation of the pallet B with respect to load S forming between them a shoulder guide of the rod means 15 between said pallet B and load S.

[0055] Said machine also comprises a second pressing means 65, parallel and facing the front first pressing means 57 and connected, via a respective third actuator means 67 for horizontal translation, the first support means 55 that holds said second pressing means 65 at height of the load S in the lifted state of the lifting means 9 wherein the third actuator means 67 moves the second pressing means 65 to allow the load S lifting and to cause the abutment of the second pressing means 65 with a face of said load S in contrast to the first pressing means 57 to achieve a complete stabilization of the load.

[0056] One of the possible operation way of the machine 1 object of the present invention and described above, for example can be derived from the method for processing composite package by means of this machine.

[0057] This machine provides:

- putting, by means of a first carrier means 3, a composite package C comprising at least a pallet B, provided with a plurality of upper parallel and coplanar grooves G, and an overlying its load S above a first translating means 7 and a lifting means 9 of a travelling-lifting means 5;

- lifting, by means of the lifting means 9 of travelling-lifting means 5, the composite package C up to a state at a predetermined height;

- horizontally translating, by means of a drive means 13 having a

plurality of rod means 15, such a plurality of rod means 15 and inserting them between the load face of the pallet and the composite package C load;

- lowering, by means of the lifting means 9, the original pallet keeping lifted the load by means of the rod means;

- applying, by means of a winding means, a stretchable film to two

opposite vertical faces and the horizontal faces namely one upper and one lower, the load kept lifted by the rod means;

- moving the original pallet to the exit by means of a second carrier means 23;

- feeding the lifting means 9 by feeding carrier means 33 with a pallet replacement, substitutes support means and/or with template means housing a support means set and during that feeding step or immediately after it, and in possibility of use of support means set, activating or applying by gluing means an adhesive material to the upper faces of the support means;

- lifting, by means of the lifting means 9, the replacement pallet, the substitute support means or preferably template means with support means putting the upper faces bearing the adhesive material in abutment of the lower face of the load supported by the rod means;

- in the case of using the template means, lowering, by the lifting means 9, such a free template means keeping lifted, by the rod means, the load to whose lower face are possibly attached the support means; possibly bringing, by the second translating means 21 , the free template means on the feeding carrier means 33;

- optionally applying, by the winding means, a further layer of

stretchable film above the load and optionally above the support means; - optionally lifting the lifting means 9 to support all the support means and the respective load constituting the package;

- sliding off, by the drive means 13, the plurality of rod means 15 from grooves disengaging them completely;

- lowering the processed composite package wherein the original pallet has been replaced preferably with the support means set fixed under the load.

[0058] The method preferably involves applying the possible further layer of

stretchable film above the only portions of the support means placed between projecting feet without covering the latter to avoid that the forks of a pallet trolley or lifter can damage the film or films.

[0059] The winding means object of the present invention and preferably adopted in the machine described above can also be used in other appliances or machines. This winding means 19 is assigned to wrap a load S or package and comprises a reel means 41 provided with an axle for unwinding a reel of film packaging materials F to wrap the load S or package.

[0060] The winding means 19 is provided with annular rail means 25 which is equipped with an orbital truck 45 assigned to support the reel means 41.

[0061] Such orbital truck 45 is driven by a motor to travel along the annular rail means 25 letting the reel means 41 describing a rotary orbital motion around a horizontal rotation axis and preferably approximately incident with the central area of the load S or package to be wrapped; preferably the load S or the package are supported by a plurality of rod means 15.

[0062] The unwinding axis of reel means, the rectilinear guide means 27, the rotation axis of the orbital motion of the reel means along the annular rail means 25 and possibly the optional rod means 15 are mutually parallel and horizontal.

[0063] Optionally the reel means 41 is equipped with a brake controlled for a

homogeneous film tensioning. This configuration of the winding means 19 allows wrapping an object, simple or composite package or load, with coils perfectly superimposed. To obtain the helical turns and windings of object or package of considerable length and/or crossed coils, the invention provides that the winding means 19 further comprises a set of straights guide means 27 and, in an operating state of the half winding, horizontally, arranged.

[0064] Preferably and as shown for example in Fig. 8, the guide means 27 are two and supported by a frame as double portal above the annular rail means 25. Alternatively the guide means 27 may be underlying and/or lateral with respect to the annular rail means 25.

[0065] The guide means 27 are provided with respective sliding trucks 43 driven for example by a motor fixed to the frame and cinematically connected thereto by means of chains, worm screws or other, to travel longitudinally such guide means 27.

[0066] Each sliding truck 43 is connected to and supports the underlying annular rail means 25. The coordinated activation of the motors driving the orbital truck 45 and sliding trucks 43 allows adjusting the pitch of the spiral film winding. The motors of the sliding and orbital truck and possibly the brake are controlled and activated by control means preferably digital electronic of the winding means 19 or of the machine to which are associated.

[0067] Referring also to the machine of the embodiment of Fig. 16, the method also involves, starting from the lifted state in which the composite package (C) is lifted by the travelling-lifting means at a predetermined height, stopping the load side opposite the drive means (13) through the front first pressing means 57, pushing and moving at a distance between 1cm and 30cm only the pallet in a direction concordant with the inserting one of the rod means by means of the pusher means 63 obtaining a shoulder formed by an edge of the lower face of the projecting load from the pallet, in addition the method involves at least acting with the drive means 13 and with the lifting means 9 to bring the tips of the rod means 15, first in contact with the shoulder and then down to penetrate between the lower face of the load and the upper face of pallet laying and support. Said operating method allows inserting the rod means between almost every types of pallet, even without upper grooves, and any load types without damaging it. [0068] An advantage of the present invention is to provide a machine for composite packages that can wrap it with extensible film also the upper and lower faces of the composite package or the entire package.

[0069] Another advantage is to provide a machine able to maintain the original pallet or to replace it with a different one or with support means.

[0070] Further advantage of the present invention is to provide a method for

wrapping in film packaging also the horizontal faces of the load composite package and to replace the composite package pallet with support means.

[0071] Another advantage is to provide a winding means able to wrap with film also horizontal parts, namely the upper and lower faces, of a load or a package or packaging.