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Title:
PACKAGING MACHINE OF PRODUCTS WITH MONOFOLDING THERMOSHRINKABLE FILM HAVING IMPROVED EVACUATION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/077103
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A packaging machine of products with monofolding ther- moshrinkable film having improved evacuation comprising a structure (12) which houses a cutting and welding frame (17), a shrinking chamber (14), the above chamber (14) being closable by means of a bell (16) hinged on one side, thus defining a single cutting, welding and shrinking space of the above film, in addition to a supporting and evacuation surface (21) of products (11) in a longitudinal direction comprising a series of rolls (22). According to the invention, the machine comprises at least one tiltable roller (24, 25) extending inside said chamber (14) with at least one outlet area from the chamber (14) of a supporting portion of said surface (21), and also to an evacuation portion of said surface (21) subseuent to the chamber (14).

Inventors:
BUTTURINI LUCIANO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2006/000422
Publication Date:
July 27, 2006
Filing Date:
January 17, 2006
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ITALDIBIPACK SPA (IT)
BUTTURINI LUCIANO (IT)
International Classes:
B65B9/06; B65B51/14; B65B53/06; B65B67/10
Foreign References:
EP1132296A22001-09-12
GB1603066A1981-11-18
DE2122648A11972-11-16
US4903459A1990-02-27
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Martegani, Franco (Via Carlo Alberto 41, Monza, IT)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A packaging machine of products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation comprising a structure ( 12 ) which houses a cutting and welding frame (17) , a shrinking chamber ( 14) , the above chamber ( 14 ) being closable by means of a bell ( 16 ) hinged on one side , thus defining a single cutting, welding and shrinking space of the above film, in addition to a supporting and evacuation surface (21 ) of products (11 ) in a longi tudinal direction comprising a series of rolls (22 ) , characterized in that it comprises at least one tiltable roller (24 , 25 ) extending inside said chamber ( 14 ) and at least one outlet area from the chamber ( 14 ) of a support ing portion of said surface (21 ) , and also to an evacua tion portion of said surface (21) subsequent to the chamber ( 14 ) .
2. ) The machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a first horizontal roller (23 ) with a longitudinal extension inside the chamber (14 ) limited to a first cutting and welding area of said supporting portion of the surface (21) .
3. ) The machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one tiltable roller is a single til table roller (25 ) extending to the whole supporting por tion of the surface (21) inside the shrinking chamber ( 14 ) and also to said evacuation portion of the surface (21) subsequent to the chamber (14 ) . ) The machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one tiltable roller (24 , 25) comprises a motorized activating unit (26) which causes an oscillating movement of said roller (24 , 25) with each packaging cycle . ) The machine according to claim 4 , characterized in that said activating unit (26) comprises a cam element (28) operatively constrained to an end of said tiltable roller (24 , 25) .
4. The machine according to claim 5 , characterized in that said cam element is a rotating eccentric pin (28 ) having an idle wheel (29) equipped with a neck (30) for the engagement of a connection element , or plate (31) constrained to said end of the tiltable roller (24 , 25) .
5. 7 ) The machine according to claim 4 , characterized in that it comprises height regulation means (27) of an oscillating end of said tiltable roller (24 , 25) , said ac tivating unit (26) being assembled on said regulation means (27) .
6. 8 ) The machine according to claim 7 , characterized in that said regulation means (27) comprise a boxshaped support (32 ) , firmly constrained on said structure (12 ) , and a plate (33 ) which is vertically movable on said sup port (32 ) along guides (34) .
7. The machine according to claim 8 , characterized in that said regulation means (27) comprise a lever (36) for the movement of said plate (33 ) , wherein said lever (36) is hinged at one end to said support (32 ) and is connected by means of a slit (37) to said plate (33) .
8. The machine according to claim 9 , characterized in that said lever (36) is equipped with a handle (38) for the blocking and unblocking of said regulation means (27) which can be engaged with said support (32 ) by means of a bracket (39) .
9. The machine according to claim 8 , characterized in that said regulation means (27) comprise runend mi croswitches (35) for stopping the movement of the til table roller (24 ) , or (25) , upwards and downwards within a certain range .
Description:
PACKAGING MACHINE OF PRODUCTS WITH MONOFOLDING THERMO- SHRINKABLE FILM HAVING IMPROVED EVACUATION

The present invention relates to a packaging machine of products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation .

In product packaging machines with thermoshrinkable film, the use is known of a monofolding film, i . e . a film folded over itself longitudinally creating two overlying edges .

Known packaging machines comprise a thermoshrinking chamber, having a heat source and generally a heated air circulation fan, situated under a supporting surface of the product in the packaging phase , for example consist- ing of a grid .

The chamber can be closed by means of a hinged bell , thus creating a single cutting, welding and thermoshrinking space of the film.

On two sides of the lower or upper edge of the cham- ber blades are assembled for the cutting and thermoweld-

ing of the film in collaboration with the bell .

The product to be packaged is brought onto the supporting surface of the bell between the two strips of film. The lowering of the bell contemporaneously causes the activation of the cutting and thermowelding blades , the opening of chamber containing the heat source and the activation of the fan .

The monofolding film is thus cut and welded around the product forming a closed casing and is shrunk thereon due to the hot air circulation of the chamber and bell .

The evacuation of the packaged product from the supporting surface towards a product collection area is effected manually at the end of each packaging operation or it can be effected automatically, where , instead of the grid, there is an evacuation conveyor belt of the package or a motorized roller, both costly solutions .

In European patent EP 1 , 132 , 296 Bl , an idle roller, with an adjustable inclination, is situated at the outlet of the thermoshrinking chamber, i . e . after a motorized roller which supports the product during the packaging . The tilted roller collects the product at the outlet of the packaging chamber and sends it elsewhere .

This machine however does not provide a satisfactory solution to the drawbacks mentioned above . It is in any

case essential to have a motorized roller which extends for the whole dimension of the packaging chamber . Furthermore , the sequence of the cutting, welding, ther- moshrinking and evacuation operations from the packaging chamber, towards a successive station, is not optimized .

A general obj ective of the present invention is to solve the above drawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional way. Another obj ective is to provide a packaging machine which can be adjusted for adapting itself to the weight and dimensional characteristics of the product to be packaged .

A further obj ective of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which allows improved comfort of use .

In view of the above obj ectives , according to the present invention, a packaging machine for products has been conceived, with monofolding thermoshrinkable film with improved evacuation, having the characteristics specified in the enclosed claims .

The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear more evident from examining the following description, referring to the enclosed draw- ings , which illustrate a packaging machine of products

with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation, produced according to the innovative principles of the invention itself .

In the drawings : - figure 1 is a partial cross-section plan view of a packaging machine of products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film with improved evacuation of the present invention during the packaging operations of the product ;

- figures Ia and Ib show a raised side view of a first and second embodiment respectively of the machine according to the present invention partially sectioned according to the conditions of figure 1 ;

- figure 2 is a partial cross-section plan view of the packaging machine of figure 1 during the evacuation op- erations of the product ;

- figures 2a and 2b show a raised side view of a first and second embodiment respectively of the machine according to the present invention partially sectioned according to the conditions of figure 2 ; - figure 3 schematically shows the packaging machine of products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation of the present invention during the packaging operations of subsequent products ;

- figures 4 and 5 show an enlarged detail of an activat- ing unit of the oscillating movement of the tiltable

roller of the packaging machine according to the present invention under tilting and horizontal roller conditions , respectively;

- figures 6 and 7 show a raised side view of an enlarged detail of height regulation means of the tiltable roller of the packaging machine according to the present invention under tilting and horizontal roller conditions respectively;

- figure 8 is a partial cross-section plan view of the activating unit and regulation means of the tiltable roller of the packaging machine according to the present invention.

With reference to the drawings , a packaging machine of products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation, obj ect of the invention, is indicated as a whole with 10 , and in the example illustrated, according to the present invention, comprises a structure 12 , on which a reel of monofolding thermoshrinkable film 13 is applied . Inside the structure 12 , there is a shrinking chamber 14 having a heat source and an air circulation fan, not shown, which can be closed on top by a bell 16 hinged to the same structure 12.

The chamber is equipped, on two adj acent sides of the upper or lower edge , with blades 17 for the cutting and thermowelding of the film containing a product 11 to

be packaged, as schematically shown in figure 1. The blades 17 are assembled facing corresponding counter- blades , not shown, present on the bell 16 , forming a cutting and welding frame . On one evacuation side of the machine 10 towards a collection surface 18 of packaged products 11 , the bell 16 is equipped with means for preventing the loss of heat 19 , such as curtains , bulkheads or the like .

After the bell 16 , in correspondence with the out- let of the packaged products 11 , there are also cooling means 20 , of the known type , only shown schematically in the figures .

A supporting and evacuation surface 21 of the products in a longitudinal direction, comprises a series or motorized and/or idle rolls 22.

The figures show, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes , motorized rolls driven by a transmission belt 15 , schematically shown in figures 1 and 2 , but these could also be idle rolls . According to a first embodiment of the packaging machine for products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation 1OA, shown in figures Ia and 2a, the supporting and evacuation surface 21 consists of a first horizontal roller 23 comprising a series of mo- torized rolls and a second tiltable roller 24 comprising

a series of idle rolls , whose facing ends are positioned at the same height .

The first horizontal roller has a longitudinal extension limited to a first cutting and welding area of the supporting portion of the surface 21 in the chamber 14. The second tiltable roller, on the other hand, is extended to the remaining area of the supporting portion of the surface 21 inside the shrinking chamber 14 , close to its outlet , and also to an evacuation portion of the sur- face 21 subsequent to the chamber 14.

In a second embodiment of the packaging machine for products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation 1OB, shown in figures Ib and 2b, the supporting and evacuation surface 21 consists of a single tiltable roller 25 comprising a series of motorized rolls 22 , which extends both to the whole supporting portion of the surface 21 inside the shrinking chamber 14 and also to the evacuation portion of the surface 21 subsequent to the chamber 14. Figures Ib and 2b show a tiltable roller 25 comprising two parts tightly fixed to each other .

The tiltable rollers 24 or 25 , shown in the figures , comprise a motorized activating unit 26 which causes an oscillating movement of the roller itself with each pack- aging cycle . The activating unit 26 , schematically shown

in the partially sectional enlarged details of figures 4 and 5 , comprises a cam element 28 , or an eccentric rotating pin. An idle wheel 29 , applied on the pin 28 , is equipped with a neck 30 in which a connection element , or plate 31 is engaged, constrained to an end of the til- table roller 24 or 25.

The cyclic movement of the cam element 28 causes the lowering and horizontal repositioning of the tiltable roller 24 or 25. In both of the embodiments shown, the supporting and evacuation surface 21 is totally adjustable in height , even in its horizontal portion, to adapt itself to the height of the products to be packaged 11.

The height of the oscillating end of the tiltable roller 24 or 25 situated towards the evacuation side of the packaged products , can be established, when the machine 10 is not operating, by regulation means 27 to adapt the configuration to the weight and flow of the packaged product 11. The regulation means 27 , shown in figures 6 and 7 , comprise a box-shaped support 32 firmly constrained on the structure 12 of the machine 10 on the evacuation side of the packaged products 11. A plate 33 slides vertically on the support 32 along guides 34 within a certain range . The activating unit 26 is assembled integrally with

the plate 33 , and can be moved vertically together with it entraining the whole tiltable roller 24 or 25.

The regulation means 27 also comprise a lever 36 for moving the plate 33. The lever 36 is hinged at one end to the support 32 and is connected by means of a slit 37 to the plate 33. The lever 36 has a blocking and unblocking handle 38 of the regulation means 27 , which, as shown in figure 8 , blocks the lever 36 with respect to the support 32 by means of a bracket 39. For illustrative purposes , figures Ia and 2a show the packaging machine 1OA, in which the supporting and evacuation surface 21 , adjustable in height , is situation in a low position . Figures Ib and 2b show the packaging machine 1OB, in which the supporting and evacuation sur- face 21 is situated in a high position .

Furthermore , for the correct functioning of the machine 10 according to the present invention, the collection surface 18 of the packaged products 11 , for example a roller shown in the figures , or a table , not shown, must be adjustable in height .

The packaging of a product 11 , shown in figures 1 , Ia and Ib, is effected according to substantially known procedures . An operator positions a product 11 enclosed between two strips of film on the supporting surface of the shrinking chamber 14. The bell 16 is lowered manually

and said lowering contemporaneously causes the activation of the cutting and thermowelding blades 17 , the opening of the chamber containing the heat source and the activation of the fan. The monofolding film 13 is thus cut and welded around the product forming a closed casing, and self- shrinks as a result of hot air circulation inside the chamber 14 and the bell 16. According to the present invention, the tiltable roller 24 or 25 , driven by the ac- tivating unit 26 , is subsequently lowered for a pre- established and adjustable time in order to evacuate the packaged product 11 , for example towards a collection surface 18 of the packaged products , or to another station . At the end of the evacuation, the roller 24 is re- positioned in a horizontal position .

The availability of a motorization of the rollers makes the machine more versatile as it allows , for example , the supporting and evacuation surface 21 to be kept completely horizontal and effect various welding and op- tionally thermoshrinking operations in sequence before the packaged products 11 are evacuated, especially when the products have small dimensions , as shown in figure 3.

Furthermore , the evacuation of the products 11 from the shrinking chamber 14 by means of a tiltable roller 24 or 25 , advantageously also allows the evacuation of prod-

ucts 11 having a considerable height encumbrance without lifting the bell 16 , as the frame is modified at the outlet , as in 19.

Further advantages of a packaging machine for prod- ucts with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation according to the present invention consist in effecting the welding in a horizontal therefore straight position, also for aesthetical reasons .

The evacuation effected by the tilting of the roller also represents an inexpensive and reliable technical solution .

From the above description with reference to the figures , it appears evident that a packaging machine for products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation according to the invention is particularly useful and advantageous . The obj ective mentioned in the preamble of the description is therefore achieved .

The forms of the packaging machine for products with monofolding thermoshrinkable film having improved evacuation according to the invention, as also the materials , can naturally differ from those shown for illustrative and non-limiting purposes in the drawings .

The protection scope of the invention is therefore delimited by the enclosed claims .