The present invention relates to a wrapping material support apparatus, a wrapping machine, and a method of supporting a wrapping material.

Wrapping material must be supported in order to allow products to be wrapped in the wrapping material. Traditional methods of supporting the wrapping material involve gripping the wrapping material to pull the wrapping material across rollers. Machines employing these traditional methods are often large, complex and prone to reliability issues. The invention has been devised with this in mind, to attempt to overcome or avoid such issues, or to provide a viable alternative.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wrapping material support apparatus according to claim 1 . Such a system is advantageous, as it provides a simple and reliable means for supporting a wrapping material.

In an example, the retainer is adapted to feed the wrapping material.

In an example, the retainer is adapted to intermittently feed the wrapping material. Intermittently feeding the wrapping material allows the wrapping material to be used more easily to wrap a product when it is supported.

In an example, the first gas outlet is adapted to produce the first gas stream intermittently, so that, in use, the first gas outlet does not produce the first gas stream when retainer is feeding the wrapping material. This reduces the amount of gas used by the first gas outlet.

In an example, the feeder comprises a roller to feed the wrapping material. The roller is a simple means for feeding the wrapping material.

In an example, the wrapping material support further comprises a flow control plate to deflect the first gas stream. In an example, the first gas stream is on a first side of the wrapping material and the flow control plate is on a second side of the wrapping material in use. The deflection of the first gas stream allows the direction in which the wrapping material is supported to be controlled.

In an example, the wrapping material support comprises a second gas outlet adapted to produce a second gas stream so that, in use, the wrapping material is trapped between the first gas stream and the second gas stream. This provides improved support to the wrapping material, and is particularly advantageous when the wrapping material is not supported horizontally (e.g. vertically).

In an example, the or each gas stream is arranged to support the wrapping material horizontally or vertically in use.

In an example, the wrapping material support comprises a cutter adapted to cut the wrapping material. In an example, the cutter is adapted to cut the wrapping material when the retainer is not feeding. The cutter cuts a portion of the wrapping material which may be used to wrap.

In an example, the wrapping material is solely supported by the retainer and the first gas stream in use. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a wrapping machine comprising a wrapping material support apparatus as described above.

In an example, the wrapping machine comprises a product feeder adapted to feed a product into the wrapping material when the wrapping material is supported. In an example, the product is a food product.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of supporting a wrapping material, comprising: retaining the wrapping material; and using a gas stream to support the wrapping material.

It will be appreciated that features described in relation to any one aspect of the invention can be used with any other aspect of the invention.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made, by way of example only, to the accompanying Figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of a wrapping material support apparatus according to an example embodiment, viewed from above; Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of a wrapping material support apparatus according to an example embodiment, viewed from below;

Figure 3 is a simplified, side-on drawing of the wrapping material support apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, showing wrapping material being supported; Figure 4 is a modification of the wrapping material support apparatus of Figures 1 to 3, showing wrapping material being supported, according to an example embodiment; and Figure 5 shows the wrapping material support apparatus supporting wrapping material in a substantially vertical, upwardly extending, manner

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a wrapping material support apparatus 10. The wrapping material support apparatus 10 comprises a retainer 12 for retaining and feeding a wrapping material 13.

The retainer 12 comprises a first roller 14 and a second roller 16. The first roller 14 is positioned on a first side of the wrapping material 13 and the second roller 16 is positioned on a second side of the wrapping material 13. The first roller 14 is positioned above the wrapping material and the second roller 16 is positioned below the wrapping material in use. The first roller 14 and the second roller 16 are positioned at the same location along the direction of feeding of the wrapping material 13 (see below). The first roller 14 and the second roller 16 are positioned with their rotation axes perpendicular to the direction of feeding of the wrapping material 13. The first roller 14 and the second roller 16 are positioned with their axes parallel to the plane of the wrapping material 13 in use.

The wrapping material support apparatus 10 comprises a first gas outlet 18. The outlet 18 could be connected to a gas pump, or source of compressed gas, or similar. The first gas outlet 18 is a continuous opening, which extends across a width of the wrapping material support apparatus 10, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of feeding of the wrapping material 13. The first gas outlet 18 is positioned on the first side of the wrapping material 13 in use. The first gas outlet 18 is positioned below the wrapping material 13 in use. This first gas outlet 18 is positioned downstream of the rollers 14, 16 with respect to the feeding of the wrapping material. The first gas outlet 18 is angled towards the first side of the wrapping material 13.

The wrapping material support apparatus 10 comprises a flow control plate 20. The flow control plate 20 is positioned on a second side of the wrapping material 13 in use. The flow control plate 20 is positioned above the wrapping material 13 in use. At least a portion of the flow control plate 20 is positioned at substantially the same location along the direction of feeding the wrapping material as the first gas outlet 18. The flow control plate 20 is positioned substantially above the first gas outlet 18. The flow control plate 20 extends across the width of the wrapping material support apparatus, in the same direction as the first gas outlet 18. The wrapping material support apparatus 10 comprises a cutter 22, located downstream of the retainer and/or rollers 12, 14, 16. The cutter 22 is a blade (not shown), which extends, or is extendable, across the width of the wrapping material support apparatus 10, in the same direction as the first gas outlet 18. The wrapping material support apparatus 10 comprises a cutter driver mechanism 24 to drive the cutter 22.

In use, the wrapping material support apparatus 10 may be incorporated into (e.g. forms part of) a wrapping machine (shown generically as box 30). The wrapping machine comprises a product feeder 32 for feeding products 34, and may take the form of an elevator or other moving part that can carry or otherwise support a product 34. The wrapping machine comprises a guide 36 for guiding the product 34 through the wrapping material 13 and/or for guiding the wrapping material 13 around the product 34, all to assist in effective wrapping, or wrapping of a certain type. The guide 36 may be moveable independently of the product 34 and/or product feeder 32 in certain embodiments. For example, the product 34 may be pushed through the guide 36 once the product 34 and/or guide 36 have made contact with the wrapping material 13.

Many other details of the wrapping machine 30 are not shown, since these will be standard.

The retainer 12 feeds the wrapping material 13, by driving the first roller 14 and the second roller 16, which are in contact with the wrapping material 13. The retainer 12 feeds the wrapping material 13 intermittently. In each feeding process, the retainer 12 feeds the wrapping material 13 until a portion of wrapping material sufficient to wrap a product 34 (see below) has been fed. The retainer 12 feeds the wrapping material 13 in a substantially horizontal direction in the present example.

The first gas outlet 18 produces a first gas stream 36. As the first gas outlet 18 is angled towards the first side of the wrapping material, the first gas stream 36 initially flows towards the flow control plate 20. The flow control plate 20, in combination with the wrapping material 13 pressed against that plate 20, deflects the first gas stream 36 so that the first gas stream 36 flows in substantially the same direction as the direction in which the wrapping material is fed. As the wrapping material 13 is held between the first gas outlet 18 and the flow control plate 20, the first gas stream 13 does not come into direct contact with the flow control plate 20. However, the first gas stream 13 pushes the wrapping material into the flow control plate 20, and the flow control plate 20 inhibits further movement of the wrapping material, so that the first gas stream is deflected by the flow control plate 20 by contacting the wrapping material 13. The gas of the first gas stream is air in this example. The first gas stream 36 supports the wrapping material 13, so that the wrapping material is substantially horizontal. The retainer 12 retains the wrapping material 13 using the rollers 14, 16, which prevents the wrapping material moving in the direction of flow of gas in the first gas stream 36. The wrapping material 13 is supported solely by the retainer 12 and the first gas stream - i.e. the wrapping material 13 that is remote from the retainer 12 is free-floating, and is unsupported by any physical structure.

It will be appreciated that details of air pressures or speeds, or related properties, may be dependent on the particular application. For example, such details may depend on the wrapping material 13, and the extent to which the wrapping material 36 needs to extend out of and away from the wrapping material support apparatus 10. For example, the air/gas flow or stream will be variable to suit the width of wrapping material and length of the wrapping material to be supported by the air/gas, as needed. As a guide, gas pressure might be 1 .2 Bar (120,000 Pa) to 7 Bar (120,000 Pa), and/or flow rates from 40 cubic feet/minute (67.97 cubic metres/hour) to 120 cubic feet/minute (203.88 cubic metres/hour). The wrapping material might be a film, or a thin sheet. The material might will include cellophane (a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose), polypropylene/polypropene, foil, parchment, or paper. All could be coated to become laminates. Typical material thickness could, for example, be up to and including 120 micrometres. Typical wrapping material width could be up to and including 750mm. Typical extension from the apparatus could be up to and including 750mm.

The wrapping material 13 is supported substantially horizontally. In the present example, this is achieved by the first gas stream 36, in combination with the wrapping material 13, being or extending substantially horizontal in use. The first gas stream typically extends beyond a width of wrapping material 13. This might provide better support to the wrapping material 13 in terms of maintaining the material in a substantially horizontal configuration, on average, in amongst any fluttering of the material 13. The first gas outlet 18 produces the first gas stream 36 intermittently. The first gas outlet

18 does not produce the first gas stream 36 when the retainer is feeding the wrapping material 13, or at least initially feeding the wrapping material 13. For example, the first gas outlet 18 might not produce the first gas stream 36 until the wrapping material 13 has been fed past, against, or proximal to the deflector plate 20. This means that, in practice, the wrapping material 13 is only supported by the gas stream 36 when it is not being fed and is stationary. This might save gas. This might also prevent jamming or other problems with feeding of the wrapping material. In use, the product feeder 32 pushes a product 34 towards the wrapping material 13 while the wrapping material 13 is supported by the first gas stream 36, and while the retainer 12 is not feeding. The product feeder 32 pushes the product 34 from and into the first side of the wrapping material 13, below the wrapping material 13. The cutter 22 cuts wrapping material as the product 34 comes into contact with the wrapping material 13 (and/or guide 36). This means that wrapping material 13 is supported by the product 34 (and/or guide 36) when the material 13 is cut, and means that the process can be carried out as quickly as possible. The guide 36 might assist in terms of wrapping the material 13 around the product 34, or assist in terms of initially shaping a part of the wrapping material 13 for wrapping around the product 34.

The product 34 might typically be or comprise a food product.

Once the wrapping material 13 is cut, the product feeder 32 pushes the product 34 and the portion of the wrapping material 13 which has been cut towards a support and folding stage, which might comprise plates 38 that can move under the partially wrapped product 34 to wrap material 13 under the product 34 and/or to support the product 34 so that the feeder 32 can be withdrawn for use in wrapping a subsequent product. The wrapped product can be removed via a mechanism, such as an arm, pusher or conveyor.

The above process is repeated for the next portion of wrapping material 13 and the next product.

In an alternative example, the cutter 22 cuts the wrapping material 13 before (e.g. just before) the product 34 (and/or guide 36) contacts the wrapping material 13. This might reduce the time taken for the process, increasing the wrapping machine's 30 throughput.

In a further alternative example, the cutter 22 cuts the wrapping material 13 after the product 34 (and/or guide 36) contacts the wrapping material 13. This perhaps better ensures that the wrapping material 13 is supported by the product 34 before the wrapping material 13 is cut, improving the reliability of the wrapping machine 30.

In a further example, the first gas outlet does not extend fully across the width of the wrapping material in use. This means that the volume of gas used by the first gas outlet can reduced. This approach might also cause the wrapping material to bow slightly, presenting a concave surface to the product to be wrapped. This might assist in wrapping the product.

In the above example, support of the wrapping material in a horizontal manner has been described. A single gas stream is used to support the material in that horizontal manner. Gravity might prevent the sheet from moving upward. Figure 4 shows that perhaps even greater control can be achieved using a second gas stream 40, from a second gas outlet 42, on a second side of the material 13, opposite to the first side. A second flow control plate might optionally be used, for the same reasons as discussed above.

Following on from Figure 4, supporting the wrapping material 13 on both sides, using multiple gas streams 36, 40, might allow for the wrapping material or its feed direction to be supported in more elaborate or controlled manner. Figure 5 shows supporting the wrapping material 13 on both sides, using multiple gas streams 36, 40, might allow for the wrapping material or its feed direction to be supported in an upwardly extending, vertical manner. The support could, of course, be at any angle.

In summary, the described embodiments allow for wrapping material to be fed in a manner that is more efficient in comparison with prior art apparatus. A mechanism for supporting the wrapping material remote from its feed source is not required. This reduces costs, both in terms of installation and maintenance. Also, this reduces the footprint of the apparatus.

The wrapping material support apparatus might be installed in a new wrapping machine. The wrapping material support apparatus might be retrofitted to an existing wrapping machine, for example replacing an existing, prior art, wrapping material support apparatus.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.