Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system of activation of packaging machines. Background Art

Several systems of activation of packaging machines are known to be used to activate and deactivate the operation of such machines.

In particular, the machines of known type are provided with appropriate packaging means which, as a result of the activation of the machine, are configured to carry out the operations necessary to package one or more products.

The operation of these machines, however, is caused by appropriate command means which, by means of one or more operating parameters, control each operation carried out by the packaging means.

In particular, the machine is preset with these operating parameters used at the time when the machine itself is activated.

In this way, such activation means allow the machine to be activated according to preset operating parameters depending on the needs of a particular user to whom, e.g., the machine is sold.

In particular, the systems of activation of known type are fully integrated with the machines themselves.

In this way, in fact, the preset operating parameters cannot be changed in a simple and fast manner, since, otherwise, the machine could be subject to modification and/or tampering by third parties, thus jeopardizing the integrity of the machine itself.

These systems of activation do, however, have some drawbacks.

In fact, the suppliers of these machines are well aware of the need to vary some operating parameters of the packaging means in a convenient, fast and safe manner, so as to vary some of the machine’ s functions according to the needs of the end users of these machines, e.g. to allow the machine to operate in combination with different products to be packaged and/or packaging materials. In particular, depending on the characteristics of the product to be packaged, it may be necessary to vary the operation of the packaging means in order to allow for the correct packaging of the products and/or the use of packaging materials with different characteristics.

These drawbacks make the use of the activation systems of known type particularly inconvenient and difficult.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a system of activation of packaging machines that allows the operation of the packaging means to be varied in a convenient, fast and safe manner.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a system of activation of packaging machines which allows selectively varying the activation/deactivation of one or more operational components of the packaging means in a convenient, fast and safe manner.

An additional object of the present invention is to devise a system of activation of packaging machines which allows selectively varying the operation of one or more operating components of the packaging means in a convenient, fast and safe manner.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a system of activation of packaging machines which allows overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

The objects set out above are achieved by the present system of activation of packaging machines having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system of activation of packaging machines, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting examples, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view showing some components of the system according to the invention. Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a system of activation of packaging machines.

The system 1 of activation of packaging machines comprises: at least one packaging machine 2 provided with packaging means 7, 8, 9, 10 adapted to package at least one product 3 and command means 4 configured to control the operation of the packaging means 7, 8, 9, 10 to package the product 3; activation means 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 of the command means 4 between at least one home configuration, in which the command means 4 are deactivated, thus preventing the operation of the packaging means 7, 8, 9, 10 and at least one working configuration, in which the command means 4 are activated, thus allowing the operation of the packaging means 7, 8, 9, 10. Advantageously, the activation means 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 comprise at least one activation device 5 connectable in a removable manner to the packaging machine 2 to activate the command means between the home configuration and the working configuration.

In other words, the activation device 5 is totally separate from the packaging machine 2 and is operatively connectable to the latter with the purpose of activating the same.

Preferably, the activation device 5 is of the type of a programmable hardware device, such as a “hardware key” or the like.

In particular, the activation device 5 is configured to transmit to the command means 4 at least one activation code of the same.

In this way, the command means 4 are activated in the working configuration when the activation code coincides with a unique reference code of the packaging machine 2.

In particular, each packaging machine 2 has a unique reference code that is different from the others.

In this way, an activation device 5 may only activate a corresponding packaging machine 2. Indeed, the activation means 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 comprise data processing means 6, preferably mounted on the packaging machine 2. In this way, the data processing means 6 compare the activation code transmitted by the activation device 5 with the unique reference code.

This measure allows the packaging machine 2 to be activated only by connecting the activation device 5 configured to transmit to the machine itself an activation code identical to its unique reference code.

Advantageously, the packaging machine 2 defines at least one line of forward movement A of the product 3 along which the packaging means 7, 8, 9, 10 are arranged, which comprise at least one of: at least one movement assembly 7 configured to move the product 3 along the line of forward movement A with a predefined movement speed; at least one pulling assembly 8 configured to stretch at least one film 14 for packaging the product 3 with a predefined pulling force and/or pulling speed; at least one measuring assembly 9 for measuring the dimensions of the product 3; at least one sanitizing assembly 10 configured to sanitize the environment affected by the product 3 inside the packaging machine 2.

Advantageously, in the working configuration, the activation device 5 is configured to transmit to the command means 4 at least one start code adapted to selectively activate/deactivate the operation of each assembly 7, 8, 9, 10. Preferably, the packaging machine 2 comprises each of the assemblies 7, 8, 9, 10.

In this way, the activation device 5 is configured to transmit a start code for each assembly 7, 8, 9, 10 according to a predefined combination.

In other words, in the working configuration, each assembly 7, 8, 9, 10 is selectively activated/deactivated depending on the predefined combination of the start codes.

For example, in the working configuration, the activation device 5 is configured to transmit a start code adapted to activate the movement assembly 7 and the pulling assembly 8 and a start code adapted to deactivate the measurement assembly 9 and the sanitizing assembly 10.

In this way, in the working configuration, the packaging machine 2 is only allowed to use the movement assembly 7 and the pulling assembly 8.

This measure allows the supplier of the packaging machine 2 to prevent the user of the machine from using assemblies 7, 8, 9, 10 in addition to those agreed upon.

Conveniently, in the working configuration, the activation device 5 is configured to transmit to the command means 4 at least one operating code defining at least one of: the predefined movement speed; the predefined pulling speed; the predefined pulling force;

In this way, the command means 4 vary at least one of either the predefined movement speed, the predefined pulling speed or the predefined pulling force according to the operating code received.

Preferably, in the working configuration, the activation device 5 is configured to transmit a plurality of operating codes, each defining one of either the predefined movement speed, the predefined pulling speed or the predefined pulling force, respectively.

In this way, in the working configuration, the activation device 5 defines the operating codes and the consequent operating modes of the assemblies 7, 8, 9, 10.

In fact, a specific code or a specific combination of operating codes allows the packaging machine 2 to package the products 3 that otherwise cannot be packaged in an appropriate manner.

For example, a specific value of speed and/or pulling force allows the pulling assembly 8 to employ a film with special characteristics that, under different pulling conditions, could not be employed.

According to another example, a specific value of movement speed allows the products 3 provided with packaging elements subject to rolling, such as e.g. spherical or hemispherical objects, to keep such elements inside the appropriate packaging trays, while preventing these from rolling outside the trays.

In other words, particular combinations of different operating codes define a plurality of functionalities of the packaging machine 2.

Therefore, this measure allows the supplier of the packaging machine to prevent the user of the machine itself from using additional functions to those agreed upon, such as e.g. the ability to pack special types of products and/or use special packaging materials.

Conveniently, the activation means 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 comprise management means 11, 12 configured to allow/prevent the transmission of at least one of either the start code or the operating code.

Preferably, the management means 11, 12 comprise a management unit 11 mounted on the packaging machine 2 and configured to be used by a skilled worker to configure the assemblies 7, 8, 9, 10, i.e., to define the operating codes and/or the start codes to be transmitted to the machine itself to define the activated/deactivated assemblies 7, 8, 9, 10 and/or the functions thereof. Advantageously, the management means 11, 12 comprise at least one remote management unit 12.

In particular, the remote management unit 12 is separate from the packaging machine 2 and is configured to allow/prevent the transmission of at least one of either the start code or the remote operating code.

In particular, the remote management unit 12 is configured to allow/prevent the transmission of at least one remote operating code in the working configuration. In other words, the remote management unit is of the type of an electronic management device, such as e.g. a PC, PLC, microcontroller or the like, configured to communicate with the command means 4 remotely, e.g., via a connection network of known type, such as e.g., the INTERNET.

Conveniently, the activation means 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 comprise data encryption means 13 configured to encrypt at least one of either the activation code, the start code or the operating code.

This measure prevents unauthorized persons from interpreting the codes and using them to activate/deactivate additional packaging machines, activate/deactivate one or more assemblies 7, 8, 9, 10 and/or activate/deactivate some of their functions.

The operation of the activation system is described by the following method of activation of packaging machines comprising at least the phases of: provision of at least one system 1 ; activation of the packaging machine 2 comprising at least the steps of: connection of the activation device 5 to the packaging machine 2; comparison between the activation code and the unique reference code; activation of the command means 4 depending on the outcome of the comparison carried out by the phase of comparison.

Furthermore, the phase of activation comprises at least one transmission step of at least one operating code to the packaging machine 2 as a result of the activation of the command means 4.

In particular, the phase of activation comprises a step of writing of the activation device 5 adapted to provide the latter with at least one of: the activation code; the at least one start code; the at least one operating code.

More specifically, the phase of activation comprises a step of starting the packaging machine 2 depending on the start codes and/or the operating codes transmitted by the activation device.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the activation device allows selectively varying the activation/deactivation of one or more operational components of the packaging means used during the operation of the corresponding machine in a convenient, fast and safe manner.

In addition, the activation device allows one or more operational functions of the packaging machine to be activated in a convenient, fast and safe manner.