EP1547927A2 - A device for feeding and cutting film in machines for conditioning products - Google Patents
A device for feeding and cutting film in machines for conditioning products Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1547927A2 EP1547927A2 EP04425923A EP04425923A EP1547927A2 EP 1547927 A2 EP1547927 A2 EP 1547927A2 EP 04425923 A EP04425923 A EP 04425923A EP 04425923 A EP04425923 A EP 04425923A EP 1547927 A2 EP1547927 A2 EP 1547927A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- film
- products
- feed
- cutting means
- conveyor surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
- B65B41/18—Registering sheets, blanks, or webs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
- B26D7/20—Cutting beds
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
- B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
- B26F1/38—Cutting-out; Stamping-out
- B26F1/3806—Cutting-out; Stamping-out wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface
- B26F1/3813—Cutting-out; Stamping-out wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface wherein the tool head is moved in a plane parallel to the work in a coordinate system fixed with respect to the work
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/04—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages
- B65B61/06—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by cutting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
- B26D7/20—Cutting beds
- B26D2007/206—Cutting beds having a travelling gap
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a unit for feeding and cutting film on machines for conditioning products, in particular products which mainly have a cylindrical or prismatic shape which are wrapped with heat-shrink material.
- At present automatic machines of the above-mentioned type have an operating line basically equipped with stations for positioning products and forming predetermined groups of said products, followed, further downstream according to a direction of feed of the products, by stations for wrapping the groups in plasticized wrappers.
- the intermediate positioning and forming stations are therefore designed to form predetermined groups of products and to transport them towards the wrapping stations.
- the group of products leaves the station and, by means of a conveyor line, reaches a packaging station where said wrapping process is completed.
- the plasticized wrapper preferably made of heat-shrink film, is heated so that it tightly adheres to the group of products.
- the product wrapping stations therefore have a system for supplying the film, which normally comes from a special feed and cutting station located below the product conveyor surface.
- this station is connected to suitable conveyor devices for bringing the film to the product conveyor surface, where the wrapper is formed by wrapping the film around the products.
- a construction solution for such a film feed and cutting station is described in patent EP-491666.
- Said solution involves a cutting unit with means for supporting and moving a knife consisting of a pair of chains, parallel and opposite one another, supporting the knife rigidly and on both sides, closed in a ring on a corresponding pair of gear wheels, one of which is motor-driven.
- the pair of chains structured in this way allows continuous movement of the knife, through an almost oval path, cyclically bringing the knife into a position in which it makes contact with and cuts a piece of film.
- the cutting unit is located below the operating line where the products pass, and the conveyor devices comprise a motor-driven angled surface which, as indicated, supplies the wrapping station with film.
- a second solution described in patent EP-581747 has a structure comprising a knife located immediately below the product conveyor surface and a set of film feed rollers located upstream of the knife relative to the direction of film feed.
- the knife which extends transversally to the machine, is moved along a straight line, in both directions, basically acting like a guillotine on the film.
- the device for feeding and cutting film has a pair of counter-rotating rollers between which the film passes.
- the first roller in the pair has a knife projecting radially from the roller, whilst the second roller has a radial groove housing the knife during a cutting rotation.
- the aim of the invention is, therefore, to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, with a device for feeding and cutting film in a machine for conditioning products which has a simple and economical structure.
- the numeral 1 denotes a device for feeding and cutting a continuous film 2 to a machine or line 3 for conditioning products 4.
- said machine 3 in a generic standard configuration, comprises a station 5 for wrapping the products 4 and a station 6 for positioning and supplying the products 4 to the subsequent stations.
- Said stations 5 and 6 are basically of the known type and so are not described in further detail in this text.
- the device 1 comprises a conveyor surface 7, mobile in a direction V of feed, supporting the products 4 which normally have a base 4a on which they rest.
- the device 1 comprises a single conveyor surface 7, formed by the upper branch 8 of a belt 9 wound in a loop about a plurality of rollers 10 of which at least one is a driving roller and the others are driven rollers.
- the device 1 comprises a set of rollers 10a arranged in such a way that, extending as it does, the upper branch 8 forms a transversal slot 11 in the surface 7, constituting a cutting line for the uses better described below. Said rollers 10a therefore form return means 10a.
- the slot 11 may be formed by a succession of two conveyor surfaces with the respective rear and front ends opposite and at a distance from one another.
- the knife 13 which is transversally mobile along the slot 11.
- the knife 13 cuts transversally relative to the surface 7 or, in any case, transversally to the direction V of feed of the products 4.
- the knife 13 is "V"-shaped and has a double blade to allow the film to be cut in one direction and the other as it moves along the above-mentioned cutting line.
- the knife 13 may have any shape and may even be substituted by a pair of knives, each with a single cutting edge and designed to cut the film 2 in one direction only, as described below.
- the knife 13 is supported by a bracket 14 rigidly connected to a support 15 engaging, by means of a counter-support 16, with a toothed belt 17 wound in a loop around a pair of pulleys 18, only one of which is visible in the accompanying drawings.
- the pulley 18 is connected to a motor M for moving the belt 17, together with the knife 13, transversally to the surface 7, to form a piece 2a of film 2.
- a sliding element 19 supports the counter-support 16 and is slidably connected to a guide 20, which is also consequently positioned transversally to the conveyor surface 7.
- a motor-driven roller 23 is positioned at a tangent to the reel 22 and forms, as described in more detail below, film 2 unwinding means 24.
- the film 2 unwound from the reel 22 according to an unwinding path S reaches the conveyor surface 7 through a slot 25 and is held on the surface 7 by the weight of the products 4.
- Said unwinding path S is formed by a plurality of guide rollers 26 for the film 2. Three of these rollers 26 are illustrated, although advantageously there may be any number of them, according to the particular requirements of the machine 3.
- the device 1 also comprises a sonar 27 and a unit 28 for the emission of fluid, normally compressed air 29, located downstream of the reel 22 according to the direction of unwinding S1, to prevent, as is clarified below, film 2 tensioning when the film 2 is unwound from the reel 22, by the unwinding means 24 and the products 4 are fed on the conveyor surface 7 downstream of the slot 25 since the products 4 pull the film 2, as described below.
- fluid normally compressed air 29
- the sonar 27 is designed to detect said tensioning and, by blowing an air jet 29, the device 28 can form a loop 30 in the film 2, so that it basically creates a film 2 reserve 31 along the unwinding path S.
- the sonar 27 and the device 28 basically constitute safety means 32.
- safety means 32 may comprise other devices of a substantially known type, all designed to form a film 2 reserve 31.
- the device 1 has sensor means 33 positioned along the film 2 unwinding path S to synchronize film 2 unwinding with product 4 feed.
- Said means 33 comprise a first photocell 34 aligned with the film 2, located upstream of the slot 25 according to the direction of unwinding S1.
- the photocell 34 synchronizes product 4 feed with the film 2 if the latter has a printed motif to be positioned relative to the products 4 when they are wrapped in a piece 2a of film.
- the film 2 has a reference element identifiable by the photocell 34, which may be the above-mentioned printed motif, a mark on the film 2 or any reference on the film 2.
- the photocell 34 is slidably connected to a guide 35 and is mobile between a first position, corresponding to a minimum size of the piece 2a of film 2 which will be used to wrap the products 4 and a second position, illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 1, corresponding to a maximum size of the piece 2a of film.
- a second photocell 36 is located, at the conveyor surface 7, downstream of the slot 25 and upstream of the knife 13 according to the direction V of product 4 feed.
- This second photocell 36 operates in conjunction with a separator element 37 of the positioning and supply station 6 to form a group 38 of products 4, according to a substantially known method, not described in detail.
- the photocell 36 is mobile on a guide 39 between a position distanced from the knife 13 and a position substantially close to the knife 13, illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 1, so that it can form groups 38 consisting of a predetermined desired number of products (conditioning the groups of products).
- the sensor means 33 also comprise a third photocell 40 located close to the conveyor surface 7, downstream of the knife 13 and upstream of the wrapping station 5, according to the direction V of feed, to establish the length of the piece 2a of film which will be used to wrap the group 38 of products 4 if the film 2 does not have any motif to be centred with the group 38 during wrapping.
- this type of film 2 is called "transparent”.
- the photocell 40 is also mobile on a respective guide 41, extending substantially parallel with the surface 7, between a minimum size position, illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 1, corresponding to a minimum measurement of the piece 2a of film 2 that will be used to wrap the products 4, and a maximum size position, corresponding to a maximum measurement of the piece 2a of film.
- the device 1 comprises a fourth photocell 42 located immediately upstream of the knife 13 and designed to confirm alignment of the products 4 with the cutting line.
- the knife 13, together with the bracket 14, the support 15, the counter-support 16, the belt 17, the pulleys 18, the sliding element 19 and relative guide 20, the pneumatic pistons 21, the motor M and the return rollers 10a may be installed on a carriage 43, mobile at the same speed as the surface 7, along a respective guide 44 in the direction V of product feed, between a start of stroke position, where a cut in the film 2 begins, and an end of stroke position, not illustrated, where the cut ends.
- this embodiment allows “continuous" use of the machine 3, that is to say without interruption in the supply of products 4 to the wrapping station 5.
- second presser means 100 may be used, acting on the film 2, downstream of the first slot 25 relative to the direction V of feed, so that the film 2 can be held in place even when there are no products 4 on the surface 7, for example for size change-overs in the groups of products 4 to be formed.
- These second presser 100 may consist, for example, of pistons 101 with end pads 102 which make contact with the film 2.
- the respective bases 4a of the products 4 make contact with the film as it reaches the conveyor surface 7 as they pass over the slot 25.
- the film 2 below is unwound from the reel 22 by the roller 23 and above, at the surface 7 level, is held and pulled by the products 4 resting on the surface 7.
- the sonar 27 activates the device 28, which, by blowing on the film 2 unwound from the reel 22, creates the reserve 31 in the form of the loop 30.
- the photocell 34 synchronizes film 2 unwinding with product 4 feed on the surface 7.
- the photocell 36 dedicated to sizing the groups 38 activates the separator element 37 to form the group 38 with which the printed film 2 size unwound from the reel 22 is associated.
- the group 38 stops in front of the cutting line and the photocell 42 confirms that alignment has been achieved.
- the products 4 are fed beyond the cutting line, still pulling the continuous film 2, until they reach a position where the trailing section 2b of film 2 which will form the piece 2a of film after the cut, between the front 4b of the products 4 and the cutting line, is long enough to wrap the group 38 (advantageously the trailing section 2b is longer than the perimeter of the group of products 4 in the side view in Figure 1).
- the pistons 21 block the film relative to the knife 13 which cuts the film 2, moving transversally to the surface 7, forming the piece 2a of film. If the knife 13 is of the type with two blades, it will make the cut in direction T1 and, for the next group 38 of products, a cut in the film 2 in direction T2, without having to return to a starting position at the end of each cut.
- the products 4 together with the piece 2a of film are then fed towards the wrapping station 5, where a plasticized wrapper is formed around the group 38 of products using known methods that are therefore not described.
- the photocell 40 will check the distance between the products 4 and the cutting line, and the film 2 is cut when the trailing section 2b of film 2 is long enough to wrap the group 38.
- the film 2 is cut during a carriage 43 movement in the direction V of product feed.
- the carriage will move at a speed equal to that of the surface 7 so that the cutting line is relatively stationary relative to the products 4 and to the film 2 to be cut.
- the movement of the carriage will also be such that it allows carriage 43 repositioning in the start of stroke position when a new group 38 of products 4 arrives, pulling the film 2, close to the cutting line.
- the entire operation of the machine 3 is regulated by a control unit, not illustrated, which processes the signals arriving from the photocells described.
- the many adjustments and size variations may be simply performed by changing the position of the photocells or, in a more complex way, by operating on the machine 3 software programming.
- the invention fulfils the preset aims. Positioning the knife at the conveyor surface, downstream of the slot from which the film arrives and upstream of the wrapping station according to the direction of product feed on the conveyor surface, the structure of the machine can be significantly simplified, since the film, simply unwound from the reel, is basically pulled towards the cutting line by the products themselves.
- the positioning of the photocells described allows the use of both printed film and transparent film and product size change-overs are simple to perform by manually positioning the photocells.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a unit for feeding and cutting film on machines for conditioning products, in particular products which mainly have a cylindrical or prismatic shape which are wrapped with heat-shrink material.
- At present automatic machines of the above-mentioned type have an operating line basically equipped with stations for positioning products and forming predetermined groups of said products, followed, further downstream according to a direction of feed of the products, by stations for wrapping the groups in plasticized wrappers.
- The intermediate positioning and forming stations are therefore designed to form predetermined groups of products and to transport them towards the wrapping stations.
- Once wrapped, the group of products leaves the station and, by means of a conveyor line, reaches a packaging station where said wrapping process is completed. The plasticized wrapper, preferably made of heat-shrink film, is heated so that it tightly adheres to the group of products.
- The product wrapping stations therefore have a system for supplying the film, which normally comes from a special feed and cutting station located below the product conveyor surface.
- Therefore, this station is connected to suitable conveyor devices for bringing the film to the product conveyor surface, where the wrapper is formed by wrapping the film around the products.
- A construction solution for such a film feed and cutting station is described in patent EP-491666. Said solution involves a cutting unit with means for supporting and moving a knife consisting of a pair of chains, parallel and opposite one another, supporting the knife rigidly and on both sides, closed in a ring on a corresponding pair of gear wheels, one of which is motor-driven.
- The pair of chains structured in this way allows continuous movement of the knife, through an almost oval path, cyclically bringing the knife into a position in which it makes contact with and cuts a piece of film.
- In said solution, the cutting unit is located below the operating line where the products pass, and the conveyor devices comprise a motor-driven angled surface which, as indicated, supplies the wrapping station with film.
- A second solution described in patent EP-581747, has a structure comprising a knife located immediately below the product conveyor surface and a set of film feed rollers located upstream of the knife relative to the direction of film feed.
- To cut the film, the knife which extends transversally to the machine, is moved along a straight line, in both directions, basically acting like a guillotine on the film.
- Said solutions were further modified to obtain effective "continuous cycle" operation in packaging and the machine is described in patent EP-839723.
- In the latter solution, the device for feeding and cutting film has a pair of counter-rotating rollers between which the film passes.
- The first roller in the pair has a knife projecting radially from the roller, whilst the second roller has a radial groove housing the knife during a cutting rotation.
- However, the above-mentioned machines have some disadvantages in particular due to the positioning, relative to the rest of the machine, of the many components in the station and the consequent architecture of the devices which supply film to the wrapping station.
- Since they must satisfy high parameters for synchronization with product feed on the operating line, such devices have a rather complex structure. Said structure must also guarantee a continuous supply of film to the subsequent stations, usually pushing the film upwards, since, as already indicated, they are normally located below the conveyor surface.
- The complexity of the devices therefore means that their cost is high, placing such machines in a niche in the market reserved for those with proportionate investment budgets.
- The aim of the invention is, therefore, to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, with a device for feeding and cutting film in a machine for conditioning products which has a simple and economical structure.
- The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the aforesaid aims, may be clearly inferred from the claims herein, in
particular claim 1 and, preferably, from any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent onclaim 1. - The advantages of the present invention are more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment without limiting the scope of application, and in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic side view with some parts cut away to better illustrate others of a machine for conditioning products comprising a device made according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a schematic front view with some parts in cross-section of a detail of the device made according to the present invention;
- Figure 3 is a schematic side view with some parts cut away to better illustrate others of a different embodiment of the device made according to the present invention;
- Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view with some parts cut away for greater clarity of a detail of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.
- With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular with reference to Figure 1, the
numeral 1 denotes a device for feeding and cutting acontinuous film 2 to a machine orline 3 forconditioning products 4. - In particular, said
machine 3, in a generic standard configuration, comprises astation 5 for wrapping theproducts 4 and astation 6 for positioning and supplying theproducts 4 to the subsequent stations. Saidstations - The
device 1 comprises aconveyor surface 7, mobile in a direction V of feed, supporting theproducts 4 which normally have abase 4a on which they rest. - In particular with reference to Figure 1, it can be seen how the
device 1 comprises asingle conveyor surface 7, formed by theupper branch 8 of a belt 9 wound in a loop about a plurality ofrollers 10 of which at least one is a driving roller and the others are driven rollers. - In greater detail, it may also be seen that the
device 1 comprises a set ofrollers 10a arranged in such a way that, extending as it does, theupper branch 8 forms atransversal slot 11 in thesurface 7, constituting a cutting line for the uses better described below. Saidrollers 10a therefore form return means 10a. - In embodiments not illustrated, the
slot 11 may be formed by a succession of two conveyor surfaces with the respective rear and front ends opposite and at a distance from one another. - As is also shown in Figure 4, at the
conveyor surface 7, and precisely theslot 11, there is aknife 13 which is transversally mobile along theslot 11. Basically, in the embodiment illustrated theknife 13 cuts transversally relative to thesurface 7 or, in any case, transversally to the direction V of feed of theproducts 4. In the particular embodiment illustrated, theknife 13 is "V"-shaped and has a double blade to allow the film to be cut in one direction and the other as it moves along the above-mentioned cutting line. Advantageously, in embodiments that are not illustrated, theknife 13 may have any shape and may even be substituted by a pair of knives, each with a single cutting edge and designed to cut thefilm 2 in one direction only, as described below. - In particular with reference to Figure 2, it can be seen that the
knife 13 is supported by abracket 14 rigidly connected to asupport 15 engaging, by means of acounter-support 16, with atoothed belt 17 wound in a loop around a pair ofpulleys 18, only one of which is visible in the accompanying drawings. - The
pulley 18 is connected to a motor M for moving thebelt 17, together with theknife 13, transversally to thesurface 7, to form apiece 2a offilm 2. - A
sliding element 19 supports thecounter-support 16 and is slidably connected to aguide 20, which is also consequently positioned transversally to theconveyor surface 7. - Opposite the
knife 13 there is a pair ofpneumatic pistons 21, visible in Figures 1 and 3, to hold thefilm 2 during the cutting operations, by means of a forkedpad 21a which allows theknife 13 to pass. Advantageously, there may be any number ofpistons 21 according to themachine 3 requirements and the size of thefilm 2 used to wrap theproducts 4. As described, saidpistons 21 constitute presser means. With reference to Figure 1, it may be seen that in the case illustrated thefilm 2 is wound in areel 22, located, in the particular configuration illustrated and by way of example only, below thesurface 7. - A motor-driven
roller 23 is positioned at a tangent to thereel 22 and forms, as described in more detail below,film 2 unwinding means 24. - During normal use, the
film 2 unwound from thereel 22 according to an unwinding path S reaches theconveyor surface 7 through aslot 25 and is held on thesurface 7 by the weight of theproducts 4. - Said unwinding path S is formed by a plurality of
guide rollers 26 for thefilm 2. Three of theserollers 26 are illustrated, although advantageously there may be any number of them, according to the particular requirements of themachine 3. - The
device 1 also comprises asonar 27 and aunit 28 for the emission of fluid, normally compressedair 29, located downstream of thereel 22 according to the direction of unwinding S1, to prevent, as is clarified below,film 2 tensioning when thefilm 2 is unwound from thereel 22, by theunwinding means 24 and theproducts 4 are fed on theconveyor surface 7 downstream of theslot 25 since theproducts 4 pull thefilm 2, as described below. - In particular, the
sonar 27 is designed to detect said tensioning and, by blowing anair jet 29, thedevice 28 can form aloop 30 in thefilm 2, so that it basically creates afilm 2reserve 31 along the unwinding path S. - The
sonar 27 and thedevice 28 basically constitute safety means 32. In embodiments not illustrated, such safety means 32 may comprise other devices of a substantially known type, all designed to form afilm 2reserve 31. - The
device 1 has sensor means 33 positioned along thefilm 2 unwinding path S to synchronizefilm 2 unwinding withproduct 4 feed. Said means 33 comprise afirst photocell 34 aligned with thefilm 2, located upstream of theslot 25 according to the direction of unwinding S1. - As described below, the
photocell 34 synchronizesproduct 4 feed with thefilm 2 if the latter has a printed motif to be positioned relative to theproducts 4 when they are wrapped in apiece 2a of film. - In particular, in these cases the
film 2 has a reference element identifiable by thephotocell 34, which may be the above-mentioned printed motif, a mark on thefilm 2 or any reference on thefilm 2. Thephotocell 34 is slidably connected to aguide 35 and is mobile between a first position, corresponding to a minimum size of thepiece 2a offilm 2 which will be used to wrap theproducts 4 and a second position, illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 1, corresponding to a maximum size of thepiece 2a of film. - A
second photocell 36 is located, at theconveyor surface 7, downstream of theslot 25 and upstream of theknife 13 according to the direction V ofproduct 4 feed. Thissecond photocell 36 operates in conjunction with aseparator element 37 of the positioning andsupply station 6 to form agroup 38 ofproducts 4, according to a substantially known method, not described in detail. Thephotocell 36 is mobile on aguide 39 between a position distanced from theknife 13 and a position substantially close to theknife 13, illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 1, so that it can formgroups 38 consisting of a predetermined desired number of products (conditioning the groups of products). - The sensor means 33 also comprise a
third photocell 40 located close to theconveyor surface 7, downstream of theknife 13 and upstream of thewrapping station 5, according to the direction V of feed, to establish the length of thepiece 2a of film which will be used to wrap thegroup 38 ofproducts 4 if thefilm 2 does not have any motif to be centred with thegroup 38 during wrapping. Hereinafter this type offilm 2 is called "transparent". - The
photocell 40 is also mobile on arespective guide 41, extending substantially parallel with thesurface 7, between a minimum size position, illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 1, corresponding to a minimum measurement of thepiece 2a offilm 2 that will be used to wrap theproducts 4, and a maximum size position, corresponding to a maximum measurement of thepiece 2a of film. - Finally, the
device 1 comprises afourth photocell 42 located immediately upstream of theknife 13 and designed to confirm alignment of theproducts 4 with the cutting line. - In particular with reference to Figure 3, it may be seen that the
knife 13, together with thebracket 14, thesupport 15, the counter-support 16, thebelt 17, thepulleys 18, the slidingelement 19 andrelative guide 20, thepneumatic pistons 21, the motor M and thereturn rollers 10a may be installed on acarriage 43, mobile at the same speed as thesurface 7, along arespective guide 44 in the direction V of product feed, between a start of stroke position, where a cut in thefilm 2 begins, and an end of stroke position, not illustrated, where the cut ends. - As described below, this embodiment allows "continuous" use of the
machine 3, that is to say without interruption in the supply ofproducts 4 to the wrappingstation 5. - Obviously, if
knife 13 movement along paths not completely perpendicular to thesurface 7 is required, different speeds V1 and V2 may be calculated, respectively for thecarriage 43 and thesurface 7 again to allow a transversal cut, but with different speeds and, therefore,machine 3 productivity. - Similarly (see Figures 3 and 4), second presser means 100 may be used, acting on the
film 2, downstream of thefirst slot 25 relative to the direction V of feed, so that thefilm 2 can be held in place even when there are noproducts 4 on thesurface 7, for example for size change-overs in the groups ofproducts 4 to be formed. Thesesecond presser 100 may consist, for example, ofpistons 101 withend pads 102 which make contact with thefilm 2. - In practice, starting with a generic operating configuration, at the
positioning station 6 outfeed, therespective bases 4a of theproducts 4 make contact with the film as it reaches theconveyor surface 7 as they pass over theslot 25. - The
film 2 below is unwound from thereel 22 by theroller 23 and above, at thesurface 7 level, is held and pulled by theproducts 4 resting on thesurface 7. - To avoid
unwanted film 2 tensioning afterproduct 4 feed on thesurface 7, each time it detects such tensioning, thesonar 27 activates thedevice 28, which, by blowing on thefilm 2 unwound from thereel 22, creates thereserve 31 in the form of theloop 30. - If the
film 2 has a printed motif on it, which must be suitably centred relative to theproducts 4 when packaging is complete, thephotocell 34 synchronizesfilm 2 unwinding withproduct 4 feed on thesurface 7. - Simultaneously, the
photocell 36 dedicated to sizing thegroups 38, activates theseparator element 37 to form thegroup 38 with which the printedfilm 2 size unwound from thereel 22 is associated. In normal operating conditions, thegroup 38 stops in front of the cutting line and thephotocell 42 confirms that alignment has been achieved. - In particular with reference to Figure 4, the
products 4 are fed beyond the cutting line, still pulling thecontinuous film 2, until they reach a position where the trailingsection 2b offilm 2 which will form thepiece 2a of film after the cut, between the front 4b of theproducts 4 and the cutting line, is long enough to wrap the group 38 (advantageously the trailingsection 2b is longer than the perimeter of the group ofproducts 4 in the side view in Figure 1). Once theproducts 4 are positioned, thepistons 21 block the film relative to theknife 13 which cuts thefilm 2, moving transversally to thesurface 7, forming thepiece 2a of film. If theknife 13 is of the type with two blades, it will make the cut in direction T1 and, for thenext group 38 of products, a cut in thefilm 2 in direction T2, without having to return to a starting position at the end of each cut. - The
products 4 together with thepiece 2a of film are then fed towards the wrappingstation 5, where a plasticized wrapper is formed around thegroup 38 of products using known methods that are therefore not described. - If the
film 2 is transparent, to form thepiece 2a of film thephotocell 40 will check the distance between theproducts 4 and the cutting line, and thefilm 2 is cut when the trailingsection 2b offilm 2 is long enough to wrap thegroup 38. - In the device illustrated in Figure 3, the
film 2 is cut during acarriage 43 movement in the direction V of product feed. The carriage will move at a speed equal to that of thesurface 7 so that the cutting line is relatively stationary relative to theproducts 4 and to thefilm 2 to be cut. The movement of the carriage will also be such that it allowscarriage 43 repositioning in the start of stroke position when anew group 38 ofproducts 4 arrives, pulling thefilm 2, close to the cutting line. - The entire operation of the
machine 3 is regulated by a control unit, not illustrated, which processes the signals arriving from the photocells described. The many adjustments and size variations may be simply performed by changing the position of the photocells or, in a more complex way, by operating on themachine 3 software programming. - The invention fulfils the preset aims. Positioning the knife at the conveyor surface, downstream of the slot from which the film arrives and upstream of the wrapping station according to the direction of product feed on the conveyor surface, the structure of the machine can be significantly simplified, since the film, simply unwound from the reel, is basically pulled towards the cutting line by the products themselves.
- Moreover, the positioning of the photocells described allows the use of both printed film and transparent film and product size change-overs are simple to perform by manually positioning the photocells.
- The invention described is suitable for evident industrial applications. It may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
Claims (21)
- A device for feeding and cutting a continuous film (2) to a station (5) for wrapping products (4) in a conditioning machine or line (3) comprising a product (4) positioning and feed station (6), the products (4) being mobile, one after another and in a direction (V) of feed, on at least one conveyor surface (7) along the machine (3) between the positioning station (6) and the wrapping station (5), the film (2) being located between the surface (7) and the base (4a) of the products (4), where the products pass close to a first slot (25) in the conveyor surface (7) and proceeding as one with the products (4) along the surface (7), the device being characterised in that it comprises cutting means (13) for forming a piece (2a) of film (2), the cutting means being located at the conveyor surface (7), downstream of the first slot (25) and upstream of the wrapping station (5) according to the direction (V) of feed, the cutting means (13) operating at the gap between successive products (4).
- The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises return means (10a) forming a second slot (11) in the conveyor surface (7) for the passage of a knife (13), transversally mobile relative to the conveyor surface (7), and forming the cutting means (13).
- The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises return means (10a) forming a second slot (11) in the conveyor surface (7) for the passage of a knife (13), transversally mobile relative to the direction (V) of feed and forming the cutting means (13).
- The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that it comprises presser means (21) located at the cutting means (13), on opposite sides of the cutting means (13), to block and hold the film (2) relative to the cutting means (13) for formation of the piece (2a) of film.
- The device according to claim 4, characterised in that at least the cutting means (13), the return means (10a) and the presser means (21) are mobile along the direction (V) of feed, parallel with the conveyor surface (7) and simultaneously with the products (4) and the film (2), from a start of stroke position, where a cut in the film (2) begins, to an end of stroke position, where the cut finishes.
- The device according to claim 4, characterised in that at least the cutting means (13), the return means (10a) and the presser means (21) are mobile along the direction (V) of feed, parallel with the conveyor surface (7) and with a speed (V1) different to the speed (V2) of the products (4) and of the film (2), from a start of stroke position, where a cut in the film (2) begins, to an end of stroke position, where the cut finishes.
- The device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that it comprises a carriage (43), supporting the cutting means (13), the return means (10a) and the presser means (21), and a first guide (44) extending along the machine (3), the carriage (43) being slidably connected to the guide (44).
- The device according to any of the claims from 4 to 7, characterised in that the presser means (21) comprise at least one pneumatic piston (21) designed to control at least one pair of forkshaped pads (21a).
- The device according to claim 1, characterised in that at the surface (7) there are second presser means (100) acting on the film (2), downstream of the slot (N) relative to the direction (V) of feed, and designed to allow the film (2) to be held in the absence of the products (4) on the surface (7).
- The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 9, including a reel (22) supporting the film (2) and means (24) for unwinding the film (2) from the reel (22), characterised in that it comprises safety means (32), located downstream of the reel (22) according to a direction (S1) of film (2) unwinding, to prevent film (2) tensioning when the film is unwound simultaneously with feeding of the products (4) on the conveyor surface (7), downstream of the first slot (25), the products pulling the film (2) along the surface (7).
- The device according to claim 10, characterised in that the safety means (32) comprise at least a first unit (28) designed to form a reserve (31) of film (2) downstream of the reel (22) according to the direction (S1) of unwinding.
- The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the first unit (28) operates by emitting fluid to create a loop (30) in the film (2), the loop (30) forming the reserve (31).
- The device according to any of the claims from 10 to 12, characterised in that the safety means (32) comprise a sonar (27) opposite the film (2), for detecting film (2) tensioning.
- The device according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 13, characterised in that it comprises sensor means (33) located along a film (2) unwinding path (S) designed to operate in conjunction with, respectively, the positioning and feed station (6), to form a group (38) of products (4), and with the cutting means (13) and the conveyor surface (7), to form the piece (2a) of film.
- The device according to claim 14, in which the film (2) has a reference element in predetermined sequences, characterised in that the sensor means (33) comprise at least a first photocell (34) for identifying the reference element, aligned with the film (2), located upstream of the first slot (25), according to a direction (S1) of film (2) unwinding (2), for checking synchronization between the film (2) and the size of the products (4) in transit, close to the first slot (25) so as to allow centring of the film (2) and the group (38) of products (4).
- The device according to claim 15, characterised in that the first photocell (34) is mobile along a second guide (35), extending parallel with the film (2), between a first position, corresponding to a minimum size of the piece (2a) of film and a second position, corresponding to a maximum size of the piece (2a) of film.
- The device according to any of the claims from 14 to 16, characterised in that the sensor means (33) comprise a second photocell (36) located at the conveyor surface (7), downstream of the first slot (25) and upstream of the cutting means (13) according to a direction (V) of feed, forming the size of the group (38) of products (4) on the conveyor surface (7), operating in conjunction with a separator element (37) of the positioning and feed station (6).
- The device according to claim 17, characterised in that the second photocell (36) is mobile on a third guide (39) between a position distanced from the cutting means (13) and a position close to the cutting means (13) forming respective sizes.
- The device according to claim 14, in which the film (2) is of the transparent type, characterised in that the sensor means (33) comprise a third photocell (40) located close to the conveyor surface (7), downstream of the cutting means (13) and upstream of the wrapping station (5) according to the direction (V) of feed, to establish a length, that is to say the size, of the piece (2a) of film for wrapping the group (38).
- The device according to claim 19, characterised in that the third photocell (40) is mobile on a fourth guide (41), extending parallel with the film (2), between a minimum size position, corresponding to a minimum size of the piece (2a) of film and a maximum size position, corresponding to a maximum size of the piece (2a) of film.
- The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 20, characterised in that it comprises a fourth photocell (42) located immediately upstream of the cutting means (13) according to the direction (V) of feed, for checking alignment of the products (4) and the film (2) with the cutting means (13).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITBO20030779 | 2003-12-23 | ||
IT000779A ITBO20030779A1 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2003-12-23 | FILM FEEDING AND CUTTING DEVICE IN PRODUCT CONDITIONING MACHINES |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1547927A2 true EP1547927A2 (en) | 2005-06-29 |
EP1547927A3 EP1547927A3 (en) | 2006-04-12 |
Family
ID=34531905
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP04425923A Withdrawn EP1547927A3 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2004-12-17 | A device for feeding and cutting film in machines for conditioning products |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050132664A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1547927A3 (en) |
IT (1) | ITBO20030779A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200410237B (en) |
Cited By (2)
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WO2008151839A1 (en) * | 2007-06-14 | 2008-12-18 | Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen Gmbh + Co.Kg | Apparatus for holding plate-shaped materials for at least one separation process |
DE102013215547A1 (en) * | 2013-08-07 | 2015-02-12 | Krones Aktiengesellschaft | Feed and storage device for an endlessly conveyed strip material and method for its promotion |
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CN101808920A (en) | 2008-08-19 | 2010-08-18 | 日东电工株式会社 | Method for transferring optical film and apparatus employing the method |
US9073162B2 (en) | 2011-12-16 | 2015-07-07 | Peddinghaus Corporation | Method and apparatus for cutting a mill plate |
US10549871B2 (en) * | 2013-11-02 | 2020-02-04 | Alain Cerf | Film wrapping using a single roll |
US10336480B2 (en) | 2015-06-18 | 2019-07-02 | Nexperia B.V. | Air-guided tape-and-reel system and method |
DE102016200540A1 (en) * | 2016-01-18 | 2017-07-20 | Krones Aktiengesellschaft | Apparatus and method for grouping and combining articles into multiple packages of different package sizes |
DE102017119296A1 (en) * | 2017-08-23 | 2019-02-28 | Haver & Boecker Ohg | Packaging plant and method for packaging objects |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1547927A3 (en) | 2006-04-12 |
ZA200410237B (en) | 2005-11-21 |
US20050132664A1 (en) | 2005-06-23 |
ITBO20030779A1 (en) | 2005-06-24 |
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