GB2405133A

GB2405133A - Packaging delicate items in tubular wrapping

Info

Publication number: GB2405133A
Application number: GB0417990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Windo
Original assignee: Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd; Valmet Atlas PLC
Current assignee: Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd; Valmet Atlas PLC
Priority date: 2003-08-22
Filing date: 2004-08-12
Publication date: 2005-02-23
Also published as: GB0417990D0; WO2005019037A1; GB0319794D0

Abstract

Packaging apparatus for enwrapping fragile or delicate articles which can be opened easily and without risk of damage to the enwrapped articles, comprises extending means 13, 14 for causing a longitudinally folded tubular web of flexible material 50 to advance from a roll 20 by a selected distance in relation to the size of the article to be packaged, sealing station means 39 for forming a sealed closure across the tubular web 50 at the said selected distance from the free end of the web, grabber means (45) for opening the free end of the web to allow an article to be introduced into the interior of the container thus formed, and sealing means (46) for closing the open end of the container.

Description

42355_comp.doc 2405 1 33

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PACKAGING APPARATUS

The present invention relates generally to packaging apparatus, and particularly to improved packaging apparatus suitable for packaging articles which are fragile or which, for any reason, require careful handling.

Packaging or wrapping is provided to products or articles in order to protect them from atmospheric agents such as moisture, dust etc. also for reasons of hygiene, for pharmacological masonry, and also to protect them from abrasion during handling, storage and transport. In the case of fragile or delicate to articles, however, conventional wrapping or packaging is not always suitable, not because of any inherent properties of the packaging itself, or the packaging operation, but because it encloses the article too tightly. This leads to the risk of damage to the article when being opened by the user or customer. This is especially true, for example, of reels of metalised foil which are easily damaged by mechanical actions, and are of a high value. If such reels are wrapped tightly, such as in shrink-wrap material, they may be damaged, especially at the edges, or the outer layer or layers may be contacted by a tool used for opening the packaging. This can result in the need to discard several meters of the foil before a roll thereof can be used. However, a roll of metalised foil may have a so value of several thousand pounds and this amount of material waste is

unacceptable.

The present invention seeks, therefore, to provide packaging apparatus capable of enwrapping fragile or delicate articles in such a way that they are protected from environmental agents or for reasons of hygiene during storage and transport, which can be opened easily and without risk of damage to enwrapped articles.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, automatic packaging apparatus for fragile or delicate articles comprises means for supporting a generally tubular element of packaging material closed at one end and open at the other with its open end facing a product delivery station, means for introducing an article into the interior of the open tube, and means for closing the tube to form a package to be sealed with the article loosely enclosed within it.

to In the preferred embodiment of the invention the tubular element of packaging material is formed at one end of an elongate tube by dosing and/or sealing across the width of an extended length of elongate tubular stock material to form an open-ended end portion which is then separated from the stock to form a container or enclosure to receive the article to be packaged.

The open ended partially-formed enclosure or container may be orientated in any direction in dependence on the manner in which the articles to be packaged may be delivered. In a preferred embodiment, however, the open ended tubular partly-formed enclosure or container is orientated so as to be upwardly open so that the articles to be enwrapped can be lowered into the partly formed container in the form of a bag which can then be subsequently closed and/or sealed.

According to another aspect of the present invention automatic packaging apparatus for packaging fragile or delicate articles so as to be loosely enclosed within a wrapping of flexible material, comprises means for causing a longitudinally folded tubular web of flexible material to advance from a roll thereof by a selected distance in relation to the size of the article to be packaged, means for forming a sealed closure across the tubular web at the said selected distance from the free end of the web, means for opening the free end of the web to allow an article to be introduced into the interior of the container thus formed, and means for closing the open end of the container preparatory to the sealing thereof.

It is convenient for such apparatus to be made in modular form in order to facilitate variations in production by arranging for one or more such units to be positioned at the end of the production line. Moreover, by being able to selectively to determine the distance from the end of the web at which the first closure or seal is made, it is possible readily to adapt the apparatus to enwrap articles of different sizes without substantial modifications to its operating parameters.

In a further aspect, therefore, the present invention provides automatic Is apparatus for packaging fragile articles in a flexible laminar wrapping material, comprising means for orienting a free end portion of laminar wrapping material in a tube with its free end uppermost, means for effecting a hrst closure of the tube at a selected distance from the free end of the in wrapping material dependence on the size of the article to be wrapped, means for opening the free end of the so tube to form an upwardly open container, means for effecting closure of the tube at the free end thereof after an article to be wrapped has been introduced thereto thereby to form a loose wrapping around the article, and means for separating the said free end portion of the tube from the remainder thereof.

Such separation can be made after the entire package has been closed, or may be effected contemporaneously with or immediately after the first closure of tube.

Preferably, the means for effecting the said first closure of the tube of flexible laminar wrapping material a selected distance from the free end of the tube acts to seal the said tube. This can be achieved particularly conveniently if the flexible laminar wrapping material is polyethylene, which lends itself to sealing by heat welding as is well known.

The said means for separating the free end portion of the tube from the remainder thereof preferably acts to effect such separation to contemporaneously with or immediately after the said first closure is formed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the said means for effecting the said first closure comprises two jaws which are associated with, and preferably move together under a support table for the article when this latter is introduced to the container formed at the free end of the tube.

l5 Preferably there are provided means for causing the free end portion of the tube of flexible laminar material to advance in relation to the said means for effecting the first closure, whereby to select the distance from the free end of the tube at which the first closure is formed. Such advancing means may be, for example, means for engaging and drawing forward a free end of the tube formed to from the previous separation of the wrapping container in a previous operation.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention this means comprises a reciprocable member capable of gripping the leading end of the tube at or adjacent to the location at which separation of a previous free end portion has taken place, and advancing with it a selected distance, drawing the new free end portion of the tube past the separation means until a selected position is reached, at which the closure and separation of the free end portion is to take place.

The tube of flexible laminar wrapping material may be held on a reel thereof with at least one open loop of laminar wrapping material between the reel and the said advancing means, the reel having drive means which are energised to operate when the said open loop is reduced in size due to material being drawn off by the said advancing means.

Preferably the moving components of the apparatus are carried on a modular frame allowing the apparatus to be operated alongside further such to apparatus to increase packaging output.

The means for opening the free end of the tube to form an upwardly open container may comprise one or a plurality of suckers, grippers or grabber fingers operable to engage the edge of the laminar wrapping material at the free end of the tube. These grippers or grabber fingers may be carried by the tube advancing mechanism, and may be the same as or additional to the gripping means engageable with the free end of the tube to cause advance thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention adapted to be used with flat folded tube in which two lateral portions are folded inwardly to form inwardly- directed V-shape side portions between two major planar faces, the means for so opening the free end of the tube may include a mandrel or"sword" in the form of a generally flattened C-shape member the free ends of which engage the V- shape portions and cause the major panels to become slightly spaced from one another as the tube is moved past, to allow the said gripper or grabber fingers to engage the free edge of the tube so that it can be pulled open prior to being further advanced.

The present invention also comprehends a method of packaging fragile or delicate articles comprising the steps of: - feeding a free end portion of a longitudinally folded tube of flexible laminar wrapping material to a filling station; - opening the free end of the tube; - closing the tube a selected distance from the end thereof to form an open container; introducing an article to be wrapped into the container; to - closing the free end of the tube to form a closed wrapping container loosely around the article; and - before or after closing the free end of the tube, cutting the free end portion from the remainder of the tube.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 i s a partially sectioned schematic side view of apparatus for use in wrapping articles in packaging material; Jo Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1 illustrating a partly formed container; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of part of Figure 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of part of Figure 1; and Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the way the flat tube is hrst opened.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of packaging apparatus which has particular advantages in compactness and modularity. In this embodiment the 'Yootprint" of the apparatus is in the region of 1.6 x 1.6m in operation (although it can be extended, as shown in Figure 1, to allow access to various components) and is in the region of 2 metres high.

The apparatus comprises a base frame generally indicated 11 standing on adjustable feet 12. Upwardly from the base frame extend two columns 13,14 (the latter of which is visible in the section view of Figure 1).

to Mounted between the two columns 13, 14 is a reciprocable upper frame assembly 15 the structure and function of which will be described in more detail below. The support base 1 1 includes two horizontal rails 16, 17 on which is mounted a horizontally movable sub-frame assembly generally indicated generally indicated 18 carried on telescopic arms 19 which are shown l5 extended in Figure 1 for ease of illustration, but which are retracted in operation as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The sub frame assembly 18 comprises a lower table 36 and a support 25 for a reel 20 of laminar flexible packaging material 10, in this case a web of polyethylene him formed as a longitudinally folded flat tube. The reel 20 is mounted so on a spindle driven by motors 21 at each end which are energised in a manner which will be described in more detail below. The form of the flat tube of packaging material 10 is shown in Figures 3 and 5. It comprises two major generally planar faces 1 Oa, 1 Ob, joined by two inwardly folded generally V-shape side portions 1 Oc, 1 Od.

Upwardly from the telescopic arms 19 extend four legs 22,23 in pairs at each side of the sub-frame assembly 18. Each pair of legs 22, 23 is joined by respective cantilevered support beams 24, 25 which have downwardlyextending limbs 24a, 25a at cantilevered ends thereof at the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2.

Carried on the cantilevered support beams 24,25 are four stationary guide rollers 26, 27, 28 and 29. These cooperate with two "dancer" rollers 30, 31 each carried at its ends on a pair of pivoted arms 32, 33. The web 10 of polyethylene packaging material is guided from the roller 20, over the first fixed roll 26, under to the first "dancer" roll 30, over the second fixed roll 27, under the second "dancer" roll 31, then over the third fixed roll 28 to form two upwardly open loops generally indicated 34, 35. The web is finally passed under the fourth fixed roll 29 from which it passes up towards a 9 table assembly 36 carried at the upper ends of the said two pairs of legs 22, 23.

The table assembly 36 comprises upper platform elements 37, 38 defining between them an elongate slot 39. Below the table elements 37, 38 are two sealing beams 40, 41 which are movable towards or away from one another to a closed or open position beneath the slot 39 by means of respective actuators 40a, 41 a. The sealing beams are heated (by means not shown) to enable them so to heat weld the web of polyethylene tube pressed between them.

Beneath the sealing beams 40, 41 is carried a cutter knife assembly generally indicated 42 having a knife blade guided on longitudinal guide rails parallel to the slot 39, which can be traversed along the length of the slot 39 from one end to the other whereby to cut the web passing therethrough. x

Immediately below the cutter knife assembly 42 is a tube-opening device 47 which can be seen in more detail in Figures 3 and 5. This comprises two facing wedge-shape guides 48, 49 each hereinafter called a "sword" over which the V-folded sides 10c,1 Od of the flat tube 10 pass as the tube is drawn through the machine. This acts to separate the two major panels 1 Oa, 1 Ob of the folded tube allowing the free edges thereof to be gripped by grabber fingers or pincers 45 carried by the upper frame 15 as will be described in more detail below.

As can be seen in Figure 4, at the level of the tube-opening "sword" are two clamps 51, 52 which hold the free end of the tube in place after it has been Jo cut by the knife assembly 42. The grabber fingers or pincers generally indicated carried by the upper frame 15 are capable of gripping the leading edge of the polyethylene web, as can be seen in Figure 3. The pincers 45 are transversely displaceable to open the upper free end of the tubular web. The upper frame assembly also carries sealing beams 46 like the beams 40, 41 carried on the Is lower table, which can be heated to close and seal the web as will be described in more detail below.

The movable components of the apparatus are controlled by a central processor unit 50 operable to issue command signals to the various components to operate in a sequence of movements which will now be Jo described.

Having determined the size of an article to be wrapped, the vertically reciprocable upper frame assembly 15 is lowered down the columns 13,14 and the pincers 45 dosed to engage the leading end of a tubular web of polyethylene extending from the roll 20 over the rollers 26,27, 28, 29. In this position the sealing beams 40, 41 of the lower table assembly are open allowing the grabber finger members or pincers 45 to project down through the slot 39 to engage the leading end of the web. The clamps 51, 52 are in the closed position holding the heading end of the tube in place on the "sword", which itself holds the corners of its tube apart s to allow each to be gripped by one of the pincers 45. Having gripped the leading end of the tube with the pincers 45, the clamps 51, 52 are opened and the upper frame assembly 15 is caused to rise by a distance depending on the dimension of the article to be wrapped. The tube of wrapping film is drawn over the rollers 26, 27, 28, 29, causing "dancer" rollers 30, 31 to rise and resulting in a reduction in the to size of the open loops 34, 35. This is permitted by angular movement of the support arms 32, 33 which are pivoted at one end. A microswitdh (not shown) detects this displacement of the arms 32, 33 and energises the drive motors to the reel 20 causing these to turn the reel and feed off a sufficient length of the tubular web material to reinstate the open loops 34, 35, at which point the reel Is drive is stopped.

Once the upper frame assembly 15 has reached its determined position the damps 51, 52 are again closed and the sealing beams 40, 41 also closed and heat is applied to form a linear seal across the web. Then the knife assembly 42 is energised to move parallel to the length of the slot 39 separating the upper to end portion of the web just beneath the seal formed by the sealing beams 40, 41 from the remainder of the tube. At this point the grabber fingers or pincers 45 of the upper frame assembly are moved apart to open the upper end portion of the web and simultaneously the frame 15 is lowered to form an upwardly open flexible bag generally indicated 50. The closed lower part of the bag 50 rests on the table constituted by the platform elements 37, 38 to allow an article, such as a reel of foil, to be introduced through the open end of the bag and supported on the table.

This introduction may be effected manually, or by automatic machinery such as a "pick and place" robot located at the delivery end of the production line. Once the article has been placed into the bag the pincers 45 of the upper frame assembly close together and the upper sealing beams are brought together and heated to form an upper seal in the bag. In order to ensure that the upper end of the bag 50 is folded flat in its original form two arms (not shown) press the V shape sides inwards as the pincers 45 close together. Thereafter, the sealing to beams 46 of the upper frame 15 open to allow the now-wrapped article to be removed manually or by robot for onward dispatch to storage and/or transport.

The upper frame 15 is then again lowered until the pincers 45 thereof engage the leading end of the web 10 for a subsequent rising advance movement to draw off another length of the web 10 as determined by the central processing unit 51 in dependence of the dimensions of the next article to be packaged.

The entire packaging cycle can take place within about 24 seconds, which rises to about 45 seconds including the time taken for the delivery robot to position the article into the bag 50.

The apparatus described has the advantage that it is ready for use without major adaptation either at the end of an automatic production line in cooperation with appropriate robots or for manual loading. The modular construction of the apparatus makes it both economical, of small dimensions and suitable for use in association with other such apparatus to vary the production rate.

The loose packaging of the fragile or delicate products provides the necessary protection against atmospheric agents in a loose wrapping which is easily opened without damaging the contents.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Automatic apparatus for packing fragile articles in a flexible

laminar wrapping material, comprising means for orienting a free end portion of laminar wrapping material in a longitudinally folded tube with its free end uppermost, means for affecting a first closure of the tube at a selected distance from the free end thereof in dependence on the size of the article to be wrapped, means for opening the free end of the tube to form an upwardly open container, means for effecting a second closure of the tube at the free end thereof after an article to be wrapped has been introduced thereinto whereby to form a loose wrapping lo around the article, and means for separating the said free end portion of the tube from the remainder hereof.
2. Automatic packaging apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the means for effecting the said first closure of the tube of flexible laminar wrapping material a selected distance from the free end of the tube acts to seal the said tube.
3. Automatic packaging apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the said means for separating the free end portion of the tube from the remainder thereof act to effect such separation contemporaneously with or immediately after the said first closure is formed.
4. Automatic packaging apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said means for effecting the said hrst closure comprises two jaws which together form a support table for the article when introduced into the container formed at the free end of the tube.
5. Automatic packaging apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in s which there are provided means for causing a free end portion of the tube of flexible laminar wrapping material to advance in relation to the said means for effecting the first closure, whereby to select the distance from the free end of the tube at which the first closure is formed.
6. Automatic packaging apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which the lo tube of flexible laminar wrapping material is held on a reel thereof with at least one open loop between the reel and the said advancing means, the reel having drive means which are energised to operate when the said open loop is reduced in size due to material being drawn off by the said advancing means.
7. Automatic packaging apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the moving components are carried on a modular frame allowing the apparatus to be operated alongside further such apparatus to increase packaging output.
8. Automatic packaging apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said means for opening the free end of the tube to form an upwardly open container comprise a plurality of suckers, grippers or grabber fingers operable to engage the edge of the laminar wrapping material at the free end of the tube.
9. A method of packaging fragile or delicate articles comprising the steps of: feeding a free end portion of a tube of flexible laminar wrapping material to a filling station; opening the free end of the tube to form an open container; forming a seal across the tube a selected distance from the end thereof; introducing an article to be wrapped into the container; closing the free end of the tube to form a closed wrapping container loosely around the article; and before or after closing the free end of the tube, cutting the free end portions from to the remainder of the tube.
10. Automatic packaging apparatus for packaging fragile or delicate articles so as to be loosely enclosed within a wrapper of flexible material, comprising means for causing a tubular web of flexible material to advance from a roll thereof by a selected distance determined in relation to the size of the article to be packaged, means for 15 forming a sealed closure across the tubular web at the said selected distance from the free end of the web, means for opening the free end of the web to allow an article to be introduced into the interior of the container thus formed, and means for closing the open end of the container preparatory to sealing thereof.

to
11. Automatic packaging apparatus for fragile or delicate articles comprising means for supporting a generally tubular element of packaging material closed at one end and open at the other with its open end facing a product delivery point, means for introducing an article into its interior thereof, and means for closing the package to be sealed with the article loosely enclosed within it.
12. Packaging apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings and the specific

description.
13. A package containing an enwrapped article when packaged by means of the apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and as described herein.