Package making – Apparatus for contraction of cover by stretching or shrinking
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-09
2001-02-27
Johnson, Linda (Department: 3721)
Package making
Apparatus for contraction of cover by stretching or shrinking
C053S228000, C053S389300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192662
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to constructional and functional improvements in the means which position and cut the film in the packaging station of a machine for packaging with stretchable film, particularly in a packaging machine of the type described in EP-A-0 569 615 and EP-A-0 619 227 (or U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,042), to which the most ample reference is made. This machine is provided with a fixed dispenser shaped like a comb, which retains the leading edge of the film unwound from a reel and comprises a first gripper parallel to the dispenser, also in the shape of a comb, which when commanded grips the leading edge of the film and moves away from the dispenser to extend horizontally in the packaging station a section of film whose length is suitable for the dimensions of the product to be packaged. This gripper can oscillate on a parallel axle and is designed in such a way that during the travel away from the dispenser it is raised by a correct amount and is carried substantially at the same height as a pair of lateral grippers which in the next phase are to be able to grip the lateral flaps of the section of film positioned in the packaging station, to spread this film transversely and then fold it under the product. Since the section of film positioned in the packaging station by the said moving feed gripper would have a diagonal disposition owing to the different heights of the said gripper and the dispenser, so that it would not be possible for the film to be gripped by the lateral grippers, means which are provided immediately after the dispenser are raised at the correct time to raise the film and bring it into the substantially horizontal position necessary for use.
In this machine, the separation of the section of packaging film from the dispenser, when the product has been substantially packaged and is about to leave the packaging station, is made to be carried out by a serrated blade, which is normally disposed at a lower height than that of the film dispenser and has its teeth facing upwards, and which is raised, on command, by suitable means to cut the film transversely, the elevation travel of the blade being protected by a fixed inverted “U” section in which the said blade is inserted at the end of the elevation travel.
This solution has been found to be inappropriate, unreliable and unsafe for those carrying out the maintenance of the machine, since the blade is unshielded. A first object of the invention is to overcome this problem with the following solution. The blade which is to make the transverse cut of the film is fixed inside the said grooved and fixed section, in a median position, and orientated downwards, and the film is raised against this blade by a grooved bar, with rounded edges, which in an intermediate phase of its working travel is also used to raise the portion of the section of film disposed next to the dispenser, to position the film correctly in the packaging station for gripping by the lateral grippers. With this solution, it becomes unnecessary to use special means for the said phase of initial positioning of the film in the packaging station, with advantages of simplicity in the construction of the packaging machine.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2273961 (1942-02-01), Hoppe
patent: 4223511 (1980-09-01), Black
patent: 4583348 (1986-04-01), Treiber
patent: 5115620 (1992-05-01), Takamura
patent: 619227 (1994-10-01), None
Cappi Angelo
Rimondi Renato
A.W.A.X. Progettazione E Ricerca S.r.l.
Johnson Linda
Larson & Taylor
LandOfFree
Device for positioning and cutting the film in the packaging... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for positioning and cutting the film in the packaging..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for positioning and cutting the film in the packaging... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2605543