Package making – Methods – Wrapping contents including cover forming
Patent
1997-06-04
1998-08-18
Coan, James F.
Package making
Methods
Wrapping contents including cover forming
53226, 53227, 53464, B65B 1154
Patent
active
057944105
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of wrapping substantially spherical objects and to an apparatus for carrying out said method. The term "substantially spherical" is to be interpreted broadly so as to cover, for example, hemi-spherical objects or objects which, though generally round, are of an irregular configuration.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
With the increase in demand for fresh fruit and vegetables and the increases in the volumes of fruit and vegetables which are transported, often over large distances, there are requirements for wrapping such fruit and vegetables for transport in such way that, when they arrive at, for example, a supermarket, they are in good condition and ready for display.
The present invention has been developed specifically in relation to the wrapping of lettuces. A number of proposals have been made for wrapping lettuces in transparent plastic film but the methods currently in use are labour intensive and slow.
An earlier machine designed specifically for wrapping lettuces is disclosed in European Patent Specification No. 0 199 995. The method of wrapping performed by this machine included: member movable downwardly relative to the remainder of the work surface, the support member, to be twisted around the object, and the object so as to effect fusion and thus sealing of the film.
Although the machine shown in European Patent Specification was produced and promoted extensively, it was not successful. One reason for this may be that the method of operation of the machine was relatively slow. Another may be that the machine could not effectively wrap objects of different sizes. Thus, with the size and shape variations which are inevitable with natural produce such as lettuces, uneven wrapping was obtained.
It is accordingly an object of a first aspect of the present invention to provide an improved method of wrapping which is applicable to the wrapping of lettuces and other generally spherical vegetables or fruit or other objects which are of sufficient size that they can economically be wrapped individually, which method can be carried out at an economic rate and which adjusts automatically for variations in the sizes of the objects to be wrapped.
It is an object of a second aspect of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for carrying out this method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of wrapping a generally spherical object, which method comprises: member movable downwardly relative to the remainder of the work surface, the support member, the uppermost portion of the object, member downwardly until the displacement member has reached a predetermined position and the uppermost portion of the object is below the level of the work surface, displaced positions while moving the displacement member upwardly out of engagement with the object, manner that the thermoplastic film is gathered around the object, thermoplastic film is engaged by the gathering means, and displacement member, which then acts as a heating element, into engagement with said uppermost portion of the film.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for wrapping generally spherical objects, which apparatus includes: located, downwardly below the level of the work surface, support member, thermoplastic film on the support member, of the object to be wrapped, engagement with the object so that the object and the support member are displaced downwardly below the level of the work surface and then upwardly out of engagement with the object, object and the support member have been displaced downwardly and the displacement member has thereafter been moved upwardly, when the support member and the object are in their downwardly displaced positions to wrap the thermoplastic film around the object, and wrapped around the object, regardless of the size of the object, the displacement member is moved downwardly into the same position below the level of the work surfac
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Coan James F.
Stoltz Melvin I.
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