Package making – Partial cover application – Band or tube
Patent
1999-03-26
2000-12-26
Gerrity, Stephen F.
Package making
Partial cover application
Band or tube
53556, B65B 2700
Patent
active
061640476
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and the relative device for cutting and re-attaching film used to wrap groups of products. In particular this unit can be applied to machines for the semi-automatic wrapping of packs of products arranged on pallets for transportation of the packs.
BACKGROUND ART
In the sector for the design and construction of machines for wrapping packs of products, manufacturers have, over time, used two different construction philosophies, which have led to the definition of two types of machines, respectively automatic and semi-automatic.
These two types originate from a similar basic structure which comprises a support platform for the pallet upon which the group of products to be wrapped rests, and a frame, at the side of the platform, upon which a reel of film for wrapping the group of products is positioned.
In the case of automatic machines, there are solutions which envisage a rotating platform and in which the reel only moves vertically up and down in order to unwind the film along the group of products, or solutions with a fixed platform and a reel which moves vertically and is supported by an arm which rotates about the group of products.
In semi-automatic machines, the first type of system described above for automatic machines is normally used, that is to say, with the rotating platform and a reel which moves in both directions along a vertical axis; these two machines are basically differentiated by the fact that the automatic machines can carry out a series of cycle start and end operations (for example, positioning the free edge of the film near the pack, cutting the film upon completion of wrapping and sealing the edge on the pack thus defined, etc.) using automatic devices and without the direct action of operators on the machine; in contrast, in the case of semi-automatic machines, operators are required in order to carry out said operations.
Obviously, these differences mean that the automatic machines are very expensive, used only for high productivity and are top of the range, whilst the semi-automatic machines are economically better suited to companies with medium-small production levels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to bring the two types of machines closer together, the Applicant has designed a method for cutting the film and the relative device which makes the cut and re-attaches the film for semi-automatic machines, with which it is possible to automate the film cutting and re-attachment operation without significantly affecting the cost of the machine and leaving the structure and functions of the current semi-automatic machine unchanged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the afore-mentioned aims, are described in the claims herein, and the advantages of the invention are more clearly described in the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of a machine for wrapping groups of products in a plastic film, equipped with the device which carries out the cutting according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a scaled-up detail from FIG. 1, illustrating a film gripper and cutting unit during a stage of the method according to the present invention;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic side views, partially shown in cross-section, of corresponding and different embodiments of the gripper and cutting unit illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic front views df a stage of the method disclosed, in particular a stage in which the width of the film is reduced;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic top plan views of two stages of the method disclosed, in particular the stage in which the film is cut and the stage in which the edge of the film cut is attached to
REFERENCES:
patent: 4563863 (1986-01-01), Humphrey
patent: 4845920 (1989-07-01), Lancaster
patent: 5385001 (1995-01-01), Ramer
patent: 5430995 (1995-07-01), Cere
patent: 5941049 (1999-08-01), Lancaster, III
Gerrity Stephen F.
Robopac S.A.
Tawfik Sam
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