EP0776832B1 - Packet conveying and sealing assembly - Google Patents

Packet conveying and sealing assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0776832B1
EP0776832B1 EP96118924A EP96118924A EP0776832B1 EP 0776832 B1 EP0776832 B1 EP 0776832B1 EP 96118924 A EP96118924 A EP 96118924A EP 96118924 A EP96118924 A EP 96118924A EP 0776832 B1 EP0776832 B1 EP 0776832B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sealing
retaining
packet
pocket
conveying
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96118924A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0776832A1 (en
Inventor
Fulvio Boldrini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Publication of EP0776832A1 publication Critical patent/EP0776832A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0776832B1 publication Critical patent/EP0776832B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/22—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers
    • B65B19/223—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors
    • B65B19/226—Wrapping the cigarettes; Packaging the cigarettes in containers formed by folding wrapping material around formers in a curved path; in a combination of straight and curved paths, e.g. on rotary tables or other endless conveyors using endless conveyors having pockets, each pocket being provided with separate members, e.g. folders
    • 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
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
    • B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
    • B65B11/30—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packet conveying and sealing assembly.
  • the present invention may be used to advantage on packet wrapping lines, particularly the wrapping lines of machines for cellophaning packets of cigarettes, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
  • the wrapping lines of some cellophaning machines are known to feature conveying assemblies connected to a conveyor and for feeding respective packets along the wrapping line on which each packet is provided with a sheet of normally transparent overwrapping material, which is folded about the packet to form an open tubular wrapping, i.e. a wrapping presenting two superimposed longitudinal portions for sealing.
  • Each conveying assembly of known cellophaning machines of the type described above normally presents a sealing device, which travels with the conveying assembly and provides for sealing the two superimposed portions to form a finished tubular wrapping.
  • an assembly for conveying and sealing packets, in particular packets of cigarettes the assembly being movable in a given travelling direction, and comprising a movable U-shaped pocket for partially housing a respective packet with a tubular wrapping presenting two superimposed longitudinal portions for sealing, a retaining device in turn comprising at least a first retaining element carried on the pocket and movable in relation to the pocket to and from an operating position wherein, in use, the first retaining element engages the tubular wrapping along a first edge of the packet located outside the pocket and parallel and adjacent to said superimposed portions to retain the wrapping on the packet and the packet inside the pocket; and a sealing device movable with and in relation to the pocket to and from an operating position wherein the sealing device is positioned with a sealing member along a sealing portion extending along at least the full length of the superimposed portions; the assembly being characterised by the fact that said first retaining element being so formed as to permit, when positioned, in use, in said operating position, free access by the sealing device to
  • the above conveying and sealing assembly also comprises a pressing device movable with and in relation to the pocket to and from an operating position wherein, in use, the pressing device is positioned with a pressing member contacting said superimposed portions and adjacent to said sealing portion to maintain the superimposed portions firmly contacting each other while at the same time permitting free access by the sealing member to the sealing portion.
  • Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates a continuous cellophaning machine comprising a line 2 for supplying and wrapping a succession of packets 3 of cigarettes.
  • line 2 comprises a continuous supply conveyor 4 presenting a succession of pockets 5, each presenting a respective cavity 6 for receiving a respective packet 3 substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepipedon and laid flat, i.e. with one of its large lateral surfaces 7, 8 - in the example shown, surface 7 - facing the bottom surface 9 of respective cavity 6.
  • Each cavity 6 preferably presents a depth equal to less than half the width of the small lateral surfaces 10, 11 of packet 3, and a length shorter than that of packet 3; and, in addition to a portion of respective packet 3, each cavity 6 also receives a sheet 12 of wrapping material wrapped about packet 3 to form a tubular wrapping 13, which presents two longitudinal portions 14 and 15 located outside cavity 6 and superimposed to form a longitudinal strip 16 of double thickness and defining a sealing portion contacting one of surfaces 10, 11 and extending along the full length of portions 14, 15.
  • sealing strip or portion 16 extends in contact with surface 11, which is located rearwards in the travelling direction 17 of conveyor 4.
  • Line 2 also comprises a wrapping conveyor wheel 18 substantially tangent to conveyor 4 at a transfer station 19, and for successively receiving packets 3 from conveyor 4 and feeding them continuously along a sealing path extending from station 19 in a direction 20 and along which each wrapping 13 is closed by longitudinally sealing portions 14 and 15 to each other along strip 16.
  • Wheel 18 comprises a number of conveying pockets 21 (only one shown), each connected integral with one end of a respective arm 22, which presents an axis 23 extending substantially radially in relation to wheel 18, and is oscillated, in known manner by a known actuating device (not shown), about a respective axis (not shown) perpendicular to the Figure 1 plane and crosswise to direction 20.
  • each pocket 21 is oscillated about the respective axis (not shown) so that axis 23 is positioned perpendicular to direction 17 as pocket 21 travels in the region of transfer station 19.
  • each pocket 21 is defined by a cylindrical surface portion 24, an intermediate portion of which presents a cavity 25 substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepipedon and for partially receiving a respective packet 3.
  • Cavity 25 presents a depth equal to less than half the width of the small lateral surfaces 10, 11 of packet 3, thus leaving strip 16 exposed, and is shorter than the width of sheet 12 when measured crosswise to travelling direction 20. More specifically, the length of cavity 25 is substantially equal to that of packet 3, and two opposite longitudinal end portions 26 of wrapping 13 project from opposite longitudinal ends of cavity 25.
  • Each pocket 21 forms part of a respective conveying and sealing assembly 27 for receiving a respective packet 3 from conveyor 4 at station 19, and which, in addition to pocket 21, also comprises a retaining device 28 for retaining packet 3 and sheet 12 inside cavity 25, a pressing device 29 for pressing portions 14 and 15 against each other and against surface 11 of packet 3, and a sealing device 30 for engaging strip 16 and sealing portions 14 and 15 to each other.
  • retaining device 28 comprises two retaining elements 31 and 32 located on either side of cavity 25 in direction 20.
  • Retaining element 31, located to the rear of cavity 25, comprises a powered shaft 33 mounted for rotation through pocket 21 so as to oscillate about an axis 34 crosswise to direction 20 and to axis 23; and each end of shaft 33 projects outwards of pocket 21 and is fitted integral with a respective rod 35 coaxial with axis 34 and forming a first arm of a lever 36 for activating a retaining member 37 parallel to rod 35.
  • Lever 36 is substantially L-shaped and, in addition to rod 35, also comprises a crosspiece 38 connecting rod 35 to retaining member 37; and rod 35 is long enough to permanently keep crosspiece 38 outwards of the free end of respective portion 26 of wrapping 13.
  • Retaining member 37 comprises an angle defined by two integral perpendicular plates 39 and 40 forming a right-angle dihedron, the edge of which is parallel to axis 34 and coaxial with the edge of the dihedron formed by the other retaining member 37, and the free end of which is separated from the free end of the other retaining member 37 by a distance approximately equal to but no less than the width of pockets 5 measured crosswise to direction 17.
  • Element 31 is movable, about axis 34 and by means of powered shaft 33, between an idle position ( Figure 1) wherein each retaining member 37 is located behind cavity 25 and contacting surface 24, and an operating position ( Figures 2 and 3) wherein each retaining member 37 is positioned with its edge coincident with the rear longitudinal edge 41 of packet 3, and plates 39 and 40 are positioned contacting the portions of sheet 12 respectively contacting surfaces 7 and 11 of packet 3, so as to retain sheet 12 on packet 3 and packet 3 inside cavity 25, and so as to cooperate with cavity 25 to keep portions 14 and 15 superimposed one on top of the other.
  • retaining element 32 is a portal-shaped element, and comprises two levers 42 fitted at one end to a powered shaft 43 mounted for rotation through pocket 21 so as to oscillate about an axis 44 parallel to axis 34.
  • Levers 42 project from pocket 21 through respective slots formed through surface 24 and parallel to direction 20, and are connected to each other, at the opposite end to that fitted to shaft 43, by a retaining member 45 defined by two integral perpendicular plates 46 and 47 forming a right-angle dihedron with its edge parallel to axis 44.
  • Element 32 is movable, about axis 44 and by means of powered shaft 43, between an idle position ( Figure 1) wherein retaining member 45 is located in front of pocket 21, and an operating position ( Figures 2 and 3) wherein retaining member 45 is positioned with its edge coincident with the front longitudinal edge 48 of packet 3, and plates 46 and 47 are positioned contacting the portions of sheet 12 respectively contacting surfaces 7 and 10 of packet 3, so as to cooperate with element 31 to retain sheet 12 on packet 3 and packet 3 inside cavity 25.
  • element 32 is eliminated and may be compensated for by increasing the size of plates 39 in direction 20.
  • pressing device 29 is fitted to pocket 21 behind cavity 25 and in front of shaft 33, and comprises two levers 49 fitted at one end to a powered shaft 50 mounted for rotation through pocket 21 so as to oscillate about an axis 51 parallel to axis 34.
  • Levers 49 project from pocket 21 through respective slots formed through surface 24 and parallel to direction 20, and are connected to each other, at the opposite end to that fitted to shaft 50, by a crosspiece 52 presenting a length equal to that of strip 16, and comprising a longitudinal portion projecting frontwards of levers 49 and defining a pressing member 53.
  • Device 29 is movable, about axis 51 and by means of powered shaft 50, between an idle position ( Figure 1) wherein crosspiece 52 is located behind cavity 25 and substantially contacting surface 24, and an operating position ( Figures 2 and 3) wherein crosspiece 52 is positioned with pressing member 53 contacting the free end of portion 15, so as to press portion 15 against portion 14 and surface 11 of packet 3, while at the same time allowing access to substantially the whole surface of strip 16.
  • sealing device 30 is fitted to pocket 21 behind cavity 25 and between pressing device 29 and retaining element 31, and comprises two levers 54 fitted at one end to a powered shaft 55 mounted for rotation through pocket 21 so as to oscillate about an axis 56 parallel to axis 34.
  • Levers 54 project from pocket 21 through respective slots formed through surface 24 and parallel to direction 20, and are connected to each other, at the opposite end to that fitted to shaft 55, by a transverse sealing member comprising a sealing blade 57 of the same length as strip 16.
  • Device 30 is movable, about axis 56 and by means of powered shaft 55, between an idle position ( Figure 1) wherein blade 57 is located behind cavity 25 and substantially contacting surface 24, and an operating position ( Figures 2 and 3) wherein blade 57 contacts portion 15 along the whole of strip 16 so as to seal portion 15 to portion 14 and longitudinally close wrapping 13.
  • retaining device 28 is first activated to retain sheet 12 on packet 3, packet 3 inside cavity 25, and portion 15 on portion 14; pressing device 29 is then activated to exert a given contact pressure on portions 14 and 15; and, finally, sealing device 30 is activated to contact strip 16 and seal portions 14 and 15 to each other.
  • retaining element 31 the rods 35 of which define, together with respective L-shaped levers 36, respective U-shaped elements, the crosspieces 38 of which are separated by a distance greater than the length of strip 16, crosspiece 52 and sealing blade 57.
  • retaining element 31 may be activated as packet 3 reaches station 19, i.e. the Figure 1 position, to retain packet 3 inside cavity 25 and detach it from conveyor 4; whereas element 32, if provided, may be activated only upon packet 3 leaving station 19 and respective pocket 5.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP96118924A 1995-11-28 1996-11-26 Packet conveying and sealing assembly Expired - Lifetime EP0776832B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT95BO000556A IT1279686B1 (it) 1995-11-28 1995-11-28 Gruppo di trasporto e saldatura per pacchetti.
ITBO950556 1995-11-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0776832A1 EP0776832A1 (en) 1997-06-04
EP0776832B1 true EP0776832B1 (en) 2003-03-05

Family

ID=11340925

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96118924A Expired - Lifetime EP0776832B1 (en) 1995-11-28 1996-11-26 Packet conveying and sealing assembly

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0776832B1 (it)
CN (1) CN1068843C (it)
DE (1) DE69626467T2 (it)
IT (1) IT1279686B1 (it)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9920208D0 (en) * 1999-08-27 1999-10-27 Molins Plc Packaging systems
IT1320986B1 (it) * 2000-04-12 2003-12-18 Gd Spa Metodo ed unita' per la formazione di incarti tubolari in una macchinaimpacchettatrice di sigarette.
IT1399036B1 (it) * 2010-01-26 2013-04-05 Gima Spa Convogliatore di incarto di una macchina impacchettatrice

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1225373B (it) * 1988-12-21 1990-11-13 Sasib Spa Dispositivo avvolgitore, in particolare per pacchetti di sigarette, o simili
IT1235598B (it) * 1989-09-14 1992-09-11 Gd Spa Metodo e dispositivo per la realizzazione di incarti tubolari
IT1246840B (it) * 1990-07-17 1994-11-28 Gd Spa Macchina incartatrice di elementi scatolari sostanzialmente parallelepipedi.
IT1246012B (it) * 1991-06-21 1994-11-07 Gd Spa Metodo e dispositivo di incarto per la realizzazione di incarti tubolari di prodotti.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0776832A1 (en) 1997-06-04
DE69626467T2 (de) 2004-03-18
ITBO950556A0 (it) 1995-11-28
DE69626467D1 (de) 2003-04-10
CN1155495A (zh) 1997-07-30
ITBO950556A1 (it) 1997-05-28
CN1068843C (zh) 2001-07-25
IT1279686B1 (it) 1997-12-16

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