Methods and systems for processing films in packaging machines

A film processing system for automatically connecting a film of a first film roll and a film of a second film roll to be exchanged with the first film roll in a packaging machine, the system comprising:

• a robot configured to operate according to a film roll exchange command;
• a cutting device configured to automatically cut the film of the first film roll at a cut position when the film of the first film roll is unwound from the first film roll so as to extend to a former in a tensioned state while the first film roll is supported by the robot;
• a film holding device configured to hold a film terminal end of the film of the first film roll at a holding position on a downstream side of the cut position with respect to a feeding direction toward the former when the film is cut by the cutting device;
• a storage section located within a movable range of the robot and configured to store the first film roll having the film cut by the cutting device, and the second film roll,
• wherein the robot is configured to move the first film roll to the storage section after the film has been cut, and release the support of the first film roll at the storage section to store the first film roll at the storage section;
• and
• wherein the robot is further configured to take out the second film roll from the storage section, rotatably support the second file roll, transfer the second film roll in the rotatably supported state to a connecting position, rotatably support the second film roll at the connecting position, and move a film leading end of the second film roll such that the film leading end overlaps with the film terminal end of the film of the first film roll remained after being cut and held by the film holding device;
• a connecting device configured to connect the film leading end of the second film roll to the film terminal end of the film of the first film roll at the same time the film leading end overlaps with the film terminal end or after the film leading end has overlapped with the film terminal end;
• wherein the robot is further configured to transfer the second film roll from the connecting position to a set position after the films have been connected by the connecting device, so that the film of the second film roll is tensioned for feeding to the former.

A film processing method for a packaging machine, comprising

• storing a second film roll at a film roll storage section before exchanging the second film roll with a first film roll;
• supporting the first film roll with a robot;
• cutting a film of the first film roll that extends from the first film roll to a former with a cutting device;
• transferring the first film roll having the film cut to the film roll storage section by the robot, releasing the support of the first film roll by the robot at the film roll storage section, so that the first film roll is stored at the film roll storage section;
• taking out the second film roll from the film roll storage section by the robot and supporting the second film roll with the robot;
• and
• connecting a terminal end of the film of the first film roll remained on the side of the former after being cut and a leading end of the second film roll with a connecting device that is manipulated by the robot.

A film processing system usable with a packaging machine, comprising:

• a robot configured to exchangeably and rotatably support a first film roll and a second film roll and to move the first film roll and the second film roll;
• a cutting device configured to cut a film of the first film roll that extends from the first film roll to a former when the robot supports the first film roll;
• a connecting device that is configured to be manipulated by the robot and is configured to connect a terminal end of the film of the first film roll remained on the side of the former after being cut and a leading end of the second film roll when the second film roll is exchanged with the first film roll and supported by the robot;
• and
• a film roll storage section configured to store the first film roll having the film but by the cutting device and to also store the second film roll before being exchanged with the first film roll,
• wherein the robot is further configured to transfer the first film roll having the film cut to the film roll storage section, release the support of the first film roll at the film roll storage section to store the first film roll at the film roll storage section, and take out the second film roll from the film roll storage section.