Apparatus and method for automated forming of sleeves for sliced products
AssigneeKraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
InventorChristian Laplace
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A forming apparatus is provided for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube. The forming apparatus has contact surface geometry that is contacted by the film as it travels thereacross configured to ensure smooth forming of the film into the sleeve. Smooth forming of the film into the sleeve is achieved, in part, by reducing longitudinal tensile forces in the film, by selecting the contact surface geometry to minimize transverse variations in tensile forces in the film, and by having contact edges of the contact surfaces shaped to reduce unnecessary stresses in the film.
Claims16
An apparatus for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube, the apparatus comprising:
- a continuous film entrance surface operably connected to an entrance of a folding tunnel, at least a portion of the entrance surface being inclined at an acute angle relative to an upstream extension of a longitudinal axis of the folding tunnel;
- a first folding wing of the folding tunnel positioned for folding a first longitudinal side portion of the film at least partially around the filling tunnel;
- a second folding wing of the folding tunnel positioned for folding a second longitudinal side portion of the film, disposed opposite the first longitudinal side portion of the film, at least partially around the filling tunnel and overlapping at least a portion of the first longitudinal side portion of the film to form the sleeve.
A method of forming a film into a sleeve disposed around a filling tube, the method comprising:
- feeding the film in a film feed direction through a folding tunnel disposed around the filling tube, the folding tunnel and filling tube each being operatively connected to a common support member;
- folding a first longitudinal side portion of the film at least partially around the filling tunnel as the film moves in the film feed direction;
- folding a second longitudinal side portion of the film, disposed opposite the first longitudinal side portion of the film, at least partially around the filling tunnel and overlapping at least a portion of the first longitudinal side portion of the film as the film moves in the film feed direction to form the sleeve;
- and
- the common support member constraining the folding tunnel and filling tube against significant displacement relative to one another.
A method of forming a film into a sleeve disposed around a filling tube, the method comprising:
- feeding the film in a film feed direction through a folding tunnel disposed around the filling tube, the folding tunnel having a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion selectively separable relative to the second longitudinal portion;
- folding a first longitudinal side portion of the film at least partially around the filling tunnel as the film moves in the film feed direction using a first folding wing attached to the first longitudinal portion of the forming tunnel;
- folding a second longitudinal side portion of the film, disposed opposite the first longitudinal side portion of the film, at least partially around the filling tunnel and overlapping at least a portion of the first longitudinal side portion of the film as the film moves in the film feed direction using a second folding wing attached to the second longitudinal portion of the forming tunnel to form the sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.