Wrapping group and wrapping method for wrapping products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands

20:

• A wrapping group for wrapping editorial products in containment bands, wherein the wrapping group comprises a support structure which defines an advancing plane and with which the following are associated:
• a first conveyor for conveying a plurality of editorial products one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along the advancing plane and along an advancing direction, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other,
• a feeding device for feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane of the editorial products, wherein each of the containment bands has, parallel to the feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective editorial product has parallel to the advancing direction, and wherein each of the containment bands is intercepted by a respective editorial product advancing along the advancing direction and folded by it in two on a second conveyor, which is aligned with and has the same direction as the first conveyor, to form a U-shaped pocket in which the respective editorial product is inserted and which has a lower band portion, resting on the second conveyor and whereon the respective editorial product rests, and an upper band portion, resting on the respective editorial product, the lower band portion having a flap that extends beyond the respective editorial product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of the editorial product, thus inserted in the U-shaped pocket, along the advancing direction, and
• a folding and closing device for folding the flap on the upper band portion resting on the upper face of the respective editorial product, the folding and closing device comprising:
• a third conveyor that is aligned with and has the same direction as the second conveyor to receive the editorial products inserted in the respective containment band and that includes at least one portion distanced from the second conveyor, wherein between the second conveyor and the third conveyor a passage is defined and
• at least one contact element for making contact with the flap of the containment band, in which a respective the editorial product is inserted and which rests on the third conveyor, the contact element being associated with the support structure in an alternately movable manner through the passage between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the conveying plane defined by the third conveyor, and a second position, in which it is arranged on the editorial product and resting on the upper band portion of the respective containment band that already covers at least partially the upper face of the editorial product,
• wherein the at least one contact element in its movement between the first position and the second position makes contact with the flap in order to fold it and pull it on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product, closing the band in a loop around the respective editorial product.

35:

• A method for wrapping editorial products in containment bands, comprising:
• a) advancing a plurality of editorial products, one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along an advancing plane and along an advancing direction by a first conveyor associated with a support structure, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other;
• b) feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane that is substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction that is substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane, wherein each of the containment bands has, parallel to the feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective editorial product has parallel to the advancing direction;
• c) making each of the containment bands advancing along the feeding direction be intercepted by a respective editorial product advancing along the advancing direction so that the respective editorial product folds the respective containment band in two on a second conveyor, which second conveyor is associated with the support structure and is aligned with and has the same direction as the first conveyor, to form a U-shaped pocket in which it is inserted, wherein the U-shaped pocket includes a lower band portion, which extends below the respective editorial product and rests on the second conveyor, and an upper band portion, which extends above the respective editorial product, wherein the lower band portion includes a flap that extends beyond the respective editorial product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of the editorial product, thus inserted in the U-shaped pocket, along the advancing direction;
• and
• d) folding and laying the flap on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product,
• wherein the folding d) is carried out by a folding and closing device for folding the flap on the upper band portion resting on the upper face of the respective editorial product, the folding and closing device being associated with the support structure and comprising:
• a third conveyor that is aligned with and has the same direction as the second conveyor to receive the editorial products inserted in the respective containment band and that includes at least one portion distanced from the second conveyor, wherein between the second conveyor and the third conveyor a passage is defined;
• and
• at least one contact element for making contact with the flap of the containment band, in which a respective the editorial product is inserted and which rests on the third conveyor, the contact element being associated with the support structure in an alternately movable manner through the passage between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the conveying plane defined by the third conveyor, and a second position, in which it is arranged on the editorial product and resting on the upper band portion of the respective containment band that already covers at least partially the upper face of the editorial product,
• wherein the at least one contact element in its movement between the first position and the second position makes contact with the flap to fold it and pull it on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product, closing the band in a loop around the respective editorial product.