Product wrapping method and machine
AssigneeSocieta Per Azioni
InventorsFiorenzo Draghetti, Silvano Boriani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and machine for wrapping a product, whereby the product is fed to a loading station of a folding conveyor in time with a respective wrapping sheet, which is fed in one of two different positions in relation to the product; the folding conveyor being operated to advance the product and the relevant wrapping sheet along a folding path extending through first and second wrapping devices, which are selectively operated to fold the wrapping sheet into a tube about the product; the choice of one or the other of the wrapping devices depending on which of the two positions is occupied by the wrapping sheet in the loading station.
Claims21
A method of wrapping a product substantially shaped as a parallelepiped having first and second parallel small lateral walls and first and second parallel large walls in a wrapping sheet having an intermediate portion, and first and second lateral portions comprising respective free end portions, the method comprising the following steps:
- a) feeding said product to a loading station of a folding conveyor movable along a transfer path extending from said loading station and an unloading station;
- b) feeding a respective wrapping sheet to said loading station in time with said product and in one of a first and second positions in relation to said product in the loading station;
- in said first position said intermediate portion facing said first small lateral wall in said loading station and, in said second position, said first lateral portion facing said first lateral wall in said loading station;
- c) folding said wrapping sheet into a U-shape about said product in said loading station;
- d) operating said folding conveyor to advance the product and the relevant wrapping sheet along a folding path extending through first and second wrapping means;
- e) selecting the first or the second wrapping means;
- f) operating the selected wrapping means to fold said wrapping sheet into a tube about said product;
- wherein the selection step of the wrapping means depends on which of said two positions is occupied by the wrapping sheet in said loading station such that said first wrapping means being operational and said second wrapping means being inactive when said wrapping sheet is fed in said first position, whereas said second wrapping means being operational and said first wrapping means being inactive when said wrapping sheet is fed in said second position;
- h) folding said wrapping sheet into a tube about said product by one of said first and second wrapping means;
- i) superimposing said first and second end portions of the wrapping sheet by one of said first and second wrapping means;
- wherein said first wrapping means are located in said loading station and are used in connection with said sheet being arranged in said first position to superimpose said two free end portions on said second small lateral wall;
- and said second wrapping means are located in said unloading station and are used in connection with said sheet being arranged in said second position to superimpose said two free end portions on said first large lateral wall of said product.
A machine for wrapping a product substantially shaped as a parallelepiped having first and second parallel small lateral wall and first and second parallel large wall in a wrapping sheet having an intermediate portion, and first and second lateral portions comprising respective end portions, the machine comprising:
- a) a folding conveyor comprising at least a transfer seat to advance the product and a relevant wrapping sheet along a folding path substantially circular and extending about a first given axis, and at least between a loading station and an unloading station of said product and said wrapping sheet;
- b) first and second selectively and alternatively activatable wrapping means arranged along said folding path and each adapted to fold said wrapping sheet into a tube about said product;
- c) said loading station being arranged at a beginning of said folding path and comprising said first wrapping means;
- d) said unloading station being arranged at the end of said folding path and comprising said first wrapping means;
- e) first conveying means for feeding said product to said loading station;
- f) second conveying means for feeding said sheet to said loading station in time with said product and in one of a first and a second positions in relation to said product in the loading station;
- the wrapping sheet in said first position having an intermediate portion facing said first small lateral wall of said product in said loading station and, the wrapping sheet in said first position having said second lateral portion facing said first small lateral wall in said loading station;
- g) control means for operating one of said first and second wrapping means to fold said wrapping sheet into a tube about said product;
- said first wrapping means being activated when said sheet is fed in said first position in said loading station, and said second wrapping means is activated when said wrapping sheet is fed in said second position in said loading station;
- h) said first wrapping means comprising two folding elements located on either side of said loading station and movable successively towards said transfer seat, arrested at the loading station, to fold said first and second end portions one on top of the other on said first lateral wall;
- said folding conveyor rotating said transfer seat about said first given axis and in a given rotation direction from said loading station;
- and a first folding element of said two folding elements being located along said folding path, downstream from said loading station in said rotation direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.