Method of overwrapping packets
AssigneeG.D Societa' Per Azioni
InventorsMario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale
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Abstract
A method of overwrapping packets in the form of a rectangular prism, whereby a packet, as it is fed continuously along a wrapping path, is first centered with respect to a relative conveying seat, and is then paired with a relative sheet of wrapping material, which is folded about the packet to form a tubular wrapping projecting axially from the packet in the form of two tubular appendixes, which are folded to form a closed overwrapping; each tubular appendix being at least partly folded onto the relative packet before the relative tubular wrapping is completed.
Claims28
A method of overwrapping packets substantially in the form of a rectangular prism defined axially by two opposite end surfaces (6), and laterally by two major lateral surfaces (4) and two minor lateral surfaces (5) parallel to a longitudinal axis (3) of the rectangular prism;
- the packets (2) being overwrapped as they are fed, in a given feed direction, along a given wrapping path (P);
- the method comprising, for each packet (2),
- a pairing step to pair the packet (2) with a relative sheet (13) of wrapping material;
- a first folding step to fold the sheet (13) of wrapping material into a U about the packet (2) so that the sheet (13) of wrapping material has two projecting lateral portions (33), each projecting from a respective said end surface (6);
- a second folding step to further fold the sheet (13) of wrapping material about the packet (2) and form, about the packet (2), a tubular wrapping (16) comprising two tubular appendixes (19) projecting from respective said end surfaces (6) of the packet (2) and defined by said two projecting lateral portions (33);
- a sealing step to stabilize said tubular wrapping (16);
- and a third folding step to fold each said tubular appendix (19) onto the respective end surface (6) of the packet (2) to obtain a closed overwrapping (107);
- said packet (2) being fed continuously along said wrapping path (P);
- and each said projecting lateral portion (33) of the sheet (13) of wrapping material being folded at least partly onto the relative said end surface (6) prior to said second folding step;
- the method being characterized by comprising, prior to said pairing step,
- a centering step to center the packet (2) with respect to said wrapping path (P);
- the centering step being performed by gripping said packet (2), by means of a first gripper (30), by two (4) of said lateral surfaces (4, 5);
- feeding the packet (2) axially along a respective portion of said wrapping path (P) by means of said first gripper (30);
- rotating said first gripper (30) about a turn-around axis (11) crosswise to said wrapping path (P) and to said longitudinal axis (3) so as to position the packet with a first of said two lateral surfaces (4) forward;
- and transferring said packet (2) to a second gripper (41), which grips the packet (2) by said two end surfaces (6).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.