Machine for packaging soft products

Abstract

A machine for packaging soft products, including a conveyor defining a ring-shaped path having an active linear lower branch facing a feed plane and a non-active linear upper branch Each of a plurality of carriages supports a tooth, projecting towards the feed plane during the passage on the lower branch. A transfer device moves one group of products at a time, with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material folded around the group, towards the feed plane and to a receiving compartment defined by a first and a second tooth, along a second direction transversal to a first direction. Along the lower linear branch there are a number of teeth equal to the number of groups positioned or arrived on the feed plane. Each tooth is configured to define simultaneously a pushing tooth and a tooth containment when the tooth is interposed between two groups along the feed plane.

Claims

1. A machine for packaging soft products, comprising: a feed plane for feeding groups of products; a plurality of pulleys located at two ends of the feed plane and connected on at least two shafts driven independently by a first motor and a second motor; two pairs of chains or belts parallel to and independent from each other, wound on the pulleys, and being movable along a first direction and a feed direction, to define a ring-shaped path having an active linear lower branch facing the feed plane and a non-active linear upper branch; a plurality of carriages which are connected, alternatively in sequence, to the pairs of chains or belts and distributed along the ring-shaped path; each of the carriages supporting at least one tooth, projecting towards the feed plane during passage on the lower branch, and configured for retaining and feeding along the feed plane the groups of products from a receiving compartment defined by the at least one tooth to an unloading and releasing zone for unloading and releasing the group of products; a control unit connected to the first and second motors and being configured to control operation of the first and second motors in accordance with variations in a distance between the carriages on the relative pairs of chains or belts as a function of variations in size of the groups of products; a transfer device including an engagement surface for engaging and moving one group of products at a time, along with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material folded into a “U” shape around the group of products, towards the feed plane and to the receiving compartment, along a second direction transversal to the first direction; along the lower branch, a number of the carriages equal to a number of groups of products positioned or arrived on the feed plane, in an operational stretch between the receiving compartment and up to the unloading and releasing zone; each of the at least one tooth being configured along the operational stretch to define simultaneously both a pushing tooth with a first surface in engagement with a first group of the products downstream of the tooth and a downstream containment tooth with a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface configured to engage a second group of the products upstream of the at least one tooth when the at least one tooth is interposed between the first and the second groups of the products consecutively positioned along the feed plane, wherein each of the at least one tooth present on each carriage comprises a head permanently connected to the carriage and an operating portion in contact with the groups of products which is configured to be separable from and reconnectable to the head; a sheath for each of the at least one tooth, the sheath shaped for externally covering the operating portion to define both the first surface and the second surface and thereby effect both a first area in which the first group of the products is positioned and a second area in which the second group of the products is positioned, the sheath being configured to be removably coupleable to the at least one tooth via a sliding connection with the at least one tooth along a longitudinal axis of the at least one tooth, the sheath being configured to be locked, by an interference fit, to the operating portion; the sheath having an external size, for operational contact with the group of products, with dimensions greater than dimensions of an external size of the operating portion such that the sheath extends further into both the first area and the second area than the operating portion, along the feed plane.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth, includes, along the lower branch, in a minimum operating configuration, a first tooth for pushing and a second tooth for containing positioned on opposite sides of the receiving compartment for receiving a first group of products, and wherein the second tooth, positioned downstream relative to the first tooth with reference to the feed direction, is interposed between the first group of products and a second group of products, located downstream of the first group of products relative to the feed direction, in such a way as to push the second group of products.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tooth, includes, along the lower branch, in a minimum operating configuration, a first tooth for pushing and a second tooth for containing positioned on opposite sides of the receiving compartment for receiving a first group of products, and wherein the second tooth, positioned downstream relative to the first tooth with reference to the feed direction, is interposed between the first group of products and a second group of products, located downstream of the first group of products relative to the feed direction, in such a way as to push the second group of products, and a third tooth, located downstream of the second tooth with reference to the feed direction, interposed between the second group of products and a third group of products, positioned downstream of the second group of products relative to the feed direction, in such a way as to contain the second group of products and push the third group of products towards the unloading and releasing zone.

4. The machine according to claim 1, comprising a quick coupler positioned between the head and the operating contact portion to allow a stable coupling or a separation of the operating portion to/from the head.

5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein each head includes a central seat for housing an end of the operating portion configured to match the central seat; the quick coupler being positioned between the central seat and the end of the operating portion.

6. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a seat configured, in cross section, as a cross, and wherein the end of the operating portion has a matching cross shape to allow a coupling of the operating portion according to at least at two different orientations to each other rotated through a right angle.

7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein each head includes a stub protruding downwards from the head and wherein the operating portion has a relative sector which is configured to be placed alongside the stub to form an upper stretch of the operating portion; wherein the sheath is a joining sheath that is configured to be a sliding and interference fit to the stub and to the operating portion in such a way as to form a complete single operating portion.

8. The machine according to claim 1, wherein each carriage comprises: two end heads connected to a plurality of upper transversal tubes for joining the two end heads to define a crosspiece having a width equal to a width of the feed plane; at least two half heads connected to the upper tubes and configured for engaging with the corresponding chains or belts; a head forming a part of the at least one tooth and connected at least to a pair of lower tubes, connected with the two end heads, in such a way as to allow the head a sliding adjusting along the pair of lower tubes; the operating portion being in contact with the group of products connected, in a removable manner, to the head.

9. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the operating portion of each of the at least one tooth is shaped as a blade defined by two surfaces of reduced width and two surfaces of large width.

10. A machine for packaging soft products, comprising: a feed plane for feeding groups of products; a plurality of pulleys located at two ends of the feed plane and connected on at least two shafts driven independently by a first motor and a second motor; two pairs of chains or belts parallel to and independent from each other, wound on the pulleys, and being movable along a first direction and a feed direction, to define a ring-shaped path having an active linear lower branch facing the feed plane and a non-active linear upper branch; a plurality of carriages which are connected, alternatively in sequence, to the pairs of chains or belts and distributed along the ring-shaped path; each of the carriages supporting at least one tooth, projecting towards the feed plane during passage on the lower branch, and configured for retaining and feeding along the feed plane the groups of products from a receiving compartment defined by the at least one tooth to an unloading and releasing zone for unloading and releasing the group of products; a control unit connected to the first and second motors and being configured to control operation of the first and second motors in accordance with variations in a distance between the carriages on the relative pairs of chains or belts as a function of variations in size of the groups of products; a transfer device including an engagement surface for engaging and moving one group of products at a time, along with a corresponding sheet of wrapping material folded into a “U” shape around the group of products, towards the feed plane and to the receiving compartment, along a second direction transversal to the first direction; along the lower branch, a number of the carriages equal to a number of groups of products positioned or arrived on the feed plane, in an operational stretch between the receiving compartment and up to the unloading and releasing zone; each of the at least one tooth being configured along the operational stretch to define simultaneously both a pushing tooth and a containment tooth when the at least one tooth is interposed between two groups of consecutive products along the feed plane, wherein each of the at least one tooth present on each carriage comprises a head permanently connected to the carriage and an operating portion in contact with the groups of products which is configured to be separable from and reconnectable to the head; wherein each head includes a stub protruding downwards from the head and wherein the operating portion has a relative sector which is configured to be placed alongside the stub to form an upper stretch of the operating portion; the machine further comprising a joining sheath that is configured to be a sliding and interference fit to the stub and to the operating portion in such a way as to form a complete single operating portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The features of the machine will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic side view with some parts cut away of a machine for packaging soft products of known type;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged detail of the machine of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of two drive teeth of the machine of FIG. 1 in a different operating configuration;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic front view with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others of a machine for packaging soft products, according to this invention;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic front view with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others of a machine for packaging soft products, according to this invention, in a different operating configuration;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a drive tooth used on the machine of FIGS. 4 and 5;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective view of a first variant embodiment of the drive tooth of FIG. 6;

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate schematic perspective views of a corresponding detail of the drive tooth of FIG. 6 or 7;

(10) FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the drive tooth used on the machine of FIGS. 4 and 5;

(11) FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic exploded perspective view of the drive tooth of FIG. 10 partly assembled;

(12) FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of a support carriage of the drive teeth used on the machine of FIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(13) With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular FIGS. 4 and 5, the machine according to the invention, labelled 100 in its entirety, is used for packaging soft products, such as, for example, but without restricting the scope of the invention, those for sanitary use, such as rolls of tissue paper products such as, for example, rolls of paper for sanitary and/or household use or unwoven products such as nappies.

(14) Again with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the machine 100 comprises a plane 1 for feeding groups 2 of products (where groups of products may refer to a single product being wound, or a plurality of products arranged on several rows and several layers).

(15) The feed plane 1 is usually delimited by a pair of flanks.

(16) The machine 100 also comprises a plurality of pulleys 3 positioned at the two ends of the feed plane 1 and connected on at least two power-driven shafts 4, 5 (usually coaxial to each other and completed by a pair of driven shafts, but merely by way of example). Each shaft 4 and 5 is driven independently by at least a first 6 and a second 7 motor.

(17) On the pulleys 3 are wound two pairs of chains or belts 8 (positioned close to the flanks) parallel to and independent from each other, movable along a first direction D8 and a feed direction V8, to define a ring-shaped path having an active linear lower branch 8a facing the feed plane and a non-active linear upper branch 8b.

(18) The machine 100 comprises a plurality of carriages 9 which are connected, alternatively in sequence, to the pairs of motor-driven chains or belts 8 and distributed along the ring-shaped path.

(19) Each carriage 9 supports at least one tooth 10, 11, 12 (normally a plurality of between 2 and 5), projecting towards the feed plane 1 during the passage on the lower branch 8a.

(20) Each tooth 10, 11, 12 is configured for retaining and feeding along the feed plane 1 the groups 2 of products from a receiving compartment 13 to a zone 14 for unloading and releasing the group 2 of products (the unloading and releasing zone 14 coincides with a tunnel for transfer and definitive closing of the packet).

(21) The machine 100 also comprises a control unit 15 (shown here by a block) connected to the motors 6, 7 is configured to control their operation in accordance with variations in the distance between the carriages (9) on the relative pairs of chains or belts 8 as a function of the variations in size of the groups 2 of products.

(22) The machine 100 comprises transfer means 16 for moving one group 2 of products at a time, with a corresponding sheet 17 of wrapping material folded into a “U” shape around the group 2 of products, towards the feed plane 1 and to the receiving compartment 13 defined by a first 10 and a second 11 tooth, along a second direction D16 transversal to the first direction D8.

(23) The transfer means 16 comprise an elevator plate which is able to receive the group of products at a first lower height and lift the group of products to a second upper height corresponding to the receiving compartment defined between the first and second tooth 10 and 11.

(24) As illustrated, along the lower linear branch 8a of the chains or belts 8 there is a number of teeth 10, 11, 12 equal to the number of groups 2 of products positioned or arrived on the feed plane 1, in the operational stretch between the compartment 13 for receiving the group 2 of products and up to the unloading and releasing zone 14.

(25) Each tooth 10, 11, 12 is configured along the operational stretch to define simultaneously both a pushing tooth and a tooth containment when the same tooth 10, 11, 12 is interposed between two groups 2 of consecutive products along the feed plane A.

(26) As illustrated, the lower linear branch 8a defined by the belts or chains 8 has a succession of teeth 10, 11, 12 along the operational stretch, comprising at least, in a minimum operating configuration:

(27) a first tooth 10 for pushing and a second tooth 11 for containing positioned on opposite sides of the receiving compartment 13 for receiving a first group 2 of products;

(28) the second tooth 11, positioned downstream relative to the first tooth 10 with reference to the feed direction V8, is interposed between the first group 2 of products and a second group 2 of products, located downstream of the first group 2 of products relative to the feed direction V8, in such a way as to also define a tooth for pushing the second group 2 of products (towards the unloading and releasing zone 14).

(29) Again as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the minimum configuration may comprise a third tooth 12, positioned downstream of the second tooth 11 with reference to the feed direction V8, interposed between the second group 2 of products and a third group 2 of products, positioned downstream of the second group 2 of products relative to the feed direction V8, in such a way as to define a tooth for containing the second group 2 of products and a tooth for pushing the third group 2 of products towards the unloading and releasing zone 14.

(30) In other words, the system present on the transfer means comprises a pair of teeth (10 and 11) controlled, in this case, by the corresponding first and second motor 6 and 7. These two teeth contain the group of products in elevation forming the receiving compartment 13.

(31) The same teeth move together and move the group of products by a distance equal to the width of the group of products plus the dimension of the tooth.

(32) This operating parameter has the advantage, with respect to the prior art systems, that the feed step is substantially equal to the size of the pack and not to the step defined mechanically on the machine.

(33) Subsequently, the group of products can be subjected to a lower sealing of the film which surrounds the group of products, whilst it remains between the two teeth until sealing is completed.

(34) In this second movement the tooth labelled 10 (motor 6) moves to the position of the tooth 11 (motor 7) and contains (downstream) the group 2 of products arriving from the receiving compartment 13 which must then be sealed.

(35) During this second movement, the tooth 11 can start pushing the group of products and without any other stop it moves up to the zone 14 for unloading and releasing the group of sealed products where there are units for final closing of the group (typically those for the lateral sealing).

(36) This tooth then completes its stroke positioning behind the teeth which are stationary awaiting their turn to restart the cycle.

(37) This structure makes it possible to reduce the problems of changing the spacing in the machine, the speed reduction for movement of the carriage/tooth (especially for the smallest formats) and rotation of the pushing or containment teeth for the smallest formats.

(38) Basically, the number of compartments defined along the lower linear stretch has each tooth belonging to a carriage which is able to push and simultaneously contain the bundle as a function of the position in which the group of products is located.

(39) Again as illustrated (in particular in FIGS. 6 to 11), each at least one tooth 10, 11, 12 present on each carriage 9 comprises at least a head 18 permanently connected to the carriage 9 and at least an operating portion 19 in contact with the groups 2 of products which can be separated from and reconnected (in a snap-in fashion) to the head 18.

(40) Preferably, each tooth 10, 11, 12 quick comprises means 20 for rapid connection/detachment positioned between the head 18 and the operating contact portion 19 to allow a stable coupling or a separation of the operating portion 19 to/from the head 18.

(41) The rapid connection/detachment means 20 can be, for example, of the type with a bayonet coupling, with pins movable axially and equipped with a spring for maintaining the closed position, etc.

(42) It should be noted that each head 18 has a central seat 18a for housing an end of the operating portion 19 configured to match the central housing seat 18a.

(43) In light of this, between the central seat 18a and the end of the operating portion 19 there are positioned the rapid connection/detachment means 20.

(44) It should also be noted that the configuration of each tooth is like a “T” where the horizontal stretch is extremely reduced in length and allows relative approach between two successive teeth such that it can contain individual formats of extremely reduced width.

(45) Preferably (FIGS. 6, 8, 9), the head 18 has a seat 18a configured, in cross section, in the form of a cross, and wherein the end of the operating portion 19 has a matching shape in the form of a cross in such a way as to allow a coupling of the operating portion 19 according to at least at two different orientations to each other rotated through a right angle.

(46) This feature makes it possible, in a fast and safe fashion, to modify the geometry of the operating portion 19 as a function of the pulling and pushing needs of the groups of products to be handled.

(47) More specifically, this possibility is increased thanks to the fact that the operating portion 19 of each tooth 10, 11, 12 has the shape of a blade defined by two surfaces of reduced width and two surfaces of large width.

(48) In a first alternative embodiment (FIG. 7), each tooth comprises a sheath 21 for external covering which can be coupled to/withdrawn from by sliding in/from the operating portion 19 of the corresponding tooth 10, 11, 12 and which can be locked, by interference, to the same operating portion 19.

(49) In light of this, the sheath 21 has an external size, of operational contact with the group 2 of products, with dimensions greater than the dimensions of the external size of the operating portion 19 (in both the above-mentioned positions).

(50) According to a second alternative embodiment (FIGS. 10 and 11), each head 18 has a stub 18b protruding downwards from the head 18 and wherein the operating portion 19 has a relative sector 19a which can be placed alongside the stub to form an upper stretch of the operating portion 19.

(51) A joining sheath 21 which can be coupled by sliding and interference to the stub 18b and to the operating portion 19 in such a way as to form a complete single operating portion 19.

(52) It should be noted that in this latter alternative embodiment, the sheath 21 may also represent the means 20 for rapid connection/detachment of the operating portion 19 from the head 18.

(53) To complete the structure described above, each carriage 9 comprises: two end heads 22, 23 connected to a plurality of upper tubes 24 (a pair) for joining the two heads 23, 23 to define a crosspiece having a width equal to the width of the feed plane 1; at least two half heads 25, 26 connected to the upper tubes 24 and configured for associating with the corresponding chains or belts 8; at least one head 18 forming a part of the tooth 10, 11, 12 and connected at least to a pair of lower tubes 27, associated with the two end heads 22, 23, in such a way as to allow the head 18 a sliding adjusting along the pair of lower tubes 27 (when necessary); at least one operating portion 19 in contact with the group 2 of products connected, in a removable fashion, to the head 18.

(54) In light of this, the carriage 9 illustrated has five teeth 10 of which at least four adjustable and a fixed central one for stiffening.

(55) All the teeth present have the possibility of separating the operating portion from the head connected to the carriage.

(56) The machine structured in this way achieves the preset aims thanks to an extremely flexible constructional architecture and which is able to obtain a correct and precise movement on any type of format.

(57) Moreover, thanks to the particular structuring of each tooth, the size changes even with special configurations (non-standard) of the products being processed can be obtained in a rapid, precise manner whilst maintaining a high quality standard of the final product.