Printing on packaging material in multilane flow wrapping machine

Abstract

The invention relates to multilane printer for printing packaging material. The printer comprises a first lane for packaging material, a second lane for packaging material, and a printer head arranged in connection with the lanes. The lanes are arranged laterally offset in an overlapping manner, such that the printer head is able to simultaneously print on at least a portion of the packaging material travelling in each lane. The invention also relates to a multilane wrapping machine and a method for simultaneously printing a plurality of lanes for packaging material using one single printer head.

Claims

1. A multilane printer for printing packaging material, comprising a first lane for packaging material, a second lane for packaging material, and a printer head arranged in connection with said lanes, wherein said lanes are arranged laterally offset in an overlapping manner, such that said printer head is able to simultaneously print on at least a portion of the packaging material travelling in each lane.

2. The printer according claim 1, wherein said lanes are arranged offset in height when passing said printer head.

3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said printer is a static printer.

4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a third lane for packaging material.

5. The printer according to claim 4, further comprising a fourth lane for packaging material.

6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said portion of the packaging material is an edge of the packaging material.

7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said print comprises a date coding and/or a batch number.

8. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said printer is a laser printer.

9. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a distance between said printer head and said packaging material of the lane arranged furthest away from said printer head is between 20 and 500 mm.

10. A multilane wrapping machine for wrapping objects in bags of packaging material, comprising a printer according to claim 1.

11. The wrapping machine according to claim 10, further comprising a roller for each lane of said printer onto which said packaging material is wound.

12. The wrapping machine according to claim 10, further comprising at least one guiding means for each lane of said printer adapted to guide the packaging material in said lane.

13. A method for simultaneously printing a plurality of lanes of packaging material using one single printer head, comprising: arranging said lanes laterally offset in an overlapping manner; advancing the packaging material in said lanes; and printing at least a portion of the packaging material in each lane simultaneously using said printer head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1a is a side view of a multilane wrapping machine according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 1b is an enlargement of a portion of the wrapping machine in FIG. 1a.

(4) FIG. 2 is a side view of the multilane wrapping machine in FIG. 1a.

(5) FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for simultaneously printing a plurality of lanes of packaging material according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a multilane wrapping machine 1 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The wrapping machine 1 comprises a printer 2 and four lanes 3, 4, 5, 6 for packaging material. The lanes 3, 4, 5, 6 for packaging material are arranged substantially on top of each other but in an overlapping manner. That is, they are arranged laterally offset and offset in height so that an outer edge of the packaging material of each lane 3, 4, 5, 6 is exposed. A printer head 11 of the printer 2 is arranged in direct connection with and above the lanes 3, 4, 5, 6. This way, the printer 2 will be able to simultaneously print a printing on the outer edge of the packaging material travelling in each lane 3, 4, 5, 6 using one single printer head. Normally, the print includes a date coding and/or a batch number. However, other prints are naturally also possible.

(7) As can be seen in FIG. 1a, each lane 3, 4, 5, 6 comprises a roller 7, 8, 9, 10 onto which the packaging material is wound. The rollers 7, 8, 9, 10 are preferably arranged laterally offset and offset in height in order to achieve the desired relationship between the packaging material of the different lanes 3, 4, 5, 6 when passing the printer 2. Further, each lane 3, 4, 5, 6 comprises at least one guiding means 12 (specifically between two and three in this embodiment) which will guide the packaging material in each lane 3, 4, 5, 6 from the roller 7, 8, 9, 10, to the printer 2, and further downstream of the printer 2 in the wrapping machine 1.

(8) In FIG. 2 it is more clearly illustrated that the lanes 3, 4, 5, 6 of packaging material are offset also in height in relation to each other. The distance between the printer head and the packaging material of the lane 6 arranged furthest away from the printer head preferably is between 20 and 500 mm. This is a distance from which a clear print in the required size can be provided on the packaging material by means of the printer 2. Here, a 175 mm focal length is used and the focal distance is approximately 14 mm. However, naturally, other alternatives are also possible.

(9) When the packaging material has been printed on it proceeds through the wrapping machine 1 to receive an object and to be formed into a package downstream of the printer 2. The packaging material of each lane 3, 4, 5, 6 is used to create an individual package, respectively. That is, if the wrapping machine 1 comprises four lanes 3, 4, 5, 6 of packaging material then four individual packages are simultaneously and continuously created downstream of the printer 2.

(10) FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of the steps in an exemplary method for simultaneously printing a plurality of lanes of packaging material using one single printer head according to the invention. The method comprises the steps of arranging the lanes laterally offset in an overlapping manner, advancing the packaging material of the lanes, and printing at least a portion of the packaging material of each lane simultaneously using the printer head.

(11) It is understood that other variations in the present invention are contemplated and in some instances, some features of the invention can be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

(12) For instance, the printer may be a static printer or a laser printer. The number of lanes may be varied in any suitable manner. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, up to twelve lanes are used.

(13) The printer as described above may be used in any suitable context and is not limited for use in connection with a wrapping machine. It may, for example, be used for printing on carton based packaging material or on labels or the like for different types of products.