Method and bundling unit for carrying out a multi-layered packaging system

Abstract

A method for carrying out a multi-layered packaging system, comprising providing a plurality of packagings, moving said plurality of packagings by means of a first movement device, bringing a first group of packagings of said plurality of packagings into a collection zone (ZP), collecting by means of said transfer device having two degrees of freedom dais first group of packagings and moving said transfer device in accordance with a vertical component towards a bundling zone (ZA) of a bundling device to activate a second retention element of said bundling device so as to collect said first group of packagings, moving again said transfer device into said collection zone (ZP) and starting to move said first movement device so as to bring a second group of packagings towards said collection zone (ZP) before said transfer device arrives in said collection zone (ZP), moving said transfer device by bringing said second group of packagings into said bundling zone (ZA) in such a manner that said second group of packagings vertically moves said first group of packagings by taking the position thereof and thereby forming said multi-layered packaging system.

Claims

1. A method for carrying out a multi-layered packaging system, comprising: providing a plurality of packagings, moving said plurality of packagings in a first advance direction (PDA) by a first movement device, bringing a first group of packagings of said plurality of packagings into a collection zone (ZP) located entirely on said first movement device, with said first group of packagings being supported on said first movement device in said collection zone (ZP), providing a transfer device having at least two degrees of freedom comprising a first retention element for said first group of packagings, collecting by said transfer device said first group of packagings while said first group of packagings is in said collection zone (ZP) and supported by said first movement device, moving said transfer device, while it retains said first group of packagings, in accordance with a vertical component towards a bundling zone (ZA) of a bundling device which is positioned in a vertical projection of said collection zone (ZP), activating a second retention element of said bundling device so as to collect said first group of packagings from said transfer device and to retain it selectively and stably in said bundling zone (ZA), moving said transfer device into said collection zone (ZP) while always maintaining a minimum distance different from zero with said first movement device and/or said plurality of packagings, starting to move said first movement device so as to bring a second group of packagings towards said collection zone (ZP) before said transfer device arrives in said collection zone (ZP), completing the movement of said first movement device as far as said collection zone (ZP) for said second group of packagings, moving said transfer device in accordance with a vertical component by bringing said second group of packagings into said bundling zone (ZA) of said bundling device while said second retention element is deactivated in such a manner that said second group of packagings vertically moves said first group of packagings by taking the position thereof and thereby forming said multi-layered packaging system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transfer device with two degrees of freedom has the ability to move along two axes which are contained in a vertical plane which is defined by a vertical axis and said first advance direction (DA).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said transfer device with two degrees of freedom is a movable articulated parallelogram comprising a member and a projecting portion which is configured to act as said first retention element for said first or second group of packagings.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first movement device comprises at least one web.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transfer device with two degrees of freedom comprises a piston which is vertically movable in translation and on which there is secured with permitted horizontal translational movement a movable lateral portion which is configured to act as said first retention element.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said first movement device comprises a first web and a second web which are mutually parallel and said first retention element is formed so as to be able to pass freely into the space between said first and second webs.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first movement device which brings said second group of packagings starts to move as soon as said transfer device has travelled a minimum vertical distance (Dminv) which is equal to or greater than the total of the height of a packaging of said plurality of packagings and the thickness of said first retention element which engages with said plurality of packagings.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multi-layered system is moved in a second advance direction (SDA) which is parallel with said first advance direction (PDA).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first movement device comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, which are independently actuatable and which are positioned upstream and downstream of said collection zone (ZP), respectively, and which are configured so as to be able to selectively engage and block a desired packaging of said plurality of packagings.

10. A bundling unit for carrying out a multi-layered packaging system comprising: a first movement device for moving a plurality of packagings in a first advance direction (PDA) comprising a collection zone (ZP) located entirely on said first movement device, a transfer device having two degrees of freedom, of which one is vertical, and comprising a first retention element for collecting a first group of packagings of said plurality of packagings in said collection zone (ZP) while said first group of packagings is supported on said first movement device in said collection zone (ZP), said transfer device being positioned downstream of said first movement device, a bundling device which is positioned in a vertical projection of said collection zone (ZP) and which comprises a second retention element which is configured so as to selectively retain said first group of packagings in a bundling zone (ZA), said transfer device being configured to move reversibly from said bundling zone (ZA) to said collection zone (ZP) while always maintaining a minimum distance different from zero with said first movement device.

11. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said first movement device comprises at least one web.

12. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said first movement device comprises a first and a second web which are formed and laterally spaced apart from each other so as to define between them a free zone, into which said retention element of said transfer device can pass.

13. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said transfer device with two degrees of freedom comprises a piston which is vertically movable in translation between said collection zone (ZP) and said bundling zone (ZA) and said first retention element is a portion which is horizontally removable with respect to said piston and which is configured so as to be able to pass reversibly from an open configuration, in which it is near said collection zone (ZP), to a closed configuration, in which it does not intersect with said first movement device and/or said plurality of packagings.

14. The bundling unit according to claim 13, wherein said transfer device with two degrees of freedom has the ability to move along two axes which are contained in a vertical plane which is defined by a vertical axis and said first advance direction (PDA).

15. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said transfer device with two degrees of freedom is a movable articulated parallelogram comprising a member and a projecting portion which is configured to act as a first retention element for said first and second group of packagings.

16. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said bundling device has a box-like shape, comprises a lower opening which is formed so as to allow the passage of said first or second group of packagings, and wherein said second retention element comprises at least one shelf which is reversibly movable from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration, in which it at least partially occupies said lower opening so as to no longer allow the passage of said first or second group of packagings through said lower opening.

17. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said first movement device which brings said second group of packagings starts to move as soon as said transfer device has travelled a minimum vertical distance (Dminv) which is equal to or greater than the total of the height of a packaging of said plurality of packagings and the thickness of said first retention element which engages with said plurality of packagings.

18. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said multi-layered system is moved in a second advance direction (SDA) which is parallel with said first advance direction by means of a second movement device.

19. The bundling unit according to claim 10, wherein said first movement device comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, which are independently actuatable and which are positioned upstream and downstream of said collection zone (ZP), respectively, and which are configured so as to be able to selectively engage and block a desired packaging of said plurality of packagings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 7a are schematic side views of a bundling unit made in accordance with the present invention in various process configurations;

(3) FIG. 7b is a schematic front perspective view of a detail of the bundling unit of FIG. 1,

(4) FIGS. 8a and 8b are schematic top views of a bundling device of the bundling unit according to section VIII of FIG. 1;

(5) FIGS. 9a and 9b are schematic front views of said bundling device of the bundling unit according to section IX of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) With initial reference to FIG. 1, 1 denotes a bundling unit for carrying out a multi-layered packaging system 900 starting from a plurality of packagings 800.

(7) The embodiment example which will be described below refers to packagings, in particular box-like shaped in which articles are preferably arranged in an orderly manner, for example arranged on superimposed layers.

(8) In the specific case described here, the articles with which the packagings are filled are capsule elements for the preparation of infusion beverages, in particular coffee capsules.

(9) The bundling unit 1 comprises a first movement device 10 for said plurality of packagings 800, a transfer device 20 which is placed downstream of said first movement device 10 and a bundling device 30 which is placed downstream of said transfer device 20.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7a, 810 identifies a first group of packagings and 820 identifies a second group of packagings of the plurality of packagings 800.

(11) By way of non-limiting example, FIGS. 1 to 7a show some of the steps of carrying out a multi-layered packaging system 900 which comprises two packagings for each of the two layers envisaged.

(12) In this sense, therefore, this three-dimensional matrix representing the multi-layered packaging system 900 is of the two-row by two-column type.

(13) Again with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7a, it can be noted that both the first group of packagings 810 and the second group of packagings 820 are each composed of two horizontally aligned packagings.

(14) In the present example, 800 represents a plurality of parallelepiped-shaped packagings which is housed on a first and second web 110,120, which act as a first movement device 10.

(15) With reference to FIG. 7b, this first and second web 110,120 are arranged parallel, at the same height from the horizontal plane of the ground and define a same first advance direction PDA of said plurality of packagings 800.

(16) Again, these first and second webs 110,120 are spaced apart by a spacing between about 90 mm and 200 mm.

(17) This distance between the first and second webs 110, 120 is functional to allow the transfer device 20 to never collide with them while being able to effectively interact with the plurality of packagings 800.

(18) With reference to FIG. 1, it can be noted that the first and second webs 110, 120 end in a collection zone ZP for the plurality of packagings 800.

(19) As shown in FIG. 2, the first movement device 10 comprises a first actuator 130 and a second actuator 140 which are placed upstream and downstream of the collection zone ZP, respectively.

(20) The first actuator 130 is a piston which is placed in an upper proximity of the first and second web 110, 120 and is configured in such a way as to be able to extend horizontally in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first advance direction by engaging on a packaging transported by said first and second web 110, 120 and by blocking it on an opposite abutment wall.

(21) When this first actuator 130 is actuated by blocking the desired packaging, all packagings downstream thereof are potentially free from the pressure that the plurality of packagings 800 previously exerted.

(22) The second actuator 140 is also a piston which is connected to a horizontal plate and which is placed immediately downstream of the collection zone ZP.

(23) Such a piston is configured in such a way as to be able to move reversibly in translation in the direction opposite to that of the first advance direction PDA, transiently acting as an abutment for said plurality of packagings 800.

(24) When the piston of said second actuator 140 is moved in translation in the direction opposite to said first advance direction PDA it acts as an abutment for the plurality of packagings 800 which advances on the first and second web 110, 120.

(25) When the piston of said second actuator 140 is moved in translation in accordance with the first advance direction PDA, i.e. away from said plurality of packagings 800, it grants additional space to the plurality of packagings 800 which can thus relax any residual elastic compressions.

(26) This effect is even more evident when the second actuator 140 is moved away from the plurality of packagings 800 while the first actuator 130 is in operation. In fact, in this way only the packagings downstream in the point at which the first actuator 130 acts are disengaged from the chain of pressures present in the plurality of packagings 800 and can fully benefit from the additional space provided by the relative movement produced by the second actuator 140 thus relaxing the residual elastic compression energies.

(27) In this respect it is interesting to note that the actual collection zone ZP that the packagings assume is the one reached following the aforesaid movement of the second actuator 140 thanks to which the residual compression energies of the packagings are relaxed.

(28) With reference to FIG. 1, it can be noted that when the first group of packagings 810 (consisting of two aligned packagings) arrives in the collection zone ZP the transfer device 20 is positioned in such a way that it can collect it and move it towards a bundling zone ZA which is vertically aligned to said collection zone ZP.

(29) As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer device 20 comprises a first retention element 25.

(30) More in detail, this transfer device 20 comprises a movable articulated parallelogram 210 which comprises a member 211 and a projecting portion 212 which is configured to act as a first retention element 25 for said first or second group of packagings 810, 820.

(31) With reference to FIG. 3, it can be noted that this articulated parallelogram 210 is secured by means of linkages to an actuation element 290 comprising two motors (not shown in the figure) and three pins 291a, 291b, 291c of which the first and the second pin 291a, 291b are connected directly to the aforesaid two motors while the third pin 291c is neutral.

(32) This articulated parallelogram 210 comprises a first rod 250 comprising a first hinge 251 which is placed near a first end 252a of the first rod 250 on which said projecting portion 212 which extends horizontally towards said plurality of packagings 800 is fixed.

(33) This first rod 250 comprises a second hinge 253 which is placed at substantially a median zone thereof and a third hinge 254 which is placed at a second end thereof 252b which is opposite the first end thereof 252a.

(34) The articulated parallelogram 210 comprises a second rod 260 which is secured with permitted rotation at a first end thereof 260a to the first rod 250 by means of said first hinge 251 and comprising a fourth hinge 261 which is placed near a second end thereof 262 which is opposite said first end 260a.

(35) Again with reference to FIG. 3, the second rod 260 is secured by means of the fourth hinge 261 to a first linkage 265 having a substantially L shape.

(36) This first linkage 265 is engaged with permitted rotation in a substantially median zone thereof on the third pin 291c and on a second end thereof 267a, opposite a first end thereof 266 connected to the fourth hinge 261, is secured with permitted rotation by means of a fifth hinge 271a on a third rod 270a.

(37) This third rod 270a has a horizontal orientation and is parallel with that of the first rod 250.

(38) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the third rod 270a comprises at a second end thereof 270b, opposite the first end thereof 270a which is bearing the fifth hinge 271a, a sixth hinge 272a which engages with permitted rotation on a second linkage 275a, which is formed like the first linkage 265, at a second end 277a of the latter.

(39) This second linkage 275a is engaged on the second pin 291b of the second motor substantially at the median zone thereof and with a fourth rod 280 at a first end thereof 276a, opposite the second end 277a, by means of a seventh hinge 281.

(40) The fourth rod 280 is secured with permitted rotation by means of the second hinge 253 on the first rod 250 at substantially the median position thereof.

(41) As can be seen again from FIG. 3, in this way it is possible to make the first rod 250 move according to two degrees of freedom, which are the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, by keeping this first rod 250 always horizontal in space.

(42) Thanks to this solution, also the projecting portion 212, which is integrally secured to the first rod 250 as an extension thereof, always remains horizontal in the space and acts as an ideal support plane for the various groups of packagings which are wished to be moved according to need.

(43) Still with reference to FIG. 3, the third hinge 254 of the first rod 250, which is positioned at the second end thereof 252b, opposite first end thereof 252a, is secured with permitted rotation to a fifth rod 283 at the first end thereof 283a.

(44) The fifth rod 283 is secured with permitted rotation by means of an eighth hinge 284 which is positioned near a second end 283b to a third linkage 285, having a rod-like shape, which is in turn secured with permitted rotation on the first pin 291a.

(45) In this way, with the rotations of the first pin 291a which is directly connected to the first motor it is possible to define the main movement of the articulated parallelogram 210 according to the horizontal axis, while by means of the rotations of the second pin 291b which is directly connected to the second motor it is possible to manage the vertical movement of the articulated parallelogram 210 maintaining the desired orientation of the projecting portion 212.

(46) FIGS. 1 to 9b with 30 show the bundling device of the packagings.

(47) With specific reference to FIGS. 8a and 8b, it can be noted that this bundling device 30 comprises a central member 30a having a substantially box-like shape.

(48) In more detail, the bundling device 30 has a central member 30a which is shaped so as to comprise a lower opening 31 which is placed in the centre of its lower face.

(49) This lower opening 31 has a preferred rectangular shape and is sized to allow the passage through it of the various groups of packagings 810, 820 the bundling of which is wished.

(50) In this sense, therefore, the dimensions of the lower opening 31 are close to those of the packagings to be bundled and their desired groups, taking into account however that the same bundling device 30 can be used for packagings of different formats.

(51) As shown in FIGS. 8a to 9b, the central member 30a of the bundling device 30 comprises a first and second lateral faces 32a, 32b which are opposite each other and having a development which is substantially perpendicular to the first advance direction PDA and a third and fourth lateral faces 32c, 32d which are opposite each other and having a development which is substantially parallel to the first advance direction PDA.

(52) The first lateral face 32a comprises a first lateral opening through which a rod 41a of a piston 41 of a second movement device identified with a pushing device 40 passes (see FIGS. 1 and 7a).

(53) Similarly, the second lateral face 32b comprises a second lateral opening through which a rod 51a of a piston 51 of an abutment device 50 passes (see FIGS. 1 and 7a).

(54) The third lateral face 32c has a third lateral opening 32c1 that allows an operator of the bundling unit 1 positioned beside the first and second web 110,120 to clearly see the various steps of bundling of the first and second group of packagings 810, 820 (see FIG. 7a).

(55) Again with reference to FIGS. 8a to 9b, the third and fourth lateral faces 32c, 32d comprise in one of their lower portions a seat for respective shelves 36 acting as a retention element 35.

(56) As shown in more detail in FIGS. 8b and 9b, these shelves 36 can move in translation laterally outside respective seats which are obtained in the third and fourth lateral faces 32c, 32d projecting towards the central zone of the bundling device 30. In this way they reduce the effective extension of the lower opening 31 and are able to act as an abutment for the first or second group of packagings 810,820.

(57) FIGS. 9a and 9b show the outline of a packaging by means of a dashed line, showing in particular in FIG. 9b how the packaging remains secured by force of gravity on the shelves 36 projecting from the respective third and fourth lateral wall 32c, 32d.

(58) These shelves 36 are moved by means of a system with pistons which are connected to an electric motor or to a compressed air system or similar technical solutions.

(59) The shelves 36 project from the internal surface of the third or fourth lateral wall 32c, 32d by about 12-15 mm+/2 mm.

(60) The bundling device 30 is secured with permitted vertical translational movement which is performed by means of pistons (not shown in the figure). In this way, it is possible to vertically move in translation the bundling device from a closed configuration, in which the bundling device 30 is at a minimum distance from the first movement device 10, to a spaced configuration, in which the bundling device 30 is at a maximum distance from the first movement device 10 and at the same level as the second advance direction SDA. When the bundling device 30 is in this spaced configuration, the multi-layered system 900 can be directly moved by the pushing device 40 described below without risking damaging the packagings being moved.

(61) With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7a, the pushing device 40 comprises the rod 41a of the piston 41 at the end of which a vertical pushing wall 42 is integrally secured.

(62) This vertical pushing wall 42 has a planar development which is parallel to the first lateral wall 32a and is formed in such a way as to be able to push the multi-layered packaging system 900 out of the bundling device 30 once the desired bundling operations have been completed.

(63) In this sense, therefore, this vertical pushing wall 42 has a smaller surface development than the second lateral opening of the second lateral wall 32b.

(64) Again with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7a, the abutment device 50 comprises the rod 51a of the piston 51 at the end of which a vertical abutment wall 52 is integrally secured.

(65) This abutment wall 52 has planar development which is parallel to the first lateral wall 32a and is formed in such a way as to be able to abut the multi-layered packaging system 900 when it is pushed out of the bundling device 30 once the bundling operations have been completed by the vertical pushing wall 42.

(66) In this sense, therefore, this vertical abutment wall 52 has a smaller surface development than the second lateral opening of the second lateral wall 32b.

(67) When the multi-layered packaging system 900 is completely bundled, the vertical pushing wall 42 and the vertical abutment wall 52 cooperate by moving in translation until the aforesaid multi-layered packaging system 900 is brought into a boxing position, which is located downstream of the bundling device 30, wherein said multi-layered packaging system 900 is inserted into a box-like container.

(68) The bundling device 30 comprises sensors, preferably optical, configured so as to verify that the multi-layered packaging system 900 reaches and does not surpass a predetermined height relative to a specific and desired three-dimensional matrix.

(69) If the parameter detected by the aforesaid sensors is not met, the multi-layered packaging system 900 is considered as a waste and both the pushing wall 42 and the abutment wall 52 are made to move in translation to an unloading position, which is different from the previously described boxing position, in order to be transferred to an unloading station. At the unloading position there is housed an unloading device that moves the multi-layered packaging system 900 out of the bundling and boxing line in order to collect it in the aforementioned unloading station.

(70) With reference to FIG. 1, it can be noted that the plurality of packagings 800 is moved in the first advance direction PDA through the first and second web 110, 120.

(71) In this way, the first group of packagings 810 of the plurality of packagings 800 arrives in the collection zone ZP which is identified on the first and second webs 110, 120. The first actuator 130 is activated by blocking a packaging and preventing all the pressure of the packagings aligned in the first advance direction PDA from being applied to the first group of packagings 810. At the same time, the second actuator 140 (see also FIG. 2) is also activated, which, by moving relatively away from the first and second web 110, 120, allows the first group of packagings 810 to relax any accumulated elastic compression energies, thus reaching the final position at the collection zone ZP.

(72) At this point, and still with reference to FIG. 1, the articulated parallelogram 210 with the projecting portion 212 is positioned so as to be able to collect the first group of packagings 810 from below by inserting itself between the first and second web 110, 120.

(73) Subsequently, the articulated parallelogram 210 moves thanks to the motion imposed by the first and second pin 291a, 291b moving the first group of packagings 810 towards the bundling zone ZA.

(74) While this is happening, the bundling device 30 brings the shelves 36 into a retracted configuration so that the first group of packagings 810 can pass through the lower opening 31 and completely surpass the bundling zone ZA.

(75) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be noted how the projecting portion 212 brings the first group of packagings 810 vertically beyond the bundling zone ZA, thus allowing the shelves 36 to pass to the extended configuration, thus being able to stably block the first group of packagings 810 in the desired position and at the same time being able to further move the articulated parallelogram 210.

(76) It is interesting to note, again with reference to FIG. 2, that while the articulated parallelogram 210 reaches and surpasses the bundling zone ZA, the first and second actuator 130, 140 have been deactivated and the first and second web 110, 120 have already started to move so as to bring the second group of packagings 820 in the collection zone ZP.

(77) With reference to FIG. 6, it can be noted that the first and second web 110, 120 preferably start to move the first or second group of packagings 810, 820 again as soon as the projecting portion 212 of the articulated parallelogram 210 has travelled a vertical movement greater than a minimum vertical distance Dminv equal to the height of the packaging plus the thickness of the projecting portion 212.

(78) Once the second group of packagings 820 has arrived at the collection zone ZP, the first and second actuator 130, 140 are activated again in order to prevent, also in this case, that there may be excessive elastic compression energy inside the packagings to be treated.

(79) With reference to FIG. 3, it can be noted that the articulated parallelogram 210 starts to move away from the bundling device 30 by initially descending vertically.

(80) With reference to FIG. 4, it can be noted how the articulated parallelogram 210 descends along a path with a vertical component and a horizontal component, moving away from the first and second web 110, 120 and from the portion of the initial vertical trajectory that it had followed to bring the first group of packagings 810 into the bundling zone ZA.

(81) This movement allows the articulated parallelogram 210 to approach the first and second web 110, 120 and the second group of packagings 820 without crossing the collection zone ZP, in order not to run the risk of possible collisions and optimising process timings.

(82) With reference to FIG. 5, it can be noted how the articulated parallelogram 210 has arrived near the second group of packagings 820 and is proceeding horizontally so as to be inferiorly aligned with the second group of packagings 820 to be collected.

(83) With reference to FIG. 6, it can be noted how the articulated parallelogram has collected the second group of packagings 820 and is bringing it towards the bundling zone ZA. It can further be noted that the first and second web 110, 120 start to move again as soon as the articulated parallelogram 210 has surpassed the minimum vertical distance Dminv previously described.

(84) With reference to FIG. 7a, it can be noted that the first group of packagings 810 has been bundled with the second group of packagings 820 following the passage in the retracted configuration of the shelves 36 which have allowed the second group of packagings 820 to pass through the lower opening 31 abutting inferiorly on the first group of packagings 810 and thus creating the desired multi-layered packaging system 900.

(85) With reference again to FIG. 1, it can be noted that while the articulated parallelogram 210 is located so as to be able to collect the first group of packagings 810, a multi-layered system 900 is already ready in the bundling device 30. At this point, the pushing device 40 moves in translation the pushing wall 42 horizontally on a reference plane so as to make the multilayer system 900 come out of the bundling device 30 and to move it as far as said boxing zone.

(86) In order to ensure that the multi-layered packaging system 900 does not undesirably surpass the boxing zone, the abutment wall 52 of the abutment device 50 also moves in translation consistently stopping at the end of the boxing zone (see FIG. 2).

(87) With reference to FIG. 6, it can be noted that the pushing wall 42 returns to the initial position previously assumed before pushing the multi-layered packaging system 900 outside the bundling device 30 while the first group of packagings 810 has already been secured to said bundling device 30 in the bundling zone ZA. In order to do so, it is noted that the pushing device 40 moves in translation vertically superiorly by a sufficient minimum height which is greater than the height of the first packaging unit 810 the pushing wall 42 while returning it to the aforesaid initial position. In this way, processing times can be further reduced increasing the productivity of the bundling unit.