HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED WRAP PACKAGING SYSTEM

Abstract

There is provided a system for packaging objects on a conveyor using a hose-shaped stretch foil. More specifically, the invention provides a system, wherein the hose-shaped stretch foil can be wrapped around the objects in a horizontal manner.

Claims

1. A system for packaging objects with a hose-shaped stretch foil, said system comprises: a movable packaging frame having a plurality of horizontally oriented gripping arms for holding and stretching the stretch foil, each gripping arm equipped with opposing and activated rollers which can be brought into contact with the stretch foil, whereby activation of the rollers enable the stretch foil to be gathered onto and ungathered from the gripping arms, said gripping arms being independently and laterally movable to achieve stretching of stretch foil; a first conveyor for supporting an object and transporting it toward the packaging frame so that the object is delivered between the gripping arms, said first conveyor transporting the object perpendicular to the packaging frame and in an axis parallel with the gripping arms; a second conveyor for supporting the object and transporting it away from the packaging frame, said second conveyor placed next to the packaging frame, which during the ungathering of the stretch foil is placed between the first and second conveyors, and oriented axially with the gripping arms; stretch foil storage and dispensing means for storing and dispensing a portion of hose-shaped stretch foil; a cutting device for cutting a predetermined portion of hose-shaped stretch foil, said cutting device being associated with the stretch foil storage and dispensing means; a rail system for moving the packaging frame between the stretch foil storage and dispensing means and the area between the first and second conveyors; and a control unit,

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising means for closing the open end of the portion of hose-shaped stretch foil that has been cut by the cutting device;

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmed to execute the following steps: directing the packaging frame to the stretch foil storage and dispensing means, which dispenses a portion of hose-shaped stretch foil corresponding to the size of the object to packaged; activating the rollers of the gripping arms to gathering the stretch foil onto the gripping arms; directing the packaging frame to be placed between the first and second conveyors, whereby the gripping arms are positioned axially with the conveyors; activating the first conveyor to transport the object toward the packaging frame, wherein the object moves along and in between the gripping arms; activating the rollers of the gripping arms to ungather the stretch foil from the gripping arms and onto the object while the object moves away from the gripping arms towards the second conveyor; and activating the second conveyor to transport the packaged object away from the packaging frame.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein closing the open end of the portion of hose-shaped stretch foil is achieved by heating the open end in conjunction with an occlusion of the stretch foil.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein an additional laterally movable packaging frame is provided laterally and moveable on the rail system, and an additional stretch foil storage and dispensing means for storing and dispensing a portion of hose-shaped stretch foil for the additional movable packaging frame; an additional cutting device for cutting a predetermined portion of hose-shaped stretch foil, said additional cutting device being associated with the additional stretch foil storage and dispensing means; optionally additional means for closing the open end of the portion of hose-shaped stretch foil that has been cut by the additional cutting device whereby one of the packaging frames may be gathering stretch foil onto its gripping arms while the other packaging frame packages an object by ungathering stretch foil thereto.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stretch foil storage and dispensing means include a cone or pyramid shaped component fitting the opening of the hose-shaped stretch foil for opening the stretch foil before being transferred onto gripping arms.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein one or all of the gripping arms are configured with activated rollers that support a movable belt which can be brought into contact with the stretch foil, whereby activation of the rollers and thereby the belt enable the stretch foil to be gathered onto the gripping arm when the activated roller is tilted towards an opposing roller remote from the front end of the gripping arm and enable stretch foil to be ungathered from the gripping arm when the activated roller is tilted towards an opposing roller in the front end of the gripping arm.

8. A method for packaging objects with a hose-shaped stretch foil with the system of claim 1, said method comprises the steps of: directing the packaging frame to the stretch foil storage and dispensing means, which dispenses a portion of hose-shaped stretch foil corresponding to the size of the object to packaged; activating the rollers of the gripping arms to gathering the stretch foil onto the gripping arms; moving the gripping arms to achieve stretching of the stretch foil and providing a space between the gripping arms that allows for passage of the object to be packaged; directing the packaging frame to be placed between the first and second conveyors, whereby the gripping arts are positioned axially with the conveyors; activating the first conveyor to transport the object toward the packaging flame, wherein the object moves along and in between the gripping arms; activating the rollers, of the gripping arms to ungather the stretch foil from the gripping arms and onto the object while the object moves away from the gripping arms towards the second conveyor; and activating the second conveyor to transport the packaged object away from the packaging frame.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein an additional laterally movable packaging frame is provided, said additional packaging frame being moveable on the rail system, said method further comprises the step of gathering stretch foil onto its gripping arms while the other packaging frame packages an object by ungathering stretch foil thereto.

10. A gripping arm configured with activated rollers that support a movable belt which can be brought into contact with the stretch foil, whereby activation of the rollers and thereby the belt enable the stretch foil to be gathered onto the gripping arm when the activated roller is tilted towards an opposing roller remote from, the front end of the gripping arm and enable stretch foil to be ungathered from the gripping arm when the activated roller is tilted towards an opposing roller in the front end of the gripping arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the system.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment from FIG. 1 in another perspective view.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows the embodiment from FIG. 1 in a third perspective view.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the gripping arms.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a modified gripping arm gathering stretch foil onto the gripping arm.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a modified gripping arm ungathering stretch foil from the gripping arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] Identical components are given the same designations in the text which follows and are provided with the same reference signs in the drawings.

[0045] The exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention that is shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises four gripping arms (3) that are arranged on a frame (2, 20) and can be individually activated, with in each case an assigned drive unit.

[0046] In FIGS. 1-3 are shown views of the movable packaging frame (2, 20) having four horizontally oriented gripping arms (3) for holding and stretching the stretch foil (4). The rail system (9) is used for moving the packaging frame (2, 20) from the stretch foil storage and dispensing means (9, 90) to the area between the first (6) and second (8) conveyors. In the shown embodiment two packaging frames (2, 20) and two stretch foil storage and dispensing means (9, 90) are provided; in such a configuration one of the packaging frames may be gathering stretch foil while the other is ungathering stretch foil onto the object to packaged.

[0047] Each gripping arm (3) is equipped with opposing and activated rollers (5) which can be brought into contact with the stretch foil (4), whereby activation of the rollers (5) enable the stretch foil (4) to be gathered onto and ungathered from the gripping arms (3). The gripping arms (3) are independently and laterally movable to achieve stretching of foil (4). There is shown a first conveyor (6) for supporting the object (7) and transporting it toward the packaging frame (2, 20) so that the object (7) is delivered between the gripping arms (3). This first conveyor (6) transports the object (7) perpendicular to the packaging frame (2, 20) and in an axis parallel with the gripping arms (3). The second conveyor (8), which is placed next to the packaging frame (2, 20), supports the object (7) and transports it away from the packaging frame (2, 20).

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the stretch foil storage and dispensing means (9, 90) for storing and dispensing a portion of hose-shaped stretch foil (4). In the embodiment shown the cutting device (10) is designed to cut a predetermined portion of hose-shaped stretch foil (4). The cone-shaped device (12) is used to facilitate the opening of the hose-shaped stretch foil (4).

[0049] The grippers (3) have a fixedly mounted roller (5), which engage with a complementary roller that can be activated by a drive unit. Each drive unit has a motor that drives and activates the roller. In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown here, the first and second conveyors (6, 8) are configured to transport the objects (7) to be packaged.

[0050] In the case of the gripping arms (3) that are shown in FIG. 4, apart from the fixedly but rotatably attached roller the gripping arms have a further opposing roller, which can be activated by a motor.

[0051] FIG. 1-3 show the gripping arms (3) in a step in which a portion of stretch foil has already been pushed over the grippers and, after that, the four gripping arms are moved in a position between the first (6) and second conveyor (8) before the gripping arms (3) are spread apart. Consequently, the rollers (5) that are fixedly mounted at the ends of the gripping arms are already in contact with the inner side of the portion of stretch foil (4).

[0052] FIG. 4 shows in more detail the gripping arms (3). As shown in FIGS. 1-4 engagement is created between the activated rollers and the fixedly attached rollers the objects to be packaged move from the first conveyor (6) to the second conveyor (8) and through the opening of the stretch foil (4) established between the arms (3). When the object (7) to be packaged enters the opening of the hose-shaped stretch foil (4) the activated rollers start to unwind the film while the good moves to the second conveyor thereby covering the object (7) with the stretchable foil (4).

[0053] Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a detailed view of a modified gripping arm gathering stretch foil onto the gripping arm. Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a detailed view of the modified gripping arm ungathering stretch foil from the gripping arm. Specifically, the gripping arm is configured with activated rollers (5′, 5″) that support a movable belt (5a) which can be brought into contact with the stretch foil (4), whereby activation of the rollers (5′, 5″) and thereby the belt (5a) enable the stretch foil to be gathered onto the gripping arm when the activated roller (5′) is tilted towards an opposing roller (5b′) remote from the front end of the gripping arm (cf FIG. 5) and enable stretch foil to be ungathered from the gripping arm when the activated roller (5″) is tilted towards an opposing roller (5b″) in the front end of the gripping arm (cf FIG. 6).

[0054] According to the invention, the cylinders, such as pneumatic cylinders or other actuator, used to move the grippers in the system can be activated separately. Generally, only a relatively small cylinder stroke is necessary.