Abstract:
A packer machine for producing pouches containing portions of a loose product having: a frame; a conveyor device configured to move two bands of wrapping material along two parallel packing paths; a wrapping station arranged along each packing path at which the corresponding band is wrapped to form a tubular wrap; a longitudinal sealing unit with at least two sealing elements; a feeding device with two feeding ducts around each of which a band is bent to form the corresponding tubular wrap, each being configured to feed, one after the other, the loose product into the corresponding tubular wrap; two movable assemblies, each being mounted on the frame to move along a pressing direction independently of the other movable assembly and supports one single corresponding sealing element; and two actuator devices, each of which applies an elastic force to a corresponding movable assembly independently of the other actuator device.
Abstract:
A packaged unit includes a cluster of products and a shrink film that secures the products to each other. The shrink film is wrapped around the cluster, thereby forming a lateral opening that would otherwise result in a shrink eye. A closure formed by placing a portion of the shrink film against the cluster at in the region of the lateral opening forms a closed surface with overlapping fold regions of the shrink film, thus avoiding the shrink eye.
Abstract:
A method for packaging groups of articles to form packaging units, includes sheathing a packaging unit with a film as it moves in a running direction on a transporting path by simultaneously forming a film cover and flaps projecting beyond the packaging unit along a direction perpendicular to the running direction, and positioning the flaps against the packaging unit as the packaging unit moves through a folding unit, fixing the flaps, and forming a film wrapper that is closed on all sides of the packaging unit. A preliminary-fixing step, which includes positioning the flaps in relation to one another, and initially fixing the flaps by generating heat, and exposing the flaps to the heat, follows. This is followed by a definitive-fixing step that includes exposing the packaging unit, as a whole, to generated heat.
Abstract:
A method of combining groups of articles to form packaging units includes wrapping a packaging unit along a running direction thereof on a transporting path with a sheet material, concurrently with the wrapping, forming a sheet-material overlap and folding flaps that each project beyond the packaging unit along transverse peripheries thereof, positioning the folding flaps against the packaging unit as the packaging unit passes through a folding unit, and fixing the folding flaps to each other, thereby forming a sheet-material wrapper that is closed on all sides.
Abstract:
There is described a method for wrapping an article using a web of packaging film having at least one tar line thereon in the MD, the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming at regular intervals in the MD a tab on the film, the tab having a free end connected by free sides to an opposite end of the tab attached to the film, the tab being positioned on the film so the axis of at least one tear line in the MD passes through both ends of the tab; (b) severing the film web to form sheets by cutting substantially along an axis across the TD of the web, the axis passing across the tab between its ends, where the tab along said axis is not substantially severed there through so the tab protrudes from the leading edge of the sheet; (c) wrapping a sheet formed from step (b) around an article to form a tube with the cut sides of the sheet overlapping, where the free end of the tab lies on the top of the overlap on the outside of the tube and where the cut sides of the sheet overlap at least to the extent that the tab in the film on the top surface overlaps with film underneath, and (d) sealing the film together within the overlap region by a sealing means which: (i) seals more strongly in the overlap region outside a tear line region inside the overlap, where the tear line region is defined by the cut edges of the overlap region (ex TD) and a pair of axes parallel to the non-cut sides of the film sheet (ex MD) each axis passing through the respective widest points of the side of the tab; so the free end of the tab is either unsealed or only weakly sealed to the film; and (e) wrapping the ends of the tube around the article and sealing the ends to form a sealed package around the article, the package readily openable by pulling the free tab end to initiate tearing along the tear line. Packaging (such as cigarette cartons) wrapped with films by this method are also described.
Abstract:
Flat blanks are fed from a stack by bending back a flap to form an inside corner, engaging the corner with a puller bar and pulling the blank from the stack and along a path past plows which bend the blank to form it about a mandrel while a product to be packaged is moved along inside the mandrel in synchronism with the blank movement. Pusher element retraction means are also disclosed as are rotation means for rotating partially completed cartons to orient extended end tabs and flaps with stationary plows for effecting end closure of the cartons thus formed.
Abstract:
Apparatus for wrapping a unit to be wrapped in which the unit is elevated through an opening in a table structure with a sheet of wrapping material on its top face, portions of the sheet folding downwardly on rearward and forward sides of the unit as it is so elevated, followed by moving the unit rearwardly over the table structure to effect folding of the rearward portion of the sheet under the bottom face of the unit, and then moving the unit forwardly over the table structure to effect folding of the forward portion of the sheet under the bottom face of the unit, said portions overlapping on the bottom face of the unit and being sealed together at the overlap. The unit may be compressed to reduce its height in conjunction with its being elevated, the compression being maintained throughout the rearward and forward movement and until the sheet is sealed.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a bundling process and apparatus using a conveying system in which the leading end of a predimensioned sheet of wrapping material is advanced with the aid of an air jet to the input end of a conveyor, and supported by the air jet to lie in the path of an incoming article to be wrapped. The article supplied to the conveyor contacts, and proceeds to rest upon, the leading end of the sheet, and a wrapping bar then travels around the article carrying the trailing end of the sheet to form a sleeve around the article. This sleeve wrap is then completed by passing the article from the conveyor to another surface, causing the trailing end of the wrapper sheet to overlap the leading end underneath the article, and the overlapped ends are then heat sealed and the wrapping material heat shrunk to form a tight sleeve wrap.
Abstract:
A method of tensioning end flaps of a film which has been already sealed along at least one of the top, bottom, front and back of an object to be packed. This method consists in establishing a stream of air flowing toward the end flap along at least the top of the object, and training the end flaps of the film along the air stream. Means to carry out this method comprises a plurality of air injection nozzles extending towards the end flaps of the film along at least the top of the object.
Abstract:
In machines for wrapping rectangular block-like articles such as cigarette packets, the articles are enveloped in wrapping material in a first part of the machine and the wrapping material is heat sealed in a second part of the machine. Each part is provided with drive means so that when the first part is inoperative (during changing of a reel of wrapping material) the second part remains operative and damage to the articles due to overheating, while stationary in the second part, is avoided. The parts may be driven by separate motors, or a single motor employing a clutch. Alternatively, an auxiliary motor may drive the second part when a main motor driving both parts is inoperative. The speed at which the second part is driven may be related to the temperature at which the wrapping material is heat sealed.