U.S. patent application number 12/905892 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-21 for packaging apparatus and processes.
This patent application is currently assigned to ULMA PACKAGING TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER, S.COOP.. Invention is credited to Ryota Iida, Takashi Katayama, Aritz Murgia Mendizabal, Ion Sanchez Mugica.
Application Number | 20110088354 12/905892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41810131 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110088354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murgia Mendizabal; Aritz ;
et al. |
April 21, 2011 |
Packaging Apparatus and Processes
Abstract
Systems and processes for packaging a product. In one
implementation a process involves transporting the product in a
first direction, printing information on a film by use of a first
printer prior to the film being applied to the product, the film
having a width that is less than a width of the product and
shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction. In one implementation
the film is then applied to the product to produce at least a
partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product
as the product is advanced in the first direction. In one
implementation heat is then conveyed to at least a section of the
film applied to the product to cause the film to shrink in the
longitudinal direction.
Inventors: |
Murgia Mendizabal; Aritz;
(Onati (Gipuzcoa), ES) ; Sanchez Mugica; Ion;
(Onati (Gipuzkoa), ES) ; Iida; Ryota; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Katayama; Takashi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
ULMA PACKAGING TECHNOLOGICAL
CENTER, S.COOP.
Onati (Gipuzcoa)
ES
TERAOKA SEIKO CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
41810131 |
Appl. No.: |
12/905892 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/399 ;
53/131.4; 53/411; 53/442; 53/557; 53/582 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/026 20130101;
B65B 7/2885 20130101; B65B 61/025 20130101; B65B 53/063 20130101;
B65B 53/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/399 ; 53/582;
53/131.4; 53/557; 53/411; 53/442 |
International
Class: |
B65B 53/02 20060101
B65B053/02; B65B 61/02 20060101 B65B061/02; B65B 13/02 20060101
B65B013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2009 |
EP |
EP 09382214.6 |
Claims
1. A system for packaging a product comprising: a conveyor that
transports the product in a first direction, a first reel
comprising a first film, the first film having a width that is less
than a width of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal
direction, a first printer adapted to print information on the
first film prior to the first film being applied to the product, a
first apparatus adapted to apply the first film onto the product to
produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first
portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first
direction; and a first heater adapted to convey heat to at least a
section of the first film applied to the product to cause the first
film to shrink in the longitudinal direction.
2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a structure
adapted to support the first film in relationship to the
printer.
3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a second
printer adapted to print information on the first film prior to the
film being applied to the product.
4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a second
heater adapted to convey heat to at least the first section and/or
a second section of the first film applied to the product, the
first heater comprising an infrared heater and the second heater
comprising a convection heater.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the first heater is
disposed in a first chamber and the second heater is disposed in a
second chamber subsequent the first chamber.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first film is
substantially transparent.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first film is a
plastic PET-G film.
8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a second reel
with a second film.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the second film has a
width that is less than a width of the product.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the second film is
shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction.
11. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a second
apparatus adapted to apply the second film onto the product to
produce at least a partial second film sleeve around at least a
second portion of the product as the product is advanced in the
first direction.
12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the first reel is
located on a first side of the conveyor and the second reel is
located on a second side of the conveyor opposite the first side,
the first apparatus and second apparatus adapted to apply the first
and second films, respectively, so that a segment of the first film
is joined with a segment of the second film.
13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the first film and the
second film are identical.
14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the second film is not
shrinkable.
15. A process for packaging a product comprising: transporting the
product in a first direction, printing first information on a first
film by use of a first printer prior to the first film being
applied to the product, applying the first film onto the product to
produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first
portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first
direction, the first film having a width that is less than a width
of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction; and
conveying heat by use of a first heater to at least a section of
the first film applied to the product to cause the first film to
shrink in the longitudinal direction.
16. A process according to claim 15, further comprising conveying
heat to at least a section of the first film applied to the product
using a second heater.
17. A process according to claim 16, wherein the first heater is an
infrared heater and the second heater is a convection heater.
18. A process according to claim 15, further comprising applying a
second film onto the product to produce at least a partial film
sleeve around at least a second portion of the product as the
product is advanced in the first direction.
19. A process according to claim 18, wherein the second film has a
width that is less than a width of the product.
20. A process according to claim 19, wherein the second film
shrinkable.
21. A process according to claim 19, wherein the second film is
shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction.
22. A process according to claim 18, wherein at least a segment of
the first film is joined with at least a segment of the second
film.
23. A process according to claim 20, further comprising conveying
heat to the second film to cause it to shrink.
24. A process according to claim 21, further comprising conveying
heat to the second film to cause it to shrink in the longitudinal
direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to and claims the benefit
of European Patent Appl. No. 09382214.6, filed Oct. 16, 2009.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to packaging apparatus, and
more specifically to packaging apparatus for wrapping products or
batches of products. The invention also relates to processes for
carrying out the packaging.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A large number of products that are put on sale are packaged
with plastic films. The films may be used to package a single
product or they may be used to group together a certain number of
products to form a batch of products.
[0004] In some cases, the packaging of the products is performed
manually by an operator, resulting in a slow and costly process.
Packaging machines that resolve this drawback and that package
products automatically are already known on the market. Some of
these machines dispose the packaging vertically, from a reel with a
film that is folded in the shape of a tube, with the longitudinal
edges then being sealed and the tube being cut transversally to the
required length or height so that it may then be introduced in a
vertical direction on the product to be wrapped. These machines are
designed for packaging products of a determined shape.
[0005] Document JP9048406A discloses a packaging machine capable of
packaging products or batches of different shapes without any need
to adapt the machine for such a purpose. The machine includes
transport means for transporting the products or batches of
products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel
having a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping
each product or batch of products according to the determined
direction, and cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper
for each product or batch of products, each product or batch of
products being wrapped by a wrapper as a result of its treatment in
the machine.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,290 discloses a packaging machine for
wrapping products or batches of products. The machine includes
transport means for transporting the products or the batches of
products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel
having a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping
each product or batch of products according to the determined
direction, cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for
each product or batch of products, from the film that wraps the
product or the batch of products, and heating means for shrinking
the film once the wrapper has been generated for each product or
batch of products.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] According to one implementation a system for packaging a
product is provided comprising: a conveyor that transports the
product in a first direction, a first reel comprising a first film,
the first film having a width that is less than a width of the
product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction, a first
printer adapted to print information on the first film prior to the
first film being applied to the product, a first apparatus adapted
to apply the first film onto the product to produce at least a
partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product
as the product is advanced in the first direction, and a first
heater adapted to convey heat to at least a section of the first
film applied to the product to cause the first film to shrink in
the longitudinal direction.
[0008] According to one implementation a process for packaging a
product is provided that comprises: transporting the product in a
first direction, printing first information on a first film by use
of a first printer prior to the first film being applied to the
product, applying the first film onto the product to produce at
least a partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the
product as the product is advanced in the first direction, the
first film having a width that is less than a width of the product
and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction; and conveying heat
by use of a first heater to at least a section of the first film
applied to the product to cause the first film to shrink in the
longitudinal direction.
[0009] In one implementation a packaging machine is provided for
use in wrapping products or batches of products. In one
implementation the machine comprises transport means for
transporting the products or batches of products to be wrapped in a
determined direction, at least one reel comprising a rolled film
that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch
of products according to the determined direction, cutting and
sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of
products, which act on the film once the product or batch of
products are wrapped, with the result that the wrapper wraps the
product or batch of products, and heating means for shrinking the
film once the wrapper has been generated for each product or batch
of products, each product or batch of products being pressed by the
corresponding wrapper, thereby ensuring the products or batches of
products are optimally held in place and preventing consumers from
damaging the wrapper, for example, when handling the products and
batches of products that are put on display in a supermarket.
[0010] In one implementation the film used has a width that is
smaller than the width of the products or batches of products, the
wrappers thereby forming a sleeve around the corresponding product
or batch of products.
[0011] In one implementation a packaging machine is provided that
is adapted for working with a film shrinkable only in the
longitudinal direction. Using a film shrinkable only in the
longitudinal direction the production of edges in the wrapper after
being heated is prevented when the products or batches of products
are, for example, circular shaped. The reduction or elimination of
edges prevents or makes it difficult for a person to manipulate the
wrapper.
[0012] In one implementation a packaging machine is provided that
comprises printing means for placing printed information on the
film once the film is released from the reel and before wrapping
the corresponding product or the batch of products with the film.
This enables the information of each print, or a set of prints, to
be customised. Thus, it is assured that the printed information on
the wrapper is legible following shrinking.
[0013] These and other advantages and characteristics will be made
evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging apparatus
according to one implementation.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the packaging apparatus of
FIG. 1 showing a film wrapping of a product.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the packaging apparatus of
FIG. 1 showing cutting and sealing means generating a wrapper that
wraps a product.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary product
packaged by the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an exemplary embodiment of a packaging
machine 1 which is designed to wrap products or batches of
products. The machine 1 is preferably used to wrap food products,
but may also be used to wrap any other type of non-food products
that require packaging. In addition, the machine 1 enables products
3 to be packaged separately from each other, one by one, or a batch
of products to be packaged, a batch that may comprise a specific
number of units of a single product or even a specific number of
different products, the products 3 being capable of being, for
example, uniform, irregular, hard, soft or of any other
characteristic or combination of characteristics. Hereinafter and
for the purposes of simplification, reference shall be made to
products 3 throughout the description and not to batches of
products, although it is evident that batches of products may be
used instead of products 3.
[0019] In one implementation the machine 1 comprises transport
means 2 on which are disposed the products 3 to be wrapped and
which transport the products 3 in a determined direction X, at
least one reel 4 comprising a rolled film 5 that is released from
the reel 4 for wrapping each product 3 according to the determined
direction X, and cutting and sealing means 14 for generating a
wrapper 6 for each product 3, each product 3 being wrapped by a
wrapper 6. In one implementation the transport means 2 comprises at
least one conveyor belt, and the product 3 to be wrapped is
disposed on the conveyor belt and is moved in the determined
direction X in order to be packaged. In one implementation the
machine 1 also comprises a plurality of rollers 100 in order to
give the film 5 the required tension when it is released from the
real 4 and to guide the film 5, so that the product 3 may be
wrapped according to the determined direction X.
[0020] The film 5 that is rolled on the reel 4 has a width that is
smaller than the width of the products 3, the wrappers 6 thereby
forming a sleeve around the corresponding product 3, in the form of
a band, as shown in FIG. 4. Although FIG. 4 shows a product 3 in
the form of a tray, it is clear that the wrapper 6 may also be used
for batches of products, for wrapping products 3 of a cylindrical
type or other types of products 3, be they uniform, irregular,
hard, soft, etc.
[0021] The wrapper 6 may have printed information 16 that may be
decorative and/or variable printed information. The decorative
information is generally printed before the film 5 is disposed in
the reel 4, in other words it is pre-printed before the reel 4 is
disposed in the machine 1. In contrast, the variable information
may, for example, be customised for each product 3 during the
packaging process and may therefore be printed as a part of the
packaging process. In one implementation the machine 1 also
comprises heating means 7 for shrinking the film 5 once the wrapper
6 has been generated for each product 3, the film 5 being
shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction of the film 5, with
the result that the wrapper 6 shrinks in a manner to make the
printed information 16 legible and the product 3 is enclosed or
pressed by the wrapper 6, thereby preventing it from being
mishandled. In one implementation the heating means 7 comprises an
enclosed area that corresponds with an oven, which comprises an
inlet 71 through which the products 3 with the wrapper 6 are
introduced in its interior in order to cause the wrapper 6 to
shrink, and an outlet 72 through which the products 3 are removed
from its interior once the wrapper has been shrunk.
[0022] In one implementation the printed information 16 on the
wrapper 6 includes customised information, the machine 1 comprises
printing means to place the customised information on the film 5
once the film 5 is released from the reel 4 and before wrapping a
product 3 to enable customized information to be printed each time.
The customised information may comprise ingredients, expiry dates,
a batch number, barcode, packaging date, date of manufacture or
other variable information for each product 3. This prevents the
need for an additional machine such as a labelling machine, for
example, to place a label or a sticker with the information on the
wrapper 6 of the product 3, thereby allowing savings to be made in
the machinery used and in the time required to obtain a packaged
product. Furthermore, as it does not require labels, the wrapper 6
can be recycled more easily as it does not have labels stuck on it
or adhesive from another material different to that of the wrapper
6. In one implementation the printing means comprises at least one
printer 8 and support means 9 on which the film 5 is supported, the
printer 8 printing on the surface of the film 5 supported on the
support means 9. As a result, thanks to the printing of the film 5
on the support means 9, high quality printing may be obtained on
the film 5, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the
product. In one implementation the support means 9 corresponds with
one of the rollers 100 used to tighten and guide the film 5 once it
is released from the reel 4, but it may have a separate support or
similar member designed for such a purpose.
[0023] The printing means may also comprise a second printer (not
shown in the figures) with respective support means continuous to
the printer 8. As a result, the first printer 8 may, for example,
print a white box on the film 5, while the second printer may print
a plurality of lines and numbers on the box to create a barcode.
The printing of barcodes has been described by way of example, but
it is evident that other types of printing may also be printed both
in black and white and colour for the presentation of the product
3. A single reel 4 may thus be used to package different products 3
or a single product requiring different printed variable
information 16, for example, without the need to replace the reel 4
every time the product 3 is changed or every time the information
associated with the product 3 being packaged at that time is
changed. This results in financial savings due to the reduction in
the number of pre-printed reels 4 required for the different
products 3 to be packaged, and savings in storage space, which
therefore represents a logistical advantage as there is no need to
store different reels 4 with different information. In one
implementation the film 5 is also transparent, with the result that
it is easy to identify the printing and for the user to see the
product through the wrapper 6. In one implementation the film 5 is
a plastic PET-G film.
[0024] In one implementation the heating means 7 comprises a first
chamber 7A where heat is emitted by infrared on product 3, already
wrapped with the wrapper 6, and a second chamber 7B, disposed after
the first chamber 7A, where heat is emitted by convection on the
wrapped product 3. As a result, once a product 3 is wrapped with a
wrapper 6, by means of second transport means 2A the product 3 is
introduced in the first chamber 7A of the heating means 7 (which
may be an oven), from where they reach the second chamber 7B by
means of third transport means 2B. In one implementation the
transport means 2A and 2B comprise conveyor belts and are
synchronised with each other and also with transport means 2.
Consequently, the products 3 move in a synchronised manner from one
place to another where they are disposed on the transport means 2
until their removal from the second chamber 7B of the heating means
7. In one implementation, in order to emit heat in the first
chamber 7A infrareds are used and which are distributed in such a
way that the product 3 is heated homogenously, or which may be
disposed in such a way that more heat is irradiated against the
lower part of the product 3, the part of the wrapper 6 that is
disposed in the lower part shrinking to a greater extent. With this
last arrangement the wrapper 6 of the upper part of the product 3,
which is the part that is usually shown, is altered to a lesser
extent, thereby improving the presentation of the product 3.
[0025] In one implementation the machine 1 comprises control means
(not shown in the Figures) that is adapted, among other functions,
to keep the transport means 2, 2A and 2B synchronised. The control
means may also be used to control the printing means, with the
result that the printing means may print information entered
beforehand by the user or variable information such as an expiry
date calculated at the exact moment of packaging depending on the
product 3 to be packaged. The control means also allow the extent
to which the film 5 shrinks when it passes through the heating
means 7 to be anticipated, and to enter a correction of the
subsequent deformation in the printing so that the information
printed may be of a high quality and legible after the
shrinking.
[0026] In one implementation the machine 1 comprises a second reel
10 with a second rolled film 11 that is released from the second
reel 10 for wrapping each product 3 according to the determined
direction X, with the result that the wrappers 6 are generated
joining one segment of the first film 5 with a respective segment
of the second film 11 to form a "curtain" 12. This also enables
products 3 of different shapes to be packaged without technical
modifications having to be made to the machine 1, the machine 1
being very versatile. In one implementation according to a first
arrangement of the machine 1, one of the reels is placed over the
transport means 2, 2A while the other reel is placed under the
transport means 2, 2A. In an implementation of a machine according
to FIGS. 1-3 it is the reel 4 that is placed over the transport
means 2, 2A, while it is the reel 10 that is placed under the
transport means 2, 2A. In one implementation the machine 1 also
comprises pressing means 17 that acts on the film 5 in order to
push it towards the product 3, and thereby prevent the movement of
the wrapper 6 during the operations in which the film 5 is cut and
sealed. As a result, the pressing means 17 allows, for example, the
film 5 to be stretched by the product 3 as it advances, with its
shape not being recovered until the cutting and sealing means 14
have acted. In addition, by keeping the film 5 against the product
3 the pressing means 17 prevents the film 5 from moving while the
cutting and sealing means 14 cut and seal it.
[0027] With this first arrangement, the machine 1 may be used to
package products 3 of the type presented in a tray for example,
joining the films 5 and 11 to form a curtain 12 that is vertical or
oblique to the vertical plane (FIG. 1), it being the product 3 that
comes into contact with the curtain 12 wrapped, in the form of a
band, in the longitudinal direction of the product 3 (on top of and
beneath the product 3). The first arrangement also allows products
3 of the container or bottle type, for example, to be packaged,
with the difference that the machine 1 comprises guide means (not
shown in the Figures) to guide the films 5 and 11 in such a way
that they join together to form a curtain 12 that is horizontal or
oblique to the horizontal plane (not shown in the Figures), the
products 3 being wrapped transversally, in the form of a band.
[0028] In other arrangements not shown in the figures, the reels 4
and 10 may be placed on either side of the transport means 2 or
both on the same side of the transport means 2 (over, under or to
one side of the transport means 2), thereby causing films 5 and 11
to join to form a curtain 12 that is vertical or oblique to the
vertical plane, or a curtain 12 that is horizontal or oblique to
the horizontal plane, depending on what is required.
[0029] In one implementation the two films 5 and 11 are made of a
single material to enable them to be sealed together. However, it
is not necessary that both films 5 and 11 are shrinkable in the
longitudinal direction, with only one or both of them being
shrinkable. As a result, the film 5 may be shrinkable in the
longitudinal direction, and the film 11 may be non-shrinkable, for
example. In both arrangements there may also be a printer 8 (or
more printers) for the film 4, and another printer 8A (or more
printers) for the film 11.
[0030] In one implementation elements of the machine 1, such as the
rollers 100 and the reels 4 and 10, are fixed with freedom and
housed within an enclosure plate 13. This provides the machine 1
with a clean arrangement, which may be especially advantageous when
wrapping food products 3.
[0031] Implementations of packaging processes used for wrapping
products 3 or batches of products will now be explained. In one
implementation a product 3 is transported in a determined direction
X, and a film 5 is released from a reel 4 of a machine 1 for
wrapping the product 3 according to the determined direction X, the
film 5 comprising a width that is smaller than the width of the
product 3 and printed information 16, and being shrinkable only in
the longitudinal direction. Once the film 5 wraps the product 3,
the film 5 is cut and sealed to generate a wrapper 6 for the
product 3 by means of cutting and sealing means 14 of the machine
1, and the product 3 continues to be transported in the determined
direction X towards heating means 7 of the machine 1. During its
movement the product 3, with the wrapper 6, is introduced into a
first chamber 7A of the heating means 7, with heat being applied to
it by infrared. In one implementation product 3 continues to
advance in the determined direction X and moves to a second chamber
7B of the heating means 7, where heat is applied to it by
convection. As a result of its passage through the heating means
and the ability of the film 5 to shrink in the longitudinal
direction, the film 5 shrinks and adapts itself to the shape of the
product 3 once the wrapper 6 has been generated, the product 3
being pressed by the wrapper 6 and the printed information 16 being
disposed on it in a legible manner.
[0032] In one implementation the film 5 is released from the reel 4
in synchronisation with the advance of the product 3. Thus, when
the product 3 reaches a specific position (e.g., next to the film 5
in the determined direction X, or when it comes into contact with
the film 5), control means of the machine 1 cause the release of
the film 5 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of advance
of the product 3 in the determined direction X, thereby helping the
film 5 to wrap the product 3. In one implementation the control
means acts on at least one of the rollers 100 of the machine 1,
used for giving the film 5 the required tension when it is released
from the roller 4 and for guiding the film 5, causing the rotation
speed of the roller 100 to be substantially equal to the speed of
advance of the product 3 in the determined direction X. The machine
1 may also comprise pushing means 15 which may be controlled by the
control means to push the product 3 when the product 3 reaches a
specific position (e.g., next to the film 5 in the determined
direction X, or when it comes into contact with the film 5),
thereby helping the product 3 to be wrapped by the film 5. In one
implementation the pushing means 15 pushes the product 3 at a speed
substantially equal to the speed of advance of the product 3,
thereby ensuring synchronisation with the advance of the product 3
and with the release of the film 5 from the reel 4.
[0033] In one implementation the process also comprises a stage in
which printed information 16 is disposed on the film 5, once the
film 5 is released from the reel 4 and before wrapping the product
3. The printed information 16 may be customised by the printing
means and the control means.
[0034] In one implementation product 3 is transported in the
determined direction X towards the curtain 12 formed by the joining
of the films 5 and 11, as shown in FIG. 1. When it reaches the
height of the curtain 12, the product 3 comes into contact with the
curtain 12 and pushes it, the curtain 12 being wrapped around the
product 3 in the form of a band as shown in FIG. 2. Subsequently,
once the film 5 wraps the product 3, the pressing means 17 prevent
the films 5 and 11 from moving in relation to the product 3, while
the cutting and sealing means 14 cut the films 5 and 11, thereby
generating a wrapper 6 formed by the curtain 12, and seal together
both the two ends of the wrapper 6, with the wrapper 6 closing
around the product 3, and the two segments of the films 5 and 11,
which generate a new curtain 12 for the next product 3 to be
wrapped, as shown in FIG. 3. The product 3 wrapped by the wrapper 6
enters the heating means, where the wrapper 6 is shrunk following
its passage through both chambers 7A and 7B of the heating means
7.
* * * * *