EP0004631B1 - Packaging device and process therefor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging lamellar elements, in particular labels, comprising a fixed pathway on which lamellar elements are fed discontinuously and pushed in a continuous column, on their edge, by a thrust member with discontinuous action, means for guiding the column of lamellar elements pushed, means for retaining the lamellar elements to retain the column of lamellar elements when the thrust member does not exert an action, a separation device comprising a separating member capable of penetrating between two lamellar elements of the column, at the stop of the pushing member, and means for packaging the packages separated by the separating member comprising a device for supplying a packaging material, a device for cutting this material and means for applying this material to the separate packs, as well as possibly a cutting device lamellar elements arranged between the thrust member and the separation device.

The present invention also relates to a method of packaging lamellar elements, in particular labels, comprising the discontinuous supply of lamellar elements on their edge to a feed path, the discontinuous pushing of these lamellar elements on this path with formation of a continuous column of lamellar elements, a possible cutting of the lamellar elements into a column then taking place, the separation of bundles of lamellar elements from the column by the introduction, at each stop of the thrust discontinuous, of a separating member between two lamellar elements, the supply of a packaging material, the cutting of this material and the application of the cut material on the separate packages, so as to maintain the lamellar elements of each package assembled .

Currently known devices for packaging labels in which, at the outlet of a cookie cutter through which the labels are passed to be cut according to their final shape under the action of the pusher of a hydraulic cylinder, the labels are collected manually and surrounded by a ribbon of elastic material to hold them together or placed in a cardboard tray. These devices have the disadvantage of manual handling, which greatly increases the cost of packaging the labels, as well as the danger, when the service person takes a package of labels containing for example 1000 labels. , that part of the labels fall or that the labels are arranged upside down.

A device is known as described in the preamble (DE-U-1,835,773) in which the column of labels is pushed through an adhesive strip arranged perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the label packs. A welding instrument seals each strip after it has been wrapped around a bundle.

This device has the disadvantage that the packaging material used is an adhesive strip. This necessarily results in a transfer of the adhesive gum onto the edge of the labels and, during the next phase of treatment, namely the gluing of the labels to the container, bottle or other, the gluing palette causes several labels to be applied. that time. In the case of very large packages, for example 1000 labels, and although the tape is adhesive, it does not hold the labels sufficiently together. Finally, serious problems arise from the moment when the labels have a shape other than rectangular. Indeed, the labels can receive partially to completely rounded, triangular or crown sector shapes and in this case the packaging strip no longer allows satisfactory packaging.

There are also known packaging devices, called wrapping devices (US-A-4,074,508), in which packets of labels in line are advanced towards a ribbon of hot-melt material of width much less than that of the labels, arranged perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the label packs. A welding instrument seals each tape after it is wrapped around a package. This device has the disadvantage that it is only applicable for labels which have not had to pass through the punch, therefore of rectangular shape, and this for the same reasons as those indicated for the previous device. On the other hand, it is difficult to envisage with this device the production of solid packages comprising for example 5000 labels at a time.

There is also known a packaging device sold by the company Blumer Maschinenbau which comprises a device, in which the path on which the labels are fed is oriented in an upward inclined plane, the labels being supplied in packs by example of 1000 with a cardboard interlayer before passing through the cookie cutter which provides the cut labels with a channel also oriented upwards. At the top of the latter, a device drives out the intermediate cartons from the column of labels by accommodating in their place a pallet which advances each packet of labels in buckets circulating on an endless chain. The labels are assembled in a device which spreads over the upper edges of the labels a net of adhesive material.

The disadvantage of this device lies in the fact that the labels are not well held together if there is not really transfer of the adhesive material between the labels and, in this case, there is a risk of tearing or d entrainment of several labels at the same time when they are used in subsequent chains, for example during bottling. On the other hand, as in all the other aforementioned devices, it is only possible to package a limited number of labels, under penalty of seeing the assembly disintegrate without difficulty. Finally, the pushing member only allows the labels to pass through the cookie cutter and the device needs an independent label transport system for the rest of the operations.

Also known from US-A-3,648,431 is a device comprising a device for separating planar objects to be packaged which is formed of two elements, which are separated from each other once they have been introduced together between two planar objects. This separation device has the drawback that it can only be introduced into a gap already formed beforehand between the two above-mentioned flat objects by the chain supply device and that the separation device is therefore indissolubly linked, in its operation, to this feed device, which cannot be the case when the passage of a continuous column of labels through a punch is necessary and the separation must be carried out following this device cutting. The separation of the two elements of the separation device according to the aforementioned patent is achieved by driving one of these elements by the label conveyor belt, this arrangement again being unable to be passed through a cookie cutter.

Finally, a packaging device is known, described in US-A-3,016,667 and which comprises a device for unwinding a thermoplastic film, a device for shaping a tube from this film, a unit for sealing the tube formed. , a mechanism for periodically ordering and depositing articles in this tube, means for advancing the tube containing the articles to be packaged and a cyclic device for cutting and transverse sealing of the filled tube. According to this device, the articles to be packaged are transported on a track without lateral guide means and they can pass through the opening existing between the track and a plate which is intended for tensioning the film of thermoplastic material by an under-roll. jacent. This provision is impossible to apply for a column of labels which would disperse immediately. The arrangement of this device is in fact designed to allow the introduction of the material to be packaged into a prefabricated packaging tube, which then remains only to be welded at its open insertion end. The separation device used only serves to temporarily stop the arrival of the material to be packaged.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for packaging lamellar elements, in particular labels, which is capable of operating automatically from the supply of the pushing member until the formation of packages of lamellar elements totally enveloped by the packaging material and which does not have the drawbacks of the devices described above, as well as the development of an automatic packaging process allowing total packaging of the packages of elements lamellar.

According to the present invention, the device for packaging lamellar elements comprises a slot provided in the pathway between the possible cutting device and the device for separating the packages of lamellar elements, through which a sheet is fed. continuous packaging material between the label column and the path, the separator of the separation device comprising a element for holding the lamellar elements upstream of the separation device and a motor spacer capable of pushing the lamellar elements on the downstream side so as to form a gap between the lamellar elements on the upstream side and those on the downstream side and simultaneously discovering the sheet of packaging material, the device for cutting the packaging material being arranged so being able to cut the sheet in the interval formed, a member for introducing an intermediate element in the interval formed through one or groove formed in the path, this intermediate element having a general shape of U whose two lateral flanges are located at a mutual distance equal to that of the gap formed, and serve as means for folding up the cut edges of the packaging material on the front front of the column of lamellar elements and on the rear front of the last separate bundle of lamellar elements as well as means for trapping these cut edges during advancement of the column, and means for folding the sheet of packaging material over all of the faces of the packages formed, as well as means for closing the packaged packages.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the two flanges of each intermediate element are connected to each other at their lower end by a spacer element provided, in its lower part, with a downward projection capable of sliding in a longitudinal groove parallel to the axis of movement of the labels, provided in the path downstream of the aforementioned opening. The flanges of the intermediate element have edges projecting outwards along the base of each of these flanges in the direction of the pushing member and of the opposite end of the path respectively, these flanges making it possible to fold and trap the flaps suitably formed against the respective fronts. The downward facing face of the aforementioned projection of the spacer element of the intermediate element is provided with a rack intended for the attachment of folding and closing means. The flanges of the intermediate element have openings, open towards the upper end of the flanges.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding element of the separating member is a knife blade which is arranged parallel to the labels, and which is connected to an actuating means fixed on a stationary support so to be able to slide, under the action of this actuating means, between a high position located above the column of lamellar elements and a low position between two lamellar elements. The spacer of the separating member consists of a double knife blade, the blades of which are spaced so as to be able to be placed exactly on either side of the holding element, parallel to the lamellar elements, the total release of the holding element and of the spacer element being less than the length of the lamellar elements, and which is connected to an actuating means, fixed on a mobile support, so as to be able to slide between a position high located above the column of lamellar elements and a low position where the blades are located near the path, the movable support itself being connected to at least one actuating means fixed on a stationary support so as to be able to slide in the direction of movement of the lamellar elements and vice versa, between a position where the holding element and the spacer element are together and at least one position where the spacer element is separated from the holding element.

According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the insertion member of an intermediate element is formed by two parallel branches, connected to each other by forming a U-shaped part, these branches having their free ends oriented on the side opposite to that of the thrust member and being arranged to support an intermediate element introduced on these branches, and it is connected to an actuating means fixed on a stationary support, so as to be able to slide upwards and down relative to the support, while keeping its branches parallel to the plane of the path, between a low position located below the path and a high position located in the plane of the path.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means for folding the packaging material situated over the label packs, on the one hand, on the front edge of the separate pack of lamellar elements and, on the other hand, on the rear front of the previously separated package, the means for folding the packaging material located parallel to the lateral faces of the packages of lamellar elements against these same fronts as well as the means for closing the wrapped packages are arranged on a carriage mobile, provided with rollers capable of rolling on rolling tracks arranged on either side of the path, downstream of the separation device, the carriage being arranged so as to be able to be coupled to the intermediate element situated between the separate package and the previously separated package during the operating cycle of the pushing member.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for folding the packaging material situated parallel to the lateral faces of the label packs against respectively the front edge of the separated pack and the rear edge of the previously separated pack include lever pivotally attached to a cross member of the mobile carriage, the free ends of these lever arms being in one of their positions situated on either side of the gap between the separate package and the previously separated package and in the other from their close position opposite the aforementioned fronts in the interval formed by the intermediate element, these free ends each supporting a double jack, one of the pushers of which is capable of moving in the direction of the pushing member and the other in the opposite direction, so as to fold down the lateral flaps on the aforementioned fronts, simultaneously covering the flanges of the intermediate element, as well as a jack, fixed on a tra pours from the movable carriage and connected in an articulated manner to the lever arms, which in the low position keeps the lever arms apart and in the high position keeps them close together.

According to the invention, there is provided a method as described in the preamble, characterized in that, the supply of packaging material being carried out before the separation, between the column of lamellar elements and the path, the method further comprises spacing the separated package from the column of lamellar elements stationary, in the same direction of movement as that obtained by the thrust, with formation between the separated package, separated, and the column d lamellar elements of an interval where the packaging material is exposed, the cutting of this material taking place at this time in the middle of this interval, the introduction from below, in this interval, of an intermediate element capable of maintain the interval formed during the thrust subsequently applied to the column of lamellar elements, after the removal of the separating member, and to transmit this thrust to the separate package, the upward folding of the packaging material cut against the front front of the column and the rear front of the package separated by the intermediate element during its introduction, and the folding of the packaging material on all the other faces of the separate package as well as the closure of the fully wrapped package.

Other details and particularities will emerge from the description given below without implied limitation, with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 represents an overall perspective view of a device for packaging labels according to the invention, comprising a cookie cutter.

FIG. 2 represents a top view of the separation device, the intermediate element then being introduced into the gap formed between the holding element and the spacer element.

3 shows a sectional view of the separation device, along the line III-III of Figure 2, the introduction member and the intermediate element being shown in elevation, during the introduction of the intermediate element in the interval formed.

The labels have not been shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for reasons of simplification of the drawings.

FIG. 4 represents a sectional view of the separation device, along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, the intermediate element being in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 represents a view partially in section and partially in profile of the mobile support carriage, along the line V-V of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 represents a sectional view, along line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the device for packaging labels according to the invention comprises a fixed pathway 1 on which labels 2 are fed discontinuously, on their edges, a pushing member 3 of the labels in the form of the pusher of a cylinder, for example hydraulic, with discontinuous action, which acts perpendicular to the plane of the labels, a cookie cutter 4, _' provided on the input side with retaining clips 5 to retain the labels when the thrust member does not exert any action, a supply slot 6 in a packaging material 7, provided in the path 1 between the punch 4 and the separation device 8, a separation device labels 8 which is arranged so as to form, from the column of labels 2, packets of labels 9, 9 ′, which continue to be moved until the end of the path 1, under the action of the thrust member 3, while being separated from each other res, a device 11 for cutting the packaging material 7 and a movable carriage 12 on which are fixed means for packaging the labels and means for closing the packaging formed. The path 1 of the labels is arranged so that the rectilinear force developed by the pusher of the pushing member 3 is exerted on the labels from one end to the other of the packaging device according to the invention.

It appears from FIGS. 2 to 4 that the label separation device 8 comprises a separator member 13 capable of penetrating between two labels of the label column 2, when the pushing member 3 stops. This separator member 13 comprises an element 14 capable of holding the labels in position upstream of the separation device 8, during the stopping of the pushing member 3, element 14 which will be called in the following maintenance element, and an element 1 capable to move aside, in the direction of movement of the labels illustrated by the arrow F, the labels located downstream of the holding element 14, when the latter is in the position of penetration in the row of labels (as is illustrated in FIG. 4), element 15 which will be called in the following a spacer element. By moving away from the holding element 14, the spacer 15 forms a gap between the labels on the upstream side and those on the downstream side of the holding element 14 (see FIG. 3) and discovers the material d packaging 7 located between the column of labels 2 and the path 1.

The holding element 14 is, in the illustrated embodiment, a knife blade arranged parallel to the labels, above the latter, the width of this blade being substantially less than the length of the labels and the thickness of the blade tapering down. This blade 14 is connected to a jack 16, for example hydraulic, which is fixed on a fixed support 17, this jack being capable of sliding the blade 14 from top to bottom and vice versa, its tapered part oriented downwards.

The spacer 15 of the separating member 13 consists of a double knife blade, the blades 18 and 19 of which are spaced so that they can be placed exactly on either side of the blade of the holding element 14, parallel to the labels. The sum of the width of the blade of the holding element 14 and the widths of the blades 18 and 19 is less than the length of the labels. The blades 18 and 19 are connected to a jack 22, for example hydraulic, fixed on a movable support 23, this jack being capable of sliding the blades 18 and 19 from the top to the bottom and vice versa. The mobile support 23 is slidably mounted on two guides 24 and 25 fixed between, on the one hand, the fixed support 17 and a similar fixed support 26, located downstream. Two cylinders 27 and 27 ', for example hydraulic, fixed on the fixed supports 17 and 26 are capable of driving the mobile support 23, and consequently the double blade 18 and 19 in the direction of movement of the labels and vice versa.

The label separation device 8 further comprises an insert member 28 of intermediate element 29 in the gap formed between the blade 14 in the low position and the blades 18 and 19 in the low position and spaced in the direction of movement of the labels. Cer introducer 28 is located below the path 1 and it comprises two parallel branches 10, connected to each other in the form of a U-shaped part, these branches 10 having their free ends oriented from the side opposite to that of the thrust member 3. This introduction member 28 is connected to a jack 30 fixed on a fixed support and capable, by sliding along a guide 31, of driving the introduction 28 from top to bottom and vice versa. In the high position, the introduction member 28 is brought through an opening 37 in the path 1 so that the plane formed by the upper edges of the legs 10 of the U-shaped part are exactly in the plane of the route 1.

The intermediate element 29 is arranged in the shape of a U so as to be able, when it is introduced into the gap between the blade 14 and the double blade 18, 19, to maintain the gap formed during the upward withdrawal of these blades and transmit the pushing movement from the pushing member 3 to the separate label packs 9,9 '. Each intermediate element 29 comprises two flanges 32 and 33, connected to each other by a spacer 34, one of the flanges 32 being intended to bear against the front edge 35 of the column 2 of labels on the side upstream of the separation device 8 and the other of these flanges 33 against the rear edge of the separate label package 9. The spacer 34 is provided in its lower part with a downward projection 38 capable of sliding between the branches 10 of the introduction member 28. This projection has, on the side of its free end, lateral projections 39 and 40 which slide below the branches 10 of the introduction member 28. The face of the projection 38 oriented towards the bottom is further provided with a rack 41. Optionally one of the flanges (in the illustrated embodiment the flange 32) is connected to the spacer 34 so as to be able to pivot towards the opposite flange 33 (see Figure 3). A return spring 42 is provided to return the flange 32 to its normal position, that is to say perpendicular to the spacer 34. Each of the flanges optionally has at their base flanges 43 and 44 projecting outwards in the direction of the thrust member 3 and of the opposite end of the path 1, respectively.

Between the separation device 8 and the cookie cutter 4, below the path 1, is arranged a device 45 for supplying packaging material 7, which includes guide and tensioning rollers packaging material, which send the latter to the slot 6, in a direction of movement opposite to that of the labels, the packaging material being returned under the label column 2 after it has passed through the slot and driven by this column during its movement.

The packaging material is, in the embodiment described, a sheet of hot-melt plastic material, for example polyethylene. It has a width slightly greater than the perimeter of a label.

Between the feed slot 6 and the separation device 8 are arranged two parallel triangular flanges 50 and 51 which border the pathway 1. They are spaced from each other by a distance approximately equal to the sum of the length of a label and twice the thickness of the packaging material. The angle of each of the flanges, oriented towards the slot, is an acute angle. These triangular flanges 50 and 51 are used not only for guiding the column of labels 2, but also for folding down the packaging material along the lateral faces 52 and 53 of this column 2.

The device 11 for cutting the packaging sheet 7 comprises a knife 46 arranged so as to be able to cut the sheet in the space formed by the separation device 8 before the insertion of the intermediate element 29. The space for separation between the holding element 14 in the low position and the spacer element 15 in the low position and moved in the direction of movement of the labels must be sufficient so that the flaps obtained after cutting have a length sufficient to cover respectively the front edge 35 of the label column upstream of the separation device and the rear edge of the separate package 9. The knife 46 is disposed laterally with respect to the path 1, with its cutting edge 47 facing the latter, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of movement of the labels. The knife 46 is connected to a jack 48 which is capable of passing the knife through a slot 49 provided in the path 1 and of returning the knife to its initial position. The part opposite to the cutting edge of the knife slides in guides 99 fixed at the edge of the path. These guides have lateral wings 102 in each of which an elongated slot, parallel to the path, is formed. Clamping screws 103 allow the adjusted fixing of the guides 99 at the edge of the path. The displacement of the guides 99 laterally allows the cutting device to be adjusted as a function of the size of the flaps to be cut. The jack 48 is suspended by its pusher from the knife 46 and by its end opposite to the guides 99. The slot 49 is of sufficient thickness to allow the lateral adjustment of the knife 46 described above.

The retaining clips 5 are arranged on either side of the label column 2 so as to be able to retract when the labels are moved under the action of gold thrust gane 3, by pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the labels, of the jacks, connected to a fixed support and to the clamps 5 projecting from the path, being arranged so as to be able to pivotly bring the clamps towards each other at a mutual distance less than that allowing the passage of the labels as soon as the pushing member 3 is in movement back to its initial position. These jacks cease their action when the thrust member 3 resumes its forward movement. The pusher of the pushing member 3 passes, in the end-of-travel position, slightly beyond the clamps 5 so that the pushed labels are retained by the latter when the pushing member ceases its action, the labels upstream of the separation device then being held in position between these clamps 5 and the blade of the holding element 14.

A retaining bar, not shown, retaining the labels which are supplied to the pushing member in the upright position on their edge keeps the labels in this position until the pusher comes before the retaining clips, the retaining bar retained is then removed from the labels.

As the cookie cutter 4 is used to cut in a known manner the rectangular labels which are passed through, so that the force of the pushing member developed in a rectilinear manner can, as mentioned previously, continue to s '' exercise on the labels from one end to the other of the packaging device, the plane of the pathway 1 downstream of the cookie cutter 4 is separated from the plane of this pathway upstream of the cookie cutter piece 4 of a height corresponding to the height of the lower trimming made in the original rectangular label, these two planes remaining parallel to each other. Obviously, if it is a question of packaging rectangular labels, there is no cookie cutter and the path is flat from one end to the other of the packaging device.

At the outlet of the separation device 8, the pathway has a longitudinal groove 55, parallel to the axis of movement of the labels, which opens on the side of the pushing member 3 into the opening 37 of the pathway . This groove 55 has a shape adapted so that the projection 38 of the spacer 34 of each intermediate element 29 can slide therein when this intermediate element 29 is driven forward under the action of the thrust member 3, the projections lateral 39 and 40 and the rack 41 provided on this projection 38 projecting downward relative to the lower surface of the path 1.

On either side of the path 1, at the outlet of the separation device 8, two parallel rectangular flanges 56 are provided at the edge of the path. These flanges 56 are separated from each other by a distance corresponding approximately to the sum of the length of a label and twice the thickness of the packaging material. Their height is approximately equal to the width of a label. These flanges not only serve to guide the packages of separate labels, but they also have the purpose of holding the packaging material against the lateral faces of these packages.

Triangular flanges 112, parallel to the path, are fixed by their base to the top of the flanges 56 at the outlet of the separation device 8; they have an acute angle oriented towards this device and allow the folding of the packaging material on the upper face of the separate packages 9.

As is shown in particular in FIGS. 5 and 6, on either side of the track 1, at the outlet of the separation device 8, two rolling tracks 57 are also provided on which the rollers 58 of the carriage mobile 12 are capable of moving in the direction of movement of the labels and in the opposite direction. The carriage 12 is formed by a support frame for devices for folding and closing the packaging material in its upper part in the plane of the path. This frame comprises two end uprights 63 and 64 in the form of a bridge, each connected at their base to the rollers 58 on either side of the path. These uprights are connected to each other, at mid-height, by two crosspieces 65 parallel to the path 1 and, at the top, by a cross-piece 66. The frame also has arms 59 which meet below the path in forming a kind of arch. These arms 59 support a hook 60 oriented upwards, capable of engaging with the rack 41 of an intermediate element 29 'which allows the driving of the mobile carriage 12 under the action of the thrust member 3 The mobile carriage 12 is also connected to a motor 100, for example an electric motor, capable of temporarily moving the carriage via a drive chain 61, in the direction of the thrust member. A toothed wheel 54 connected to a shaft 62 pivotally supported by the arms 59 and engaged with the drive chain 61, allows the transmission of the force developed by the motor 100 to the carriage 12. The hook 60 is supported on an axis 92 capable of pivoting between two bearings 93 supported by a plate 94 mounted on the arms 59. A cylinder 95, of the flat type, is arranged so as to be able to act on the hook 60 to rotate it downwards, a return spring 96 being provided to return the hook 60 to its initial position as soon as the action of the jack 95 ceases.

A bar 67 having a heating resistor 68 on its downward-facing side is suspended from two jacks 69 and 70 fixed to the crosspiece 66, which are capable of lowering the bar against the upper face 71 of the separate packages, the heating resistor 68 used to longitudinally weld the side edges of the packaging material folded over this upper face 71, and raise the bar 67. In its upward and downward movement, the bar is guided by a central sliding rod 110 passing through the crosspiece 66. The resistance 68 is connected to the lower end of the bar 67 so as to be able to come into contact with the face 71 of the label packet and to cause mutual welding of the lateral edges of the packaging material folded over this face 71, when it is heated.

On the front side of the carriage, two lever arms 73 and 74 are connected at one of their ends to two crosspieces 72, via axes 111, so as to be able to pivot around the latter. These crosspieces 72 connect the two longitudinal crosspieces 65. An arm 75 or 76 is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the central part of the corresponding lever arm 73 or 74 and at the other of its ends to a jack 77, fixed on the crosspiece 66 so that its pusher can slide through it. In the rest position, the jack 77 is at the end of its travel and the free ends of the lever arms 73 and 74 are spaced from each other by a distance much greater than the length of a label. When the jack 77 returns to the start of travel position, it brings the free ends of the lever arms 73 and 74 together so that they face openings 78 made in the flanges 32 and 33 of the intermediate element 29 ' of the interval within which the lever arms 73 and 74 fold down. The free ends of each of the lever arms 73 and 74 support double horizontal jacks 79 capable of moving their pushers one in the direction of movement labels and the other in reverse. The ends of the pushers of these double jacks 79 are each provided with a heating resistor 97 capable of causing the welding of the front flaps of the separate packages, when it is heated.

Between the planes formed by the ends of each pair of jacks 78 or 79 and the plane of each of the flanges 32 and 33 of the intermediate element 29 'which drives the movable carriage 12 are arranged nozzles 80 and 81 which are orientable and which allow blowing compressed air downwards, which has the effect of folding the packaging material located over the separate packages on the front and rear edges respectively thereof. These nozzles are fixed to the crosspieces 72 and are connected by flexible conduits to a source of compressed air, not shown. Valves 98 are provided between the flexible conduit and each nozzle to open or close the passage.

Towards the end of the path, a receiving member 82 of intermediate elements is arranged in an opening 83 made in the path 1. This receiving member 82 is formed by two parallel branches 113, one connected to the other by forming a U-shaped part, the free ends of which are oriented in the direction of the pushing member 3. The receiving member 82 is arranged in the opening 83 so that the plane formed by the upper edges of its branches 113 (Figure 1) is located exactly in the plane of the path 1. The longitudinal groove 55, mentioned above, opens, by its end opposite to the thrust member, in the opening 83. The branches 113 of the receiving member 82 are arranged so as to be able to receive between them the projection 38 of the intermediate element, the lateral projections 39 and 40 passing under these branches 113 when the projection slides between them. The receiving member 82 is connected to a jack 84 fixed on a fixed support below the path 1 which is capable of lowering the receiving member 82 by driving the intermediate element 29 received, thanks to the presence lateral projections 39 and 40, and to raise the receiving member 82 alone.

Between the insertion member 28 of the intermediate element in the low position and the reception member 82 in the low position is arranged an endless chain 101 capable of engaging before the rack 41 of each intermediate element 29 which arrives at low position of the receiving member and to drive this intermediate element 29 in the direction of the introducing member 28 on which it slides. This endless chain 101 is driven using an independent motor, not shown.

For the implementation of the device according to the invention, it is possible to envisage controlling the various units of the device, semi-automatic or automatic.

In the accompanying drawings, for reasons of clarity, neither the control unit nor the detection devices have been shown. These are in fact elements known per se applied to the device according to the invention to allow fully automatic operation thereof.

A detection device, of the photoelectric cell type, makes it possible to detect the number of passes of packets of labels between their position where they are supplied to the pushing member 3 and their position at the end of the travel of the push button of the pushing member 3. This cell is connected to a counter which signals the number of packets passed to the control unit. Each time a determined number of packets, for example 5 packets of 1000 labels, is passed, the control unit causes the thrust member 3 to stop, after returning to its initial position, the supply of 'a new package to the pushing member 3 and the stopping of the supply, as well as the simultaneous descent of the jacks 16 and 22 of the separating member 13, from the position they occupy in Figure 1 .

The column of labels 2 pushed by the pushing member 3 during the operating cycle which has just been stopped is retained in its position by the retaining clips 5.

A detection device, for example a limit switch, signals to the control unit that the holding elements 14 and spacer 15 are in the low position. The control unit then triggers the descent of the jack 30 which supports the introduction member 28 as well as a first movement of the jacks 27, 27 'in the direction of the arrow F which drives the movable support 23 forward , and therefore the spacer which pushes the labels separate from column 2 in front of it and discovers the packaging material 7.

A detection device, for example a switch, signals to the control unit that the spacer 15 has reached a distance from the cutting plane of the knife 46 equal to the distance between this plane and the holding element 14 (see the position of the element 15 illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3). The control unit then stops the jacks 27 and 27 '.

During the operation of the pushing member, the column 2 has entrained, between it and the path 1, the packaging material 7, for example a sheet of plastic material, fed through the feed slot 6. This material is then folded down along the lateral faces of the column 2 between the flanges 50 and 51 provided at the entrance to the separation device 8.

At the same time as the cylinders 27 and 27 ′ stop, the control unit triggers the return passage of the knife 46 through the slot 49. During its passage, the knife cuts the packaging sheet 7 The knife 46 has been previously adjusted in the slot 49, so that the distance between its cutting plane and the front edge 35 of the column 2 and the rear edge of the separate packet 9, respectively, is sufficient for the cut edges to overlap. all of these fronts.

After detection of the return of the knife 46 to its initial position, for example using a switch, the control unit again drives the cylinders 27 and 27 ′ forward towards their position of limit switch (see position of element 15 illustrated in solid lines in Figure 3), the packaging material cut and located between the separate package 9 and the path 1 is simultaneously driven during this forward movement . The ascent of the jack 30 which then supports not only the insertion member 28 but also an intermediate element 29 is controlled as soon as a detector, for example of end of travel, signals the end of the second forward movement of the cylinders 27 and 27 '.

A detection device, for example a limit switch, signals that the actuator 30 is in the high position and therefore that the intermediate element 29 has passed through the opening 37 to fill the gap between the element of holding 14 and the spacer 15. During this ascent the flange 32 of the intermediate element 29 is slightly folded towards the flange 34 under the pressure of the label column and the holding element, this which facilitated the introduction of the intermediate element 29 (see Figure 3), the flange 32 being straightened at the end of the ascent movement. The flanges 32 and 33 have during this ascent folded the cut edges of the packaging material against the front front 35 of the column 2 and the rear front of the separate package 9, the edges 43 and 44 of the flanges 32 and 33 used to fold the packaging material and to keep it trapped between the flange 32 or 33 and the front edge 35 of the column 1 or the rear edge of the separate package 9.

The control unit then causes the cylinders 16 and 22 to rise in order to raise the holding elements 14 and spacers 15. At this time, the column 2 is held in place between the retaining clips 5 and the flange 32 of the intermediate element 29 and the separate package 9 between the flange 33 and the rear flange of the intermediate element 29 'previously introduced on the path 1. The control unit causes, from the signal given by a detector of the limit switch type that the jacks 16 and 22 are in the high position, restarting the thrust member 3 and the power supply. The thrust of the thrust member 3 is transmitted not only to the label column 2, but also to the separate packages, via the intermediate element 29. The control unit simultaneously causes the stop and the disengaging of the motor 100 which has just brought the mobile carriage 12 in the direction of the separation device 8, during the stopping of the thrust member, the return of the jack 95 to its flat position and therefore the raising of the hook 60 under the action of the spring 96, which allows the attachment of the mobile carriage to the rack 41 of the intermediate element 29 ', and the return of the jacks 27 and 27' to their initial position, which brings the spacer element 15 parallel to the holding element 14. Since under the thrust of the thrust member the intermediate element 29 'drives the movable carriage 12, the intermediate element 29 simultaneously exerts on the label column 2 upstream back pressure which is favorable to obtain a good cutting of cookie cutter labels.

On leaving the separation device 8, therefore already during the forward movement of the spacer 15, the separate package surrounded by the packaging sheet then forming a kind of channel passes under the two flanges 112 which fold the packaging sheet over the upper face 71 of the separate package 9. When the hooking of the hook 60 to the rack 41 is signaled, the control unit causes the actuators 69 and 70 to be lowered towards the separate package 9 and allows the passage of electric current through the resistor 68, which causes the latter to heat up and allows the welding of the edges of the hot-melt sheet folded over the upper face package when the resistance is in contact with them. The heating is interrupted after a predetermined time, but the bar 67 remains compressed against the package 9 until the thrust member 3 stops.

As soon as the heating of the resistor 68 is interrupted, the control unit triggers the temporary opening of the valves 98 of the nozzles 80 and 81, which allows, by blowing compressed air on the upper part of the flaps, the folding of these respectively against the rear flange of the intermediate element 29 'applied against the front edge of the separate package 9 and the front flange of the intermediate element 29' applied against the rear front of the previously separated package 9 ', as well as the return of the cylinder 77 to the high position, which brings the lever arms 73 and 74 closer together. During this movement of movement of the lever arms 73 and 74, the ends of the double cylinders 79 fold the lateral parts of the flaps against the flange respectively rear of the intermediate element 29 'and the front flange of this element. A limit switch type detector signals the stop of the jack 77. In this position of the jack 77, the free ends of the lever arms 73 and 74 are located opposite openings 78 provided in the flanges 32 and 33 of the intermediate element 29 '. At this time, the control unit causes the displacement of each of the pushers of the double jacks 79 in the direction of the pushing member and respectively in the reverse direction, and allows the passage of electric current through the resistors 97. The pushers s 'then press against the flanges of the intermediate element 29' and the heating of the resistors 97 allows the welding of the flaps when they come into contact with the latter through the openings 78; this heating is automatically interrupted after a predetermined time. The double jacks 79 however remain in the compression position until the operating cycle of the thrust member stops.

Following the stop operation signal of the thrust member 3, described above, the control unit causes, in addition to the operations already described above, the return of the jacks 69 and 70 to the high position and therefore the raising of the bar 67, the return of the pushers of the double jacks 79, the return of the jack 77 in the low position and therefore the spacing of the lever arms 73 and 74, the passage of the jack 95 in the low position and therefore the lowering of the hook 60 against the return spring 96, as well as the clutch and the starting of the engine 100.

As is clear from the above, the movable carriage 12 attached to the intermediate element 29 'accompanies the separate package during a complete operating cycle of the thrust member 3. The motor 100, during this time, is disengaged and it is in fact the pushing member 3 which allows the carriage 12 to move forward. It is therefore necessary that the folding and welding phases be completed when the pushing member 3 stops. At this time, the carriage 12 is off the hook and the motor 100 is engaged and triggered so as to actuate the chain 61 in the direction of return of the carriage 12 to its initial position where it must be before the start of the next operating cycle. of the thrust member 3.

The intermediate element 29 ′, released from the mobile carriage 12, slides at a certain moment between the parallel branches 113 of the receiving member 82. When the detection device arranged between the branches 113 emits the signal of the presence of the intermediate element 29 ', the control unit causes the cylinder 84 to return to the low position, which causes the intermediate element 29' to be lowered. The flanges of the latter slide down, freeing themselves from the welded flaps which cover them, the weld points sliding in turn in the openings 78 open upwards. In the low position of the jack 84, the intermediate element 29 ′ is immediately driven by the endless chain 101, which at this time is itself driven by a motor, not shown (see FIG. 1).

The chain 101 drives the intermediate element 29 'to a predetermined distance from the introduction member 28. At this time the aforementioned motor is stopped.

As soon as the detector located between the branches 113 of the receiving member 82 no longer signals the presence of an intermediate element, the control unit causes the jack 84 and consequently the receiving member 82 to go back up.

When a detector of the limit switch type signals to the control unit the return to the low position of the introduction member 28, the aforementioned motor is restarted and the intermediate element can penetrate between the branches 10 of the introduction member 28. As soon as the detector located between these branches signals the presence of the intermediate element, the control unit causes the chain drive motor 101 to stop again. At this time, the 'introduction member 28 is ready for the ascent of the actuator 30 controlled following the detection of the end of the second forward movement of the spacer. As soon as the introduction member 28 has left the low position, the above-mentioned motor is restarted as well as the chain 101.

It should be understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described above and that many modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this patent.

One can for example provide a device where the packaging material, instead of being a sheet of hot-melt material, is paper, for example kraft paper. The closure devices of the packaging, instead of being devices for welding hot-melt material, will then be devices for applying adhesive tapes.

The feeding of the pushing member can be an automatic feeding or a hand feeding. Depending on the labels to be packaged, a cookie cutter may or may not be provided.

In addition, the dimensions and shapes of the intermediate element can be modified according to the dimensions and shapes of the labels to be packaged, and the intermediate element can for example have two fixed flanges relative to the spacer.

We can also plan to separate and package something other than labels, for example lamellar-shaped leather elements, etc.

It is also possible to provide flanges of the intermediate element without openings and to weld only the upper and lateral flaps between the resistance of the pusher of the double cylinders and the flanges, the lower flange not welded being kept trapped by the other flaps.

Claims (35)

1. Device for packing sheet-like goods, particularly for labels, comprising a fixed traversing path (1), over which sheet-like goods are fed discontinuously and pushed as a continuous column (2), on the edge thereof, by means of a discontinuously-acting push member (3), guide means for the pushed column of sheet-like goods, means for retaining (5) the sheet-like goods in order to retain the column of sheet-like goods when the push member is unoperative, a separating device (8) comprising a separating member (13) insertable between two sheet-like goods in the column, when the push member (3) has stopped, and packing means for the packages (9, 9') separated by the separating member (13) comprising a packing-material (7) feeding device (45), a cutting device (11) to cut said material and means for applying said material over the separated packages, as well as possibly a device for cutting-out (4) sheet-like goods lying between said push member (3) and said separating device (8), characterized in that it comprises a slit (6), provided in the traversing path (1) between the possible cutting device (4) and the separating device (8) for the sheet-like good packages (9, 9'), through which slit a continuous sheet of packing material (7) is fed between the column (2) of sheet-like goods and the traversing path, the separating member (13) of the separating device (8) comprising an element for retaining (14) the sheet-like goods upstream of the separating device (8) and a driving spacing element (15) for pushing the sheet-like goods downstream to form a space between the upstream sheet-like goods and the downstream sheet-like goods, and to release simultaneously the packing material sheet (7), the packing material cutting device (11) being so arranged as to cut the sheet within the so- formed space, an inserting member (28) for an inset element (29) in the formed space through an opening (37) provided in the traversing path (1), said inset element (29) being generally of U-shape with both side cheeks thereof (32, 33) located with a spacing from one another which is equal to the width of the formed space, and used as means for turning upwards the cut edges of the packing material (7) over the front face (35) of the column of sheet-like goods (2) and the back face of the last separated package of sheet-like goods, as well as means for enclosing said cut edges during the column (2) feeding and means to fold the packing material sheet over all of the sides of the thus-formed packages, as well as means for closing the packed packages.

2. Device as defined in claim 1, in which both cheeks (32, 33) from each inset element (29) are joined together at the lower end thereof by a cross element (34), which is provided at the bottom thereof, with a depending projection (38) which is slidable inside a lengthwise groove (55) in parallel relationship with the movement axis of the sheet-like goods, said groove being provided in the traversing path (1) downstream of said opening (37).

3. Device as defined in claim 2, in which at least the one cheek (32) is so connected to the cross element (34), as to be swingable towards the opposite cheek (33), against the action of a spring (42) returning said cheek (32) to a position at right angle to the traversing path (1). ).

4. Device as defined in any one of claims 2 and 3, in which the cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29) have rims projecting outside along the bottom of each said cheeks (32, 33) respectively in the direction of the push member (3) and the opposite end of the traversing path (1), said rims (43, 44) allowing to fold and enclose the flaps suitably formed against the respective faces.

5. Device as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which that side facing the bottom of said projection (38) of said cross element (34) of the inset element is provided with a rack (41) for catching, folding and closing means.

6. Device as defined in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29) have cut-outs (78) which open towards the top end of said cheeks (32, 33).

7. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the retaining element (14) for the separating member (13) is a knife blade which is arranged in parallel relationship with the sheet-like goods and which is connected to operating means (16) made fast to a fixed support (17) to be slidable under the action of said operating means (16), between a high position above the column of sheet-like goods (2) and a low position between two sheet-like goods.

8. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the spacing element (15) of the separating member (13) is comprised of a twin knife blade, the blades (18, 19) of which are so spaced as to be locatable precisely on either side of the retaining element (14), in parallel relationship with the sheet-like goods, the total width of the retaining element (14) and the spacing element (15) being shorter than the length of the sheet-like goods, and which is connected to operating means (22) made fast to a movable support (23) in such a way as to be slidable between a high position lying above the column of sheet-like goods (2) and a low position where the blades lie adjacent the traversing path (1), the movable support (23) being connected in turn to at least one operating means (27, 27') made fast to a fixed support (17, 26) to be slidable along the movement direction of the sheet-like goods and vice-versa, between the one position where the retaining element (14) and the spacing element (15) lie together and at least one position where the spacing element (15) is away from the retaining element (14).

9. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the member for inserting (28) an inset element (29) is comprised of two parallel legs (10) joined together to form an U-shaped part, said legs having the free ends thereof directed to that side opposite the push member (3) and being so arranged as to support an inset element (29), inserted on said legs (10), and said inserting member is connected to operating means (30) made fast to a fixed support (31 ) to be slidable up and down relative to the support while retaining the legs (10) in parallel relationship with the traversing path (1) plane, between a low position below the traversing path (1) and a high position in the traversing path (1) plane

10. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the device for feeding (45) packing material (7) comprises rollers for guiding and tensioning the packing sheet which is provided with a width at least equal to the perimeter of one label, said rollers being so arranged below the traversing path (1) as to bring the sheet to said slit (6) which is arranged at right angle to the lengthwise axis of the traversing path (1).

11. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the packing material (7) is comprised of a sheet from thermofusible plastic material, particularly from polyethylene.

12. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the packing material is comprised of a sheet from paper, particularly from Kraft paper.

13. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, in which the device for cutting (11) the packing sheet (7) comprises a knife (46) arranged sidewise relative to the traversing path (1) in a plane at right angle to the movement axis of the sheet-like goods, with the cutting edge (47) thereof facing the traversing path (1) inside that space formed between the retaining element (14) and the spacing element (15), that knife portion (46) removed from the cutting edge (47) being slidably mounted in guides (99) bordering the traversing path (1) so as to be movable relative thereto, in the movement direction of the sheet-like goods or vice-versa, and operating means for said knife (46), said means comprising a jack (48) acting on the knife in such a way as to move same cross-wise relative to the traversing path (1) through a slit (49) provided therein.

14. Device as defined in claim 13, in which said slit (49) is wide enough to allow a sidewise movement of the knife (46) relative to said space, by moving the guides (99) as well as the jack (48) over the traversing path (1) along the movement axis of the sheet-like goods.

15. Device as defined in claim 8, in which the spacing element (15) lies in the one position thereof removed from said retaining element (14) at a distance from that plane in which said knife (11) goes through the traversing path (1) which is equal to the distance between said plane and the retaining element (14), said distances being long enough to cover with the cut sheet edges the front face (35) of the column of sheet-like goods (2) and the back face of the separated package (9) of sheet-like goods.

16. Device as defined in claim 15, in which the spacing element (15) lies in another position removed from the retaining element (14), at a distance therefrom which is equal to the distance between both cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29) to be inserted.

17. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the means for folding back the packing material (7) to form wrapped packages (9, 9') of sheet-like goods comprise means to fold back (50, 51) that packing material (7) fed below the column of sheet-like goods (2) along the side surfaces (52, 53) of said column, both cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29) being used as folding-back means for the cut packing material in engagement with the traversing path (1), on the one hand over the front face (35) of the column of sheet-like goods (2) and on the other hand over the back face of the separated package (9) of sheet-like goods, means to fold back (112) the packing material side edges over the top surface of the separated package (9) of sheet-like goods, means to fold back (80, 81) that packing material lying above the packages of sheet-like goods, on the one hand, over the front face of the separated package (9) of sheet-like goods and, on the other hand, over the back face of the previously-separated package (9') of sheet-like goods and means to fold back (73, 74) that packing material lying in parallel relationship with the side surfaces of the label packages, on the one hand, over the front face of the separated package (9) and, on the other hand, over the back face of the previously-separated package (9').

18. Device as defined in claim 17, in which the means to fold back the packing material along the side surfaces (52, 53) of the column of sheet-like goods (2) comprise two parallel triangular cheeks (50, 51) bordering the traversing path (1) between the packing material (7), feeding slit (6) and the separating device (8), said cheeks being spaced by a distance substantially equal to the sum of a label length and twice the thickness of the packing material (7), the angle of each such cheeks (50, 51), facing the slit (6), being an acute angle, and two parallel, rectangular cheeks (56) bordering the traversing path (1) at the outlet from the spacing device (8) in parallel relationship with the side surfaces of the label packages, said cheeks (56) being spaced from one another by a distance equal to the spacing of said triangular cheeks (52, 53) and having a height substantially equal to the width of a sheet-like good.

19. Device as defined in any one of claims 15 and 16, in which the means to fold back the packing material (7) side edges over the top surface of the separated package of sheet-like goods comprise two coplanar triangular cheeks (112) which are each connected with the bottom thereof to the top of said rectangular cheeks (56) and arranged in parallel relationship with the traversing path (1), that angle of said cheeks facing the spacing device (8) being an acute angle.

20. Device as defined in any one of claims 17 to 19, in which the means to fold back (80, 81) that packing material (7) lying above the packages of sheet-like goods, on the one hand over the front face of the separated package (9) of sheet-like goods and on the other hand over the back face of the previously-separated package (9'), the means to fold back (73, 74) that packing material lying in parallel relationship with the side surfaces of the packages of sheet-like goods over said same faces as well as the means to close the wrapped packages are arranged on a movable carriage (12) provided with rollers (58) running over runways (57) arranged on either side of the traversing path (1), downstream of the separating device (8), said carriage (12) being so arranged as to be connectable to that inset element (29') located between the separated package and the previously-separated package during the push member (3) working cycle.

21. Device as defined in claim 20, in which the carriage (12) comprises a frame formed by uprights (63, 64) and cross-pieces (65, 66) located above the traversing path to bear said folding-back and closing means, and uprights (59) passing beneath the traversing path to form and arch bearing a hook (60) engageable with the rack (41) provided on that surface facing downwards of the projection (38) from the cross-piece (34) of each inset element and releasable from said rack (41), a motor (100) connected to the carriage (12) through a transmission chain (61) being so arranged as to be disengaged in the position where the hook (60) engages the rack (41) and to return the carriage (12) to the original position thereof in the hook (60) release position.

22. Device as defined in claim 21, in which the hook (60) is supported on a shaft (92) at right angle to the package movement axis, which is swingable between two bearings (93) fast to the arch-forming uprights (59), a jack (95) fast to said arch being so arranged as to cause the hook (60) to swing downwards, the release position thereof, against the action of a return spring (96) provided to return the hook (60) to the original engaged position thereof as soon as the jack (95) action ends.

23. Device as defined in any one of claims 20 to 22, in which the means to fold back that packing material lying above the label package respectively over the front face of the separated package (9) and the back face of the previously-separated package (9') comprise directible nozzles (80, 81) made fast to the cross-pieces of the movable carriage (12) on the vertical of the material to be folded back, valves (98) allowing to connect said nozzles with a pressurized gas source, the top flaps folded back over said faces covering simultaneously the cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29').

24. Device as defined in any one of claims 20 to 23, in which the means for folding back that packing material lying in parallel relationship with the sides of the packages of sheet-like goods respectively against the front face of the separated package (9) and the back face of the previously separated package (9') comprise lever arms (73, 74) swingably secured to a cross-piece of the movable carriage (12), the free ends of said lever arms being located, in the one position thereof, on either side of the space between the separated package (9) and the previously separated package (9'), and in the other position thereof near one another facing said faces in that space formed by the inset element (29'), said free ends each bearing a double jack (79) the one push-rod of which is movable towards the push member (3) and the other push-rod in the opposite direction, so as to fold the side flaps back on said faces, by covering simultaneously the cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29'), as well as a jack (77) made fast to a cross-piece of the movable carriage (12) and hingedly connected to the lever arms (73, 74), said jack retaining in the low position the lever arms spread away and in the high position the lever arms next to one another.

25. Device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 24, in which the means for closing the wrapped packages comprise a device for joining (67, 68) those packing material side edges folded back over the top surface of the package of sheet-like goods and means for joining (79, 97) the various flaps obtained on each package face.

26. Device as defined in claim 25, in which, when the packing material (71) is a sheet from thermofusible material, the closing means comprise a rod (67) slidingly connected to the movable carriage frame (12) in parallel relationship with the package movement axis substantially above the center lengthwise line of the top surface of the separated package (9), said rod being provided with a heating resistor on that surface thereof facing the package of sheet-like goods and being connected at least to two jacks (69, 70) fast to the frame in such a way as to be slidable between said high position thereof and a position for pressing said rod (67) on the package of sheet-like goods, said resistor (68) being so arranged as to be operative only when said rod (67) lies in pressing position on the package (9) of sheet-like goods, as well as heating resistors (97) at the ends of each push-rod from said double jacks (79), which seal the flaps respectively against the front face of the separated package (9) and the back face of the previously-separated package (9') against the cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29'), said resistors (97) being also so arranged as to operate only when the push-rods bear against the cheeks (32, 33) of the inset element (29').

27. Device as defined in claim 25, in which, when the packing material (7) is a paper sheet, the closing means comprise a device for applying an adhesive strip along the center lengthwise line of the top surface from the separated package and along the faces from said separated packages.

28. Device as defined in any one of claims 2 to 27, which further comprises a member for receiving (82) an inset element lying at that traversing path (1) end opposite the push member (3), said member (82) being formed by two parallel legs (113) joined together to form an U-shaped part, said legs (113) having the free ends thereof facing the push member (3) and being arranged inside an opening (83) in said traversing path (1) in which opens said lengthwise groove (55) in such a way as to receive between same the depending projection (39) of the cross-piece (34) from an inset element, the receiving member (82) being so connected to an operating means (84) fast to a stationary support, as to be slidable upwards and downwards relative to the support, while retaining the legs thereof (113) in parallel relationship with the traversing path (1), between a low position located below the traversing path (1) and a high position located in the traversing path (1) plane.

29. Device as defined in claim 28, in which the depending projection (38) of the cross-piece (34) from each inset element (29, 29') comprises, on the free end side thereof, sidewise projections (39, 40) which are slidable below the U-Iegs (10, 113) of the inserting member (28) and the receiving member (82), and may cooperate therewith during the lowering of the receiving member, and, in the low position of the receiving member (82), the rack (41) provided on the inset element meshes with an endless chain (101) connecting the low position of the receiving member (82) and the low position of the inserting member (28).

30. Method for packing sheet-like goods, particularly labels, comprising discontinuously feeding sheet-like goods on the edge thereof to a feeding path, discontinuously pushing said sheet-like goods over said path to form a continuous column of sheet-like goods, possibly cutting-out the sheet-like goods in column formation, separating packages of sheet-like goods from the column by inserting, at each stopping of the discontinuous pushing, a separating member between two sheet-like goods, feeding a packing material, cutting said packing material and applying said cut material over the separated packages, so as to retain the sheet-like goods assembled in each package, characterized in that, the packing material feeding being made before the separating, between the column of sheet-like goods and the traversing path, the method comprises further spacing the package separated from the stopped column of sheet-like goods, along the same movement direction as results from the pushing, with the formation between the separated package, spaced away, and the column of sheet-like goods of a space where the packing material lies free, the cutting of said material being made at this time in the center of said space, inserting from the bottom up into said space an inset element for retaining the formed space during the pushing exerted afterwards on the column, after removing the separating element, and for imparting said pushing to the separated package, folding upwards the cut packing material against the front face of the column and the back face of that package separated by the inset element during the inserting thereof, and folding the packing material back over all of the other sides of the separated package as well as closing the completely wrapped package.

31. Method as defined in claim 30, in which said spacing step comprises, when the pushing step has stopped, inserting between two sheet-like goods, from a high position, said spacing member which is formed by two elements, the one element, or retaining element, of which remains in said low position until the inset element lies in a position where it can maintain by itself the formed space, the retaining element then being removed to the original high position thereof, and said spacing step comprises moving the other element, or spacing element, of the separating member from the retaining element in low position and along the movement direction of the sheet-like goods, the spacing element being returned from said moved-away position to the high position where the inset element lies in a position where it can maintain by itself the formed space, and said spacing element is thereafter returned, still in high position, against the retaining element.

32. Method as defined in any one of claims 30 and 31, in which the inset element inserting step comprises, after ending of the spacing and cutting steps, raising an inset element-inserting member through an opening provided flush with the space formed in the traversing path, such a way as to pass said inset element through said opening while folding back upwards the cut packing material, said inserting member lying in high position in the traversing path plane and being lowered singly when the further separating step is ended, the inset element, between the raising motion and the lowering motion of the inserting member, having been moved along the movement direction of the sheet-like goods following the further pushing step which occurs after raising the separating member, the inset element sliding out of the inserting member while taking along the packing material captured between the front face of the column of sheet-like goods and the inset element.

33. Method as defined in any one of claims 31 and 32, in which the spacing step comprises a first step performed before the cutting step and at the end of which the spacing element and the retaining element are moved away from the packing material cutting plane by an equal distance, and a second step performed after the cutting step and at the end of which the spacing element and the retaining element are spaced from one another by a distance equal to the dimension of the inset element.

34. Method as defined in any one of claims 30 to 33, in which a plurality of folding-back operations for the packing material over the separated package surfaces and the closing of the completely-wrapped packages are performed on the separated package moving over the traversing path, the means required for such folding-back and closing operations being driven by the moved inset element.

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