EP1574433B1 - Method and apparatus for the manufacturing and applying at high speed of a packaging hood on a palettised load. - Google Patents

Description

Technical field of the invention

• souder transversalement la gaine à son extrémité libre pour créer une liaison thermosoudée maintenue dans une position basse par au moins un organe positionneur,
• stocker sur un dispositif de transfert et d'accumulation une longueur prédéterminée de gaine pour constituer ladite housse,
• reprendre l'extrémité libre inférieure, et descendre la housse autour de la charge à emballer, en la maintenant écartée par ses quatre angles.

The invention relates to a method and a device for shaping and removing a packaging cover on a palletised load, said cover being prepared from a flexible plastic sheath wound on at least one reel storage method,

• transversely welding the sheath at its free end to create a heat-welded connection held in a low position by at least one positioner member,
• storing on a transfer and accumulation device a predetermined length of sheath to constitute said cover,
• take the lower free end, and lower the cover around the load to be wrapped, keeping it separated by its four angles.

State of the art

The document EP-A-1060988 discloses a device for overpacking a palletized load by means of a cover prepared from a gusseted sleeve wound flat on a storage spool. A gripping robot comprises a motorized accumulator roller on which is wound a portion of the sheath, a transfer arm of the roller towards the filling station, and a mechanism of separation of the cover during the downward movement around the load. The sheath previously welded in the transverse direction, is held in vertical position with the bellows solicited opening by a positioning member, which is fixed and disposed with the coil in the vicinity of the ground. The transfer arm of the robot is carried by a mobile slider in vertical translation on the frame. The arm of the robot is thus animated with a first horizontal translational movement during the transfer, and a second downward movement to prepare the cover by welding and cutting after its winding around the accumulator roller. This second vertical movement of the arm is essential, since the positioner member of the sheath is fixed. This combined movement of the robot lengthens the time of preparation and removal of the cover, and limits the packaging rates of the machine.

The document EP-A-395919 Refers to a palletized load wrapping machine with heat-shrinkable film, comprising four vertical bars equipped with film grippers that can move up and down the frame, an annular shrink oven, a pair of sleepers horizontal and two trolleys that can move horizontally along the sleepers. The bars come closer when the carriage moves to the dispensing section, and move apart as the carriage moves over the load to be packaged. This mechanism also ensures the houssage. The kinematics of such a machine does not reduce packaging rates, and is limited to loads of low heights.

The document EP 1106507 mentions a packaging machine, in which the heat-sealed connection instead of being arranged at the top, is oriented downwards. It is then necessary to turn upside down. The positioner and the welder remain in the lower part. Such a device is suitable for loads of low heights, but not for high heights.

Object of the invention

A first object of the invention is to improve the method of preparing and removing a cover on a palletized load, to accelerate packaging cycles and increase production rates.

• - - déplacer l'organe positionneur verticalement vers le haut en entraînant la gaine jusqu'à une position haute d'engagement de la liaison thermosoudée dans le dispositif de transfert et d'accumulation
• - - et déplacer horizontalement le dispositif de transfert et d'accumulation selon un seul mouvement horizontal dirigé orthogonalement par rapport au déplacement de l'organe positionneur pour assurer la reprise de l'extrémité inférieure de la housse.

The packaging process according to the invention is characterized by the following intermediate steps:

• moving the positioning member vertically upwards by driving the sheath to a high position for engaging the heat-sealed connection in the transfer and accumulation device
• and horizontally moving the transfer and accumulation device in a single horizontal movement directed orthogonally with respect to the displacement of the positioner member to ensure the recovery of the lower end of the cover.

During the return stroke of the transfer and accumulation device, the positioner member is moved to an intermediate waiting position located just before said upper position of the film in the accumulator element. This results in a time saving corresponding to the duration of the upward stroke of a positioner member between the low position and the intermediate waiting position.

To make the cover, it is possible to use a tubular sheath with or without bellows, and made of heat-shrinkable plastic or stretchable plastic.

The vertical displacement of the sheath upwards by driving the positioner member, and the horizontal transfer of the cover wound on the accumulator member, cause two translational movements independent of one another, unlike the combined movement of the robot according to the document EP-A-1060988 . This results in an acceleration of packaging cycles, and an increase in production rates.

A second object of the invention is to provide a machine for shaping and removing a packaging cover on a palletized load, allowing high production rates, and can use either a heat shrinkable or stretchable plastic sheath.

The machine comprises a transfer and accumulation device comprising an accumulator element on which is wound a portion of the sheath, and a spacing mechanism of the open end of the sheath after transfer to the filling station. According to the invention, the positioner member is movable in height in the preparation station by being coupled to an actuator, so as to moving the sheath between a low waiting position, and a high position of engagement of the heat-sealed connection in the accumulator element.

The transfer and accumulation device is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis of an actuating arm to position the heat-sealed connection parallel or perpendicular to the largest face of the load. The positioner member is guided in vertical translation between the two low and high positions by a guide rod or slide secured to a support.

• le support des deux organes positionneurs est monté sur une passerelle fixée au bâti au-dessus du sol;
• le support est ajustable sur une traverse horizontale solidaire du bâti, et est doté de deux organes positionneurs susceptibles d'être mis altemativement en regard de l'organe accumulateur par un mouvement horizontal de translation du support ;
• les organes positionneurs maintiennent des gaines issues de deux bobines superposées, dont l'axe s'étend parallèlement ou perpendiculairement au transporteur de manutention ;
• le bras de dépose est pourvu de doigts de conformation et de pincement pour la reprise aux quatre angles de la partie ouverte d'une housse de film plastique thermorétractable ;
• le bras de dépose est pourvu de doigts de plissage et d'étirage destinés à assurer successivement le plissage en accordéon de la housse de film plastique étirable suite à la rotation de galets motorisés, suivi d'un étirage transversal aux quatre angles avant la descente autour de la charge.

Other features can be used in combination:

• the support of the two positioners is mounted on a bridge fixed to the frame above the ground;
• the support is adjustable on a horizontal crosspiece integral with the frame, and is provided with two positioners members may be placed alternately facing the accumulator member by a horizontal translational movement of the support;
• the positioners maintain sheaths from two superimposed coils, whose axis extends parallel or perpendicular to the handling conveyor;
• the removal arm is provided with shaping fingers and pinching for the recovery at the four corners of the open portion of a heat-shrinkable plastic film cover;
• the removal arm is provided with pleating and drawing fingers intended to ensure successively the accordion pleating of the stretch plastic film cover following the rotation of motorized rollers, followed by a transverse stretching at the four angles before the descent around of the charge.

Brief description of the drawings

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues schématiques du poste de préparation de la housse selon l'invention, avec deux organes positionneurs respectivement en position d'attente, et en position de déplacement de l'un des organes positionneurs vers l'élément accumulateur ;
• les figures 3 à 9 montrent des vues schématiques du dispostif complet avec le poste de préparation et le poste de houssage faisant usage d'un cadre de dépose d'une gaine thermorétractable, le dispositif étant illustré dans différentes phases de préparation, de transfert et de dépose de la housse ;
• les figures 10 à 18 représentent les phases suivantes du fonctionnement du dispositif avec un cadre de dépose adapté à une gaine étirable ;
• la figure 19 est une vue de profil du poste de préparation de la housse ;
• les figures 20 à 22 montrent les étapes successives de retour du rouleau accumulateur et des bras balanciers pour la prise du film à cadence élevée ;
• la figure 23 est une vue identique du poste de préparation de la figure 1, avec une variante de l'organe accumulateur.

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example, and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 are schematic views of the preparation station of the cover according to the invention, with two positioners respectively in standby position, and in the displacement position of one of the positioners to the accumulator element;
• FIGS. 3 to 9 show schematic views of the dispositive complete with the preparation station and the filling station making use of a heat-shrinkable sheath removal frame, the device being illustrated in different stages of preparation, transfer and removing the cover;
• Figures 10 to 18 show the following phases of operation of the device with a dispensing frame adapted to a stretchable sheath;
• Figure 19 is a side view of the preparation station of the cover;
• Figures 20 to 22 show the successive steps of returning the accumulator roller and the rocker arms for taking the film at high rate;
• Figure 23 is an identical view of the preparation station of Figure 1, with a variant of the accumulator member.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figures 1 to 2, a preparation station 10 of a packaging cover, comprises a pair of coils 11, 12 for storing a plastic sleeve 17, a pair of positioners 13, 14 for opening and positioning the sheath 17 from each coil 11, 12, a transfer and accumulation device 15, and welding and cutting means 16 to form from each coil 11, 12, a cover HO of a predetermined length and wound on the transfer and accumulation device 15.

The packaging sheath 17 is formed by a plastic film with double V-bellows, and folded flat after winding around each cylindrical coil 11, 12. This type of sheath is described in detail in the document EP-A-1060988 . It is then unrolled, passes over guide rollers 18, 18a, and is held in a vertical position with the bellows urged to open by the positioner members 13, 14. Previously, the middle portion of each sheath 17 has been welded transversely to its free end to obtain a sealed bottom thanks to the formation of a heat-sealed connection 19.

The casing 17 with bellows can also be replaced by a simple tubular sheath without bellows, and also folded flat on the reels 11, 12.

The film of the sheath 17 may be of heat-shrinkable plastic or stretchable plastic. Figures 3 to 9 show an application with a heat-shrinkable film, while Figures 10 to 18 illustrate another application with a stretch film. The steps of the process of forming the HO cover at the preparation station 10 are identical, regardless of the heat-shrinkable or stretchable nature of the film used.

The transfer and accumulation device 15 comprises an accumulator element 20 and a spacing mechanism 21 with four swinging arms 22. The accumulator element 20 is provided as an example of a motorized rotary roller 23 on which is wound a portion of the sheath 17, which is held by a retaining clip 24 integrated in the roller 23. The four rocking arms 22 of the spacer mechanism 21 are equipped with gripping tongs 25, arranged at each end to guide and grasp the sheath 17.

In the rest position (Figure 1) and during the winding phase of a sheath 17 around the roller 23 (Figures 2 to 4), the four rocker arms 22 are in the retracted position. The rocking arms 22 are actuated to the remote position (FIGS. 5 and 6) by pivoting by means of pneumatic cylinders acting during the transfer to the stuffing station 26.

The welding and cutting means 16 comprise a welder with two movable jaws 27 capable of moving in a horizontal plane symmetrically with respect to the positioner members 13, 14. The upper part of the welder comprises a linear cutting device 28 equipped with a straight cutting blade actuated by a jack.

The transfer and accumulation device 15 is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis 29 for positioning the heat-sealed connection 19 of the cover HO parallel to or perpendicular to the larger face of the load CH, which generally has a parallelepiped shape. The displacement of the cover HO between the preparation station 10, and the stuffing station 26 operates exclusively in a horizontal plane via a transfer carriage 30 carried by an actuating arm 31, which is arranged at the top of a 32 vertical frame.

The positioners 13, 14 are movable in the direction of the height, so as to move the heat-sealed connection 19 of the cover from a low position (Figure 1) to a high position (Figure 2) to introduce into the retaining clip 24 of the accumulator roller 23. The high position corresponds to an altitude substantially equal to or greater than the level of the upper face of the load C H being on the side of the filling station 26.

The actuators 13a, 14a of the positioners 13, 14 are guided in translation by vertical rods 13b, 14b integral with a support 33, which is on a horizontal bridge 34 fixed to the frame 22. The support 33 can slide along a horizontal crossbar arranged slightly above the bridge 34, so as to position alternatively one of the positioners 13, 14 opposite the retaining clamp 24.

The welding and cutting means 16 are interposed at an intermediate level between the gripping tongs 25 of the rocking arms 22 and the upper ends of the rods 13b, 14b of guide.

The palletised CH load is carried in the filling station 26 by a table 36 chain or roller. A removal arm 37 of the HO cover can slide vertically along the frame 32, and is provided with shaping and pinching fingers 38 for the recovery of the open portion of the HO cover at the four corners when removing the load. CH (Figures 3 to 9). These fingers 38 are arranged to receive a HO cover of heat-shrinkable plastic film. The charge CH coated with its HO cover is then moved to a downstream station, which is equipped with a hot air heating frame for heat shrinking of the cover HO on the load CH.

The operation of the overpack device with a heat-shrinkable sheath 17 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9:

In FIG. 1, the two positioner members 13, 14 are waiting in the low position, ensuring the horizontal holding of the heat-sealed connection 19 of the two sheaths 17 coming from the two coils 11, 12. The welding jaws 27 above rods 13b, 14b are spaced from each other, and the retaining clip 24 of the accumulator roller 23 is open to release the gripping zone of the heat-sealed connection 19 of the sheath 17 selected. The support 33 is moved to the right so as to place the positioning member 13 opposite the retaining clip 24. The rocking arms 22 are in the retracted position, and the actuating arm 31 is on the right above the preparation station 10 of the packaging cover. In this production standby position, the internal volume of the two sleeves 17 is protected by the associated heat-sealed connection 19, avoiding any penetration of ambient dust.

In Figure 2, the positioner member 13 associated with the first coil 11 is moved to the upper position above the upper level of the load to be packaged. In its displacement in translation upwards, the positioner member 13 causes the unwinding of the coil 11, and causes the heat-sealed connection 19 in the retaining clamp 24. The gripping tongs 25 of the four arms 22 are spaced, as well as the welding jaws 27. The other positioner member 14 remains stationary in the low position, without unwinding the coil 12.

In the step of Figure 3 is involved the winding and storage of a predetermined length of sheath 17 around the motorized roller 23 which rotates in the direction of clockwise. The positioner member 13 descends towards the lower position, and the gripping tongs 25 of the four arms 22 engage between the bellows of the sheath 17. At the filling station 26, a previous load CH is completely enveloped by a cover HO, which has been previously prepared and transferred by the transfer and accumulation device 15. This packaged charge CH is then discharged on the table 36 to a downstream station where the heat-shrinking operation is carried out. It is also possible to provide a hot air shrink frame around the load to perform the heat-shrinking in the foaming station, as described in the document EP-A-1060988 .

In FIG. 4, a new load CH is brought onto the table 36 to be wrapped by the cover in preparation on the roll 23 of the station 10. The depositing arm 37 has been raised in translation above the load CH to be packaged , with transverse refocusing of the recovery fingers 38. The welding jaws 27 approach each other to make a new heat-sealed connection 19 which will be used to make a new cover.

In Figure 5, the cutting device 28 has been actuated to cut the cover HO to the desired length, while the jaws 27 remain in close position. The actuating arm 31 is moved horizontally to the left above the stuffing station 26, and the translation of the transfer carriage 30 ensures the exact positioning of the roller 23 above the deposition arm 37. The four rocking arms 22 are actuated towards the spaced position to cause the opening of the lower free end of the cover HO. This end of the HO cover is then taken by the fingers 38 of the removal arm 37, which are spaced to be placed under the clamps 25 of the arms 22. In this step, the roller 23 is motorized in the direction of unwinding.

In Figure 6, the retaining clip 24 of the roller 23 is opened to release the heat-sealed connection 19 of the cover HO. The disengagement arm 37 begins its descent movement to gradually wrap the load CH with the cover HO, while the arms 22 remain in the spread position maintaining the cover spread by its four corners. The welding jaws 27 and the cutting device 28 return to the rest position.

In FIG. 7, the cover HO has left the gripping tongs 25 of the arms 22, and the removal arm 37 is coming down from the load CH in the stuffing station 26. The actuating arm 31 and the carriage 30 back to the right above the preparation station 10, and the arms 22 are actuated to the retracted position. The support 33 is moved in translation to the left along the crosspiece 35, so as to select the positioner member 14 associated with the second reel 12. The positioner member 14 can thus be actuated upward without waiting for the final return of the transfer and accumulation device 15.

In FIG. 8, the load CH is completely packed by the cover HO, and the positioning member 14 is in the raised position causing the insertion of the heat-sealed connection 19 in the retaining clip 24 of the accumulator roll 23. The other positioner member 13 is waiting in the low position.

In FIG. 9, the removal arm 37 is being raised, and the device 15 coils and stores a predetermined length of sheath 17 around the rotary roller 23. The positioner member 14 descends during this winding phase of the sheath.

The sequence of operation illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 18 is carried out with a stretch film sheath. In this case, the members of the preparation station 10 of the HO cover are identical to those of FIGS. 1 to 9. The structure of the deposition arm 37 in the filling station is different, and instead comprises shaping fingers and nip 38, pleating and drawing fingers 39 associated with motorized rollers 40. In contrast to the heat-shrinkable film, the introduction of a stretchable sheath does not require a source of heat to heat-shrink, because it is sufficient to mechanically stretch beforehand the material of the plastic film in the horizontal transverse direction before enveloping the palletized load to be packaged. After removal of the stretched cover from the load, the tightening of the stretch film material naturally takes place by elasticity, which firmly holds the cover around the load. Each finger 39 is mounted on a control member 41 driven by an actuator of the cylinder or geared motor type in a direction substantially coincident with the diagonal of the load CH.

In FIG. 10 corresponding to the following sequence of FIG. 9, the positioning member 14 continues its downward movement towards the low position, and a new load CH to be packaged is brought onto the table 36 of the stuffing station. The removal arm 37 is raised in translation above the load CH, with transverse refocusing of the pleating fingers 39. The rollers 40 are spaced from the fingers 39, and the sheath 17 from the coil 12 is wound around the accumulator roller 23.

In FIG. 11, the welding jaws 27 approach each other to make a new heat-sealed connection 19, and the roller assembly 23 and rocking arms 22 remain immobilized above the jaws 27 until they are closed. intervention of the cutting device 28.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, the actuating arm 31 is moved horizontally to the left above the stuffing station 26. The transfer carriage 30 also moves in the same direction to ensure the exact positioning of the roller 23 over 37. The four rocking arms 22 are actuated towards the spaced position to cause the opening of the lower free end of the cover HO. The fingers 39 of the deposition arm 37 are spread apart to be placed under the forceps 25 of the rocking arms 22.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the pleating and accumulation phase of the cover HO on the lower part of the fingers 39. The accordion pleating of the cover HO takes place following the rotation of the motorized rollers 40 which are in contact with the four fingers 39.

In FIG. 16, the transverse stretching of the folded HO cover occurs as a result of the maximum spacing of the control members 41 of the fingers 39. The rollers 40 do not twist during this phase of transverse stretching of the cover HO, which is stretched with an elongation rate greater than 30%.

In Figures 17 to 22, the descent movement of the deposition arm 37 causes the progressive unfolding of the HO cover around the load CH. The actuating arm 31 and the carriage 30 return to the preparation station 10, and the arms 22 are actuated to the retracted position. At the beginning of the return stroke (FIG. 17), the two positioner members 13, 14 are both in the low position. The continued return travel of the accumulator element 20 is effected by a transverse sliding movement (FIG. 18), and the rocking arms 22 pass on either side of the positioner members 13, 14 (FIG. 19). The positioner member 14 can thus be moved upwards to a waiting position (FIG. 20), located just before the end position. When the accumulator roller 23 and the retaining clip 24 come opposite the film held by the positioning member 14 in the intermediate waiting position (FIG. 31), it is sufficient to mount the positioner member 14 towards the up position (FIG. 22) for introducing the heat-sealed connection 19 of the film into the retaining clip 24. This overtravel between the intermediate waiting position and the high position is very short, and makes it possible to improve the rate of the packaging machine.

The time saved is the duration of the rise stroke of a positioner member 13 or 14 between the low position and the waiting intermediate position.

Fig. 23 shows a variant of the accumulator element 20 of the device 15, in which the rotary roller 23 is replaced by a moving roller system.

Instead of using a single transfer and accumulation device 15 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 22, the packing rate of the machine can be further increased by making use of two alternately moving storage systems.

Claims (18)

1. Method for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH), said cover being prepared from a sleeve made of flexible plastic material wound on at least one storage bobbin (11, 12), method consisting in:

   - welding the sleeve (17) transversely at the free end thereof to create a heat-sealed join (19) kept in a bottom position by at least one positioning means (13, 14),

   - storing a predetermined length of sleeve on a transfer and accumulation device (15) and cutting the sleeve transversely to constitute said cover (HO),

   - picking up the bottom free end and pulling the pallet cover (HO) down around the load (CH) to be packaged, keeping the cover spread apart via the four corners thereof,

   and characterized by the following intermediate steps consisting in:

   - moving the positioning means (13, 14) vertically upwards taking the sleeve (17) up to a top position wherein the heat-sealed join (19) engages in the transfer and accumulation device (15),

   - and moving the transfer and accumulation device (15) horizontally in a single horizontal movement directed orthogonally with respect to the movement of the positioning means (13, 14) to take up the bottom end of the pallet cover (HO).
2. Method for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 1, characterized in that, during the return travel of the transfer and accumulation device (15), the positioning means (13, 14) are moved to an intermediate waiting position situated just before said top position in which the film is inserted in the accumulator means (20).
3. Method for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 1, characterized in that a heat-shrink plastic sleeve is used to make the pallet cover (HO).
4. Method for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 1, characterized in that a stretchable plastic sleeve is used to make the pallet cover (HO).
5. Method for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a sleeve is used having pleats in the shape of a double V folded flat on at least one bobbin (11, 12).
6. Method for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a tubular sleeve is used wound flat on at least one bobbin (11, 12).
7. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH), said cover being prepared from a sleeve made of flexible plastic material wound flat on at least one storage bobbin (11, 12), and comprising:

   - welding and cutting means (16) of the sleeve,

   - a transfer and accumulation device (15) comprising an accumulator means (20) on which a part of the sleeve (17) is wound, and a mechanism (21) for spreading the open end of the sleeve apart after transfer to the pallet covering station (26),

   - at least one positioning means (13, 14) arranged between the bobbin (11, 12) and the accumulator means (20) to hold the sleeve (17),

   characterized in that the positioning means (13, 14) are movable in the heightwise direction in the preparation station (10) being coupled to an actuator (13a, 14a) so as to move the sleeve (17) between a bottom position and a top position in which the heat-sealed join (19) engages in the accumulator means (20).
8. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 7, characterized in that the transfer and accumulation device (15) is mounted pivoting on a vertical spindle (29) of an actuating arm (31) to position the heat-sealed join (19) in a parallel or perpendicular direction to the larger face of the load (CH).
9. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 7, characterized in that the positioning means (13, 14) are guided in vertical translation between a bottom position, an intermediate waiting position and a top position by a guide rod (13b, 14b) securedly attached to a support (33).
10. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 9, characterized in that the support (33) is adjustable on a horizontal cross-member (35) securedly attached to the frame (32), and is equipped with two positioning means (13, 14) able to be made to alternately face the accumulator means (20) by a horizontal translation movement of the support (33).
11. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 10, characterized in that the support (33) of the two positioning means (13, 14) is mounted on a support plank (34) fixed to the frame (32) under the cross-member (35).
12. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the two positioning means (13, 14) secure sleeves (17) fed from two superposed bobbins (11, 12).
13. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 12, characterized in that the axis of the bobbins (11, 12) extends in a parallel direction to the handling conveyor.
14. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 12, characterized in that the axis of the bobbins (11, 12) extends perpendicularly to the handling conveyor.
15. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 7, characterized in that the transfer and accumulation device (15) is supported by a transfer carriage (30) associated with an actuating arm (31) to ensure horizontal movement of the pallet cover (HO) between the preparation station (10) and the pallet covering station (26) before being picked up by a placing arm (37).
16. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 15, characterized in that the placing arm (37) is equipped with shaping and gripping fingers (38) for taking up the open part of a pallet cover (HO) made of heat-shrink plastic material at the four corners.
17. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 15, characterized in that the placing arm (37) is equipped with pleating and stretching fingers (39) designed to successively perform accordion pleating of the pallet cover (HO) made of stretchable plastic material following rotation of motor-driven sheaves (40), followed by transverse stretching at the four corners before descending around the load (CH).
18. Device for shaping and fitting a pallet packaging cover (HO) on a palletized load (CH) according to claim 11, characterized in that the two positioning means (13, 14) are associated with a pair of transfer and accumulation devices (15) with alternate movements to increase the packaging rate of the machine.

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