ES2309845T3 - PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES OF SMALL DIMENSIONS. - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for packaging articles (A) in the form of small pieces, especially articles (A) with a handle (A1), in which the article (A) is collected one by one by a first device (10) and transported from continuous mode to a second device (20) that performs, at least partially, the packaging of the article, characterized in that an addition of packaging material is made in the first device (10).

Description

Procedure and device for packaging Small items.

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging items in the form of small pieces, especially items with a handle (stick candies), so that the items are extracted one by one by an extraction head rotating, delivered to a packaging head and, once finished the product packaging, they are unloaded by means of a unloading device

For packaging items into pieces small, such as hard or soft candies, chocolates or others confectionery products in small pieces, both are known intermittent packaging machines such as those that work according to the principle of continuous work, so that generally High performance machines in general should work according to the principle of continuous work, since otherwise, in addition to the inevitable dead times, the highest accelerations of product and packaging material require more power high.

The special forms of the articles and product configurations always pose special requirements for the design of high performance packaging machines. Until now, the items of special configurations, for example, the stick candies, that is, hard candy or chocolate balls equipped with a handle, due to its specific characteristics, only they have been able to package according to the rules of the intermittency consequently, at reduced performance. Therefore, the machines intermittent packing machines intended for package stick candy with rotating wrap just get reduced yields, from about 300 to 500 work cycles per minute. Due to product errors (balls without handle or with defective handle or poorly positioned), problems already occur while loading stick candies on a plate of separation and separation into loose parts with the handles oriented radially outward. According to the state of the art, the sticks of the separated stick candies are always extracted by the side of the handle by means of pairs of tweezers of a chain, but This extraction process can never be done with a load of 100% production, which also causes limitations on additional performance. These tweezers, and with it the product, are intermittently move through a packing head (between a upper die and a lower die, introduced together with a piece of packaging material). After the tube formed packaging material both ends of the tube are heated, and only in a subsequent switching position is the wrapping operation, with two turns and no swing.

It is necessary to improve both the quality of Packaging as the packaging performance.

US 5,450,706 discloses a stick candy packaging machine, according to the preamble of the claim 14, wherein the products, separated into pieces loose, they are extracted from a separating plate by means of a device transfer and delivered to a packaging head, in which The product is packaged. The material feed of Packaging is done towards the packaging head.

The document EP-A-0 064 575 unveils a rotary device to wrap the ends in the form of a tube a stick candy.

EP 0 036 282 A1 discloses a stick candy packaging machine designed for intermittent operation, in which the packaging material is leads to the head of the stick-type candy product and It is then seized and transported along with the product by a transfer device

WO 03/086871 A and WO 2006/014107 A unveil two machines to pack stick candies, in which the packaging material also leads to a head of packaging located later.

WO 2006/011793 A discloses a stick candy packaging machine in which products are driven by a chain to a pickup position and, before that are seized by pairs of clamping jaws, are partially wrapped with a piece of packaging material, of so that each unit of product is held by the wheel of collection along with its piece of packaging material correspondent.

The document US-B1-6,539,687 discloses a packaging device in which the product is first wrapped with a tube of packaging material, before being closed, by example, with a double-turn wrap, to form closures terminals

Therefore, the object of the present invention is disclose a procedure and a device for packaging articles in small pieces, especially articles with a handle, which allow to achieve high performance with high quality of packaging, and that create the necessary conditions to be able to Also package complex items at high yields.

This objective is achieved, according to the invention, through a procedure with the characteristics of the claim 1 and a device with the characteristics of the claim 14.

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The procedure and the device, according to the invention, they are especially advantageous because, for the first time in the field of continuous operation machines, that is, packaging machines through which items pass so continuous, there are only two rotating heads, specifically a rotary extraction head and a rotating head of packaging, so that the machine time for the packaging of each piece of the item and, thanks to an integration more compact of packaging operations and units of necessary packaging for this, also for complex items, such as those with a handle, it is possible to achieve yields high, for example, 1000 pieces per minute.

The process, according to the invention, is characterized in that an addition of material is already made packaged in the area of a first device, after the extraction of a unit from the article, which, together with the piece of packaging material, is transferred to a second device, the packaging head itself, which forms the item packaging.

Within the framework of the present invention, although new procedures and devices are planned especially for the Packaging items with handle (stick candies), are not in in any way limited to them, but the principles of operation found for these special items can be apply, in general, to the packaging of articles in small pieces of different formats, so that the object of the invention does not It is limited to the packaging of items with handle (sealed) and Wrap fins rotated.

In relation to the packaging of items with handle, the method according to the invention is characterized, in special, because the collection of the product, that is, the grip on the handle, is made very close to the ball of the article and not, as So far, at the free end of the handle.

In addition, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the addition of packaging material has been displaced to the extraction head, while, until now, the machines that work continuously have a head of grip between the extraction head and the packaging head. The first machine head, which collects the separate items in loose parts of a separation and loading device of product, for example, from a separator disk, also has the means, hitherto assigned to a separate grip head, intended to add the packaging material to the item in the extraction head and deliver the item, along with the material packaging, directly from the extraction head to the packaging.

To seal the piece of packaging material rotating jaws are provided on the handle of an article heated.

As an example of products, this application Patent refers, in particular, to the packaging of articles in small pieces, equipped with a handle, the so-called candies of stick, without being limited to them. So far, such articles are not they have been able to pack with high performance machines that allow a production of, for example, about 1000 pieces per minute. Form advantageous of carrying out the process for packaging Such products according to the operating principle of the machines continuous operation packaging machines is that items with handle separated into loose pieces do not hold, such as so far, by the free end of the handle, but be held by the area of the handle located on the side of the article, that is, in a point as close as possible to the product ball. This has the advantage of, for example, handle position errors regarding the ball do not affect the handling of the product, of so that the product is collected with great safety and tolerances (for example, the eccentricity between the handle and the ball) does not influence in the rest of the packaging procedure.

In addition to this, this makes driving the product inside the extraction head be very safe and create by it favorable conditions for the transfer of the article, together with the packaging material, from the extraction head to packaging head In addition, the collection near the ball has an additional centering effect of the article, since the Extraction devices (pairs of jaws) may have a large opening angle and accurately grab the product always in the same extraction position.

Such products in small pieces, also those articles with handle considered here as an example of them, Sometimes they are packaged with a flip-top wrap. According to one especially preferred embodiment of the present invention, to twist and seal the packaging material over The handle of the articles with handle are used rotating jaws heated that allow hot stamping and get in this way a high quality and resistance of the sealing of the packed in the transition zone between the handle and the ball Article. Where appropriate, to make fins turned at the end of the opposite handle to the article, you could also use a jaw rotating, or such rotating jaws could be used when heat sealable packaging films are used for package products with double wrap wrap (items without handle), or you can use plastic sheets of greater strength than repositioned for sealing on the handle of articles with handle, without affecting the appearance or sealing of the material of packaged on the handle. However, in this example the finned wrap wrapped on the end of the handle opposite the article is shaped as a simple wrap using jaws conventional swivel (not heated).

Other preferred configurations of devices according to the invention and the method according to the invention are set forth in the other dependent claims.

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The invention on the following is explained below. basis of an exemplary embodiment and the corresponding drawings. The drawings show:

- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a packaging machine intended to be packaged continue items with mango (stick candies);

- Figure 2 schematically shows the device for loading the items and their separation in units;

- Figure 3 is a schematic representation and partial of a brush device intended to orient the articles;

- Figure 4 is a schematic representation partial, in perspective, of a team of empty cycle sensors of the loading and separation device into loose parts;

- figure 5 represents in perspective, partial and schematically, an extraction head and a load ring of the separating device during the extraction of an article;

- Figure 6 shows partially in perspective the extraction head of figure 5 during the extraction operation, that is, in relation to the ring of loading of the separator device during removal of a article, seen from the separator device;

- Figure 7 represents the head of extraction, similar to figure 6, and shows the setting to arrangement of a piece of packaging material for an item located in the extraction head;

- Figure 8 is a front representation general schematic of the collection head and the packed

- Figure 9 shows schematically in perspective a drive device for the head of extraction of figures 5, 6 or 7;

- Figure 10 shows in perspective a part of the total representation of the essential functional units of the packaging machine of figure 1;

- Figure 11 shows schematically in perspective a part of a combination packaging head with a rotating clamp designed to seal the material of packaged on an article handle (stick candy),

- Figure 12 is a schematic partial view in perspective of a rear rotating head with tweezers swivel,

- Figure 13 schematically shows a rotating station with front and rear rotating head including intermediate packing head,

- Figure 14 shows schematically the front end of a heated rotating clamp, with a pair of rotating jaws, and

- Figure 15 schematically represents the procedure to perform the packaging process on the machine packaging machine, according to claim 1, for packaging a article with handle (stick candy).

Figure 1 shows a packing machine (100) that works according to the principle of continuous work, in the that the article (A) (compare with figure 4) is extracted so Continuous loading and separation device into loose parts (1) located on a horizontal frame (1a) of "U" profile of the machine (which is supported on the ground by feet of machine -1b-) by means of an extraction head (10) that can rotate around an axis of rotation (11) (figure 5), and is transferred, together with a piece of packaging material (12), to a head of packaging (20), which can rotate around an axis of fixed rotation (21) (figure 8), so that, to wrap and seal the corresponding part of the piece of packaging material (12) on a handle (A1) of the article (A), each packaging unit of the packing head (20) has a rotating clamp associated (71) (compare with figures 11 to 14). Through a download wheel (50), fully packaged items (A) are conducted to a download device configured as a download tape (40) and are removed from the packaging machine (100).

For clarity, in Figure 1 it has been omitted a previous rotating head (60) arranged in front of the packaging head (20), and a rotating head is shown (70) rear as part of a rotating station (80).

The packaging machine (100) is characterized because between the item (A) fully packaged and the extraction of article (A) of the load and part separation device loose (1) only has two support heads for the essential product for packaging, specifically the head of extraction (10) and the packing head (20), thanks to which you can configure the packaging process to be considerably more compact, fast and efficient. (The wheel of download -50- is only an auxiliary device independent of the packaging process). This increases the relative requirements to the configuration of the packaging machine and, especially, of the design of the extraction head (10). On the other hand, such as happens in the present embodiment, this allows package the items (A) at a work rate of approximately 1,000 cycles per minute, that is, at high performance, in this case the article (A) being a ball of caramel or other confectionery product attached to a mango (A1). In This exemplary embodiment is designated as (A2) the ball of the article (A). In Figure 1, the arrows (K), (L), (M), (N), (O), (P) indicate the corresponding directions of rotation of the disc distributor (2) (arrow -K-), the load ring (3) (arrow -L-), the extraction head (10) (arrow -M-), the head of packaged (20) (arrow -N-), unloading wheel (50) (arrow -OR-) and the direction of movement of the discharge belt (40) (arrow -P-).

Figure 2 shows schematically in detail The loading and separation device into loose parts (1) is that is, a separator disk (2) which, in the known way, is descending outward from its axis (2a), so that along the perimeter outside the separator disk (2) there is a feed ring (3) with recesses (4) to accommodate the balls (A2) of the article (A), in whose outer contour the recesses (4) become grooves of accommodation (5) in which the corresponding handles enter (A1) of article (A) oriented radially outward when the product is properly placed (compare with figures 4 and 5). In addition to a product guide (6) located on the disc separator (2), there is a brush system (7) with brushes (7b), (7c), (7d) individually operated which, together with the guide helical (7a), serves to fill the recesses (4) of the ring feeding (3) with the product (A) (balls -A2-) and so that handles (A1) of the article (A), thanks to the brush system (7) and the helical guide (7a), are positioned radially towards outside and inside the housing slots (5) (compare with the Figures 4 to 6).

In this way a high filling is achieved of the separator disk (2), between 97% and 100%.

An outer cover (8) serves to protect the separator disk (2).

In figures 3 and 4 they are shown again, of different schematic and perspective forms, details of brush system (7) (figure 3) and a sensor device empty cycle (9) that will be described later. Figure 3 shows once again the different shapes of the brushes (7b), (7c), (7d), so that the brush (7b) is basically a body elongated cylindrical (7b1), with a first cylindrical section (7b1) of increasing diameter and a conical section (7b2) extended forward, intended to distribute the article (A) with its balls (A2) in the recesses (4), function in which the brush also participates cylindrical (7c). The disk-shaped brush (7c), whose width is corresponds approximately to the width of the feed ring (3), serves to securely fix the product (A) (which is not shown in figure 3) inside the recesses (4). Each of the brushes (7b), (7c), (7d) are individually driven by a Small DC motor (13).

In Figure 3 they have not been represented, below on the left, the recesses (4) of the feed ring (3). The Figure 3 also shows, under the feed ring, a rail of guide (14) that covers below the recesses (4) in the greater part of the perimeter of the feed ring (3), so that the items (A) are housed in the recesses so that no They can tip over.

Before an extraction position of the items (A) there is a sensor device (9) of empty cycles the which, in the present embodiment and by means of a fork of optical barrier (15), scan and detect the handles (A1) of the articles (A), so that after the extraction position there is a blow-out device (16) (nozzle expulsion) for items found in a recess (4) and that they have no handle (that is, only the ball) and that they don't They can continue processing. The rail is not planned in this area (14) (compare with figure 3), so that items can Drop freely into a collecting container. However, taking considering the pace of work, the force of gravity would not be enough to remove the product, so a forced expulsion of defective items without handle by the blow-out device (16). In addition, depending on a fault signal sent by the cycle sensor device (9) empty, the addition of packaging material stops, so that in this case the piece of packaging material is not conducted (12) to the extraction head (10), since in the position corresponding extraction head (10) there will be no product (TO).

A positioning bracket (17) located by above the load ring (3) in the handle area (A1) also contributes to the correct positioning of the items (A) and with it ensures positioning. Given the high pace of work, it is important that the items (A) separated into pieces Loose be oriented without errors as much as possible.

The brush system (7) described in relationship with figures 2 and 3 intended for the correct placement of the articles (A) in the recesses (4) and, therefore, to guarantee a high degree of filling of the load ring (3), can also consist of a single brush of shapes available in each of its parts of the geometric form adapted to execute the function positioning that in the present example is assigned to the three brushes (7b), (7c), (7d).

Figure 5 is a partial representation, schematic and in perspective, of the situation of collection of articles and extraction head (10) at the point of extraction, in which the items (A) are removed from the ring of load (3). The arrow (L) indicates the direction of rotation of said ring, while the arrow (M) indicates the direction of rotation of the spindle extraction (10) around the axis of rotation (11). The articles (A) positioned on the load ring (3) are removed by the handle (A1) at an extraction point (E) (figure 5), so that the extraction head (10) rotates counterclockwise load (3) around a fixed axis of rotation (11). On his side above are the extraction units (18) which, at their instead, they are supported on the extraction head (10) so that each of them can revolve around its corresponding axis of turn (19).

In the present embodiment, the extraction head (10) includes six extraction units (18) swivel (see figure 6), arranged perimeter in equal angular distances, so that each extraction unit (18) is associated with a clamp for packaging material (23) additional that can rotate around a parallel axis of rotation (22), as seen more clearly in figures 6 and 7.

Each extraction unit (18) consists of a pair of clamping jaws (24) consisting of a clamping jaw (24a) above, located first in the direction of rotation of the extraction head, and by a rear clamping jaw (24b) located secondly in the direction of rotation of the head of extraction (10). The clamping jaws (24a), (24b) of each pair of clamping jaws (24) are arranged on the corresponding axis of rotation (19) common, around which they perform its opening and closing movements to grab and hold the handle (A1) of article (A), and so that the entire pair of turning jaws (24) can also rotate around the axis of rotation (19) in relation to with the rotation movement of the extraction head (10) around the axis of rotation (11). This serves to adapt the distance of separation of the articles (A) located in the ring loading (3) to the separation between the extraction units (18) (pairs of clamping jaws -24-), so that the pairs of clamping jaws (24) execute an accelerated movement both before as after the extraction point, while there is only a uniform movement in an area located before and after a transfer point where the item is delivered to the head packaging (20). There is a transition between these two zones. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, the jaws of clamping (24a) and (24b) comprise prismatic surfaces (Z) in their interior surfaces, to safely and reliably grasp the cylindrical handles (A1) of the article (A). In addition, a wide opening of the pairs of clamping jaws (24), together with the shape prismatic, contributes to the handles (A1) can be grasped and drive safely, thus ensuring handling Very reliable product without resorting to other organs drivers.

For the extraction of ring items of load (3) for each pair of clamping jaws (24), it is essential that the handle is held directly as close as possible to the ball (A2), that is, next to the cylindrical outer surface of the ring load (3), which also achieves compensation for tolerances of the position of the handle (A1) with respect to the ball (A2), since the deviations of the position of the handle (A1) with respect to the ball (A2), in relation to a nominal position, have an effect reduced or nil (contrary to what happens at the free end of the handle -A1-).

Logically, the extraction head (10) can behave more or less than six extraction units (18) rotating, depending on the general configuration of the machine packing machine (100).

In addition to the feature of grabbing the article (A) by the handle (A1) in the upper zone, that is, as close possible ball (A2), another special feature of this extraction head (10) is that it also has tweezers for packaging material (23), that is, it not only serves to remove the product from the load and part separation device loose (1) (separator disk -2-), but also conducts discrete mode the packaging material, that is, the pieces of packaging material (12), to the extraction head (10) by a feeding device for packaging material not represented in the drawings, which are done in a single head the two functions of "extraction" of the article and of "addition of packaging material" thereto. This is shown clearly in figure 7, it leads to a considerable increase in efficiency and to make packaging functions more compact, so it allows you to move on to new higher work rates in the packaging of articles of this type, equipped with a handle.

As shown in figures 5 and 6 (the latter represents a diagram of the extraction head -10- in a front perspective), each extraction unit (18), that is, each pair of rotating clamping jaws (24), is associated with a clamp for packaging material (23) that basically consists of a "U" shaped plate, that is, grooved, that can rotate about an axis of rotation (22) parallel to the axis of rotation (19) of the clamping jaws but separated from it and which also has an independent drive. Also this clip for material packaging (23) executes an accelerated movement and serves to allow, between the point of extraction of the load ring (3) and the transfer point to the packing head (20), is lead the piece of material to the extraction head (10) packaging (12), necessary to package the article (A), and said piece is arranged on the article (A) while it is held by means of the pair of clamping jaws (24).

The corresponding control movements for each pair of clamping jaws (24) as a whole, for opening and closing movements of the clamping jaws (24a), (24b) of each pair of clamping jaws (24), as well as the rotation movement of each clamp for packaging material (23), they are derived from control curves configured in relation to the rotation of the extraction head (10) around its axis of rotation (eleven). In this regard, reference is made to the schematic drawing in perspective of figure 9. The control curves (25), (26), in combination with the drive rollers (27), (28), are used to control the movements of the clamping jaws (24a) and (24b), anterior and posterior, of the corresponding pair of jaws of clamping (24), while the entire extraction unit (18) travels a wrapping curve (29) around the fixed axis of rotation (11), which includes the tweezers for packaging material (23) associated with each extraction unit (18) and whose control of turning movements it is carried out using the control curves (31) and the corresponding ones tracking cams (32). This takes into account the requirement that, on the one hand, the piece of packaging material (12), using the clamp for packaging material (23) and the corresponding counter support of the pair of clamping jaws (24), be fixedly protruding from article (A), that is, next to it, and that, on the other hand, ensure that the pair of clamping jaws (24) can be removed without obstacles from the article (A) of the load ring (3), without collisions between the clamp for packaging material (23) and the loading ring (3), or that during continuous operation of a machine packing machine of this type an interference situation occurs dangerous in the area of extraction. In the present case, this problem is solved because the clamp for packaging material (23), as shown, in particular, Figure 7, is a sheet in "U" shape, that is, which has a central groove (33) the which, by a downward movement in the opposite direction to direction of rotation of the extraction head (10), allows to accommodate in the central groove (33) the clamp for packaging material (23) by an arm (34) of the anterior clamping jaw (24a), so it makes it pass through the extraction point with a movement of opposite directions of pitching and immersion, as observed with detail in figure 7, when the various positions are compared of phases of the pairs of clamping jaws (24) and the corresponding tweezers for packaging material (23) in the extraction point area. To fix the piece of material packaged (12) so that it hangs over the article (A) already grasped, for later folding around the article in the packing head (20), each clamping jaw (24a) above It involves a tightening counter support (35). In this way, the material of packaging or the piece of packaging material (12) is fastened firmly between the front end of the clamp for material packaging (23) and the tightening counter support (35) with one part of the piece of packaging material (12), and at the same time place on the article (A), that is, on the ball (A2). further of the continuous rotation movement of the extraction head (11), three other movements are executed in it:

- opening and closing of the jaw pairs of clamping (24) of the extraction units (18),

- rotation of the clamping jaw pairs (24) of the extraction units (18) (in their entirety), and

- rotation and opening and closing of the clamps for packaging material

As indicated in the upper right of Figure 7 and is shown more fully in Figure 8, the extraction head (10) is in "winding contact" with the packing head (20), which comprises units of packaged (36) in comparable number and form, each of the which consists of a pair of head clamp jaws packed (37), which can rotate with respect to an axis of rotation, to each of which an inner folding element is associated (38) independently supported in a rotating mode, intended for fold and wrap the article (A) with a tube of material packaging, as explained below.

In addition to the movement processes of pairs of clamping jaws (24) described in relation to the extraction head, said pairs of clamping jaws (24) of said head can also be rotatable about an axis vertical located in a radial plane, if necessary or convenient to reorient the position of the article, for example, in 90º, before adding the piece of packaging material. That is to say, that the extraction head can also be used to redirect the position of the article between the extraction position of the ring load (3) and a transfer position to the packing head (twenty).

Figure 8 schematically shows the correlation of effects between the extraction head (10) and the packaging head (20), and explains the processes that take place within the respective heads (10) and (20).

Before the transfer of the article (A) with the piece of packaging material (12) to a pair of jaws of packing head clamp (37) with clamping jaws of packing head (37a) and (37b), the piece of material packaging is placed at an angle or "U" around the article (A) (that is, around the ball -A2- thereof), such as shown in figure 8 (see also figure 15). The jaws of packing head clamp (37a), (37b) of a pair of packing head clamping jaws (37) grab the article (A), in each case with interposition of the piece of material of packaging (12), to form a tube of packaging material when folding the packaging material (12) by means of the element inner folder (38) and an outside folder bow (39) (see figure 8). With this the maximum care of the product is achieved, since in the packing head (20) the head clamping jaws packaging (37a), (37b) never hold the item directly, but always grabbing it by the piece of packaging material (12) already filed. The packaging material tube, so cylindrical, which surrounds the ball (A2) is formed by a movement turning inward of the inner folding element (38) and a perimeter movement along the outer folding arc (39), in the way known to specialists, so they can be omitted Additional detailed explanations (compare with figure eleven).

Comparable with the extraction head (10), also in the packing head (20), which rotates around the fixed rotation axis (21), all other movements of rotation control to rotate the clamping jaws (37) as a whole, the opening and closing of the jaws of clamping (37a), (37b) (supported on independent axes), as well as the control of the rotation movement of the corresponding interior folding elements (38) (supported on the same axis that a clamping jaw (37b) of a pair of clamping jaws of packing head -37-), are developed by curves of stationary control, arranged in combination with the axis of rotation (21) (similar to what happens in the head of extraction of figure 9).

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In the present example of embodiment, package the item (A) (stick candy) on the one hand (above), with a fin wrap, while on the side opposite (in the handle -A1-) it is imperative that the material of packaging wrap and seal the handle (A1) cleanly. Therefore, the packaging head (20) is part of a rotating station (80) which has an anterior turning head (60) and a turning head (70) posterior, as seen in the side view of Figure 13. For greater clarity of the drawing, in the other drawings, except in Figure 10 has not shown, in particular, the turning head (60) above. Each of the turning heads (60), (70) above and later it involves a number of rotating jaws (61), (71), which corresponds to that of the packaging units (36), and that they rotate coaxially and synchronously with the rotation of the packing head (20) around the axis of rotation (21), of so that the relative position of the jaw pairs of packing head clamp (37) with respect to the jaws swivels (61), (71) with their corresponding pairs of jaws swivel clamps (62), (72).

Figure 10 shows again, as a drawing partial in perspective, the main components of the machine packaging machine, according to the present embodiment, with the loading and separation device into loose parts (1) with the loading ring (3) and recesses (4) for the product, the extraction head (10) with extraction units (18) including the tweezers for packaging material (23), as well as the packing head (20) with the pairs of clamping jaws packing head (37) and the previous turning head (60), the rear swivel head (70) with rotating jaws (71) and the discharge belt (40).

As seen in Figure 13, the rotating jaws (71) of the rear swivel head (70) are configured completely differently to rotating jaws (61) of the previous rotation head (60), the latter being of the traditional type as they are planned to grab the product and form a fin wrap, in the traditional way, in combination with a tube of packaging material located on the side opposite the product handle.

Therefore, then it is only done reference, in relation to figures 11, 12 and 13, to the novelties rotating jaws (71) of the rear swivel head (70) which, according to the invention, they can be heated.

On the "handle side" of the article (A) (stick candy) it is necessary to wrap and seal cleanly on the handle (A1) the surrounding end of the material tube of packed, at a point near the end of the handle (A1) located on the side of the product and the ball (A2). For this a rotating jaw (71), that is, a number of rotating jaws (71) corresponding to the number of jaw pairs of packing head clamp (37) and rotating so synchronized with them, arranged on the turning head (70) posterior and which, in turn, can rotate with respect to the head of rotation (70) around a longitudinal axis (75). To do this, in the turning head (70) a transmission mechanism is provided (stationary ring wheel and rotating planetary wheels), no represented in the drawings, so that each rotating jaw (71) rotates on the rotation head (70) at a rate higher than the speed of rotation of this one and of uniform way around its longitudinal axis (75), by means of the corresponding clamping jaw shaft (75a) supported on the turning head (70). The rotating jaws (71) they comprise pairs of clamping jaws (72) constituted by a rotating jaw piece (72a) and a rotating jaw piece (72b), which make an opening and closing movement around an orthogonal axis (F) with respect to the longitudinal axis (75) (movement pivoting). In their interior surfaces they have a hollow of housing (73), sized taking into account the diameter of the handle (A1) that will be housed in it to wrap and seal so smooth the end of the tube of packaging material, between the handle (A1) and the rotating jaw (71), when the rotating jaws (71) perform the rotation movement described above with respect to turning head (70) around its longitudinal axes (75). The rotating jaw pieces (72a), (72b) are layered around of the axis (F) at approximately 90º with respect to its support section, so that the handle (A1) of the product can always be enclosed in perfect mode and with the corresponding clearance for sealing the packaging material

The rotating jaws (71) differ from the rotating jaws (61) of the rotating head (60) because they are heated and, thanks to the heating of the rotating jaw (61), at least one of the rotating jaw pieces (72a), (72b) can perform a hot stamping and, in combination with a suitable packaging material, achieve a high quality of sealed on the handle in the transition zone between the handle (A1) and the ball (A2).

As clearly seen in the drawing partial perspective, according to figure 12, of the turning head (70) afterwards, the heating of the rotating jaw (71), or of one or the two rotating jaw pieces (72a), (72b) of each jaw swivel (71) (in this example, the two pieces are always heated of rotating jaw -72a-, -72b-), is carried out by means of cartridges heaters (not shown in the drawing) arranged in the rotating jaw parts (72a), (72b), although they can also be arrange heating blades on rotating jaw parts (72a) and (72b). Heating can also be done by induction or by irradiation with electron beams or rays To be. Power supply to rotating jaws (71) of the rear rotation head (70) is carried out taking into account the necessary turning movement of the rotating jaws (71) around its longitudinal axis (75) (axis parallel to the axis of rotation -21- of the packing head -20- or of the turning head -70- later) by means of a first collecting ring system (74) with collector rings (76) fixed in the box and brushes of contact (77) attached to the turning head (70), as well as with a second slip ring system, not shown, arranged inside the turning head (70), especially inside sleeves rotating jaws (81) (connected with the corresponding trees of the rotating jaws -75a-, that is, rotating at the same regime that the rotating jaws -71-), taking into account the rotating jaw rotation (71) around its axis longitudinal (75).

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By changing the pressure and the temperature in the pairs of rotating jaws -71) can be regulate the strength of the seal and thereby improve the properties Packaging opening.

In combination with the jaw pieces rotating (72a), (72b) a temperature measurement is planned (infrared temperature measurement), preferably without contact, which is part of a control circuit to regulate the heating power of the pairs of jaw pieces swivel This way you can get a very good regulation precise temperature, adjusted to the characteristics of the packaging material and other product characteristics. The use of heated rotating jaws to seal the packaging material also allows packaging sheets to be used thicker or with a greater restoring force.

Temperature control and measurement they can also be done directly using sensors temperature arranged in the heated parts of the jaws swivel (71). The use of rotating jaws (71) not heated it is limited to the present embodiment or to products with handle, but also suitable for other applications, by example, for the manufacture of flap packaging or double-packed or single-turn packaged (bag folding, grouped folding), especially when using materials relatively thick packaging or having a high force of replacement.

As already explained in relation to the Figure 13, in opposite position to the rear rotation head (70) equipped with the heated rotating jaws (71) described above, in the other side of the packing head (20), is the other head of rotation (60) with the rotating jaws (61), preferably not heated, forming, with the protruding part of the tube packaging material, a current rotated fin, which remains in the part of the handle (A1) opposite the side of the ball (i.e. above), when the handle (A1) is facing down.

Figure 1 schematically shows the unloading device (40), which, by means of a wheel of unloading (50), transport items out of the machine packaged (stick candies).

Figure 14 schematically shows the jaw swivel (71) heated, with rotating jaw parts (72a) and (72b), a power supply line (78) in form spiral to compensate for movements, as well as a stretch of conductor (79) towards the rotating jaw piece (72a), the top in figure 14, inside which the cartridge is located Heater. For the rotating jaw piece (72b) it is planned the same arrangement on the back of figure 14. The power supply line (78) is connected to electrical conduction to the second system of collector rings inside of the rotating jaw sleeve -81) rotary. Naturally the first slip ring system (77) is connected to the second system of slip rings. An envelope of the stretch of conductor (79) is grounded by connection to the box.

Figure 5 schematically depicts the product displacement and position orientation of the article (A), in combination with the addition of a material of packaging. The addition of top packaging material (110) and the addition of lower packaging material (120) are planned for automatic change of packaging material. The products (A) arrive from the separation device in loose parts (1) by the extraction head (10), which includes the piece of packaging material (12) for transfer to packaging head (20), in which the product (A) with handle (stick candy) is wrapped and, on the one hand, turned and sealed on the handle (A1) and, on the other hand, it is closed with a rotated fin. After a rotation of approximately 270º, the head of packaging (20) delivers the item to the unloading wheel (50), the which deposits the finished packaged item on the tape unloading (40) to be transported outside the machine.

With the present invention it is disclosed, by First time, a continuous operation packing machine equipped with only two essential product carrying heads for packaging, the extraction head and the packed, and whose extraction head is equipped with organs additional functionalities for the provision of material packaging.

The present invention is not limited to the packaging of confectionery products with handle, although it is especially suitable for this and, by corresponding adaptation of the basic principles set forth, the packaging of other items in small pieces, with other parts, can be performed similarly. types of folding. In the packaging of articles with handle, by holding the article by the handle in an area as close as possible to the product itself (the ball), it has been achieved, for the first time, to practically eliminate the effect of the resulting tolerances and defects of manufacturing (insertion of the handle into the ball) on the packaging process. The use of heated rotating jaws not only allows the perfect sealing of the packaging material on the handle, but also basically improves the manufacture of finned packages
turned.

In general, the packaging machine according to the The present invention has a compact configuration and is characterized for having a packaging performance not achieved so far, 600 to 1,000 duty cycles per minute, for products complexes, such as mango products, and at the same time It has a dynamically smooth operation, especially thanks to Its principle of continuous operation.

In addition to a reduced sound level, thanks to the low dynamic stresses and the chosen packaging principle (inclusion of packaging material already in the head of extraction), high product care is achieved and reduced solicitations of packaging material. Therefore, the technical machine wear and maintenance cost are reduced, with the consequent increase in efficiency and availability of the packaging machine.

By the present invention it is created, by first time, a packaging machine that works according to the principle of continuous operation, equipped with two heads of product processing, which allows, for complex products (products with a handle) reach an order production rate of 1,000 cycles per minute, getting a configuration compact and careful product and packaging, along with a high product safety and reduced propensity to failures of the packaging device.

Claims (56)

1. Procedure for packaging items (A) in the form of small pieces, especially items (A) with a handle (A1), in which the item (A) is collected one by one by a first device (10) and is it continuously transports a second device (20) that carries out, at least partially, the packaging of the article, characterized in that an addition of packaging material is made in the first device (10). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, during the journey between the collection of the article (A) and its delivery by the first device (10), a reorientation of the position of the article is carried out, in particular, by means of the article rotation in approximately 90º. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the collection of the article from a separation device into loose parts (1) is carried out in a rotational movement, and the addition of a packaging material is preceded by a accelerated movement of a clamp for packaging material (23) arranged to fix the packaging material on the corresponding article (A). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a difference in distribution between the items (A) separated into single pieces and the extraction units (18) of the first device (10) that collect the article (A) is compensated by an expected accelerated movement of the extraction units (18), before and / or after the collection of the article (A), in particular, a rotational movement around an axis of rotation (19). 5. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the separation of the article (A) into loose pieces is basically carried out in a horizontal preparation plane, the collection of the article (A) and its transport to the second device (20) are made by a first segment of circular path located on an essentially vertical plane, the packaging material is added to the article basically radially with respect to the movement thereof, and the article is conducted by the second device (20) by a second segment of circular path also located on a basically vertical plane. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, before the collection of an article (A), it is checked, and the defective articles (A) are discarded. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the detection of a defective article (A) stops the addition of packaging material. 8. Procedure for packaging articles with handle in small pieces with a continuous working method, according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the items (A) separated into single pieces are held in the handle area (A1) corresponding to the end located on the side of the article. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that, after the formation of a tube of packaging material on the article (A), a rotary folding thereof is carried out around the handle (A1) and, in combination therewith, a sealing of the packaging material on the handle (A1) by heated rotating jaws (71). Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotating jaws (71) perform an opening and closing movement and at the same time a rotation movement. Method according to one or more of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, after the formation of a tube of packaging material, the packaging material is folded into a flap and, for adjustment to the handle (A1 ), it is rolled on one side of the handle and at the same time sealed, especially with a hot stamping. 12. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a working rate of about 1,000 cycles per minute is provided and in each work cycle a fully packaged article (A) is produced. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the temperature of the rotating jaws (71) is determined by means of a non-contact measurement of the temperature and, on the basis of said measurement, an adjustment is made of the temperature of the rotating jaws (71) at a predetermined working temperature. 14. Device for packaging items in small pieces, especially items with a handle, in which items separated into single pieces are collected from a rotating extraction head, delivered to a rotating packaging head and, after the Product packaging is unloaded by a discharge device, characterized in that the extraction head (18) is at the same time a pincer head for the addition of packaging material to the article (A) to be packaged. 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the extraction head (18) can rotate around a fixed axis of rotation (11) and includes extraction units (18) that are supported therein so that they can rotate around its own axes of rotation (19) parallel to the axis of rotation of the extraction head. 16. Device according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the extraction units (18) comprise pairs of clamping jaws (24) that can be moved in opposite directions. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that each pair of clamping jaws (24) has been associated with a clamp for packaging material (23) that can rotate around its own axis of rotation of clamp (22) parallel to the axis of rotation (19) of the pair of clamping jaws. 18. Device according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the pairs of clamping jaws (24) can rotate around a common axis of rotation (19) which is parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the head of extraction (10). 19. Device according to one of claims 17 or 18, characterized in that the axis of rotation of pliers (22) of the clamp for packaging material (23) is parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the extraction head (10) and / or the axes of rotation (19) of the pairs of rotating jaws (24). 20. Device according to one or more of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the opening and closing movements of the pairs of clamping jaws (24), the turning movements of the clamping jaws (24a, 24b), as well as the rotational movements of the clamps for packaging material (23) of the extraction head (10) come from control curves (25, 26, 31) provided in relation to the fixed axis of rotation (11) of the extraction head (10) 21. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 16 to 20, characterized in that a clamping jaw (24a, 24b) of each pair of clamping jaws (24), especially the clamping jaw (24a) of each pair of clamping jaws (24) located forward in the direction of rotation of the extraction head (10), comprises a clamping counter (35) that acts together with a corresponding clamp for packaging material (23). 22. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 21, characterized in that it has a device for adding packaging material, close to the extraction head (10). 23. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 22, characterized in that it has only two product-bearing heads (10, 20). 24. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 23, characterized in that a loading and separation device is disposed in loose parts (1) basically horizontal and which can rotate around a vertical axis (2a), and the basically vertical extraction and packaging heads (10, 20) that can rotate around horizontal rotation axes (11, 21). 25. Device according to claim 24, characterized in that the loading and separation device into loose parts (1) is a separator disk (2) provided with a load ring (3) disposed on the outer perimeter thereof, in which There are recesses (4) intended to accommodate the articles (A), so that the separator disk (22) and the loading ring (3) can rotate in opposite directions. 26. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 25, characterized in that the unloading device is a conveyor belt device (40) arranged in an inclined position. 27. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 17 to 26, characterized in that the clamp for packaging material (23) is grooved and in the groove (33), with a downward movement of the clamp for packaging material (23 ), a lever arm (34) of a jaw (24a) of a pair of clamping jaws (24) can be accommodated. 28. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 16 to 27, characterized in that an article detection device (9, 15) is arranged before an extraction point in which the pairs of clamping jaws (24) remove the article (A) from the loading and separating device into loose parts (1). 29. Device according to claim 28, characterized in that, depending on a signal from the article detection device (9, 15), an article ejection device (16) and / or a device for adding devices can be operated packaging material 30. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the article ejection device comprises a blow-out device (16) and / or the article detection device is an optical barrier fork (15) that detects a handle of article (A1). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 25 to 30, characterized in that, in relation to the separator disk (2), a brush system (7) is arranged close to an area of the outer perimeter of the separator disk ( 2), in particular, one or more shape brushes with drive (7b to 7d), to orient the position of each item (A) with the handle (A1) oriented radially outward and placed in the recesses (4) of the ring loading (3). 32. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 31, characterized in that the packaging head (20) can rotate around a fixed axis of rotation (21). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 32, characterized in that the packaging head (20) comprises several packaging units (36) with clamping jaws (37a, 37b), each of which can rotate around an axis of rotation (21a) parallel to the axis of rotation (21) of the packing head (20). 34. Device according to claim 33, characterized in that each packaging unit (36) comprises a pair of packing head clamping jaws (37) and a folding element (38), which is arranged on the same axis as the clamping jaws (37) but which can rotate independently of the rotational movement thereof, so that the packing head clamping jaws (37a, 37b) of each pair (37) can rotate around its own axis of turn (21a), and the turn axes (21a) are parallel. 35. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 34, characterized in that it has an outer folder in the packaging head configured as an outer folding arch (39). 36. Device according to one of claims 34 or 35, characterized in that, for each pair of clamping jaws of the packing head, an inner and an outer folding element are arranged, supported on rotating shafts. 37. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 14 to 36, characterized in that, in combination with article retention stamps, several rotating folding compartments have been arranged in the packaging head. 38. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 34 to 37, characterized in that rotating jaws (61, 71) are arranged on both sides of the pair of packing head clamping jaws (37), which rotate so synchronous therewith, especially heated rotating jaws, for the manufacture of packages with at least one wrap around. 39. Device according to claim 38, characterized in that the rotating jaws (61, 71) are supported on their turning heads (50, 70) on both sides of the packaging head (20), so that they can rotate around its longitudinal axis (65, 75). 40. Device according to one of claims 38 or 39, for packaging small-piece articles with handle, characterized in that the rotating jaws (71) can be heated. 41. Device according to claim 40, characterized in that a rotating jaw (61, 71) is associated with each pair of front and / or rear rotating head jaws (61, 71). . 42. Device according to one of claims 40 or 41, characterized in that the rotating jaws (61, 71) are arranged, in correlation with the packaging units (36) of the nearby packaging head (20), on a rotating head ( 60, 70), which is arranged coaxially with the packing head (20) and can rotate synchronously with it. 43. Device according to claim 42, characterized in that the rotating jaws (61, 71) can rotate around a longitudinal axis (65, 75) and because at their free end they comprise a rotating jaw pieces (62a, 62b; 72a, 72b) that can rotate about an axis (F) between an open position and a closed position. 44. Device according to claim 43, characterized in that at least one of the rotating jaw pieces (72a, 72b) can be heated, in particular, by heat conduction or heat contact without contact. 45. Device according to one of claims 43 or 44, characterized in that the two rotating jaw pieces (72a, 72b) are heated. 46. Device according to one or more of claims 40 to 45, characterized in that at least one independent heating device acting on each rotating jaw (71) has been associated with the rotating jaws (71). 47. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 40 to 46, characterized in that the jaws (71), especially the rotating jaw parts (72a, 72b), have at least one heating cartridge or a heating sheet.

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48. Device according to claim 43, characterized in that for each rotating jaw piece (72a, 72b) an elastic current line is provided, in particular, a power supply line (79) arranged in the form of a spiral spring around of the shaft (F). 49. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 40 to 48, characterized in that a power supply of the rotating jaws (71) is carried out by means of at least one system of slip rings (74), preferably by means of two systems of collector rings 50. Device according to claim 49, characterized in that the first system of collector rings (74) comprises collector rings (76) fixed in the housing and contact brushes (77) supported on the rotation head and connected with electricity conduction with the second system of collector rings between the rotating jaw shaft (75a) and the collector rings fixed to the rotating jaw shaft. 51. Device for packaging articles with handle, according to one or more of the preceding claims 40 to 50, characterized in that the two rotating jaw pieces (72a, 72b) of a pair of rotating jaws (72) comprise a housing recess (73 ) central oriented in the longitudinal direction of the rotating jaw, intended to accommodate the handle (A1) of the article (A). 52. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 40 to 51, characterized in that the opening / closing movement of the rotating jaw parts (62a, 62b; 72a, 72b) are derived from a system of control curves provided in combination with a stationary rotation axis of the rotation head (60, 70), and the rotational movement of the rotating jaw (61, 71) is produced by a rotating jaw shaft (75a) from a transmission mechanism disposed within the rotating head (70), in particular, a planetary wheel transmission with stationary center wheel. 53. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 40 to 52, characterized in that it has a pair of rotating heads (60, 70), arranged one on each side of the packaging head (20) and coaxially thereto. 54. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 43 to 53, characterized in that the rotating jaws (71), especially and at least one of the rotating jaw pieces (72a), can be heated by heat conduction, radiation thermal, by induction or by electron beams or laser beams. 55. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims 40 to 54, characterized in that it has a temperature measuring device intended to measure the temperature of the rotating jaw pieces, especially a device for measuring the temperature without contact, by example, an infrared temperature measuring device. 56. Device according to claim 55, characterized in that the temperature measuring device is part of a control circuit intended to adjust the temperature of the rotating jaws (71), in particular, of the rotating jaw piece (72a) .