FR2658157A3 - Inflation and heat-sealing (-welding) apparatus for packaging bags made from plastic material - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an inflating and heat sealing apparatus for plastic packaging bags comprising inflating means (40, 41, 42) for inflating the packaging bag (P), sealing and heat sealing means (1 , 2, 3, 10) for closing the packing bag (P) during the inflation operation and for heat sealing the inlet part of the packing bag (P) after the inflation operation has been completed, and a driving mechanism for driving the elements composing the closing and heat sealing means, so as to clamp or release the packing bag (P) during the inflation operation and the heat sealing operation of the packing bag. The inflation means comprise a compressed air supply blower and an air line (40, 41, 42) for introducing compressed air from the blower into the packing bag (P).

Description

INFLATION AND THERMAL WELDING APPARATUS FOR BAGS

PACKAGING IN PLASTIC MATERIAL

  The present invention relates, in general, to an apparatus suitable for inflating and heat sealing plastic packaging bags used to receive

  fragile items such as flowers and the like.

  Despite the fact that the demand for floricul-

  ture has become important on international markets, the difficulties of packaging, collection, transport and storage of such fragile items have limited their quantity in international trade However, no technique

  protection of such fragile items has not been

successfully developed so far.

  The first object of the present invention is to realize

  serve as an inflation and heat sealing device, suitable for inflating and heat sealing packaging bags of material

  plastic into which fragile items have been inserted

  duits, so as to thus solve the problems mentioned above of protection of fragile articles such as products

floriculture.

  According to the present invention, an apparatus for inflating and heat sealing plastic packaging bags

  includes inflation means for inflating the material bag

  plastic, comprising a blower, and an air line for introducing the compressed air from the blower into the packaging bag; closing and heat sealing means for closing the packaging bag during the inflation operation and for heat sealing the inlet part of the packaging bag after the inflation operation is complete, including an anvil on which the packaging bag to be inflated and heat sealed is fixed, a first clamping member arranged to press, and therefore close, the inlet part of the packaging bag against the anvil while allowing the compressed air of the blower to penetrate in the packaging bag during

  the inflation operation of the packaging bag, a heating element

  fant for heat sealing the inlet part of the packaging bag after the inflation operation has been completed, and a second clamping device arranged for clamping and pressing

  the inlet part of the packaging bag against the heating element

  fant to facilitate the heat sealing operation, the first clamping member and the anvil being relatively displaceable by moving towards and away from each other, and the

  second clamping member and the heating element being displaced

  relatively cables, moving towards and away from each other; and a control mechanism arranged to drive

  the closing and heat sealing means for displacing

  cer the first clamping member and the anvil either to bring them together or to move them away from each other and to move the second clamping member and the heating element so that they approach or move away one of the other. Other Goals, Benefits and Features

  will appear on reading the description of a mode of

  embodiment of the invention, made without limitation and with reference to the attached drawing, o: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of an inflation and heat-sealing device for plastic packaging bags according to a embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a front view of the inflator and heat sealer for plastic packaging bags shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an enlarged front view showing the

  shape and arrangement of the first clamping member, of the

  anvil and air line during the inflation operation of the packaging bag,

  Figure 4 is a side view of the inflation apparatus

  brazing and heat sealing shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

  representing the state of the device before the inflation operation

  flage, in which the suspension frame is turned towards

  an oblique position for the preparation of the operation

inflation ration,

  FIG. 5 is a side view of the inflation apparatus

  and heat sealing shown in Figures 1 and 2, showing the state during the inflation operation of the packaging bag, and Figure 6 is a side view similar to Figure 5, showing the state during the operation heat sealing

packing bag.

  We will now describe in detail the structure

  and the operation of the inflation and thermo

  welding for plastic packaging bags according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference

  to the accompanying drawings mentioned above.

  The inflation and heat sealing device of the present

  The invention is used to first inflate a plastic bag into which several fragile articles have been introduced, then to heat seal the material bag.

  plastic This device comprises a frame, means of inflation

  flage to inflate the packaging bag P, closing means

  heat sealing to close the inlet portion of the packaging bag during the inflation operation of the packaging bag and to heat seal the inlet portion of the packaging bag after the inflation operation has been completed , and a drive mechanism 5 (FIG. 2) arranged to control the closing and heat sealing means for closing and for heat sealing the plastic bag P.

  As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the chassis

  takes a main frame of substantially cross section

  L-shaped, comprising a vertical chassis F 1 and a frame

  located horizontally F 2, and a pair of suspension chassis F 3, mounted in cantilever rotation on the vertical chassis Fl,

  and which can be rotated together around a central pivot

  tral commun (not shown) In addition, it is also planned

  in the frame F a locking arm F O which can be ac-

  studded from the outside of the frame to block the pair of sockets

  suspension F 3 when these are turned di-

  rection of arrow U or in the opposite direction, towards a

desired angular position.

  Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, the means

  inflation include a blower (not shown) mon-

  tee inside the vertical frame F1 to produce compressed air, and an air line, to introduce air

  blower tablet in packaging bag

  air duct comprises a duct part 40, a

  bellows part 41 and an outlet part 42.

  As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the closure and heat sealing means essentially comprise an anvil 1, a first clamping member 2, a second member

  clamp 3, and a long element with instantaneous heating 10.

  The anvil 1 is mounted on the horizontal frame F 2 and can be controlled by the drive mechanism 5 (Figure 2) to move in the vertical direction On the back of the anvil

  1, two lugs 11 are provided on which the end or

  green of the packing bag P to be inflated and heat sealed can be fixed The outlet part 42 of the air line

  higher above rests on the upper surface of the

  anvil 1 and is vertically movable with the anvil 1 via the bellows part 41, connected to the outlet part 42 The first clamping member 2 is located on the anvil 1 and is suitable for pressing the inlet part of the bag packing P against the upper surface of the anvil 1 and the outlet part 42 of the air duct (see Figures 3 and 5) to close the plastic bag P while allowing the compressed air of the blower to penetrate in the packaging bag P through the outlet part 42 of the air duct during the inflation operation of the packaging bag P The second clamping member 3 is also placed on the anvil

  1 and comprises a contact part 31 made, preferably

  of refractory material such as Teflon, which comes

  directly in contact with the packing bag P when the

  anvil 1 is raised by the control mechanism 5 in posi-

  high (see Figure 6) during the thermo-operation

  welding, and a support part 32, adapted to support the contact part 31 The heating element 10 is installed

  on the part of the upper surface of the anvil 1, exac-

  below the second clamping member 3 and is almost

  sée against the contact portion 31 of the clamping member 3, the inlet portion of the packaging bag P being clamped between the heating element 10 and the second clamping member 3 at

  during the heat sealing operation.

  The way of supporting the first clamping member 2 and the second clamping member 3 will now be described with reference mainly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 All

  first, a support member 6 comprising a pair of par-

  parallel vertical side ties 61 and a horizontal part

  zontale 62 mounted between the two, is fixed on surfaces

  of the F 3 suspension chassis pair A rai-

  a vertical guide 63 is provided in each lateral part 61 An elongated transverse member 7, parallel to the first clamping member 2 is fixed at its two ends,

  to the two lateral parts 61 of the suspension member 6.

  As shown in Figure 3, the first serving member

  rage 2 comprises a main part 21, substantially rec-

  tangular, a pair of protrusions 22, shorter than the guide groove 63, and which extend laterally, from the upper part of each lateral edge of the main part 21, and a slot 23, formed in the edge

  lower part of the main part 21, the shape of which is pre-

  view to be identical or slightly greater than the dimensions

  outer parts of the outlet part 42 of the air duct, so as to ensure that the inlet part of the packaging bag P, pressed by the first clamping member 2 against the upper surface of the anvil 1 and that the outlet part 42 of the air line are securely closed to

  reduce possible air leaks during inflation Cha-

  one of the two projections 22 takes a certain length inside

  and can slide in the guide groove 63 m

  swam in the support member 6 which allows the vertical movement of the first clamping member 2 whose guidance is provided by the guide grooves 63 At least two helical springs 64 are provided between the upper edge of the first

  clamping member 2 and the lower surface of the ho- part

  rice 62 of the support member 6, to serve as a cushion

  weaver to avoid a shock between the support member 6 and the first clamping member 2, when the latter is raised by the anvil 1 (see also FIG. 6) In addition, two

  flanges 24 are present from the upper edge of the first

  mier clamping member 2, towards the transverse member 7, cha-

  one of them being mounted in position using an adjusting screw 25, the free end of which is supported by the upper edge of the transverse member 7, so as to be able to adjust the vertical part of the first clamping member 2 relative to the transverse member 7 and, consequently, the anvil 1 using these adjusting screws 25 The second clamping member 3 is supported under the transverse member 7 by two uprights

  guide 33, suspended from the transverse member 7, a greater

  springs 34 being interposed between the trans-

  versal 7 and the second clamping member 3, so as to

  put a relative damped movement between the second organ of

  tightening 3 and the transverse member 7.

  The structure of the drive mechanism 5 will now

  be described with particular reference to Figure 2.

  As shown in the figure, the drive mechanism 5 mounted inside the horizontal chassis F 2 comprises a pair of bearings 50 mounted on the bottom of the horizontal chassis F 2, a transmission shaft 51 resting on the bearings 50,

  two cams 52 fixed to the shaft 51 to drive two counter

  cams 12 fixed on the lower surface of the anvil 1 by rolling contact between the cams 52 and two rollers 13 pivoting on the cam follower 12, so as to raise or lower the anvil 1, a motor M for driving the shaft 51 and reduction gear wheels 53 (only one of them is shown in the figure) to reduce the speed of

  motor shaft rotation In addition, the drive mechanism

  drag 5 includes a normally closed switch 55 and an eccentric rotary arm 54, attached to the end of the shaft

  51 so that the rotary arm 54 can touch the interrup-

  tor 55 in order to cut off the power supply when a cycle of inflation and heat sealing operations for a plastic bag is completed In particular, at the end of each cycle of inflation and welding operations hot

  of a packaging bag P, the rotary arm 54 actuates the inter-

  switch 55 in order to temporarily stop the motor M, ma-

  to allow the operator to prepare for the next operating cycle As shown in the figure

  1, a push button S, arranged to start an operating cycle

  inflation rations and heat seal is

also provided in the frame.

  The operation of the inflation and welding device

  hot ge for plastic packaging bags according to

  the present invention will now be described below.

  Firstly, the inlet part of the packaging bag P to be inflated is partially wrapped around the outlet part 42 of the air duct and is also hooked using the pins 11 when the vertically movable anvil 1

  is at its lowest point, and the pair of chassis above

  board F 3 is rotated from a vertical position (see figure) to an oblique position (see figure 4) in the direction of the arrow U (see also figure 1) Then the chassis

  suspension F 3, with the first clamping member 2 and the

  cond clamping member 3 etc, supported by this means, is returned to its vertical position (Figure 5) to close the

  packing bag P (see also Figure 3), and the button-

  push-button S is pressed so as to actuate the blower

  to inflate the packing bag P through the air line.

  After a predetermined time, the blower is automatically stopped

  matically via a timer (not shown

  felt), while the shaft 51 and the cams 52 continue their rotation to raise the anvil 2 in its highest position, in which the inlet part of the packaging bag P is pressed against the second clamping member 3 ( figure 6)

  and heat sealed by the heating element 10 When the operation

  heat sealing is complete, the anvil 1 is lowered to its lowest position (see Figure 5) in which the eccentric rotary shaft 54, connected to the shaft 51 touches

  the normally closed switch 55 in order to cut the power

  tation of the motor M and of the heating element 10 Finally, the inflated and heat-sealed packaging bag P can be removed from the inflation and heat-sealing apparatus and the entire operating cycle of this packaging bag is finished The same procedure can then be repeated for another bag

packing.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but it is capable of numerous variants accessible to man.

  of art, without departing from the spirit of the invention

tion.

Claims (6)

  1 An inflation and heat sealing device for plastic packaging bags (P), comprising: inflation means for inflating the packaging bag (P), comprising a blower for supplying compressed air, and   an air line (40, 41, 42) for introducing the compressed air   award-winning blower in the packaging bag (P), closing and heat sealing means (1, 2, 3, 10) to close the inlet part of the packaging bag (P) for   the inflation operation and for hot welding the part in   entry of the packaging bag (P) after the inflation operation has been completed, comprising an anvil (1) on which is fixed the packaging bag (P) to be inflated and heat sealed, a first clamping member ( 2) suitable for pressing part   entry of the packaging bag (p) against the anvil (1) to close   sea the packaging bag (P) while letting the compressed air coming from the blower into the packaging bag (P) through the air line (40, 41, 42) during the operation of inflation of the packaging bag (P), a heating element (10) for heat sealing the inlet part of the packaging bag (P) after the inflation operation has been completed, and a second clamping member (3 ) suitable for clamping and squeezing the   inlet part of the packaging bag (P) against the heating element   fant (10) to facilitate the heat sealing operation, the   first clamping member (2) and the anvil (1) being displaced   cables relatively to approach or move away from each other, and the second clamping member (3) and the element   heater (10) being relatively displaceable to relate   near or to move away from each other, and a drive mechanism there (5) adapted to drive the closing and heat-sealing means (1, 2, 3, 10) in order to move the first clamping member (2) and the anvil (1) to move them towards or away from each other, and to move the second clamping member (3) and the element   heating (10) towards each other or away from each other.   2 An inflation and heat sealing device for   plastic packaging bags (P) as claimed   cation 1, in which the heating element (10) is installed on the anvil (10) and in opposition with the second member tightening (3).   3 An inflation and heat sealing device for   plastic packaging bags (P) according to the claim   tion 1, in which the drive mechanism (5) is adapted   tee to move the anvil (1) by moving it closer or   away from the first clamping member (2).   4 An inflation and heat sealing device for   plastic packaging bags (P) according to the claim   tion 2, in which the drive mechanism (5) is adapted   tee to bring the anvil together (1) or move it away from the first and second clamping members (2, 3).   An inflation and heat sealing device for   plastic packaging bags (P) according to the claim   tion 4, in which the drive mechanism (5) comprises   at least one cam (52) which is adapted to move the anvil   me (1) to a first lower position, in which the   anvil (1) is spaced from the second clamping member (3) and a   second high position, in which the anvil (1) is close to   sée against the second clamping member (3) and the packaging bag   the wire (P) to be heat sealed is clamped between the second member of   clamp (3) and the heating element (10) to perform the operation heat sealing ration.   6 An inflation and heat sealing device for   plastic packaging bags (P) according to the claim   tion 5, in which the air line (40, 41, 42) of the inflation means comprises an outlet part (42) bearing on the anvil (1) so that it can be raised or lowered with the anvil (1).   7 An inflation and heat sealing device for   plastic packaging bags (P) according to the claim   tion 1, in which the second clamping member (3) comprises a contact part (31) made of refractory material which comes directly into contact with the packaging bag (P)   during the heat sealing operation.