DE3431548A1 - Method and apparatus for the individual packing of sanitary articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the individual packing of sanitary articles, especially sanitary towels, panty liners, nappies and the like. The invention is essentially that the sanitary articles are accepted from the production machine in a transverse position, continuously folded at a constant speed and then introduced into a flexible tube of packaging material. This tube is then intermittently transversely sealed, after which it is divided up into individually packed sanitary articles, which are then fed to an overall packaging.

Description

Method and device for the individual packaging of

Hygiene articles The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1, and a device for performing the method according to the Preamble of claim 13.

Hygiene articles, especially sanitary napkins and panty liners, are mostly counted in larger quantities in a single packaging unit, such as Cardboard box, bag, shrink film or the like packed. Often the pack stays open after first opening, so that the hygiene articles are exposed and therefore dirty and are therefore no longer hygienic. Danger of contamination occurs also, if individually removed hygiene articles, which may be used to cover the daily requirement serve, in other containers, such as handbags and the like., Until use be kept.

To reduce these disadvantages and also to make it discreet and convenient For some time now, individually packaged hygiene articles have been used to ensure handling offered that are folded one or more times before individual packaging and thereby require less space.

The previously known devices for the individual packaging of hygiene articles #: # work roughly following the same procedure. Those of a production line in the manufacturing machine separated individual hygiene articles are in the direction of their longitudinal extent and fed to a spiral folder with undiminished transport speed. Here the hygiene articles are folded in a spiral fold system once or twice in a row folded so that they are only about one-half to one-third of their original length exhibit. The folded hygiene articles are then put into a tube Packaging material introduced. This hose is both on its longitudinal side ~ as well as closed between the folded rygienic articles, by means of gluing, Sealing, embossing or welding. Following this, the packaging tube transversely separated in the area of the cross closures, so that individually packed folded ones There are hygiene articles, which are then fed to an overall packaging.

This production sequence has the disadvantage that the hygiene articles to be packaged in the direction of their longitudinal extension, with their largest dimension that is, through the machine need to be guided. When folded, the hygiene articles also come, depending on the type of folding, at least once suddenly to a standstill and then must accelerated back to transport speed.

The hygiene articles therefore jump at higher production speeds often back from the distant # stops of the folded pocket, are folded inaccurately and often cause disturbances.

These difficulties with the letter fold lead to the fact that hardly any output numbers of over 300 pieces / min can be achieved with individual packaging.

The invention is based on the object of a method and a device to develop, which offer a qualitatively and quantitatively improved folding, and allow output rates of more than 600 pieces / min of individually packaged hygiene articles, and also allow the manufacture of a packaging sleeve that is resealable and can therefore be used for later disposal.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features in the characterizing Part of claim 1, which are given for the method and by the features in the characterizing part of claim 13 for the device are specified.

Further features of the invention are evident from the description and the Claims in connection with the drawing.

The advantage achieved with the invention consists in particular in that in the packaging device, the hygiene articles transported in a transverse position and are processed. This has the consequence that the throughput speed in the packaging is reduced to about a third of the manufacturing speed. Through this low Speed and with the help of folding knives and side-folding plows, an exact, excellent quality folding with constant throughput speed achieved.

The invention is explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawing, described in more detail.

They show: FIG. 1 the folding and wrapping of on a production machine manufactured sanitary napkins.

Fig. 2 shows the section through an individually packaged bandage according to the section II-II in Fig. 1.

3 device for individual packaging with a roller arrangement for embossing and a roller arrangement for cross cutting.

Fig. 4 Device for individual packaging with a chain or cream belt arrangement which carries the stamping tools with integrated cross cutting tools.

5 device for individual packaging with a rotating device and a roller arrangement, the embossing tools with integrated cross cutting tools wearing.

6 shows the central transport means of the folding device, as well as folding knives and folding devices.

7 shows a section through the splitting device according to section VII-VII in Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 shows how hygiene article 1 in this example sanitary napkins, with their longitudinal extension transversely to the production and transport device 18 for individual packaging are delivered and aligned here in the register with the cycle stand d.

Then the sanitary napkins 1 are folded twice transversely in such a way that that the first side part 2 around the fold line 5 on the middle part 4 and then the second side part 3 around the fold line 6 onto the first side part 2 placed will. The folded sanitary napkins 1 now have an E-shaped cross section, as seen in FIG. Thereafter, the folded sanitary napkins 1 become the wrapping introduced into a packaging tube 7 'made of tape-shaped packaging material 7 is formed, with the packaging material at the top of the tube 7 ' 7 overlaps and with its folded sides the hose overlaps 8 and 9 forms.

The packaging material 7 was previously on its access road, as well 3-5, twice with transverse perforations 13 and 14 per pitch d and once with a longitudinal perforation 15 and a rebetape 16 with the silicone cover 17 provided. In addition, the packaging material 7 is cyclically in the area of later closure zones 11 and 12 formed on the packaging tube 7 'with a transverse u. provide a longitudinal glue order.

Between the wrapped sanitary napkins 1, the tube 7 'is now in the Closure zone 11 closed transversely by means of hot stamping and at the end 10 of its outer Overlap 8 in the closure zone 12 closed lengthways by heat-sealing. The through a silicone strip 17 covered and arranged at the overlap 8 on the inside 16 is now, as can also be seen in FIG. 2, directly next to the longitudinal perforation 15 and between the inner overlap 9 and the outer overlap 8, Then the intermittently closed tube 7 'is encased between the -Ladies 1 in the middle in the area of the closure zone 11 transversely separated so that then packaged sanitary napkins 1 'are present in individual packaging, which the cross-closure zones 11 '.

The device for individually packaging sanitary napkins 1 is as in FIG 3-5, between a production machine 20 and an overall package 27 arranged. Fig. 3 shows the standard version of the individual packaging. she consists in the order of the process steps from the following devices: an alignment device 21, a folding device 22, a hose forming and wrapping device 23, a Schlauohverschleißvorrichtung 24, a transverse cutting device 25, and a Trans # ort u. Extraction device 26, within which an extraction device 28 is located, The Sanitary napkins 1 manufactured by the production machine 20 are moved by the aligning device 21 and taken over from this by means of a toothed belt arrangement 40 and then in Pitch arranged Driver 41 and not shown lateral Pass the guide and center aligned to the folder 22.

In the folding device 22 is the transport of medium-sized means of transport 42 taken over. It can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 that the central transport means 42 of three parallel juxtaposed, synchronously circulating in the transport direction 18 There are suction belts 80, 81 and 82, the drivers 83 ~ arranged at pitch d wear, in front of each of which suction holes 84 are located. The suction belts 80, 81 and 82 are associated with their upper strands over them suction slots 86,87,88 of the suction box 85 headed.

The vacuum is from a suction air source (not shown) over the Suction box 85 and the suction slots 86-88 are fed to the suction bores 84. Above of the suction belt 82 is a left folding knife 43 and to the left of the suction belt 82 a left folding plow 45 is arranged, in the transport direction 18 downstream of this Arrangement 43 and 45 offset is a right folding knife 44 above the suction belt 80 and to the right of the suction belt 80, a right-hand foldable pillow 46 is arranged.

The sanitary napkins 1 taken over from the alignment device 21 come on the drivers 83 of the suction belt 86-87 to the plant and are with their underside by means of the vacuum delivered by the suction holes 84 on the suction belt top and locked so that the side parts 2 and 3 protrude laterally. During onward transport If the sanitary napkin 1 with its middle part 4 near the left fold line 5 undergoes the left folding knife 43 and overflows the left folding plow 45 with its left side part 2.

Further downstream, the sanitary napkin 1 undercuts with its central part 4 near the fold line 6 the right folding knife 44 and overflows the right folding plow 46.

First, the left side part 2 is on the middle part 4 and then the right side part 3 is placed on the left side part 2 which has been folded over. the sanitary napkins 1 thus folded are fed by the upper and lower belt transport 47 and the like. 48 conveyed into the hose forming and wrapping device 23.

Below the hose formation u. Wrapping device 23 is located the unwind 36 for the strip-shaped packaging material 7. With a pair of pulling rollers 37 the packaging material 7 is peeled off and over a track loop arrangement 38, to keep the web tension constant, and via a web edge control, for Aligning the web, past the devices 30, 29, 31, 33, 32 and 92 for longitudinal adhesive application, Adhesive transverse application, lead tape application longitudinal perforation, transverse perforation and adhesive longitudinal application, the hose formation u. Wrapping device 23 supplied.

In the hose formation u. Wrapping device 23 becomes band-shaped from the supplied packaging material 7 by means of a not shown but known hose molding box a tube 7 'is formed with a folding plate.

During the hose formation is from a above the hose formation u. Wrapping device 23 arranged adhesive applicator 92 glue on the Longitudinal closure zone 12 applied. The folded sanitary napkins 1 drawn from the upper and the lower belt transport 47, 48 directly into the tube 7 'that is being formed have been introduced are, along with this, an upper and a lower Tape transport 49.50 detected and on to the hose closure device 24 for Closing promoted, with the same time the top and bottom overlaps 8 and 9 are pressed together and connected in the longitudinal closure zone 12.

The product web 93 is located in the closing device 24 Opposite embossing cylinders 52 and 53. On the jackets of cylinders 52 and 53 and protruding beyond this, there are four axially parallel and at a pitch to each other Embossing strips 54 arranged so that the embossing strips 54 of the roller 52 and the Wave 53 working together. The cylinder 53 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 55 pressed against the cylinder 52 from below with adjustable pressure. The packaging hose 7 'is in the closing device 24 between a pair of heated embossing bars 54 transversely closed between the wrapped sanitary napkins 1 in the zone 11, with the previously transversely applied to the Verpadkungsmaterialbahn 7 adhesive is activated will.

Thereafter, the intermittently cross-closed tube 7 'becomes one of an upper and lower belt transport 56 and 57 and taken over to the cross separating device 25 promoted.

The cross cutting device 25 includes a knife roller 58 and a Opposing rollers 59 which are opposite one another on the product web 93. On the outer jacket of the knife roller 58 are axially parallel and four cross cutting knives are spaced apart from one another 91 arranged. The packaging tube 7 'is in the transverse cutting device 25 between the wrapped sanitary napkins 1 transversely separated within the transverse closure zone 11, so that then individually packaged sanitary napkins 1 'are present, which are from the transport u, Pull-out device 26 of the overall packaging 27 are fed.

The transport and pull-out device 26 consists of a first belt transport device with an upper and a lower belt transport 60 and 61, respectively, from one in the machine cycle driven upper draw-out segment 62, which cooperates with a lower counter roller 94 and from a second belt transport device divided in transport direction 18 with a upper belt transport 63 and a lower belt transport 64. The second belt transport 63, 64 directs the product web 93 around a cylinder 66 from the horizontal transport direction 18 in a largely vertical direction In the transport direction 18 is just above the product web 93 between the left and the right half of the upper divided belt transport 63 the deflecting device 28 arranged. It consists of a by means of a clock clutch, not shown Ejector 65 which can be driven rotating in the machine cycle. In the rest position, the ejector is 65 clears the path in the transport direction 18 for the product line 93, if it is activated, in this way he presses the individually packaged sanitary napkins 1 'downwards in the machine cycle the divided second belt transport 63,64 out.

The first belt transport 60,61 takes over that in the transverse cutting device 25 individually packaged sanitary napkins 1 'separated from the packaging tube 7' with unchanged Speed. Subsequently, the individually packaged sanitary napkins 1 'of the segment roller 62 and accelerated with the help of the counter roller 94 and with a larger one The article spacing is transferred to the second belt conveyor 63, 64, which then turns them into a transport chain 67 of the total packaging 27 transported. At the transfer from the second conveyor belt 63-64 for total packaging 27, the individually packaged sanitary napkins 1 ' from a pusher 68 pushed horizontally onto the transport chain 67.

A variant of the inventive device described in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. The cross-sealing and cross-cutting process is hereby carried out by a single device, a separation u. Welding device 35 made the is located between the tape transport 49,50 and the tape transport 60,61.

This device consists of a circumferential upper and lower Chain arrangement 69 or 70. On the upper chain arrangement 69 are at clock intervals heatable welding jaws 71 arranged in each of which there is a not shown heated separating wire is located. On the lower chain assembly 70 are pitched heatable welding jaws 72 arranged to one another, the one with folded sanitary napkins 1 filled packaging tube 7 'is in this way by the separating welding device 35 detects that the transverse sealing zones 11 are each between a pair of welding jaws, formed from a welding jaw 71 and a welding jaw 72, come to rest: During the common path on the product web 93, the packaging tube 7 'welded in the sealing zones 11 and shortly before the transfer to the belt conveyor 60,61 in the transverse sealing zones 11 from the separating wires of the upper welding jaws 71 transversely separated.

Another embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 3 is in Fig. 5 can be seen. In this device is between the folding device 22 and the Wrapping device 23 is arranged a rotating device 19, and the cross-closing device and the transverse cutting device are combined to form an embossing cutting device 34.

The rotating device 19 has an upper transport chain 76 and a lower transport chain 77. On the chains 76,77 there are turntables at pitch d 78 and 79 arranged. The turntables 78 of the upper chain 76 are freely rotatable while the turntable 79 of the lower chain 77 via cam and drive means, not shown are controlled such that they have a desired 90 ° rotation in the transport direction 18 carry out.

The folded sanitary napkins arriving from the folding device 22 1 are centered in the area of their centers of gravity between the turntables 78 and 79 trapped, rotated by 900 during its onward transport and then on the conveyor belt 47.48 passed.

The embossing separating device 34 is between the belt transport 49, 50 and the transport pull-out device 26. It has a top and a lower work roll 75 and 90, which are located opposite one another on the product web 93. On the cylinder jacket of the upper work roll 75 there are four heatable ones Embossing strips 73 and on the cylinder jacket of the lower work roll 90 four heatable embossing bars 74 arranged at a pitch to each other. Within each upper die 73 is resiliently arranged a transverse cutting knife, not shown. The packaging tube 7 is placed in the embossing separator between a pair of heated molding strips 73, 74 and cross-closed between the wrapped sanitary napkins 1 in zone 11, the adhesive previously applied transversely to the web of packaging material 7 is activated. At the same time, the packaging tube 7 'is within the zone 11 transversely separated so that then individually packaged sanitary napkins 1 'are present are fed from the transport and pull-out device to the overall packaging 27,

Claims (27)

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Process for the individual packaging of hygiene articles, in particular sanitary napkins, panty liners or the like., following a fast running Production machine, in which both in the direction of their longitudinal expansion, then by 900 transversely rotated hygiene articles reduced in pitch as well Hygiene items that have been completely removed are fed into a single package, characterized in that the hygiene articles (1) in register with the distance d be aligned for subsequent folding, the hygiene article (1) or is folded transversely several times, with the first side part (2) being folded twice around the fold line (5) on the middle part (4) and then around the second side part (3) the fold line (6) is folded onto the folded over first side part (2) so that a hygiene article (1) with an e-shaped cross-section is created, the folded hygiene article (1) then introduced into a tube (7 ') for wrapping which is formed from packaging material (7) delivered in tape form, the tube (7 ') made of packaging material (7), each between the folded and Hygiene articles (1), closed in a zone (11) and inside the zone (11) is transversely separated so that individually packaged folded hygiene articles (1 ') arise, which can then be supplied to an overall packaging (27). 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the folded Hygiene article (1) is rotated by 90 ° before being wrapped. 3. The method according to one of the claims up to 2, characterized in that that the packaging material (7) formed into a tube (7 '), depending on its Condition of a closure zone (12) of its overlap point (7, 8) in the direction of production (18) is longitudinally welded, longitudinally sealed, glued or stamped. 4, method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that this leads to a hose (7 ') molded packaging material (7) remains open at its point of overlap (7,8) in the direction of production. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the closure zone (11) between the folded hygiene articles (1) transversely to Direction of travel (18), depending on the nature of the packaging material (7), by welding, Sealing, embossing or gluing is formed. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the closure zone (11) is formed and transversely separated in one operation. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized gekennzaichnet, that the band-shaped packaging material (7) before the tube formation per pitch is perforated across at least once. 8. The method according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that that the length of the Querperforierunvn (13,14) is at most equal to half the web width of the packaging material (7). 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, through this characterized in that the band-shaped packaging material (7) in the web running direction (18) is perforated lengthways at least once. 10. The method according to responses 1 and 9, characterized in that that the band-shaped packaging material (7) is cyclically longitudinally perforated, wherein the length of the longitudinal perforation (15) is smaller than the cycle length of the packaging material s (7) is a packaging unit. 11. The method according to any one of claims l to 10, characterized in that that on the strip-shaped packaging material (7) Elebetaps (16,17) are applied in cycles will. 12. The method according to any one of claims l to 11, characterized in that that the folded, individually packaged and separated from the wrapping tube (7 ') hygiene articles (l ') are deflected out of the product path (93) for test and test purposes. 13. Device for the individual packaging of hygiene articles, in particular Sanitary towels, panty liners or the like, following a high-speed production machine, for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized by the arrangement following Devices in the order of the method steps, a) alignment device (21) 'preferred consisting of an alignment chain or toothed belt assembly (40) and then in Cycle intervals d arranged drivers (41), as well as lateral driving means, b) folding device (22) with centrally arranged transport means (42), a left one Folding knife (43) and a left folding device (45) and a right folding knife (44) and a right folding device (46), the folding devices (45, 46) preferably consist of folding plows or folds, c) hose formation and wrapping device (23), preferably consisting of a folding plate with a hose molding box, d) hose closure device (24), for intermittently closing the tube (7 ') made of packaging material (7) between the wrapped and folded hygiene articles (1), e) transverse separating device (25), for intermittently separating the tube (7 ') made of packaging material (7) between the folded and wrapped hygiene articles (1) in the area of the closure zones (11), f) Transport and extraction device (26) with transport means (60, 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65), for transfer of the folded and individually packaged hygiene articles (11) to the overall packaging (27), 14) Device according to claim 13, for implementation of the method according to responses 1 and 2, characterized in that between Folding device (22) and hose formation u. Umhtiilvorrichtung (23) a rotating device (19) is arranged, with preferably synchronously driven upper and lower chain (76,77) and turntables (78,79) arranged thereon at intervals. 15) Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that that the centrally arranged transport means (42) three arranged parallel next to each other In the transport direction (18) synchronously circulating suction belts (80, 81 and 82) are which Carry drivers (83) arranged at the pitch (d), in front of which there are suction holes (84), and those associated with their upper strands above them and with vacuum acted upon suction channels (86,87,88) are guided. 16) Device according to one of the claims 13 to 15, characterized in that that the hose closure device (24) has a Work roll pair (51), on the cylinder jackets of which stamping dies (54) are arranged at cycle intervals are. 17) Device according to claim 16, characterized in that at least the die or dies (54) of a work roll (52 or 53) with a selectable Temperature are or is heatable. 18) Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the Punch (73 or 74) of a roller (75 or 90) at the same time a cutting knife for cross cutting the hose track (7 '). o 19) Device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the hose closure device (35) is a welding or. Sealing device is in the case of revolving lower and upper chain or toothed belt arrangements (69.70) welding or Sealing jaws (71,72) are arranged at intervals, wherein the jaws (72,71) of the lower and the upper chain or. Toothed belt arrangement (70,69) on the hose track (7 ') cooperating Work together so that at least the packs (71 or 72) of a chain or. Timing belt arrangement (69.71) are heatable. 20) Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the Jaws (71 or 72) of a chain or. Toothed belt assembly (69 or 70) heatable Separating wires are arranged. 21) device according to response 19 or 20, characterized in that that on the pack (71 or 72) of a chain or. Toothed belt arrangement (69 or 70) heatable separating wires are located, while on the packs (71 or 72) of the other Chain or. Gear belt assembly (69 or 70) arranged heated pulse bands are. 22) Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that that within the transport u. Extraction device (26) a deflection device (28) is the at least one but a clock clutch rotating in #schinentakt has drivable ejector (65), which the individually packaged hygiene articles (1 ') deflects from the transport means (60, 61, 63 u, 64) and from the product path 93. 23) Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that that on the web of packaging material (7) there is an adhesive application device (29) for the cross application is located. 24) Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that that on the web of packaging material (7) adhesive applicators (30 u, 92) for the longitudinal order. 25) Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that that on the web of packaging material (7) an application device (31) for adhesive tapes (16,17) is arranged. 26) Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that that on the web of packaging material (7) a device (32) for clockwise Transverse perforation (13 and 14) is arranged. 27) Device according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that that on the web of packaging material (7) a device (33) for longitudinal perforation (15) is arranged.