WO1999008930A1

WO1999008930A1 - Method and machine for bundling articles and resulting unitized batch

Info

Publication number: WO1999008930A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/001802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olivier Lagorce
Original assignee: A.C.M.E. S.A.R.L.
Priority date: 1997-08-13
Filing date: 1998-08-13
Publication date: 1999-02-25
Also published as: AU9075998A

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for bundling, under a plastic film (1) various batches (2) of bottles or more generally articles with cylindrical or parallelepiped shape. It also concerns a machine and the unitized batch obtained by using said method on said machine. The method is characterised in that consists in: a) positioning and maintaining, on each batch (2), in the displacement axis of the batches on said machine, a handle (4); b) in positioning and maintaining the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1) on either side of the handles (4); c) making the handles (4) integral with said longitudinal edges (6).

Description

PROCESS AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ARTICLES AND BULKHEAD OBTAINED

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a process for bundling, under heat-shrinkable plastic film, different batches of bottles, boxes, jars or more generally cylindrical or parallelepipedic articles, of the kind essentially implementing operations: - batching said items;

- Positioning the film below and on the longitudinal sides of the batches, continuously, in the direction of travel of said batches on said machine, the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film being positioned above said batches; - placing a handle on each batch;

- cutting the film connecting said lots, each provided with a handle.

The invention also relates to a bundling machine implementing said method.

The invention finally relates to the bundled batch obtained by the implementation of said process by means of said machine.

The known processes of the genre in question are essentially described in the patents:

- US-4050216-A in which the handles are directly cut from the double thickness of the film in the upper longitudinal side part; - DE-2553770-A in which the handles are introduced transversely between two superimposed longitudinal films.

The first process is only applicable to boxes (and not to bottles) and cutting the handles in the film causes a tear (brittleness). The second method is only applicable to unitary flat articles and not to batches of boxes or bottles which are generally treated in a vertical (and not horizontal) position.

The process according to the invention eliminates the abovementioned drawbacks and applies equally to bottles as to cans or to cylindrical or parallelepipedic articles. It consists for this purpose: a) positioning and maintaining, on each batch, in the axis of said batches parallel to the direction of travel, a handle; b) positioning and maintaining the free longitudinal edges of the film on each side of the handles; c) securing said handles to said longitudinal edges.

The machine for implementing the method according to the invention also has consequently new and original characteristics which are directly linked to the process developed.

As for the bundled batch obtained, it is the direct consequence of the implementation of said process by means of said machine.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of at least one preferred embodiment of the latter given by way of non-limiting example and shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

- Figure 1 is a front view of a lot comprising 3 bottles and on which is positioned a handle;

- Figure 2 is a side view of the same batch with the film to be wrapped positioned in particular with respect to the handle;

- Figure 3 is a partial profile view of the same batch constituting a variant of the previous at the level of the handle attachment; - Figure 4 is a block diagram of the machine;

- Figure 5 is an elevational view of said machine.

The bundling process, under heat shrinkable plastic film (1), of different batches (2) of bottles (3), boxes, jars or more generally of cylindrical or parallelepipedic articles, is of the kind essentially consisting in implementing, on the same bundling machine (5), operations:

- batching (2) of said articles (3);

- positioning the film (1) below and on the longitudinal sides of the batches (2), continuously, in the direction of travel (S) of said batches on said machine, the free longitudinal edges (6) of said film being positioned at above said lots;

- fitting a handle (4) on each lot (2);

- cutting the film (1) connecting said lots (2) each provided with a handle (4). The method according to the invention consists in particular of: a) positioning and maintaining, on each batch (2), in the axis of said batches parallel to the direction of travel (S), a handle (4); b) positioning and maintaining the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1) on each side of the handles (4); c) securing the handles (4) to said longitudinal edges (6).

The film used can come from a support, in particular of the reel type (7), on which it is positioned folded in half.

The batches (2) can be formed so as to have their largest dimension in the direction of travel (S). According to one embodiment of the invention, each handle (4) is made of material which is compatible, in terms of weldability, with that of the wrapping film, so as to be welded, continuously, to the free internal longitudinal edges (6) of that film. According to another embodiment of the invention, each handle (4) is disposed between the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1) to be welded therebetween, continuously, above and below said handle. The longitudinal closing of the film (1), on each batch, is ensured simultaneously by the operation of fixing the handle (4) on the longitudinal opening of said film. The bundling machine (5) for implementing the above-mentioned method essentially comprises:

- A means (8), generally of the electromechanical type, associated with the handle magazine (9), capable of positioning and maintaining the handles, above the batches, between the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1); - A means (10), generally of the shaping type, supplied by the film reel (7), capable of positioning the longitudinal edges (6) on each side of said handles (4). It also includes:

- A means (11), generally of the worm type, capable of forming, at the start of the chain, batches (2) in series;

- A means (12), generally of the heating tape type, capable of continuously welding the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film so as to secure the handles therein;

- A means (13), generally of the heating bar type, capable of cutting the bundled bundles before they pass through the retraction unit (14). The bundled bundle, obtained by implementing the above-mentioned method and by means of the machine described, comprises a handle (4) secured directly to the wrapping film (1) along the free longitudinal edges (6) of said film located above the lots (2). In the process and the machine according to the invention:

- there is better stability of the bottles since the film passes continuously in the longitudinal direction;

- the cadences can be higher by adding tracks;

- the type of attachment of the handles to the film retains the positioning of the printed film;

- the modification of the composition of a batch is done by simple change of the worm;

- the handles are an integral part of the packaging.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown for which other variants can be provided, in particular in:

- the technical means used to carry out the various stages of the process;

- the types of handles and films used; - the composition of the lots.

Claims

1- Process for wrapping, in heat-shrinkable plastic film (1), different batches (2) of bottles (3), boxes, jars or more generally of cylindrical or parallelepipedic articles, of the kind essentially using, the same machine (5), operations: - batching (2) of said articles (3);

- positioning the film (1) below and on the longitudinal sides of the batches (2), continuously, in the direction of travel (S) of said batches on said machine, the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film being positioned at above said lots; - fitting a handle (4) on each lot (2);

- cutting the film (1) connecting said lots (2) each provided with a handle (4); characterized in that it consists of: a) positioning and maintaining, on each batch (2), in the axis of said batches parallel to the direction of travel (S), a handle (4); b) positioning and maintaining the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1) on each side of the handles (4); c) securing the handles (4) to said longitudinal edges (6).

2- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the film (1) used comes from a support, in particular of the reel type (7), on which it is positioned folded in half.

3- A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the lots (2) are formed so as to have their largest dimension in the direction of travel (S). 4- A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each handle (4), at least part of which is made of material which is compatible, in terms of weldability, with that of the shrink wrapping film, is continuously welded to the free internal longitudinal edges (6) of said film. 5- Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each handle (4) is arranged between the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1) which are welded together, continuously, above and below said handle.

6- A method according to any one of claims 1,4 and 5, characterized in that the longitudinal closure of the film (1), on each lot, is ensured simultaneously by the operation of fixing the handle (4) on the longitudinal opening of said film.

7. Bundling machine (5), for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it essentially comprises: a) means (8), generally of the electromechanical type, associated with the store with handles (9), able to position and maintain the handles, above the batches, between the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film (1); b) means (10), generally of the shaping type, supplied by the film reel (7), capable of positioning the longitudinal edges (6) on each side of said handles (4).

8- Bundling machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it also comprises: a) means (11), generally of the worm screw type, capable of forming, at the start of the chain, batches (2) in series; b) means (12), generally of the heating tape type, capable of continuously welding the free longitudinal edges (6) of the film so as to secure the handles therein; c) means (13), generally of the heating bar type, capable of cutting the bundled bundles before they pass through the shrink unit (14).

9- Bundled bundle (15), obtained by the implementation of the method according to any one of claims there 6 and by means of a bundling machine according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that it comprises a handle (4) secured directly to the wrapping film (1) along the free longitudinal edges (6) of said film located above the lots (2).