Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02558090 2006-08-29
EQUIPMENT FOR INSERTING PACKETS INTO BAGS
The present invention relates to equipment for
inserting packets into bags.
More specifically, the invention relates to
equipment for the insertion of sealed packets
preferably containing food products, into bags.
The packaging of products grouped into sealed
packets, is currently effected using boxes, for example
made of cardboard, in which the formed and sealed
l0 packets are inserted.
For reasons linked to preserving the product
fragrance, which, in the case of aromatic or spicy
products, such as tea, is of fundamental importance,
the use of bags for the external packaging, instead of
boxes, has become widely diffused.
The packaging of containers which have a limited
rigidity or are of the semi-soft type, such as a bag,
however, causes considerable problems, for example in
the insertion phase of the packet or in the arrangement
of several packets in a bag.
This problem is particularly felt with respect to
a rapid and effective seizure and moving and also to
the necessity of an orderly arrangement of the packets
inside the bag.
A different drawback of the types of packaging
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according to the known art, relates to the materials
used, polyethylene and other plastic materials for the
packets and box cover, and cardboard, and therefore a
cellulose material, for the box itself.
These different materials lead to the necessity of
a differentiated collection and impose, according to
the laws in force in certain Countries, additional
costs for the producer.
The necessity is currently felt for effecting
to packaging by means of packets inserted into bags and
providing equipment for the insertion of packets
containing products into bags.
One of the main objectives of the present
invention consists in providing equipment which allows
the automated and optimized insertion of one or more
packets inside a bag.
A further objective of the invention consists in
providing equipment of the type mentioned above,
suitable for operating on soft packets.
The Applicant has now found that it is possible to
effect the packaging of packets inside bags by means of
insertion equipment comprising a device suitable for
deforming the bag and squaring and stiffening means of
the bag, suitable for forming a draft and guide for the
insertion of one or more packets of products.
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An aspect of the present invention relates to
equipment for inserting packets into bags comprising a
device suitable for deforming the bag and squaring and
stiffening means of the bag, suitable for forming a
draft and guide for the insertion of one or more
packets of products according to what is specified in
claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are the
object of the dependent claims.
l0 The characteristics and advantages of equipment
for the insertion of packets into bags according to the
present invention will appear more evident from the
following illustrative and non-limiting description
referring to the schematic drawings wherein:
figure 1 is a raised schematic side view of a
portion of the equipment according to the invention;
figure 2 is a plan view of the portion of
equipment of figure 1;
figure 3 is a plan view of a deformed bag before
the intervention of the squaring and stiffening means;
figure 4 is a partial raised section which
represents the insertion phase by means of the
equipment according to the invention.
With reference to the figures, these illustrate a
piece of equipment 10 for the insertion of sealed
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packets 11 preferably containing food products, inside
bags 12.
The equipment can obviously be used for any kind
of product packed inside a packet 11 of the rigid or
soft type, but is electively used in the field of the
packaging of fragrant and aromatic food products, such
as tea which, once inserted in sachets, is first sealed
inside packets 11 and is then packed into bags 12
having a limited rigidity.
l0 In particular, the bags are made of plastic
materials such as polyethylene for food or similar, and
have a limited rigidity which allows self-sustainment
in an open position and in elevation.
In this respect, the bag 12 preferably has a
substantially parallelepiped form with side walls 12a
positioned parallel to the translation direction of the
bags and front walls 12b, transversal to said
direction.
The equipment is described with reference to a
2o single line 13 and bags 12 suitable for containing two
overlying packets 11, in industrial applications,
however, it can be made up of a series consisting of
parallel production lines, and various rows of
overlying packets can be inserted inside the bags.
The number of lines or packets to be inserted in
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each bag can vary according to the production demands
and in relation to the dimensions of the products.
The equipment, object of the present invention is
integrated in an insertion station 20 in a packaging
plant, and is arranged along a feeding line 13 of bags
coming from a forming plant or from a distributor and
supported on trays 14 having folded edges 15, suitable
for containing and also supporting the bags. Adjacent
to said bag feeding line 13, there is a feeding of
l0 sealed packets containing the products.
Said feeding can consist of a parallel or
transversal line with respect to the bag feeding line,
or can envisage other packet feeding means allowing an
adequate rate.
The line 13 comprises a conveyor 16 for moving the
trays 14 between the various operating stations.
In particular, a predefined number of trolleys is
transported to the introduction station 20 which
envisages the presence, above the line 13 for each bag,
of a bag deformation device 30 and squaring and
stiffening means 40 of the bag, suitable for forming a
draft and guide for the insertion of one or more
packets of products.
The deformation device of the bag comprises a pair
of suction sleeves 31 which can be transversally
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translated, symmetrically and synchronously, with
respect to the moving direction of the bags (in the
direction of the arrows F of figure 3) and are
positioned opposite each other to the side of the bag
12 close to its upper opening 12' and in a central
position so as to withhold by suction a portion of each
side wall 12a of the bag.
The suction sleeves 31 are subsequently withdrawn
and cause the deformation of the bag by enlarging the
l0 mouth 12' to facilitate the introduction of the
squaring and stiffening means 40.
The squaring and stiffening means 40 are mainly
aimed at squaring the mouth of the bag and effecting
the necessary stiffening for allowing the rapid and
precise introduction of the packets 11.
In particular, these squaring and stiffening means
40 are electively used with packages of the soft type,
for which they also have a guiding function for correct
positioning inside the bag.
In this respect, they can be produced in various
equivalent forms such as simple perimetric frames or
also as fingers destined for the four edges of the bag.
Although the form described and illustrated is
preferable for soft packets, it should be considered as
being purely illustrative.
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The squaring and stiffening means 40 according to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention
comprise a pair of shaped blades 41 having flap-folded
side edges 42 so as to produce a "U" section.
Said blades are supported by pins 43, capable of
effecting a rotation and bringing the blades to a
horizontal position in which they cover the mouth 12'
in a substantially vertical position by rotation of
about 90 degrees, whereby the ends of the blades are
l0 inserted inside the bag, engaging the front walls 12b
squaring the bag; the suction sleeves 31
contemporaneously stop their suction action and release
the side walls which, squared by the flaps 42, give the
mouth 12' of the bag a square form having a maximum
amplitude.
In this position, the insertion of the packets is
extremely easy, and they are carried by suitable
gripping means 21 suitable for the type of packet to be
transported and programmed in relation to the type of
packet and quantity of packets to be inserted in each
bag.
The rotation of the pins 43 and consequently of
the shaped blades 41 is advantageously effected by
means of suitable leverisms comprising a pair of rods
44, one for each side of the station 20, connected at
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the ends by means of transmission levers 45 and driven
by at least one linear actuator 46, preferably two
linear actuators 46, capable of producing the opening,
i.e. the downward rotation for the squaring of the bag,
and the closing, i.e. the upward rotation to free the
bag after the introduction of the packet or packets.
The single pins 43 are connected to said rods 44
so as to transfer the translating movement provided by
each linear actuator 46 to an angulation rotation
l0 sufficient (for example about 90 degrees) for passing
from one position to another.
In this way a synchronized movement is obtained of
both the series of blades envisaged in the station in
both the opening and closing for the whole station 20.
