EP0324674A1 - Machine for the automatic packaging of all kinds of objects, and package realised with this machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine of this invention essentially comprises conveyors (1) for transporting objects (2) to be packaged, two systems (3, 7) for feeding film located, respectively, on each side of the plane of the conveyors (1) and delivering two opaque films (4, 8), between which the object (2) to be packaged is placed, means (11, 12) for welding and cutting the films, a system (14) for feeding a third transparent film (15) fixed to the opaque film (4) and defining therewith a space capable of containing a document (D) delivered by conveyors (20) and a chute (21) arranged between the film-feed systems (3, 14). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention essentially relates to an automatic packaging machine for any articles.

It also relates to packaging produced using this machine.

We already know automatic packaging machines for plastic film articles.

These machines generally include a conveyor for transporting the articles to be packaged, two systems with film supply reels situated respectively on either side of the plane of the conveyor and delivering two films between which the article to be packaged, after which the two films are welded and then cut by appropriate means to finally constitute a package ready for dispatch.

The address of the recipient of such a package must obviously appear on it. This address can of course be written on a label stuck on the packaging or contained in a transparent pouch fixed to said packaging by stapling or gluing for example. But these are, as we understand, tedious and costly operations in terms of manpower. In addition, a label or document attached to a package as indicated above remains very vulnerable during transport and handling.

The question becomes complicated when it comes to sending COD packages, that is to say packages containing not only the recipient's address, but also flaps attached by perforation lines to the address label and who must be removed from the label by post offices before delivery. In this case, it is imperative that the address label always remains attached to the package packaging until delivery, and that the flaps attached to this label can be easily removed from it, it being understood that the address label and shutters assembly must not be damaged during transport and handling of the package.

It is therefore appropriate that the packaging of the package bears an address visibly fixed on this packaging, and that all the elements or components attached to this address are easily accessible and detachable while being integrated into the packaging so that, when transport and handling of the package, there is no risk of deterioration of the whole.

The present invention achieves this goal by proposing an improved automatic packaging machine and allowing the making of packages meeting the above requirements.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an automatic packaging machine for any articles under a film of synthetic material, and of the type comprising at least one conveyor for transporting the articles to be packaged, two film supply systems located respectively. on either side of the plane of the conveyor and delivering two films between which the articles to be packaged are placed, and means for welding and cutting the two films after welding, characterized by a third film feeding system delivering a third film superimposed and fixed by welding to one of the other two, and defining with this other film a space capable of containing at least one object such as for example a document, delivered by arranged means at least in part between said third film supply system and one of the other two film supply systems.

According to another characteristic of this machine, the means for delivering the object or document are constituted by a chute interposed between the third film supply system and one of the other two supply systems, while at least a conveyor is provided for conveying the object in said chute.

It will be specified here that, with the third film supply system, there are associated means for gluing the third film, preferably in one or more strips.

This machine also comprises means for perforating the third film along at least one line.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the above-mentioned chute internally comprises at least one stop or the like ensuring the correct orientation of the object or document so that the gluing carried out on the third film fixes a determined part of this object or document.

The invention also relates to a packaging containing any article and comprising two plastic films welded at their periphery to enclose the article, this packaging being characterized in that it comprises, in addition to the two aforementioned and opaque films, a third transparent film welded by its periphery to the other two and comprising on its internal face at least one strip of sticky material capable of retaining an object, such as a document, interposed between the third film and one of the other two films.

According to another characteristic of this packaging, the third transparent film includes at least one line of perforations allowing access to the aforementioned document to detach at least part of this document from its remaining part which remains retained on the packaging by the strip of sticky material.

It is therefore understood that the entire document remains well protected by the packaging, and one of the parts of the document remains attached thereto, while another part of this document remains easily accessible and can therefore be easily detached from the part. fixed.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique et en élévation d'une machine conforme aux principes de l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue en plan et de dessus de la machine, suivant la flèche II de la figure 1 et montrant seulement le convoyeur d'acheminement du document et la goulotte associée à ce convoyeur, cette goulotte étant vue suivant la flèche A de la figure 1 ; et
• La figure 3 est une vue en plan et de dessus de l'emballage réalisé avec cette machine.

However, other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings, given solely by way of example, and in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view in elevation of a machine according to the principles of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a plan and top view of the machine, along arrow II of Figure 1 and showing only the document conveyor and the chute associated with this conveyor, this chute being seen along arrow A of Figure 1; and
• Figure 3 is a top plan view of the packaging made with this machine.

The machine shown in FIG. 1 essentially comprises two conveyors 1 with an endless belt for transporting articles 2 to be packaged, a first film supply system 3 located above the plane of the conveyors 1 and delivering a first film 4 from a reel 5 mounted on an axis 6, and a second film supply system 7 located below the plane of the conveyors 1 and delivering a second film 8 from a coil 9 rotating on an axis 10.

The article 2, as it is understood is thus interposed between the two films 4 and 8 which are thereafter welded and cut at their downstream end as materialized by the arrows 11, then welded laterally as shown diagrammatically at 12, so as to get a package ready for shipping.

The films 4 and 8 are formed by strips of plastic, such as polyethylene, guided by rollers 13, as is well known, as are the means described above are well known and which therefore do not require additional explanations.

According to the invention, the machine comprises a third film supply system 14 delivering a third transparent film 15 which will be superimposed and fixed by welding to one 4 of the other two films 4, 8 which are opaque and contain the article 2.

The supply system 14 comprises a coil 16 rotating on an axis 17 and on which the third film 15 is wound.

With this system 14 is associated a means for gluing the film 15 along one or more strips, this means being shown diagrammatically at 18 and being able to deliver, for example, a permanent adhesive material.

Schematically shown in 19 is a system for perforating the film 15, associated with the reel 16, this system possibly being constituted, for example, by a roller. or the like provided with teeth capable of perforating the third film 15 along a line of successive incisions.

The first film 4 and the third film 15 define a space capable of containing a relatively flat object, such as for example a document D which will be conveyed between these two films.

This routing, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is carried out by two upper conveyors 20 which end in a chute 21 arranged between the two film supply systems 3 and 14 and opening out at 22 in the space between of the two films 4 and 15.

As best seen in Figure 2, the chute 21 includes a stop 23 defining a narrowing 24 ensuring the correct orientation of the object or document D, as will be described later in connection with operation.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a cell 25 capable of detecting the arrival of articles 2, and a cell 26 capable of detecting the arrival of document D, this cell can also be used to control the cutting of the film and a in general, to ensure the operational safety of the machine.

It is therefore understood that the machine described above allows the automatic production of a package, visible in Figure 3, this package comprising two opaque films 4 and 8 containing the article 2, and a transparent film 15 welded to the film 4 and defining with it a space containing a document D which is fixed by gluing to the film 15.

But, for the sake of better understanding, we will briefly describe the operation of this machine below.

The document D is placed on the upper conveyor 20, as is clearly visible in FIG. 1. This document, as is visible in FIGS. 2 and 3, consists of a part 30 bearing the address of the recipient and intended to be fixed to the package, while to this part 30 are attached flaps 31 detachable by means of perforation lines, such as 32. The flaps shown diagrammatically at 31 may constitute a single flap or several flaps forming the part against -reimbursement of a document D provided by the postal services. The flap or flaps 31 give the document D a certain length and can be folded back when loaded onto the upper conveyor 20.

Article 2 (possibly with advertising documents and gifts) is loaded on the lower conveyor 1.

Document D and article 2 are therefore transported by the conveyors 20 and 1 and are routed respectively in the chute 21 and in the space between the two opaque films 4 and 8.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the document D performs a quarter-turn rotation in the chute so as to achieve a correct orientation of the document to allow the bonding of the part 30 of the document bearing the address of the recipient of the parcel. This orientation of the document ensuring its correct positioning before bonding is necessary due to the fact that the loading of the document on the conveyor 20 cannot be done precisely and that the different parts constituting it as well as its folding does not allow precise orientation thereof during transport by the conveyors 20.

As mentioned above, the transparent film 15 delivered by the reel 16 is continuously glued on the underside to include one or more lines of permanent adhesive, as shown at 33 in FIG. 3. Similarly, the transparent film 15 will have, by means 19, a continuous line of perforations visible at 34 in FIG. 3.

Thus, the packaging of the document D correctly oriented at the outlet 22 of the chute 21, as well as the packaging of the article 2 between the two opaque films 4 and 8 will take place from the point 35 visible in the figure 1, to finally make the package visible in Figure 3, after welding and cutting.

It clearly appears in FIG. 3 that the part 30 of the document D correctly oriented by the chute 21 is glued to the packaging by the glue strip (s) 33, which of course allows the retention of the flap (s) 31 to the part 30.

By cons, when the package reaches the post office of the recipient, it will be possible to easily tear the transparent film 15 through the line of perforations 34 to access the flaps 31 and detach them from part 30 of document D, which part 30 bears the recipient's address and must remain attached to the packaging until delivery.

An automatic machine has therefore been produced according to the invention making it possible to produce packages of any articles at a high rate, these packages comprising, without any intervention manual is necessary, all the facilities required for processing the package without damaging it.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated that has been given only by way of example.

Thus a presser can be provided at the outlet of the machine to ensure the contacting of the transparent film 15 with the opaque lower film 4 and with the addressing part 30 of the document D. Similarly, the material d 'sizing used and the detachable part 31 of document D can be any.

This means that the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described, as well as their combinations if these are carried out according to the spirit.

Claims (6)

1. Automatic packaging machine for any articles under plastic film, and of the type comprising at least one conveyor (1) for transporting the articles (2) to be packaged, two systems (3, 7) for supplying film located respectively on either side of the plane of the conveyor and delivering two films (4, 8) between which is placed the article (2) to be packaged, means (11, 12) for welding and cutting the two films after welding, and a third film supply system (14) delivering a third film (15) superimposed and fixed by welding to one (4) of the other two, and defining with this other film a space capable of containing at least an object, such as for example a document (D), characterized in that it comprises means for delivering the object which are arranged at least in part between said third film supply system (14) and the one (3) of the two aforementioned film supply systems, and which are constituted by a chute (21) interposed in be the third film feeding system (14) and one (3) of the other two film feeding systems (3, 7), while at least one conveyor (20) is provided for conveying the object (D) in said chute. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that in the third system (14) for feeding the film, there are associated means (18) for gluing the third film (15) preferably in one or more strips (33 ). 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by perforation means (19) along at least one line (34) of the third film (15). 4. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the above-mentioned chute (21) internally comprises at least one stop or the like (23) ensuring the correct orientation of the object or document (D) so that the gluing carried out on the third film (15) fixes a specified part of this object or document. 5. Packaging containing any article and produced using a machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, this packaging being of the type comprising two plastic films welded at their periphery to enclose the article and being characterized in that it comprises, in addition to the two aforementioned opaque films (4, 8), a third transparent film (15) welded by its periphery to the other two and comprising on its internal face at least one strip of sticky material ( 33) capable of retaining an object, such as a document (D), interposed between the third film (15) and one (4) of the other two films (4, 8). 6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the third transparent film (15) comprises at least one line of perforations (34) allowing access to the aforementioned document to detach at least a part (31) of this document from its remaining part (30) which remains retained on the packaging by the strip of sticky material (33).

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