A packaging system for packaging stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil

Abstract

A packaging system for packaging stacked products (2) into a bag (16, 17) made of tubular foil (3).A packaging system for packaging stacked products (2) into a bag (16, 17) made of tubular foil (3). The packaging system comprises a tubular foil (3) storage and supply unit (4), a cutting and sealing unit (5) comprising a cutting knife (18) and a first and a second sealing beam (19, 20) for cutting and sealing, respectively, tubular foil (3) for forming a bag (16, 17) having a bottom (17, 19, 25); a bag bottom support table (6) arranged for supporting the bottom (17, 19, 25) of the bag (16, 17), the bag bottom support table (6) being arranged to be movable in vertical direction from a lower position (6A) towards an upper position (6B), and vice versa; a stacked products support platform (7), the platform being movable in at least a horizontal direction from a packaging position (7A) just above the upper position (6B) of the bag bottom support table (6) to a displaced position (7B) horizontally displaced from the upper position (6B) of the bag bottom support table (6); the stacked products support platform (7) comprising a bottom (17, 19, 25) and a side wall (26) upstanding from the bottom (17, 19, 25), the bottom (17, 19, 25) being arranged to be transversely movable with regard to the side wall (26) for allowing the stacked products (2) to be supported on the bottom (17, 19, 25) of the bag (16, 17) which is supported on the sealed bag bottom support table (6); and a bag sealing unit (10) for sealing the bag (16, 17) with the stacked products (2) to form a sealed bag (16, 17), the bag sealing unit (10) being formed by the first and the second sealing beams (19).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a packaging system and more particularly to a packaging system for packaging stacked products into a common bag made of tubular foil. In particular the invention relates to a packaging system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a packaging system is known from US2010 / 210439A1.

[0003] US-3,383,825 discloses a system for wrapping a plurality of objects horizontally juxtaposed with regard to one another, wherein the plurality of objects is pressed to form a firm set by means of pressure plates after which a flexible wrapping material is wrapped around the firm set while the pressure plates press the plurality of objects together. This known system is relatively complex and is rather unsuitable for packaging (vertically) stacked products into a bag.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative packaging system in which it is possible to package stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil in a relatively easy manner.

[0005] According to the invention this object is obtained by providing a packaging system for packaging stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil according to claim 1. In this manner stacked products which are supported on the stacked products support platform can be positioned above the bag bottom support table on which the bottom of the opened bag of tubular foil, after which the bottom of the stacked products support platform can be moved away from under the stacked products such that the stacked products are transferred to the bottom of the opened bag whereby they are supported on the bag bottom support table. To bag with the stacked products can be sealed by the bag sealing unit, for example after the bag bottom support table has been lowered. The sealed bag with the stacked products can then e.g. be removed from the bag bottom support table, preferably in an automated manner, and be placed in a transport box or on a transport pallet or the like. Thus a packaging system is provided with which it is possible to package stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil in a relatively easy manner.

[0006] In an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the tubular foil storage and supply unit, the cutting and sealing unit and the stacked products support platform are suspended in a frame, which frame is swivable from a position in which the stacked products support platform is substantially horizontal to a position in which the bottom of the stacked products support platform is positioned under an angle of 10 degrees to the horizontal. In this manner after swiveling of the frame the stacked products on the stacked products support platform can be held in a position sideways by the at least one side wall of the stacked products support platform, so that when the bottom of the stacked products support platform is moved away from under the stacked products the stacked products keep their position in order to be transferred to the bottom of the open bag supported on the bag bottom support table.

[0007] In a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the cutting and sealing unit comprises a first finger and a second finger, the first finger and the second finger being arranged to be movable away and towards each other and to cooperate with the first and a second vacuum holding beam, respectively, for holding the tubular foil. In this manner the tubular foil can be firmly held between the finger and its respective vacuum holding beam to which the finger is moved against, preventing the tubular film from falling off the vacuum holding beam.

[0008] In a still further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the packaging system further comprises a blowing unit for blowing up the bag when supported on the bag bottom support table; and movable side walls, the movable side walls being positioned around the bag bottom support table and being movable for laterally enclosing the bag. In this manner the bag, when positioned with its bottom on the bag bottom support table, can be opened positively so that the stacked products can be transferred onto the bottom of the bag in a correct manner.

[0009] In another embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the packaging system further comprises a unit for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag. By evacuating and folding the bag e.g. the size of the bag can be reduced and be evacuated from air for preserving the stacked products. Thereafter the folded and evacuated bag can be sealed by the first and the sealing beam thereby creating a sealed bag containing the stacked products.

[0010] The invention will be further explained with reference to the Figures, in which a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of according to the invention is shown: Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention with its components shown more schematically; Fig. 2 schematically shows the embodiment of a packaging system as shown in Figure 1 with its components shown in more detail; Fig. 3 schematically shows and exploded view of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2, Fig. 4A schematically shows the tubular foil storage and supply unit for storing and supplying tubular foil of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2; Fig. 4B schematically shows the cutting and sealing unit of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2; Figs. 5 and 6 schematically show the cutting and sealing unit as shown in Figure 4B during two different stages when forming a bag having a bottom; Fig. 7 schematically shows bag bottom support table of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2; Fig. 8 schematically shows a number of movable side walls of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2 for laterally enclosing the bag; Figs. 9A and 9B schematically show the bag bottom support table of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2; Figs. 10A and 10B schematically show the blowing unit of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2; Fig. 11 schematically shows the unit for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag of the packaging system as shown in Figure 2; and Figs. 12A, 12B and 12C schematically show a few stages of transferring the stacked products from the product support table into the bag.

[0011] The components of an embodiment of a packaging system 1 for packaging stacked products 2 (see Figs. 12) into a bag made of tubular foil 3 according to the invention will first be discusses in general with regard to Figures 1, 2 and 3, in which Figures the packaging system 1 is schematically shown in perspective. In Figure 1 the packaging system 1 is shown with the components of the packaging system 1 shown more schematically, while in Figure 2 the components are shown in more detail and in Figure 3 an exploded view of the packaging system 1 depicting the several components is shown.

[0012] The packaging system 1 comprises a tubular foil storage and supply unit 4 for storing and supplying tubular foil 3. The tubular foil storage and supply unit 4 will be more in detail described with regard to Figure 4A.

[0013] The packaging system 1 further comprises a cutting and sealing unit 5 for cutting and sealing tubular foil 3 supplied by the tubular foil storage and supply unit 4. The cutting and sealing unit 5 will be more in detail described with regard to Figure 4B.

[0014] The packaging system 1 also comprises a bag bottom support table 6 arranged for supporting a bottom of a bag which is to be formed by the cutting and sealing unit 5 from the tubular foil 3. The bag bottom support table 6 is described in more detail with regard to Figure 7 and is arranged to be movable in vertical direction from a lower position 6A towards an upper position 6B, and vice versa.

[0015] A stacked products support platform 7 for supporting the stacked products 2 of the packaging system 1 is arranged to be movable in at least a horizontal direction from a packaging position 7A just above the upper position 6B of the bag bottom support table 6 to a displaced position 7B horizontally displaced from the upper position 6B of the bag bottom support table 6 as will be discussed in more detail with regard to Figures 9 and 12.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention the packaging system 1 in addition comprises a blowing unit 8 for blowing up a bag which is to be formed by the cutting and sealing unit 5 from the tubular foil 3. The blowing unit 8 will be discussed in more detail with regard to Figures 10A and 10B.

[0017] In an embodiment of the packaging system 1 according to the invention a unit 9 is provided for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag after the stacked products 2 is placed in the bag, which unit 9 will be discussed in more detail with regard to Figure 11.

[0018] The packaging system 1 further includes a bag sealing unit for sealing the bag with the stacked products to form a sealed bag, which bag sealing unit will be discussed in more detail below.

[0019] With reference to Figure 4A the tubular foil storage and supply unit 4 for storing and supplying tubular foil 3 will be described in more detail. In the tubular foil storage and supply unit 4 rolls 10 and 11 of tubular foil 3 are positioned on a number of support rollers 12. In the shown embodiment the number of rolls is two, and one of the rolls 11 is arranged to be able to supply tubular foil when the other roll 10 is empty, so that the time needed to replace an empty roll does not influence the operation time too much. A section of the tubular foil 3 is clamped just above the drive rollers 13 by means of a pneumatic clamp 14. The drive unit for the tubular foil 3 is in the shown embodiment formed by three rollers 13, 13A, and 13B, of which the middle one 13 is the driven roller. Depending on which roll 10, 11 of tubular foil 3 has to be unrolled one of the other rollers 13A, 13B is pushed by means of pneumatic cylinders 15 against the driven roller 13. The length of tubular foil 3 to be unrolled from the rolls 10, 11 can in a manner known per se be determined by means of a servomotor.

[0020] When the desired length of tubular foil 3 has been unrolled the cutting and sealing unit 5 as shown in Figure 4B cuts and seals the tubular foil 3 supplied by the tubular foil storage and supply unit 4 for forming a bag 16 having a bottom 17 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The cutting and sealing unit 5 for cutting and sealing tubular foil 3 comprises a cutting knife 18 for cutting the tubular foil 3, and a first sealing beam 19 and a second sealing beam 20 arranged for sealing tubular foil 3 received in between the first sealing beam 19 and the second sealing beam 20. It is observed here that the first and the second sealing beams 19, 20 are not only arranged to be movable away and towards each other but also that they can be arranged to be movable in vertical direction. In this manner when the required tubular foil length has been unrolled, the tubular foil 3 is clamped between the sealing beams 19, 20 after which the bag 16 is cut off from the tubular foil 3 and at the same time the bottom of the next bag is sealed. The cutting and sealing unit 5 further comprises a first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 for holding and opening the tubular foil 3, and a first finger 23 and a second finger 24 cooperating with the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22, respectively, for holding the tubular foil 3. The first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 are arranged to be movable away and towards each other and also the first finger and the second finger 23, 24 are arranged to be movable away and towards each other.

[0021] Below a short description of the operation of the cutting and sealing unit 5 will be given. After the tubular foil storage and supply unit 4 has unrolled the desired length of tubular foil 3, the tubular foil 3 is positioned between the first and second finger 23, 24, between the first and the second sealing beams 19, 20 and between the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22, which all are in the opened positioned moved away from each other. Then the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 are linearly driven towards each other, e.g. by means of a belt drive, such that the tubular foil 3 (which, as is generally known, is comprised of two layers adjacent each other) is pinched between the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 and a vacuum is created by the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 such that each layer of the tubular foil 3 is held by vacuum on the respective first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22. The first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 are moved away from each other, thereby opening the bag with its bottom 17 (see Figures 5 and 6) and at least substantially at the same time the bottom of the next bag is sealed by closing and activating the first and the second sealing beams 19, 20. Meanwhile, the bag 16 is also separated from the roll of tubular foil 3 by means of the cutting means 18.

[0022] The first and the second sealing beams 19, 20 are then retracted, and the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 are moved upwards (Figure 5) and moved inward until the tubular foil 3 is clamped between the first and second finger 23, 24 and the respective the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22. The vacuum in the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 can then be turned off. The first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 are then moved further apart, so that the bag 16 is fully opened and provides a rectangular opening 16A through which the bag 16 can be filled as will be discusses below.

[0023] The present invention is in particular suitable for filling a bag with stacked products 2 and to realize this the packaging system 1 according to the invention comprises the stacked products support platform 7 for supporting the stacked products 2 as shown in Figures 9A, 9B and Figures 12A-12C. The stacked products support platform 7 comprising a bottom 25 and at least one side wall 26 upstanding from the bottom 25. In the embodiment shown in Figures 9A and 9B the stacked products platform 7 has two side walls 26, 27. The bottom 25 is arranged to be transversely movable with regard to said at least one side wall 26 from a packaging position 7A to a displaced position 7B. In the packaging position 7A the stacked products 2 are supported on the bottom 25, as indicated in Figures 1 and 12A. The stacked products 2 can be placed on the bottom 25 with any known means in the art, such as for example by means of robotic arms.

[0024] It will be discussed now with reference to Figures 2, 3, 6, 7 and 12 how the stack of products 2 is transferred to within the bag 16. The bag bottom support table 6 is arranged such in the packaging system 1 that it can be positioned in a vertical position in which it supports the bottom 19 of the bag 16 which has been formed. Since the bag bottom support table 6 is further arranged to be movable in vertical direction from the lower position 6A towards the upper position 6B, the bag bottom support table 6 can be positioned in the upper position 6B as indicated in Figure 12B just below the bottom 25 (indicated by dashed lines) of the stacked products support platform 7 on which the stacked products 2 are supported. After the bag bottom support table 6 is in the upper position 6B, the bottom 25' of the stacked products support platform 7 is moved (in a direction indicated by the arrow) to the displaced position 7B (indicated by full lines) horizontally displaced from the upper position 6B. Since the bottom 17 of the bag 16 is supported on the sealed bag bottom support table 6 the stacked products 2 are now transferred to be supported by the bottom 17 of the bag 17, which is supported on the bag bottom support table 6. Then, the bag bottom support table 6 is lowered to the lower position 6A, after which the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 can be moved towards each other and the first and the second sealing beams 19, 20 can be activated to the bag 16 with the stacked products 2 filled therein. After sealing, the bag 16 can be transferred from the bag bottom support table 6 to a transport pallet or box by any means known in the art, such as for example a robotic arm.

[0025] To open the bag 16 when positioned with its bottom 17 on the bag bottom support table 6 more positively (i.e. also in addition to the movement of the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 away from each other) in the embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures the blowing unit 8 of the packaging system 1 (see Figures 10A and 10B) can blow up the bag 16 when it is supported on the bag bottom support table 6. In the embodiment shown in Figures 10A and 10B the blowing unit 8 comprises eight fans 28, and the number of fans 28 that are activated for blowing up the bag 16 can be dependent on the size of the bag. The bowing unit 8 with the fans 28 is swivably arranged around a swivel axis 29 so that the blowing unit 8 can be positioned in an operative position (indicated in Figure 10A) and in a rest position (indicated in Figure 10B) in which it does not interfere with other components of the packaging system 1. For laterally enclosing the bag 16 when it is blown up the packaging system 1 comprises a number of movable side walls 30, 31 (see Figures 2, 3 and 8) which are positioned around the bag bottom support table 6 and are movable relative to one another for laterally enclosing the bag 16.

[0026] In an embodiment of the packaging system 1 according to the invention a unit 9 is provided for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag after the stacked products 2 is placed in the bag, which unit 9 will be discussed in more detail with regard to Figure 11.

[0027] The packaging system 1 further includes a bag sealing unit 10 for sealing the bag with the stacked products to form a sealed bag, which bag stealing unit 10 will be discussed in more detail with regard to Figures the bag sealing unit being formed by the first and the second sealing beams.

[0028] The packaging system 1 comprises a frame 32 as indicated in Figures 2 and 3, in which frame 32 the tubular foil storage and supply unit 4, the cutting and sealing unit 5 and the stacked products support platform 7 are suspended. The frame 32 is swivable from a position in which the stacked products support platform is substantially horizontal to a position in which the bottom 25 of the stacked products support platform 7 is positioned under an angle α of 10 degrees to the horizontal as indicated in Figure 9A. In this manner when products 2 are stacked on the bottom 25, after swiveling of the frame 32 the stacked products 2 can be held in a position sideways by the at least one side wall 26, 27 of the stacked products support platform. When the bottom 25 of the stacked products support platform is then moved away from under the stacked products the stacked products keep their position in order to be transferred to the bottom 17 of the open bag 16 supported on the bag bottom support table 6.

[0029] After the stacked products 2 have been transferred into the bag 16 it can be vacuumed and sealed by the unit 9 for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag as shown in Figure 11. As soon as the stacked products 2 are positioned in the bag 16, the unit 6 is tilted (indicated by the double arrow) to be positioned in the bag 16. While the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 beams are moved towards each other, folding plates 33, 34 are also moved towards each other as indicted by the arrows. When the first and a second vacuum holding beam 21, 22 beams are almost positioned against each other, the folding plates 33, 34 move away from each other. In this manner the bag 16 is neatly folded and can meanwhile be vacuumed by means of a suction mouth 35 of the unit 9. As soon as the correct vacuum level has been achieved (e.g. as measured with a pressure sensor), the vacuum and folding unit 9 tilts out of the bag 16 again and the bag 16 can be sealed by operating the first and second sealing beam 19, 20.

Claims

1. A packaging system (1) for packaging stacked products (2) into a bag (16) made of tubular foil (3), said packaging system (1) comprising: i) a tubular foil storage and supply unit (4); ii) a cutting and sealing unit (5) for cutting and sealing tubular foil (3) supplied by the tubular foil storage and supply unit (4) for forming a bag (16) having a bottom (17), the cutting and sealing unit (5) comprising a cutting knife (18) for cutting the tubular foil (3); a first sealing beam (19) and a second sealing beam (20) arranged for sealing tubular foil (3) received in between the first sealing beam (19) and the second sealing beam (20), the first and the second sealing beams (19, 20) being arranged to be movable away and towards each other; and a first and a second vacuum holding beam (21, 22) for holding and opening the tubular foil (3), the first and the second vacuum holding beams (21, 22) being arranged to be movable away and towards each other; and iii) a bag sealing unit (10) for sealing the bag (16) with the stacked products (2) to form a sealed bag (16), the bag sealing unit (10) being formed by the first and the second sealing beams (19, 20), characterized in that said packaging system (1) further comprises: iv) a bag bottom support table (6) arranged for supporting the bottom (17) of the bag (16), the bag bottom support table (6) being arranged to be movable in vertical direction from a lower position (6A) towards an upper position (6B), and vice versa; v) a stacked products support platform (7) for supporting stacked products (2); the platform (7) being arranged to be movable in at least a horizontal direction from a packaging position (7A) just above the upper position (6B) of the bag bottom support table (6) to a displaced position (7B) horizontally displaced from the upper position (6B) of the bag bottom support table (6); the stacked products support platform (7) comprising a bottom (25) and at least one side wall (26, 27) upstanding from the bottom (25), the bottom (25) being arranged to be transversely movable with regard to said at least one side wall (26, 27) for allowing the stacked products (2) to be supported on the bottom (17) of the bag (16) which is supported on the sealed bag bottom support table (6).

2. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the tubular foil storage and supply unit (4), the cutting and sealing unit (5) and the stacked products support platform (7) are suspended in a frame (32), which frame (32) is swivable from a position in which the stacked products support platform (7) is substantially horizontal to a position in which the bottom (25) of the stacked products support platform (7) is positioned under an angle of 10 degrees to the horizontal.

3. The packaging system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cutting and sealing unit (5) comprises a first finger (23) and a second finger (24), the first finger (23) and the second finger (24) being arranged to be movable away and towards each other and to cooperate with the first and a second vacuum holding beam (21, 22), respectively, for holding the tubular foil (3).

4. The packaging system (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the packaging system (1) further comprises a blowing unit (8) for blowing up the bag (16) when supported on the bag bottom support table (6); and movable side walls (30, 31), the movable side walls (30, 31) being positioned around the bag bottom support table (6) and being movable for laterally enclosing the bag (16).

5. The packaging system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging system (1) further comprises a unit (9) for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag (16).

Images