Machine and method for applying tubular shrink sleeve material to an object

Abstract

A machine for applying a tubular film to an object is provided. A machine for applying a tubular film to an object includes a mandrel around which the tubular film is threaded, a perforation assembly for forming perforation lines across the width of the tubular film before the tubular film moves to the mandrel, and a sleeve discharge arrangement associated with the mandrel for severing the tubular film along the perforation lines to produce a tubular sleeve that is discharged from the mandrel onto the object. The perforation assembly includes a perforation unit mounted for movement across the width of the tubular film, the perforation unit being rotated on the tubular film to apply the perforation lines as the perforation unit moves across the width of the tubular film.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates generally to machines for applying tubular shrink sleeve material to objects such as containers, and more particularly to systems and methods for perforating a tubular film to define individual shrink sleeves prior to application of the shrink sleeve to the object. [Background technology]

[0002]

[0002] Tubular shrink sleeve application machines typically utilize a mandrel over which a tubular shrink film is moved to expand the film into a sleeve shape prior to application. In one type of such machine, the film is cut by a knife assembly while on the mandrel to form sleeves. In a second type of such machine, perforations are applied to the tubular film while it is flat and before it is moved over the mandrel, and individual sleeves are formed by cutting along the perforation lines.

[0003] It would be desirable and advantageous to provide a system and method that improves upon the second type of machine perforation technology. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In one aspect, a machine for applying a tubular film to an object includes a mandrel around which the tubular film is threaded, a perforation assembly for forming perforations across the width of the tubular film before the tubular film moves to the mandrel, and a sleeve discharge arrangement associated with the mandrel for severing the tubular film along the perforation lines to produce a tubular sleeve that is discharged from the mandrel onto the object. The perforation assembly includes a perforation unit mounted for movement across the width of the tubular film, the perforation unit including a perforation blade that is rotated on the tubular film to apply the perforations as the perforation unit moves across the width of the tubular film.

[0005] In another aspect, a machine for applying a tubular film to an object includes a path along which the tubular film passes to a sleeve discharge location disposed above a conveyor for transporting the object, a perforation punching assembly for forming a perforation line across the width of the tubular film, and an associated sleeve discharge arrangement disposed near the sleeve discharge location for severing the tubular film along the perforation line to produce a tubular sleeve for discharge onto the object moving along the conveyor. The perforation punching assembly includes a perforation blade which is rotated on the tubular film to apply the perforation line.

[0006]

[0006] In another aspect, a method is provided for forming perforation lines across a width of a tubular film moving through a machine for applying a tubular film sleeve to an object, the method including the steps of utilizing a perforation unit including a perforation blade, and moving the perforation unit across the width of the tubular film while engaging the tubular film such that as the perforation blade moves across the width of the tubular film, the perforation blade is rotated on the tubular film to apply the perforation lines.

[0007]

[0007] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will become apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective schematic view of a tubular shrink sleeve application machine. [Diagram 2]

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the perforation area of ​​the machine; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the perforation area of ​​the machine; [Figure 3A]

[0010] 1 is a perspective view of the perforation area showing the sequential assembly of the perforation assembly. FIG. [Figure 3B] 1 is a perspective view of the perforation area showing the sequential assembly of the perforation assembly. FIG. [Figure 3C] 1 is a perspective view of the perforation area showing the sequential assembly of the perforation assembly. FIG. [Figure 3D] 1 is a perspective view of the perforation area showing the sequential assembly of the perforation assembly. FIG. [Figure 4]

[0011] FIG. [Figure 5A]

[0012] 11A-11C illustrate an exemplary sleeve separation sequence. [Figure 5B] 11A-11C illustrate an exemplary sleeve separation sequence. [Figure 5C] 11A-11C illustrate an exemplary sleeve separation sequence. [Figure 5D] 11A-11C illustrate an exemplary sleeve separation sequence. [Figure 6A]

[0013] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating an exemplary sequence of perforation unit movements. [Figure 6B] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating an exemplary sequence of perforation unit movements. [Figure 7]

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary perforation line across the width of a tubular film. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009]

[0015] 1-3, 3A-3D, and 4, an exemplary tubular shrink sleeve application apparatus and portions thereof are shown in schematic form. The apparatus includes a roll or other supply of tubular film 12 delivered to a tooling mandrel 14, which may be a single piece or multiple assembled pieces. The top of the tooling mandrel 14 is shaped to expand the tubular film from a flat state to an expanded state as it descends around the mandrel 14. A set of film drive rollers 16, having associated drive units 16a (e.g., motors), are driven (e.g., arrow 18) to control the feeding of the film down the mandrel (e.g., arrow 19) to sleeve exit rollers 20, having associated drive units 20a (e.g., motors). In this case, each roller 20 is on diametrically opposite sides of the mandrel 14.

[0010]

[0016] An object transport mechanism 22 passes beneath the mandrel, carrying an object 24, here in the form of a container, in a conveying direction 26, and the tubular film sleeve is disengaged from the mandrel and moved over the container or other object passing therethrough. Heat can then be applied downstream to cause the film to shrink.

[0011]

[0017] A perforation assembly 30 is positioned upstream of the mandrel 14 to form perforation lines 12a across the width W12 of the tubular film. Here, the perforation assembly includes a perforation unit 32 mounted for movement across the width of the tubular film, the perforation unit including a disc-shaped perforation blade 32a that is rotated on the tubular film to apply perforation lines as the perforation unit 32 moves across the width of the tubular film. A spring-loaded plate member 34, acting as an anvil for the blade, is positioned on one side of the path of the tubular film so as to follow one side of the flattened tubular film, and the perforation unit 32 is positioned on the other side of the path of the tubular film so that as the perforation unit moves across the width of the tubular film, the perforation blade 32a presses against the tubular film 12 and the plate member 34, causing the perforation blade 32a to rotate. Thus, the plate member 34 is always biased against the perforation blade 32a, and the interaction of the perforation blade 32a with the plate member 34 primarily causes the perforation blade 32a to rotate. This configuration allows the perforation blade 32a to be mounted on or within the perforation unit 32 in a freewheeling manner so as to be free to rotate about the axis 33. In an alternative configuration, the perforation unit 32 may be spring biased towards the plate member 34, in which case the plate member 34 may be fixed or may be spring biased.

[0012]

[0018] Here, the plate member 34 is disposed within a guide block 36 having a through passage (such as an upper groove 35) running vertically through which the tubular film 12 passes. The guide block is formed by a rear plate 36a having a recess 36b in which a rubber strip 36c is disposed to bias the plate member 34 over the strip 36c. A front plate 36d of the guide block is fixed to the rear plate 36a and includes a side groove 38 facing the perforation unit 32. A perforation blade 32a extends through the side groove 38 to engage the tubular film 12 and the plate member 34. The plate member 34 is biased towards the side groove 38 by a rubber material acting as a spring material. The perforation blade 32a includes a peripheral perforation blade defined by a series of peripheral teeth 32a1 which sequentially engage the tubular film 12 to perforate the tubular film and provide a perforation line. To allow the tubular film to be fed through the guide block 36, the perforation blade 32a moves across the width of the tubular film to form each perforation line and then moves over the side edge 12b of the tubular film 12 so that the perforation blade 32a does not interfere with the advancing tubular film.

[0013]

[0019] In an embodiment, the perforation unit 32 may ride on bearing rails 37 to maintain a desired spacing between the perforation unit 32 and the guide block 36 and / or the vertical position between the perforation blade 32a and the gutter 38. Alternatively, the perforation unit may be supported and moved within a slot (e.g., a guide pin or bearing or other protrusion at the bottom of the housing of the perforation unit 32 extends into the upwardly facing groove and is supported and moved along it).

[0014]

[0020] Here, the perforation unit 32 includes a lower carriage part 32b that is connected to the belt and rides on bearing rails 37, and an upper blade cassette 32c in which the blades are disposed. The upper blade cassette 32c is removably mounted to the carriage part 32b by a pair of opposing pivoting latching clamps 39 that are pivotally mounted to the carriage part 32b. The latching clamps 39 engage on / in latching recessed features 41 provided on the upper side of the blade cassette 32c to hold the blade cassette in place during use. By pivoting the latching clamps 39 away from the side of the blade cassette, the blade cassette can be easily replaced when required without the need for tools. Chamfered features 43 on the corners of the cassette side guide the latching parts of the latching clamps back into engagement with the recessed features 41 when the cassette is secured to the carriage part 32b.

[0015]

[0021] 5A-5D show an exemplary sequence of severing of the sleeve along the perforation line and ejection of such sleeve (which may be initiated, for example, based on the detected position of a container or other object moving under the mandrel). FIGs. 5A-5D show an exemplary sequence of movement of the perforation unit (from right to left, as between the positions of FIGs. 6A and 6B, by driving the belt 42 in a first direction) to generate a perforation line in the tubular film 12. The next perforation line in the tubular film is formed by moving the perforation unit in the opposite direction (for example, from left to right relative to the views of FIGs. 6A-6B, by driving the belt 42 in a second direction opposite the first direction).

[0016]

[0022] A control system including controller 100 is configured to selectively reciprocate perforation unit 32 in a first direction and a second direction across the width of the tubular film such that alternating perforation lines are formed in the tubular film while perforation unit 32 moves in the first direction and the opposite second direction. As used herein, the term controller is intended to broadly encompass any circuitry (e.g., solid state, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuitry, combinational logic circuitry, field programmable gate array (FPGA)), processor(s) (e.g., shared, dedicated, or group of processors, including hardware or software executing code), software, firmware, and / or other components that perform the control functions of the apparatus or any component thereof, or a combination of some or all of the above.

[0017]

[0023] In one embodiment of such a control system, a tubular film feed system, which may include roller 16 and / or additional rollers along the film path, is provided along with a drive 40 (e.g., a motor) for moving the perforation unit 32 (e.g., via a drive 40 that moves a continuous belt 42 to which the perforation unit 32 is attached). The controller 100 is configured to (i) operate the film supply system to supply the tubular film a length corresponding to the set length for the tubular sleeve and then stop the film supply, (ii) operate the drive 40 such that after the film supply has stopped, the perforation unit moves across the width of the film in a first direction (e.g., from right to left in the drawings) to create a first perforation line in the tubular film, (iii) operate the film supply unit to supply the tubular film a length corresponding to the set length and then stop the film supply, and (iv) operate the drive such that after the film supply has stopped, the perforation unit moves across the width of the film in a second direction (e.g., from left to right in the drawings) to create a second perforation line in the tubular film.

[0018]

[0024] During each of steps (i) and (iii) above, (e.g., Figures 5A to 5D sequence), the leading edge of the tubular film is fed into alignment with roller 20 which cuts off the leading edge of the film along leading perforation line 12a to produce a tubular sleeve which is dropped onto a passing container or other object.

[0019]

[0025] In one embodiment of steps (ii) and (iv) above, the controller may wait until the film feed stops before actuating the drive 40 to move the perforation unit 32. In another embodiment of steps (ii) and (iv) above, the perforation blade 32a is initially laterally offset from the tubular film, so that the drive 40 may be actuated to move the perforation unit 32 slightly before the film feed stops, timed so that the film feed stops at or before the perforation blade 32a contacts the tubular film.

[0020]

[0026] The above sequence is repeated as sleeves are severed from the tubular film 12 along the perforation line and discharged onto the moving object. In this regard, the drive 20a for the rollers 20 may, in one embodiment, be operated continuously, with the leading edge of the tubular film 12 advancing down into the area of ​​the rollers 20, causing the rollers to engage the leading edge of the tubular film. The rollers 20 are operated at a speed greater than the feed rate of the rollers 16, such that the rollers 20 engage the film and pull the leading edge of the tubular film with sufficient force to severe the tubular film along the leading perforation line 12a, creating individual tubular sleeves for discharge onto the passing object. In other embodiments, the controller 100 may be configured to selectively operate the drive 20a to rotate the discharge rollers 20 as needed.

[0021]

[0027] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary shape of the perforation line 12a across the width of the tubular film, which here runs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral edges 12b of the tubular film 12. Each through groove or cut 12c making up the perforation line is elongated in shape, with uniform spacing between the cuts or grooves 12c. However, in other variations, the shapes can be varied (e.g., circular or elliptical or square cuts or openings) and the spacing therebetween can be varied. Additionally, perforation lines that are not substantially perpendicular to the lateral edges of the tubular film (e.g., by orienting the direction of movement of the guide block 36 of the perforation unit 32 at an angle inclined from perpendicular to the direction of movement of the tubular film through the guide block 36) may also be implemented in certain circumstances for certain objects.

[0022]

[0028] It should be expressly understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and exemplary only and is not intended to be taken as limiting, and that other variations and modifications are possible.

Claims

1. 1. A machine for applying a tubular film to an object, comprising: a mandrel around which the tubular film is threaded; a perforation assembly positioned to form perforations across a width of the tubular film while the tubular film is in a flat state prior to the tubular film moving to the mandrel, the perforation assembly comprising a perforation unit mounted for movement across the width of the tubular film; a control system configured to selectively reciprocate the perforation unit across the width of the tubular film in a first direction and a second direction such that alternating perforation lines are formed in the tubular film while moving in a first direction and an opposite second direction; a sleeve ejection arrangement having at least one roller configured to engage and pull a leading edge of the tubular film, the leading edge being severed from the tubular film along the perforation line upon rotation of the roller to produce a tubular sleeve that is ejected from the mandrel onto an object; Equipped with the perforation unit includes a perforation blade mounted for rotation about an axis, the perforation blade including an axis of rotation of the perforation blade, the perforation blade including a peripheral edge that is rotated on and contacts the tubular film in a direction across the width of the tubular film as the perforation blade moves across the width of the tubular film to apply the perforations, and perforating the tubular film; the tubular film travels along a downward path over the mandrel, the perforation unit being disposed above the mandrel along the downward path; the perforation assembly further comprises a plate member disposed on a first side of a path of the tubular film in the flattened state, the perforation unit disposed on a second side of the path, and the outer peripheral edge presses the tubular film against the plate member as the perforation blade rotates over and contacts the tubular film; the plate member is disposed within a guide block through which the tubular film in the flat state extends, the guide block including a wall having a groove facing the perforation unit, and the outer peripheral edge of the perforation blade extends through the groove to press the tubular film against the plate member; machine.

2. 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said plate member is biased toward said perforation blade by said plate member being overlying a material which presses said plate member toward said perforation blade.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the perforation blade includes a series of outer peripheral teeth that sequentially engage the tubular film and perforate the tubular film to create the perforation lines.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer periphery of the perforation blade moves beyond an edge of the tubular film after moving across the width of the tubular film.

5. a tubular film supply unit; A drive device for moving the perforation unit; the control system including a controller configured to: (i) operate the film supplying unit to supply the tubular film a length corresponding to a set length for a tubular sleeve and then stop film supply; (ii) operate the drive such that, after film supplying has stopped, the perforation punching unit moves across the width of the film in a first direction to create a first perforation line in the tubular film; (iii) operate the film supplying unit to supply the tubular film a length corresponding to the set length after creating the first perforation line and then stop film supply; and (iv) operate the drive such that, after film supplying has stopped, the perforation punching unit moves across the width of the film in a second direction to create a second perforation line in the tubular film; The machine of claim 1 further comprising:

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller is rotated relative to the tubular film on the mandrel to sever the leading edge of the tubular film along the perforation line.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the perforation unit is configured to move across the width of the tubular film in a direction such that resulting perforation lines run substantially perpendicular to side edges of the tubular film.

8. 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the perforation unit includes a carriage portion and a blade cassette portion, the blade cassette portion carrying the perforation blade and releasably attached to the carriage portion to allow cassette replacement.

9. 9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the carriage part has at least one latching clamp movable between a holding position for holding the blade cassette part on the carriage part and a release position in which the blade cassette part can be removed from the carriage part.

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