FR2940960A1 - Stackable rigid product e.g. cheese can, conditioning method, involves releasing sleeve of heat-retractable plastic material for arriving in contact with stack and for anchoring to stack, and evacuating bundle of machined products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves stacking up the number of rigid products of a bundle, and taking a sleeve (M) e.g. cover, of a ductile or heat-retractable plastic material, whose length is higher than the height of the stack of products. The sleeve is deployed at a section higher than that of the stack. The sleeve deployed by centering the stack is descended, so that the sleeve passes top and bottom of the stack. The sleeve is released for arriving in contact with the stack and for anchoring to the stack, and the bundle of machined products is evacuated. An independent claim is also included for an installation for conditioning stackable rigid products using a sleeve to form groupings of products.

Description

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Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of packaging rigid, stackable products such as cans. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing this method and the packaging obtained by the method and / or the installation. State of the art It is known to group small products such as portions of cheese, small cans, boxes of sardines in fillets so as to form batches of some products (boxes, portions). But this presentation has a number of disadvantages. The plastic tubular net is relatively opaque and does not allow to see the content accurately, which requires the application of a label on the net or a label, free, attached to the net. In addition, the cost of setting up this label, its presence as a free element is also troublesome for the packaging of the packaged packs; the label may be damaged or ripped off and requires additional intervention to be properly applied against the net. The same disadvantages are found in the unpacking of the sales area. As, on the other hand, the label bears the code identifying the batch, a lot whose label has been torn off can no longer pass through the cash register or only in a relatively complicated manner. The opacity of the net is also troublesome for the attractiveness of the product because the net almost completely hides the products thus grouped. In addition, the net receives the batches in a relatively loose manner so that its overall shape is irregular which complicates all the cartoning, unpacking, sales presentation and other operations. This irregular shape also increases the overall volume of the package or conversely reduces the number of lots per unit of packaging volume. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to develop a process, an installation and a packaging which makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the known processes by a rapid and efficient packaging process, making it possible to see all the rigid products, 25

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stackable, packaged or batch-grouped, to enhance the attractiveness of the products in the batch and also simplify and reduce the cost of handling operations between batching, packaging in boxes for transportation and storage, unpacking the lots at the point of sale. The package according to the invention must also improve the security to enable detection of defective or incomplete batches. DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, the invention relates to a method for packaging rigid stackable products such as tins, which are stacked in that the number of boxes in a batch is stacked. a sleeve of stretchable or retractable plastic material is taken, of length greater than the height of the product stack, the sleeve is unfolded to a section greater than that of the stack, the deployed sleeve is lowered by recentering the stack, so that the sleeve protrudes from the top and the bottom of the stack, - the sleeve is released to come into contact with the battery and hang on it, and - we evacuate the batch of products thus sleeved. In the case of a stretchable sleeve, it is automatically applied to the stack of products placed in the basket while in the case of a retractable sleeve, the sleeve is placed once on the stack, heat-shrinking while the stack filled with the sleeve is still placed in the nacelle. The present invention also relates to an installation for carrying out this method, characterized in that it comprises - a loop transfer line and nacelles traveling along this transfer line, and passing through a loading station in which products are loaded on the nacelles, - a sleeving station in which the stack of products stacked on a nacelle receives a sleeve carried by laying units and - an unloading station in which the piles of sleeve products Groupings are removed from the pods for evacuation. In the case of retractable sleeve, the sleeve post is followed by a heat shrink tunnel.

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Finally, the invention relates to the batch packaging of rigid stackable products resulting from the implementation of the method or obtained using the installation as defined above. Thus, the packaging according to the invention has the advantage of firmly and visibly group rigid rigid products such as cans. The stretchable sleeve holds the products in a stacked position, one against the other so that the entire batch is at its minimum volume. Several lots constituting themselves rigid assemblies, can easily be stacked. In a larger group, for example in a packaging box, the batches can easily be stacked by minimizing the unused volume. As the lots are rigid and have their own outfit, setting up lots in the shipping box does not present any particular difficulty. Unpacking at the point of sale, operations are just as easy and products can be presented at the point of sale by highlighting their appearance, revealing the entire decor or label of at least one product. The same advantages are found at the checkout, the label of the products in the batch being clearly readable through the stretchable sleeve for automatic reading of the reference. Finally, the consumer will be able to detach a product from the batch and keep the other products grouped, always in a sense of efficiency of presentation, accessibility and ease of storage. According to another advantageous characteristic in the installation, the nacelles each consist of a guide member for the transfer line receiving a plate carrying vertical rods delimiting the volume receiving the stack of products to be sleeved, this volume having in the lower part , a riser on which rests the stack of products to be sleeved, the height of the riser being at least equal to the height of the laying units taking the sleeve and placing it on the stack. The pods are a particularly practical support for the sleeving because they hold the stack of products substantially aligned while allowing both the passage of stretchers in the interval between two rods and the passage of the sleeve between the stack of product. and each rod, and this despite the relatively large height of the assembly consisting of the riser and the product stack, the height of the riser being sufficient to allow the vertical clearance of the descent descent without meeting the base plate of the nacelle, then

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the lateral clearance to free the path of the nacelle whose products were thus sleeved. According to another characteristic, each rod of a nacelle comprises a brush-shaped support in its face turned towards the volume of reception of the stack of products, to press against the stack of products while being able to retract in the passage the sleeve in the gap between the stack of products and the brush of each rod. This embodiment of the rods makes it possible to hold the products in a relatively centered position and sufficiently spaced without interfering with the passage of the sleeve for sleeving. According to another advantageous characteristic, the sleeving station comprises two pairs of laying units, located on either side of the nacelle scroll line, these pairs being each carried by a movable frame vertically along columns to execute the laying cycle of a sleeve, the nacelle being immobilized in relative speed with respect to the pairs of laying units for the time required for laying. This embodiment simplifies the construction of the installation since the laying units are grouped according to two pairs placed on either side of the nacelle scroll line. According to another interesting feature, the nacelle carries the four rods placed at the vertices of a square surrounding the receiving volume of the products and leaving between them, a passage interval for the drawers and the clamps carrying the sleeve, the diagonals of the square 25 positioning of the rods being respectively parallel and perpendicular to the scroll line and the lines of action of the laying units being directed at 45 ° relative to the center of a nacelle in the laying position of the sleeve. Although the stack of products to be sleeved could be surrounded by only three rods, it is preferable to have four rods defining between them intervals for the passage of the drawers, which also makes it possible to use four drawers distributing In a regular manner, the stretching and pulling efforts of the sleeve on the stack of products are better than a non-symmetrical arrangement with respect to the line of travel of the nacelles and which would consist of only three drawers. However, in some cases, a symmetrical arrangement with only two sleeve laying units is possible for products of square or rectangular section. The process and the installation can be applied to all types of products comparable to a stretchable or heat-shrinkable sleeve, especially covers, bags or nets. According to another characteristic, the plate is provided with housings, directed radially towards the center of the plate to adjustably receive the vertical rods and to adapt the section of the volume defined between the rods according to the dimensions of the products to be used. Gland. Drawings The present invention will be described in more detail with the aid of embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a pack of stacked cans according to the invention, FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic section of the packaging of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram of a product packaging installation according to the invention; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a transfer basket. 4 is a detail view of a rod of the transfer pod of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view of the transfer support of FIG. 3, in the state of FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a transfer support loaded with a product stack, FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the sleeving station according to the invention, FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the laying station of Fig. 9 is another perspective view of the man-set post at the socket of the sleeve, Fig. 10 is a diagram of the operation of setting and fitting a sleeve.

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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION According to FIG. 1A, a packaging 10 of stackable products according to the invention consists for example of a stacking or grouping of three round cans BC, assembled by a sleeve 11 which overflows slightly by one edge, 1 lb. on the top and bottom to keep the assembly together. The sleeve that holds the group of boxes is a stretchable or retractable sleeve, that is to say heat shrinkable, especially in the form of a cover, a bag or a net.

The products grouped into a stack may have a round or rounded shape but also polygonal, triangular, square or rectangular. Figure 1B is a schematic sectional view of the package 10 of Figure 1A. The stacked boxes have a round shape of substantially trapezoidal section and are presented in the inverted position; the top DS crimped at the edge B is shown in the low position and the underside DSS in the high position. This form of presentation is interesting because the underside DSS and C side are in one piece and can receive the distinctive inscriptions (brand, user manual, quality of packaged products). The top DS in the low position, is a crimped lid mu-ni, if any, a tab LA facilitating opening. In the case of metal cans, this tongue tears without requiring the use of a can opener.

The retractable sleeve 11 blocking the boxes BC in the package 10 is preferably a transparent or at least translucent sleeve so that the parts applied against the sides C of the boxes BC reveal the inscriptions carried by the side C and the underside DSS from the BC box from the top of the stack.

The packaging 10 may be in the orientation of Figures 1A, 1B or in the returned position according to the orientation of the inscriptions carried by the integrated boxes in the packaging. Figure 2 shows a packaging plant 100 of batches of stackable and rigid products such as cans BC. The installation 100 consists of a loop transfer line 110 along which transfer pods 200 circulate. The loop 110 is for example constituted by rails and a chain with

7 quets describing the loop. The chain is rotated by a geared motor 121 controlled by the control 130 of the installation 100. The transfer pods 200 circulate on the loop and arrive first in a loading device 122 of the nacelles 200.

In this loading device 122, each nacelle 200 receives the expected number of stackable products BC. The loading can be done either by immobilization of the nacelle 200 or continuously during its scrolling. Then, the loaded nacelle 200a of stacked products P arrives in the sleeving station 123 for the laying of the sleeve M. In this position, a sleeve M is threaded on the stack P of products. This sleeve M is stretchable and once laid, it holds the stack of products forming a grouping. Then, the nacelle 200b loaded with a stack of cuffed products, arrives in the outlet station 124 in which the packaging 10 with the stacked products is removed from the nacelle 200 which continues its way in the transfer loop 110. The installation product packaging using a shrink sleeve comprises a heat shrink tunnel downstream of the sleeving station to heat shrink the sleeve placed on the product stack, still housed in the nacelle.

In the case of a shrink sleeve M, the sleeve is placed on the stack of products in the nacelle then, in val of the sleeving station, the installation comprises a not shown heat shrink tunnel, wherein the sleeve is heated rapidly to retract on the stack of products.

The loading of BC products in the charging station 122 can be done automatically or, where appropriate, by hand. The laying of the sleeves M in the sleeving station 123 is done automatically as will be detailed later and the extraction of a wrapped product package 10 is done either automatically or manually in the output station 124. The products stacked and packaged are then packaged and shipped. This method and this rigid stackable product packaging system can be applied to all types of boxes, including boxes containing food products, whether these boxes are rotationally symmetrical or not, the only condition being that the products are rigid enough to hold relatively in the form of a battery and that they can withstand the forces exerted by a stretchable or retractable sleeve M.

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Figures 3 to 10 show the details of the installation and packaging process of the stackable products. FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a transfer pod 200 of which a separate component is shown in FIG. 4 and the assembly in operating condition, in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows the transfer pod 200 loaded with products stacked. The transfer basket 200 consists of a bottom 210 constituting by its edges 211, a guide member for the rail of the transfer loop 110. This guide member 210 carries a plate 220, here square in shape, provided with the center of the plate 220 is provided with a pin forming a central raised portion 240. The shape of the plate 220 is adapted to the section of the BC stackable pro-products, to be cuffed. and the height of the central extension 240 is also chosen according to the geometrical characteristics of the stackable products and the height necessary for the sleeving. The central extension 240 is fixed to the plate 220 which, being interchangeable, will be replaced by another plate according to the geometric characteristics of the stackable products BC with which it is desired to form a stack to be sleeved. The distribution of the four vertical rods 230 fixed to the plate 220 is adjusted according to the section of the products to be grouped. The vertical rods 230 are spaced so as to leave some clearance between the section of the stackable products and the geometric contour defined by the rods 230 so that the products can easily stack in this section. For this, the rods 230 are fixed in housings 221 directed radially towards the center of the plate 220 so that they can be moved towards or away from the center as a function of the section of the products BC to be stacked. When this dimension exceeds the adjustment limits authorized by the housings 221, the plate 220 or the set of the transfer basket 200 is changed. FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a rod 230, whose base 231 is provided with a tapping to be fixed by a screw 232 to the plate 220 in a selected position in the housing 221. Along its generatrix facing the product section to receive, the rod 230 has a longitudinal slot 233 for a flexible brush 234 , intended to maintain

At least approximately the stack of stacked products, in a substantially axial position while allowing the passage of the sleeve M. This brush 234 is removably attached by set screws 235 for the replacement of a worn brush.

FIG. 5 shows the transfer basket 200 in the as-sembled state with the extension 240 serving, as will be seen next, at the passage of the drawers of the sleeve in the interval between the four rods 230. In the upper part, the rods 230 have a slightly conical shape with a rounded tip to facilitate the placement of the stackable products. FIGS. 6A, 6B show a stack of six round cans BC products on the riser 240 in the space delimited by the four rods 230 of the transfer support 200. The stack of boxes BC is held more or less aligned between the rods 230 by the support against the brushes 234. This alignment, even irregular, is sufficient to allow the passage of the stretchable sleeve in the gap between the contour of the products BC of the stack and the rigid portion of the brushes 234, the bristles of the brush apart to allow the sleeve to pass as will be seen later.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the sleeve station 123. The transfer basket 200 is guided through the sleeving station 123 along the loop 110 constituted by a rail 111 and the drive is done by the lug chain 112. The sleeve station 123 is stationary and the nacelle is stopped during the laying of the sleeve M or the station 123 works continuously without stopping scrolling and in this case, it follows the movement of the nacelle so that the relative speed is zero. The station 123 consists of two pairs 300 of laying units 350 arranged diagonally along axes AA, for example at 45 ° on either side of the path 110 of the nacelle 200.

Each pair 300 of laying units 350 of the sleeve M is carried by a frame 310, movable on two columns 301 providing vertical guidance of the two pairs of units, for moving up and down the pairs 300 in synchronism, on each side of the line 110 110 nacelles 200. The frames 310 are controlled by cylinders not shown. The laying units 350 are identical and each unit consists of a plate 351 carrying, at the front, a stretcher 352 in the form of vertical blade, bent. Behind the stretcher 352, the plate 351 carries a ves-

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Rin 353 provided with a clamp 354 to abut against the rear face of the stretcher 352 and pinch a sleeve M to be laid as will be described in more detail above. The four rods 230 are placed at the vertices of a square surrounding the reception volume of the products BC and leaving between them a passage interval of the stretchers and the clamps carrying the sleeve. The diagonals of the positioning square of the rods 230 are respectively-parallel to a scroll materialized by the lug chain 111 and perpendicular to this line while the AA lines of the sleeve laying units 350 are directed at 45 ° by relative to the center O of the nacelle 200 in the sleeve position. This square arrangement is practically suitable for all product section shapes that can fit in a square, be it a round shape, a rounded shape or a polygonal shape, so on the one hand, to hold the stack of products and on the other hand, to allow the passage of the stretchers 352 which they must be preferably arranged regularly on the contour of the sleeve M to stretch regularly and ensure satisfactory installation of the retractable sleeve on the product stack.

The plate 351 is itself slidably movable along its axis AA relative to the frame 310, controlled by an actuator 311. The actuator 311 moves the plate 351 and the elements it carries between an advanced position along the axis AA for laying the sleeve by passing the drawing between two rods 230 of the nacelle 200 to go down and put the sleeve M then release it by removing the clamp 354 and continue the descent (through the frame 310) on the height of the riser 240. Then, the assembly is retracted in the direction of the axis AA by the actuator 311 to clear the passage of the nacelle 200 with its stack of sleeves and allow the arrival of a new nacelle. Then, the pairs of laying units 300 go up and take another sleeve M and the cycle starts again. The movement of the four units 350 is synchronized and the running speed of the one 200 relative to the two pairs 300 of sleeve laying units 350 is zero during the laying of the sleeve; the nacelle is positioned precisely with respect to the units 350 so that the center O of the nacelle is exactly at the intersection of the axes AA of action of the units 350.

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Figure 8 is a perspective view of the positioning units 350 of the sleeve M in the retracted position around a transfer basket 200 empty. This figure shows in particular the drawers 352, which are introduced into a sleeve to take it with the clamp 354, the descent inside the contour defined by the rods 250 around the product stack by pushing back if necessary, the centering brushes 234. These elements are each carried by a plate 351. The actuators 311 are not shown in this figure. Figure 9 shows the units 350 at the socket of a sleeve arriving on the cylinder 370 which opens the sheath and then allows the cutting of the sleeve. The sheath and the sleeve are not shown. The units 350 are shown rotated 90 ° with respect to the orientation of FIG. 7. Thus, the two units 350 on the right side are part of a pair 300. These units are connected to the frame 310, vertically movable on the columns 301. The actuator 311 which controls the forward and backward movement of each of the two plates 351 is connected thereto by two arms 355 forming an articulated parallelogram and the actuator itself is integrated into the frame 310 so as to order a linear motion along the axis AA (see Figure 7).

FIG. 10 schematically shows a sleeve laying cycle: in phase A, the stretchers 352 are introduced (arrows F1) into the sheath G and then (phase B), the stretchers are spread apart to stretch (arrows F2) or deploy the end of the sheath before pinching it. The sheath G is then pinched (phase C) (arrows F3) by the clamps 354, each controlled by a jack 353. Once the sheath is pinched, the units 350 descend (arrows F4) so as to be able to cut (arrows F5) the sleeve M and separate it from the sheath G (phase D). Then, the set goes down (arrows F6) on the stack of three products P between the fingers of the transfer medium (phase E). Once the sleeve M is placed, the units 350 with the stretchers go down (arrows 7) along the riser 240 to disengage completely from the sleeve M and the support-shaped 240 (phase F). The stretchers are spaced apart (phase G) (arrows F8) and the transfer pod continues its course to the evacuation station 124 in which the package is extracted from the transfer basket 200.35

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1 °) Process for packaging rigid, rigid products such as cans, characterized in that - the number of boxes (BC) of a batch is stacked, - a sleeve (M) of stretchable plastic material is taken or retractable, of greater length than the height of the product stack, - the sleeve is deployed at a section greater than that of the stack, - the deployed sleeve is lowered by refocusing the stack, so that the sleeve protrudes from the top and the at the bottom of the stack, the sleeve (M) is released in order to come into contact with the pile and stick to it, and the batch of products thus sleeved is evacuated. 2 °) A method of packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that one uses a retractable sleeve and, after the installation of the sleeve on the product stack, shrinks the sleeve by heat-shrinking. 3 °) Rigid product packaging plant stackable with a sleeve to form bundles of products, characterized in that it comprises - a loop transfer line (110) and nacelles (200) traveling along said transfer line (110), and passing through a loading station (122) in which products are loaded onto the nacelles (200), - a sleeving station (123) in which the stack of products stacked on a nacelle (200) receives a sleeve (M) carried by laying units (350) and 30 - an unloading station (124) in which the stacks of grouped sleeves are removed from the nacelles (200) to be evacuated. 4. Packaging plant according to claim 3, characterized in that the sleeving station is followed by a heat shrink tunnel to retract the shrink sleeves placed on the stack of products stacked in the nacelle. 13 5 °) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the nacelle (200) consists of a guide member (210) for the transfer line (110) receiving a plate (220) carrying vertical rods (230). ) delimiting the volume receiving the stack of products (BC) to be sleeved, this volume having in the lower part, an extension (240) on which rests the stack of products to be sleeved, the height of the riser being at least equal to the height of the laying units (350) taking the sleeve (M) and placing it on the stack. 6 °) Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that each rod (230) of a nacelle (200) comprises a brush-shaped support (234) in its face facing the receiving volume of the product stack, for pressing against the stack of products while being retractable at the passage of the sleeve (M) in the gap between the product stack and the brush (234) of each rod (230). 7 °) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the sleeving station (123) comprises two pairs (300) of laying units (350), located on either side of the scroll line (110) nacelles (200), these pairs (300) being each carried by a frame (310) movable vertically along columns (301) to execute the sleeve setting cycle, the nacelle (200) being immobilized with respect to pairs (300) of laying units, during laying. 8 °) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the sleeving station (123) comprises a pair of laying units located on either side of the scroll line (110) of the nacelles (200,), each unit being carried by a movable frame vertically along columns to execute the sleeve installation cycle, the nacelle being immobilized relative to the laying units, during the laying operation. 9 °) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that 14 the nacelle (200) carries the four rods (230) placed at the vertices of a car- ry surrounding the volume of receiving products (BC) and leaving between el- the, a passage interval for the drawers and the clips carrying the sleeve, the diagonals of the positioning square of the rods (230) being respectively parallel and perpendicular to the line of scroll (110) and the lines of action (AA) of the laying units (350) being directed at 45 ° with respect to the center (0) of a nacelle (200) in the laying position of the sleeve. 10 °) Installation according to claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the plate (220) is provided with housings (221), directed radially towards the center (0) of the plate for receiving in an adjustable manner, the vertical rods (230). ) and to adapt the section of the volume defined between the rods according to the dimensions of the products to be sleeved. 11 °) Lot of products grouped by a stretchable or retractable sleeve consisting of stackable rigid products cuffed according to the method of claims 1 and 2 or with the aid of the installation according to claims 3 to 10.20