WO1998052823A1

WO1998052823A1 - Apparatus for securing flexible packages to a display strip

Info

Publication number: WO1998052823A1
Application number: PCT/TR1997/000011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Osman MALKOÇ; Ihsan Yanik; Hamza Yilmaz
Original assignee: Kar Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S.
Priority date: 1997-05-20
Filing date: 1997-07-16
Publication date: 1998-11-26
Also published as: DK1015315T3; ATE372927T1; PT1015315E; EP1350722B1; DE69738143D1; EP1015315B1; ES2274545T3; AU3566197A; EP1350722A1; ES2292873T3; DE69736906D1; EP1015315A1; DE69736906T2; ATE344183T1; PT1350722E; DK1350722T3; DE69738143T2

Abstract

It is a system in which a desired number of flexible packages can be attached on the display strip successively to be more detachable and neither the strip nor the package gets damaged when detaching. Stripping process: the package of which process is completed with the packing machine is held by two reciprocal pneumatic grippers, and carried to a second station where it is sealed to the strip by means of small jaws under heat and pressure.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FLEXIBLE PACKAGES TO A DISPLAY STRIP

2- BACKGRAUND OF THE INVENTION 2.a- The Title Of The Invention : The fixing of flexible packages made by Vertical or honzantal form fill and seal packaging machines with a strip after being packed on a second station in the same machine by the help of small jaws, using the method of with heat and pressure in a way that they could easily be removed from the strip, shortly names as THE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATED ATTACHMENT OF DETACHABLY SECURING FLEXIBLE PACKAGES TO A DISPLAY STRiP, FROM WHICH THEY COULD EASILY BE TAKEN

WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE, IS PERFORMED AT THE SECOND STATION OF THE TYPE VERTICALLY OR HORIZANTALLY FORM FILL SEAL PACKAGING MACHINE

2.b- Field Of The Invention : The invention involves the area,

Outlets like supermarkets, markets, shops and nutsshops, where packages of appetizers like dried fruits, sunflower seeds, chips (potato, corn, tortilla, fabricated), extruded snacks and nuts are sold, utilize some methods in displaying their products One of these methods is hanging packages strips arranged in a line This method will be preferred by both the sellers who have small shops because it makes arrangement and displaying easier and the consumers who can easily make their choice

However, the present condition of the technique is a terrible expense for the producer and a painstaking procedure for the consomer The packets should be safely arranged so that they will not fall down, they should only be taken by pulling downwards and neither the package nor the strip should be damaged in the meantime and nor the packages on the strip should be dropped

The Present Condition Of The Technique :

The packages mentioned are usually produced in vertical or horizontal form fill and seal packing machines The bottom of the packages is sealed at a speed of 15 -120 packages per minute using only one of the materials like polyethylene, polyproplene, cellophane, aluminium folio and bi-onented polyproplene (bopp) ( or several of them are laminated ) and by the help of pneumatic, hydrolic or mechanical pressure properly selected for the material, the packages are filled and the tops are closed by sealing and cut and taken away from the machine by a conveyor which stands just below the packing machine The packages taken away from the packing machine by a conveyor are unloaded into a second station where the packages are lined up on perforated cardboard strips by at least three manual workers (Fig 5 Pos M1 , M2) In a middle-sized factory with 15-25 packing machines, the number of workers needed is 45-75 in one shift and 135-225 in three shifts Besides waste of labour and the difficulties it brings to the worker, the increasing expense is unaffordable for both the consumer and the manufacturer

For this reason, the experts in many countries in the world have been working on this subject for years Some examples patented in the USA and our opinions about them and the advantages of our invention when compared to others are as follows

Palmer U S Pat No 4 422 552 et al and Palmer U S Pat No 4 476 619 disclose methods and apparatus for folding the end seal or flange of a bag into the slot of a display card The steps of folding and tucking the end seals of numerous packages into a slotted display card are often performed manually and consume considerable time the and expense The prior art, however, includes alternative methods of attaching flexible packages to a display card For example, Runner U S Pat No 2 272 623 discloses a display card with packages removably attached thereto by adhesive In Farfelly U S Pat No 4 003 782 manufactured bags are applied to two lines of pressure sensitive adhesive and then stored in a carton or the like It is also known to attach empty packages to a display or mounting support base and then fill and seal the packages

See Hannon U S Pat No 3 331 182 Several problems arise with the aforementioned methods of securing packages to a display strip One problem that often occurs when the packages are adhesively attached to the display strip is that the packages cannot easily be removed from the strip without damaging the sealed condition of the packages In Patrea's patent with no 3 864 895 in the USA only the packages made in vertical packing machine are glued onto the strip on a second station by a vacuumed arms on the conveyor Finally in Recot Inc 's patent with no 5 433 060 in the USA, the system of sealing the packages on strips under pressure and heat Since in Recot's patent the packages are ripped from the strip, there are some cases where the packagies, the strip and the hanger might be damaged, and also the other packages fall down In this invention, in the system which is based on this applied method has some differences and supeπontes which are explained in details below compared to Recot Inc 's patent in the

USA with no 5 433 060 a) As mentioned in Recot's claim no 1 , the sealing of the packages on the strip under pressure and heat is not a recent invention, because announcements for promotion have been made ever since by sealing strips onto packages A similer application can be seen in case of potato and fruit bags b) It's known by those who know the subject well that the loosening of the joining parts and different wearing might cause serious problems because there is a mechanical damage on every package made in jaws which are constantly warming and cooling and the additional parts are not rigid This will bring some disadvantages as below

- When the additional part gets loose, the sealing of the strip or the package gets very strong and the packages can hardly be separated from the strip, therefore the package, the strip and the system of hangings might be damaged, or when the sealing is too loose the packages might be dropped by the wind or another effect c) In feeding the strip, as Recot suggests, a step motor or a pneumatic system should be used in other words there is a system pushing the strip by certain steps In our invention, the strip is prepared with a system that has a function of positive pulling by means of bellowed pitch piston assembled on a small jaw group Therefore there is no need for the step motor and the necessary micro processor commanding it an electronic circuit anymore (likePLC) d) As seen in Recot's patent in question FIG 5 Pos N1 and N2, there is a risk of ripping the package open as a result of pulling downwards To prevent this, the strip should be held by the bottom side and the package should be lifted up, but it is not usually practised, also a shaking movement made to rip the packages off the strip may cause the other packages to free from the pawl However, in our invention, as shown in FIG 5 Pos 01 and 02, because the packages are adversely twisted on the strip, they are not sealed on the adhesive part but pulled downwards As a result the procedure which the consumer follows is not a kind of ripping but releasing the packet from the strip There for the packages could simply be released from the strip without damaging the package, the strip and the system of hangings e) The strip should be cut into certain lengths so as to be placed successively in a row

In Recot's patent, since there are not any measures taken for this operation, the product should be counted by a worker before cutting In this invention, however, the required number of packages are automatically cut after being attached on the strip and then reaches the worker who places the strips in cases and sends them to the store for the purpose of being delivered to outlets

2.c. The Technical Problems Which The Invention Aims To Solve And Secondary Goals

With this invention, the stripping process that is mentioned at the item 2-e is carried out automatically and brings a solution for the following problems a) A great number of workers work on the packing area which is quite narrow and uncomfortable b) The workers who work at the machines repeat a monotonous and boring action thousands of times c) The cardboard which is still consumed as strips is first prepared, obtained and then produced d) During the process from production to delivery (unloading-stonng- transfer- unloading- storing- loading etc ) packages slip out of cardboard strips (FIG 5 Pos M1 , M2) at the point where strips are locked by hand due to external factors such as vibration and bumps and they scatter e) At the point where it is presented to the consumer, the packages become loose and fall due to external factors such as wind, bumps, knocks f) While the packages produced automatically with similar method by Recot patent are shaked or pulled out of the strips There is a high risk of damage to the strips and the system of hangings The difference is clearly noticed at FIG 5 POS N1 , N2 and FIG 6 POS aO, a1 , a2, and a3 g) In Recot Patent (which recent devoloped patent at this subject), since the strip produced gets continuously longer, the cutting process of packages containing desired number of pieces (like 10 each) is not automatic h) Stripping process can be started by using signals on the original circuit of the bagmaker, in a way that there is no need for a complicated system such as with step motor or micro processor ( or with PLC ) Hence, the cost is low and there is no complexity

2.d. Brief Description Of The Drawings

2.e. Description of Background Art.

This invention related generally to system for attaching (affixing) bags to a carrier strip, especially, to a method and apparatus for detachably securing flexible bags to a display carrier strip and simultaneously affixing at the second station

- The packing machine producing the package is illustrated in the figure 1 , but the principal operating system (there are machines that have pneumatic, mechanic, hydrolic, rotatory, electro-pneumatic, electro-mechanic or electro-hydrolic operating system) is already known by the science of packing technology, thus, the details will not be defined again when explaninmg this invention

- Sealing of the upper and lower ends of the packages in the horizontal and vertical type form filling and sealing packing machines is carried out and cut by the same jaw group (17) Sealing of the back parts is carried out by back jaws (14) in the vertical types and in the horizontal types the same process is performed while the package is going through 2-3 jaw groups with rotatory disks, thus the packet one end of which is sealed and the other is open like a tube (16) is ready before the product is put in

- How to produce a small number of packages and meanwhile the application of the invention is explained below,

- Packing machines (10) have stripping reels (18-b) near the mechanism (11-a) in which normal package reel (11-b) is located

- While packing material starting from the package bobbin is going through various (directing) rolls (11d) off center and information such as date of code is checked and printed automatically (12), afterwards the packing material goes through a special tube former and then while this material being wrapped around a pipe in accordance with the sealing method is being pulled by the jaw, it is applied to the jaws as much as the length of the package by means of fπctional and vacuumed belts in the machines of some certain types a) Stripping bobbin is placed in the spare bobbin (18a) pin of the machine Here, a strip having a counter weight part (19) is used in order to prevent the bobbin from turnover because of the speed inertness that occurs during operation b) On the first main and honzantal part are connected the braking piston (22), stroke (pitch) piston (23) and the pistons to which the sealing jaws are connected (25,26) strip leading (directing) roll and guide chutte (24) The knife cutting the strip at certain lengths ( by the signal it perceives ) (29) and the piston to which it is connected are also connected to this part c) On the second main and vertical part (30) (which canbe installed two different way see fig 1) - shown in Figure 4-are connected the pneumatic grippers (33) that hold the package of which all sealing proceses are completed in the big main jaws along with the group of armed bars (32) to which those pneumatic gπpper are connected, and the pneumatic piston (31) which causes the armed bar system to move up and down with the signal it perceives and the sensor that enables the piston to complete the cycle by making use of the position of the pneumatic piston while it is going through a certain point, and the plate (35) enabling the sensor to be perceived d) The package (16-b) weighed, filled and sealed at the top, bottom and back by the packing machine is held by the two reciprocal pneumatic grippers (33) of the system that is the subject matter of the patent, and is rapidly carried to the second station (this is the point where the packages are sealed to the stripe) While it is being carried Sensor (34) produces a signal by perceiving plate (35) which is connected to the arm (32) and by which the package comes down, and sends this signal to the pneumatic system which moves the sealing jaws (27) The valves receiving the signals open the sealing jaws connected to the pistons are (26) and so the pistons are put into motion At the end of this process, the package is ready to be attached to the stripe (The figure on Page 3)

- When the jaws (27) attach the package to the stripe, finger shaped clasps (33) are opened and they rapidly go up to the first station with their arms open in order to hold a new package - When they reach the first station the arms are still open The jaws at the first station perform the sealing process, and during the cutting process the pneumatic clasps are closedby the signal coming from this processand hold the package While the sealing jaws are opening the system carries the package to the second station During the time the package is being carried down, the sensor sees the perceiving part and gets the sealing jaws to move Thus the cycle goes on

- While the jaws are coming forward, brake piston (22) is open and it allows the stripe to pass below However, the pitch piston (23) is closed during that time That is, the piston compresses the stripe so that its position is not displaced Nevertheless, the jaw (27) to which the piston is connected has pulled with it as much stripe (21 ) as the distance way it covers while coming forward This length is equal to the space (p) between the packages on the stripe ( It is called "pitch" )

- While coming back after sealing, the braking pιston(22) is closed and the pitch (step) piston (23) is open, so when the pitch piston comes forward the stripe is pulled as much as a step (p) and its position is fixed so that it can not move back-thus the the step remains unchanges Meanwhile, the packages (42-b) on the prepared stripe stretch the stripe and keep it streched by gravity

- The process continues as mentioned During those processes the package (16) is filled with the product weighed on the electronic scale located on the packing machine or it can be filled (fed) by hand

The packages (42-b) which sealed (bottom, top and back) at the first station of the packing machine are automatically attached to the stripes (21 ) at the second station by armed clasps (33) and after being cut at certain lengths, they are poured upon the conveyor belt beneath the packing machine and with the help of the conveyor (40) the striped packages are taken out to be put into cases Packages in cases are sent for shipping to be supplied to the market

Claims

3. CLAIMS

1- Stripping the packages_/ produced by vertical or honzantal type fill and seal packing machines having on a carrier display strip at a second station of the same machine using the sealing method of applying heat pressure in order to attach them so that the packages themselves, the display strip and the system of hangings will not get damaged

2- Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 the sealing method of applying heat and pressure to the package as shown in the figure on FIG 5 Pos 01-02, which is the most characteristic of our invention -by means of this invention packages produced by vertical or honzantally type form fill and seal packing machines that have the ability to be adhered more safely, and more easily detached than those produced by other available systems and the packages themselves, the strip or the system of hangings are not damaged

3- Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 the method of feeding the strip from opposite the small stripe seal jaw located on the opposite side of the vertical jaw (or back sealing disk can do job of vertical jaw on the honzantal type machines ) at the second station in order to have the condition mentioned in Item 2 above realized

4- An apparatus according to claim 2, where in one of two strip sealing jaws, includes a guiding chute with bar and the carrier strip passes trough the chute on the strip sealing jaw to a location adjacent an and of a package 5- Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 , the matter that the strip is able to be pulled by means of natural motion of the jaw with a direct positive effect from the system at the second station to which small strip sealing jaws and pitch piston are connected each other (The type of the braking piston and pitch piston, mechanic, vacuumed, diaphragm, disk driver doesn't change the essence of the system ) 6- Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 , the matter that the machine can perceive signals from the normal electric system so the system can be operated without needing an extra control system (PCL, or microprocessor etc )

7- An apparatus according to Claim 1 , where in at least one pair of strip seal jaw is of a plurality of mating seal elements (strip) at station-ll 8- An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said seal-forming means includes a pair of sealing jaws for forming the top and bottom seals of adjacent packages 9- An apparatus according to Claim 4, where in one of the strip sealing jaws of said-seal- forming means includes a guiding chute with bar theretrought for feeding the carrier strip therethrough and against a package (to front side of package ) 10- Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 , the process in which the strips, are cut at certain lengths (when a certain number of packages are placed) after the packages are attached to the strips in order to be cased

11- The method by which the strip bobbin is installed at the side where the other main bobbin is located 12- The method by which the stripped packages are carried to the back side of the machine by a mobile conveyor belt passing beneath the machine As a result, is becomes easier to reach the heated parts that need servicing frequently and reaching gets easier as well ( However, whether conveyer belt (40) used for the purpose of transportation takes away the packages/strips from the front, back, left or right sides of the machine doesn't effect the essence of this patent )

13- The method of attaching the package by means of small jaws located at the second station which is situated at the opposite side of the sealing performed by the vertical back jaw (the back sealing disks in the honzantal type machines) for the method of attaching at FIG 5 Pos 01 and 02