Device for arranging a sleeve-like foil envelope around an object as well as a spreading element for use in such a device

Abstract

A device for arranging a sleeve-like foil envelope around an object, including supply means for supplying said sleeve-like foil envelope around at least one spreading element in a horizontal orientation, as well as discharge means for discharging the sleeve-like foil envelope from the device and arranging it around the object, wherein said spreading element has an inlet side configured as a flat element portion, an outlet side and a transition area located between said inlet side and said outlet side, and wherein said spreading element widens towards the transition area in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the flat element portion, whilst the spreading element has an at least substantially constant circumference at least in the direction from the inlet side to the transition area.

1 . A device for arranging a sleeve-like foil envelope around an object, comprising
 supply means for supplying said sleeve-like foil envelope around at least one spreading element in a horizontal orientation, as well as   discharge means for discharging the sleeve-like foil envelope from the device and arranging it around the object, wherein   said spreading element has an inlet side configured as a flat element portion, an outlet side and a transition area located between said inlet side and said outlet side, and wherein   said spreading element widens towards the transition area in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the flat element portion, whilst   the spreading element has an at least substantially constant circumference at least in the direction from the inlet side to the transition area, characterised in that the spreading element has an at least substantially constant circumference, at least in the direction from the inlet side to the outlet side, such that the foil material being carried over the spreading element will cover substantially the same distance on all sides of the spreading element upon being converted from a flat foil sleeve to an open foil sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the spreading element can be supported on the discharge means, which discharge means are located in the plane of the flat element part, the spreading element being provided with a first set of opposite first guide rollers at the location of the transition area, which first guide rollers can be supported on a drivable first drive roller that forms part of the discharge means. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the guide rollers are so disposed in the transition area that the foil exhibits a single curvature in the region of the rollers, so that the occurrence of material stresses in the foil material is minimized. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , characterised in that the spreading element can be freely suspended in the device. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first set of opposite first guide rollers consists of two guide rollers. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spreading element is provided with a second set of opposite second guide rollers near its outlet side, which second guide rollers can be supported on one of the drivable second drive rollers that form part of the discharge means. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , characterised in that said second set of opposite second guide rollers consists of two guide rollers. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide rollers are accommodated in recesses provided in the spreading element. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least the first drive rollers are at least partially provided with a contact surface that has a lower coefficient of friction than the guide rollers. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first and/or said second guide rollers function as pressure rollers for smoothing any creases formed in the foil material. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the discharge means are provided with orientation means for orienting the spreading element in the device. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 , characterised in that said orientation means comprise at least one ridge formed on the first drive rollers, which ridge engages in the first guide rollers. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the element portion has a cylindrical, an oval or a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         14 . A spreading element according to one or more of the preceding claims.