Device and method for overwrapping identical or similar products and boxing the overwrapped products

Abstract

Method and device for overwrapping products and for boxing overwrapped products, the device includes elements for dispensing overwrapping blanks and elements for loading products grouped together within a work station for distributing and loading preparatory batches and elements for closing preparatory batches and elements for offloading overwrapped batches grouped together within a work station for closing and offloading the overwrapped batches. The device also includes receiving elements including a first pair of shuttle shapers to adjust the volume of overwrapping blanks around the products to receive the preparatory batches. These shuttle shapers are arranged along a first distribution path for moving in phase opposition to one another so that, during operation, when one of the shuttle shapers is in position for distributing and loading the preparatory batches, the other of the shuttle shapers of the first pair is in position for closing and offloading the overwrapped batches, and vice versa.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . Device for overwrapping identical or similar products, and boxing overwrapped products, comprising:
 means for supplying flat overwrapping blanks and means for supplying products, moving in an incoming axial stream, means for supplying boxes empty of products and means for carrying away boxes filled with overwrapped products, moving in an outgoing axial stream;   distribution means able to distribute, in a sequential manner, flat overwrapping blanks from the means for supplying overwrapping blanks to recessed receiving means;   loading means able to load products sequentially from the means for supplying products into the receiving means, so as to form preparatory batches composed of products and, around them, erected and open overwrapping blanks;   closing means able to close sequentially the erected and open overwrapping blanks onto the preparatory batches so as to form overwrapped batches composed of products overwrapped with erected and closed overwrapping blanks;   unloading means able to offload the overwrapped batches sequentially from the receiving means to the boxes supplied by the means for supplying boxes and carried away, once filled with overwrapped products, by the means for carrying away filled boxes,   
       characterized by the fact that:
 the distributing means and the loading means are grouped in a distribution and loading station for preparatory batches, and the closing means and offloading means are grouped in a closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches; 
 the receiving means comprise a first pair of shuttle shapers able to erect overwrapping blanks around products in order to receive the preparatory batches; 
 the shuttle shapers of the first pair are arranged on a first distribution path and are able to be moved along the first distribution path in phase opposition relative to one another, such that, during operation, when one of the shuttle shapers of the first pair is in position in the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches (L P ), the other of the shuttle shapers of the first pair is in position in the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, and vice versa. 
 
     
     
         26 . Device according to  claim 25 , comprising the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches only. 
     
     
         27 . Device according to  claim 25 , comprising adhesive material placement means which allow placing adhesive material on a portion of the erected and open overwrapping blanks so as to keep closed the overwrapped batches comprising the erected and closed overwrapping blanks. 
     
     
         28 . Device according to  claim 27 , further comprising one of the following features:
 the adhesive material placement means are arranged near the first distribution path, between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, in a manner that allows on the fly placement of adhesive material on the portions of the erected and open overwrapping blanks during the passage of these erected and open overwrapping blanks between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches;   the adhesive material placement means are arranged in the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, in a manner that allows the placement of adhesive material on the portions of the erected and open overwrapping blanks when these erected and open overwrapping blanks are in position in the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches and before making use of the closing means.   
     
     
         29 . Device according to  claim 28 , comprising means for distributing informational or decorative elements, able to affix informational or decorative elements onto a portion of the erected and open overwrapping blanks. 
     
     
         30 . Device according to  claim 29 , wherein the means for distributing informational or decorative elements are arranged in proximity to the first distribution path, between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, in a manner that allows on the fly distribution of informational or decorative elements onto the portions of the erected and open overwrapping blanks during the passage of these erected and open overwrapping blanks between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, 
       and wherein the adhesive material placement means and the means for distributing decorative elements are structurally and functionally linked to each other. 
     
     
         31 . Device according to  claim 29 , wherein the informational or decorative elements are chosen from among:
 ink, self-sticking labels, and similar elements.   
     
     
         32 . Device according to  claim 25 , wherein the receiving means comprise a second pair of shuttle shapers able to erect overwrapping blanks around products in order to receive the preparatory batches; 
       the shuttle shapers of the second pair being arranged on a second distribution path and able to be moved along the second distribution path in phase opposition relative to one another, such that, during operation, when one of the shuttle shapers of the second pair is in position in the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches, the other of the shuttle shapers of the second pair is in position in the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, and vice versa. 
     
     
         33 . Wrapping device according to  claim 32 , wherein the first and/or second distribution path comprise(s): a support rail extending in a longitudinal direction; transmission means supported by the support rail and able to drive the shuttle shapers in a back and forth movement along the longitudinal direction of the support rail; and a drive motor able to set the transmission means in motion, 
       and optionally wherein the transmission means present a first portion and a second portion respectively able to drive one and the other of the shuttle shapers of the first pair and/or of the second pair in opposite directions, 
       and especially wherein the transmission means comprise one or two closed transmission elements, such as a belt or chain. 
     
     
         34 . Wrapping device according to  claim 33 , comprising at least one of the following characteristics:
 the support rail of the second distribution path is parallel and opposite the support rail of the first distribution path, p 1  the drive motor for the first distribution path also constitutes the drive motor for the second distribution path.   
     
     
         35 . Method for overwrapping identical or similar products, and for boxing overwrapped products, comprising a plurality of steps consisting of:
 having means for supplying flat overwrapping blanks, means for supplying products moving in an incoming axial stream, means for supplying boxes empty of products, and means for carrying away boxes filled with overwrapped products moving in an outgoing axial stream;   sequentially distributing flat overwrapping blanks, from the means for supplying overwrapping blanks to recessed receiving means; and   sequentially loading products from the means for supplying products into the receiving means, so as to form preparatory batches composed of products and, around them, erected and open overwrapping blanks;   sequentially closing the erected and open overwrapping blanks onto the preparatory batches so as to form overwrapped batches composed of products overwrapped with erected and closed overwrapping blanks;   sequentially offloading the overwrapped batches from the receiving means to the boxes supplied by the means for supplying boxes and carried away, once filled with overwrapped products, by the means for carrying away filled boxes;   
       characterized by the fact that the receiving means comprise a first pair of shuttle shapers which alternately participate in erecting overwrapping blanks around products during the receiving of preparatory batches; 
       by the fact that during a first phase
 the steps of distributing overwrapping blanks and loading products are performed one after the other within a distribution and loading station for preparatory batches in which is located one of the shuttle shapers of the first pair, and, simultaneously; 
 the steps of closing the erected and open overwrapping blanks and offloading the overwrapped batches to the boxes are performed one after the other within a closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches in which is located the other of the shuttle shapers of the first pair; 
 
       and by the fact that during a second phase
 the shuttle shapers of the first pair, arranged on a first distribution path, are moved along the first distribution path in phase opposition relative to one another, such that one of the shuttle shapers ( 52 ) of the first pair is moved from the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches towards the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches while the other of the shuttle shapers of the first pair is moved from the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches towards the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches. 
 
     
     
         36 . Method according to  claim 35 , wherein only the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches are used, 
       the method comprising a step consisting of distributing an adhesive material on a portion of the erected and open overwrapping blanks in a manner that keeps closed the overwrapped batches comprising the erected and closed overwrapping blanks, 
       the method further comprising one of the following features:
 the step of distributing adhesive material consists of placing adhesive material, on the fly, between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, on the portions of the erected and open overwrapping blanks during the passage of these erected and open overwrapping blanks between said distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and said closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, before carrying out the step of closing the overwrapping blanks; 
 the step of distributing adhesive material consists of distributing adhesive material, within the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, on the portions of the erected and open overwrapping blanks when these erected and open overwrapping blanks are in position in the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, before carrying out the step of closing the overwrapping blanks. 
 
     
     
         37 . Method according to  claim 35 , comprising a step consisting of distributing informational or decorative elements in a manner that affixes these informational or decorative elements onto a portion of the erected and open overwrapping blanks, 
       and especially wherein the step of distributing informational or decorative elements consists of distributing, on the fly, between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches, informational or decorative elements onto the portions of the erected and open overwrapping blanks during the passage of these erected and open overwrapping blanks between the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches and the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches. 
     
     
         38 . Method according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein the receiving means comprise a second pair of shuttle shapers which alternately participate in erecting the overwrapping blanks around products during the receiving of preparatory batches;   wherein, during the first phase, one of the shuttle shapers of the second pair is in position in the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches while the other of the shuttle shapers of the second pair is in position in the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches;   wherein, during the second phase, the shuttle shapers of the second pair, arranged on a second distribution path, are moved along the second distribution path in phase opposition relative to each other, such that one of the shuttle shapers of the second pair is moved from the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches towards the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches while the other of the shuttle shapers of the second pair is moved from the closing and offloading station for overwrapped batches towards the distribution and loading station for preparatory batches.   
     
     
         39 . Method according to  claim 38 , wherein the shuttle shapers of the first pair and the shuttle shapers of the second pair are driven by a single drive motor. 
     
     
         40 . Device according to  claim 25 , comprising means for distributing informational or decorative elements, able to affix informational or decorative elements onto a portion of the erected and open overwrapping blanks. 
     
     
         41 . Wrapping device according to  claim 25 , wherein the first and/or second distribution path comprise(s): a support rail extending in a longitudinal direction; transmission means supported by the support rail and able to drive the shuttle shapers in a back and forth movement along the longitudinal direction of the support rail; and a drive motor able to set the transmission means in motion, 
       and optionally wherein the transmission means present a first portion and a second portion respectively able to drive one and the other of the shuttle shapers of the first pair and/or of the second pair in opposite directions, 
       and especially wherein the transmission means comprise one or two closed transmission elements, such as a belt or chain.