Machine For Composite Package, Packaging Method And Winding Means

Abstract

A machine for composite packages has an entry first carrier which is oriented in a first carrying direction and carries a composite package including a pallet, having a plurality of parallel and coplanar upper grooves and an overhanging load. A travelling-lifting device located at an exit of the first carrier has a first translator for translating the pallet and the load, and a lifter to move vertically the first translator, the pallet and the load between a lowered first state, and a lifted state where the pallet grooves are at a certain predetermined height. A drive has rods parallel and coplanar to the pallet grooves in the lifted state. The rods move between a complete disengagement state and an engagement state where the rods enter the grooves. A winder for packaging materials winds at least the sides of the load supported by the rods.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A machine for composite packages, each package including at least one pallet having a supporting upper face for supporting a respective overlying load, said machine comprising:
 an entry first carrier which in an operating state is horizontal and oriented in a first carrying direction, the first carrier supporting and transporting at least one composite package in said first carrying direction, from an entry to an exit thereof, while keeping the pallet horizontal;   a travelling-lifting device, located at the exit from the first carrier, having a first translator for supporting and translating the pallet and the load in the first carrying direction, the travelling-lifting device having a lifter for vertically moving the first translator, the overlying pallet and the load between a first lowered state, where the first translator is aligned to the first carrying direction, and a lifted state wherein the upper face of the pallet is at a predetermined height;   a drive having a plurality of rods located parallel and coplanar to the upper face of the pallet when in the lifted state, the drive inserting and sliding the rods between the load and the upper face of the pallet, the rods supporting the load during and after the pallet is removed by the lifter;   an orbital winding device for winding packaging materials having a horizontal axis, the winding device for winding at least horizontal sides of the load supported by the rods when the load is in a removed state from the first translator and the pallet.   
     
     
         20 . The machine according to  claim 19  wherein the travelling-lifting device has a second translator having a second carrying direction almost horizontal and inclined with respect to the first carrying direction, the lifter being adapted to move the first translator to a second lowered state, lower than the first lowered state, the first translator being lower than the second translator to allow the first translator to put a pallet on the second translator, the machine further comprising a second carrier located adjacent a side of the travelling-lifting device, coplanar and aligned to the second carrying direction to receive and move the pallet away from the second translator. 
     
     
         21 . The machine according to  claim 19  wherein the winding device includes a reel for the packaging materials, the reel sliding film along an annular rail which describes an orbital rotating movement around a horizontal rotation axis, being almost incident to a central area of the load in the lifted state, the annular rail being mounted on a truck adapted for sliding along at least one straight guide to engage, cover and disengage from an area of the load in the lifted state, a rotation geometric axis and a longitudinal geometric axis of the reel, of the annular rail and of the at least one guide being mutually parallel and at least approximately parallel to the rods. 
     
     
         22 . The machine according to  claim 19  further comprising an exit third translator located on a side of the travelling-lifting device opposite to the first carrier and aligned to the first carrying direction to receive the composite package from the first translator and to translate the composite package up to an exit state. 
     
     
         23 . The machine according to  claim 20  further comprising a feeding carrier placed at a side of the travelling-lifting device and aligned to the second carrying direction of the second-translator to feed the travelling-lifting device with a replacement pallet, a replacement support and/or a template housing a set of supports. 
     
     
         24 . The machine according to  claim 23  wherein at least one template has slots set to removably house a set of supports, and further comprising a glue applicator adapted to apply an adhesive to an upper face of the supports. 
     
     
         25 . The machine according to  claim 22  wherein the first carrier, the first translator, the second carrier and the third translator are chain and/or belt translators; the second translator and the feeding carrier are motorized roller translators; the lifter is a pantograph lifter, the drive has an easel or supporting frame, with a yielding connection, the rods sliding along guides which are straight and parallel to the rods. 
     
     
         26 . The machine according to  claim 19  wherein the pallet upper support face has a plurality of upper, parallel and coplanar grooves, the rods consisting of a plurality of elongated elements having a length equal to, or greater than, a length of the grooves, the elements being of square or rectangular cross sections that can be inserted into corresponding sections of the grooves, wherein each groove corresponds to one of the elongated elements which are arranged to be inserted, between the pallet and the load, in the respective grooves. 
     
     
         27 . The machine according to  claim 19  where the rods comprise a set of elongated plate-like elements having a length equal to or greater than a maximum length of the pallet, the elements having flattened rectangular cross-sections for sliding insertion between a pallet having an upper face that is flat and free of grooves, and the load. 
     
     
         28 . The machine according to  claim 19  further comprising two side pressers, being plate shaped, mutually facing, vertical, and perpendicular to the first carrying direction and connected, by a first actuator for mutually approaching and removing of the two side pressers, to a respective first support that holds the two side pressers at the height of the load when in the lifted state. 
     
     
         29 . The machine according to  claim 28  further comprising a front first presser which is plate shaped, vertical, and parallel to the first carrying direction and connected, by a respective horizontal translation second actuator, to a respective second support for holding said first presser at the height of the load in the lifted state. 
     
     
         30 . The machine according to  claim 28  wherein, with respect to the travelling-lifting device, the first support is on a side of the drive and the second support is on an opposite side thereof, and further comprising a pusher acting in a direction parallel to the second carrying direction and fixed to the first support at the height of the pallet in the lifted state to act on the pallet in opposition to the first presser obtaining a partial translation of the pallet with respect to the load, forming therebetween a guide shoulder for the rods between said pallet and said load. 
     
     
         31 . The machine according to  claim 28  further comprising a second presser which is plate shaped, parallel and facing the front first presser and connected, via a respective third actuator for horizontal translation, to the first support for holding said second presser at the height of the load (S) in the lifted state. 
     
     
         32 . A method for processing composite packages comprising:
 providing the machine of claim  1 ;   using the first carrier for putting a composite package, including at least one pallet having a plurality of parallel and coplanar upper grooves and a load supported on said pallet, above the first translator and a lifter of the travelling-lifting device;   lifting the composite package up to a predetermined height;   horizontally translating the rods and inserting them between the upper face of the pallet and the load;   lowering the pallet while the load is supported by the rods;   applying a stretchable film to at least upper and lower faces of the load which is kept lifted by the rods;   lifting the original pallet, a replacement pallet or a support until it is in abutment against a lower face of the wrapped load, and sliding the wrapped load off the plurality of rods which are removed from the bottom of the load which remains supported by the original pallet, replacement pallet or support, supported by the lifter;   lowering the composite package with the wrapped load.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32  further comprising:
 stopping the load opposite to the drive and using a front first presser to push and translate the load a distance between  1 cm and  30 cm, only in a direction following the rod insertion direction for forming a shoulder consisting of an edge of a lower face of the load that protrudes from the pallet and bringing tips of the rods, first into contact with the shoulder and then slidingly penetrate between a lower face of the load and an upper support face of the pallet. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33  further comprising replacing the original pallet with a replacement pallet or a support by, after lowering the original pallet, moving the original pallet to an exit via a second carrier, feeding a replacement pallet, a support or a template housing a support to the lifter, lifting the replacement pallet, the support or the template with the support into abutment against the lower face of the load supported by rods. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34  further comprising replacing the original pallet with a support, and, during the feeding step or before the lifting step, applying an adhesive material to the upper faces of the support and proceeding with the lifting of the template with the support for bringing the upper faces bearing the adhesive material towards the lower face of the load supported by the rods; lowering the load onto the support;
 bringing back the free template on the feeding carrier, and, before the rods are removed: 
 applying a further layer of stretchable film above the load and above the support; 
 proceeding with the removing and lowering steps of a composite package having the load fixed to the support.