Wrapping group and wrapping method for wrapping products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands

Abstract

A wrapping group for wrapping products, in containment bands, including a support structure which defines an advancing plane and with which are associated a first conveyor for conveying a plurality of products one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along the advancing plane and along an advancing direction. Each editorial product includes a book and/or a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other. A feeding device feeds a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane of the products.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 : A wrapping group for wrapping editorial products in containment bands, wherein the wrapping group comprises a support structure which defines an advancing plane and with which the following are associated:
 a first conveyor for conveying a plurality of editorial products one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along the advancing plane and along an advancing direction, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other,   a feeding device for feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane of the editorial products, wherein each of the containment bands has, parallel to the feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective editorial product has parallel to the advancing direction, and wherein each of the containment bands is intercepted by a respective editorial product advancing along the advancing direction and folded by it in two on a second conveyor, which is aligned with and has the same direction as the first conveyor, to form a U-shaped pocket in which the respective editorial product is inserted and which has a lower band portion, resting on the second conveyor and whereon the respective editorial product rests, and an upper band portion, resting on the respective editorial product, the lower band portion having a flap that extends beyond the respective editorial product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of the editorial product, thus inserted in the U-shaped pocket, along the advancing direction, and   a folding and closing device for folding the flap on the upper band portion resting on the upper face of the respective editorial product, the folding and closing device comprising:   a third conveyor that is aligned with and has the same direction as the second conveyor to receive the editorial products inserted in the respective containment band and that includes at least one portion distanced from the second conveyor, wherein between the second conveyor and the third conveyor a passage is defined and   at least one contact element for making contact with the flap of the containment band, in which a respective the editorial product is inserted and which rests on the third conveyor, the contact element being associated with the support structure in an alternately movable manner through the passage between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the conveying plane defined by the third conveyor, and a second position, in which it is arranged on the editorial product and resting on the upper band portion of the respective containment band that already covers at least partially the upper face of the editorial product,   wherein the at least one contact element in its movement between the first position and the second position makes contact with the flap in order to fold it and pull it on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product, closing the band in a loop around the respective editorial product.   
     
     
         21 : The wrapping group according to  claim 20 , comprising an application device for applying an adhesive onto the flap or onto the upper or lower band portion, wherein the application device is arranged upstream of or at the folding and closing device with respect to the advancing direction. 
     
     
         22 : The wrapping group according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one contact element is associated with the support structure in a movable manner between the first position and the second position with a combined rotation and translation movement, wherein the rotation movement takes place with respect to a rotation axis substantially parallel to the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor and substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction and wherein the translation movement has at least one component parallel to the advancing direction. 
     
     
         23 : The wrapping group according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one contact element is height-adjustable with respect to the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor as a function of the height of the editorial products. 
     
     
         24 : The wrapping group according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one contact element is mounted at the end of an arm that is associated with the support structure in a rotating manner about the rotation axis. 
     
     
         25 : The wrapping group according to  claim 24 , wherein the arm comprises a pair of compass levers that are articulated to each other about an articulation axis parallel to the rotation axis, a first lever of which is associated with the support structure in a rotating manner about the rotation axis, and a second lever, a free end of which supports the at least one contact element, wherein traction elastic means are interposed between the first lever and the second lever. 
     
     
         26 : The wrapping group according to  claim 24 , wherein the arm or the first lever is substantially L, C or U-shaped. 
     
     
         27 : The wrapping group according to  claim 24 , wherein the arm is mounted on a carriage that is associated with the support structure in a movable manner with alternate rectilinear movement parallel to the advancing direction. 
     
     
         28 : The wrapping group according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one contact element is cylindrical and comprises a cylindrical bar or at least one roller or one wheel. 
     
     
         29 : The wrapping group according to  claim 20 , comprising a creasing device for creasing, on each of the containment bands, at least one folding line that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the advancing plane and substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction. 
     
     
         30 : The wrapping group according to  claim 20 , comprising a command and control unit to which at least the feeding device, the first conveyor, the second conveyor, and the folding and closing group are slaved, wherein the command and control unit is configured to selectively control each of them according to the dimensions of the editorial product being processed by each of them. 
     
     
         31 : The wrapping group according to  claim 30 , wherein at least each of the feeding device, the first conveyor, the second conveyor, and the folding and closing group comprises own independent motorization and adjustment devices, and wherein the wrapping group comprises a plurality of detectors for detecting presence and dimensions of the editorial products being processed, wherein the command and control unit is configured to selectively and independently control each of the motorization and adjustment devices according to the signals detected by the detectors. 
     
     
         32 : An automatic packaging machine for automatic packaging of editorial products, each in a respective containment product of one of a containment band and a cover, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other, the automatic packaging machine comprising a wrapping group according to  claim 20 , upstream of which at least one feeding group is arranged for feeding the editorial products on the first conveyor. 
     
     
         33 : The packaging machine according to  claim 32 , wherein the command and control unit is configured to stop the folding and closing device and wherein the feeding device is fed at the inlet with a plurality of containment products of laid covers, each of the covers of a single sheet or a plurality of sheets stacked on each other. 
     
     
         34 : The packaging machine according to  claim 33 , comprising at least one first delivery device for delivering the containment products in a form of a band or cover and at least one second delivery device for delivering the containment products in the form of a band or cover having a different format or type, wherein the first delivery device and the second delivery device are selectively actuatable to respectively deliver the bands and the covers to the feeding device. 
     
     
         35 : A method for wrapping editorial products in containment bands, comprising:
 a) advancing a plurality of editorial products, one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along an advancing plane and along an advancing direction by a first conveyor associated with a support structure, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other;   b) feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane that is substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction that is substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane, wherein each of the containment bands has, parallel to the feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective editorial product has parallel to the advancing direction;   c) making each of the containment bands advancing along the feeding direction be intercepted by a respective editorial product advancing along the advancing direction so that the respective editorial product folds the respective containment band in two on a second conveyor, which second conveyor is associated with the support structure and is aligned with and has the same direction as the first conveyor, to form a U-shaped pocket in which it is inserted, wherein the U-shaped pocket includes a lower band portion, which extends below the respective editorial product and rests on the second conveyor, and an upper band portion, which extends above the respective editorial product, wherein the lower band portion includes a flap that extends beyond the respective editorial product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of the editorial product, thus inserted in the U-shaped pocket, along the advancing direction; and   d) folding and laying the flap on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product,   wherein the folding d) is carried out by a folding and closing device for folding the flap on the upper band portion resting on the upper face of the respective editorial product, the folding and closing device being associated with the support structure and comprising:   a third conveyor that is aligned with and has the same direction as the second conveyor to receive the editorial products inserted in the respective containment band and that includes at least one portion distanced from the second conveyor, wherein between the second conveyor and the third conveyor a passage is defined; and   at least one contact element for making contact with the flap of the containment band, in which a respective the editorial product is inserted and which rests on the third conveyor, the contact element being associated with the support structure in an alternately movable manner through the passage between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the conveying plane defined by the third conveyor, and a second position, in which it is arranged on the editorial product and resting on the upper band portion of the respective containment band that already covers at least partially the upper face of the editorial product,   wherein the at least one contact element in its movement between the first position and the second position makes contact with the flap to fold it and pull it on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product, closing the band in a loop around the respective editorial product.   
     
     
         36 : The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising e) defining, in each of the containment bands, at least one folding line that extends in a direction parallel to the advancing plane and orthogonal to the advancing direction, the e) of defining the at least one folding line taking place during the b) of feeding the containment bands. 
     
     
         37 : The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising f) applying an adhesive to the flap or to the lower band portion or to the upper band portion, wherein the application f) takes place before the folding d). 
     
     
         38 : The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising g) printing information on the bands.