Wrapping machine and associated pneumatic system

Abstract

A wrapping machine for wrapping trayed food products includes a plurality of pneumatic components that are actuatable by delivery of pressurized air to the pneumatic components. A pneumatic arrangement produces pressurized air for actuating the pneumatic components. The pneumatic arrangement is configured to reduce moisture in the pressurized air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wrapping machine for wrapping food products, comprising:
 a wrap station at which food products are wrapped;   a film dispensing system for drawing out film over food products at the wrap station;   a conveying system for moving food products along a path to the wrap station;   a plurality of pneumatic components, each pneumatic component actuatable by delivery of pressurized air;   a pneumatic arrangement for producing pressurized air for actuating the pneumatic components, the pneumatic arrangement including:
 a compressor including an air inlet and an air outlet; 
 a first receiver tank having an air inlet fluidly connected to the air outlet of the compressor to receive pressurized air, the first receiver tank sized to enable water in the pressurized air to condense, the first receiver tank including a drain outlet for draining condensed water, the first receiver tank having an air outlet; 
 a second receiver tank having an air inlet fluidly connected to the air outlet of the first receiver tank to receive pressurized air, the second receiver tank sized to enable water in the pressurized air that enters the second receiver tank to condense, the second receiver tank including a drain outlet for draining condensed water, the second receiver tank having an air outlet that is fluidly connected to a path for delivery of pressurized air to the pneumatic components. 
   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the second receiver tank is positioned above the first receiver tank. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2  wherein the drain outlet of the second receiver tank is connected to a drain inlet of the second receiver tank such that water drained from the first receiver tank passes through the first receiver tank. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the drain outlet of the first receiver tank is spaced from the air outlet of the first receiver tank to limit moisture blow through to the second receiver tank, and the drain outlet of the second receiver tank is spaced from the air outlet of the first receiver tank to limit moisture blow through to the path. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first auto drain trap along the path and having an air inlet fluidly connected to the air outlet of the second receiver tank, the first auto drain trap configured for capturing water and particulate in the pressurized air, the first auto drain trap having an air outlet.   
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second auto drain trap having an air inlet fluidly connected to the air outlet of the first auto drain trap, the second auto drain trap configured for capturing water and particulate in the pressurized air, the second auto drain trap having an air outlet.   
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the air outlet of the second auto drain trap is fluidly connected to the plurality of pneumatic components. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein one or more controllable air valves fluidly connect the air outlet of the second receiver tank to the plurality of pneumatic components to enable selective delivery of pressurized air from the second receiver tank to the pneumatic components. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 8  wherein the drain outlet of the first receiver tank and the drain outlet of the second receiver tank feed to a common and controllable drain valve. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein a controller is connected for selective control of each of the air valves, selective control of the drain valve, and selective operation of the compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of any preceding  claim 8 , wherein a pressure regulator is positioned between the air outlet of the second receiver tank and the controllable air valves to provide a higher pressure zone upstream of the pressure regulator and a lower pressure zone downstream of the pressure regulator. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein a pressure in the higher pressure zone is at least 120 psi and a pressure in the lower pressure zone is no more than 75 psi. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of any preceding  claim 1 , wherein a first heat transfer arrangement is configured to transfer waste heat of the compressor to one or both of a sealer belt film seal zone and/or a film roll supply location. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein a vacuum pump is fluidly connected for control of a vacuum actuated component, wherein a second heat transfer arrangement is configured to transfer waste heat of the vacuum pump to one or both of the sealer belt film seal zone and/or the film roll supply location. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the drain outlet of the first receiver tank and the drain outlet of the second receiver tank feed to a common and controllable drain valve, a controller is connected for selective control of the drain valve and selective operation of the compressor, the controller configured to selectively open the drain valve. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor and total volume of the first and second receiver tanks are collectively sized such that sufficient air pressure is made available for all pneumatic components top operate properly as necessary for sequential wrapping operations at a rated high speed of at least 25 packages per minute, while at the same time requiring the compressor to be operated at no more than a 50% duty cycle. 
     
     
         17 . A wrapping machine for wrapping food products, comprising:
 a wrap station at which food products are wrapped;   a film dispensing system for drawing out film over food products at the wrap station;   a conveying system for moving food products along a path to the wrap station;   a plurality of pneumatic components, each pneumatic component actuatable by delivery of pressurized air;   a pneumatic arrangement for producing pressurized air for actuating the pneumatic components, the pneumatic arrangement including:
 a compressor including an air inlet and an air outlet; 
 at least one receiver tank having an air inlet fluidly connected to the air outlet of the compressor to receive pressurized air, the receiver tank sized to enable water in the pressurized air to condense, the receiver tank including a drain outlet for draining condensed water, the receiver tank having an air outlet fluidly connected to a path for delivery of pressurized air to the pneumatic components; 
 a drain valve associated with the drain outlet; 
 a controller configured for controlling wrap operations of the wrapping machine, including controlling the conveying system, the pneumatic components and the compressor, the controller configured to selectively open the drain valve (i) upon completion of a wrap sequence and/or (ii) upon start-up of a wrap sequence. 
   
     
     
         18 . A wrapping machine for wrapping food products, comprising:
 a wrap station at which food products are wrapped;   a film dispensing system for drawing out film over food products at the wrap station;   a conveying system for moving food products along a path to the wrap station;   a plurality of pneumatic components, each pneumatic component actuatable by delivery of pressurized air;   a pneumatic arrangement for producing pressurized air for actuating the pneumatic components, the pneumatic arrangement including:
 a compressor including an air inlet and an air outlet, the outlet fluidly connected to a path for delivery of pressurized air to the pneumatic components; and 
 a pressurized air wand connected to an outlet of the path such that pressurized air produced on-board of the wrapping machine can be selectively output by the pressurized air wand under manual control. 
   
     
     
         19 . The wrapping machine of  claim 18 , wherein the pressurized air wand includes a flexible hosing to enable movement of the pressurized air wand. 
     
     
         20 . The wrapping machine of  claim 18 , wherein a pressure regulator is positioned between the air outlet of the compressor and the pneumatic components to provide a higher pressure zone upstream of the pressure regulator and a lower pressure zone downstream of the pressure regulator, and the pressurized air wand is connected to a high pressure outlet of the higher pressure zone. 
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 20 , wherein the high pressure outlet includes a quick disconnect coupler to which a feed tube of the pressurized air wand is connected 
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 20 , wherein a pressure in the higher pressure zone is at least 100 psi and a pressure in the lower pressure zone is no more than 60 psi.