Paper wrapping device and related methods

Abstract

A device adapted to seal a paper overwrap around a package includes a stationary support frame, a conveyor mounted to the support frame, and an adhesive application device mounted to the stationary support frame. The conveyor is configured to transport the package wrapped in the paper overwrap in a conveyor direction through the support frame. The adhesive application device is configured to tension the paper overwrap, while opening the seam so that an adhesive may be applied to the bottom of the package and the seam sealed together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for sealing a paper overwrap around a package having a tray that holds a plurality of goods in a cavity, the device comprising:
 a stationary support frame;   a conveyor mounted to the support frame and configured to transport the package wrapped in the paper overwrap along a conveyor direction through the support frame, the paper overwrap extending around a bottom side facing the conveyor, a top side opposite the bottom side, and front and rear sides extending between the top and bottom sides, wherein free ends of the paper overwrap overlap on the bottom side of the package to form a wrapped package; and   an adhesive application device mounted to the stationary support frame, the adhesive application device comprising a package transport means for lifting the wrapped package away from the conveyor along a vertical axis perpendicular to the conveyor as the wrapped package continues to move in the conveyor direction to expose the free ends of the paper overwrap on the bottom side of the package so that the free ends of the paper overwrap are free to be moved relative to the package before an adhesive is applied to the bottom side of the package to fix the paper overwrap to the package and for lowering the wrapped package along the vertical axis toward the conveyor after the adhesive has been applied to set the wrapped package back on the conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive application device further comprises a paper overwrap tension controller means for pulling the free ends of the paper overwrap in opposed directions around the package as or after the package is lifted away from the conveyor to tension the paper overwrap around the package before the adhesive is applied to the bottom side of the package to keep the paper overwrap taut around the bottom, top, front, and rear sides of the package as the adhesive is applied to the bottom side of the package so that the paper overwrap remains taut and holds the plurality of goods in place in the cavity of the tray once the adhesive has been applied to fix the paper overwrap in place on the package. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive application device further comprises a paper overwrap retraction means for moving a first free end of the paper overwrap in a first direction away from the bottom side of the package after the paper overwrap is tensioned around the package to uncover a portion of the bottom side of the package and the second free end of the paper overwrap so that the adhesive is applied to the portion of the bottom side of the package and the second free end and for moving the first free end of the paper overwrap in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom side of the package after the adhesive is applied to seal the first free end with the bottom side of the package and the second free end thereby fixing the paper overwrap in place on the package. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the package transport means includes a horizontal transporter mounted to the support frame for reciprocating horizontal movement along a horizontal axis and a vertical transporter mounted to the horizontal transporter for reciprocating vertical movement along the vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis,
 wherein the horizontal transporter comprises a pair of horizontal guide rails mounted to the support frame, a horizontal transporter carriage mounted on the pair of horizontal guide rails to move horizontally back and forth relative to the horizontal axis, and a horizontal transporter drive system coupled to the horizontal transporter carriage to drive movement of the horizontal transporter carriage along the pair of horizontal guide rails, and   wherein the vertical transporter comprises a pair of vertical guide rails mounted to the horizontal transporter carriage, a vertical transporter carriage mounted on the pair of vertical guide rails to move vertically back and forth relative to the vertical axis, and a vertical transporter drive system coupled to the vertical transporter carriage to drive movement of the vertical transporter carriage along the pair of vertical guide rails.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the paper overwrap tension controller means comprises:
 a pair of friction pads coupled to the vertical transporter carriage configured to engage the wrapped package,   a pair of rollers mounted to the vertical transporter carriage to rotate about a roller axis and located upstream of the pair of friction pads, and   a pair of clutch arms configured to rotate the pair of rollers in a downstream direction partway around the roller axis as the package is lifted to cause the pair of rollers to pull the free ends in opposite directions around the package.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the paper overwrap retraction means comprises:
 a pair of suction cups pivotably coupled to the vertical transporter carriage to pivot in the first direction away from the bottom side of the package and in the second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom side of the package,   a pair of cup movers coupled to the pair of suction cups and configured to drive movement of the pair of suction cups in the first direction and the second direction, and   a suction device coupled to the pair of suction cups and configured to apply a suction force to the first free end of the paper overwrap through the pair of suction cups to cause the paper overwrap to be fixed to the pair of suction cups so that the first free end of the paper overwrap moves with the pair of suction cups in the first and second directions.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the package transport means comprises:
 a package transport conveyor configured to continuously cycle in the conveyor direction,   a plurality of package transport carriages coupled to the package transport conveyor for movement therewith and configured to move vertically along the vertical axis, and   a transport carriage actuator that selectively engages each of the package transport carriages to cause the plurality of package transport carriages to move vertically as the package transport carriages move in the conveyor direction.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the transport carriage actuator comprises:
 a linear cam member coupled to the stationary support frame and formed to define a cam surface, and   a cam follower coupled to each package transport carriage that engages the cam surface as each package transport carriage moves in the conveyor direction to cause each package transport carriage to move vertically along the vertical axis.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the paper overwrap tension controller means comprises,
 a pair of front roller wheels mounted to a corresponding package transport carriage to rotate about a front roller axis,   a pair of rear roller wheels mounted to the corresponding package transport carriage to rotate about a rear roller axis in spaced apart relation to the pair of front roller wheels,   a front clutch configured to rotate the pair of front roller wheels in an upstream direction partway around the front roller axis to cause the pair of front roller wheels to pull one of the free ends in a first direction, and   a rear clutch configured to rotate the pair of rear roller wheels in a downstream direction partway around the rear roller axis to cause the pair of rear roller wheels to pull the other of the free ends in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the front clutch comprises a front linear cam member coupled to the stationary support frame and formed to define a front cam surface and a front clutch arm coupled to the pair of front roller wheels that defines a front cam follower that engages the front cam surface as the package transport carriage moves in the conveyor direction to cause the front clutch arm to rotate the pair of front roller wheels in the first direction partway about the front roller axis, and
 wherein the rear clutch comprises a rear linear cam member coupled to the stationary support frame and formed to define a rear cam surface and a rear clutch arm coupled to the pair of rear roller wheels that defines a rear cam follower that engages the rear cam surface as the package transport carriage moves in the conveyor direction to cause the rear clutch arm to rotate the pair of rear roller wheels in the second direction partway about the rear roller axis.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the front clutch comprises a front clutch arm coupled to the pair of front roller wheels for rotation therewith and a front pneumatic actuator coupled to the front clutch arm and configured to rotate the front clutch arm to cause the pair of front roller wheels to rotate in the first direction partway about the front roller axis, and
 wherein the rear clutch comprises a rear clutch arm coupled to the pair of rear roller wheels for rotation therewith and a rear pneumatic actuator coupled to the rear clutch arm and configured to rotate the rear clutch arm to cause the pair of rear roller wheels to rotate in the second direction partway about the rear roller axis.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the paper overwrap retraction means comprises:
 a pair of suction cups pivotably coupled to a corresponding package transport carriage to pivot in the first direction away from the bottom side of the package and in the second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom side of the package,   a cup mover coupled to the pair of suction cups and configured to drive movement of the pair of suction cups in the first direction and the second direction, and   a suction device coupled to the pair of suction cups and configured to apply a suction force to the first free end of the paper overwrap through the pair of suction cups to cause the paper overwrap to be fixed to the pair of suction cups so that the first free end of the paper overwrap moves with the pair of suction cups in the first and second directions.   
     
     
         13 . A method of sealing a paper overwrap around a package comprising a tray holding a plurality of goods in a cavity, the method comprising:
 transporting a wrapped package along a conveyor in a conveyor direction, the wrapped package including a paper overwrap extending around a bottom side facing the conveyor, a top side opposite the bottom side, and front and rear sides, wherein free ends of the paper overwrap overlap on the bottom side of the package;   lifting the wrapped package away from the conveyor along a vertical axis perpendicular to the conveyor while the package continues to move in the conveyor direction, to expose the free ends of the paper overwrap on the bottom side of the package;   applying adhesive to at least one of the free ends and to a portion of the bottom side of the package; and   sealing the paper overwrap in place by pressing the free ends against the adhesive-applied portion of the bottom side.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of tensioning the paper overwrap by pulling the free ends in opposed directions around the package while the wrapped package is lifted away from the conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of tensioning the paper overwrap maintains the paper overwrap taut around the bottom, top, front, and rear sides of the package during adhesive application. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a step of moving a first free end of the paper overwrap away from the bottom side of the package to a retracted position to uncover a portion of the bottom side and a second free end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of applying adhesive comprises applying adhesive to the second free end and the uncovered portion of the bottom side while the first free end is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of returning the first free end toward the bottom side to seal the first free end to the bottom side and to the second free end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of lowering the sealed wrapped package back onto the conveyor after the paper overwrap has been fixed in place.