Modular shrink-wrap machine
First Claim
1. A selectively reconfigurable shrink-wrap machine for use with a loading device for individually wrapping products sequentially with shrink-wrap material wherein the loading device delivers products in sequence to the machine for wrapping with shrink-wrap material, the shrink-wrap machine comprising:
- a sensor associated with the loading device for sensing product position on the loading device;
a film supply for presenting a roll of shrink-wrap material;
a wrapping station at which products are wrapped with film material from the film supply;
a first conveyor for carrying products wrapped in the film material between the wrapping station and a film sealing and cutting apparatus, the first conveyor being driven to deliver products sequentially in synchronized velocity with the loading device in response to signals generated by the sensor;
a second conveyor;
the film sealing and cutting apparatus having an upper head and a lower head at least one which heads is driven for movement into and out of engagement with the other head between adjacent film wrapped products received by the first conveyor for effecting a seal between adjacent products, the upper head and the lower head each maintaining a fixed angle of orientation relative to a direction of movement of products along the first conveyor, the second conveyor being disposed adjacent the film sealing and cutting apparatus for receiving wrapped products sequentially from the sealing and cutting apparatus as they are delivered by the first conveyor and as they are sequentially sealed and cut;
a microprocessor-driven control system having a touch sensitive viewing and controlling means for prompting and receiving operator response for controlling operation of the shrink-wrap machine, the control system having microprocessor circuits selectively programmed for control of at least one of a plurality of different possible wrapping stations or modes of operation.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Selectively reconfigurable shrink-wrap machine (30) for use with a loading device (34) for individually wrapping products (58) sequentially with shrink-wrap material (92) as delivered in sequence to the machine. It includes a sensor (62) sensing product position on the loading device. Shrink-wrap material is delivered from a roll at a wrapping station (40). A first conveyor (42) carries wrapped products between the wrapping station and a film sealing and cutting apparatus (44). First conveyor delivers products sequentially in synchronized velocity with the loading device in response to sensor signals. Film sealing and cutting apparatus has upper and lower heads (156, 164), at least one of which is driven into and out of engagement with the other between adjacent wrapped products received by the first conveyor for effecting a sealed cut between them. Heads are each maintained at a fixed angle of orientation. A second conveyor (43) receives wrapped products sequentially from the sealing and cutting apparatus. A microprocessor-driven touch screen (48) and a method controls the shrink-wrap machine and is described.
33 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A selectively reconfigurable shrink-wrap machine for use with a loading device for individually wrapping products sequentially with shrink-wrap material wherein the loading device delivers products in sequence to the machine for wrapping with shrink-wrap material, the shrink-wrap machine comprising:
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a sensor associated with the loading device for sensing product position on the loading device;
a film supply for presenting a roll of shrink-wrap material;
a wrapping station at which products are wrapped with film material from the film supply;
a first conveyor for carrying products wrapped in the film material between the wrapping station and a film sealing and cutting apparatus, the first conveyor being driven to deliver products sequentially in synchronized velocity with the loading device in response to signals generated by the sensor;
a second conveyor;
the film sealing and cutting apparatus having an upper head and a lower head at least one which heads is driven for movement into and out of engagement with the other head between adjacent film wrapped products received by the first conveyor for effecting a seal between adjacent products, the upper head and the lower head each maintaining a fixed angle of orientation relative to a direction of movement of products along the first conveyor, the second conveyor being disposed adjacent the film sealing and cutting apparatus for receiving wrapped products sequentially from the sealing and cutting apparatus as they are delivered by the first conveyor and as they are sequentially sealed and cut;
a microprocessor-driven control system having a touch sensitive viewing and controlling means for prompting and receiving operator response for controlling operation of the shrink-wrap machine, the control system having microprocessor circuits selectively programmed for control of at least one of a plurality of different possible wrapping stations or modes of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A selectively reconfigurable shrink-wrap machine for use with a loading conveyor for individually wrapping products sequentially with shrink-wrap material wherein the loading conveyor delivers products in sequence to the machine for wrapping with shrink-wrap material and includes a plurality of lugs positioned at predetermined spacing intervals along the periphery of the loading conveyor such that products on the loading conveyor are positioned between adjacent lugs and in contact with at least one of the lugs with respect to the direction of travel of the loading conveyor;
- the shrink-wrap machine comprising;
a sensor associated with the loading conveyor for sensing the position of the lugs as the lugs travel past the sensor;
a film supply disposed adjacent the loading conveyor including a film delivery apparatus for presenting a roll of shrink-wrap material;
a modular wrapping station for wrapping products by directing film material from the film supply and through the wrapping station to closely enwrap products peripherally along their longitudinal axes within a continuous tube of the film material so that the tube is formed therearound, wherein opposing ends of shrink-wrap material enwrapping the products form a region of overlapping shrink-wrap material along the products'"'"' longitudinal axes, the modular wrapping station being disposed adjacent the loading conveyor, the lugs propelling the products into the wrapping station;
a sealing device in association with the modular wrapping station for establishing a continuous seam along the region of overlapping shrink-wrap material of the tube by bonding the overlapping opposing ends of the shrink-wrap material to one another as the continuous tube of film material securely containing the products therein travels past the sealing device;
a vacuum conveyor associated with the modular wrapping station for carrying the tube containing the closely wrapped products therein away from the sealing device after the sealing device has established the continuous seam along the region of overlapping shrink-wrap material by pulling the tube along its longitudinal axis, the vacuum conveyor being driven by a motorized means to deliver products sequentially in synchronized velocity with the loading conveyor in response to electrical signals generated by the sensor;
an exit conveyor;
a film sealing and cutting apparatus for movement into and out of engagement between adjacent film wrapped products such that as the sealing and cutting apparatus moves in and out of engagement it maintains a fixed angle of orientation that does not change, the sealing and cutting apparatus being disposed between the vacuum conveyor and the exit conveyor and including an upper head having a cutter portion eccentrically positioned thereon, the cutter portion being maintained with a predetermined axial orientation relative to a direction of movement of products along the vacuum conveyor by a predetermined engagement therewith further including a lower head having a platen head portion, the path of the cutter portion being predetermined, the cutter portion and the platen head portion being synchronously maintained mutually toward and away from each other about a predetermined path wherein the platen head portion and the cutter head portion are engaged once every full movement cycle of the upper and the lower heads to effect a sealing and cutting operation between adjacent film wrapped products;
the exit conveyor adjacently disposed closely proximate the film sealing and cutting apparatus and at a predetermined gap from the vacuum conveyor for carrying products sequentially therefrom, the film sealing and cutting apparatus being driven by a motorized means to deliver products sequentially in synchronized velocity with the loading conveyor in response to electric signals generated by the sensor, the exit conveyor being driven by a motorized means at a predetermined velocity with respect to the loading conveyor in response to electrical signals generated by the sensor;
a computer programmed control system which includes a touch sensitive viewing and controlling means for prompting and receiving operator response to control operation of the shrink-wrap machine, the control system having microprocessor circuits which are selectively programmed for control of at least one of a plurality of different possible modular wrapping stations or modes of operation, the different wrapping stations being configured to apply a unique sealing arrangement along region of overlapping shrink-wrap material enwrapping the products, the control system prompting an operator to selectively input the dimensions of a package and other pertinent operating parameters by manually interacting with the touch sensitive viewing and controlling means, the control system additionally permitting the operator to selectively input a plurality of sets of package dimensions and pertinent operating parameters and to save each set of package dimensions and pertinent parameters for immediate future retrieval by the operator, wherein the operator may reconfigure the shrink-wrap machine to accept a product having different dimensions without having to make any other adjustments to the shrink-wrap machine, the viewing and controlling means being selectively configurable such that an operator can be situated to either side of the shrink-wrap machine to operate and monitor the shrink-wrap machine, whereby operation of the machine is ambidextrous.
- the shrink-wrap machine comprising;
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21. A method for controlling a shrink-wrap machine comprising:
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a) initializing variables;
b) setting scaling for the sealing head and the vacuum conveyor axes;
c) setting error checking bits;
d) selectively locating a film clamping zone and calculating a top dead center position for the sealing head;
e) controlling normal operations of all motor axes;
f) calculating ratios for web matching and cam following;
g) monitoring all machine input/output ports by continuously scanning same;
h) monitoring continuously all machine fault bits;
i) executing commands based on error bits;
j) repeating steps a)-c) and steps e)-i) upon user re-initialization of package size or other modes as long as machine is not turned off.
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Specification