Patent ID: 6067780
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
An automatic packaging machine for packaging products in packs comprising: a wrapper forming line, said line having a succession of at least three operating stations above a sliding surface along which the products are fed with a stepping motion by mobile pusher elements; a forming line in which a first operating station co-operates with a lift, the lift being positioned below the product sliding surface and being vertically and alternately mobile between a lowered position, in which it receives the products on its loading table and a raised level, in which it places the products on the sliding surface of the forming line, feeding them between the pusher elements with a sheet of wrapping material laid on top of the products and hanging down on either side of them, its vertical folds between the products and the pusher elements; the first operating station also comprising a horizontal-plane folder and counter-folder, located below the sliding surface and on either side of the lift, said folder and counter-folder being alternately and relatively mobile parallel with the sliding surface between a first, open, end position, in which they allow the transit of the lift loading table towards the product sliding surface, and a second, closed, end position, in which they are brought together in such a way as to gradually take the products from the loading table, supporting them on the sliding surface and simultaneously wrapping the opposite edges of the sheet around the products until they overlap underneath the products; said first operating station also comprising two pairs of vertical-plane folders, parallel with one another and with the forming line, being positioned on either side of the products at a distance corresponding with the pack depth and being alternately mobile opposite one another between a non-operating end position, in which they are located outside the pack width dimension, and a closed, operating position, reached as they intercept the vertical edges of the sheet, folding them to form pairs of first, vertical flaps which are pressed against the products, and pairs of second, horizontal flaps, the latter being on either side of the vertical-plane folders; a second operating station comprising two pairs of fixed folders, being located on either side of the forming line and distanced from one another vertically according to the product pack height and horizontally according to the pack depth, said fixed folders having helical surfaces extending longitudinally to the forming line to gradually fold the second flaps until they overlap the sheet of wrapping material, pressing them against the products; there being sealing means for sealing the overlapping edges of the sheet of wrapping material underneath the pack and the first and second flaps on the sheet of wrapping material, the machine being characterized in that it comprises adjustment means at least for the wrapper forming line, said means being operatively connected to machine centralized control means and being designed to refer the machine adjustments necessary for pack size variations to the product sliding surface.