Patent Description:
Such a packaging system is known from <CIT>.

<CIT> discloses a system for wrapping a plurality of objects horizontally juxtaposed with regard to one another, wherein the plurality of objects is pressed to form a firm set by means of pressure plates after which a flexible wrapping material is wrapped around the firm set while the pressure plates press the plurality of objects together. This known system is relatively complex and is rather unsuitable for packaging (vertically) stacked products into a bag.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative packaging system in which it is possible to package stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil in a relatively easy manner.

According to the invention this object is obtained by providing a packaging system for packaging stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil according to claim <NUM>. In this manner stacked products which are supported on the stacked products support platform can be positioned above the bag bottom support table on which the bottom of the opened bag of tubular foil, after which the bottom of the stacked products support platform can be moved away from under the stacked products such that the stacked products are transferred to the bottom of the opened bag whereby they are supported on the bag bottom support table. To bag with the stacked products can be sealed by the bag sealing unit, for example after the bag bottom support table has been lowered. The sealed bag with the stacked products can then e.g. be removed from the bag bottom support table, preferably in an automated manner, and be placed in a transport box or on a transport pallet or the like. Thus a packaging system is provided with which it is possible to package stacked products into a bag made of tubular foil in a relatively easy manner.

In an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the tubular foil storage and supply unit, the cutting and sealing unit and the stacked products support platform are suspended in a frame, which frame is swivable from a position in which the stacked products support platform is substantially horizontal to a position in which the bottom of the stacked products support platform is positioned under an angle of <NUM> degrees to the horizontal. In this manner after swiveling of the frame the stacked products on the stacked products support platform can be held in a position sideways by the at least one side wall of the stacked products support platform, so that when the bottom of the stacked products support platform is moved away from under the stacked products the stacked products keep their position in order to be transferred to the bottom of the open bag supported on the bag bottom support table.

In a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the cutting and sealing unit comprises a first finger and a second finger, the first finger and the second finger being arranged to be movable away and towards each other and to cooperate with the first and a second vacuum holding beam, respectively, for holding the tubular foil. In this manner the tubular foil can be firmly held between the finger and its respective vacuum holding beam to which the finger is moved against, preventing the tubular film from falling off the vacuum holding beam.

In a still further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the packaging system further comprises a blowing unit for blowing up the bag when supported on the bag bottom support table; and movable side walls, the movable side walls being positioned around the bag bottom support table and being movable for laterally enclosing the bag. In this manner the bag, when positioned with its bottom on the bag bottom support table, can be opened positively so that the stacked products can be transferred onto the bottom of the bag in a correct manner.

In another embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention the packaging system further comprises a unit for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag. By evacuating and folding the bag e.g. the size of the bag can be reduced and be evacuated from air for preserving the stacked products. Thereafter the folded and evacuated bag can be sealed by the first and the sealing beam thereby creating a sealed bag containing the stacked products.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the Figures, in which a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of according to the invention is shown:.

The components of an embodiment of a packaging system <NUM> for packaging stacked products <NUM> (see <FIG>) into a bag made of tubular foil <NUM> according to the invention will first be discusses in general with regard to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in which Figures the packaging system <NUM> is schematically shown in perspective. In <FIG> the packaging system <NUM> is shown with the components of the packaging system <NUM> shown more schematically, while in <FIG> the components are shown in more detail and in <FIG> an exploded view of the packaging system <NUM> depicting the several components is shown.

The packaging system <NUM> comprises a tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM> for storing and supplying tubular foil <NUM>. The tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM> will be more in detail described with regard to <FIG>.

The packaging system <NUM> further comprises a cutting and sealing unit <NUM> for cutting and sealing tubular foil <NUM> supplied by the tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM>. The cutting and sealing unit <NUM> will be more in detail described with regard to <FIG>.

The packaging system <NUM> also comprises a bag bottom support table <NUM> arranged for supporting a bottom of a bag which is to be formed by the cutting and sealing unit <NUM> from the tubular foil <NUM>. The bag bottom support table <NUM> is described in more detail with regard to <FIG> and is arranged to be movable in vertical direction from a lower position 6A towards an upper position 6B, and vice versa.

A stacked products support platform <NUM> for supporting the stacked products <NUM> of the packaging system <NUM> is arranged to be movable in at least a horizontal direction from a packaging position 7A just above the upper position 6B of the bag bottom support table <NUM> to a displaced position 7B horizontally displaced from the upper position 6B of the bag bottom support table <NUM> as will be discussed in more detail with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>.

According to an embodiment of the invention the packaging system <NUM> in addition comprises a blowing unit <NUM> for blowing up a bag which is to be formed by the cutting and sealing unit <NUM> from the tubular foil <NUM>. The blowing unit <NUM> will be discussed in more detail with regard to <FIG>.

In an embodiment of the packaging system <NUM> according to the invention a unit <NUM> is provided for folding and creating a vacuum in the bag after the stacked products <NUM> is placed in the bag, which unit <NUM> will be discussed in more detail with regard to <FIG>.

The packaging system <NUM> further includes a bag sealing unit for sealing the bag with the stacked products to form a sealed bag, which bag sealing unit will be discussed in more detail below.

With reference to <FIG> the tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM> for storing and supplying tubular foil <NUM> will be described in more detail. In the tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM> rolls <NUM> and <NUM> of tubular foil <NUM> are positioned on a number of support rollers <NUM>. In the shown embodiment the number of rolls is two, and one of the rolls <NUM> is arranged to be able to supply tubular foil when the other roll <NUM> is empty, so that the time needed to replace an empty roll does not influence the operation time too much. A section of the tubular foil <NUM> is clamped just above the drive rollers <NUM> by means of a pneumatic clamp <NUM>. The drive unit for the tubular foil <NUM> is in the shown embodiment formed by three rollers <NUM>, 13A, and 13B, of which the middle one <NUM> is the driven roller. Depending on which roll <NUM>, <NUM> of tubular foil <NUM> has to be unrolled one of the other rollers 13A, 13B is pushed by means of pneumatic cylinders <NUM> against the driven roller <NUM>. The length of tubular foil <NUM> to be unrolled from the rolls <NUM>, <NUM> can in a manner known per se be determined by means of a servomotor.

When the desired length of tubular foil <NUM> has been unrolled the cutting and sealing unit <NUM> as shown in <FIG> cuts and seals the tubular foil <NUM> supplied by the tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM> for forming a bag <NUM> having a bottom <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The cutting and sealing unit <NUM> for cutting and sealing tubular foil <NUM> comprises a cutting knife <NUM> for cutting the tubular foil <NUM>, and a first sealing beam <NUM> and a second sealing beam <NUM> arranged for sealing tubular foil <NUM> received in between the first sealing beam <NUM> and the second sealing beam <NUM>. It is observed here that the first and the second sealing beams <NUM>, <NUM> are not only arranged to be movable away and towards each other but also that they can be arranged to be movable in vertical direction. In this manner when the required tubular foil length has been unrolled, the tubular foil <NUM> is clamped between the sealing beams <NUM>, <NUM> after which the bag <NUM> is cut off from the tubular foil <NUM> and at the same time the bottom of the next bag is sealed. The cutting and sealing unit <NUM> further comprises a first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> for holding and opening the tubular foil <NUM>, and a first finger <NUM> and a second finger <NUM> cooperating with the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, for holding the tubular foil <NUM>. The first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged to be movable away and towards each other and also the first finger and the second finger <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged to be movable away and towards each other.

Below a short description of the operation of the cutting and sealing unit <NUM> will be given. After the tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM> has unrolled the desired length of tubular foil <NUM>, the tubular foil <NUM> is positioned between the first and second finger <NUM>, <NUM>, between the first and the second sealing beams <NUM>, <NUM> and between the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM>, which all are in the opened positioned moved away from each other. Then the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> are linearly driven towards each other, e.g. by means of a belt drive, such that the tubular foil <NUM> (which, as is generally known, is comprised of two layers adjacent each other) is pinched between the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> and a vacuum is created by the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> such that each layer of the tubular foil <NUM> is held by vacuum on the respective first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM>. The first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> are moved away from each other, thereby opening the bag with its bottom <NUM> (see <FIG>) and at least substantially at the same time the bottom of the next bag is sealed by closing and activating the first and the second sealing beams <NUM>, <NUM>. Meanwhile, the bag <NUM> is also separated from the roll of tubular foil <NUM> by means of the cutting means <NUM>.

The first and the second sealing beams <NUM>, <NUM> are then retracted, and the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> are moved upwards (<FIG>) and moved inward until the tubular foil <NUM> is clamped between the first and second finger <NUM>, <NUM> and the respective the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM>. The vacuum in the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> can then be turned off. The first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> are then moved further apart, so that the bag <NUM> is fully opened and provides a rectangular opening 16A through which the bag <NUM> can be filled as will be discusses below.

The present invention is in particular suitable for filling a bag with stacked products <NUM> and to realize this the packaging system <NUM> according to the invention comprises the stacked products support platform <NUM> for supporting the stacked products <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The stacked products support platform <NUM> comprising a bottom <NUM> and at least one side wall <NUM> upstanding from the bottom <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> the stacked products platform <NUM> has two side walls <NUM>, <NUM>. The bottom <NUM> is arranged to be transversely movable with regard to said at least one side wall <NUM> from a packaging position 7A to a displaced position 7B. In the packaging position 7A the stacked products <NUM> are supported on the bottom <NUM>, as indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The stacked products <NUM> can be placed on the bottom <NUM> with any known means in the art, such as for example by means of robotic arms.

It will be discussed now with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> how the stack of products <NUM> is transferred to within the bag <NUM>. The bag bottom support table <NUM> is arranged such in the packaging system <NUM> that it can be positioned in a vertical position in which it supports the bottom <NUM> of the bag <NUM> which has been formed. Since the bag bottom support table <NUM> is further arranged to be movable in vertical direction from the lower position 6A towards the upper position 6B, the bag bottom support table <NUM> can be positioned in the upper position 6B as indicated in <FIG> just below the bottom <NUM> (indicated by dashed lines) of the stacked products support platform <NUM> on which the stacked products <NUM> are supported. After the bag bottom support table <NUM> is in the upper position 6B, the bottom <NUM>' of the stacked products support platform <NUM> is moved (in a direction indicated by the arrow) to the displaced position 7B (indicated by full lines) horizontally displaced from the upper position 6B. Since the bottom <NUM> of the bag <NUM> is supported on the sealed bag bottom support table <NUM> the stacked products <NUM> are now transferred to be supported by the bottom <NUM> of the bag <NUM>, which is supported on the bag bottom support table <NUM>. Then, the bag bottom support table <NUM> is lowered to the lower position 6A, after which the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> can be moved towards each other and the first and the second sealing beams <NUM>, <NUM> can be activated to the bag <NUM> with the stacked products <NUM> filled therein. After sealing, the bag <NUM> can be transferred from the bag bottom support table <NUM> to a transport pallet or box by any means known in the art, such as for example a robotic arm.

To open the bag <NUM> when positioned with its bottom <NUM> on the bag bottom support table <NUM> more positively (i.e. also in addition to the movement of the first and a second vacuum holding beam <NUM>, <NUM> away from each other) in the embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures the blowing unit <NUM> of the packaging system <NUM> (see <FIG>) can blow up the bag <NUM> when it is supported on the bag bottom support table <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> the blowing unit <NUM> comprises eight fans <NUM>, and the number of fans <NUM> that are activated for blowing up the bag <NUM> can be dependent on the size of the bag. The bowing unit <NUM> with the fans <NUM> is swivably arranged around a swivel axis <NUM> so that the blowing unit <NUM> can be positioned in an operative position (indicated in <FIG>) and in a rest position (indicated in <FIG>) in which it does not interfere with other components of the packaging system <NUM>. For laterally enclosing the bag <NUM> when it is blown up the packaging system <NUM> comprises a number of movable side walls <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>) which are positioned around the bag bottom support table <NUM> and are movable relative to one another for laterally enclosing the bag <NUM>.

The packaging system <NUM> further includes a bag sealing unit <NUM> for sealing the bag with the stacked products to form a sealed bag, which bag stealing unit <NUM> will be discussed in more detail with regard to Figures the bag sealing unit being formed by the first and the second sealing beams.

The packaging system <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM> as indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in which frame <NUM> the tubular foil storage and supply unit <NUM>, the cutting and sealing unit <NUM> and the stacked products support platform <NUM> are suspended. The frame <NUM> is swivable from a position in which the stacked products support platform is substantially horizontal to a position in which the bottom <NUM> of the stacked products support platform <NUM> is positioned under an angle α of <NUM> degrees to the horizontal as indicated in <FIG>. In this manner when products <NUM> are stacked on the bottom <NUM>, after swiveling of the frame <NUM> the stacked products <NUM> can be held in a position sideways by the at least one side wall <NUM>, <NUM> of the stacked products support platform. When the bottom <NUM> of the stacked products support platform is then moved away from under the stacked products the stacked products keep their position in order to be transferred to the bottom <NUM> of the open bag <NUM> supported on the bag bottom support table <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A packaging system (<NUM>) for packaging stacked products (<NUM>) into a bag (<NUM>) made of tubular foil (<NUM>), said packaging system (<NUM>) comprising:
i) a tubular foil storage and supply unit (<NUM>);
ii) a cutting and sealing unit (<NUM>) for cutting and sealing tubular foil (<NUM>) supplied by the tubular foil storage and supply unit (<NUM>) for forming a bag (<NUM>) having a bottom (<NUM>), the cutting and sealing unit (<NUM>) comprising a cutting knife (<NUM>) for cutting the tubular foil (<NUM>); a first sealing beam (<NUM>) and a second sealing beam (<NUM>) arranged for sealing tubular foil (<NUM>) received in between the first sealing beam (<NUM>) and the second sealing beam (<NUM>), the first and the second sealing beams (<NUM>, <NUM>) being arranged to be movable away and towards each other; and a first and a second vacuum holding beam (<NUM>, <NUM>) for holding and opening the tubular foil (<NUM>), the first and the second vacuum holding beams (<NUM>, <NUM>) being arranged to be movable away and towards each other; and
iii) a bag sealing unit (<NUM>) for sealing the bag (<NUM>) with the stacked products (<NUM>) to form a sealed bag (<NUM>), the bag sealing unit (<NUM>) being formed by the first and the second sealing beams (<NUM>, <NUM>), characterized in that said packaging system (<NUM>) further comprises:
iv) a bag bottom support table (<NUM>) arranged for supporting the bottom (<NUM>) of the bag (<NUM>), the bag bottom support table (<NUM>) being arranged to be movable in vertical direction from a lower position (6A) towards an upper position (6B), and vice versa;
v) a stacked products support platform (<NUM>) for supporting stacked products (<NUM>); the platform (<NUM>) being arranged to be movable in at least a horizontal direction from a packaging position (7A) just above the upper position (6B) of the bag bottom support table (<NUM>) to a displaced position (7B) horizontally displaced from the upper position (6B) of the bag bottom support table (<NUM>); the stacked products support platform (<NUM>) comprising a bottom (<NUM>) and at least one side wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) upstanding from the bottom (<NUM>), the bottom (<NUM>) being arranged to be transversely movable with regard to said at least one side wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) for allowing the stacked products (<NUM>) to be supported on the bottom (<NUM>) of the bag (<NUM>) which is supported on the sealed bag bottom support table (<NUM>).