Patent Document

This application is a National Stage of PCT/FR01/00678 filed on Mar. 7, 2001. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns the field of the packaging of products on their sale outlets and in particular food products sold retail. 
   The invention more particularly concerns the field of devices used to store the paper or film used to packaging and provide the trader with the paper when demanded. The invention also concerns the field of machines used to ensure a sealed closing of the packaging embodied. 
   In the field of the packaging of food products, the patent FR 2 775 252 proposed implementing a tubing constituted, at least in part, by a heat sealing material. This tubing, packed into rolls, is intended to be cut on the site of use to a length slightly larger than that of the product to be packed. One extremity of the tubing is then closed by heat sealing so as to embody a bag. Then, after introducing the product to be packed in the embodied bag, the other extremity of the tubing is heat-sealed so as to obtain an approximately sealed packaging. 
   The use of this packaging tubing is particularly useful for the packing of food products, such as fish or meat when these products are sold retail.
         However, to the knowledge of the Applicant, there does not seem to be any device making it possible to use on easy fast sales outlets the packing or packaging tubing according to the patent FR 2 775 252.       

   In fact, the document WO 94 227 23 describes a packaging machine designed for the high rate production of bags from a heat sealing packaging tubing reel. This machine comprises a body provided with means for supporting a packaging tubing reel. This machine also comprises an outlet head for the tubing via a window and means for guiding the tubing between the reel and the outlet head. The outlet head includes means for welding and cutting the tubing, said means being mounted on a moving element whose to-and-fro movement is controlled by a motor element. 
   The means for activating the cutting and welding means described in this patent are relatively complex and onerous and definitely do not make it possible to embody a fully sealed packaging. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention aims to resolve the drawbacks mentioned above and concerns a less heavy feed roll of simple design which is able to both make available to the user a heat sealing packaging tubing as the means required to embody a sealed packaging from this tubing. 
   So as to attain this objective, the invention concerns a feed roll for a heat sealing packaging tubing reel including a body provided in particular with:
         means for supporting at least one packaging tubing reel,   a tubing outlet head including:   at least one tubing outlet window,   tubing cutting means   tubing welding means,   means for guiding the tubing between the reel and the outlet head,   characterised in that the outlet head includes means for the simultaneous control of the cutting means and the welding means, said control means being formed by a handle and an oscillating arm bearing a portion of the cutting means and the welding means.       

   According to one characteristic, the invention aims to provide means for easily welding the final closing of the packaging obtained by means of the heat sealing tubing. 
   So as to attain this objective, the welding means are placed downstream of the cutting means with respect to the reeling off direction of the tubing. 
   According to a first embodiment variant, the outlet head includes a second window known as welding window adapted to allow from outside the head the introduction of a portion of at least one packaging intended to be welded by the welding means. 
   According to a second embodiment variant, the outlet head includes a non-return feeder placed between the cutting means and the welding means and intended to prevent access to the cutting means from outside the head via the outlet window. 
   The invention also concerns a feed roll which can be used according to various positions depending on the location where it is to be placed. 
   So as to attain this objective and according to one characteristic of the invention, the outlet head is movable and the body has means for fixing the head, said means being adapted so as to permit a mounting of the head according to at least two separate orientations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Miscellaneous characteristics appear in the description shown below with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of non-restrictive examples the embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross section of a preferred embodiment of a feed roll according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the feed roll according to  FIG. 1  in another use position. 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  showing another phase for using the feed roll of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section illustrating another method for mounting the feed roll shown on  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are views respectively similar to those on  FIGS. 1 and 3  showing the phases for using another embodiment of the feed roll of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown more particularly on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the feed roll of the invention denoted in its entirety by the reference  1  has been designed to receive at least one heat sealing packaging tubing reel  2 , such as the one described in the patent FR 2 775 252. To this effect, the feed roll  1  includes a body  3  provided in particular with means  4  for supporting at least one packaging tubing reel  2 . Moreover, the body  3  is equipped with an outlet head  5  for the tubing and means  6  for guiding the tubing between the reel  2  and the outlet head  5 . 
   According to the example shown, the means  4  for supporting the reel  2  are formed by a spindle  8  intended to pass through the centre of the reel and come to rest in two cradles  9  fitted in the body  3  of the feed roll  1 . Of course, the support means  4  could be embodied in another way, such as in the form of two rolls on which the reel  2  would come into support on its external surface. 
   The outlet head  5  includes at least one window  10  for the outlet of the tubing  11  derived from the reel  2 , as shall appear subsequently. The head  5  also includes means  15  for cutting the tubing  11  and means  16  for welding the tubing  11 . 
   For reasons to be explained subsequently, the cutting means  15  are preferably, but not exclusively, placed upstream of the welding means  16  with respect to the reeling off direction of the tubing  11 , as indicated by the arrow F 1 . 
   According to the example shown, the cutting means  15  include a mobile knife  20  borne by an arm  21  oscillating around a horizontal axis  21   1 . The knife  20 , with a length greater than or equal to the width of the packaging tubing  11 , is designed to cooperate with a fixed cutting throat  22  having a length approximately equal to that of the knife  20 . Thus, the knife  20  and the throat  22  form a sort of jaw able to be opened or closed by the movements of the oscillating arm  21  which thus bears a portion of the cutting means  15 . It is to be noted that the arm  21  is preferably controlled on opening by elastic return means so as to be kept in an open position A, as shown on  FIG. 1 . 
   Similarly, the welding means  16  include a heating bar  25  mounted integral with the oscillating arm  21 . The heating bar  25  is intended to cooperate with a counter-bar  26  so as to press an element or portion of the tubing  11  to be welded. The length of the heating bar  25  and that of the counter-bar  26  is greater than or equal to the width of the packaging tubing  11 . According to the example shown, the heating bar  25  is mobile, whereas the counter-bar  26  is fixed. Thus, the oscillating arm  21  bears a portion of the welding means  16 . Of course, it is possible to invert the positions of these two elements. 
   It is to be noted that the knife  20  and the throat  22 , as well as the bar  25  and the counter-bar  26 , are placed approximately transversally to the tubing  11  and more particularly to its reeling off direction F 1 . 
   Finally, the feed roll  5  includes means  6  for guiding the tubing  11  between the reel  2  and the outlet head  5  and have been adapted so as to preferably, but not exclusively, bring the tubing  11  as far as downstream of the cutting means  15  with respect to the reeling off direction F 1  and directing the tubing  11  towards the outlet window  10 . 
   First of all, the guiding means  6  include a guiding roll  30  and a pressing roll  31  between which the packaging tubing  11  is intended to pass as shown by the dot-and-dash lines on  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The guiding means  6  further include means  32  for driving the guiding roll  30  so as to ensure a forward movement or reeling off the tubing  11  by placing the roll  30  in rotation. According to the example shown, the drive means are constituted by a handle  32  integral with the roll  30  and accessible from the outside of the body  3  of the feed roll  1 . 
   Of course, the drive means  32  could be embodied in a form other than a handle, such as, but not exclusively, in the form of a controlled motor so as to function automatically or be controlled by a switch accessible from the outside of the body  3 . Similarly, the means  32  could ensure a driving in rotation of the single pressing roll  31  or of the two guiding  30  and pressing  31  rolls simultaneously. 
   The guiding means  6  also include at least one guiding plate  33  extending upstream and downstream of the guiding  30  and pressing  31  rolls with respect to the reeling off direction F 1 . This guiding plate  33  is adapted so as to guide the tubing in front of and behind the rolls  30  and  31 , as well as during the time it is initially introduced between the rolls  30  and  31 . 
   According to the example shown, it is to be noted that the guiding plate  33  is curved and forms an angle immediately in front of the guiding roll  30 . The plate  33 , together with the guiding roll  30 , delimits an introduction zone  34  which forms a sort of tunnel in which the extremity of the tubing  11  is introduced when initially placing the reel  2 . 
   According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the guiding plate  33  extends between the guiding  30  and pressing  31  rolls. So that the rolls  30  and  31  carry out their guiding and drive functions, the plate  33  then defines at least one zone  35  in which the pressing  31  and guiding  30  rolls are able to guide and press the tubing  11  simultaneously. 
   According to the example shown, the plate  33  defines two lateral zones  35  for guiding the tubing  11  between the rolls  30  and  31 . The guiding roll  30  then has a central recess  36  for passage of the plate  33 , and, on both sides of this recess  36 , a shoulder  37  for cooperating with the pressing roll  31  so as to ensure the guiding and driving of the tubing  11 . 
   The feed roll of the invention is used as follows. 
   First of all, the reel  2  is placed and then the tubing  11  is passed between the rolls  30  and  31  by a user or operator. In order to do this, the user applies the tubing  11  against the plate  33  by making it move forwards as far as the roll  30 . The tunnel shape of the introduction zone  34  then facilitates the tubing  11  being taken up by the guiding  30  and pressing  31  rolls. 
   The user then activates the control means  32  so as to have the tubing  11  move between the elements making up the cutting  15  and welding  16  means as far as the outlet window  10  from which the tubing can be directly pulled by the hand of the user. 
   When the user wishes to carry out a package from the tubing  11 , he pulls a tubing length in keeping with the dimensions of the product to be packed. The operator then uses as a device for the simultaneous control of the cutting  15  and welding  16  means a handle  40  embodied at the extremity of the oscillating arm  21  and lowered by the operator in the direction of the arrow F 2 . In this working position B shown on  FIG. 3 , the feed roll  1  firstly cuts the tubing  11  with the knife  20 , and secondly seals with the heating element  16  the extremity of the cut tubing element. The heating element  16  is kept at a temperature corresponding to the melting temperature of at least one of the constituents of the tubing by a regulation system not forming part of the present invention. 
   With the feed roll  1  of the invention, the operator has therefore embodied from the tubing  11  and by a single manoeuvre of the oscillating arm  21  a sort of bag open on one side through which it is possible to introduce a product to be packed. 
   Once the product is inside this bag, the operator can reintroduce the non-closed extremity of the bag into the window  10  so as to place this open extremity at the level of the welding means  16 . Then, via acting on the handle  40  in the direction of the arrow F 2 , the user welds the fourth side of the bag and packs and seals the product placed inside the packaging obtained from the tubing  11 . Thus, having regard to the positioning of the welding means  16  downstream of the cutting means  15  with respect to the direction F 1  of reeling off of the tubing, it is possible to weld a portion of the packaging introduced from outside the head  5 . 
   According to a preferred embodiment of the feed roll of the invention, so as to ensure that the extremity of the tubing element reintroduced into the head  5  does not damage the extremity or edge  42  of the tubing derived from the reel and situated at the level of the cutting means  15 , the outlet head  5  includes a second window  41  known as a welding head placed above the outlet head  10 . This welding window  41  is adapted so as to allow introduction from outside the head of the portion of the packaging intended to be closed by the welding means  16 . 
   Thus, during introduction of the packaging to be closed into the welding window  41 , its extremity is situated above the extremity  42  of the tubing  11  derived from the reel  2  and is thus unable to damage it or push it back before or during the welding operation. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show a second embodiment variant of the feed roll on the invention and which differs from the embodiment variant described with respect to  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that the cutting head  5  includes a non-return feeder  55  placed between the cutting means  15  and the welding means  16 . One extremity of this feeder  55  is preferably secured to the arm  21  between the knife  20  and the welding bar  25 , whereas the other extremity extends as far as the window  10 , as shown on  FIG. 5 . The feeder  55  thus extends via its own weight at the level of the lower portion of the outlet window  10 . Of course, it is possible to mount the feeder  55  between the cutting throat  22  and the counter-bar  26 . The feeder  55  is made of a flexible material having a melting temperature higher than the welding temperature of the tubing  11  so as to avoid being altered by the welding means  15 . 
   The feeder  55  provides a non-return function so as to prevent access to the cutting means  15  from the outside of the head  5  via the outlet window  10 . In fact, having regard to the position of the non-return feeder  55 , the tubing  11  originating from the reel  2  comes out of the window  10  by passing below the feeder  55  which contributes in guiding the tubing  11  as far as the window  10 . 
   On the other hand, when a tubing extremity to be welded is reintroduced through the window  10 , the feeder  55  limits this introduction so that the extremity of the tubing can only be reintroduced into the head  5  as far as the level of the welding means  16 . In this way, the feeder  55  ensures that the reintroduced portion of the tubing is not cut again by the cutting means  16  and thus avoids the formation of waste which would be likely to damage a padding of the groove  22 . 
   It is to be noted that the non-return feeder  55  is embodied in a material which does not alter the effectiveness of the welding means  16  so that the tubing originating from the reel  2  is fully welded when it is pressed between the heating bar  25  and the counter-bar  26  with insertion of the feeder  55  between the tubing  11  and the bar  25 . 
   Having regard to the presence of the non-return feeder  55 , it is then no longer necessary to provide at the level of the head  5  a second window, known as a welding window, situated above the outlet window  10 , as shown in the first embodiment variant. 
   According to a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, the outlet head  5  is movable and the body  3  has means for fixing the head  5  which are adapted to allow a mounting of the head according to at least two separate orientations. Thus, according to the examples shown on  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the head  5  can be adapted on the body  3  so that the reel  2  is placed below the head, as shown on  FIG. 1 , or above the head  5 , as shown on  FIG. 4 . The means for fixing the head  5  on the body  3  can be constituted by screws (not shown) intended to pass into additional perforations  45  and  46  fitted respectively on the body  3  and the head  5 . 
   This faculty of mounting the outlet head  5  according to two separate orientations makes it possible to configure the feed roll of the invention according to the location where it is to be used. 
   Thus, when the reel is placed below the head  5 , as shown on  FIG. 1 , the feed roll  1  can be applied on a support S, such as a wall or a lower part of a bench top. To this end, the body  3  includes means (not shown) for fixing or hooking to the support. 
   When the feed roll  1  is in the configuration shown on  FIG. 4 , with the reel being placed above the head  5 , it is possible to place the feed roll on a bench top or a table P, the body  3  then being provided with feet  47 . 
   So as to ensure optimum guiding of the tub ing  11 , regardless of the installation orientation of the feed roll  1 , the guiding means  6  include, downstream of the guiding roller  30  in the reeling off direction F 1  of the tubing  11 , a tunnel  50  ensuring guiding of the tubing inside the head  5  as far as upstream of the cutting  15  and welding  16  means. 
   So as to facilitate introduction of the tubing, the tunnel  50  preferably has at its extremity orientated towards the rollers  30 ,  31  a flared entrance zone  51 , as shown on  FIG. 1 . 
   The tunnel  50  advantageously defines, regardless of the orientation of the body  3 , a support and guiding surface for the tubing  11  and guides the tubing so as to direct it towards the outlet window  10  of the outlet head  5 . 
   When the head is able to be dismantled, the guiding means  6  and in particular the tunnel  50  are integral with the body  3 . Moreover, the tunnel  50  is adapted to then extend inside the outlet head  5  as far as possible close to the cutting means  15 . 
   According to the examples shown previously, the guiding means and more particularly the plate  33  and the rollers  30  and  31  are adapted to have the tubing take an angled path so as to reduce as much as possible the total spatial requirement of the feed roll  1 . Of course, the path of the tubing could also be rectilinear. 
   According to the previously shown examples, the outlet head  5  is movable. Of course, it is possible that the outlet head is integral with the body  3  without being able to be dismantled. 
   Similarly, the guiding tunnel  50  is preferably used when the head can be dismantled, but this guiding tunnel could be used for a feed roll conforming to the invention not having any dismountable outlet head. 
   According to the examples shown, the means  40  for the simultaneous control of the cutting  15  and welding  16  means are formed by a handle and an oscillating arm. However, these control means  40  could be embodied in any other way and could be motorised. 
   The invention is not limited to the examples described and illustrated as various modifications can be made without departing from its context.

Technology Category: 7