Apparatus for banding groups of palletised products

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) for banding palletized products comprises: a conveyor ( 2 ), extending in a direction of feed (A), for transporting pallets ( 3 ), each bearing a stack ( 4 ) of products; a gantry structure ( 5 ) mounted over the conveyor ( 2 ) and equipped with two pairs ( 6, 7 ) of film reels, each pair being mounted at a different height from the other on the gantry uprights ( 5 a, 5 b ) in such a way as to form two bands ( 8, 9 ) of film positioned transversely relative to the uprights ( 5 a, 5 b ) so as to intercept the front of the product stack ( 4 ) as it moves forward; a pair of units ( 10, 11 ) for sealing and cutting the film bands ( 8, 9 ) supported by the gantry structure ( 5 ) on the rear side of the latter relative to the direction of feed (A), and mobile between an idle position, where the units ( 10, 11 ) are close to the uprights ( 5 a, 5 b ), and a working position, where the units ( 10, 11 are away from the uprights ( 5 a, 5 b ) so that each intercepts, seals and cuts a respective portion of the film bands ( 8, 9 ) wrapped around the product stack ( 4 ); the pair of sealing and cutting units ( 10, 11 ) being supported also by a single mounting unit ( 12 ) that projects from the gantry structure ( 5 ) and that slides along the crossbeam ( 5 c ) of the latter to and from the idle and working positions.

1 . An apparatus for banding palletized products, the apparatus ( 1 ) comprising: a conveyor ( 2 ) extending in a direction of feed (A) and used to carry the pallets ( 3 ), each supporting a stack ( 4 ) of the products; a gantry structure ( 5 ) mounted over the conveyor ( 2 ) and equipped with two pairs ( 6 ,  7 ) of film reels, each pair being mounted at a different height from the other on gantry uprights ( 5   a,    5   b ) in such a way as to form two bands ( 8 ,  9 ) of film positioned transversely relative to the uprights ( 5   a,    5   b ) so as to intercept the front of the product stack ( 4 ) as it moves forward; a pair of units ( 10 ,  11 ) for sealing and cutting the film bands ( 8 ,  9 ) supported by the gantry structure ( 5 ) on the rear side of said gantry structure relative to the direction of feed (A), and mobile between an idle position, where the units ( 10 ,  11 ) are close to the uprights ( 5   a,    5   b ), and a working position, where the units ( 10 ,  11 ) are away from the uprights ( 5   a,    5   b ) so that each intercepts, seals and cuts a respective portion of the film bands ( 8 ,  9 ) wrapped around the product stack ( 4 ); wherein the pair of sealing and cutting units ( 10 ,  1   1 ) are supported by a single mounting unit ( 12 ) that projects from the gantry structure ( 5 ) and that slides along the crossbeam ( 5   c ) to and from the idle and working positions; said mounting unit ( 12 ) being equipped with means ( 13   a,    13   b ) for locking and stabilizing the units ( 10 ,  11 ) acting on the mounting unit ( 12 ) when it is at the working position, and thus forming a rigid system.  
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit ( 12 ) comprises a pair of vertical bars ( 12   a,    12   b ) projecting from the crossbeam ( 5   c ) and mounting the pair of units ( 10 ,  11 ) associated with the bars ( 12   a,    12   b ); locking means ( 13   a,    13   b ) being fitted to act on the ends of the bars ( 12   a,    12   b ) to form a rigid system when said bars are in the working position.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each unit ( 10 ,  11 ) is divided into two halves, each attached to one respective bar ( 12   a,    12   b ).  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each reel ( 6 ,  7 ), mounted on the respective upright ( 5   a,    5   b ), is equipped with rollers ( 27 ) for feeding and tensioning the bands of film ( 8 ,  9 ) being unwound.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each reel ( 6 ,  7 ) is equipped with a carriage ( 28 ) coupled to a power driven shaft ( 29 ) forming a worm screw that enables adjustment in both directions along the respective upright ( 5   a,    5   b ).  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each unit ( 10 ,  11 ) is divided into two halves, each attached to one respective bar ( 12   a,    12   b ).  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for wrapping palletized products, the apparatus comprising: 
 a conveyor for carrying an associated stack of products on a pallet;    a gantry structure comprising first and second uprights located on opposite sides of the conveyor;    first and second film reels respectively mounted to said first and second uprights so that a first band of wrapping film extends between the first and second film reels and said first and second uprights of said gantry structure at a first height;    third and fourth film reels respectively mounted to said first and second uprights so that a second band of wrapping film extends between the third and fourth film reels and the first and second uprights of said gantry structure at a second height, wherein the first and second bands of wrapping film are adapted to intercept an associated stack of products moving on said conveyor;    a first sealing and cutting unit for sealing and cutting the first band of wrapping film;    a second sealing and cutting unit for sealing and cutting the second band of wrapping film;    a mounting unit that respectively supports said first and second sealing and cutting units and that moves both of said first and second sealing and cutting units between an idle position and an working position, wherein said first and second sealing and cutting units are operatively positioned to seal and cut said first and second bands of wrapping film, respectively, when located in said working position;    wherein said first sealing and cutting unit comprises first and second halves that are connected respectively to first and second parts of said mounting unit; and,    wherein said second sealing and cutting unit comprises first and second halves that are connected respectively to said first and second parts of said mounting unit;    said apparatus further comprising a lock for selectively rigidly interconnecting said first and second parts of said mounting unit when said first and second sealing and cutting units are located in said working position.