Machine for banding groups of palletized products

Abstract

A machine for banding individual, grouped or palletized products comprises at least: a conveyor ( 2 ), extending in a direction of feed (A), for transporting the products ( 3 ); a frame ( 4 ) mounted over the conveyor ( 2 ) and equipped with at least two rolls ( 5, 6 ) of film mounted on the frame uprights ( 7, 8 ) in such a way as to form a band of film ( 9, 9′ ) positioned transversely relative to the uprights ( 7, 8 ) so as to intercept the front of the products ( 3 ) as they move forward; at least one unit ( 10 ) for sealing and cutting the film ( 9, 9′ ), supported by the frame ( 4 ) and mobile between an idle position, where the unit ( 10 ) is close to the uprights ( 7, 8 ), and a working position, where the unit ( 10 ) is away from the uprights ( 7, 8 ) so that it intercepts, seals and cuts the portion of film ( 9, 9′ ) wrapped around the products ( 3 ). The machine ( 1 ) further comprises at least one unit ( 11 ) located in the vicinity of a section of the film band ( 9, 9′ ) unwinding path (P) and designed to apply at least one distinctive code (C) to at least one part of the film band ( 9, 9′ ).

1 . A machine ( 1 ) of the type for banding individual, grouped or palletized products and comprising at least: 
 a conveyor ( 2 ) extending in a direction of feed (A) and used to transport the products ( 3 );    a frame ( 4 ) mounted over the conveyor ( 2 ) and equipped with at least two rolls ( 5 ,  6 ) of film mounted on the frame uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) in such a way as to form a band of film ( 9 ,  9 ′) positioned transversely relative to the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) and intercepted by the front of the products ( 3 ) as they move forward in such a way as to unwind the film from the pair of rolls ( 5 ,  6 );    at least one unit ( 10 ) for sealing and cutting the film ( 9 ,  9 ′), supported by the frame ( 4 ) and mobile between an idle position, where the unit ( 10 ) is close to the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ), and a working position, where the unit ( 10 ) is away from the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) so that it intercepts, seals and cuts the portion of film ( 9 ,  9 ′) wrapped around the products ( 3 );    the machine further comprising at least one unit ( 11 ) located in the vicinity of a section of the film band ( 9 ,  9 ′) unwinding path (P) and designed to apply at least one distinctive code (C) to at least one part of the film band ( 9 ,  9 ′).    
   
   
       2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit ( 11 ) is positioned in the vicinity of one of the film rolls ( 5 ,  6 ) and is equipped with a plurality of feed rollers ( 12 ) forming the unwinding path (P) and defining at least one straight section of the film ( 9 ) facing the unit ( 11 ).  
   
   
       3 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit ( 11 ) is mounted outside the frame ( 4 ), on one side of the frame ( 4 ).  
   
   
       4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , where the pair of rolls ( 5 ,  6 ) can be adjusted vertically in both directions along the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) of the frame ( 4 ), wherein the unit ( 11 ) is equipped with vertical drive means ( 13 ) allowing the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) and the unit ( 11 ) to assume predetermined positions relative to each other.  
   
   
       5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , where the pair of rolls ( 5 ,  6 ) can be adjusted vertically in both directions along the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) of the frame ( 4 ), wherein the unit ( 11 ) is equipped with vertical drive means ( 13 ) that permit synchronized drive between the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) and the unit ( 11 ).  
   
   
       6 . The machine according to  claim 1 , where there are two pairs of rolls ( 5 ,  6 ;  16 ,  17 ) forming respective bands ( 9 ,  9 ′) around the palletized product stack ( 3 ) and two units ( 10 ,  10 ′) for sealing and cutting the respective bands ( 9 ,  9 ′), wherein the code (C) application unit ( 11 ) is positioned along the path (P) of the band ( 9 ) closest to the conveyor ( 2 ), that is to say, in the vicinity of a lower roll ( 6 ).  
   
   
       7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , where there are two pairs of rolls ( 5 ,  6 ;  16 ,  17 ) forming respective bands ( 9 ,  9 ′) around the palletized product stack ( 3 ) and two units ( 10 ,  10 ′) for sealing and cutting the respective bands ( 9 ,  9 ′), wherein the code (C) application unit ( 11 ) is positioned along the path (P) of the band ( 9 ′) furthest from the conveyor ( 2 ), that is to say, in the vicinity of an upper roll ( 16 ).  
   
   
       8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit ( 11 ) comprises a labeling unit ( 11   e ) and means ( 11   m ) for applying at least one label (C) to the band of film ( 9 ,  9 ′).  
   
   
       9 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the unit ( 11 ) is equipped with means ( 11   m ) for applying at least one label (C) made of paper.  
   
   
       10 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the unit ( 11 ) is equipped with means ( 11   m ) for applying at least one label (C) made of plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the code (C) application unit ( 11 ) comprises means ( 11   s ) for printing the codes (C) directly on the band of film ( 9 ,  9 ′).  
   
   
       12 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit ( 11 ) is connected to a data processing and transmission system ( 30 ) to enable the unit ( 11 ) to receive at least one signal corresponding to at least one distinctive code (C) to be applied to the band ( 9 ,  9 ′).  
   
   
       13 . The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising means ( 31 ) for controlling the unwinding of the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) and activating the unit ( 11 ) in accordance with the parts (Z, Z′) of the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) to which the codes (C) have to be applied.  
   
   
       14 . A method for applying codes (C) to bands of film ( 9 ,  9 ′) wrapped around products ( 3 ) by a machine ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1 , the method comprising at least the step of: 
 feeding the products ( 3 ) along the conveyor ( 2 ) in such a way that the front ( 3   f ) of the products intercepts at least one band of film ( 9 ,  9 ′) positioned transversally with respect to the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ), causing the film ( 9 ,  9 ′) to be unwound at least from the pair of rolls ( 5 ,  6 ), wherein the step of feeding the products ( 3 ) and intercepting the film band ( 9 ,  9 ′) is preceded by:    a step of moving the branch (R) of the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) positioned transversally by an amount sufficient to position at least one part (Z) of it at the unit ( 11 ) that applies the codes (C);    a step of applying at least one distinctive code (C) to the part (Z) of the film ( 9 ,  9 ′);    a step of further moving the branch (R) of the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) by an amount sufficient to reposition the branch (R) between the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) and with the part (Z) with the code (C) applied to it at a predetermined position.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the step of moving the part (Z) of the band ( 9 ,  9 ′) towards and away from the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ) is accomplished by the joint rotation of the pair of film rolls ( 5 ,  6 ).  
   
   
       16 . A method for applying codes (C) to bands of film ( 9 ,  9 ′) wrapped around products ( 3 ) by a machine ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 1 , the method comprising at least the step of: 
 feeding the products ( 3 ) along the conveyor ( 2 ) in such a way that the front ( 3   f ) of the products intercepts at least one band of film ( 9 ,  9 ′) positioned transversally with respect to the uprights ( 7 ,  8 ), causing the film ( 9 ,  9 ′) to be unwound at least from the pair of rolls ( 5 ,  6 ), wherein the step of unwinding the film band is performed at the same time as a step of applying the code (C) to at least one part (Z) of the film band ( 9 ,  9 ′).