Device and method for packaging products or ice cream

Abstract

A packaging apparatus ( 10 ) of ice cream or other products in cones, cups or other containers comprises at least one transfer line of the ice cream along which the preparation steps are carried out beginning with the feeding of the container up to the closing of the container with the product, along the transfer line at least one trolley ( 21 ) is foreseen with movement in step with the transfer of the containers for the time necessary for the completion of the operation.

1 . Device for packaging ( 10 ) ice cream or other products in cones, cups or other containers ( 15 ), characterised in that it comprises at least one line ( 11 ) for the transfer within shaped seats ( 14 ) of the containers ( 15 ) containing the products, along said line the packaging operations (a-g) are carried out starting from the feeding of the empty container ( 15 ) up to the closure of the container with the product, along the transfer line ( 11 ) at least one trolley ( 21 ) is foreseen moving synchronously with the transfer of the containers for a time necessary for the completion of the operation (a-g).  
   
   
       2 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said trolley comprises a lower portion ( 21 ′) in turn comprising an arm ( 27 ) bearing lifters ( 28 ), driven by a first lever device ( 29 ), positioned so to correspond to an equal number of alternate seats ( 14 ) bearing the same number of non-adjacent containers and an upper portion ( 21 ″) bearing corresponding operative means for the execution of the step.  
   
   
       3 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said trolley ( 21 ) is prearranged to operate a closure step (f) of the container.  
   
   
       4 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said trolley ( 21 ) is prearranged for carrying out the closure step (f) of the container by means of crimping the edge of the container.  
   
   
       5 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said trolley ( 21 ) is prearranged for carrying out the sealed closure step (f) of the container by means of welding or pasting of the container borders.  
   
   
       6 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said trolley has an upper portion ( 21 ″) equipped, for each line ( 11 ), with a support arm ( 22 ) bearing a plurality of closure heads ( 23 ) movable by means of a second lever device ( 24 ).  
   
   
       7 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said upper portion ( 21 ″) of the trolley ( 21 ) moreover comprises a mechanism equipped with a plurality of jaw pairs ( 25 ) which are opened and closed by levers ( 26 ).  
   
   
       8 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said lifters ( 28 ), said jaw pairs ( 25 ) and said closure heads ( 23 ) are positioned on the same axis so to correspond with alternate cones or containers.  
   
   
       9 . Packaging device ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein said lifters ( 28 ), said jaw pairs ( 25 ) and said closure heads ( 23 ) are three in number for each line ( 11 ).  
   
   
       10 . Method for packaging products in containers by operating by means of a device ( 10 ) according to claim  1 , characterised in that it comprises the following steps in the closure operation: 
 moving the trolley ( 21 ) up to bringing it with the three lifters under corresponding non-adjacent, alternate containers;    simultaneously lifting (for each of the lines  11 ) the three cones or containers, making them pass between the three open jaw pairs ( 25 );    continuing to advance the trolley ( 21 ) in step with the advancement of the lines ( 11 );    closing the jaw pairs ( 25 ) by means of the levers ( 26 ) so to hold the cones;    lowering the lifters ( 28 );    driving the closure heads ( 23 ) of the wrappers of the containers ( 15 ), or cones or cups;    raising the lifters ( 28 ) to free the closed wrappers from the jaws;    opening the jaws;    lowering the lifters until the closed containers are reinserted in their respective seats ( 14 );    bringing the trolley back in position to carry out a new cycle.