Wrapping device and wrapping method using the wrapping device

Abstract

A wrapping device for manually operating to package products, particularly of cubic or cuboidal shape, includes a table, an upper side folder, a first heater, second heaters, first adjusters, second adjusters, and side interfolders. A wrapper such as a film is extended on the table and a product is placed on a recess of the table. Then, the film is folded toward the top face of the product, to which the folder is moved to fuse it by the first heater. Then, the first adjusters and the second adjusters are moved, and the table is moved downward to interfold, and fuse the film by the second heaters.

1 . A wrapping device for packaging products in a relatively thin fusible wrapper, the products having a top surface, a bottom surface, and four sides between the two surfaces, the device comprising: 
 a table for receiving the product to be placed on;    a movable folder for folding the wrapper over the product; and    a front face heater for fusing the wrapper at the front face of the product;    the table having a front lower step; and    the movable folder having a front top step and being movable to the table until its front top step takes a position facing the front lower step in the thickness direction;    wherein the front face heater is movable between the front lower step and the front top step, so as to fuse the wrapper at its front end face.    
   
   
       2 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a side face interfolding member for interfolding the wrapper on at least one of the right and left side faces of the product when the product passes the interfolding member; and    a side face heater for fusing the wrapper at the side faces of the product.    
   
   
       3 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 2 , 
 wherein the receiving face of the table is tilted relative to the horizontal so as to allow the product to slide downward along the receiving face.    
   
   
       4 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the table comprises a lower mover for supporting the product from the lower side, the mover being movable in a direction in which the product slides, and being kept ready to be urged upward.  
   
   
       5 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the lower mover comprises an adjuster for interfolding a portion of the wrapper protruding from the bottom end face to at least one of the right and left side faces.  
   
   
       6 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the table comprises an upper mover having an adjuster for side interfolders of the wrapper protruding from the front end face to at least one of the right and left side faces of the product.  
   
   
       7 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the front face heater is attached to the upper mover of the table.  
   
   
       8 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the side face interfolding member comprises a pair of rollers each having a conical surface, so that the wrapper protruding from the top and bottom end faces is interfolded over at least one of the right and left side faces of the product by and along the conical surfaces while the product is sliding.  
   
   
       9 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the side face interfolding member comprises slots being tilted relative to the sliding direction of the product so that the wrapper protruding from the top and bottom end faces is interfolded over at least one of the right and left side faces of the product by causing the product to slide into the slots.  
   
   
       10 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 8  or  9 , further comprising a side face heater for fusing the wrapper.  
   
   
       11 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the table comprises a rear lower step, and a recess formed between the front lower step and the rear lower step of the table, wherein the distance between the front lower step and the rear lower step is substantially the same as the length of the product.  
   
   
       12 . A wrapping device for packaging products in a relatively thin fusible wrapper, the products having a top surface, a bottom surface, and four sides between the two surfaces, the device comprising: 
 a table comprising a place for receiving the product, the place having substantially the same width as that of the product;    a first movable adjuster;    a second movable adjuster;    an side interfolder arranged outside the width of the table; and    a side face heater for fusing the wrapper;    wherein the table is movable up and down, so that its product receiving place can be located at an upper position than the top face of the side interfolder, and can be located at a lower position than the top face of the side interfolder,    wherein a pair of the first adjusters are caused to travel respectively along the right side face and left side face of the product placed on the receiving place, so as to interfold the wrapper protruding from the front end face and bottom end face over at least one of the side faces;    wherein the second adjuster is caused to move up and down along the respective side faces of the product, and to interfold the wrapper protruding from the top face over the side faces of the product; and    wherein the side face heater is movable toward the side faces of the product placed on the table having taken a lower position.    
   
   
       13 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising a support for holding the table, thereby keeping the table at an upper position, wherein the support having a knob operable by the support, thereby allowing the table to move to the lower position.  
   
   
       14 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the table is tilted downward so that the product receiving place receives the product in a downwardly tilted posture, and allows the product taking this position to pass the top face of the side interfolder, thereby interfolding a portion of the wrapper protruding from the bottom end face of the product over the product.  
   
   
       15 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the second adjuster comprises a flat distal end, so that when the second adjuster is moved to the table, the distal end is tilted relative to the top edge of the side face of the product placed on the table when the end passes the top edge.  
   
   
       16 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the first adjuster is provided at each of the four places adjacent to opposite ends along the right side face and the left side face of the product placed on the table and have operating handles for operating the first adjusters.  
   
   
       17 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a movable folder; and    a front face heater for fusing the wrapper;    wherein the table has a front lower step and a rear lower step and forms a receiving place having substantially the same length as the product between the front lower step and the rear lower step;    wherein the folder is provided in a front top step and movable toward the table, so that the front top step can take its position facing the front lower step along the thickness of the product on the table when the movable folder is moved toward the table, so that the front face heater is displaceable between the front lower step and the front top step, thereby fusing the wrapper staying around the front end face of the product.    
   
   
       18 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 17 , further comprising a frame for holding the second movable adjuster, each of the frame and the movable folder being rotatable around a pivot extending outside and in parallel to the sides of the table.  
   
   
       19 . The wrapping device as defined in  claim 1  or  12 , wherein at least one of the front face heater and the side face heater comprises an elastic cylindrical sleeve and a heating element embedded therein.  
   
   
       20 . A wrapping method for using the wrapping device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper is wider than the product, and is twice as long as the total amount of the length and thickness of the product; the method comprising the steps of: 
 extending a wrapper over the table;    placing a product on the wrapper extended on the table;    covering the top face, the bottom end face, and the bottom end face of the product with the wrapper extended over the table;    fusing the wrapper by the front face heater at the front end face of the product to seal; and    fusing the interfolded portions of the wrapper at the right and left side faces.    
   
   
       21 . A wrapping method of using the wrapping device as defined in  claim 11  or  17 , wherein the wrapper is wider than that of the product, and is twice as long as the total amount of the length and thickness of the product; the method comprising the steps of: 
 extending the wrapper over the receiving place of the table, in a first longitudinal end of the wrapper on the front lower step;    folding the wrapper under the bottom end face of the product by the front lower step and the rear lower step after receiving the product on the wrapper on the table so as to engage in the recess of the table;    folding back the wrapper to cover the top face of the product in a second longitudinal end of the wrapper moved to the front lower step, whereupon folding the second end by the front top step in the movable folder moved; and    wrapping the top and bottom end faces and the front and bottom end faces of the product in the wrapper by bonding the first end and the second end of the wrapper by means of the front side heater.    
   
   
       22 . A wrapping method of using the wrapping device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the wrapper is wider than that of the product, and is twice as long as the total amount of the length and thickness of the product; the method comprising the steps of: 
 bonding one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end of the wrapper so as to cover the top face, the bottom end face, the front end face, and bottom end face of the product with the wrapper;    interfolding the edges of the wrapper extending in the length of the product over the right side face and the left side face of the product inward by the first movable adjusters;    interfolding a top portion of the wrapper extending in the thickness of the product over the right side face and left side face of the product inward by the second movable adjuster;    interfolding a bottom portion of the wrapper extending in the thickness of the product over the right side face and left side face inward by moving the table to the lower position; and    bonding the folded portions of the wrapper by the side face heaters.