Package Wrapping Machine with Detection of Lip Features of Trayed Products to be Wrapped

Abstract

A package wrapping machine includes a wrapping station where film is to be manipulated during a packaging operation. A support is provided for holding rolled film, the support located to permit film to be drawn into the wrapping station. A sensor arrangement detects package size data that is used to set one or more wrap parameters.

1 . A package wrapping machine for handling trayed items, each trayed item including product within a tray that has a tray lip, the machine comprising:
 an infeed station at which trayed items to be wrapped are placed;   a conveying system for moving trayed items into the machine and to a wrapping station where film is manipulated to wrap trayed items;   a sensor arrangement for detecting trayed items moved by the conveying system;   a controller associated with the sensor arrangement and operable to identify tray lip height for trayed items based upon outputs from the sensor arrangement, the controller setting one or more wrap parameters based upon identified tray lip height.   
   
   
       2 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 1  wherein the sensor arrangement includes sensors defining a substantially vertical detection plane and sensors defining an angled detection plane. 
   
   
       3 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 2  wherein the angled detection plane crosses the vertical detection plane. 
   
   
       4 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 2  wherein the substantially vertical detection plane is defined by multiple light emitters spaced apart vertically and located to one lateral side of the conveying system and multiple light sensors spaced apart vertically and located to an opposite lateral side of the conveying system, and the angled detection plane is defined by a light source located below the conveying system and at least two cameras located above the conveying system. 
   
   
       5 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 1  wherein identified lip height is used by the controller to identify a specific tray size. 
   
   
       6 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 1  wherein the position of at least one film underfolder of the wrap station is controlled based at least in part upon the identified lip height. 
   
   
       7 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 1  wherein trays carrying trayed items include a tray lip, an angled tray wall and a tray bottom, lip height is identified at least in part by detecting the angled tray wall. 
   
   
       8 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 7  wherein the tray wall is detected by sensors defining a substantially vertical detection plane. 
   
   
       9 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 1  wherein the controller is further operable to identify a distance between a trayed item leading edge and a tray bottom wall leading edge based upon outputs from the sensor arrangement, the controller setting one or more wrap parameters based upon the identified distance 
   
   
       10 . A package wrapping machine comprising:
 an infeed station at which trayed items to be wrapped are placed;   a conveying system for moving trayed items into the machine and to a wrapping station where film is manipulated to wrap trayed items;   a sensor arrangement for detecting trayed items moved by the conveying system;   a controller associated with the sensor arrangement and operable to identify a distance between a trayed item leading edge and a tray bottom wall leading edge based upon outputs from the sensor arrangement, the controller setting one or more wrap parameters based upon the identified distance.   
   
   
       11 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 10  wherein the sensor arrangement includes sensors defining a substantially vertical detection plane and sensors defining an angled detection plane. 
   
   
       12 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 11  wherein the angled detection plane crosses the vertical detection plane. 
   
   
       13 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 11  wherein the substantially vertical detection plane is defined by multiple light emitters spaced apart vertically and located to one lateral side of the conveying system and multiple light sensors spaced apart vertically and located to an opposite lateral side of the conveying system, and the angled detection plane is defined by a light source located below the conveying system and at least two cameras located above the conveying system. 
   
   
       14 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 10  wherein the position of at least one film underfolder of the wrap station is controlled based at least in part upon the identified distance. 
   
   
       15 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 10  wherein trays carrying trayed items include a tray lip, an angled tray wall and a tray bottom wall, the distance is identified at least in part by detecting the angled tray wall. 
   
   
       16 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 15  wherein the sensor arrangement includes vertically spaced apart sensors defining a substantially vertical detection plane, the distance is identified based upon a trayed item first breaking the substantially vertical detection plane and the angled wall of the trayed item obstructing a lowest one of the vertically spaced apart sensors. 
   
   
       17 . The package wrapping machine of  claim 10  wherein the trayed item leading edge is defined by either (i) the leading edge of the tray lip or (ii) product overhanging beyond the leading edge of the tray lip. 
   
   
       18 . A package wrapping machine comprising:
 an infeed station at which trayed items to be wrapped are placed;   a conveying system for moving trayed items into the machine and to a wrapping station where film is manipulated to wrap trayed items;   a sensor arrangement for detecting trayed items moved by the conveying system;   a controller associated with the sensor arrangement and operable to identify at least one of a trayed item volume or a trayed item center of gravity location based upon outputs from the sensor arrangement, the controller setting one or more wrap parameters based upon the identified trayed item volume or trayed item center of gravity location.