Method and apparatus for packaging a mattress in a package composed of multiple wrappings arranged one inside the other

Abstract

A method for packaging a mattress in a package, comprising: retaining, in a first step of operation, a fixing element below a resting surface and causing the advancement of a mattress from a first conveyor toward a second conveyor for producing the wrapping of a sheet in a loop around the mattress and the perimetric closure by heat-sealing and cutting of the sheet and the formation of a first wrapping, which is separate from the sheet unwound from the reel, lifting, in a second step, the sheet fixing element above the resting surface and transferring the mattress onto the advancement conveyor, returning, in a third step, the fixing element below the resting surface and in a fourth step, producing the advancement of the mattress on the second receiving and transfer conveyor in order to wrap a second sheet around the first wrapping and perform consequent heat-sealing and cutting of the sheet, forming a second wrapping that is separate from the first one.

1 . A method for packaging a mattress in a package, comprising:
 providing a first conveyor for the advancement of a mattress and a second conveyor for receiving and transferring a mattress so as to form a mattress resting surface and to form a separating opening between said conveyors that can be bridged by a mattress that is moved from one of the conveyors to the other by way of adapted movement means;   providing above said first and second conveyors a reel of a sheet that is heat-sealable, and joining one end of said sheet to a fixing element that is guided through said opening;   providing engagement means for engaging and actuating said fixing element for fixing the sheet between a position that lies below said resting surface, in which said sheet is stretched through said opening, and a position that lies above said resting surface up to a height suitable to allow passage of a mattress between said resting surface and said fixing element;   providing, above said resting surface, heat-sealing and cutting means, that are operatable synchronously with said fixing element and said mattress movement means, wherein said heat-sealing and cutter means;   retain, in a first step of operation, the fixing element below the resting surface and cause an advancement of the mattress from the first conveyor toward the second conveyor in order to produce wrapping of said sheet in a loop around said mattress and a perimetric closure by heat-sealing and cutting of said sheet and a formation of a first wrapping, which is separate from the sheet unwound from said reel,   lift, in a second step, the sheet fixing element above the resting surface and transfer the mattress onto the advancement conveyor,   return, in a third step, said fixing element below the resting surface, and   produce, in a fourth step, an advancement of the mattress on the second receiving and transfer conveyor in order to wrap a second sheet around the first wrapping and perform a consequent heat-sealing and cutting of the sheet, to form a second wrapping that is separate from the first one.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for packaging a mattress in a package, comprising: a first conveyor for advancement of a mattress; a second conveyor for receiving and transferring a mattress, said first and second conveyors forming a resting surface and being mutually separated by an opening; actuation means for actuating said first and second conveyors to transfer a mattress from one of said conveyors to the other by bridging said opening; a supporting structure supporting a reel with a heat-sealable sheet that is suitable to be heat-sealed above said conveyors; a fixing element for fixing an end of the sheet unwound from said reel; engagement means for engaging said fixing element; guiding means for guiding said fixing element through said opening between a lower position, which lies below said resting surface and in which said sheet is stretched through said opening, and an upper position, which lies above said resting surface, up to a height suitable to allow passage of a mattress between said resting surface and said fixing element; heat-sealing means, arranged above said resting surface, said actuation means for actuating the fixing element, said heat-sealing means for heat-sealing and cutting and conveyor actuation means for moving the mattress being functionally coordinatable so that when the fixing element is arranged below the resting surface, the mattress is transferrable from the first advancement conveyor toward the second receiving and transfer conveyor, for producing wrapping and closure in a loop by heat-sealing and cutting of said sheet around the mattress and the formation of a first wrapping; so that the fixing element is raisable above the resting surface and the mattress is returnable onto the first advancement conveyor; so that the fixing element can again be lowered below the resting surface so as to again stretch said sheet through said opening; and so that, with the mattress again transferred onto the second, receiving and transfer conveyor, wrapping of a second sheet around the first wrapping, heat-sealing and cutting of the sheet, with formation of a second wrapping that is not connected to the first one, can be completed. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first advancement conveyor comprises: two series of rollers, which form respective roller beds with an opening therebetween; and a pusher that is movable along said opening and is adapted to operate on a mattress to be packaged, which is deposited on said rollers, for transferring said mattress onto said second conveyor. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said rollers are freely rotatable during advancement of the pusher in a first direction for transfer of a mattress toward said second conveyor and are further positively actuatable in a second opposite direction when the mattress returns from said second conveyor onto said roller beds. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said pusher consists of a bar, which is movable above the roller bed and by a slider, said bar being connected to said slider that is actuated with a reversible motion to slide on guides arranged below said roller bed. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , comprising a gearmotor and a transmission, said rollers of each roller series being actuated by said gearmotor, which actuates said rollers through said transmission that comprises a shaft which is supported at right angles to said rollers and is connected to the rollers by respective belts. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , comprises a mattress feeder associated with said first advancement conveyor, said feeder having belts, having an end for unloading mattresses that lies above said roller beds. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said second receiving and transfer conveyor comprises a plurality of horizontal belts in sliding contact on a supporting slab, said belts forming a plane that is substantially coplanar with respect to a plane of said rollers, and wherein a reversible gearmotor is provided for actuating said belts. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , comprising: a plate, which is supported above said slab and forms with the slab a compartment for accommodating a mattress to be packaged; plate actuation means being provided for actuation of said plate from a raised position into a lowered position for compressing the mattress. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said heat-sealing means are arranged laterally to said plate for heat-sealing lateral edges of said heat-sealable sheet wrapped around a mattress arranged in said compartment. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , said heat-sealing means are supported on carriages, which are arranged at the sides of said plane formed by said belts and at an adjustable distance with respect to said plane. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said supporting structure comprises: two columns, with rollers supported on at top for supporting at least one said sheet supporting reel; a first pair of guides associated vertically with said columns for guiding opposite ends of a rod that constitutes said fixing element for fixing the sheet end; a second pair of guides, which are parallel to the first pair of guides, and guide respective sliding blocks of supporting actuators which actuate elements for engaging ends of said rod said sliding blocks being actuatable by said engagement means so as to raise and lower said rod between a position that lies below said roller beds and a position that lies above said roller beds at a height that is greater than a thickness of a mattress. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising: a second reel for a said sheet arranged on said supporting structure, said sheet having an end that is fixed to a second rod, having opposite ends that are guided slidingly within the guides of said first rod; stop means for retaining said first and second rods at a height, with respect to the resting surface, that is greater than a thickness of the mattress; and control means for controlling said stop means to allow individual release of said engagement elements. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said stop means comprise arms which are actuated by actuators jointly connected to said supporting structure between a support position and a release position of said first and second rods. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising gears respectively keyed to opposite ends of each said first and second rod, said engagement elements consisting of a fork, on which a toothed sector is associated slidingly, said sector being actuated by an actuator to move between a position for engaging said gear in order to block rotation of said first and second rods and a position for disengagement from said gear in order to allow rotation of said first and second rods. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claims 15 , comprising located at a lower end of said first guides a pinion; a gearmotor that actuates said pinion and is adapted to mesh with said gears keyed to said first and second rods in order to stretch said sheet.