Multi-row wrapping machine particularly for wrapping confectionery products such as slabs of chocolate and suchlike

Abstract

A multi-row wrapping machine for wrapping products (P) comprising a plurality of wrapping lines or rows (F), adjacent and coplanar to each other, each wrapping row being defined between a common input station ( 2 ) and a respective output station ( 3 ) for wrapped products, the rows developing parallel to each other along a direction of advance from the input station towards the output station, conveying means (N) being provided to convey the products (P), one in line with the other, along each respective wrapping line, the products being fed to the input station ( 2 ) in ranks at a set rate, each product of each rank engaging with each respective wrapping line at the same time. The machine has dragging means provided on each respective wrapping row to drag a respective wrapping film (T) in an unwinding direction, wrapping means to wrap the individual product (P) in wrapping film (T) and also to cut and weld the reciprocally superimposed edges of the wrapper, feeding the wrapped product to the output station ( 3 ). In each wrapping row (F 1 , F 2 , . . . Fn) of the plurality of rows there are separate and distinct means (N 1 , N 2 , . . . Nn) to convey the products (P) from the input station ( 2 ) to the output station ( 3 ), separate and distinct means to feed the respective wrapping film (T) and separate and distinct means to wrap the product (P), so that the entire product moving and wrapping stage, from the input station ( 2 ) to the output station ( 3 ) is operated and controlled along each row (F 1 , F 2 , . . . Fn) independently of the other respective rows.

1 . A multiple-row machine for wrapping products (P), comprising a plurality of wrapping lines or rows (F), adjacent and coplanar to each other, each wrapping row being defined between a common input station ( 2 ) and a respective output station ( 3 ) for wrapped products, said rows developing parallel to each other along a direction of advance from the input station towards the output station,
 conveying means (N) being provided to convey the products (P), one in line with the other, along each respective wrapping line, the products being fed to the input station ( 2 ) in ranks at a set rate, each product of each rank engaging with each respective wrapping line at the same time,   dragging means being provided on each respective wrapping row to drag a respective wrapping film (T) in an unwinding direction,   wrapping means being provided to wrap the individual product (P) in wrapping film (T) and also to cut and weld the reciprocally superimposed edges of the wrapper, feeding the wrapped product to the output station ( 3 ), characterised in that for each wrapping row (F 1 , F 2 , . . . Fn) of said plurality of rows there are separate and distinct means (N 1 , N 2 , . . . Nn) of conveying products from said input station ( 2 ) to said output station ( 3 ), separate and distinct means of feeding the respective wrapping film (T) and separate and distinct means of wrapping the product (P), so that the entire product moving and wrapping stage, from the input station to the output station, is operated and controlled along each row (F 1 , F 2 , . . . Fn) independently of the other respective rows.   
     
     
         2 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each wrapping row, there are distinct and separate first motor means to convey the products from the input station ( 2 ) to the output station ( 3 ), separate and distinct second motor means to feed the wrapping film (T) along the corresponding row, separate and distinct motor means to operate a respective pair of rollers ( 22   a ,  23   a ) to weld and cut the wrapper wrapped round the product (P). 
     
     
         3 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein there are nine wrapping rows (F), coplanar and parallel to each other in the direction of the output station. 
     
     
         4 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each wrapping row (F), there is a respective group of reels (B) of wrapping film (T), said reels being arranged outside the wrapping rows with the axes of said reels parallel to the direction of advance of the products along the rows, so that the film (T) of each reel (B) is dragged along a first section transversely to said direction of advance and then redirected 90° back along a second section parallel to the direction of advance, a film centring device ( 16 ) being provided for each wrapping row (F), to keep the wrapping film (T) in a centred position in relation to the product (P) of the corresponding row. 
     
     
         5 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 4 , wherein, for each row there is an arm ( 9 ) to redirect the film (T) from the first to the second section, said redirecting arm ( 9 ) being positioned at 45° in relation to the unwinding directions of the first and second sections, the positioning of each redirecting arm ( 9 ) being adjustable, each centring device ( 16 ) comprising, downstream of the corresponding redirecting arm ( 9 ), a first (L 1 , L 2 ) and second pair (R 1 , R 2 ) of sensor means, each first and second pair being operationally associated with a respective side edge of the film (T) and being arranged to detect the position of the corresponding edge of the film (T) within a set sensor reading range, the sensor means being connected to a signal processing unit (U) containing means to process the signals of each pair of sensors for the corresponding film, so as to compare the measurements made on the opposite sides of the film and if a misalignment of the film in relation to a set central axis is detected, to generate a command signal to be sent to a motorised actuator ( 12 ,  14 ) located on the corresponding redirecting arm ( 9 ) in order to adjust the position of said arm ( 9 ) so as to move the film (T) towards a centred position. 
     
     
         6 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said sensor means (L 1 , L 2 , R 1 , R 2 ) are of the analogue type and have a reading range of an extent such as to guarantee edge detection for films (T) of widths that fall within a set range of measurements. 
     
     
         7 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each wrapping row there is one pair of reels of wrapping paper with a first (B 1 ) and second reel (B 2 ) and an automatic reel-changing device ( 5 ), a film-cutting device ( 18 ) being furthermore associated with at least the first reel (B 1 ) of said pair and means being provided to join the cut edge of film to the end of the film of the other second reel (B 2 ), to drag said film (T) to the corresponding wrapping row (F), control means being provided to synchronise the cutting of the film on each first reel (B 1 ) of said pairs of reels, so that the wrapping film of the second reels (B 2 ) simultaneously reaches the respective wrapping rows in order to affect the products of a complete rank fed to the input station ( 2 ) and consequently simultaneously to change the film (T) for all the wrapping rows. 
     
     
         8 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each pair of welding and cutting rollers ( 22   a ,  23   a ), associated with each respective wrapping row (F), is mounted in a frame ( 21 ) removably connectable to the structure of the machine so as to form an individually manoeuvrable unit, independently of the pairs of rollers ( 22   a ,  23   a ) of the machine's other wrapping rows (F). 
     
     
         9 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 8 , wherein said frame ( 21 ) has guiding means that can engage with corresponding counter guiding means ( 24 ) made in the stationary structure of the machine, so that said frame ( 21 ) can be moved in a transverse direction to the direction of advance from an extracted non-operating position to an operating position of kinematic coupling with the respective motion transmission members located in the machine's structure. 
     
     
         10 . Wrapping machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said frame ( 21 ) comprises at least one shoulder ( 21   b ) inside which are housed respective toothed wheels ( 22   b ,  23   b ) splined to the respective shafts of said welding and cutting rollers ( 22   a ,  23   a ), one ( 23   b ) of said wheels being mounted on the frame ( 21 ) in a position so as to mesh with a toothed wheel ( 29 ) operating the drive in said operating position.