Device and method for applying gripping handles on packaging films and a shrinkwrapper having such a device and arranged for effecting such a method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method ( 1 ) for applying gripping handles (M) on packaging films (P), preferably heat shrinkable, that are being supplied on shrinkwrappers ( 2 ) for making bundles (F) of food containers (C). The device ( 1 ) comprises: an application head ( 10 ) provided with an application roller ( 11 ) for applying a plurality of handles (M) supplied in the form of a continuous web ( 12 ) and subsequently cut into portions, each handle (M) having adhesive ends (E) for engagement with the corresponding film (P); an abutment mechanism ( 14 ) for supporting a plurality of films (P) supplied in the form of a continuous web ( 5 ) and subsequently cut into portions, the roller ( 11 ) of the head ( 10 ) and the abutment mechanism (14) being relatively movable between a non-operating condition, in which they are not engaged, and an operating condition in which the roller ( 11 ) of the head ( 10 ) is arranged at the abutment mechanism ( 14 ), against one of the films (P) being supplied in order to apply on the latter a respective handle (M) being supplied. The roller ( 11 ) of the head ( 10 ) is motorized and is independently controllable with respect to the feeding of the films (P) being supplied.

1 . An application device for applying gripping handles on packaging films, preferably heat shrinkable, that are being supplied on shrinkwrappers for making bundles of food containers, in particular cans, tins, bottles, flasks and/or the like, the application device comprising:
 at least one application head provided with at least one application roller for applying a plurality of gripping handles supplied in the form of a continuous web and subsequently cut into portions, each gripping handle having adhesive ends for engagement with the corresponding packaging film, the application head comprising at least a motor or a similar actuator operatively connected to the application roller for controlling the angular velocity of the latter and modifying the same according to a preset program;   at least one abutment mechanism for operatively supporting a plurality of packaging films supplied in the form of a continuous web and subsequently cut into portions, the application roller of the application head and the abutment mechanism being relatively movable between a non-operating condition, in which they are not engaged, and an operating condition, in which the application roller of the application head is arranged at the abutment mechanism, against at least one of the packaging films being supplied in order to apply on the latter a respective gripping handle being supplied,   the application roller of the application head being motorized and being independently controllable with respect to the feeding of the packaging films being supplied, supported by the abutment mechanism between the latter and the application roller itself,   characterized in that it further comprises at least one control unit, preferably electronic and programmable, which is operatively connected to the motor or the similar actuator for rotationally actuating the application roller, the control unit modifying, for each packaging film being supplied, the angular velocity of the application roller so as to determine, for at least a settable and programmable time interval, a feeding of the gripping handle being supplied that is faster than the feeding of the respective packaging film being supplied.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor or the similar actuator is operatively connected to the application roller by means of at least two driving pulleys and at least one moving belt which partially surrounds such driving pulleys. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor or the similar actuator is directly connected to the application roller without interposing intermediate driving members. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor or the similar actuator is of the electric or pneumatic type. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor or the similar actuator comprises a servo-motor or a three-phase motor or a brushless motor. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged for:
 allowing the application roller to rotate or to rotate the latter at a common angular feeding velocity, wherein each gripping handle being supplied moves forward at substantially the same feeding velocity of the respective packaging film being supplied and supported by the abutment mechanism;   decreasing the contact force between the gripping handle and the packaging film; increasing the angular velocity of the application roller up to a preset limit in such a way as to increase the feeding velocity of each gripping handle with respect to the feeding velocity of the corresponding packaging film, the increase of the feeding velocity of each gripping handle with respect to the feeding velocity of the respective packaging film defining a respective loop between the latter;   reducing the angular velocity of the application roller or allowing the natural reduction of such angular velocity (w) so as to reduce the feeding velocity of each gripping handle at least until achieving the feeding velocity of the packaging film;   increasing the contact force between the gripping handle (M) and the packaging film.   
     
     
         7 . A method for applying gripping handles on packaging films, preferably heat shrinkable, that are being supplied on shrinkwrappers for making bundles of containers, in particular cans, tins, bottles, flasks and/or the like, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least an application head for a plurality of gripping handles supplied in the form of a continuous web and subsequently cut into portions, each gripping handle having adhesive ends for engagement with the corresponding packaging film;   providing at least an abutment mechanism, at the application head for supporting, during feeding, a plurality of packaging films in the form of a continuous web subsequently cut into portions;   supplying the gripping handles to the application head;   guiding the packaging films toward the abutment mechanism, the packaging films moving forward between the latter and the application head at a predetermined feeding velocity;   applying a gripping handle to each packaging film by pressing the application head on the latter against the abutment mechanism, at least one adhesive end of the gripping handle EM adhering to the respective packaging film to ensure the union between the latter,   controlling the application roller of the application head independently with respect to the feeding of the packaging film being supplied, supported by the abutment mechanism between the latter and the application roller, controlling the angular velocity of the application roller and modifying the same according to a preset program,   characterized in that:   modifying the angular velocity of the application roller is performed for each packaging film being supplied;   modifying the angular velocity of the application roller for each packaging film being supplied is performed by increasing the angular velocity of the application roller and determining, for at least a settable and programmable time interval, a feeding of the gripping handle being supplied that is faster than the feeding of the respective packaging film being supplied.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of modifying the angular velocity of the application roller is performed for each packaging film being supplied according to the following steps:
 allowing the application roller to rotate or to rotate the latter at a common angular feeding velocity, wherein each gripping handle being supplied moves forward at substantially the same feeding velocity of the respective packaging film being supplied and supported by the abutment mechanism, one of the adhesive ends of the gripping handle adhering to the respective packaging film being supplied;   decreasing the contact force between the gripping handle and the packaging film; increasing the angular velocity of the application roller up to a preset limit in such a way as to increase the feeding velocity of each gripping handle with respect to the feeding velocity of the corresponding packaging film, the increase of the feeding velocity of each gripping handle with respect to the feeding velocity of the respective packaging film defining a respective loop between the latter;   reducing the angular velocity of the application roller or allowing the natural reduction of such angular velocity so as to reduce the feeding velocity of each gripping handle at least until achieving the feeding velocity of the packaging film;   increasing the contact force between the gripping handle and the packaging film so as to ensure proper adhesion of the adhesive end of the gripping handle on the respective packaging film.   
     
     
         9 . A shrinkwrapper for making bundles of food containers such as cans, tins, bottles, flasks and/or the like, comprising:
 at least one supplying station for supplying a plurality of packaging films, preferably made of heat-shrinkable material, in the form of a continuous web cut into portions;   at least one joining station operatively arranged downstream of the supplying station for applying at least one gripping handle, supplied in the form of a continuous web, on a corresponding packaging film;   at least one coupling station operatively arranged downstream of the joining station for wrapping each packaging film provided with a respective gripping handle around a predetermined set of containers coming from a respective supplying station;   at least one heating station operatively arranged downstream of said coupling station for heating each packaging film and determining the shrinkage thereof around the corresponding containers,   characterized in that it comprises, at the joining station, at least one application device, according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . A shrinkwrapper for making bundles of food containers such as cans, tins, bottles, flasks and/or the like, comprising:
 at least one supplying station for supplying a plurality of packaging films, preferably made of heat-shrinkable material, in the form of a continuous web cut into portions;   at least one joining station operatively arranged downstream of the supplying station for applying at least one gripping handle, supplied in the form of a continuous web, on a corresponding packaging film;   at least one coupling station operatively arranged downstream of the joining station for wrapping each packaging film provided with a respective gripping handle on a predetermined set of containers coming from a respective supplying station;   at least one heating station operatively arranged downstream of said coupling station for heating each packaging film and determining the shrinkage thereof around the corresponding containers,   characterized by implementing an application method for the gripping handles to the respective packaging films according to  claim 7 .