A multi-lane system for wrapping ice cream products and a method thereof

Abstract

A multi-lane system for wrapping ice cream products is presented. The system comprises reel holders for receiving reels holding webs of packaging material, a wrapping machine arranged to receive the ice cream products, to receive the webs, to enclose the ice cream products in the webs and to seal the webs such that wrapped ice cream products are formed, and a web conveying arrangement arranged to individually feed the webs of packaging material from the reels to the wrapping machine. The web conveying arrangement comprises de-tensioning devices arranged to decrease tensions in the webs upstream the wrapping machine.

1 . A multi-lane system for wrapping ice cream products, said system comprising
 reel holders for receiving reels holding webs of packaging material,   a wrapping machine arranged to receive the ice cream products, to receive the webs, to enclose the ice cream products in the webs and to seal the webs such that wrapped ice cream products are formed, and   a web conveying arrangement arranged to individually feed the webs of packaging material from the reels to the wrapping machine, wherein   the web conveying arrangement comprises de-tensioning devices arranged to decrease tensions in the webs upstream the wrapping machine.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the web conveying arrangement comprises
 first sliders placed downstream the reel holders and upstream the de-tensioning devices,   wherein the first sliders are angled relative to a first feeding direction of the webs, such that the webs are turned and redirected from the first feeding direction to a second feeding direction when slid over the first sliders.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the web conveying arrangement comprises
 second sliders placed downstream the de-tensioning devices and upstream the wrapping machine,   wherein the second sliders are angled relative to the second feeding direction, such that the webs are turned and redirected from the second feeding direction to a third feeding direction when slid over the second sliders.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first sliders are elongated and extend in parallel to a first axis that is angled by 30° to 60° relative to the first feeding direction, and the second sliders are elongated and extend in parallel to a second axis that is angled 30° to 60° relative to the second feeding direction. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reel holders are placed at a horizontal distance of at least 1 meter from the wrapping machine, and the reel holders are placed at a vertical distance of at least 0.5 meter from a floor level. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the reel holders comprise a first group of reel holders arranged for receiving a first set of reels from a first sided, and a second group of reel holders arranged for receiving a second set of reels from a second side, wherein the first set of reels is arranged to feed out first webs in a first plane and the second set of reels is arranged to feed out second webs in a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are parallel vertical planes. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the de-tensioning devices are placed in a third plane, wherein said third plane is a vertical plane. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second sliders are horizontally displaced, such that the webs are horizontally displaced when fed to the wrapping machine. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each de-tensioning device of the de-tensioning devices comprises a roller that is arranged to be rotated by a motor giving the roller a peripheral speed that is higher than a speed by which the web passes the roller. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the webs of packaging material comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . A method for wrapping ice cream products, said method comprising
 providing webs of packaging material from reels placed on reel holders,   conveying the webs individually from the reels to a wrapping machine by using a web conveying arrangement,   decreasing tensions in the webs by using de-tensioning devices,   feeding into the wrapping machine,   feeding the ice cream products into the wrapping machine,   enclosing the ice cream products in the webs, and   sealing and cutting the webs such that wrapped ice cream products are formed.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , comprising
 turning and redirecting the webs from a first feeding direction to a second feeding direction by sliding the webs over first sliders.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising turning and redirecting the webs from the second feeding direction to a third feeding direction by sliding the webs over second sliders. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising displacing the webs horizontally while turning and redirecting the webs using the second sliders. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the decreasing the tensions of the webs using a plurality of de-tensioning devices comprises, for each de-tensioning device, rotating a roller by a motor such that a peripheral speed of the roller is higher than a speed by which the web passes the roller.