A device adapted to seal a paper overwrap around a package includes a stationary support frame, a conveyor mounted to the support frame, and an adhesive application device mounted to the stationary support frame. The conveyor is configured to transport the package wrapped in the paper overwrap in a conveyor direction through the support frame. The adhesive application device is configured to tension the paper overwrap, while opening the seam so that an adhesive may be applied to the bottom of the package and the seam sealed together.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
. A device for sealing a paper overwrap around a package having a tray that holds a plurality of goods in a cavity, the device comprising:
. The device of, wherein the adhesive application device further comprises a paper overwrap tension controller means for pulling the free ends of the paper overwrap in opposed directions around the package as or after the package is lifted away from the conveyor to tension the paper overwrap around the package before the adhesive is applied to the bottom side of the package to keep the paper overwrap taut around the bottom, top, front, and rear sides of the package as the adhesive is applied to the bottom side of the package so that the paper overwrap remains taut and holds the plurality of goods in place in the cavity of the tray once the adhesive has been applied to fix the paper overwrap in place on the package.
. The device of, wherein the adhesive application device further comprises a paper overwrap retraction means for moving a first free end of the paper overwrap in a first direction away from the bottom side of the package after the paper overwrap is tensioned around the package to uncover a portion of the bottom side of the package and the second free end of the paper overwrap so that the adhesive is applied to the portion of the bottom side of the package and the second free end and for moving the first free end of the paper overwrap in a second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom side of the package after the adhesive is applied to seal the first free end with the bottom side of the package and the second free end thereby fixing the paper overwrap in place on the package.
. The device of, wherein the package transport means includes a horizontal transporter mounted to the support frame for reciprocating horizontal movement along a horizontal axis and a vertical transporter mounted to the horizontal transporter for reciprocating vertical movement along the vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis,
. The device of, wherein the paper overwrap tension controller means comprises:
. The device of, wherein the paper overwrap retraction means comprises:
. The device of, wherein the package transport means comprises:
. The device of, wherein the transport carriage actuator comprises:
. The device of, wherein the paper overwrap tension controller means comprises,
. The device of, wherein the front clutch comprises a front linear cam member coupled to the stationary support frame and formed to define a front cam surface and a front clutch arm coupled to the pair of front roller wheels that defines a front cam follower that engages the front cam surface as the package transport carriage moves in the conveyor direction to cause the front clutch arm to rotate the pair of front roller wheels in the first direction partway about the front roller axis, and
. The device of, wherein the front clutch comprises a front clutch arm coupled to the pair of front roller wheels for rotation therewith and a front pneumatic actuator coupled to the front clutch arm and configured to rotate the front clutch arm to cause the pair of front roller wheels to rotate in the first direction partway about the front roller axis, and
. The device of, wherein the paper overwrap retraction means comprises:
. A method of sealing a paper overwrap around a package comprising a tray holding a plurality of goods in a cavity, the method comprising:
. The method of, further comprising a step of tensioning the paper overwrap by pulling the free ends in opposed directions around the package while the wrapped package is lifted away from the conveyor.
. The method of, wherein the step of tensioning the paper overwrap maintains the paper overwrap taut around the bottom, top, front, and rear sides of the package during adhesive application.
. The method of, further comprising a step of moving a first free end of the paper overwrap away from the bottom side of the package to a retracted position to uncover a portion of the bottom side and a second free end.
. The method of, wherein the step of applying adhesive comprises applying adhesive to the second free end and the uncovered portion of the bottom side while the first free end is in the retracted position.
. The method of, further comprising the step of returning the first free end toward the bottom side to seal the first free end to the bottom side and to the second free end.
. The method of, further comprising the step of lowering the sealed wrapped package back onto the conveyor after the paper overwrap has been fixed in place.
Complete technical specification and implementation details from the patent document.
This present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 18/388,318, filed Nov. 9, 2023, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/423,865, filed 9 Nov. 2022 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/537,517, filed 10 Sep. 2023, the disclosures of which are now expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates generally to wrapping devices, and more specifically to wrapping devices using paper materials.
Current market forces dictate a shift away from plastic film towards paper for securing goods. Plastic requires the use of petroleum or non-renewable sources while paper may be recycled.
A device is provided that seals a paper overwrap to itself around a tray of one or more products/goods inside a cavity of the tray. The tray may be fabricated from paper or cardboard and particularly suited to secure or store cans or bottles. The paper overwrap is wrapped around a top portion, two side portions and a bottom portion of the tray such that two ends of the paper overwrap meet at a bottom portion of the tray and form a seam. The paper overwrap is adhered or sealed along the seam on the bottom portion of the tray. In view of the foregoing application of the paper overwrap, two sides of the tray remain exposed/open without any paper overwrap.
The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. These exemplary embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
An illustrative embodiment of a deviceadapted to seal a paper overwraparound a packageis shown in. The packageincludes a trayholding a plurality of goodsin a cavityC of the tray. The paper overwrapis wrapped around a bottom sideB of the tray, a top sideT opposite the bottom side, and front and rear sidesF,R that extend between and interconnect the top and bottom sidesB,T of the packageso that free endsF,R of the paper overwrapoverlap on the bottom sideB of the packageto form a seam or flapS. The deviceis adapted to seal the seamS of the package overwrapthereby fixing the paper overwrapin place around the packageso that the paper overwrapholds the plurality of goodsin place in the cavityC of the tray.
The deviceincludes a stationary support frame, a conveyormounted to the support frame, and an adhesive application devicemounted to the stationary support frameas shown in. The conveyoris configured to transport the packagewrapped in the paper overwrapin a conveyor direction through the support frameas suggested by arrow C. The seamS of the paper overwrapon the bottom sideB of the packagefaces the conveyor. The adhesive application deviceis configured to tension the paper overwrap, while opening the seamS so that an adhesive may be applied to the bottom sideB of the packageand the seamS sealed together.
Other package wrapping devices may use a plastic film material to wrap a package thereby securing the goods inside the tray. The plastic film material may be shrink wrapped to the package to hold the goods inside the tray. While this method is effective at securing the goods inside the tray, the plastic film material uses non-renewable sources and is typically not recyclable.
Using paper material to wrap the package may be a preferred method over using plastic film material because the paper material may be recycled. However, it may be difficult to tension the paper overwrap around the package and maintain the tension while securing the paper overwrap around the package. If the paper overwrap is not tightly secured around the package, the goods in the tray may be able to move out of the cavity of the tray.
The device, therefore, includes the adhesive application deviceto tension the paper overwrapand maintain that tension while opening the seamS so that an adhesive may be applied to the bottom sideB of the package. This way, when the seamS is sealed closed, the paper overwrapremains tensioned around the packageto hold the plurality of goodsin the tray.
The adhesive application deviceincludes a package transport device, a paper overwrap tension device, a paper overwrap retraction device, and adhesive applicatorsas shown in. The package transport deviceprovides package transport means for lifting the wrapped packageaway from conveyor along a vertical axisA perpendicular to the conveyoras the wrapped packagecontinues to move in the conveyor direction C and for lowering the wrapped packagealong the vertical axisA toward the conveyorafter the adhesive has been applied. The paper overwrap tension deviceprovides means for pulling the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapin opposed directions around the packageto tension the paper overwraparound the packageand maintain the tension as the adhesive is applied. The paper overwrap retraction deviceprovides means for moving a first free endF of the paper overwrapin a first direction away from the bottom sideB of the packageafter the paper overwrapis tensioned around the packageto uncover a portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrapand for moving the first free endF of the paper overwrapin a second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom sideB of the packageafter the adhesive is applied. Each adhesive applicatoris configured to apply the adhesive to the uncovered portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrapwhen the first free endF is moved away from the bottom sideB of the package.
The adhesive application deviceincludes package transport means for lifting the wrapped packageaway from the conveyoralong the vertical axisA perpendicular to the conveyoras the wrapped packagecontinues to move in the conveyor direction C and for lowering the wrapped packagealong the vertical axisA toward the conveyorafter the adhesive has been applied as shown in. The package transport means, or the package transport device, lifts the wrapped packageto expose the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapon the bottom sideB of the packageso that the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapare free to be moved relative to the packageto tension the paper overwrapbefore an adhesive is applied to the bottom sideB of the package. The package transport devicelowers the wrapped packagealong the vertical axisA toward the conveyorafter the adhesive has been applied to set the wrapped packageback on the conveyor.
The package transport deviceincludes a horizontal transporterand a vertical transporteras shown in. The horizontal transporteris mounted to the support framefor reciprocating horizontal movement along a horizontal axisA as shown in. The vertical transporteris mounted to the horizontal transporterfor reciprocating vertical movement along the vertical axisA perpendicular to the horizontal axisA as shown in.
The horizontal transporterand the vertical transporterof the package transport deviceis configured to lift and lower the wrapped packagerelative to the conveyorwhile continuing to move the wrapped packagehorizontally to expose the free endsF,R of the package overwrap. In the illustrative embodiment, the conveyorincludes a pair of conveyor beltsand a conveyor controller. The conveyor controlleris coupled to the conveyor beltsand configured to drive movement of the conveyor beltsin the conveyor direction C.
The horizontal transportercomprises a pair of horizontal guide railsA,B mounted to the support frame, a horizontal transporter carriage, and a horizontal transporter drive systemas shown in. The horizontal transporter carriageis mounted on the pair of horizontal guide railsA,B to move horizontally back and forth relative to the horizontal axisA between a first horizontal position and a second horizontal position as shown in. In the first horizontal position, the horizontal transporter carriageis closer towards a first endR of the conveyor. In the second horizontal position, the horizontal transporter carriageis closer towards a second endF of the conveyor. The horizontal transporter drive systemis coupled to the horizontal transporter carriageto drive movement of the horizontal transporter carriagealong the horizontal guide railsA,B back and forth between the first and second horizontal positions.
The horizontal transporter drive systemincludes a motorand a drive shaftcoupled to the motoras shown in. The drive shafttransfers the rotational motion of the motorto linear motion to cause the horizontal transporter carriageto reciprocate along the horizontal axisA in the illustrative embodiment. In other embodiments, another suitable drive system may be used such as a linear actuator.
The vertical transportercomprises a pair of vertical guide railsA,B mounted to the horizontal transporter carriage, a vertical transporter carriage, and a vertical transporter drive systemas shown in. The vertical transporter carriageis mounted on the pair of vertical guide railsA,B to move vertically back and forth relative to the vertical axisA between a first vertical position and a second vertical position as shown in. In the first vertical position, the vertical transporter carriageis located below the conveyorso that the wrapped packageremains on the conveyor. In the second vertical position, the vertical transporter carriageextends above the conveyorto lift the wrapped packageaway from the conveyorat a predetermined distance. The vertical transporter drive systemis coupled to the vertical transporter carriageto drive movement of the vertical transporter carriagealong the vertical guide railsA,B between the first and second vertical positions.
The vertical transporter drive systemincludes a linear actuator in the illustrative embodiment in. In other embodiments, another suitable actuator or drive system may be used.
The adhesive application deviceincludes paper overwrap tension controller means for pulling the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapin opposed directions around the packageto tension the paper overwraparound the packageas shown in. The paper overwrap tension controller means, or the paper overwrap tension device, pulls the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapin opposed directions around the packageas or after the wrapped packageis lifted away from the conveyorto tension the paper overwraparound the packagebefore the adhesive is applied to the bottom sideB of the packageto keep the paper overwraptaut around the bottom, top, front, and rear sidesB,T,F,R of the package. The paper overwrapis kept taut around the packageas the adhesive is applied to the bottom sideB of the packageso that the paper overwrapremains taut once the seamS is sealed to hold the plurality of goodsin place in the cavityC of the trayonce the adhesive has been applied to fix the paper overwrapin place on the package.
The paper overwrap tension devicecomprises a pair of friction pads, a pair of rollers,, and a pair of clutch armsas shown in. Each friction padA,B of the pair of friction padsare coupled to the vertical transporter carriageof the vertical transporter. The friction padsA,B are configured to engage the wrapped packageas the conveyormoves the wrapped packageonto the vertical transporter carriage. Each rollerA,B of the pair of rollersis mounted to the vertical transporter carriageof the vertical transporterto rotate about a roller axis. The rollersA,B are located upstream of the friction padsA,B. Each clutch armA,B of the pair of clutch armsis coupled to one of the rollersA,B. Each clutch armA,B is configured to rotate the respective rollerA,B in a downstream direction D around the roller axisas the wrapped packageis lifted to cause the pair of rollersA,B to pull the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapin opposite directions around the package.
In the illustrative embodiment, the paper overwrap tension deviceincludes two friction padsA,B, two rollers,A,B, and two clutch armsA,B. In some embodiments, the paper overwrap tension devicemay include a single friction padA, roller,A, and clutch armA. In some embodiments, the paper overwrap tension devicemay include more than two friction padsA,B, more than two rollers,A,B, and more than two clutch armsA,B.
In the illustrative embodiment, the left and right friction padsare substantially similar. In the illustrative embodiment, the left and right rollersA,B are substantially similar. In the illustrative embodiment, the left and right clutch armsA,B are substantially similar.
Each rollerA,B includes a roller wheel, a shaft, and bearingsas shown in. The roller wheelis coupled to the shaftfor rotation therewith. The bearingsare coupled to the vertical transporter carriageof the vertical transporter. The bearingssupport either end of the shaftfor rotation about the roller axis.
Each clutch armA,B is configured to change between a pre-tension orientation as shown inand a post-tension orientation as shown in. Each clutch armA,B changes from the pre-tension orientation to the post-tension orientation to cause the respective rollerA,B to rotate in the downstream direction D around the roller axisas shown in. In this way, the pair of rollersA,B pull the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapin opposite directions around the packageas shown in.
Each clutch armA,B includes a base link memberand a connecting link memberas shown in. The base link memberextends between a first end that is pivotally coupled to the horizontal transporter carriageand a second end spaced apart from the first end. In the illustrative embodiment, the first end of the base link memberis pivotally coupled to the horizontal transporter carriagewith a mount bracket. The connecting link memberextends between a first end pivotally coupled to the second end of the base link memberand a second end that is coupled to the respective rollerA,B.
The second end of the base link memberis fixed to the shaftso that vertical movement of the vertical transporter carriagefrom the first vertical position to the second vertical position causes clutch armsA,B to rotate rollersA,B in the downstream direction D about the roller axis. The roller wheelsof each rollerA,B are made of a material that creates relative high coefficient of friction with the paper overwrapso that rotation of the rollersA,B pulls the free endF of the paper overwraptaut around the package. The friction padsA,B hold the other free endR of the paper overwrapin place as the free endF is pulled to tension the paper overwraparound the package.
The adhesive application deviceincludes paper overwrap retraction means for moving a first free endF of the paper overwrapin a first direction away from the bottom sideB of the packageafter the paper overwrapis tensioned around the packageto uncover a portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrapand for moving the first free endF of the paper overwrapin a second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom sideB of the packageafter the adhesive is applied as shown in. The paper overwrap retraction means, or the paper overwrap retraction device, moves the first free endF of the paper overwrapin the first direction so that the adhesive can be applied to the portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR. Then the paper overwrap retraction devicemoves the first free endF of the paper overwrapin the second direction opposite the first direction back toward the bottom sideB of the packageafter the adhesive is applied to seal the first free endF with the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR thereby sealing the seamS and fixing the paper overwrapin place on the package.
The paper overwrap retraction devicecomprises a pair of suction cups, a pair of cup movers, and a suction deviceas shown in. Each suction cupA,B of the pair of suction cupsis pivotably coupled to the vertical transporter carriageto pivot in the first direction away from the bottom sideB of the packageand in the second direction opposite the first direction toward the bottom sideB of the package. Each cup moverA,B of the pair of cup moversis coupled to one of the suction cupsA,B and configured to pivot the suction cupsA,B in the first direction and the second direction. The suction deviceis coupled to the suction cupsA,B and configured to apply a suction or vacuum force to the first free endF of the paper overwrapthrough the suction cupsA,B to cause the paper overwrapto be fixed to the suction cupsA,B so that the first free endF of the paper overwrapmoves with the pair of suction cupsin the first and second directions.
In the illustrative embodiment, the left and right suction cupsA,B are substantially similar. In the illustrative embodiment, the left and right cup movesA,B are substantially similar.
Each suction cupA,B has hosingA,B that extends between and interconnects the suction cupsA,B to the suction deviceso that the suction cupsA,B to the suction deviceare in fluid communication. The hosingA,B may interconnect to a single suction device. In some embodiments, the hosingA,B couples each respective suction cupA,B to a separate suction device.
Each cup moverA,B includes a suction cup mountand an actuatoras shown in. Each suction cup mountis pivotably coupled to the vertical transporter carriageto pivot between an engaged position as shown inand a retracted position as shown in. Each suction cup mountis configured to pivot about a mover axisrelative to the vertical transporter carriagein the first and second directions with the corresponding suction cupA,B. Each actuatoris coupled to the corresponding suction cup mount. Each actuatoris configured to drive pivoting of the suction cup mountabout the mover axisbetween the engaged and retracted positions.
In the illustrative embodiment, the actuatoris a linear actuator configured to move between an extended actuator position as shown inand a retracted actuator position as shown in. In some embodiments, the actuatoris a pneumatic linear actuator. In some embodiments, another suitable actuator or drive system may be used.
In the engaged position, the actuatoris in the extended actuator position to cause the suction cup mountto be relatively parallel with the bottom sideB of the wrapped packageso that the suction cupsA,B engage the bottom sideB of the wrapped packageas shown in. In the retracted position, the actuatoris in the retracted actuator position to cause the suction cup mountto be angled relative to the bottom sideB of the wrapped packageso that the suction cupsA,B are spaced apart from the bottom sideB of the wrapped packageas shown in.
The actuatormoves from the extended actuator position to the retracted actuator position to cause the suction cup mountto move from the engaged position to the retracted position so that a portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrapare uncovered to be able to apply the adhesive as shown in. The actuatormoves from the retracted actuator position to the extended actuator position to cause suction cup mountto move from the retracted position to the engaged position so that the first free endF is engaged with the adhesive on the portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrapto fix the paper overwrapin place on the packageas shown in.
The adhesive application deviceincludes the adhesive applicatoras shown in. The adhesive applicatoris configured to apply the adhesive to the seamS on the package. The adhesive applicatormay be a glue gun, a tape dispenser, or another suitable adhesive applicator. The adhesive may be glue, tape, or another suitable adhesive.
In the illustrative embodiment, the deviceincludes the stationary support frame, the conveyormounted to the support frame, the adhesive application devicemounted to the stationary support frame, and a control unitcoupled to the conveyorand the adhesive application deviceas shown in. The control unitis configured to control movement of the conveyorand the adhesive application device. The control unitmay be coupled to the conveyor controllerand to direct the conveyor controllerto start and stop the conveyor. The control unitmay be configured to start and stop the adhesive application device. The control unitmay be configured to adjust the speed of the conveyorand the adhesive application deviceand/or adjust the timing of the different stages. The control unitmay be configured to increase or decrease the suction force applied by the suction device. The control unitmay be configured to increase or decrease themount of adhesive applied. The control unitmay have a user interface to allow a user to adjust different functions of the device.
A methodof tensioning and securing the paper overwraparound the packageincludes several steps or stages as shown in. The methodincludes a pre-adhesive application stage, a lifting and tensioning stage, a suction stage, an adhesive application stage, a lowering stage, and a post-adhesive application stageas shown in.
The methodalso comprises providing the wrapped packageincluding the packageand the paper overwrap. The packageincludes the traythat defines the cavityC and the plurality of goodslocated in the cavityC of the tray. The paper overwrapextends around the bottom sideB, the top sideT, the front sideF, and the rear sideR of the packageso that free endsF,R of the paper overwrapoverlap on the bottom sideB of the package.
In the pre-adhesive application stage, the wrapped packageis in a conveyor position in which the wrapped packagerests on the conveyorto move in the conveyor direction C and the adhesive application deviceis in a lowered mode in which the adhesive application deviceis below the conveyorso that the adhesive application deviceis spaced apart from the wrapped packageand does not engaged the wrapped package. The methodfurther includes moving the wrapped packagein the conveyor direction C.
As the wrapped package continues to move in the conveyor direction C, the methodcontinues to the lifting and tensioning stage. In the lifting and tensioning, the adhesive application devicechanges from the lowered mode to a lifted mode to cause the wrapped packageto move from the conveyor position to a raised position in which the wrapped packageis spaced apart from the conveyor. The methodincludes lifting the wrapped packagefrom a conveyor orientation as shown inin which the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapare partially blocked to a lifted orientation as shown inin which the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapon the bottom sideB of the packageare exposed.
In the lifting and tensioning stage, the methodfurther includes pulling the free endsF,R of the paper overwrapin opposed directions around the packageafter the wrapped packageis in the lifted orientation to tension the paper overwraparound the packageto keep the paper overwraptaut around the bottom sideB, the top sideT, the front sideF, and the rear sideR of the package. Once the paper overwrapis tensioned, the methodcontinues suction stage. In the suction stage, the adhesive application deviceremains in the lifted mode with the paper overwrapheld in the taut position by the paper overwrap tension device while the paper overwrap retraction devicepivots the first free endF of the paper overwrapin the first direction away from the bottom sideB of the package. The methodincludes moving the first free endF of the paper overwrapin the first direction away from the bottom sideB of the packageto a retracted position to uncover a portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrap.
Next, the methodcontinues to the adhesive application stage. The methodfurther includes applying an adhesive to the portion of the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR of the paper overwrapwhile the first free endF of the paper overwrapis in the retracted position. After applying the adhesive, the methodcontinues with moving the first free endF of the paper overwrapin the second direction toward from the bottom sideB of the packageto an engaged position to seal the first free endF with the bottom sideB of the packageand the second free endR thereby fixing the paper overwrapin place on the package.
Once the seamS is seals, the methodcontinues to the lowering stageand the post-adhesive stage. In the lowering stage, the methodincludes lowering the wrapped packageto the conveyor orientation.
The methodthen repeats with the next wrapped package. To repeat the steps, the horizontal transporterreturns to the first horizontal position from the second position.
Another embodiment of a devicein accordance with the present disclosure is shown in. The deviceis substantially similar to the deviceshown inand described herein. Accordingly, similar reference numbers in theseries may indicate features that are common between the deviceand the device, except in instances when it conflicts with the specific description and the drawings of the device.
An illustrative embodiment of another deviceadapted to seal the paper overwraparound the packageis shown in. The packageincludes the trayholding the plurality of goodsin the cavityC of the tray. The paper overwrapis wrapped around the bottom sideB of the packagedefined by the tray, the top sideT opposite the bottom sideB, and front and rear sidesF,R that extend between and interconnect the top and bottom sidesT,B of the packageso that free endsof the paper overwrapoverlap on the bottom sideB of the packageto form the seamS or flapS. The deviceis adapted to seal the seamS of the package overwrapthereby fixing the paper overwrapin place around the packageso that the paper overwrapholds the plurality of goodsin place in the cavityC of the tray.
The deviceincludes a stationary support frame, a main conveyormounted to the support frame, an auxiliary conveyor, and an adhesive application devicemounted to the stationary support frameas shown in. The main conveyoris configured to transport the packagewrapped in the paper overwrapin a conveyor direction C through the support frame. The auxiliary conveyoris mounted to the stationary support frameto change between a lifted position as shown into a lowered position as shown in. The auxiliary conveyoris configured to bridge a gap between an upstream conveyor sectionU and a downstream conveyor sectionD of the main conveyorto convert the devicefor shrink wrapping packagesinstead of using the paper overwrap. The adhesive application deviceis configured to tension the paper overwrap, while opening the seamS so that an adhesive may be applied to the bottom sideB of the packageand the seamS sealed together.
The upstream and downstream conveyor sectionsU,D of the main conveyoreach includes a pair of conveyor beltsand a conveyor controller. The conveyor controlleris coupled to the conveyor beltsand configured to drive movement of the conveyor beltsin the conveyor direction C. The downstream conveyor sectionD is spaced apart from the upstream conveyor sectionU to define a gap therebetween. The adhesive application deviceapplies the adhesive to the bottom sideB of the packagein the gap as the adhesive application devicemoves the wrapped packageacross the gap.
The auxiliary conveyorincludes a conveyor support frame, a pair of auxiliary conveyor belts, an auxiliary conveyor controller, and a frame drive systemas shown in. The conveyor support frameis mounted to the stationary support framefor vertical movement between the lifted position and the lowered position. The pair of conveyor beltsare coupled to the conveyor support frame. The auxiliary conveyor controlleris coupled to the auxiliary conveyor beltsand configured to drive movement of the auxiliary conveyor beltsin the conveyor direction C. The frame drive systemis mounted to the stationary support frame. The frame drive systemis coupled to the conveyor support frameto drive movement of the conveyor support framevertically between the lifted and lowered positions.
In the illustrative embodiment, the auxiliary conveyorhas a separate auxiliary conveyor controllerthat drives movement of the conveyor belts. In some embodiments, the conveyor controller for the auxiliary conveyor beltsmay be the same as the conveyor controllerfor the main conveyor.
Unknown
October 23, 2025
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