Unit and a method for carrying out a first operation and a second operation on a web

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10286583-B2
Application number	US-201414912031-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2014
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A unit for carrying out operations on first and second areas of packaging material which are spaced a first distance along direction when a portion of packaging material comprising first and second areas is flat; unit comprising: a feeding group feeding a packaging material web along a direction and in a first sense; a first tool to carry out first operation on first area arranged in a first desired position; a second tool to carry out second operation on second area arranged in a second desired position; first and second tool spaced for a second distance along direction; feeding group comprises: advancing device controllable to arrest web in a position, at which second area is spaced an intentional offset from second desired position; and an actuator controllable for moving second area towards second desired position to recover offset; absolute value of difference between first and distances being equal to offset.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit for carrying out a first molding operation and a second molding operation respectively onto a first area and a second area of a packaging material, the packaging material comprising a base layer and lamination layers;
said first area and said second area being spaced for a first distance along a direction when a portion of said packaging material comprising said first area and said second area is flat, said first area comprising a pre-laminated hole and said second area comprising a pre-laminated hole, the pre-laminated hole in the first area and the pre-laminated hole in the second area being a through hole in the base layer that is covered by the lamination layers;
said unit comprising:
a feeding group for feeding a web of said packaging material along the direction and in a first sense;
at least one first molding tool configured to carry out said first molding operation on the pre-laminated hole in said first area arranged in a first desired position to mold an opening device at the pre-laminated hole in the first area;

at least one second molding tool configured to carry out said second molding operation on the pre-laminated hole in said second area arranged in a second desired position to mold an opening device at the pre-laminated hole in the second area;
said first molding tool and said second molding tool being spaced for a second distance along said direction;
wherein said feeding group comprises:
advancing means controllable to arrest said web in a position, at which said second area is spaced for an intentional offset from said second desired position; and
actuating means controllable for moving said second area towards said second desired position, so as to recover said offset;

the absolute value of the difference between said first distance and said second distance being equal to said offset.

2. The unit of claim 1 , wherein said actuating means are controllable to move said second area towards said second desired position, parallel to said direction and in said first sense.

3. The unit of claim 1 , wherein said advancing means are controllable to arrest said first area in said first desired position; and in that said actuating means are controllable to substantially leave said first area in said first desired position.

4. The unit of claim 1 , wherein said actuating means comprise at least one moving member, which may move between:
a first position, at which it does not interact with said web; and
a second position, at which it presses said web so as to move said second area towards said second desired position, when said web has been arrested by said advancing means.

5. The unit of claim 4 , wherein said moving member is a rotating member that rotates eccentrically about a first axis between said first position and said second position;
said actuating means comprising at least a pair of rollers arranged, in use, on the opposite side of said rotating member with respect to said web and adapted to counter-support said web against said rotating member;
said rollers having respective second axes paced along said direction;
said first axis being interposed between said second axes, so that the eccentric rotation of said rotating member presses a portion of said web in a room defined between said second axes and arranged on the opposite side of said web with respect to said rotating member.

6. The unit of claim 1 , comprising sensing means for generating a signal associated to the real position of said second area; said actuating means being controllable on the basis of said signal to move said second area towards said second desired position.

7. The unit of claim 1 , wherein said actuating means are arranged downstream of said second tool and upstream of said first tool, proceeding along said direction according to said first sense.

8. The unit of claim 1 , wherein said first tool is a first applicator for applying a first opening device onto said first area and in said first desired position, and in that said second tool is a second applicator for applying a second opening device onto said second area.

9. A method for carrying out a first molding operation and a second molding operation respectively onto a first area and a second area of a packaging material, the packaging material comprising a base layer and lamination layers;
said first area and said second area being spaced for a first distance along a direction when a portion of said packaging material comprising said first area and said second area is flat, said first area comprising a pre-laminated hole and said second area comprising a pre-laminated hole, the pre-laminated hole in the first area and the pre-laminated hold in the second area being a through hole in the base layer that is covered by the lamination layers;
said method comprising:
feeding a web of said packaging material along the direction and in a first sense;
carrying out said first molding operation on the pre-laminated hole in said first area and at a first desired position to mold an opening device at the pre-laminated hole in the first area, by using at least one first molding tool; and
carrying out said second molding operation on the pre-laminated hold in said second area and at a second desired position to mold an opening device at the pre-laminated hole in the second area, by using at least one second molding tool;

said first and said second tool being spaced for a second distance along the direction;
wherein said step of feeding the web of packaging material comprises:
arresting said web in a position, at which said second area is spaced by an intentional offset from said second desired position; and
moving said second area towards said second desired position, so as to recover said offset;

the absolute value of the difference between said first distance (e) and said second distance being equal to said offset.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of moving comprises the step of dragging said second area in said first sense and along said direction.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of feeding comprises the step of arresting said first area in said first desired position; and in that said step of moving said second area comprises the step of substantially leaving said first area in said first desired position.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of dragging comprises the steps of:
pressing a portion of said web interposed between said first area and said second area, by moving a movable element between a first position, at which said movable element does not interact with said web, and a second position, at which movable element presses said web.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said step of dragging comprises the step of eccentrically rotating said movable element about a first axis and between said first position and said second position; the method further comprising the step of:
supporting said portion of said web, by using a pair of rollers rotatable about respective second axes, spaced along said direction, and arranged on the opposite side of said movable element with respect to said web,
said step of pressing comprising the step of forcing said portion in a room defined between said second axes and arranged on the opposite side of said web with respect to said element.

14. The method of claim 9 , comprising the steps of:
carrying out a plurality of said second operations on respective said second areas, by using a plurality of respective said second tools;
arranging, during said step of moving, one ( 2 b ) of said second areas in respective said second desired position; and
ar

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Ricco' Marco

Classifications

• B65H2511/112

  of a loop, e.g. a free loop or a loop of dancer rollers · CPC title

• B31B50/006

  Controlling; Regulating; Measuring; Improving safety · CPC title

• B65H23/048

  by positively actuated movable bars or rollers · CPC title

• B65H20/24 Primary

  by looping or like devices · CPC title

• B29C45/1769 Primary

  Handling of moulded articles or runners, e.g. sorting, stacking, grinding of runners · CPC title