Unit and method for applying opening devices to a web of packaging material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103262-B2
Application number	US-202017765010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2020
Priority date	Nov 13, 2019
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A unit for applying opening devices to a web of packaging material at predetermined areas of the web arranged at a non-zero distance from one another along the web; the unit comprises a feeding group configured for feeding the web along an advancing path; at least one first tool, arranged at a first desired position along the path and configured to apply a first opening device to a corresponding first predetermined area arranged at the first desired position; and at least one second tool, arranged at a second desired position along the path and configured to apply a second opening device to a corresponding second predetermined area arranged at the second desired position; and a buffer portion arranged along the path, downstream of the second tool and upstream of the first tool, and configured to include and/or accumulate a web portion having a number of predetermined areas which is an integer multiple of the number of tools of the unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit for applying opening devices to a web of packaging material at predetermined areas of said web arranged at a non-zero distance from one another along said web;
wherein the web fed to the unit is provided with a plurality of pre-laminated holes,
said unit comprising:
a feeding group configured for feeding said web along an advancing path;
at least one first tool, arranged at a first fixed desired position along said path thereby defining a respective first axis fixed along said path, and configured to apply a first opening device to a corresponding first predetermined area arranged at said first desired position;

wherein said first tool is a first molding station for molding said first opening device onto said corresponding first predetermined area arranged at said first desired position; and
at least one second tool, arranged at a second fixed desired position along said path thereby defining a respective second axis fixed along said path, and configured to apply a second opening device to a corresponding second predetermined area arranged at said second desired position wherein the second tool is a second molding station for molding said second opening device onto said corresponding second predetermined area arranged at said second desired position;
a buffer portion arranged along said path, downstream of said second tool and upstream of said first tool, and configured to include and/or accumulate a web portion having a number of said predetermined areas which is an integer multiple of the number of tools of said unit;
a first position sensor, arranged upstream of said first tool along said path, configured to detect the position of said first predetermined area and to generate a first information correlated to the detected position of said first predetermined area;
a second position sensor, arranged upstream of said second tool along said path, configured to detect the position of said second predetermined area and to generate a second information correlated to the detected position of said second predetermined area; and
a control unit configured to receive said first information and said second information, to compare said first information with a third information correlated to a pre-set nominal position of said first predetermined area along said path, to compare said second information with a fourth information correlated to a pre-set nominal position of said second predetermined area along said path, and to calculate a first position difference value, based on the comparison between said first information and said third information, and a second position difference value, based on the comparison between said second information and said fourth information;

said feeding group comprising:
an advancing device configured to advance said first predetermined area towards and at said first desired position, on the basis of said first position difference value, and to feed said web portion to said buffer portion, wherein the advancing device is configured to advance a first pre-laminated hole towards and at a respective desired position, at which an axis of the first pre-laminated hole coincides with the first axis, on the basis of the calculated first position difference value; and
an adjusting device configured to position said second predetermined area at said second desired position, on the basis of said second position difference value, wherein the adjusting device is configured to position a second pre-laminated hole at a respective desired position, at which an axis of the second pre-laminated hole coincides with the second axis, on the basis of the calculated second position difference value.

2. The unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said adjusting device is arranged at said buffer portion in a position so that a first stretch of the web portion in the buffer portion is located downstream of the adjusting device and a second stretch of the web portion in the buffer portion is located upstream of the adjusting device, relative to said path;
said adjusting device being configured to control a movement of the second stretch along said path to position said second predetermined area at said second desired position, on the basis of said second position difference value, while leaving the first stretch substantially stationary along said path;
said unit further comprising a tensioning device arranged upstream of said second tool and configured to put and maintain under tension said web and to pull said web in a direction opposite to the advancing direction of the web along said advancing path.

3. The unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said first stretch defines a first half of said web portion and wherein said second stretch defines a second half of said web portion.

4. The unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said advancing device is configured to position said first stretch at least while said adjusting device controls the movement of said second stretch along said path.

5. The unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, cyclically, said first tool is configured to apply opening devices to the predetermined areas of said second stretch and said second tool is configured to apply opening devices to the predetermined areas of said first stretch; or
wherein, cyclically, said first tool is configured to apply opening devices to the predetermined areas of said first stretch and said second tool is configured to apply opening devices to the predetermined areas of said second stretch.

6. The unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said adjusting device comprises a moving member movable transversally to said path and towards said web portion to control the movement of said second predetermined area towards and at said second desired position.

7. The unit as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said moving member is a rotatable member, which supports, in use, said web, and which is eccentrically rotatable about a fixed longitudinal axis transversal to said path, on the basis of said second position difference value, to push or release said web portion so as to position said second predetermined area at said second desired position.

8. The unit as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising:
a first group comprising three of said first tools equidistant from each other along said advancing path with distances equal to the distance between said predetermined areas; and
a second group comprising three of said second tools equidistant from each other along said advancing path with distances equal to the distance between said predetermined areas;
said buffer portion being arranged downstream of said second group and upstream of said first group along said advancing path.

9. A method for applying opening devices to a web of packaging material at a plurality predetermined areas of said web arranged at a non-zero distance from one another along said web; the method comprising the steps of:
a) feeding said web along an advancing path with a feeding tool, wherein the plurality of predetermined areas advances along such path as the web is fed;
b) applying a first opening device to a first predetermined area from among the plurality of predetermined areas at a first desired position by using at least one first tool as the first predetermined area advances through said first desired position;
c) applying a second opening device to a second predetermined area from among the plurality of predetermined areas at a second desired position by using at least one second tool as the second predetermined area advances through said second desired position; and
d) accumulating along said path within a buffer portion, downstream of said second desired position and upstream of said first desired position, a web portion having a number of

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Bellucci Lauro
• Tavernari Fabrizio
• Stagliano Armando
• Battistini Fabrizio

Classifications

• B65H23/1884

  with step-by-step advancement · CPC title

• B65H23/044

  Sensing web tension (B65H23/06, B65H23/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65H20/24

  by looping or like devices · CPC title

• B65H2301/5163

  Applying label, tab to handled material · CPC title

• B65H2701/1944

  Wrapping or packing material · CPC title