Method for feeding a supply station of a packaging unit with a new reel of sheet packaging material, sheet packaging material holder and lift truck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731948-B2
Application number	US-201514721377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 1, 2009
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

There is described a method for feeding a supply station ( 6 ) of a packaging unit ( 1 ) with a new reel ( 3 a ) of sheet packaging material, comprising the steps of releasably connecting a sheet packaging material holder ( 11 ) to a support structure ( 5 ); coupling an end portion ( 52 ) of new reel ( 3 a ) with holder ( 11 ) connected, in turn, to support structure ( 5 ); carrying out on end portion ( 52 ) at least an operation, which is preliminary for joining of end portion ( 52 ) to a first edge ( 53 ) of a terminated reel ( 3 a′, 3 b ) previously connected to packaging unit ( 1 ); moving new reel ( 3 ) together with holder ( 11 ) from support structure ( 5 ) towards supply station ( 6 ); and releasably connecting a fixed part ( 12 ) of supply station ( 6 ) to holder ( 11 ) together with new reel ( 3 a ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sheet packaging material holder comprising:
a slot, through which sheet packaging material wound onto a reel may slide when said sheet packaging material is disposed through the slot;
first releasably connecting means for connecting said holder either to a fixed part of a supply station of a packaging unit or to a support structure of said reel;
second releasably connecting means for connecting said holder to a lift truck;
a first plate and a second plate defining said slot therebetween;
wherein said first and second releasably connecting means comprise respectively first and second pins; and
said first plate supporting said first and second pins on opposite sides of said first plate.

2. The holder according to claim 1 , comprising elastic means loading, in use, said first and second plates towards one another in a position in which they firmly grip said sheet packaging material within said slot.

3. The holder according to claim 2 , wherein said elastic means load, in use, said first plate against said second plate, and wherein said second plate comprises integrally a first element which is movable away from said first plate.

4. The holder according to claim 1 , wherein said first pins extend along respective first axes parallel one another, and said second pins extend along respective second axes parallel one another; said second axes being arranged between said first axes.

5. A lift truck comprising:
a frame;
gripping means supported by said frame and adapted to support a reel of sheet packaging material; and
a connecting structure connected to said frame and releasably connectable to a sheet packaging material holder that is configured to be coupled with an end portion of said reel, and
wherein said connecting structure comprises:
a plate connected to said frame and possessing opposite first and second sides;
a body comprising a hole which is releasably engageable by a pin of said holder;
elastic means arranged between said body and said first side of said plate; and
at least a first spring protruding from said body on said second side of said plate and haying a free end which abuts, in use, against said holder.

6. The lift truck according to claim 5 , wherein said elastic means comprise at least a first spring and a second spring; and wherein said first spring, said second spring and said hole extend along respective axes parallel to one another.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Brighenti Massimo
• Bellei Renzo
• Polizzi Andrea

Classifications

• B66F9/18 Primary

  Load gripping or retaining means · CPC title

• B65H2405/4226

  Cart comprising splicing means · CPC title

• B65H57/18

  mounted to facilitate unwinding of material from packages · CPC title

• B65H57/26

  Supports for guides · CPC title

• B65H19/102 Primary

  Preparing the leading end of the replacement web before splicing operation; Adhesive arrangements on leading end of replacement web; Tabs and adhesive tapes for splicing · CPC title