CN-122029107-A - Apparatus and process for packaging products arranged on a support

Abstract

An apparatus for packaging a product (P) arranged on a support (2) comprises a film supply assembly (3) and a packaging assembly (5) for receiving a film (4) and coupling the support with the film. The packaging assembly (5) has a lower tool (6) defining a seat for receiving the support (2) on which the product (P) is arranged, and an upper tool (7), the upper tool (7) comprising a drum (8), the drum (8) having heads (8 a, 8b, 8 c) angularly offset from each other about the rotation axis. Each head has a respective active surface (9) for receiving a respective membrane portion (4 a) of the membrane. The drum (8) is movable about the rotation axis to position each head in a distinct angular position comprising at least a receiving position in which the respective active surface of the respective head is positioned for receiving the respective film portion (4 a) of the film from the film supply assembly (3), and an alignment position in which the respective head is aligned with and faces a seat in the lower tool (6).

Inventors

• I. Tibe
• M. Ma Peili

Assignees

• 克里奥瓦克公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241022

Priority Date

20231023

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus (1) for packaging a product (P) arranged on a support (2), the apparatus comprising: A film supply assembly (3) configured for supplying a film (4), -A packaging assembly (5) configured for receiving the membrane (4) and coupling the support (2) with the membrane (4), the packaging assembly (5) comprising: A lower tool (6) defining a seat (6 a) for receiving a support (2) on which a product (P) is arranged, and An upper tool (7) configured to cooperate with the lower tool (6), the upper tool (7) comprising a drum (8) having heads (8 a,8b,8 c) angularly offset from each other about an axis of rotation, optionally a horizontal axis of rotation, each head having a respective active surface (9) configured for receiving a respective film portion (4 a) of the film, Wherein the drum (8) is movable about the rotation axis to position each head in a distinct angular position, comprising at least: A receiving position in which the respective active surface (9) of the respective head is positioned for receiving the respective film portion (4 a) of the film from the film supply assembly (3), An aligned position in which the respective head is aligned with and faces a seat in the lower tool (6).
2. 2. The apparatus of the preceding claim, wherein the upper tool (7) and the lower tool (6) are configured to be movable relative to each other between at least a first operating state in which the lower tool (6) and the upper tool (7) allow the support (2) to be positioned at the seat (6 a) and a second operating state in which the lower tool (6) and the upper tool (7) are close to each other, and wherein the upper tool (7) and the lower tool (6) are configured to cooperate when the upper tool (7) and the lower tool (6) are in the second operating state to define a packaging chamber (11).
3. 3. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the lower tool (6) is movable in a movement direction, optionally in a vertical movement direction, and the upper tool (7) is fixed along the movement direction, and Wherein the lower tool (6) is configured to be movable away from and towards the upper tool (7) in a movement direction, thereby transitioning the lower tool (6) and the upper tool (7) from the first operational state to the second operational state, and vice versa, and Wherein the apparatus is configured to position the upper tool (7) and the lower tool (6) in the second operating state when the drum (8) positions at least one respective head in the aligned position, and Wherein each head is adapted to assume a distinct angular position further comprising an operative position in which the respective head is configured for heating and/or shaping at least a portion of the respective film portion (4 a), optionally three-dimensionally.
4. 4. The apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the heads (8 a,8b,8 c) on the drum (8) comprise: One or more first heads (8 a) and one or more second heads (8 b), wherein the one or more first heads (8 a) are angularly offset from the one or more second heads (8 b), optionally the one or more first heads (8 a) are in one of the distinct angular positions and the one or more second heads (8 b) are in another of the distinct angular positions, and One or more third heads (8 c) angularly offset from the one or more first heads (8 a) and the one or more second heads (8 b), and Wherein the drum is configured such that when the one or more first heads (8 a) are in the receiving position, then the one or more second heads (8 b) are in the aligned position and the one or more third heads (8 c) are in the working position, and Wherein the drum (8) is movable about an axis of rotation to move each head between the distinct angular positions such that the one or more first heads (8 a), the one or more second heads (8 b), and optionally the one or more third heads (8 c) move simultaneously between the distinct angular positions.
5. 5. An apparatus according to the preceding claim, Wherein: the one or more first heads (8 a) comprise a respective plurality of heads arranged offset from each other parallel to the rotation axis, and/or The one or more second heads (8 b) comprise a respective plurality of heads arranged offset from each other parallel to the rotation axis, and/or The one or more third heads (8 c) comprise a respective plurality of heads arranged offset from each other parallel to the rotation axis; Or wherein: The one or more first heads (8 a) comprise a respective plurality of heads arranged offset from each other transversely to the axis of rotation, and/or The one or more second heads (8 b) comprise a respective plurality of heads arranged offset from each other transversely to the axis of rotation, and/or The one or more third heads (8 c) comprise a respective plurality of heads arranged offset from each other transversely to the rotation axis.
6. 6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heads (8 a,8b,8 c) and the distinct angular positions are angularly offset about the rotation axis by the same angular offset amount, respectively, and wherein each head has a holding device (18), the holding device (18) being configured for attracting and holding a respective film portion (4 a) against a respective active surface (9), and wherein each head (8 a,8b,8 c) comprises a heater (19) coupled with the respective active surface (9) and configured for heating the respective film portion (4 a).
7. 7. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each head has a cavity (10) delimited by a respective active surface (9) and adapted to shape a respective membrane portion (4 a) three-dimensionally, optionally the respective active surface (9) is concave, or wherein the upper tool (7) has at least one peripheral body (16) coupled to each of the heads (8 a, 8b, 8 c), each head and respective peripheral body (16) being mounted for relative movement with respect to each other between a plurality of relative positions and being configured for defining a cavity (10 ') adapted to shape a respective membrane portion (4 a) three-dimensionally, the cavity (10') being delimited by a respective active surface (9) of a respective head and an inner wall of the peripheral body (16).
8. 8. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, Wherein the film supply assembly (3) is configured for cooperation with the packaging assembly (5) for feeding a respective film portion (4 a) parallel or transverse to the axis of rotation, and wherein the film supply assembly (3) is configured for feeding a respective film portion (4 a) to the packaging assembly (5) in the form of a continuous film, and optionally wherein a respective film portion of one of the heads is connected to a respective film portion of an angularly successive head, or Wherein the film supply assembly (3) is configured for: cutting out respective film portions (4 a) in the form of one or more film sheets from the film, Each film sheet is fed to a packaging assembly (5), optionally to a respective head positioned in a receiving position.
9. 9. The apparatus of any preceding claim in combination with claim 2, comprising a vacuum assembly (12), the vacuum assembly (12) having a vacuum source fluidly couplable with the packaging chamber (11) and configured to reduce a pressure within the packaging chamber (11).
10. 10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (13) and an upper tool actuator (14) in signal communication with each other, optionally comprising an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic piston, or an electric or hydraulic motor, or an pneumatic motor, the upper tool actuator (14) being coupled to the upper tool (7) and configured for moving the drum (8) about a rotation axis, the control unit (13) being configured for commanding the upper tool actuator (14) to stepwise rotate the drum (8) about the rotation axis such that each step of rotation results in each head moving from one of the distinct angular positions to an angularly successive one of the distinct angular positions.
11. 11. The apparatus of the preceding claim in combination with claim 2, Wherein the control unit (13) is in signal communication with the packaging assembly (5) and is configured for performing the steps of: commanding the lower tool (6) and the upper tool (7) to transition from a first operating state to a second operating state, or vice versa, Commanding the packaging assembly (5) to couple the support (2) with the respective film portion (4 a) so as to obtain a package, and Wherein the control unit (13) is in signal communication with the film supply assembly (3) and is further configured for performing one or more of the following steps: Commanding the film supply assembly (3) to supply a respective film portion (4 a) to each head positioned in the receiving position, and Commanding each head positioned in said receiving position to receive a respective film portion (4 a), Commanding each head positioned in said aligned position to couple said respective membrane portion (4 a) with a support (2), Optionally, each head positioned in the working position is commanded to heat and/or shape a respective film portion (4 a), optionally three-dimensionally.
12. 12. The apparatus of any one of the two preceding claims in combination with claims 6 and 7, wherein the control unit (13) is in signal communication with each head and is configured for: commanding said holding means (18) to attract and hold the respective film portion (4 a) against said respective active surface (9), and Commanding said heater (19) to heat the respective film portion (4 a), and The holding means (18) and the heater (19) are commanded to shape the respective film portion (4 a) three-dimensionally within the cavity (10; 10').
13. 13. The device according to any one of the preceding claims 10 to 12 in combination with claim 7, comprising a peripheral body actuator (17) acting on the peripheral body (16), wherein the control unit (13) is in signal communication with the peripheral body actuator (17) and is configured for commanding the peripheral body actuator (17) to move the peripheral body (16) relative to the respective head so as to define the cavity (10').
14. 14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 10 to 13 in combination with claims 8 and 9, wherein the control unit (13) is in signal communication with the film supply assembly (3) and is configured for commanding the film supply assembly (3): -feeding said respective film portions (4 a) to said packaging assembly (5) in the form of a continuous film, or Cutting out respective film portions (4 a) in the form of one or more film sheets from the film, Feeding each film sheet to the packaging assembly (5), optionally to a respective head in the receiving position, and Wherein the control unit (13) is in signal communication with the vacuum assembly (12) and is configured for commanding the vacuum assembly (12) to reduce the pressure within the packaging chamber (11).
15. 15. Process of packaging, in particular vacuum skin packaging, a product arranged on a support (2), using an apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims.
16. 16. Process according to the preceding claim, optionally using a device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 4 to 14 when dependent on claim 4, comprising the steps of: the film is supplied to a packaging assembly (5), Rotating the drum (8) about the rotation axis to move each head between different angular positions and positioning at least one head in alignment with and facing a seat in the lower tool at which the support on which the product is arranged is positioned, Coupling a support (2) positioned in the seat with a respective film portion held by the at least one head aligned with and facing the seat in the lower tool to obtain a package, optionally a vacuum skin package, and Wherein the step of supplying film to the packaging assembly (5) comprises: Supplying a respective film portion (4 a) to each head positioned in the receiving position, optionally supplying the respective film portion (4 a) to the one or more first heads (8 a), and Commanding each head positioned in a receiving position to receive said respective film portion (4 a), optionally commanding said one or more first heads (8 a) to receive said respective film portion (4 a), and Wherein the step of coupling the support (2) with the respective film portion to obtain a package is performed by each head positioned in an aligned position, optionally the step of coupling the support (2) with the respective film portion to obtain a package is performed by the one or more second heads (8 b).
17. 17. Process according to the preceding claim, using an apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 14 in combination with claim 7 and optionally in combination with claim 4, comprising the step of heating and/or shaping, optionally three-dimensionally, at least a portion of the respective film portion (4 a), wherein the step of heating and/or shaping at least a portion of the respective film portion (4 a) is performed by each head positioned in the working position, optionally by one or more third heads (8 c), wherein the step of heating and/or shaping, optionally three-dimensionally shaping, at least a portion of the respective film portion (4 a) is performed by commanding the holding means (18) and the heater (19), and comprising three-dimensionally shaping the respective film portion (4 a) within the cavity (10, 10').
18. 18. The process according to any one of the two preceding claims, Wherein the following steps are performed simultaneously by respective heads with respective membrane portions: each head portion commanded to be positioned in the receiving position receives a respective film portion (4 a), Coupling a support (2) positioned in a seat with a corresponding membrane portion held by said at least one head, which is aligned with and faces the seat in the lower tool, and Optionally heating and/or shaping at least a portion of the respective film portion (4 a), optionally three-dimensionally.
19. 19. A process according to any one of the preceding claims 15 to 18, wherein the process comprises the steps of: defining a packaging chamber (11) around the support (2) and the product (P) arranged thereon, and Reducing the pressure in the packaging chamber (11), and Wherein defining a packaging chamber (11) around the support (2) and the product (P) arranged thereon is performed by commanding the lower tool (6) and the upper tool (7) to transition from the first operating state to the second operating state, and Wherein the step of defining a packaging chamber (11) comprises relatively moving the upper tool (7) and the lower tool (6) towards each other.
20. 20. Process according to any one of the preceding claims 15 to 19, using an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 14 when dependent on claim 9 and optionally dependent on claim 7, the process comprising defining a cavity (10; 10 ') adapted to shape the respective film portion (4 a) three-dimensionally, and optionally wherein defining the cavity comprises the step of relatively moving the peripheral body (16) with respect to at least one of the heads (8 a,8b,8 c) between a plurality of relative positions defining the cavity (10'), and wherein the step of reducing the pressure within the packaging chamber (11) is performed by a vacuum assembly (12).

Description

Apparatus and process for packaging products arranged on a support Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for packaging a product arranged on a support. In detail, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for packaging a product under vacuum to obtain a vacuum skin package. Background Vacuum skin packaging is a known process for packaging food products, which involves placing the product on a support, such as a tray or a flat cardboard support. In the prior art, the support containing the product is moved towards the packaging assembly. The packaging assembly has a lower tool for receiving the support with the product disposed thereon and an upper tool for receiving the packaging film. In detail, the membrane is positioned at the head of the upper tool and above the product placed on the support. Once the film and support are received, the lower tool and upper tool are moved one toward the other and define and enclose a packaging chamber around the support and product. The film is then pulled up against the cavity defined by the head of the upper tool so that the film is shaped and heated while being held in contact with the heated surface of the head by suction. Vacuum is then applied to the packaging room under the film and around the supported product. Once the pressure in the packaging chamber reaches a pressure level suitable for packaging, the suction applied to the film is released and the film is pulled down to overlie the contours of the product and contact the support. Thus, the film is welded to the support and forms a tight, adherent layer around the product. Thus, vacuum skin packaging is basically a thermoforming process in which a film is formed in a cavity over a support and product. In order to be able to support the suction inside the cavity and the subsequent shaping around the contour of the product, the film needs to exhibit an elastic return. In the prior art, the upper and lower tools are movable away from each other to receive the membrane and support, and toward each other to shape the membrane and the support is coupled with the membrane within the cavity. When the upper tool and the lower tool are aligned, the film is heated and shaped within the cavity, and the support with the product has been positioned at the lower tool ready for coupling with the film. A disadvantage of the prior art systems is the need to use films that exhibit elastic recovery, which often results in the need to use crosslinked films. Furthermore, when shaping the membrane inside the cavity occurs, it is not uncommon to obtain a rupture of the membrane due to insufficient heating, excessive shaping or unsuitable mechanical and chemical properties of the membrane. Disclosure of Invention This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. It is an object of the present disclosure to address the above-described shortcomings and/or limitations of the prior art. It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an apparatus and process that can reduce downtime and increase the yield of the packaging process. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a packaging apparatus and process that can use a recyclable film and recyclable support. It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an apparatus and process that can reduce downtime due to membrane rupture. It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a more versatile packaging apparatus and process that can use a wide variety of film materials. A first aspect relates to an apparatus for packaging a product arranged on a support. The apparatus includes a film supply assembly configured to supply a film, a packaging assembly configured to receive the film and couple the support with the film. The packaging assembly includes a lower tool defining a seat for receiving a support with a product disposed thereon, and an upper tool configured for cooperation with the lower tool. The upper tool comprises a drum having heads angularly offset from each other about an axis of rotation (optionally a horizontal axis of rotation), each head having a respective active surface configured for receiving a respective film portion of the film, wherein the drum is movable about the axis of rotation to position each head in a different angular position. The distinct angular positions include at least a receiving position in which the respective active surface of the respective head is positioned for receiving a respective film portion of the film from the film supply assembly, and an alignment position in which the respective head is aligned with and faces a seat in the lower tool. In a second aspect according to th