WRAPPING GROUP AND WRAPPING METHOD FOR WRAPPING PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR EDITORIAL PRODUCTS, IN CONTAINMENT BANDS

Abstract

A wrapping group for wrapping products, in containment bands, including a support structure which defines an advancing plane and with which are associated a first conveyor for conveying a plurality of products one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along the advancing plane and along an advancing direction. Each editorial product includes a book and/or a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other. A feeding device feeds a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane of the products.

Description

The present invention refers to a wrapping group and a method for wrapping products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands.

Furthermore, the present invention refers to an automatic packaging machine incorporating a wrapping group according to the present invention.

In the publishing industry it is known to wrap products in containment bands. These products, generally, have or are delimited by a shape that is as a whole and substantially like a rectangular parallelepiped. These products in turn may be constituted by a single product or a plurality of products, also of different kind and/or size, collected and stacked on each other to form a ream or a stack. For example, said products may be constituted by a single book or a collection of a plurality of sheets and/or a plurality of products in sheets such as books, leaflets, depliant, brochure, newspapers, magazines, booklets, catalogues, postcards, tickets, envelopes and the like, that are stacked on each other.

It is enough to think, for example, to the so called “unaddressed publicity” products, which are constituted by a collection of depliant, catalogues, brochure, leaflets, newspapers and the like of various kind and also of different size and which are, generally, delivered in areas and which are different from area to area.

In the present disclosure the expression “editorial product” refers to a product as those exemplified hereinbefore, being them single (i.e. a book) or multiple (i.e. collections of editorial products also of different kind and/or different size).

These products are generally inserted into a containment product of the type of a cover (known in the field as “jacket”) or of a band (known in the field as “banderole”) that is wound in a closed loop around a respective product.

Packaging machine for wrapping such editorial products in a respective band (“banderole”) are well known.

In the known packaging machines the single bands are fed laid in length on a feeding plane that is parallel to the advancing plane of the products (collections) and below each product and their opposite ends are folded and closed on the respective product by guiding and lateral folding groups.

In case the format of the products to be packaged changes, it is necessary repositioning the guiding and lateral folding groups. These latter operations require a long machine downtime that penalize its productivity.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

Within this aim, a particular aim of the present invention is to provide a wrapping group and a wrapping method for wrapping products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands that allow to wrap in a simple, substantially continuous and high-speed manner each product into a respective containment band.

Another purpose of the present invention is to realize a wrapping group and a wrapping method that allow to easily and rapidly manage the format changes of the products to be packaged.

Another purpose of the present invention is to realize a wrapping group and a wrapping method that may also be easily implemented on already existing packaging/inserting machines.

A further aim of the present invention is to realize an automatic packaging machine working substantially continuously which allows to easily and rapidly manage the format changes of the product to be packaged and the format changes of the containment product (cover or band) of each editorial product.

Another aim of the present invention is to realize a wrapping group and a packaging machine particularly simple and functional, at a reasonable cost.

These purposes according to the present invention are achieved by realizing a wrapping group for the automatic wrapping of products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands according to claim 1.

These purposes according to the present invention are achieved by an automatic packaging machine working substantially continuously according to claim 13.

These purposes according to the present invention are achieved by a wrapping method for the substantially continuous wrapping of products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands according to claim 16.

Further features are provided in the dependent claims.

The features and the advantages of a wrapping group and a wrapping method for wrapping products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands and of a packaging machine according to the present invention will become more evident from the following disclosure, illustrative and not limited, referring to the enclosed schematic drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a possible embodiment of an automatic packaging machine provided with a possible embodiment of the wrapping group according to the present invention;

FIGS. from 2A to 2C show in a schematic manner and on an enlarged scale a detail of the wrapping group of the packaging machine of FIG. 1 during subsequent operating steps;

FIG. 3 shows in a schematic manner and on an enlarged scale a detail of the folding and closing device of the wrapping group of the packaging machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic and axonometric view of an embodiment of the folding and closing device of the wrapping group according to the present invention;

FIGS. from 5A to 5E schematically show subsequent operating steps of the folding and closing device of the wrapping group according to the present invention;

FIGS. from 6A to 6E show in a schematic manner the folding and closing device of the wrapping group according to the present invention in different operating configurations for folding the flap of a band having a determined length both in function of changes in the editorial product size and of the position of the folding line defined in the band itself;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevation view of a further embodiment of an automatic packaging machine provided with a possible embodiment of the wrapping group according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation view of a further embodiment of an automatic packaging machine provided with a possible embodiment of the wrapping group according to the present invention;

FIGS. from 9A to 9F show in a schematic manner editorial products P of different kind wrapped in bands F or in covers C.

With reference to the figures, it is shown a wrapping group 10 for wrapping products P, in particular products P of editorial type, in containment bands F, wherein the wrapping device 10 is applied to a packaging machine 100 of the automatic type and working substantially continuously.

In the present disclosure, product P and, in particular, product P of editorial type, refers to a product, single or multiple, consisting of, for example, a book, a ream of sheets and/or of products in sheets also of different type and/or format and stacked on each other in a ream or in a collection form. For example, with “product P of editorial type” it is intended to indicate even a single book (see FIG. 9C) or a plurality of sheets and/or of product in sheets (see FIGS. 9A and 9B) such as leaflets, depliant, brochure, newspapers, magazines, booklets, catalogues, postacards, tickets, envelopes and the like, stacked on each other to form a collection, such as, for example, collections of unaddressed advertising information.

The sheets (i.e. leaftlets, postcards, tickets and the like) or products in sheets (i.e. newspapers, magazines, depliant, catalogues, envelopes and the like) that form each product P in ream or collection form may be of different kind and of different format. Hence, each product P has as a whole a substantially right parallelepiped shape, such as, for example, in the case of a book, or it is delimited by a substantially right parallelepiped shape, such as, for example, in the case of a collection of different products.

Each band F is destined to contain and wrap a respective product P. In the jargon of the field, the bands F are known as “banderole”.

The bands F are constituted by a paper sheet, plastic film and the like and may be used to carry information or personalization. The bands F have a development in length generally greater than the development in height, the latter may be less than or substantially equal to the correspondent size of the product P wrapped in it (FIGS. 9A and 9B) in order to partly or totally cover it. As will become more evident in the following disclosure, the bands F may be preformed and/or formed by cut directly in the group 10 or on the machine 100, thus, in particular, in order to be able to quickly manage any size changes of the products P.

The wrapping group 10 comprises a support structure 200 that defines an advancing plane 201 and that is provided with support elements 202 resting on the ground and that may be part of the support structure of the machine 100 or integrated in it; the various devices forming the wrapping group 10 and here below disclosed are, directly or indirectly, associated with the support structure 200.

The wrapping group 10 comprises a first conveyor 11 for conveying a plurality of products P one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along the advancing plane 201 and along an advancing direction schematically indicated by the track D. Under conditions of use, the advancing plane 201 is parallel to the resting ground of the machine 100 and it is generally horizontal, likewise the advancing direction D is horizontal. Furthermore, with reference to the enclosed figures, the products P advance along the advancing direction D in the advancing sense that runs from left to right as indicated by the arrows B.

In the rest of the description the words “upstream” and “downstream”, “front” and “rear”, “inlet” and “outlet” are to be intended as referred to the advancing sense B.

In particular, products P are made to advance along the advancing plane 201 with their main dimension orthogonal to the advancing direction D.

The wrapping group 10 comprises, moreover, a feeding device 12 for feeding a plurality of containment bands F laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a feeding plane substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction D and along a feeding direction (indicated by track A) substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane 201 of the products P. Under conditions of use, the feeding device 12 feeds bands F along a feeding plane that is substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction D of products P and, hence, with reference to the enclosed figures, it is substantially vertical; equally, the feeding direction A of the bands F is substantially orthogonal to the advancing plane 201 of the products P and, hence, with reference to the enclosed figures, it is substantially vertical. However, it is made clear that both the feeding plane and the feeding direction A of the single bands F may be not completely orthogonal to the advancing plane 201, but they may be tilted a few degrees with respect to said advancing plane.

The feeding plane of the bands F as defined above is arranged downstream of the first conveyor 11.

The feeding device 12 feeds the bands F laid in length in such a manner that their length extends parallel to the feeding direction A. Each band F has, in parallel with the feeding direction A, a length greater than the dimension that the respective product P has in parallel with the advancing direction D. Each band F has, moreover, a height (i.e. shorter dimension orthogonal to the respective length) that is generally smaller than or substantially equal to the product P dimension that extends parallel to the advancing plane 201 and orthogonal to the advancing direction D.

The bands F may be preformed, also in different formats, and individually fed at the inlet of said feeding device 12 or may be formed in loco by cutting the corresponding part of a continuous sheet wrapped, for example, in a bobbin.

A second conveyor 13 is arranged downstream of the feeding device 12. The second conveyor 13 is aligned to and has the same direction of the first conveyor 11.

As will be disclosed in detail in the following, each band F advancing along the feeding direction A is intercepted by a respective product P advancing along the advancing direction D and folded in two by it to form a semi-bundle or U-shaped pocket containing the product P itself as the latter, with the respective band F, advances along the advancing direction D conveyed by the second conveyor 13 (FIG. 2C).

The band F, thus U-shaped folded and in which a respective product P is inserted, has a lower band portion, which rests on the second conveyor 13 and on which the respective product P rests, and an upper band portion, which rests on the respective product P.

The lower band portion has a flap L (FIGS. 5A-5E and 6A-6E) that extends beyond the respective product P and behind it. The semi-bundle or the pocket formed by the band F thus U-shaped folded around the respective product P has the sides parallel to the advancing direction D opened.

The wrapping group 10, moreover, comprises a folding and closing device 14 in order to fold and close the flap L of each U-shaped folded band F on the respective upper band portion, which rests on the upper face of the respective product P.

The wrapping group 10, moreover, comprises an application device 15 for applying an adhesive or glue onto the flap L or onto the upper band portion of each band F, said device being arranged upstream or at the folding and closing device 14.

Advantageously, the wrapping group 10 also comprises a printing device 16 for printing information or personalizations on each band F and which, according to a preferred embodiment, is arranged at or in proximity of the feeding device 12.

The single devices of the wrapping group 10 will be now disclosed in greater detail and with particular reference to the embodiment represented in the enclosed figures.

The first conveyor 11 comprises a sliding plane with which a continuous conveyor of porter-type or pusher-type 17 is associated and on which the single products P are collected from one or more feeding groups, these latter being not disclosed and represented since they are known to the person skilled in the art.

A counterbelt 18 is arranged in proximity of the output end of said first conveyor 11 and above it. Said counterbelt 18 is associated with the support structure 200 in a height-adjustable manner so as to be able to change the distance between it and the sliding plane defined by the first conveyor 11 depending on the height of said products P. The counterbelt 18 rotates in the opposite direction with respect to the first conveyor 11.

A fourth continuous and belt-type conveyor 20 is arranged above the first conveyor 11—and, in particular, upstream of the counterbelt 18—and parallel to the advancing direction D.

At least one delivery device 21 for delivering the bands F is arranged at the fourth conveyor 20 in order to feed on it the already preformed single bands F arranged in such a manner that their length extends parallel to the advancing direction D. The delivery device 21 may belong either to the wrapping group 10 or to said machine 100 on which it is installed and, through the fourth conveyor 20, it delivers and feeds the bands F to the feeding device 12 inlet.

In the embodiment represented in the enclosed FIGS. 1 and 7, the delivery device 21 comprises one or more collectors 22 each of which contains a stack of already preformed bands F that are individually fed onto the fourth conveyor 20 through a disk mechanism 23 such as disclosed in patent EP526946 or another mechanism; the delivery device 21 is not further disclosed since it is known to the person skilled in the art and alternative embodiments of said device are not excluded.

For example, in a possible embodiment represented in the enclosed FIG. 8, the delivery device 21 is of the type that forms the single bands F through cutting parts of a continuous sheet unwinded from a bobbin 19. Downstream of the bobbin 19 a cutting mechanism 190 is arranged. It is noted that, in this embodiment, the single bands are directly fed between belts 24 and 25 and the fourth conveyor 20 is not present. This alternative embodiment allows to regulate the length of the bands F in function of the format of each single product P to be packaged.

The printing device 16 is arranged above the fourth conveyor 20 and, as indicated, it allows to print information and/or personalizations on the bands F.

The feeding device 12 comprises a pair of belt-type continuous conveyors 24 and 25 which are arranged one above the other at an adjustable distance that is substantially equal to the thickness of the bands F, and which are rotated in opposite directions. Said pair of continuous conveyors belt 24 and 25 is arranged downstream of the fourth belt 20 and forms an upward ramp followed by a substantially U-shaped curve facing the first conveyor 11. A branch of said U-shaped curve is substantially orthogonal to the advancing plane 201 of the products P and defines the feeding plane of the bands F.

Furthermore, the feeding group 12 (FIGS. 2A-2C) comprises a pair of pulling rollers 27 and 28 arranged above said advancing plane 201 and from opposite parts with respect to the feeding plane of said bands F. The two pulling rollers 27 and 28 have their respective axis parallel to the advancing plane 201 and orthogonal to the advancing direction D. The two pulling rollers 27 and 28 are counter-rotating rollers and define a calender passage that draws each band F along the feeding direction A. Also this pair of pulling rollers 27 and 28 may be associated with the support structure 200 in a height-adjustable manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the wrapping group 10 comprises, furthermore, a creasing device 29 for creasing on each band F one ore more folding lines LP (each of these substantially in correspondence to an edge of the product P) that extend in a direction substantially parallel to the advancing plane 201 and substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction D.

Advantageously, the creasing device 29 comprises one pair of counter-rotating creasing rollers 30 and 31, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the plane along which the bands F are fed so as to form a calender passage and which extend with their axis parallel to the advancing plane of the products P and orthogonally to the advancing direction D. Of these two rollers, the creasing roller 30 is provided with at least one longitudinal and radial projection 32 and the other creasing roller 31 is provided with at least one corresponding longitudinal and radial cavity 33 in which the projection 32 engages (see FIG. 2B).

Advantageously, the creasing device 29 is associated with said support structure 200 in a height-adjustable manner with respect to the advancing plane of the products P so as to change the position of the folding line(s) LP along the development in length of each band F.

In the embodiment shown in the enclosed figures, the creasing device 29 is arranged above the pair of pulling rollers 27 and 28.

It is noted that below the advancing plane of the products P is obtained a pocket 203 which is substantially aligned to and, for at least a part, coplanar to the feeding plane of the bands F and which serves as a containment and guide body for each band F.

The second conveyor 13 is arranged downstream of the feeding device 12 and it is intended to receive each band F folded in two in a U-shaped form and containing a respective product P.

The second conveyor 13 is also formed by a pair of belt-type continuous conveyors 34 and 35, which are arranged one above the other at an adjustable distance that is substantially equal to the thickness of each product P and which are rotated in opposite directions.

The folding and closing device 14 is arranged downstream of the second conveyor 13.

The folding and closing device 14 comprises a third conveyor 36 that is aligned to and has the same direction of the second conveyor 13 for receiving the products P inserted in the respective U-shaped folded band F.

Also the third conveyor 36 is of the belt-type and has at least one portion distanced from said second conveyor 13 so as to define a passage 37 between them (FIG. 4).

The third conveyor 36 has an inlet end of the single products P, each of which is inserted into a respective U-shaped folded band F, and an outlet end of the single products P, each of which is wrapped in the respective band F completely wrapped and closed on it. The inlet end of the third conveyor 36 is arranged in correspondence of the passage 37.

Above the third conveyor 36 and in proximity of its outlet end is arranged a holding counterbelt 38 that follows the single products P wrapped in the respective band F towards a following station. Also the counterbelt 38 is associated with said support structure 200 in an height-adjustable manner depending on the thickness of products P wrapped in the respective band F.

The folding and closing device 14 comprises, then, at least one contact element 39 able to contact the flap L of the U-shaped band F and in which a respective product P is inserted, when the latter rests on said third conveyor 36 with the flap L partially or totally protruding from the inlet end of the third conveyor 36 in correspondence with the passage 37.

The contact element 39 is associated with said support structure 200 in an alternatively movable manner through the passage 37 between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor 36 (and coinciding with the advancing plane 201), and a second position, in which it is arranged above the product P and rests on the respective band F and, more precisely, on the upper band portion already covering at least partially the upper face of the product P (see FIG. 3 in which both the first position and the second position of the contact element 39 are shown).

The contact element 39, during the movement from its first position to its second position, contacts the flap L in order to fold and lay it on the upper band portion already covering at least partially the upper face of the product P resting on the third conveyor 36, so as to close the band F in a loop around it (see FIGS. from 5A to 5E).

The adhesive or glue previously applied on the flap L or on the upper band portion holds the first on the second when the band F is wrapped and closed in a loop around the respective product P.

In a preferred embodiment, while the contact element 39 moves from its first position to its second position, the product P, inserted into the U-shaped band F folded on it and resting on said third conveyor 36, does not move; the second conveyor 36, hence, is temporarily stopped during the folding and the closing of the flap L. The first conveyor 11, the feeding device 12 and the second conveyor 13, however, are active; as the person skilled in the art will immediately understand, in fact, it is sufficient to regulate and coordinate the speeds of each of them. For this reason, the group 10, the machine 100 and the wrapping method according to the present invention work in a substantially continuous mode, i.e. continuously except for the stopping of each product during the folding and closing phase of the flap L of the respective band F.

In greater detail, the contact element 39 is associated with said support structure 200 in a movable manner between its first position and its second position through a combined rotation and translation movement.

The rotation movement takes place with respect to a rotation axis R that is substantially parallel to the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor 36 (this plane coincides with the advancing plane 201) and that is substantially orthogonal to said advancing direction D.

The translation movement has at least one component parallel to said advancing direction D.

Advantageously, the rotation axis R, or better the shaft that defines it, is associated with said support structure 200 in a height-adjustable manner with respect to the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor 36 (plane which coincides with the advancing plane 201) in particular as a function of the height (thickness) of the products P.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown in the enclosed figures, the contact element 39 is constituted by a cylindrical bar; however, it may be constituted by one or more rollers or wheels with an axis parallel to the advancing plane 201 and orthogonal to said advancing direction D.

In the embodiment shown in said enclosed figures, the contact element 39 is mounted at the end of an arm 40 that is associated with said support structure 200 in a rotating manner about the rotation axis R. The rotation axis R is defined by a shaft 41 that is supported in a rotating manner by a slide 42, that is movable along rectilinear guides 43 that are orthogonal to the advancing plane 201, so that the height of the contact element 39 may be adjusted.

The arm 40 is formed by a pair of compass levers, respectively a first lever 44 and a second lever 45, that are articulated to each other about an articulation axis R′ parallel to the rotation axis R. The first lever 44 is associated with said support structure 200 in a rotating manner about the rotation axis R. The second lever 45 has an end articulated to the first lever 44 about the articolation axis R′ and the opposite free end supporting the contact element 39.

It is noted that the arm 40 and the two levers 44 and 45 forming it are each constituted by a pair of side walls parallel to each other and rigidly connected by crossbeams.

Traction elastic means 46 are interposed between the first lever 44 and the second lever 45.

The arm 40 and, in particular, its first lever 44 is substantially L-, C-, U-shaped or the like.

In a possible embodiment not represented in the enclosed figures, the arm 40, or the slide 42 supporting the respective shaft 41, is mounted on a carriage that is associated with said support structure 200 in a movable manner with alternate rectilinear movement parallel to said advancing direction D.

Alternative embodiments of the driving mechanism of the contact element 39 are not excluded, such as, for example, cam mechanisms.

As above said, the wrapping group 10 is applicable to an automatic packaging machine 100 working substantially continuously as for example represented in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8.

The machine 100 comprises the wrapping group 10 upstream of which at least one feeding group is arranged for collecting the products P and feeding them onto the first conveyor 11.

The group 10 or the machine 100 itself is provided with a command and control unit 101 to which at least the feeding device 12, the first conveyor 11, the second conveyor 13 and the folding and closing device 14, their motorizations and regulations are slaved.

The wrapping group 10 or the machine 100 on which it is implemented, furthermore, comprises a plurality of motorization or actuating devices of the single movable and/or adjustable devices of components (among these are mentioned, for example, the first conveyor 11, the second conveyor 13, the third conveyor 36, the fourth conveyor 20, the counterbelts 18 and 38, the pair of belts 24 and 25, the delivery devices 21, the devices for adjusting the height of the counterbelts 18, 35 and 38, the creasing device 29 and the folding and closing device 14) independent from each other and slaved to a command and control unit 101 according to the signals emitted by a plurality of detectors 47a÷47e detecting the presence and the sizes of each product P, so as to be able to modify in real time the operating conditions depending on the format of the single products P. In that manner, for example, it is possible to modify the bands F format, in particular in the event that they are formed by cutting from a bobbin or fed already preformed in different formats by respective delivery devices, and/or the formation of one or more folding lines on each band F and/or the height of the folding and closing device 14 depending on the format of each single product P. In this manner it is possible to process, even one after another, products P and P′ having different format as shown in the enclosed figures. The motorization or actuation devices are not shown in detail since they are known to the person skilled in the art.

Advantageously, the command and control unit 101 is suitable to exclude the folding and closing device 14 so as to be able to use the feeding device 12 for no longer feeding bands F to be wrapped in a loop around the products P, but containment products of the type of laid covers C (“jacket”) (see FIGS. 9D, 9E and 9F) to be U-shaped folded on respective products. These covers C, in turn, may consist of a single sheet or of a plurality of sheets stacked on each other and forming, for example, a depliant, a brochure or a magazine to be joined to each product P as an integral part of it.

In this case, the delivery device 21 is alternatively and selectively fed with the bands F or with the covers C as a function of the machine 100 operating mode.

In an alternative and advantageous embodiment (FIG. 7), the machine 100 comprises at least two delivery devices of respective containment products (“jacket” or “banderole”) of the products P: a first delivery device 21a for delivering bands (“banderole”) F and a second delivery device 21b for delivering covers C (“jacket”). In alternative operating conditions, the first delivery device 21a and the second delivery device 21b may be provided for delivering already preformed bands F of two different kind and/or two different formats or for delivering covers C of two different kind and/or of two different formats. In a further alternative possible, even the single covers, in particular if consisting of a single sheet, may be formed in line by cutting parts from a continuous sheet, in a similar way as represented in FIG. 8.

In the light of the above disclosure and of the enclosed figures, the functioning of a wrapping group 10 and of a machine 100 comprising the wrapping group 10 are immediately understandable by the person skilled in the art.

Briefly, the single products P are advanced along the advancing plane 201 one after another and spaced apart from each other by means of the first conveyor 11 along the advancing direction D.

Simultaneously, the already preformed bands F are delivered on the fourth continuous conveyor 20, which advances them one after another and spaced apart from each other along a direction parallel to the advancing direction D for feeding them at the inlet of the feeding device 12. In particular, the bands F are delivered onto the fourth conveyor 20 laid in length, namely arranged in such a manner that their length (i.e. their greater dimension) extends parallel to the advancing direction D. In the embodiment of FIG. 8 bands F are directly cut from a continuous sheet and fed at the inlet of the feeding device 12.

The feeding device 12 and, in particular, the two conveyors 24 and 25 singularly feed each band F (fed to their inlet by the fourth conveyor 20) along a substantially vertical feeding plane and along a feeding direction A substantially orthogonal to the advancing plane 201 (FIG. 2A).

During the descending movement along the feeding direction A each band F crosses the possible creasing device 29 that impresses on it, at one or more heights, one or more corresponding folding lines LP (FIG. 2B).

During the descending movement along the feeding direction A each band F intercepts a respective product P exiting from the first conveyor 11 and in advancement along the advancing direction D.

The product P that intercepted a respective band F advances on the second conveyor 13 pulling with itself the band F that, in such movement, is folded in two in order to form a semi-bundle or a U-shaped containment pocket of the product P (FIG. 2C). The band F thus folded has the front end U-shaped closed and the rear end opened. The lower band portion, namely the band F portion resting on the second conveyor 13 and on which the product P rests, has an exceeding flap L that protrudes beyond the product P itself.

Each product P contained in the respective band F U-shaped folded on it is advanced onto said third conveyor 36; during this advancing movement the application device 15 applies one or more adhesive or glue spots on the flap L or on the upper portion of the band F.

When the product P contained in the respective band F U-shaped folded on it is resting on third conveyor 36 with the flap L that at least partially protrudes from the inlet end of the third conveyor 36 itself, the contact element 39 is activated between its first position and its second position.

As clearly shown in FIGS. from 5A to 5E, during this movement, the contact element 39 makes contact with the flap L raising and folding it on the product P and laying it on the respective upper band portion so as to close the band F in a loop around the product P, and it makes said flap adhering to the glue spots previously applied on the band.

FIGS. from 6A to 6E show in a schematic manner different positions of the contact element 39 for the closing of one and the same band F, namely a band F having the same length, on products P having different formats and in the case that the folding line LP changes in position.

The contact element 39 is then taken back to its first position while the product P, wrapped in the respective band F closed on it in a loop, is moved toward a next processing station.

As pointed out above, the machine 100 may be also used for inserting each product P in a cover C (“jacket”). In this case, the folding and closing device 14 and the application device 15 are interdicted, while the delivery device 21 or the delivery device 21b is used for delivering onto the fourth conveyor 20 a plurality of covers laid one after the other and spaced apart from each other. Also in this case, as an alternative, the single covers may be produced in line by cutting correspondent parts from a continuous sheet.

The insertion of each product P in the respective cover C takes place analogously to the insertion of each product P in the respective band F. As shown in the FIGS. 9D, 9E and 9F the covers themselves may be of different types and formed by a single sheet or by a packet of sheets, such as a magazine, a depliant or the like.

The detectors 47a÷47e allow to detect in real time the presence and the sizes of each product P locally present at each operating area of the wrapping group 10 or of the machine 100 on which it is installed. According to the signals received from the single detectors 47a÷47e, the command and control unit 101 commands the single motorization and actuating mechanisms of the different components so as to adapt their position and speed to the ones of the current product P format.

Generally, it is an object of the present invention also a method for wrapping products, in particular editorial products, in containment bands, comprising the steps consisting in:

a) advancing a plurality of products, in particular editorial products, one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along an advancing plane and along an advancing direction, wherein each of such editorial products comprises a book and/or a packet of sheets and/or of sheeted products stacked on each other,

b) feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction that is substantially orthogonal to the advancing plane, wherein each band has, parallel to said feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective product has parallel to the advancing direction,

c) making each band advancing along the feeding direction be intercepted by a respective product advancing along the respective advancing direction so that each product folds the respective band in two to form a semi-bundle or U-shaped pocket in which it is inserted, wherein the band F thus folded has a lower band portion, which extends below the respective product, and an upper band portion, which extends above the respective product, wherein the lower band portion has a flap that extends beyond the respective product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of said product, thus inserted in the respective U-shaped band F folded on it, along the advancing direction, and

d) folding and laying such flap on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the product P.

The method according to the present invention also comprises a step e) consisting in defining, in each band at least one folding line that extends in a direction parallel to the advancing plane of the products P and orthogonal to their advancing direction. Advantageously, the step e) of defining the folding line(s) takes place during the feeding step b) of the bands.

The method according to the present invention also comprises a step f) consisting in the application of adhesive or glue on the flap or on the upper band portion of each band folded to form a U-shaped semi-bundle wherein a respective product is inserted.

Advantageously, it is an advantage that, the application step f) takes place before the folding step d).

Usefully, furthermore, the method according to the present invention comprises a step g) consisting in printing information on each band.

It should be noted that the use of adjectives like “first”, “second”, “third” and the like in the previous disclosure has the only scope of clarity and should not be considered in a limiting sense.

Moreover, it should be noted that, the resting plane 201 is not necessarily continuous; it is, in particular, interrupted, at least in its central part, at the feeding plane of the bands F and at the passage 37 in correspondence of which the folding device 14 acts.

Furthermore, one or more conveyors disclosed above, may be of perforated mat type and connected to an aspiration group in order to better hold the bands or the products transported by it and it is not illustrated or disclosed in detail since it is well known to the person skilled in the art.

Finally, as already pointed out above, the wrapping group 10 and/or the packaging machine 100 on which it is applied comprise motorization devices and mechanisms, control and regulation devices that are slaved to a command and control unit 101 and that are not disclosed in detail, being them of the type immediately understandable by the person skilled in the art.

The wrapping group object of the present invention has the advantage of allowing to wrap in a substantially continuous, easily and at high-speed manner a plurality of products, in particular editorial products, in a respective band closed in a loop on them.

The wrapping group according to the present invention allows to quickly and flexibly manage any format changes of the products to be wrapped in a respective band. In particular, the wrapping group according to the present invention allows, all the bands being equal, the packaging of products having different formats by simply adjusting the position of the folding and closing device and the position of the possible creasing device, as well as, obviously, adjusting the distances between the various counterbelts that follow the single product along the advancing line.

The formation in line and in real time of each containment band allow to adjust their sizes according to the format of each single product being processed.

Furthermore, the wrapping group according to the present invention may be installed in packaging machine of known type by using, for example, the continuous conveyors they already have.

The packaging machine according to the present invention allows the packaging of editorial products in bands or in covers, simply and quickly managing any changes in production. It is in fact sufficient to exclude the folding and closing device and use the same feeding device for feeding laid covers into which insert products instead of bands to be wrapped around products.

The presence of two or more different delivery devices of the containment product, of the bands and/or of the covers respectively, increases flexibility and versatility of use of a packaging machine according to the present invention.

The wrapping group and the packaging machine thus conceived, are subject to numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the invention; moreover, all the details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials used, as well as all the sizes, may be whatever according to the technical requirements.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20: A wrapping group for wrapping editorial products in containment bands, wherein the wrapping group comprises a support structure which defines an advancing plane and with which the following are associated:

a first conveyor for conveying a plurality of editorial products one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along the advancing plane and along an advancing direction, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other,

a feeding device for feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane of the editorial products, wherein each of the containment bands has, parallel to the feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective editorial product has parallel to the advancing direction, and wherein each of the containment bands is intercepted by a respective editorial product advancing along the advancing direction and folded by it in two on a second conveyor, which is aligned with and has the same direction as the first conveyor, to form a U-shaped pocket in which the respective editorial product is inserted and which has a lower band portion, resting on the second conveyor and whereon the respective editorial product rests, and an upper band portion, resting on the respective editorial product, the lower band portion having a flap that extends beyond the respective editorial product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of the editorial product, thus inserted in the U-shaped pocket, along the advancing direction, and

a folding and closing device for folding the flap on the upper band portion resting on the upper face of the respective editorial product, the folding and closing device comprising:

a third conveyor that is aligned with and has the same direction as the second conveyor to receive the editorial products inserted in the respective containment band and that includes at least one portion distanced from the second conveyor, wherein between the second conveyor and the third conveyor a passage is defined and

at least one contact element for making contact with the flap of the containment band, in which a respective the editorial product is inserted and which rests on the third conveyor, the contact element being associated with the support structure in an alternately movable manner through the passage between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the conveying plane defined by the third conveyor, and a second position, in which it is arranged on the editorial product and resting on the upper band portion of the respective containment band that already covers at least partially the upper face of the editorial product,

wherein the at least one contact element in its movement between the first position and the second position makes contact with the flap in order to fold it and pull it on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product, closing the band in a loop around the respective editorial product.

21: The wrapping group according to claim 20, comprising an application device for applying an adhesive onto the flap or onto the upper or lower band portion, wherein the application device is arranged upstream of or at the folding and closing device with respect to the advancing direction.

22: The wrapping group according to claim 20, wherein the at least one contact element is associated with the support structure in a movable manner between the first position and the second position with a combined rotation and translation movement, wherein the rotation movement takes place with respect to a rotation axis substantially parallel to the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor and substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction and wherein the translation movement has at least one component parallel to the advancing direction.

23: The wrapping group according to claim 20, wherein the at least one contact element is height-adjustable with respect to the advancing plane defined by the third conveyor as a function of the height of the editorial products.

24: The wrapping group according to claim 22, wherein the at least one contact element is mounted at the end of an arm that is associated with the support structure in a rotating manner about the rotation axis.

25: The wrapping group according to claim 24, wherein the arm comprises a pair of compass levers that are articulated to each other about an articulation axis parallel to the rotation axis, a first lever of which is associated with the support structure in a rotating manner about the rotation axis, and a second lever, a free end of which supports the at least one contact element, wherein traction elastic means are interposed between the first lever and the second lever.

26: The wrapping group according to claim 24, wherein the arm or the first lever is substantially L, C or U-shaped.

27: The wrapping group according to claim 24, wherein the arm is mounted on a carriage that is associated with the support structure in a movable manner with alternate rectilinear movement parallel to the advancing direction.

28: The wrapping group according to claim 20, wherein the at least one contact element is cylindrical and comprises a cylindrical bar or at least one roller or one wheel.

29: The wrapping group according to claim 20, comprising a creasing device for creasing, on each of the containment bands, at least one folding line that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the advancing plane and substantially orthogonal to the advancing direction.

30: The wrapping group according to claim 20, comprising a command and control unit to which at least the feeding device, the first conveyor, the second conveyor, and the folding and closing group are slaved, wherein the command and control unit is configured to selectively control each of them according to the dimensions of the editorial product being processed by each of them.

31: The wrapping group according to claim 30, wherein at least each of the feeding device, the first conveyor, the second conveyor, and the folding and closing group comprises own independent motorization and adjustment devices, and wherein the wrapping group comprises a plurality of detectors for detecting presence and dimensions of the editorial products being processed, wherein the command and control unit is configured to selectively and independently control each of the motorization and adjustment devices according to the signals detected by the detectors.

32: An automatic packaging machine for automatic packaging of editorial products, each in a respective containment product of one of a containment band and a cover, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other, the automatic packaging machine comprising a wrapping group according to claim 20, upstream of which at least one feeding group is arranged for feeding the editorial products on the first conveyor.

33: The packaging machine according to claim 32, wherein the command and control unit is configured to stop the folding and closing device and wherein the feeding device is fed at the inlet with a plurality of containment products of laid covers, each of the covers of a single sheet or a plurality of sheets stacked on each other.

34: The packaging machine according to claim 33, comprising at least one first delivery device for delivering the containment products in a form of a band or cover and at least one second delivery device for delivering the containment products in the form of a band or cover having a different format or type, wherein the first delivery device and the second delivery device are selectively actuatable to respectively deliver the bands and the covers to the feeding device.

35: A method for wrapping editorial products in containment bands, comprising:

a) advancing a plurality of editorial products, one after the other and spaced apart from each other, along an advancing plane and along an advancing direction by a first conveyor associated with a support structure, wherein each of the editorial products comprises at least one of a book and a packet of sheets or of sheeted products stacked on each other;

b) feeding a plurality of containment bands laid in length one after the other and spaced apart from each other along a plane that is substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing direction and along a feeding direction that is substantially transversal or orthogonal to the advancing plane, wherein each of the containment bands has, parallel to the feeding direction, a length that is greater than the dimension that the respective editorial product has parallel to the advancing direction;

c) making each of the containment bands advancing along the feeding direction be intercepted by a respective editorial product advancing along the advancing direction so that the respective editorial product folds the respective containment band in two on a second conveyor, which second conveyor is associated with the support structure and is aligned with and has the same direction as the first conveyor, to form a U-shaped pocket in which it is inserted, wherein the U-shaped pocket includes a lower band portion, which extends below the respective editorial product and rests on the second conveyor, and an upper band portion, which extends above the respective editorial product, wherein the lower band portion includes a flap that extends beyond the respective editorial product and behind it with respect to the advancing sense of the editorial product, thus inserted in the U-shaped pocket, along the advancing direction; and

d) folding and laying the flap on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product,

wherein the folding d) is carried out by a folding and closing device for folding the flap on the upper band portion resting on the upper face of the respective editorial product, the folding and closing device being associated with the support structure and comprising:

a third conveyor that is aligned with and has the same direction as the second conveyor to receive the editorial products inserted in the respective containment band and that includes at least one portion distanced from the second conveyor, wherein between the second conveyor and the third conveyor a passage is defined; and

at least one contact element for making contact with the flap of the containment band, in which a respective the editorial product is inserted and which rests on the third conveyor, the contact element being associated with the support structure in an alternately movable manner through the passage between a first position, in which it is arranged at a lower height than that of the conveying plane defined by the third conveyor, and a second position, in which it is arranged on the editorial product and resting on the upper band portion of the respective containment band that already covers at least partially the upper face of the editorial product,

wherein the at least one contact element in its movement between the first position and the second position makes contact with the flap to fold it and pull it on the upper band portion that at least partially covers the upper face of the editorial product, closing the band in a loop around the respective editorial product.

36: The method according to claim 35, further comprising e) defining, in each of the containment bands, at least one folding line that extends in a direction parallel to the advancing plane and orthogonal to the advancing direction, the e) of defining the at least one folding line taking place during the b) of feeding the containment bands.

37: The method according to claim 35, further comprising f) applying an adhesive to the flap or to the lower band portion or to the upper band portion, wherein the application f) takes place before the folding d).

38: The method according to claim 35, further comprising g) printing information on the bands.