GB2130545A

GB2130545A - Process and apparatus for packaging three-dimensional articles

Info

Publication number: GB2130545A
Application number: GB08328071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gunter Muller; Franco Pavese
Original assignee: Ferrero OHG
Current assignee: Ferrero OHG
Priority date: 1982-11-24
Filing date: 1983-10-20
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: SE8305374D0; GB8328071D0; DK154285B; DK522583D0; SE8305374L; SE460354B; NL8303012A; EP0110080A1; DK154285C; EP0110080B1; DE3243500C2; GB2130545B; DE3243500A1; NL187305C; DK522583A

Description

1 GB 2 130 545 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Process and apparatus for packaging threedimensional articles The invention relates to a process for packaging three-dimensional articles, especially a spherical chocolate, in a foil-like packaging material, especial ly a thin aluminium foil, by laying the packaging material in essentially plane form over an orifice and enveloping the article to be packed in the packaging material so that the packaging material is gathered on one side. The invention relates furthermore to an apparatus for carrying out this process, with a device for supplying the packaging material and for laying it 80 on the orifice, with a device for enveloping the article in the packaging material and for gathering the packaging material on one side of the packaged article. and with a device forfeeding the article into the region of the packaging material.

According to a known process and by means of a known apparatus, chocolates are packaged by bring ing precut portions of packaging foil and the choco lates successively into a processing station so that the chocolate is clamped between two rams and the 90 portion of packaging foil is clamped centrally be tween a ram and the chocolate. As a result of the joint movement of the rams, the chocolate and the portion of packaging foil, the initially plane portion of packaging foil is shaped in a forming cavity so that 95 it is wrapped round the chocolate. This means that the initially plane packaging foil material is shaped on the chocolate itself. When the chocolate or another article to be packaged has an uneven outer surface possibly provided with projections, there is a 100 danger in this type of packaging that the projections will press through the foil material and thereby destroy it. The result of this is, of course, that the packaged chocolate has an unsightly appearance.

Moreover, the throughput in an apparatus of this 105 type is restricted. If, for example, the throughput is increased beyond a specific limit, too severe an action is exerted on the chocolate, and there is therefore no longer the careful treatment of the particular article which is necessary per se.

The process mentioned in the introduction and the apparatus mentioned in the introduction have already been proposed, and according to these the portion of packaging foil is laid as plane material on an orifice beneath which is located a cavity which is formed by lamellae movable radially outwards and which narrows towards the bottom. When the chocolate resting in this way on the initially plane portion of packaging material is pushed downwards, it moves down through the abovementioned cavity, together with the packaging material, specifically with the said lamellae being spread outwards at the same time and pressing the packaging foil material against the chocolate. When the chocolate is spher- ical, this pressure is exerted over the entire spherical outer surface of the chocolate so that the packaging foil material is gathered at the top end of the packaged chocolate to such an extent that it forms an extension resembling a tail. This extension resembling a tail is compressed by means of a rod, so that a small accumulation of material is obtained there.

Even according to this proposal, the packaging foil material is shaped on the chocolate itself, so that the disadvantages already mentioned above as regards damage to the foil arise. Nor is it possible to ensure particularly careful treatment of the chocolate in a packaging process of this type. It is perhaps possible, however, for the throughput to be increased by arranging several apparatuses of this type next to one another, without having to increase the cycle time for each individual chocolate.

An object on which the invention is based is, therefore, to provide a process and an apparatus of the type mentioned in the introduction, by means of which a three-dimensional article, especially a chocolate, if appropriate a spherical chocolate, can be packaged carefully in such a way that neitherthe chocolate nor the packaging material itself is dam- aged. This will be achieved by simple means, so that at the same time a high throughput is guaranteed, whilst ensuring a sufficiently low cycle time.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, when the packaging material is preformed from the essentially plane shape lying over the orifice of a forming space into such a three-dimentional shape thatthe three-dimensional shape is open atthe top, the article is introduced into this three-dimensional shape of the packaging material, and the open portion of the three-dimensional shape of the packaging material is subsequently closed by gathering the material.

As a result of this especially simple method of conducting the process, the packaging material is for the most part shaped independently of the article itself which is to be packaged, so that in comparison with the state of the art there is much less damage to the article and to the packaging material, this being especially advantageous when chocolates, particularly chocolates provided with an irregular and, if appropriate, rough surface, are to be packaged.

According to an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, a wide and continuous foil covering several packaging points is used as packaging material and is supplied in such a way that, during supply, the foil is cut in a longitudinal direction and subsequently in a transverse direction into foil portions which are each intended for one article and are located next to one another and which, in this cut state, come to rest on the said orifices of the forming spaces. In this case, the foil is preferably supplied at two points arranged in succession and separated from one another.

So that the foil portions cannot slip during pre- forming, the packaging material is retained in its central region, during preforming, preferably by means of a suction force (suction air). Thus, a substantially symmetrical and three-dimensional shape for receiving the articles to be packaged is reliably obtained, with as little packaging material as possible being used.

In order to close the open portion of the threedimensional shape of the preformed packaging material, the latter, together with the article located in it, is pushed into a forming mould, and at the 2 GB 2 130 545 A 2 same time, because of the shape of the mould, the packaging material is wrapped by means of the open portion the part of the article which is still free. The protruding material is thereby gathered. This shap- ing of the material is preferably carried out, if appropriate, with the assistance of suction air which draws the packaging material, which has not yet made contact, into the cavity of the forming mould.

The protruding gathered material forms an exten- sion which projects from the article like a tail and which is pressed in the direction of the article so that a small accumulation of material forms there.

To prevent the packaging material from slipping in relation to the article when the remaining portion of the packaging material is wrapped round the chocolate in the forming mould, when the preformed packaging material, together with the article located in it, is pressed into the forming mould a suction force is exerted on the closed portion of the packag- ing material preformed into a three-dimensional shape.

According to an advantageous development. the preformed three-dimensional shape of the packaging material is blown out before the final forming operation and, if appropriate, after a check, so that no troublesome particles can come to rest between the packaging material and the article.

According to an advantageous development, the packaged article is introduced into a receptacle and glued there, after an adhesive has previously been applied to the bottom of the receptacle. So that this will advantageously be carried out with the said small accumulation of packaging material towards the bottom of the receptacle, the packaged article is advantageously rotated 180' automatically before it is introduced into the receptacle.

The object is also achieved, according to the invention, by means of an apparatus for carrying out the process, which is characterised in that at least one forming space, which forms the said orifice and which is virtually closed on the side located opposite this orifice, is provided, in that at least one forming die introducible into the forming space is located above the orifice, and in that located at a point offset in relation to the forming die underneath the forming space is at least one ram which is movable through the open bottom of the forming space whilst acting on the article located in the forming space and surrounded by the preformed three-dimensional structure of the packaging material, there being located on the side of the forming space facing away from the ram, above the said orifice of the forming space, at least one mould, the cavity of which narrows in the direction away from the forming space.

Preferably located in the ram is a suction channel which emerges from the end face of the latter which comes to rest against the preformed packaging material containing the article. This ensures that the packaging material cannot slip during the final shaping of the packaging material in the forming mould. The provision of a suction channel in the ram ensures an especially simple solution, since in this way the ram performs a double function, on the one hand moving the semi-packaged article, together with the three-dimensional structure of the packaging material, in the direction of the forming mould, and on the other hand atthe same time preventing the packaging material from slipping in relation to the article. This always guarantees that the article can be enveloped completely with as little packaging material as possible.

According to an advantageous development, a suction channel opens into the cavity of the forming mould on the side located opposite the side on which the article is pushed into the cavity. As a result, the final shaping of the packaging material in order to close the pack is further improved in terms of careful treatment of the packaging material and the chocolate.

On the side of the cavity of the forming mould which is located opposite the side on which the article is pushed in, there is a hole through which a rod can be pushed into the cavity. By means of this rod, a tail-like extension of the gathered pakaging material, which possibly forms, an be compressed into a small accumulation of material.

Advantageously, located in the forming die for preforming the packaging material is a suction channel which opens outwards on the end face of the forming die, with which the latter initially come in contact during action on the portion of the packaging material lying on the orifice of the forming space. By means of this suction channel which is possibly connected to a vacuum source, the centre of the plane portion of packaging material can be held centrally against the forming die, during preforming, in such a way that the portion cannot slip in relation to the forming die during preforming. This makes it possible to use as small a portion of packaging material as possible, thus ensuring a saving of material.

To increase the throughput whilst maintaining a constant number of cycles, a plurality of forming spaces are appropriately arranged, transversely to a progressive direction of these, in a support element. Likewise, a plurality of support elements are arranged in a row in the form of an endless conveyor belt, so that in the upper side, the working side, the orifices of the forming spaces are directed upwards. In this case, the individual processing stations are arranged in succession above and/or below the working side.

In an appropriate development, the processing station for preforming the packaging material cornprises two transverse rows of forming dies which are arranged in succession in the progressive direction of the working side and which are arranged offset relative to one another half a division between the forming dies of a row of forming dies. As many forming spaces are located in each support transversely to the progressive direction of these as there are forming dies altogether in the two rows. Each row of forming dies has assigned to it a device for supplying to the orifices of the forming spaces a foil serving as packaging material, this device being fitted with cutting knives arranged in succession for the longitudinal and transverse cutting of the foil, the plane cut foil portions likewise lying offset relative to one another in a transverse direction in the devices.z 1 3 GB 2 130 545 A 3 The result of this special type of design of the apparatus is that, whilst the installation has the same width, a large number of forming spaces can be arranged transversely to the progressive direction of the latter. Without this special design, this would not be possible, particularly because the initially plane portions of packaging foil are so large that because of their size they would define a greater distance between the forming spaces transversely to the progressive direction, However, in the solution according to the invention, when the forming spaces are staggered more closely together transversely to the progressive direction, a packaging material is preformed in every second forming space only. In the forming spaces located between them, the packaging foil material is preformed at an advanced point.

Appropriately, in order to save space, one device for supplying the packaging material in the proces- sive direction of the supports of the forming spaces is located on one side and the other device on the other side of the progressing station for preforming the packaging material. These devices supply the packaging material in directions adjusted to one another.

The two rows of forming dies are movable jointly into the forming spaces of two supports.

According to a further advantageous design, the two rows of forming dies are movable into the forming spaces of two supports which are at the distance of the width of a support from one another.

Finally, according to an appropriate embodiment of the subject of the invention, located at the end of the working side of the endless conveyor belt formed by the supports of the forming spaces is a transfer station which receives the packages articles, rotates them 180' and transfers them onto a conveyor belt which is arranged at the end of the said working side transversely to this and which brings up receptacles provided with adhesive, into which the packaged articles are introduced, with a small accumulation of material at the bottom, and glued firmly. In the packaging of a chocolate, these receptacles are formed by pieces of crinkly material known per se.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments illustrated purely diagrammatically in the drawings in which:

Figure la shows a main packaging line for packag- 115 ing spherical chocolates, Figure lb shows a secondary packaging line for introducing the spherical chocolates into a piece of crinkly material and for delivering a label, Figure 2a shows a part view corresponding to the line 11-11 in Figure 1, with a representation of two foil-unwinding and cutting devices and a preforming device, Figure2b shows a longitudinal sectional representation of the preforming device, Figure 3a shows a perspective representation of the cutting device and the preforming device, Figure 3b shows a detailed side view of the cutting device, Figure 4 shows a partially sectional side view of 130 the device for introducing the chocolates into the preformed portions of packaging foil, Figure 5shows a sectional view through the device for closing the preformed portion of packag- ing material together with the spherical chocolate located in it, Figure 6shows a sectional viewthrough a device for transferring the packaged chocolates and for inserting them in pieces of crinkly material delivered on the secondary packaging line, and Figure 7shows a sectional view of the device for placing the pieces of crinkly material on the conveyor belt of the secondary packaging line.

According to the general drawing in Figure 1 a, the main part of the main packaging line A is a rotating endless conveyor 10 which is composed of supports arranged in a row in the conveying direction, extending transversely to this and designed as strips. Assigned to the working side 1 Oa, that is to say the upper side of the endless conveyor belt 10, are a plurality of processing stations which are formed by a row of devices which are arranged in succession in the direction of the progressive movement of the endless conveyor belt 10, indicated by the arrowC in Figure 1, and atthe sametime are rotated partly above or below the working side:

A device D1 for supplying and cutting to size the packaging foil material, a device E for preforming the portions of packaging material cut to size, a further device D2 for supplying and cutting to size the packaging foil material, a device F for supplying and introducing the chocolates into the preformed blanks G of packaging foil material, a device for checking the presence of chocolates in the pre- formed blank of the packaging foil material and for blowing the preformed packaging foil material out of the support in the event that it does not contain a chocolate, a device H for closing the preformed blank of packaging foil material, together with the chocolate located in it, and a device 1 for transferring the packaged chocolates onto the conveyor belt of the secondary packaging line B and for introducing the chocolates into the pieces of crinkly material delivered on the conveyor belt of this secondary packaginglineB.

The secondary packaging line B according to the representation in Figure 1 b has as its principal item a further endless conveyor belt 14 which extends transversely to the progressive direction of the endless conveyor belt 10 of the main packaging line A and above which some of the device 1 is arranged. Located in front of the device 1 in the progressive direction of the conveyor belt 14 is a device K for depositing pieces of crinkly material from a store onto the conveyor belt 14, and a device Lfor applying a spot of glue to the inner bottom of the pieces of crinkly material and, behind the device 1, a device M for applying a label to the packaged chocolate glued into the piece of crinkly material.

The individual devices are now explained below with reference to the further Figures, specifically first, with reference to Figures 3a and 3b, the devices D1 and D2 for supplying and cutting to size the packaging foil material. The two devices are identical, but work in opposite directions as regards 4 GB 2 130 545 A 4 supplying the foil material to the device E and it must be remembered that, in particular, te conveyor belt 10 operates intermittently, that is to say in steps.

The packaging foil material is drawn off from a roll 16 of such a width thatthe packaging foil material can be cut in a series of 7 blanks Z (Figure 3a), according to this example, which are arranged next to one another in the progressive direction of the endless conveyor belt 10 and which are each 75 intended for packaging a chocolate.

After the roll 16, the packaging foil material V runs over a roller system 18, two rollers 20 of which are arranged on a pivotable lever 22. In the roller system 18, the lever provides a material supply 24 which stores exactly as much packaging foil material as needs to be drawn off for each particular blank.

Consequently, the relatively thin foil material does not have to be drawn off directly from the heavy roll 16. Located behind the roller system 18 is a pivotable knife carrier 26, on which round knives 28, cutting the foil into seven longitudinal strips 30 of equal width, are arranged transversely to the progressive direction 6. Behind the round knives 28 there is a clamping arm 32 which prevents the foil from slipping back when a new supply is formed in the roller system 18.

The material supply 24 is drawn off by means of a slide 34 which can be moved to and fro in the direction of the double arrow 38 via a lever linkage 36. During the movement to the left in Figure 3b, the foil is drawn off when a clamping arm 42 controlled via a lever 40 clamps the packaging foil material against the slide 34. This clamping arm 42 moves together with the slide 34.

The slide 34 moves a sufficient quantity of packag ing foil material, in the width required in the progressive direction, over a support 12 of the endless conveyor belt 10, which is provided with forming spaces 44 arranged in a row transversely to 105 the progressive direction. Located immediately in front of this support 12 is a transverse-cutting device 46 which severs the longitudinal foil sheets 30 transversely in such a way that virtually square blanks Z each come to rest centrally over an orifice 48 of a forming space 44.

As already stated, two devices for supplying and cutting to size the packaging foil material are provided on both sides of a device for preforming the blanks Z, specifically in the arrangement accord- 115 ing to Figure 1 a. The device E for preforming the blanks, which is located between these two devices D1 and D2, comprises a crosshead 50 with two rows of forming dies 52, each row conprising seven forming dies (this is, of course, only an example).

The forming dies of the two rows are arranged offset relative to one another half a division between the forming dies transversely to the progressive move ment of the endless conveyor belt 10, for forming dies of each row being assigned to forming spaces 44 of the supports 12, so that each forming die of each row is assigned only to every second forming space 44 of the support 12. This means that each row of forming dies is assigned to seven of the fourteen forming spaces 44 of the support 12 which are 130 arranged transversely to the progressive direction of the conveyor belt 10. Thus, the cut longitudinal strips 30 are also preferably offset relative to one another half the width of a blank.

In order to save space, the fourteen forming spaces 44, with their orifices 48 at the top, are arranged so closely to one another that the size of the blank Z necessary for packaging the chocolate would cover several orifices 48 and would therefore obstruct one another by overlapping one another when the blanks are preformed. Consequently, the first seven blanks are preformed first by one row of forming dies, and the remaining seven blanks are then preformed at a later juncture by the other row of forming dies, specifically in succession, although the two rows of forming dies are, of course, moved simultaneously into the forming spaces 44 of the supports 12 by means of the crosshead 50. The rows of forming dies 52 are located at a centre-to-centre distance of two support widths from one another, as is evident from Figure 1 a. The offset arrangement of the longitudinal strips 30 and the arrangement of the orifices 48 in the support 12 are evident especially from Figure 2a at the edge of a diagrammatic representation.

The preforming operation is explained with reference to Figures 2b and 3a, the associated parts being shown only diagrammatically in Figure 3a as regards their mode of operation. Located between the form- ing die 52 and the support 12 is a stationary intermediate strip 54 provided with perforations 56 through which the forming die 52 can pass. A clamping strip 58 also moves, together with the forming die, above the intermediate strip 54.

When the blank Z is located on the intermediate strip 54, it is drawn onto the intermediate strip by means of a suction-air force, to prevent the blank from jumping up and therefore to guarantee uniform folding during preforming. The clamping strip 58 additionally clamps the blank Z so that the blank can be preformed symmetrically. The upper and lower positions of the forming die 52, together with the initial state of the blank Z and the preformed structure Z', are illustrated diagrammatically in Fi- gure 3a.

Figure 2b also showsthe actuating mechanism 60 forthe forming die 52. It is evident from this Figure, moreover, that there is within the forming die 52 a suction channel 62 which opens on the end face 64 of the forming die where the latter initially comes to rest against the blank Z. As a result of the suction force exerted in the channel 62, the blank Z can additionally be retained centrally in the forming space 44 during the time when it is preformed, so that symmetrical preforming of the blank Z is guaranteed.

Figure 4 illustrates the device F for supplying and introducing the spherical chocolates P into the preformed structures Z'which are brought up in steps in the forming spaces 44 of the supports 12. According to the illustration in Figure 4, four rows of chocolates with 7 chocolates each are introduced simultaneously. The chocolates are brought transversely to the progressive direction of the endless conveyor belt 10, via conveyor belts 66, into the i v 1 GB 2 130 545 A 5 region of a rake 68 which can be displaced in the progressive direction of the supports 12 by means of a drive mechanism 70. During this displacement, the chocolates P fall according to the arrows 72 into funnels 72 located above the forming spaces 44 and from there into the preformed structures Z'of the packaging foil material.

As is also evidentfrom Figure 4, the supports 12 move in steps into a device G, also shown in Figure 1 a, for checking the presence of chocolates in the preformed structures of the packaging foil material. This device consists essentially of a push-rod 74 which is provided on its underside with a rubber pad 76. This push-rod 78 is driven via an actuating mechanism 78. When the said suction cup 76 butts against a chocolate P, the push-rod returns to its initial position in a controlled manner because when the suction cup is applied blowing air can no longer escape through the rubber pad. However, when the push-rod moves further down because a chocolate is missing, without the suction cup coming up against a chocolate, the preformed structure Z' is blown out of the corresponding forming space 44, so that this preformed structure of the packaging foil material does not impair the automatic cycle during the subsequent automatic further processing steps. The structures Z'are blown into a funnel 78 and conveyed away by a pipe 80.

The pack, that is to say the preformed structure Z', is closed in the device H which is shown in more detail in Figure 5. This device preferably consists of two forming mounds 81 which are stationary in the progressive direction of the supports and the cavities 84 of which narrow away from the supports 12.

A rod 86 can be pushed into the narrowed portion of the cavity 84 of each forming mould, and the rod can be moved to and fro according to the double arrow 82. Located at the bottom end of the forming space 44 is an orifice 88 through which it is possible to push a ram 90 which is movable up and down according to the double arrow 92 in Figure 5 by means of the actuating mechanism 94. The ram 90 opens into the end face 98, comes in contact with the closed portion of the formed structure Z of the packaging foil material and via this portion indirectly with the chocolate P.

The process of closing the formed structure takes place as follows:

The rams 90 are moved upwards by means of the actuating mechanism 94. The suction force exerted by the suction channels 94 keeps the preformed structure Z'of the packaging foil material in a fixed relationship to the chocolate P. As a result, the preformed structures Z', together with the chocolate P, are pushed into the cavity 84 of the forming mould 81. A suction force acts in the cavity 84 via a suction line 100, and by means of this, in conjuction with the shape of the cavity 84 of the forming mould 81, the edge, protruding upwards above the chocolate, of the preformed structure Z'of the packaging foil material is gathered, as isevident from Figure 5, where the chocolate is shown, already in this state, by broken lines. At the same time, a tail-like gathered extension of foil material Z" forms. Action is exerted from above on this extension by means of the rod 86130 so that it is compressed into a small accumulation of material.

The intermediate products produced in this way fall into the forming spaces 44 of the supports 12 again and are transported further into the device 1 which is shown in detail in Figure 6. This device consists of two rows of rams 102 which are movable up and down according to the double arrow 106 by means of an actuating mechanism 104, push through the lower orifices 88 of the forming spaces 44 during the upward movement and at the same time push the packaged chocolates P upwards out of the f ' orming spaces 44, the abovementioned small accumulations of material Z... being at the top.

Located in each ram 102 is a suction channel 108 which opens onto the upper and face of the ram and there retains the packaged chocolate P by means of a suction force when it is moved upwards. The rams 108 transfer the chocolates P respectively to a pivoting mechanism 110 consisting of two rows of spring-loaded retaining bars 112 which retain the transferred packaged chocolates by means of suction cups 114 and pivot them 900 in the direction of the double arrow 116 into the position shown by broken lines. There, the chocolates are received by a further pivoting mechanism 118 which is likewise provided with two rows of retaining bars 120, by means of which the chocolates are received via suction cups 122. This pivoting mechanism 118 pivots 90' according to the double arrow 124 out of the position shown by broken lines into the position shown by unbroken lines, the retaining bars 120 additionally being movable in the direction of their longitudinal axis, as indicated by the double arrows 126.

The pivoting mechanism 118 is located above the previously described conveyor belt 14 of the secondary packaging line B on which the pieces of crinkly material 128, yetto be described, are delivered. As is evidentfrom Figure 6, the packaged chocolates P are introduced bythe pivoting mechanism 118 into the pieces of crinkly material and are glued there, and as a result of the pivoting through 180'the small accumulations Z... are now invisible within the pieces of crinkly material.

In a device for placing the pieces of crinkly material 128 on the conveyor belt 14, illustrated in Figure 7, there are two rows of spring- loaded pivoting rams 130 which by means of a longitudinal movement according to the double arrow 132 extract the pieces of crinkly material from the respective magazines 134 by sucking the pieces of crinkly rnkerial up to the rams via suction channels 136 located in the rams and by retaining them there. The rams then pivot according to the double arrows 138 into the positions shown by broken lines. From this position, the rams, together with the pieces of crinkly material, are moved down according to the double arrow 140, so that the pieces of crinkly material 128 can be deposited on the conveyor belt 14 in a double row of 14 pieces of crinkly material each, this being achieved because the suction force maintained hitherto is cancelled.

A spot of glue is then applied, in the device L (Figure 1 b), to the inner bottom of the pieces of 6 GB 2 130 545 A 6 crinkly material 128, after which the pieces of crinkly material provided in this way with a spot of glue pass under the pivoting mechanism 118. There, as can be seen by broken lines in Figure 6, the chocolates P are introduced into the pieces of crinkly material and glued. A label is then also glued onto the packaged chocolate by means of the device M evident from Figure lb.

The apparatus described operates free of friction, fully automatically and without the need for an 75 attendant.

Claims

1. Process for packaging three-dimensional arti- cles, especially a spherical chocolate, in a foil-like packaging material, especially a thin aluminium foil, by laying the packaging material in essentially plane form over an orifice and enveloping the article to be packaged in the packaging material in such a way that one side of the packaging material is gathered, characterised in that the packaging material is preformed from the essentially plane form lying over the orifice of a forming space into such a three dimensional shape that the three-dimensional shape is open at the top, in that the article is introduced into this three-dimensional shape of the packaging mate rial, and in that the open portion of the three dimensional shape of the packaging material is subsequently closed by gathering the material.

2. Process according to Claim 1, characterised in that the packaging material is supplied as wide and continuous foil covering several packaging points and is cut, during supply, in a longitudinal direction and subsequently in a transverse direction into foil portions which are each intended for one article and are located next to one another and which lie, in this cut state, on the said orifices of the forming spaces.

3. Process according to Claim 2, wherein the foil is supplied to two points arranged in succession and separated from one another.

4. Process according to Claim 1, wherein, in order to close the open portion of the three dimensional shape of the preformed packaging material, the latter is pushed, together with the article located in it, into a forming mould, and as a result of the form of the mould the packaging material is thereby wrapped by means of the open portion round the part of the article which is still free, and at the same time the protruding material is gathered.

5. Process according to Claim 4, wherein the gathered protruding material, when it projects from the article like a tail, is pressed in the direction of the article so that a small accumulation of material 120 forms there.

6. Process according to Claims 1, 4 and 5, wherein when the preformed packaging material together with the article located in it is pressed into the cavity of the forming mould, there acts on the combination of packaging material and article a suction force which at least assists the remaining shaping of the packaging material to the article.

7. Process according to Claims 1, 4to 6, wherein, when the preformed packaging material together with the article located in it is pressed into the forming mould, action is exerted preferably by means of a suction force on the closed portion of the packaging material preformed into a three- dimensional shape in such a way that the packaging material is prevented from slipping in relation to the article during the operation of final shaping of the packaging material to the article.

8. Process according to Claim 1, wherein the preformed three-dimensional shape of the packaging material is blown out of the forming space before the final shaping operation, provided that no article has been introduced into the forming space.

9. Process according to Claim 1, wherein the packaged article is rotated 180'and is introduced into a receptacle, with the small accumulation of packaging material at the_bottom, after a glue has been coated on the inner bottom of the receptacle.

10. Apparatus for carrying out the said process, with a device for supplying the packaging material and for laying it on the orifice, with a device for enveloping the article in the packaging material and for gathering the packaging material on one side of the packaged article, and with a device for feeding the article into the region of the packaging material, wherein there is at least one forming space which forms the said orifice and which is virtually closed on the side located opposite this orifice, wherein at least one forming die introducible into the forming space is located above the orifice, and wherein located at a point offset in relation to the forming die underneath the forming space is at least one ram which is movable through the open bottom of the forming space whilst acting on the article located in the forming space and surrounded by the preformed three-dimensional structure of the packaging material, there being located on the side of the forming space facing away from the ram above the said orifice of the forming space at least one forming mould the cavity of which narrows in a direction away from the forming space.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein located in the ram is a suction channel which opens onto the ramming end face of the ram which rests against the preformed packaging material containing the article.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a suction channel opens into the cavity of the forming mould on the side located opposite the side on which the article is pushed into the cavity.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein located on the side of the cavity of the forming mould which is located opposite the side on which the article is pushed in is a hole through which a rod can be pushed into the cavity.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein located in the forming die is a suction channel which opens outwards on the end face of the forming die, the latter coming in contact initially with this end face during action on the portion of the packaging material lying on the orifice of the forming space.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein a plurality of forming spaces are arranged, transversely to a progressive direction of these, in a strip- shaped support, a plurality of supports are arranged f J 7 GB 2 130 545 A 7 in a row in the form of an endless conveyor belt so that the orifices of the forming spaces are directed upwards in the upper side, the working side and the individual processing stations are arranged in suc5 cession above and/or below the working side.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the processing station for preforming the packaging materal comprises two transverse rows of forming dies which are arranged in succession in the prog- ressive direction of the working side, the forming dies being arranged offset relative to one another half a division between the forming dies of a row of forming dies, wherein as many forming spaces are arranged in the support transversely to the progres- sive direction of these as there are forming dies altogether in the two rows, and wherein each row of forming dies has assigned to it a device for supplying to the orifices of the forming spaces a foil serving as packaging material, these devices being fitted with successively arranged cutting knives for the longitudinal and transverse cutting of the foil, the plane cut foil portions of the two devices likewise lying offset relative to one another in a transverse direction, specifically preferably half a foil width.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein 90 one device for supplying the packaging material in the progressive direction of the supports of the forming spaces is located on one side and the other device on the other side of the processing station for preforming the packaging material, and they supply 95 the packaging material in directions adjusted to one another.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 16 and 17, wherein the two rows of forming dies are movable jointly into the forming spaces of two supports.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the two rows of forming dies are movable into the forming spaces of two supports which are at a centre-to-centre distance of the width of two sup ports from one another.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein located at the end of the working side of the endless conveyor belt formed by the supports of the forming spaces is a transfer station which receives the packaged articles, rotates them 180' and delivers them onto a conveyor belt which is arranged at the end of the said working side transversely to this and which brings up receptacles which are provided with adhesive and into which the packaged articles with the small accumulation of material are introduced and glued firmly.

21. An apparatus for packaging three- dimensional articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, 1984. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

i 1,1

21. A process for packaging three-dimensional articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. An apparatus for packaging three dimensional articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS New claims or amendments to claims filed on Superseded claims 1 to 22 New or amended claims:- 1. Process for packaging three-dimensional articles in a foil-like package material, including laying the package material in planar form over an open orifice of a mould, transferring the package material over the orifice into the mould to form a threedimensional shape package material, introducing an article into the shaped packed material, transferring the article and package material into a forming mould located opposite the first mentioned mould, and in said forming mould wrapping an open portion of the package material around the article and simulaneously gathering protruding package material to close the open portion of the packaged article.

2. Process according to Claim 1, wherein the packaging material is supplied as a wide and continuous foil covering several packaging points and is cut, during supply, in a longitudinal direction and subsequently in a transverse direction into foil portions which are each intended for one article and are located next to one another and which fie, in this cut state, on the said orifices of the forming spaces.

4. Process according to Claim 1, 2 or3, wherein the gathered protruding packaging material is pressed in the direction of the article to form a small accumulation of material thereon.

5. Process according to anyone of Claims 1 to4, wherein when the preformed packaging material together with the article located in it is introduced into the cavity of the forming mould, a suction force acts on the combination of packaging material and article to at least assistthe remaining shaping of the packaging material to the article.

6. Process according to Claim 5, wherein when the preformed packaging material together with the article located in it is introduced into the forming mould, a suction force is applied to the closed portion of the packaging material so that the packaging material is prevented from slipping in relation to the article during the operation of final shaping of the packaging material to the article.

7. Process according to Claim 1, including blowing a preformed threedimensional shape of the packaging material out of the mould before the final shaping operation, provided no article has been introduced into the shaped package material in the mould.

8. Process according to Claim 1, including rotating the packaged article through 1800 and introduc- ing the packaged article into a receptacle, with the small gathered packaging material at the bottom of the receptacle, after a glue has been coated on the inner bottom surface of the receptacle.

9. Apparatus for packaging three dimensional articles, including a device for supplying package material, a mould having an orifice over which packing material is located from said supply device and an opening on the side of the mould located opposite the orifice, a forming die locatable above the orifice and being movable into the mould to 8 GB 2 130 545 A 8 deform the package material to the shape of the mould, means for introducing an article into the shaped package material in the mould, and a ram movable through the open bottom of the mould to transfer the packaged article into a forming mould located opposite the first mentioned mould, the cavity of the forming mould narrowing in a direction away from the first mentioned mould wherein the forming mould and open portion of the package 10 material is wrapped and gathered.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, including a suction channel located in the ram, which suction channel opens onto the ramming end face of the ram which is engageable with the preformed packaging material containing the article.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein a suction channel opens into the cavity of the forming mould on the side thereof remote from the side of the cavity on which the packaged article is pushed into the cavity.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, including a rod located in a hole on said remote side of the cavity.

13. Apparatus according to anyone of Claim 9to 12, including a suction channel located in the forming die, which channel opens outwards on an end face of the forming die arranged to initially contact the planar packaging material lying over the orifice.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, including a plurality of moulds are arranged, transversely to a progressive direction thereof, in a stripshaped support, and a plurality of supports are arranged in a row in the form of an endless conveyor belt sothat the orifices of the moulds are directed upwardly towards a working side and the individual processing stations are arranged in succession above and/or belowthe working side.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein a processing station for preforming the packaging material comprises two transverse rows of forming dies which are arranged in succession in the progressive direction of the working side, the forming dies being arranged offset relative to one another half a division between the forming dies of a row of forming dies, wherein as many moulds are arranged in the support transversely to the progressive direction of these as there are forming dies altogether in the two rows, and wherein each row of forming dies has assigned to it a device for supplying to the orifices of the forming spaces a foil arranged to serve as packaging material, these devices being fitted with successively arranged cutting knives for the longitudinal and transverse cutting of the foil, the plane cut foil portions of the two devices likewise lying offset relative to one another in a transverse direction, specifically preferably half a foil width.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein one device for supplying the packaging material in the progressive direction of the supports of the moulds is located on one side and the other device on the other side of the processing station for preforming the packaging material, and they supply the packaging material in directions adjusted to one another.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 15 and 16, wherein the two rows of forming dies are movable jointly into the moulds of two supports.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein the two rows of forming dies are movable into the moulds of two supports which are at a centre-tocentre distance of the width of two supports from one another.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 16, including a transfer station for receiving the packaged articles located at the end of the working side of the endless conveyor belt formed by the supports of the moulds, the articles being rotated 18Tand delivered onto a conveyor beltwhich is arranged transverseiyto the end of the said working side and which brings up receptacles which are provided with adhesive and into which the packaged articles with the small accumulation of material are introduced and glued firmly.

20. A process for packaging three-dimensional articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.