Wrap-around cartoner AG/R

for chocolate products

The bars of chocolate arriving from the production line are picked up from the feed belt which carries them to the packaging line, where they are grouped together in batches of 3, 4 or 5 pieces alongside each other, and they are then packed in a cardboard carton. The packaging system is of the wrap-around type, that is, the blank is a spread out sheet which is wrapped around the product. The type of final packaging, with or without a window, means that some products must be turned over by 180°, so as to display the manufacturer’s logo directly from the inside of the carton. In order to satisfy this need, a mechanical system installed before the AG/R packaging machine collects, fully automatically, 10 bars and turns them by 180°, placing them on the feed belt of the packaging machine.When this type of operation is not requested, the unit does not intervene and the bars proceed freely along their path to the packaging. The AG/R packaging machine is fitted with a blanks magazine with manual loading from which the blank is picked up and, by using a centring system, it is conveyed to the carton forming area. Along its path hot glue is applied at the predetermined points. The bars of chocolate also reach the same area, where, grouped together in batches of 3, 4 or 5, they are pushed onto an elevator that moves in an upwards direction. During the movement, the elevator meets the blank and, together with the batch of products, passes through a 4-wall hopper which starts the carton forming phase. At the end of its path three folders, two to the side and one to the front, complete the closure of the package. A pusher then moves it onto a belt which carries it to the machine outfeed