WO2018054695A1

WO2018054695A1 - Device for connecting two container parts

Info

Publication number: WO2018054695A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/072499
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carsten Lautz
Original assignee: Pantec Ag
Priority date: 2016-09-22
Filing date: 2017-09-07
Publication date: 2018-03-29
Also published as: DE102016218218A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for connecting at least two container parts to form a container, wherein said device comprises a die and a blank holder and is provided with a cutting stamp and a sealing stamp, wherein the cutting stamp is movable in the blank holder and can be moved out from the blank holder and moved into the die, and wherein the sealing stamp is held in a guided manner in the cutting stamp or the die.

Description

DEVICE FOR CONNECTING TWO CONTAINER PARTS

The invention relates to a device for connecting at least two container parts to a container, wherein the device has a die and a hold-down and is provided with a cutting punch and a sealing die, the cutting punch movable in the hold and thereby out of the hold-down and into the Matrix is movable into it.

There are a variety of devices for sealing a container known, which is made of plastic and / or metal, in particular of films, which consists of these materials. The two container parts usually form a receiving body and this closing cover sheet. In this case, a cover sheet is placed on the receptacle, which has a cavity or depression accommodating the product, which is placed on the

protruding edge of the receptacle is welded. The cover film is previously punched out of a film composite. It is also known that the cover sheet is sealed to the deep-drawn, filled, located in the composite film cups and in a second step, the sealed cups are separated.

From CN 203 290 955 U a punching tool is known with which by means of a plurality of teeth, the cover sheet is punched out of a film web. A disadvantage is considered that with such a tool

(Crown punch) no continuous or continuous separation cut is generated, but there are many small, consecutive cuts generated, which then have at their ends facing separated connecting webs or Abreißnasen. Such a separate cover sheet is on the one hand very inaccurate because the cuts are often not in flight, on the other hand, the teeth often break or bend, so sometimes larger connecting webs exist in remaining gaps between the cuts, in which the cover sheet still with the remaining film connected is. Another disadvantage is that the many small knives Leave punching residues, which then attach to the welding tool and pollute it. This principle also requires that between the cups a greater distance must be maintained compared to the contour cut, which leads to a poorer utilization of the cover sheet and thus to more waste and higher costs.

The distance between the crown punch and the inner sealing element, wherein the seal is based either on heat or ultrasound, results in a non-sealed area between the separating edge of the cover foil and the outer edge of the sealing edge, which can be both visually and functionally disturbing.

From DE 10 2014 223 847 A1 a device is known with which a container can be closed. For this purpose, a lid is punched out of a film web, which is then welded by means of an ultrasonic sonotrode on the edge of a receptacle. It has been found that the lid is outside the desired welding area, i. in the lid surface surrounded by the welding rim, is also heated, which is often unintentional, since distorted by the heating of the lid or even melt, since the lid is not supported in this lid surface of the material of the receptacle.

Further devices are known from JP 2013-170 002 A, US 2004/0 206 048 A1, DE 10 2005 035 476 A1 and JP 2006-143 295A.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device of the type mentioned above, which provides the lid or the sealed system of lid and bottom film with a smooth, high-quality cut. Furthermore, a central sealing contour to the outer edge to be achieved and the distance between the cutting edge and the outer edge of the seal to be minimized.

Finally, the sealed system of cover and bottom film should be less thermally stressed and thus less deformed. This object is achieved with a device of the type mentioned

According to the invention solved in that the seal stamp is kept out in the cutting punch or in the die. Further preferred features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Advantageously, the sealing contour extends to a few 0.1 mm to the inside of the

Cutting punch or approach to the die. The risk of uncontrolled thermally induced expansion of the cutting elements is determined by the

Use of a special, only locally heating and switchable

Seal element prevents.

The receptacle is e.g. produced by means of a thermoformed film and filled with the product to be packaged. Above the filling opening of the

Receiving container is then placed a film web and with the

Receptacle welded. The invention takes on two

different variants reference.

In the first variant, a cover sheet is cut out of the film web by means of a cutting punch, in particular punched out or cut out. The cover sheet is then placed on the filling opening of the previously filled

Inserted receptacle and then welded at its peripheral edge with the edge of the receiving body. The die is opposed by a die, so that the cover sheet can be cut out of the film web. The die is thus in this variant below the film web. The cover sheet is first punched out and then on the discrete

Receptacle welded. In this case, the receptacle and / or the cover sheet of metal, plastic or a composite of e.g.

Plastic, paper, metal, etc. exist.

In the second variant, a first film web lies over a second film

Film web, wherein the second film web contains the cavity or depression with recorded product, over which the first film web is placed. Around the depression, the two film webs are joined together welded so that a closed receptacle is created, in which the product is located. The product may be solid (eg coffee or tea), pasty or liquid. The now produced and sealed receptacle is still in the train, or is formed by the two film webs. By means of the cutting punch is now the

Receptacle from the two film webs cut out, in particular punched or cut out. The cutting punch has a receptacle in which the receptacle is located and can thus be guided by the cutting punch. In this case, the cutting punch a die facing, so that the receptacle can be cut with welded cover film from the film webs. The die is thus in this variant above the cutting punch and the film webs. In this case, in this variant, the receptacle and / or the cover sheet of metal, plastic or a composite material of e.g. Plastic, paper, metal, etc. exist.

If the seal stamp is held in the cutting punch, then the advantage is achieved that due to the exact guidance of the seal punch in the punch a smaller distance between the seal outer edge and cutting edge can be generated, which is about 25% smaller than a seal stamp outside the punch, eg in a separate machine housing, is performed.

In addition, the seal stamp is optimally centered in the cutting punch by the direct guide, so that a circumferential gap between the seal stamp and the cutting punch of about 0.1 mm can be maintained.

If the seal stamp is guided in the die, then the advantage is achieved that in form-fill-seal systems (FFS systems), a station can be saved, since the punching of the receptacle is omitted, since the

Receptacle together with the welded cover sheet of the

Film webs is cut in a single station. In addition, the cutting edge can be put into the sealing edge, or the cutting edge is only a few μιτι outside the sealing edge. In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sealing stamp has a flat surface at its free end. Another variant provides that the seal stamp has at its free end an annular surface which forms the sealing surface. The surface may have any course and, for example, follow the cutting edge. The area surrounded by the sealing surface is reset so that it does not touch the film.

A preferred variant of the invention provides that the sealing stamp identifies at its free end a heating element with individual heating circuits, which in each case can be electrically controlled and / or regulated individually in particular. The heating circuits are distributed in the heating element, in particular they form the heating zone and sealing surface in which the seal is to take place. Since the heat energy is generated only in the heating element, no large material expansions take place in the rest of the sealing die and / or in the die. Therefore, kerf gaps of a few μιτι can be made possible.

Since the heating circuits are preferably arranged along the cutting edge, the sealing takes place in the immediate vicinity of the cutting edge. A gaping of the edges of the two container parts is avoided or at least greatly reduced. If the receptacle has several receiving compartments which are to be separated and sealed from one another via partitions, then this has

Heating element corresponding to the edges of the fan extending heating circuits, so that they sealed by a single cover sheet with the receptacle and the compartments can be tightly closed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the heating element is supported by an adapter piece and the adapter piece is kept out in the die or in the cutting punch. The heating element thus has a small distance from the surrounding punch or this female die. The temperature control of the heating element is much faster and more accurate, since their mass can be kept low. In particular, a temperature sensor can be integrated or provided in or on the heating element.

In order to be able to adapt the sealing stamp even better to temperature requirements before, during and after sealing, the adapter piece can be cooled or heated, at least in sections. In addition, regardless of the temperature of the heating element, the sealing punch can be kept at a constant temperature level, whereby cutting gaps can be further reduced since the temperature of the cutting punch and die barely changes.

In order to be able to securely hold cut-out components on the sealing stamp, the invention provides that the sealing stamp has at least one

Vacuum line, in particular a vacuum hole or a

Has negative pressure channel, which preferably opens at the free end in its flat surface. The cover sheet is cut out of the film web prior to welding onto the receptacle. To ensure that the cut-out section does not slip, but is fixed and transported to the desired location on the receptacle, the section is held by vacuum from the seal stamp. After the sealing process, the finished receptacle can even be lifted out of the tray or holding device for the container and then dropped.

In a preferred variant of the invention it is provided that the

Heating element or an adapter piece with heating element is guided in a cutting sleeve of the cutting punch. In this way, the distance to the cutting gap can be kept relatively short and the seal-free area to the cutting edge is reduced by 25% compared to known devices. The cutting sleeve abuts against its radially inner surface on the adapter piece and is guided by this and can therefore be made very thin-walled.

In another variant of the invention, it is provided that the sealing punch and the cutting punch have the same diameter. In this way The receptacle and cover sheet are welded together before the contour is cut out. The cut follows the seal course.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container parts are arranged between the sealing punch and the cutting punch. In this way, the edges of both the receptacle and the cover sheet can be first chipped and then trimmed. The receptacle does not have to be previously trimmed and fed by means of a tray.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the

Cutting punches with hold-down serve as a support for the container parts and the seal stamp. Cutting punches and hold-downs thus ensure the back pressure during the sealing of the container parts provided from two film webs.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the drawing and the following description in which two particularly preferred embodiment are described in detail.

In the drawing show:

1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of

device according to the invention in the basic position of the device;

FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in a first method step;

FIG. 3 shows the device according to FIG. 1 in a second method step;

4 shows a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the

device according to the invention in the basic position of the device; FIG. 5 shows the device according to FIG. 4 in a first method step; and

FIG. 6 shows the device according to FIG. 4 in a second method step.

In a first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a device, indicated at 10, for connecting at least two container parts 12 and 14 to a container 16, e.g. to a filled with coffee powder capsule shown. The two container parts 12 and 14 are formed by a cover film 18 and a receptacle 20, wherein the cover film 18 is initially provided as a film strip 22. The receptacle 18, which has been previously packaged with articles or products to be packaged, e.g. with coffee powder, is held by a tray 24, which is horizontally and / or vertically displaceable. The tray 24 is, as shown in Figure 1, with fitted receptacle 18 can be locked and locked.

Above the tray 24 and the receptacle 18 is a die 26, which is provided with a passage opening 28. This passage opening 28 is located in the alignment of the receptacle 18 mounted in the tray 24 so that the peripheral edge 30 of the receptacle 18 can be accessed through the passage opening 28. In this case, the edge 30 of the receptacle 18 rests on the upper side of the die 26. On the side facing away from the tray 24, the through hole 28 is constricted and forms a fixed cutting edge 32 for a cutting punch 34th

Above the die 26 is the foil strip 22, from which the

Cover sheet 18 is cut out. In this case, the foil strip 22 is first fixed by means of a cover film 22 located above the blank holder 36 on the die 26, wherein the hold-down device 36 has a passage opening 38 which is aligned with the passage opening 28 and the diameter between 1 and 10 μιτι greater than that of the passage opening 28. The hold-down device 36 is vertically movable, so that the foil strip 22 can be stretched between hold-down device 36 and die 26. Finally, the hold-down device 36 is penetrated by the free end of the cutting punch 34, wherein the free end is formed by a cutting sleeve 39 with cutting edge 40. The cutting sleeve 39 forms a seal-free area.

In the cutting punch 34 and the cutting sleeve 39, a sealing punch 42 is guided in the vertical direction without play, the on its sealing body 44 a

Adapter piece 46 carries, at its free end a heating element 48 is provided. The heating element 48 lies in the plane of the cutting edge 40 and is penetrated by at least one, in particular two through-holes 50. In this through-holes 50 open two adapter piece 46 and the sealing body 44 sweeping lines or channels 52, to which

Negative pressure can be applied.

To connect two container parts 12 and 14 to a container 16, the receptacle 20 is inserted after its filling in the tray 24 and the tray 24 is moved to the sealing position under the die 26. In addition, the foil strip 22 is moved so far transversely to the vertical direction of sealing until the punched grid of the previous seal is outside the punching area. By lowering the hold-down 36, the film strip 22 is fixed to the die 26, which is shown in Figure 2. By applying negative pressure to the channels 52, the fixed foil strip 22 is held by the heating element 38 and the

Cutting punch 34 moves with its cutting edge 40 and the seal punch 42 in the die 26 a punched the cover sheet 18 from the foil strip 22 from. The cover sheet 18 is still held by means of negative pressure from the heating element 48 at this.

Now the seal punch 42 is moved within the cutting sleeve 39 in the direction of the tray 24 and placed on the edge 30 of the receptacle 20, which is shown in Figure 3. Since the heating element 48 has a plurality of individually controllable heating circuits, which are embedded along the edge 30 in the matrix of the particular ceramic heating element 48, the cover sheet 18 is heated only along the edge 30 and with the

Receiving container 20 welded. Since the heating element 48 is a very small Has mass and only the heating circuits are heated, takes place

Welding process very fast and the heating circuits cool down very quickly after welding.

The vacuum channels 52 are now vented and the cover sheet 18 is released. After the welding operation and the release of the cover sheet 18, the seal punch 42 and the cutting punch 23, the hold-down 36 and the die 26 are raised again to the starting position, so that the now closed receptacle 20 by moving the tray 24th

can be removed.

Of course, a plurality of such devices 10 may be arranged in one or more rows and columns and form a punch-seal system.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the device 10, with which at least two container parts 12 and 14 are likewise conveyed to a container 16, e.g. to a filled with coffee powder capsule, are connected together. In this embodiment, both the

Container bottom part 14 and the container top part 12 of a foil strip 54 and 22 is provided, which is supplied in parallel. Is the im

Foil tape 54 preformed receptacle 20 on the one receiving 56 for the receptacle 20 having cutting punch 34, the

Cutting punch 34 is raised together with a surrounding hold-down 58, so that the receptacle 20 comes to lie in the receptacle 56, which is shown in Figure 5. In addition, by moving cutting punch 34 and hold-down 58 and / or die 26 and

Seal stamp 42 toward each other, the two film strips 22 and 54 are placed against each other, which is also shown in Figure 5.

Since the sealing stamp 42, in particular the heating element 48 rests on the foil strip 22 and the foil strip 22 rests on the edge 30 of the receptacle 18, a welding of the edge 30 with the foil strip 22 occur. In this variant too, only the heating circuits located above the edge 30 in the heating element 48 are activated. The inside of the edge 30 located surface of the film strip 22 is not heated.

After the welding of the two film strips 22 and 54 of the

Sealing punch 42 raised in the die 26 and it follows the cutting punch 34 so far until it enters the die 26. This will be the

Receptacle 20 with welded cover sheet 18 punched out of the film strips 54 and 22, which is shown in Figure 6. The punched grid of the two foil strips 22 and 54 remains between the die 26 and the hold-down 58.

The vacuum channels 52 are now supplied with pressure, so that the container 16 is fixed by the heating element 48. The cutting punch 34 is moved out of the die 26 and the hold-down 58 is removed from the die 26. The container 16 may be discarded after the seal punch 42 has been extended out of the die 26. For this purpose, the vacuum channels 52 are vented and optionally supplied with overpressure. The device 10 assumes the basic position shown in Figure 4 and the two film strips 22 and 54 can be transported.

An advantage of this variant is that no separate punching step for punching out of the receptacle 20 is required and that no separate punching module is required for this.

Of course, also in this variant, a plurality of such devices 10 may be arranged in one or more rows and columns and form a punch-seal system.

Claims

claims

1 . Device (10) for connecting at least two container parts (12, 14) to a container (16), wherein the device (10) has a die (26) and a hold - down (36, 58) and with a cutting punch (34) and a sealing punch (42) is provided, wherein the cutting punch (34) in the hold-down (36, 58) movable and thereby out of the hold-down and into the die (26) is moved into, characterized in that the seal punch (42) in the cutting punch (34) or in the die (26) is guided out.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Seal stamp (42) has a flat surface at its free end.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the sealing stamp (42) engages at its free end

Heating element (48) identifies with individual heating circuits, which in particular in each case individually electrically controlled and / or regulated.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating circuits along the cutting edge (30) are arranged.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the heating element (48) by an adapter piece (46) is supported and the

Adapter piece (46) in the die (26) or in the cutting punch (34) is kept out.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the

Adapter piece (46), at least in sections, is coolable or heated.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the sealing stamp (42) has at least one vacuum line (52), in particular a vacuum hole, which opens out at the free end in its flat surface.

8. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the heating element (48) or an adapter piece (46) with heating element (48) within the cutting punch (34) is guided.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

5 marked that

the sealing punch (42) is guided axially in the cutting punch (34) and the cutting punch (34) projects radially beyond the sealing punch (42), or

the sealing punch (42) is guided axially in the die (26) and the cutting punch (34) and the sealing punch (42) are radially at most equal in size.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container parts (12, 14) between

Seal stamp (42) and cutting punch (34) are arranged, or seal stamp (42) and die (26) are arranged. i5 1 1. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the cutting punch (34) with holding-down device (36) serves as a support for the container parts (12, 14) and the sealing punch (42).