DE1411993A1 - Packaging machine and process - Google Patents

Description

Packaging machine and process Priority: USA Serial No 137, 131 of September 11, 1961 The invention relates to a package with drawn Foils.

Packaging with drawn films is extremely economical and handsome type of packaging in which the packaging is thermoplastic Foil is formed, which is either drawn around a product or by negative pressure is drawn into defenses. and. so it forms pockets, which are then filled and subsequently covered with another foil. Pulling the foil into the indentations makes it necessary in known machines that the edge of the film be held so that they are not drawn into the depressions, and that has proved to be very cumbersome. Special devices have been constructed to hold the edges of the film in the desired position to the side of the depressions, while the package is being formed. Such devices add complexity, the cost and maintenance problems of the packaging machine the cost of packaging are extremely important in the case of inexpensive products which are in immense quantities sold.

If you save fractions of pennies per pack here, you can Bringing a profit where there would otherwise be a loss, Another Factor to be considered in the production of marketable packaging is the that the slides from which the racks are formed, sure be connected to each other so that the pack is stable and tight0 it may even with the usually rather rough treatment it is exposed to, do not break open or become unsealed. When different products in separate If the chambers of a single pack are packed, the cover must cover the separation of the products in their respective chambers.

The invention is based on the object of a packaging machine and to provide a packaging method which satisfies the above requirements meet and the various problems that occur with known devices, to solve.

The T'nrfindung consists in that in a packaging machine the the aforementioned type moved the wells in a along a predetermined path Carrying bodies are provided which have a smooth surface around the depressions comprises and means are provided through which the first film as a tape on the Surface is continuously drawn up that the wells in such a way Vacuum chamber can be connected that shortly after pulling the film onto the Surface the film lying freely on the surface and adhering to it is drawn into the wells that with further occupancy of the support body After filling in the product to be packaged, the second film of moistening agent pasted as a tape on the first film and glued to the edge with this, and the separating and extracting means are provided by which the obtained coherent The packs are then separated from one another and ejected from the wells will. In this case, a heated film is advantageously used for pulling on the first film Roller provided which rests on one side of the film and the other side the film presses against the surface of the drum.

The packaging method according to the invention is characterized in that that the film is adherent gemacac and exposed-3-on a shaped body is raised, the surface of which is machined smooth around the recess before is, and that the vacuum is applied immediately after the drawing.

The machine construction according to the invention and there according to the invention The method is based primarily on the knowledge that when the film is applied a smooth one; peeled surface the film sticks to the surface for a certain period of time adheres and also then remains adhered with its edge when the middle part of the folis is drawn into the depression under the influence of the vacuum. Need it So no special precautions have to be taken to hold the edge in place probe the film can be drawn exposed onto the surface of the molding will. This brings about a considerable simplification of the machine and the process.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the figure and described below: Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention in a somewhat schematic representation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention manufactured package of goods Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part the drum of FIG. 1 and shows that in the formation of that shown in FIG Werenpacks use shapes.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of the outer part of the drum and the filler neck and shows in more detail the structure of the formulas and the outcome Fig. Figure 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the drum and apparatus to fill the Bags with the product to be packed.

6 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of FIG Apparatus for wetting the surface of the one sheet 0 Fig. 7 is a plan view the rollers for releasing the packs of goods from the molds.

General description.

In the method of packaging according to the invention, as shown in the drawings is shown, the packs are formed by two strips of foils, which be pulled off from rolls 16 and 21. The film from the roll 16 is one heated roller 17 out, which it presses tightly over depressions 11 into which the Foil is pulled by negative pressure so that it forms pockets at the top the drum 10, the pockets are filled and the filling is removed by scraping 57, 58 and 59 smoothed, which also ring the exposed surfaces of the film to clean the pockets.

The second band is made by slightly moistening the wick 64 and made adhered by slight heat by means of the roller 23 and closes the filled pockets tightly so that the pack is finished.

The packs are separated from each other and fall onto the Conveyor 35.

The pocket formation Fig. 1 shows a drum lo which a plurality of recesses 11 into which a film is drawn so that they are pockets each of which is to be filled with the product to be packaged. The drum Lo is in the direction indicated by the arrow 12 by suitable drive means turned. In Sig. 1 the drive means are shown schematically by a geared motor 13 shown, the output shaft with the drum 10 via a chain or a Belt 14 is connected. It is assumed that the drum 10 moves with constant Speed is rotating, but some users of the invention may prefer if it moves gradually.

A tape is produced in the method according to the invention. from slide from one Roll 16 wrapped around the circumference of the drum and covers both the pocket 11 as well as the drum surface around the bag, which are relatively smooth target.

In practice, this smooth surface is created by po of the drum surface obtain. A thermoplastic film is used and the film is made up to Reaching a plastic state and then heated directly to the surface the drum pressed around the pockets. In the illustrated training course game a heated metal roller is used, which the tape of foil against the Drum surface presses. The practically used temperature will vary depending on the Type of film, its thickness, the length of time during which it is with the roller 17 is about to change, etc. In the case of certain foils, the roller 17 was approx 140 @ F, but the temperature can go down to 100 @ F and up to be about 300 @ F.

A vacuum is applied to the wells in order to remove the to pull the film covering the recesses into the recess and a bag to form which is to accommodate the product to be packaged. This vacuum should almost be effective immediately after the recess is completely covered with the film will. The vacuum could be applied to the depression before this is covered with the foil but obviously it won't take effect until the cover is not complete and there is an air seal along the perimeter of the recess has been achieved. Thus in practice it would not be effective in this case either Vacuum exposure will occur until the moment when the recess is covered is, and such a procedure would be within the scope of the basic thanks of the invention, the vacuum immediately after the complete covering of the recess with the foil to take effect.

So far it has been considered necessary to hold the side edges of the film to a shift of the band of foil during the formation of the product receiving Prevent pockets. But it has been shown that when the surface. around around the recess relatively smooth; z. B. are polished until reaching a plastic state heated foil is pressed against these surfaces, and a vacuum is applied to the reinforcement around the foil in the reinforcement to pull in and that immediately after the reinforcement has been covered by the film is' that such holding devices for the tape of foil are then not required are. This simplifies the device for carrying out the method and its mode of operation very substantial The filling of the pockets Die in this way in the Foil formed pocket is then filled to the brim with the product. To that at To achieve a product made up of symbols is first of all in your pocket produced a heap of product. this running is higher than 'the top of the bag, even if it is not necessary to fill the whole space up to the sides of the pockets. This au pile is formed when the pocket is on top of the drum is located by means of a filling device generally designated 18. Then the top of the pile is raised to a level below the top of the Flattened pocket. At least part of the sovon 'top of the heap displaced Excess material is used to make up any empty spaces on the sides of the ashes to be filled out.

Then the film around the bag is scraped off and the excess. Material is used to fill the pocket to the top. In the illustrated In the embodiment, the last steps are effected by a smoothing device, which is designated generally by 19 in FIG. 1.

Closing the Bags The bag is now ready to go it can be covered with a second film from the roll 21 and the two Foils can be connected to one another airtight. The film of the roll 21 is made made of a material that is soluble in liquid. For example, it can be am a polyninyl alcohol film that is loose in water. In practice the foil of the groove 16 becomes that of Role 2i corresponds. Before the two foils are pressed together, a sufficient amount of the Liquid in which the film of the roll 21 is oiled is applied to this film, to make them sticky and to make a secure bond between the two foils obtain. It is important that the amount of liquid that is applied to the slide is regulated very precisely in order to make them sticky. If too little liquid is applied, one does not get the erderliche adhesive effect.

If too much liquid is applied, the film will be weakened and possibly even destroyed. It has been shown that the amount of liquid can be regulated very precisely when the film from the roll 21 along an im essential vertical path wi; rd, which in the illustrated embodiment is determined by the rollers 22 and 23. While the film is moving along this path the liquid is removed from a bath by means of a wick or felt on the Surface of the film painted on. By having the surface of the bath on a predetermined I§ohe in relation to the point where the liquid stops on the slide is applied (or a predetermined distance between the application point and the surface of the bath adheres,) which is actually applied to the surface of the The amount of liquid applied to the film is kept constant. The device for applying the fluid, generally designated 24, is best shown in FIG.

After the film is sticky from the roll 21 due to the moistening process has been made, it is pressed over the bags with the packaged product, the two foils on the surfaces around uta the tabs around pressed together be to achieve an attitude.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two foils are pressed against one another by means of the roller 23, which are resiliently pressed by a spring 25 pressed against the drum lo. It has been shown that one is extraordinary secure connection between the two foils is obtained when one is now exposed to heat brings. To achieve this, the roller 23 is heated, which by conduction the top film from roll 21 and the bottom film from roll 16 are then heated the sides of the interconnected tapes are pressed inward by foil in order to facilitate the detachment of the bags with the packaged product from the depressions -light ,. This is done by means of a roller 27 set at an angle one side of the drum lo (see FIGS. 1 and 7) and one in the opposite direction Direction clerk, role not visible in the figures on the other side le causes.

The separation of the packs The film is now cut lengthways and crossways, to form the individual packages of goods. The longitudinal cuts are made by a plurality attached by knives 28, the cutting of which in peripheral grooves 29 in the drum lo protrude into it. The tape is cut transversely with a pair of knives 3o, which are rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft 31. Have the knives 30 ~ Cutting 32.

The rotation of the shaft 31 is adjusted so that the cutting edges 32 in transverse slots 33 on the circumference of the Engage drum lo. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, there is one of the slots 33 on each side the form.

The individual packages of goods 34 fall onto a conveyor belt 55 and are promoted by this nTeg. The separation of the packs 34 from the wells in where they have been made can be relieved by putting compressed air on acts on the depressions in the same way as in the formation of the pockets creates a vacuum in the wells during the manufacture of the packs will.

The drum construction.

The recesses 11 in the drum lo are made of plastic inserts formed, which are fixed in recesses on the circumference of the drum. There are two types of products to be packaged together is a plurality of large recesses 37 is provided, each of which is adjoined by one of the small recesses 38. The big ones Recesses each take on a large, bowl-shaped plastic insert, while the small openings receive a small, bowl-shaped plastic insert 40. Each insert is fastened in its recess by means of a screw 41 and from separated from the bottom of the recess by a plurality of washers 42. the Sides of the plastic inserts are somewhat from the walls of the recesses in the the insert is fitted away, allowing air to flow around the sides of the Use around is enabled.

To create a vacuum in the wells is a Plural of channels 44 provided. At one end, each channel has one of the indentations in connection.

At the other end it ends in an axial opening in the drum, through which the shaft 45 on which the drum lo is mounted extends. A slot, not shown, extends through the shaft 45 and partially on the Extending circumference in the peripheral direction is arranged to be with each of the Channels 44 come into connection.

This results in a slide assembly for applying the vacuum to the wells. The vacuum is applied to the interior of the tube 45 by means not shown. One end of the slot is arranged so that each of the channels 44 are in communication with the slot and thus with the interior of the tube 45 comes as soon as or shortly before each depression reaches the position shown by depression 11a in FIG. 1. However, as has been explained, the vacuum should be applied shortly after the recess has been covered take effect by means of the film from the roll 17. so the one just described must be The valve design should be designed to hold the vacuum at this point applies. The exact point at which the channel reaches the other end of the slot and thereby the vacuum tone separates the depression, is less important in the This happens after the two foils through the roller 23 have been connected to each other and form the pack. Thus the vacuum can be separated practically at any time after the respective indentation has passed the n 11 Clock @ position in Fig. 1 has passed. When the vacuum hits the depression is applied, the air is sucked out from under the film and around the sides of the plastic insert peeled around. The softened film bends first in the middle so that the middle part first touches the middle part of the plastic insert. Further evacuation then causes the remainder of the slide to completely sink into the ver -well is drawn into it and so the pockets are formed from the foil, like is best shown in FIG.

The filling device 18 has a pair of filling hoppers 47 and 48. The funnel 47 is filled with a particulate material such as a detergent 49 filled.

The funnel 48 is covered with a second particulate material, for example a bleach, medium 50. The base plate 51 of the hopper 47 has a plurality of openings 42 through which the cleaning agent 49 flows and the large Fills pockets that are formed by the large depressions 37. The funnel 48 has a base plate 53 with a plurality of openings 54 through which the bleach 50 flows into the small pockets determined by the small depressions 38 will.

The particulate material flows into the pockets in the form of an in peripheral direction of elongated pile seen from across the drum substantially truncated triangular cross-section The exact amount of material to get the pockets right To fill, the filling funnel is raised and lowered opposite the bottom Preserved the top edge of the pockets. To this end, each of the hopper 47 and 48 individually to the drum 10 or away from it movable, where generally by the arrow 56 is indicated. That way, the height of the truncated triangular can be Cross-section varied and thus the amount of material dispensed can be adjusted.

After passing through the hopper, the pockets go to the smoothing device 19. The smoothing device has three resilient doctor blades 57, 58 and 59 in a holder 60. Each of the leaves is elastic.

The first of the sheets 57 is arranged so that its lower edge 61 protrudes into each reinforcement when this reinforcement passes the scraper blade. This is dotted in Fig. 4 and shown in Fig. 5 in full.

That way, the first scraper sheet doesn't just spread the heap of product left over from the filler and essentially fills all empty spaces on the sides of this pile but it also leaves one more narrow white space at the top of each pocket free so that the pocket doesn't up is filled to the brim. That narrow space that was from the first squeegee blade 57 is left over, is then filled by the following skimmers, which the particulate material from the various surfaces of the film Scrape loose along the circumference of the drum. The second doctor blade 58 becomes fewer strongly pressed against the film surface, and the third doctor blade 59 moves easily over the surface of the film. It has been shown that the described ' Filling and smoothing process not just a relatively simple device to one Implementation also results in remarkably uniform packings The amount and uniformity of the moistening device 24 is best shown in Fig. 6 can be seen. It is arranged at a point where the film has an im substantial vertical run between the rollers 22 and 23 takes place. A wick 64 is arranged so that its upper end 65 on a surface 66 of the film van the roll 21 is present. The end 65 touches the surface 66 across its lance width.

The lower end of the wick 64 is in a bath 67 of water in one Container 68 immersed. At the ends of the container 68 are a pair of arms 69 provided, which are pivotably connected to the container 68 by means of bolts 7o. A pair of crossbars 71 extend between the arms 69. The crossbars 71 are clamped together on both sides of the wick 64 by screw bolts 72. These Bracket is such that when working the sewing machine, the wick 64 by its weight is held in contact with the plane 66 of the film. If the machine for any Is basically stopped, the arms 69 are folded down from the surface 66, so that the end 65 of the wick is no longer in contact with the foil.

The surface 74 of the bath 67 is opened by a float valve 75 kept a predetermined height, the float valve 75 is water over a Hose 76 supplied. A second hose 77 connects the float valve 75 and the container 68. A sheet metal bracket 78 is attached to the float valve 75, which has a slot 79 through which a retaining screw is inserted. The screw 8o is attached to a part of the machine frame, not shown. By Loosening the screw 80 can raise or lower the float valve and thereby the surface 74 of the liquid in the bath 67 can be raised or lowered accordingly.

By lifting the surface 74 of the bath, the can onto the surface 66 amount of liquid applied to the film increase. Corresponding can be applied to the surface 66 by lowering the surface 74 of the bath 67 The amount of liquid can be reduced.

For any given setting of the height of the surface 74 ( or the distance of the surface 74 from the end 65 along the wick 64) the result is a remarkably uniform wetting of the surface 66 of the film, As can best be seen from Fig. 7, the roller 27 is mounted on a shaft 83, which is attached to bracket 84. D1e roller 27 can rotate freely when the drum lo and the film on it in the direction indicated by the arrow 12 move. However, due to the single arrangement of the shaft axis 83 ur the axis of the tube 45 of the drum, ie RoIS 27 will act to move the film inwardly of arrow 85 pushes.

A similar role is not shown on the other side of the Drum lo pushes in the opposite direction to arrow 85. This from the Forces exerted by rollers serve to pull the packages of goods 34 out of the depressions, in which they were formed to solve.

With some foils an adhesion can be achieved and the foil in the Reinforcement can be pulled without the film being warmed up beforehand. Some PVA - Films have enough plasticity that they can be pulled at room temperature can. In the case of such films, the film does not need to be heated. Also can the film from the roll 16 is softened by applying moisture, to make it pliable enough that it does not need to be heated. You can use a moistening device like 24, around to moisten the film between the roller 16 and the roller 17 in order to soften the film to make (and sticky if necessary to get good adhesion is).

The first doctor blade 57 can be replaced by a roller, which rests on the top of the pile of product to be packed and puts it in the Pressing cavities.

The roller can be parallel to the entire width of the drum whose axis extend. It should have a sufficiently soft surface, e.g. made of soft rubber, so that your surface, I press into the pockets, like that of the scraper 57 does.

Claims (16)

Claims 1. Packaging machine for packaging a product in foils, in which a first foil is drawn into depressions by underpressure and so forms bags, the bags are filled with the product to be packaged and then covered with a second film, characterized in that that the recesses in a support body moved along a given path are provided, which has a smooth surface around the depressions and means are provided through which the first film as a tape auit the surface is continuously drawn up so that the depressions darart to a vacuum chamber connectable elnd that shortly after the film is pulled onto the surface the Foil lying freely on the surface and adhering to it in the depressions is drawn in that with further movement the: support body after filling the product to be packaged on the second film past moistening agents as a tape the first film is pulled up and glued to this at the edge, and the separating and Ejection means are provided through which the coherent packs obtained are then separated from each other and ejected from the wells'. 2. Machines according to claim 1, characterized in that the support body is formed by a drum on the circumference of which the recesses are arranged. 3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that a filling device at the top of the drum eI Rnyreurdnet int. 4. Machines according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that a heated roller is provided for pulling on the first film, which on on one side of the foil and the other side of the foil against the surface the drum presses. 5. Machine rach one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that a secret roller is provided for pulling the second film onto the first which rests against the outer side of the band formed by the second film and presses the foils together. 6. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that a wick or felt should be used to moisten the second film one end rests against the foil, while its other end is immersed in a liquid bath dives, the level of which is regulated to a constant height. 7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the wick or felt is arranged substantially vertically and with the upper end on the The foil is applied. 8. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that the depressions are formed by recesses of the support body in its surface are, in each of which a bowl-shaped insert is inserted so that between the side walls of the insert and those of the expansion a jacket-shaped Channel remains through which the air to suction ports provided at the bottom of the recesses is sucked in. 9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the inserts made of plastic and fastened in the recesses at different heights can be. -lo. Machine according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that that a hopper is provided for filling a product consisting of particles which has its outlet openings immediately above the pockets which formed by the film drawn into the depressions. 11. Machine according to claim lo, characterized in that the distance the outlet opening of the bags to adjust the respective filled amount is adjustable. 12. Machine according to one of claims lo or 11, characterized in that that in the pockets a pile of the packaged goods protruding over the top edge of the pockets Product is poured in and means are provided for smoothing this pile, so that the surface of the product is approximately flush with the top edge of the pockets, whereby empty spaces on the sides of the pockets are filled. 13. Machine after one of the. Claims 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that that for smoothing the packaged product a plurality of doctor blades behind the outlet opening which extends across the web of the support body and rests against the upper side of the tape drawn on it. 14. Method of packaging products in a drawn film, in which the film is stretched over a molded body provided with a depression and is sucked into each recess by vacuum, so that a pocket is formed, which is filled with the product to be packaged and then sealed, characterized in that that the film is made adhesive and exposed to a molded body, the surface of which is very smooth around the depression, and that the Vacuum is applied immediately after drawing. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the film warmed up prior to application and applied to the surface of the molded body with pressure will. 16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by the use a shaped body with a polished surface,