DE2102890A1 - Process and device for vacuum packaging - Google Patents

Description

Process and device for vacuum packaging

Airtight containers fifc? , And the like are sliced cheese eiiiigöi aeife ¹ · Time frequently used "These packages consist üblicherweise- aas two parts, one of which is cup-shaped and a & r form of closely matches to be packaged * The other part is the closure, learning with" the The packaging is closed. «The cup-shaped part is usually heaped on an endless chain of shapes or indentations by means of a vacuum. Atwa polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene in semi-rigid form is placed over the mold cavities so that the edges of the material web are held, then heated to the softening temperature and drawn into the cavity by means of a vacuum acting through the cavity walls. After cooling down, the cup has baw. the cavity has a permanent shape and can accommodate it in the goods to be packaged. After the goods have been filled in, a closure is placed over the opening of the cavity and the packaging is sealed.

BATH ORIGINAL

109836/0992

The closing and sealing the package ibt ι; HR important when the packaging is evacuated itself and is to be maintained in their uia vacuum.

A known method of evacuating a pack is described in US Pat. No. 3,126,681, according to which a heated piercing tip is used to pierce the membrane after the cup-shaped reil has been sealed and to allow the air to pass through it ; υ formed. ' Sucking off the hole, which is then sealed,

According to US Pat. No. 2,895,385, a vacuum device is used used to put the covering film on the sealingly closed Lift off the pack and measure this film with a measuring device. »Cut in. The packaging is then through the Söhlita evacuated through it and then closed again.

According to US patent 3 Οδΐ 984, two packs are made Produced side by side and the foil »wipe the packaging is cut to remove the air from both packaging suck off. Then the sealing takes place in an area that corresponds to the seal running around the circumference of each packaging.

BATH ORIGINAL

109835/0092

2102830

Any of the evacuation procedures described above the packaging must be slit or cut in some way. Ss is therefore the object of the invention to provide a evacuated packaging too. create »which no longer requires cutting or drilling after sealing.

Another method sum removing air au * a packaging is described in Canadian Patent 810,510 φ ben, determined in accordance with which the closure on the cup-shaped portion and both together are a? Vacuum chamber is supplied before the closure is sealingly secured. The pack is deformed in the vacuum chamber so that the packaged good fills the entire interior space of the pack and thereby presses out the undesired air. The packaging is then sealed and removed from the vacuum chamber again.

The invention relates to a method for packaging goods

ti in a tightly closed packaging in which the goods laid on a first sheet, covered with a second sheet for the production of a non-sealing package and the first web is retained with respect to the second web, the second web being separated from the first web. The inner of the unsealed packaging is evacuated through the separating area between the first and the second sheet, the second

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The web moves so that it moves the first web around the packaging Touched well around and the two tracks then connected to one another in a sealing manner while they touch.

The invention also relates to packaging apparatus; with a mold having a cavity »a plate that can be moved back and forth above this mold, through which a vacuum can be applied and which can be heated, as well as with a device for evacuating the mold cavity through the area «wipe the form and the plate through when they are spaced apart from one another.

The invention also relates to an evacuated packaging containing the goods to be packaged with a one Voided molded, semi-rigid part of laminated transparent thermoplastic sheet material, the Void adapts to the shape of the goods, with at least one relatively gas-impermeable layer of laminated thermoplastic material, wherein the semi-rigid part has a circumferential flange surrounding the cavity, as well as with a Closure part made of laminated thermoplastic film material with at least one relatively gas-impermeable layer,

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which is sealingly connected to the ümfangsflanseh, and the pushes itself into the cavity, so that it is the upper for the goods to be packaged and its shape adapts.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures purifies.

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through a mold cavity with the plate, the vacuum head, the thermoplastic foils and the out to be packed.

Fig. 2 shows the same view as Fig. 1, but with the raised Plate for evacuation of the mold cavity "

Fig. 3 shows the same views as Figures 1 and 2, but with the plate in the lowered position to the air W-tight sealing of the package.

Fig. Ή shows a view of the lower plate surface with the Suction openings and the arrangement of the steam lines for heating the plate.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a package in the position in which it is usually displayed for sale.

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Pig. β shows a view of the packaging according to FIG. from underneath"

Fig,? shows a Tellaahnitt through a packaging with preferred arrangement of the layers of the laminated « Lanes, these being shown enlarged

Pig, 8 shows a cross section through a mold hollow imam luti a packaging.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, a mold frame 1 is shown, xhYr forms a mold cavity 2 into which an insert 15 is inserted. The insert 15 can have various shapes, eo that the down cavity 2 has any desired shape, for example rectangular or circular. The mold cavity 2 is provided with exit openings 16 which are connected to a mold vacuum opening 14. The opening 1 * 1 is connected to a conventional vacuum pump, which is not shown. The Fonarrahmen 1 shown with the insert 15 can be used for a molding process with the aid of vacuum, in which the opening of the mold cavity 2 is covered with heat-softenable and moldable thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride or another laminated thermoplastic film, which is heated in Flange-

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area 30 and held through the openings 16 by means of dee acting vacuum is drawn into the Forrahohlraura 2.

A vacuum head 5 is held on the outer part of the flange area 30 of the mold tube 1, which serves to seal the entire area above the mold cavities 2 from the atmosphere, thereby forming a closed area. Vacuum lines 11 lead from vacuum head 5 to a conventional vacuum pump (not shown). Within the vacuum head 5, a plate 6 is fixed, which is supported by a shaft? will be carried. This wave leads into the vacuum head and through Yakuura connections S3, which seal the vacuum head 5 airtight. The movement of the shaft 7 is preferably controlled with a camshaft. The control can also take place by means of a crankshaft or by hand. The outward movement of the shaft 7 can be regulated so that the plate rests on the flange area 30 in the lowermost position of the shaft with a pressure sufficient to seal the web 17 with the web k. In the highest position of the plate, it should be approximately 0.312 approx above the flange area 30.

The vacuum line 12 of the plate also penetrates the vacuum head 5 and is connected to the manifold area 9.

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At the other end, this line 12 is not connected to another shown vacuum pump connected. The line 12 enclosing Seals 8 maintain the vacuum inside the head 5 The saramel conduit area 9 has a large number of vacuum openings 10, the size and number of which are sufficient to in order to allow the plastic film or sheet 17 to adhere tightly to the lower surface of the plate 6 when a vacuum is applied.

In Fig. * T the lower surface of the plate 6 is shown. A line 22 is used to heat the plate, which leads through the arrangements of vacuum openings 10 and into which a heating medium enters through an inlet 23 and flows out through an outlet 2k. Steam or any other suitable gas can be used to heat the plate. It is also possible to heat the plate electrically. For example, the line 22 can be replaced by resistance wire.

The method will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein in FIG. 1 the shaped web 4 is already shown in FIG the mold cavity 2 has been drawn in and filled with the goods 3 to be packaged. This path preferably exists Made of transparent polyvinyl chloride with a heat sealable Coating. The out to be brought into the cavity should be something

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smaller than the Hohlrauw 2 -ieIn, for example, round breakfast meat should have a diameter about 0.312 cm smaller than the cavity. The test piece flesh should also be about 0.312 cm lower than the top edge of the cavity. After introduction of the Qutes 3 in the cavity ¹ I a non-molded web 17 is placed over the cavity 2, ao DAB this is completely covered and Bah »1? in the flange area 30, which surrounds the circumference of the cavity opening 2, the web ή touches. Mach applying the web to aen cavity 2 of the 5 Yakuumkopf 17 is lowered to seal the cavity region from the atmosphere ", and which acts through the openings 16 and 14 vacuum is connected. The vacuum is relatively good and ranges from about 63.5 to 73.7 cm of mercury. The plate 6, which is now heated, moves slowly down to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the vacuum that causes suction through the line 12 in the direction of arrow 19 is applied, so that the film or web 17 is firmly held on the lower surface of the plate 6. The plate 6 is then moved upwards by about 0.312 cm by moving the shaft 7 in the direction of the arrow 20, so that the plate holds the pile 17 in the position shown in FIG. At this point in time the vacuum is applied to the inside of the head 5 and a vacuum of about 73 * 7 em of mercury is applied by suction through the line Ii in the direction of the arrow 18

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generated. Thus the pack is completely evacuated, and the Plate 6 moves back down onto the peripheral flange 50, eo that panel 17 is sealed with 4 panels *. Thereafter the vacuum pump is switched off from the plate and air enters according to the arrows 19. usually needs this air to stand only under atmospheric pressure, whereby the web 1? naoh down against the good is printed because the The interior of the packaging containing the Qut 3 is now evacuated is. As a result, the softened web 17 fits tightly to the porra dee packaged goods that touch them. The vacuum in the head 5 j et Bt is lifted and the head is moved upwards so that the pack can be removed.

In a continuous process in which a series of mold cavities 2 is used, which are supported by Pormtaschen or mold frame 1, the su forstende web 4 of sucked off a roller and placed over the Fona cavities 2 in the direction of the movement of the mold frame. At the first station the web 4 is clamped, heated and drawn into the mold cavity 2 by means of vacuum, or a Klenwrahmen can be used, which the edges of the forming web * against the flange area 30 of the Pormrahmena l presses, and the suction of a vacuum can be made by means of a Hahnea will. The suction takes place of course through the openings 16 and 1 *. Make the vacuum build up the

ORIGINAL BATHROOM

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Chain of mold frames 1 su moved to a filling station in which the goods to be packaged SU are filled into the produced cabbage spaces in track 4. The chain then moves to a station in which the vacuum head 5 with the plate 6 is located. The evacuation and sealing process described above are performed in this station. In FIGS. 1 to 3, a chain of such form frames 1 would move perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Immediately before reaching φ the station containing the vacuum head, a second * film web IT is placed over the mold cavities, which is continuously pulled from a tube. The head 5 is then lowered so that the front and rear edges of the webs Ί and 17 are firmly pressed together. When these edges are firmly pressed by the vacuum head 5, only the continuous edges of the two webs are separated from one another by the function of the plate 6 (FIG. 2). Thus, the suction takes place through these continuous separation areas, as indicated by the arrows 18. After completion of this cycle, the vacuum head is removed and the packs are cut from the web and cut one after the other to the desired shape.

In another continuous process carried out, the cavities by means of vacuum in a station from a continuous web can be produced, with the mold frame

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are stationary. The continuous path can then be successively nit parallel Klenmketten, which the Xanten of the continuous Detect the web, put it in a filling station and convey it to a vacuum suction device. After evacuation and sealing according to the method according to the invention, the finished packs are again separated by parallel chains from the Sealing station moved to a cutting station, where they are separated from the continuous web.

The finished pack 25 has the Aue shown in Fig. 5, see. The shaped web 4 now forms the upper part of the pack, and the flange 21 is the area in which the two tracks are united.

Fig. 6 shows the packaging shown in Fig. 5 with the bottom near the top, and you can see how the closure sheet 17 partially leads into the cavity which contains the packaged goods.

7 shows the packaging 25 with the out contained therein 3 before removal from the mold cavity 2. In this case, the molded web 4 consists of a laminate with layers 28 and 29 and the closing web 17 made of a laminate with eyes 26 and 27 · When using such laminates

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consist of the two touching layers, i.e. the

Layers 27 and 28 are made of the same material. For example, layers 27 and 28 can both consist of Polyethylene or Saran, so either one Polyethylene-Polyethylene Seal or a Saran-Saran- Sealing takes place. Saran is a particularly preferred laminate,

because it is sealable and impermeable to gas. m

The carrier layer 29 of the web 4 to be shaped preferably consists of a semi-rigid material, for example a polymer or copolymer of polyvinyl chloride, which is transparent. The thickness of the polyvinyl chloride layer can be between 0.127 µm and 0.381 mm and greater, with the preferred thickness being about 0.251 mm. The thickness of the saranscnicht 28 can be between 0.0125 nm and 0.076 mm or 0.102 mm, with the preferred thickness about 0.051 mm amounts to. The web 4 to be formed can also have three layers, and in a preferred embodiment of this type there is a layer of a copolymer of polyvinyl chloride with a thickness of about 0.254 nm, a layer of saran with a thickness of about 0.051 on and a top layer on top Saran made of polyethylene with a thickness of 0.025 ■ »intended. In the case of such a three-layer tu-forming web H , a Versohltifibahn 17 is preferred.

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SUGT, which also consists of three layers, and a layer of Mylar externa & ere from about O _s Oi25 mm thickness, thereon a Saranaohicht and then a layer of polyethylene of 0.102 · ims starch has. The polyethylene layers of both tracks 4 and 1? are heat-sealed to susasnen. In addition, laminates which only have polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene layers can be used as the forming web H. Likewise, the Versohlußbahn 17 can be made of other materials, such as nylon.

The inwardly sucked area of the pack 25, which is shown in Fig. 6 and through which the web 17 against the Out printing air pressure is generated, is used to stack several Packs so that this stack has good stability. A better adaptation of the web 17 to the shape of the packaged goods can be achieved in that when lifting

of the vacuum in the plate used above atmospheric pressure.

2 2

When using pressures from 2.80 kg / cm to 7.03 kg / cm,

this can be achieved while the web is still warm and malleable. If semi-rigid material is used for the web 17 then one can produce a reusable packaging. If dl layers 28 and 27 in FIG. 7 consist of saran and dl layers 29 and 26 consist of polyvinyl chloride, the result is • in a slightly easy-to-open lock, as the saran is a · sufficient ·

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but forms little firm bond. This means that the pack can be closed again after it has been opened »because the pushes 26, which in this pail consists of polyvinyl chloride, eire Has sufficient rigidity, the porn of the track 17 st obtain.

Fig. 8 shows a package with a lock, the express allows firm resole of the pack. In the ™

Hohlräumeineatβ 15 is the shaped web 4 touching on its surface. In the interior of the cavity formed in the shaped web, see the item 3 to be packaged, which is covered with a sealing strip 17. In this embodiment, both tracks 4 and 17 are semi-rigid. A locking groove 32 extends along the circumference a of the cavity just below its edge, which, for example, can be 0.312 cm below the edge, but is preferably about 0.477 cm to 0.954 cm below the edge. In the Porra process by means of vacuum, through which the asu forming web 4 is adapted to the shape of the cavity, vacuum openings (not shown) are provided in the area of the hat, which use the web 4 to form the circumferential groove. After the material 3 has been introduced into the cavity, it is covered with the Versohlußbahn 17 and the above-described evacuation process according to the invention is used. Due to the pressure difference in the process * "

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step according to Flg. 3 the Vereehlu & track 17 is pressed into the bar 1-groove, so that it forms a corresponding locking projection in the track 17, which could not be produced with the previously known methods. Since the su deforming material of the webs H and 17 is semi-rigid, the packaging can be somewhat deformed in order to be lifted out of the Fons 15 without the sleeve breaking. The package according to this embodiment has the same appearance as the package according to FIG. 5 when the shaped web 4 is on the top. Fenner resembles the appearance of the upturned pack to that in FIG. 6, with only the additionally inclined locking formed by the groove 32 according to FIG. 8 being present. The slope in Fig. 3 is not directed inwards, since the Versehlufibahn 17 from the sealing area 21 sur Paokungsmltte (below the center of the plate 6) has an inclination that is less than 90 ° inside, that is, the inclined or beveled area the closure sheet 17 nowhere forms an angle greater than 90 ° besuglioh the horizontal part. Looking at the corresponding course in FIG. 8, there results an angle of more than 90 °, that is to say the inclination is directed inwards. For the person skilled in the art it is clear that in the flange or sealing area 21 of the exemplary embodiment according to Flg. 3 «can be attached in the opening flap. The glelohe can be found in the corresponding areas on the packaging according to Flg. 8 are provided. Such a flap can consist of a

BAD OfUGlNAL

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protruding tape, that "between the webs k and 17 is arranged and sealed in the sealing area 21 * It is also possible that grooves or cutouts are provided in one of the webs along its edge in the sealing area 21, which then serve as opening tabs"

Such a packaging can, for example, have a width or a diameter of the mold cavity of about 11.5 approx and the depth of the mold cavity can be as little as 1.27 em and 2.5 * 1 en.

8, ribs 31 are also provided in the flange area. These are xennial ribs for the plate and allow a single plate of one size to be used for different shapes and pits of mold cavities.

109835/0992

Claims (1)

- 18 - claim 1.) Procedure ame packing a good in a sealed Packaging, characterized in that the goods to be packaged are placed on a first web of material, along with the goods a second material web for the production of an unsealed packaging, the first material web for preventing movements with respect to the second material web holds, keeps the second web of material separated from the first web of material, the interior of the unsealed package evacuated through the separation area between the first and second web of material, moves the second web of material in such a way that it touches the first web of material around the item to be packaged, and seals the two webs of material together while they are in contact. 2. The method according to claim i, characterized in that the unsealed packaging in a non-closed area is produced and that the space above the second material web is sealed against the ambient air, without preventing a movement of the second material web relative to the first material web, 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that on the outer surface of the second material web a pressure BATH ORIGINAL 109835/099? differena is applied, so that the second web of material is gripped by the device generating the pressure difference, which is movable with respect to the first web of material, so that the two webs of material are kept separate from one another. Ij. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second material web during the separation of the two material webs from each other preferably by means of heated on a heated surface. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first material web is secured against movement relative to the second material web by applying a pressure difference as the first material web, 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second web of material by application of compressed air on its outer surface in contact with the first material web is brought. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the out to be packaged is introduced into a mold in which the first web of material is located. BATH ORIGINAL 109835/099? 8. The method according to claim 7 »characterized in that packing the su · out in the shaped area of the eraten Material web is introduced, which -sich is within the mold and is shaped accordingly. 9 · Packaging «device for carrying out the procedure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by a fora (1) with a mold cavity (2), by a plate mounted above the fora (1) so that it can move back and forth (6), by arrangements (9 »10, 12) sum application of a vacuum through the plate (6), through a heating device (22) for the plate (6) and by means of a device (11) to evacuate dea Pormhohlraumes (2) through the space «wipe Fora (i) and Plate (6) when these are apart. 10. Packaging device according to claim 9 »marked by a vacuum head (5) to seal the mold cavity (2) versus the atmosphere. 11.Verpackungevorrichtung according to claim 10, characterized gekennseiebnet * that the plate (6) is provided in the vacuum head (5) 1st, which is fixed in the vacuum head (5) so that it can move back and forth. BAD ORJGiNAU 109835/0992 12.Verpackungsvorrichtung according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the arrangement (9, 10, 12) for applying a vacuum through the plate (6) has a plurality of first passages (10) in the plate (6) . 13 packaging device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the heating device (22) includes a plurality of arterial passages (22) through which Panpf can flow. IH .Packaging device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the heating device consists of one electrical resistance heating. ouch: see. BAD OBiGtNAt 109835/0992