DE2322646A1 - ARRANGEMENT FOR WRAPPING ITEMS IN FILM IN PACKAGING MACHINES - Google Patents

Description

PATENT LAWYERS DIPL. ING, WALTER MEISSNER _DIPL . _ING . HERBERT TISCHER DIPL. ING. PETER E. MEISSNER - girl

DIPL. ING. H. JOACHIM PRESTING BERLIN

1 BERLIN 33 (GRUNEWALD), HERBERTSTRASSE 22 ....

A - T - 0, Willoughby / Ohio - USA

Arrangement for wrapping objects in film in packaging machines

The invention "refers generally to a device for producing packaging means for wrapping articles, such _s for example cans of film that contains an apparatus for enclosing the objects in an elongated tube or sleeve made of a film, when the articles successively through migrate a given portion of the device, and it relates more particularly to improvements in the devices used in such device to effect the creation of the longitudinal seam of the foil tube or sleeve which follows its application to the object.

It is particularly well known in the beverage and brewing industries, groups of products containing cans or the like Containers included to be wrapped in heat shrinkable plastic wrap. Different machines are for Carry out such packing operation at a very rapid pace automatic way known, wherein the cans or other containers are treated in two rows at the same time

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and thus result in packaging facilities for this species and wherein the cans or containers are arranged in two abutting rows, each one of which Contains the same number of cans or containers, e.g. three in the usual six-pack. Usually will in this known machine, the film to the can or the other container in an input stage of the Packaging process applied via a sleeve-like device, which is used to hold the cans for the relative Simultaneous guiding with the slide is used, which is in a continuous tape or strip through this facility is pulled inward to shape them into an elongated tube or sleeve that goes around the cans in the machine around and between successive ones Rifles runs. In the course of the production of foil tubes the opposite free edges of the film are usually guided or folded under the bottoms of the cans from their opposite sides inwards to another foil at the center of the foil tube assembly to overlap or superimpose, thereby creating a continuous seal or seam on the foil tube and the cans themselves can be encased in a complete tape or ring of foil, in order to be able to hold the cans securely and compactly when the foils finally shrink into their correct position.

For this purpose, the previous wrapping machines generally contain a heating device with a continuous or wandering tape covering the overlapped edge portions of the foil tube or the wrapping from the underside thereof takes hold of the tape with a fixed table or a heating element of such a heating device is in contact and can move across the table to to cause continued heating of the film when

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the tube and encased cans over this facility while such a heater provides a sufficient seal on the foil tube or the envelope, the film moving over this device is generally not against the upward movement of the belt from the Main plate or other means of carrying the cans or other items during the passage printed over the heating unit. Therefore the closing is not completely uniform and there can also be irregularities in the final closing appear. This problem arises from the tendency of the film edges to wrinkle or puff when they overlap with another edge on the bottom ends of the cans or on other objects, whatever it is actually makes a proper foil seal impossible under such conditions just using the heating element wandering band. It is also generally not sufficient to simply bring the heating element closer to the main support plate for the cans if this is the case Tension on the foil increases and things like chattering of the foil on the plate or in the sleeve mechanism and leads to breakage or tearing of the film.

The resulting packagings in such known machines are not always of the highest possible quality in terms of their strength or resistance to breakage under normal handling during transport or in the trade, since there is no permanent, uniform sealing in the outer part of the film. Sometimes influenced also such a lack of a uniform closure on the foil tube of the package is general The aesthetics of the packaging are unfavorable, while the strength of the packaging as a whole is guaranteed. The total recording the packaging in the trade can be adversely affected »

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Furthermore, "with these facilities, the tape on the Longitudinal center line of the machine to create a seal centered on the foil tube and therefore includes the roll width of the overlap between the film edges. This is what tries to do this in operation Band because of the wear of the band itself and / or the supporting structure from time to time an angular position to Occupy the center line of the machine. If the tape is not pulled back, a less ideal seal becomes both in terms of strength and appearance in the foil tube and in the individual packaging obtain. In such heating devices, however, the band adjustment is relatively difficult and time consuming and considerable production time is lost when many adjustments are necessary. Further With the previous heating devices, normal repairs and the replacement of parts, e.g. the belt, extremely difficult to carry out and the stoppage in operation, which is necessary when repairing the heating element can be more angry

Accordingly, it is the main object of the invention to provide a film sealing device that can be used in and between the overlapping edge portions of a plastic tube can create a seal, whereby the film continuously around objects such as cans, wioks and the closure more uniform and of better quality than in the previously known machines.

Furthermore, the film tube sealing device should be lightweight and can be conveniently adjusted to the center line of the machine of which they are a part to ensure centering the closure in the foil tube and which is designed to be quickly repaired and Parts can be exchanged quickly at her place, if

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this is necessary during operation. The device should also be able to be easily withdrawn from the working position with respect to the film in the event of interruptions in the manufacture of the packaging, without the quality of the manufactured packaging being adversely affected when the operation is resumed and the device is returned to the film sealing point. The device should be of a relatively compact and insensitive construction, which can be carried out reliably over long periods of continuous operation. In addition, the device should be able to be installed in existing packaging machines with B ¹ Olienumhüllung with only relatively small changes, whereby the overall operation and the efficiency of the existing machines can be improved.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are obtained by a poly tube occluder, which is essentially the combination with an endless tape closure head and a special bending plate or reached pressure means for engaging the overlapped edge portions of the film tube and for Press in intimate contact with each other and with the capping head as the film passes the device served

As suitable for a packaging machine for cans or the like. In hot-shrink plastic film for manufacturing of packaging of, for example, 2x3 pieces the present film sealing device with a mechanism with a sleeve open at one end normally, which the foil in a continuous strip or band tubular and successive around the itself through the machine moving cans, and with

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a construction of a solid plate of cross-section an inverted T, which is used to hold the cans while hiking through the sleeve-like mechanism in two adjacent ones Rows that run in the longitudinal direction of the machine and go over the fixed plate, one row running vertically to either side of the center of the leg portion. The sleeve mechanism is over the support plate at its front or upward end portion to the direction of movement of the sleeves in the Machine attached and basically contains a number of film guide folding plate parts that the continuous Take up foil strips' and fold them into a continuous tube or sleeve of foil, which is arranged around successive Pairs of cans around and lengthways between these cans extending over the move the fixed plate. There are in the sleeve two base plates, which the opposite edge parts of the foil inwards under the cans in the course of the folding align and run under the fixed support plate inwards from the opposite sides, to overlap at the center line of the machine and thus the desired or necessary overlap between ' to give the opposite longitudinal edge parts of the film when it is brought into the tubular shape.

The film sealing device is located on in Be-r trajectory lying end part of the fixed support plate for the bushings, the sealing head is under the plate and with its band upwards is directed to engage in the longitudinal direction on the overlapping edge portions of the foil tube when this of the sleeve mechanism, causing continuous controlled heating, and the backing plate or pressure device is located directly opposite the sealing head in the middle leg part of the liner

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carrier plate is located. It will also go into a slot recorded in this leg part and runs through the Bottom of the slot azs to grip the edge portion of the foil tube when it is over the sealing head runs, whereby these edge portions are kept in intimate contact with each other and the seal head itself.

The seal head and the support plate in the machine can be pivoted vertically between normally gripped parts, with the foil tube and released Parts with a special, hand-operated air cylinder aeohanism are assigned to the head or the plate and are ready to take control of the pivot points of Exercise the head and disk in the machine while at the same time the adjustment urges these members into the positions of engagement with the SlIm so that these members of the Working together optimally to produce a closure in the foil tube. When the bolt head allows Pivoting movement a withdrawal of the heat from the foil with a temporary interruption of the foil movement through the machine so that the film will not be damaged due to excessive heat during such a stop can be. The pivotal movements are further beneficial from the standpoint of head and disk maintenance the end. Then, with the swivel fastenings, the film can more easily be in the correct position in relation to the sbfcm Foil folding sleeve mechanism and the foil closing device are brought during the start-up of the machine. With this construction, the film can also seize up in the film roll and in the sealing part of the machine easily fixed.

The carrier arms of the closing head are in a corresponding Brought mounting bracket that makes it possible , "that he is both vertically and laterally in the

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Machine can be adjusted to the correct position of the tape to the film and to the center line of the machine.

The head contains rollers for guiding the tape heating element, one of the rollers being provided with a fixed bearing in the head and through a chain and a sprocket drive mechanism for driving the belt to move continuously is coupled in the head. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive mechanism includes a usual overdrive, which is used to keep the belt moving for a short time, which is the switch-off follows the drive device to prevent local overheating of the belt that would occur, if the belt stops on its way immediately when the drive stops working. Such overheating is very detrimental to the life of the belt if it creates abnormal stresses in the belt, and If repeated enough times, it can result in premature breakage or failure of the tape. With With the present construction, the life of the belt and the whole machine can be extended thus, used.

The other role is an idle role and, according to one Another feature of the invention is the supporting element for these roles in the head held angularly adjustable, so that the tape can be "trimmed" or moved laterally in the head over its fixed bracket to a angular drifting of the tape from the correct longitudinal position in the head to correct or compensate for this due to wear on the belt itself and / or the rollers or their bearings. The idler roller bearings are also designed so that the idler roller through Hand from a normal external or operating point in the head can be pushed to a worn or

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damaged tape easier to remove and a new one Tape easier to use. For this purpose, the idle role is in a "special TJ-shaped link or yoke held, which is slid in the head between fixed stops, with a spring provided behind or in the yoke is to normally pretension the yoke to an outer sliding position in the head. One leg of the yoke bears in spherical bearing located in the bearing of a mounting shaft of the idler roller ". The other Leg of the yoke is slotted and the shaft goes through this slot for connection to an axially adjustable rod-like member located on the side of the head at right angles to this rod-like member, so that lengthening or shortening this link results in a mounting shaft for the idler roller, which rotates around the spherical bearing in the yoke, which in turn results in a corresponding angular displacement in the Head of the axis of rotation of the idler roller and an angular movement of the tape in the head. This allows the tape to easily and conveniently adjusted in the head and thus aligned with the longitudinal axis of the head itself. To align of the capping head to the center line of the machine is a device that maintains a precise position between the tape and the film edge parts to be closed and adjusts the tape when this is necessary to recover this position adjustment is necessary. This is also necessary if the parts move during operation wear out the machine »

With the bearings described, the tape can also be pressed against the head by pressing the idler roller with your hand Bias of the associated spring can be moved sufficiently far in a simple manner so that the tape from a Position around the rollers can slide. The insertion of a new or repaired tape is carried out in a similar manner easy way. There is thus a closing head mi ^

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high maintainability, especially as far as the tape is concerned.

These and other features and objects of the invention and the manner in which these are obtained, and the invention itself, are illustrated by way of an exemplary embodiment in FIG Connection described with the drawings. In the drawings is:

FIG. 1 shows a general representation of a single sheet packaging machine, which includes the improved film sealing device of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view in a larger. Scale of one part of the machine with the film closing device and the sleeve-like mechanism that is used for an ^ placing the film on the objects to be treated in the machine;

Figure 3 is a side view of the structure according to Figure 2, parts are broken off for the sake of clarity and others are shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the part of the machine according to FIGS Figures 2 and 5 illustrate the general relationship of the film folding tube to the can support plate of the film sealing device and shows the objects on the plate;

Figure 5 is a larger-scale side view of the improved Film sealing device according to the invention, which is taken out of the packaging machine, wherein the upper support plate of the Locking device removed from its holder and from the frame parts of its internal structure has broken out;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the closing head on the scale of FIG. 5j with parts for clarity half erupted;

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FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the upper part of the closing head on line 7-7 of Figure 5 for details the heating table and its general relationship to the support plate and its holder;

Figure 8 is an end view of the capping head "operational is mounted in the packaging machine of Figure 1, seen from the moving or back end of the head off;

FIG. 9 shows a horizontal section through the closing head on the line 9-9 of Figure 5 with details of the Structure for attaching the drive and idle rollers in the capping head; and

FIG. 10 shows a partial cross section of the drive end of the closing head with further details the fastening structure for the bulbs.

Figure 1 shows the application of the invention in an automatic packaging machine, which is continuously in films packaged and expressly intended for packaging facilities with groups of objects, e.g. cans, which in two adjacent ropes of e.g. two, three or four cans on an outer hot-shrinking one Drill or sleeve made of plastic film to completely hold and secure the sleeves together. The machine contains a corresponding feeder, which feeds incoming cans from a corresponding (not shown) Source and automatically and continuously in contiguous rows of contiguous Canisters grouped that move through the machine from left to right. The feeder, of which only part 12, it pushes the cans directly through the film folder or sleeve-like mechanism 14 through. Such a mechanism is described in US Pat. No. 3,431,831 and

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is explained in detail below. Br is used for Wrapping the successive cans in an elongated sleeve or bore 16 of foil and delivering a composite can and foil unit 18 extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine from the dispensing end of the sleeve mechanism * runs out. This mechanism includes a film closing device 2o, which is the special one The subject of the invention is and engages the tubular film part of the device 18, which is located in the sleeve for constant and local heating is located on the line or the area of overlap that is there between the opposite free edge parts of the film when deposited on the sleeves through the sleeve 14, whereby these edges are continuously connected to one another and the foil is securely fastened around the cans. Thereafter, the film tube device 18 is perpendicular to several further treatment and processing locations and guided past these, the successively the can film unit in rows or separate packing units share or train, each of which contains e.g. two, three or four pairs of cans. After that will be the individual packs are heated in a controlled manner in order to cause the outer film part to shrink, and finally combined in a safe and compact unit. In of the machine, the can-film unit is received in a first heating tunnel 22 when it is removed from the sleeve-like Mechanism 14 is coming. It contains corresponding side pressure chains (not shown) or the like. With means for distributing the cans into desired groupings as the can film unit passes through the Heating tunnel is guided. The heating in the tunnel is local so that the pieces of foil tube between the can groupings and drawn inward into contact with the edges of the cans, so as to do the following Separate the foil tube between the groups of cans

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facilitate. The foil tube is cut off at this point using two separate sets of cutting blades or knives 24 ″ or 26, which are located behind the heating tunnel 22 are arranged in the longitudinal direction at a distance from each other. The first knives of a pair 24 are vertical opposite each other in the machine, with the upper knife at a cross-section in the upper track or wall part the foil tube attacks and forms and both knives together and a similar cut in the upper or Attack the wall section of the foil tube at a point diametrically opposite the upper cut. The others two knives 26 are located on opposite sides of the machine and cut through the foils Trimming the side parts of the foil tube in a vertical plane with the mentioned cuts through the Knife 24.

From the side knives 26, the now completely separated individual packs go into a second and last one Heat shrink tunnel 28 in which the film tube is fully heated which pulls the tube into a final shrinking position around the sleeves.

A brief description of the overall operation of the machine follows. The sequence of operations takes place but in no particular order. For example, if a package according to the American patent specification 5,396,841 is to be produced, a finger hole punch 3o would be located behind the second shrink tunnel 28 and the packs were processed by this punch after passing through this tunnel and with finger holes or openings are provided in the upper part of the outer foil tube.

The machine can be provided with a corresponding drive be, but is a uniform drive control

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preferable so that the endless feed of cans to the device and the continuous movement of the cans through the machine can be controlled via a single link can and all processes can be easily coordinated with the can and foil movement in the machine, to get the "final" packaging you want.

Figures 2 to 4- show details of the film folding device 14 and the general way in which it works to wrap the cans in foil. The sleeve-like one Mechanism 14 is located in the machine next to an elongated plate assembly 32 in the bottom part of FIG Machine and gives a carrier for the cans, which come from the mentioned feeder through the middle of the Sleeve 14 and a corresponding support structure, for example a series of rollers 34 which are in the machine for the cans behind the sleeve and the film sealing device lie. This plate-like structure 32 is often in the shape of an inverted T, its opposite Leg parts 36 opposite horizontal supports for the individual rows of in the machine Surrendered cans. The middle, vertical track or leg portion 38 serves to hold the rows of Bushes in a distributed arrangement with respect to one another while being guided over the plate 32.

The sleeve mechanism includes a trapezoidal, horizontal running top plate 4o, which forms the main guide and folding element for the foil attached to the cans with its broad end behind the machine and with its opposite or smaller end At the end of it. Two plates are attached to this plate, which form the sides of the sleeve and on the opposite sides Edges of the plate-like carrier 32 run out. Each plate 42 has an outer foil

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guide bar 44 which is rotatably attached and is normally folded inwardly or pivoted against the associated plate to guide the film down the outer walls of the plates from the angled sides of the top plate 40. The plates 42 have leading edges, which are angled at 46 and fold the film part which is guided downwards on the outer surfaces of these plates by the aforementioned rods 44 which are directed inwardly into the center of the sleeve on the inner surfaces of the plates. Each of these plates carries a base or base plate 48 at its lower edge and extends under the plate-like support 32 from the opposite sides inwardly so that they form the bottom wall of the sleeve mechanism 14, the plate support 32 cantilevered in the machine forming a mounting block 5o which is on and below the is arranged front end portion of the carrier 32 so that the floor panels can extend inward En 48 serve to guide the overflowing parts of the film that goes into the sleeve at angled edges 46 of the side plates 42 under the sleeves. As shown in Figure 4, the panels 48 overlap one another at the center of the sleeve to provide a corresponding overlap between the opposite edges of the film as it is folded by the panels 48 under the cans. The sleeve mechanism also includes a horizontal intermediate plate 52 secured between the side plates 42 and used to receive the film from the leading edge of the top plate 40 and to guide the film over the top of the cans.

The mode of operation of the sleeve-like mechanism is described in detail in American patent specification 3> 418.31 described. A brief description is therefore sufficient. The slide in a continuous strip is on top of one

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or several rolls of stock to the machine belong, and is "at 54" from the bottom of the panel through appropriate arrangements and guide rollers 56, the film supply roll a. 54- are assigned via the Plate guided or pulled along the sleeves in one movement in the opposite direction to the machine. The middle part of the foil folds and falls over the smaller front ade of the plate 4o downwards and becomes in the sleeve neahanism along the underside of the diaphragm plate 52 out, whereby the upper part of foil tube results. During this time, the side panels the film over the angled sides of the top plate 4o down and between the folding side bars 44 and the side plate !! 42 led down and run wet down along the outer surface. This I foil parts may go over the pointed or angled edges 46 of the side panels 42 and along the inner surfaces inside and thus form the opposite sides of the foil tube, Then the protruding film parts move over the edges 46 and in the middle of the ■ passage Sleeve mechanism over the inner surfaces of the floor panels 48 and thus result in the bottom of the foil tube, whereby the? film overhang an overlapping of the film edges on the Bottom of the foil tube causes. So at this point it is the body section of the JOlienröhr® looks like the plate-like one Support 32 for the cans and the bottom plates 48 of the sleeve mechanism 14 limited.

The spring is generally supported by the sleeve mechanism by side push chains or the like (not shown) pulled, which attack the foil tube and the liner unit, when it comes out of the sleeve mechanism, and are driven by a main drive of the machine and thus keep the unit in constant motion in the machine. It is therefore necessary to pass the foil through by hand

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to place the sleeve mechanism 14 in the starting position of the machine. Once this has happened, it has happened the! Folding of the film completely automatically. To this film threading To facilitate, the whole sleeve mechanism in the machine can be adjusted in height adjustable straps (not shown) are held that the mechanism over the machine for convenient Raise the access far enough to insert the film. The base or bottom plates of the sleeve can also be attached to the respective side panels 42 so that the panels 48 for easier access to the center of the sleeve can be opened when lifting over the machine.

In a preferred embodiment, there is the film sealing device of two main components or parts, one of which is a closing head 58 with a Endless belt is that continuously and regulated heat to the 'overlapped edge parts of the foil strips from their underside dispenses when the can and tube assembly moves properly over the closure device. the other component or the other part of the! P ^ lienvar locking device is a backing plate means 6o attached to the overlapped film edge portions of the film tube attacks on the inner surface when this Kantecfceile Move over the seaming head, keeping the edge pieces in intimate contact during binding and seaming are together and held by the head. The capping head is placed directly in the base of the machine held at the rear end of the sleeve-like mechanism 14 by a mounting bracket 62, the head runs under the socket support structure 32 and to her is centered. The support or pressure plate 6c is guided on the one hand in the plate structure 32, which is in the middle Leg part 38 is housed in a corresponding slot 64 and out through the bottom of the slot.

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protrudes to the inner surface of the overlapping foil edge parts to attack in the manner mentioned.

It can thus be seen that the invention is a film sealing device concerns, which results in a good supporting effect for the foil part during the heating »Zur At the same time, the cans and the film applied there can be moved over the without disturbing the closing device Move the machine. '

The closing head is one in a special detail elongated block-like body part 66 with rollers 68, included, which is mounted at opposite ends in corresponding bearings. Around the rolls 68, 7o "Jaerum and an endless belt 72 extends between them a material with high conductivity, e.g. made of copper, with a non-adhesive Low friction material, e.g. Teflon, is provided. The band 72 is in contact with what is his corresponds to the upper barrel in the closing head, with a plate-shaped Heating element 76 fits into a duct section insulator 76 and is removably retained there as a unit will. The insulator 76 is in a groove or channel 78 on the upper surface of the block by two tight retaining strips 8o securely attached to the block by machine screws or other means. This construction shows the plate element as a construction with a blunt cross-section, with the narrow part pointing towards the band and so one better gives concentrated heating effect with respect to the tape. The retaining strips 8o have flattened inner edge parts that attack the pointed parts of the table and hold this firmly in the block part 66 of the closing head; The upper surfaces of the strips 8o are exactly below the upper surface of the table 74-> to ensure contact from belt to table over its entire length «

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The table is covered with appropriate resistance heating elements, for example a cartridge 82, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the table and results in even heating over the entire length of the table, which in turn results in "even heating of the belt when it is over the table Although Nig "i'ö *. particularly shown moved" is, but can be seen that the heating element 82 is suitably connected with two electrical leads from one end of Sieot5 / 3S 74 of an electrical distribution box. 84-jsriaufen attached to one side of the block. Electrical energy is supplied from a corresponding external energy source via lines (not shown) with a plug-in connection, as a result of which the circuit of the heating element 82 is closed. The electrical circuit for the rod or heating element must be provided with appropriate controls (not shown) so that electrical energy is supplied to the cartridge 82 and thus its temperature can be controlled from the main switchboard of the machine. Sum Se) iiitz against overheating the heater rod can be provided with a thermistor 85, which automatically interrupts the power to the heating element when the temperature of EIemsnts _s of each set temperature of the element is equal to or exceeds this.

The locking head 58 also includes a V-shaped E ¹ watch member 86 which serves to guide the overlapped edge portions of the linear tube into the band to improve the overall quality and strength of the resulting lock between the portions. The member 86 is guided in a horizontal plane along that which is guided to the front end of the locking head by an elongated arm 88 on one side of the block portion 66 of the head, with the lead to the block centered and theirs

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free ends extend outward and away from the block. The guide 86, as shown in Figure 5, lies in the horizontal plane of the tape itself so that the foil tube is guided to the sealing head, the lower part of which comes in equidistant contact with each side of the center through the free ends of the guide before it got around the tape. This results in a flattening or "flattening" of the film and ensures a wrinkle-free condition with the overlapped portions of the film tube, a condition which promotes the establishment of a firm, tight end seal in the film tube when it is passed over the tape ^ Z. The width of the guide is so great that the contact with the foil tube is effected outside the area of the foil overlap. However, this is not critical and in some cases a "reduced width guide is preferably used to bring the contact points on the foil closer to the center position with respect to the foil tube or head.

The closing head is, as mentioned, held by a bearing 62 in the base of the machine and, in a preferred form of the invention, is coupled by two pivot arms 9 ° »92 and can move between a higher position with the central heating band and in engagement with the Bottom of the foil tube of the can foil device 18 and pivoted into a lower position with the tape disengaged from the foil tube. The bearing 32 includes a channel-like main guide member 94- which is held in the base of the machine at a given lateral and vertical position to the liner support plate $ 2 by respective bolts passing through the flanges 96 of the member 94- and into corresponding fixed locations on the machine base are fitted. The flanges and the bolt mounting parts of the machine are preferably slotted so that the brackets 62 / and / or in longitudinal

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Direction in the machine base can be shifted and so a corresponding setting in the position of the closing head 58 to the holding plate 32 is effected.

The bracket 62 also includes a secondary guide member in the form of a plate 98 with the lower ends the arms 9o, 92 connected by pins 1oo and in a vertical edge-like position in the holder corresponding bolt is attached, which goes into the plate 98 from the side of the main retaining member 94-. The openings for receiving the bolts are enlarged or slots so that the plate 98 to the link 94 for the purpose of further adjustment of the locking head to the main canister holder plate can be adjusted. In this In this case, the setting is in the vertical direction, with only the bolt openings then being extended vertically or enlarged. The secondary member or the secondary plate 98 is through at its lower edge several threaded rods 1o2 taken vertically through go through the bottom of the main support member 94-. These Rods vertically in the bracket provide a precise adjustment of the plate 98 and are rotated into the link 94- with the main mounting bolts for plate 98 in a loose position to secure the To lower or raise the plate exactly to the holder as a whole. This thus enables vertical accuracy between the locking head 58 and the can holder plate 32 and thus between the head and the foil tube. The main fastening bolts for plate 98 are now sealed again, once the plate has been brought into the desired vertical position.

The pivot arms 9o, 92 are located on the inside of the plate 98 of the holder 62 distributed over one another in the longitudinal direction arranged and run from the bracket to

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above along a common side (the outside as in Figure 3) of the closing head for connecting via a still, facility to be described. The pivoting movement of the arms 90 »92 and thus of the closing head itself is controlled by a two-way air cylinder mechanism 1o4, which is in the bracket 62 by its cylinder part 1o6 held rotatably by a U-shaped support plate 1o8 wirdo The piston part 11o of the air cylinder 1o4 is pivotable with a lower extension 112, the rear forms a whole on one of the swivel arms, e.g. arm 92, connected by a linkage or a bearing 114, whereby an upward pivoting of the closing head 58 takes place when the air cylinder is in the stretched State of movement and in a downward movement of the head and the cylinder mechanism are in opposite or retracted state of its orbit. The stroke of the cylinder mechanism 1o4 is preferably adjustable, whereby the pivoting arc of the closing head 58 can be varied within given limits the respectively desired setting between the closing head and the can holder plate 32 and to the foil tube when the head is in its raised position. Then preferably the piston part 11ö of the air cylinder 1o4 rotated into the bearing 114, wherein a lock nut for securing the piston part in a fixed position relative to the linkage 114 is provided. At the special In the construction shown, the air cylinder mechanism is in a forward position to the rear Part of the swivel arm 92. The length of the closing head in which the cylinder mechanism is in its is in the fully extended position, it is adjusted downwards when the piston part is rotated further into the bearing while an opposite effect is produced when the piston part is further out of the bearing comes out. In this way it is possible to see the relative

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Adjustment of the closing head 58 to the can holder plate 32 and to the foil tube of the Büehsen-IOlieneinrichtung 18 to be regulated precisely.

The air ducts and the work regulations of the Luftaylinder 1o4 are not shown, but they can be "of a known type and can be chosen by the laughing man. Preferably, the control or operating circuit for the air cylinder includes push button switches that control the cylinder Turn on for selective retraction after pushing by hand by the operator. These switches are located in an easily accessible location on the machine so that the head can be quickly put in and out of operation Settings can be brought with respect to the film when the operation of the machine requires.

Capping head 58 includes several highly desirable ones Features that allow the head to operate more efficiently, such as an egg occluder in an application as described, which also significantly reduces the repair and / or maintenance of the closing head simplify. These features result from the description of the rollers 68, 7o in the block-like Part 66 of the closing head. As previously described, the rollers 68, 7o are in the opposite ends of block 66 are held in respective bearings and in a preferred embodiment these end portions are bifurcated Construction, which results in corresponding cuts for attaching the rollers. One of the roles ZoB. the illustrated roller 68 provides a drive for the belt 72 and is in the block 66 by means of a Bearing transverse shaft 116, which is fitted in conventional bearings in the slotted wall segments of the block end part. the Roller is keyed on shaft 116 so that it can rotate there. The shaft 116 goes from one side of the Blocks in another usual storage, the one in the upper

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End of the rear Sehwenkarmes 92 is carried, whereby the block is guided at its rear end. The drive for the set 88 "consists of a chain and the sprocket 118 which is keyed on the shaft 116 between the pivot arm 92 and the roller 68. A lower sprocket 12o is wedged with the pivot pin 1oo of the arm 25 in the vertical plane of the upper sprocket An endless precision chain 122 runs around the chain wheels 118 and 12o and between these "The pivot shaft 100 of the arm 92" is coupled via a further chain wheel and a further chain old to an unlocking power source 124 for the closing head ", which acts as an electronic gear - motQX · is shown in the base of the overall measure in FIG. 1. According to a special novelty of the invention "the? Drive 124 @ ia © n usual Sehn © llgangm © chaniesras 124 for the © continuous © belt movement 72 for eiao additionally © given duration ₉ the interruption of the operating or" Irr © g © The operation of the drive follows “'The continuous movement of the belt destroys the remaining heat of the Tiseaelemeat 74 over the entire length of the Baad® due to the inertia of the tendon duct and prevents local heating of the belt” because the belt movement over the The visual element 74 must be stopped immediately when the drive 124 is switched off. Without this precaution, the heat © of the table can result in premature failure of the heating tape or other damage if frequent replacement is necessary. The present improvement "significantly increases the service life of the belt and thus also the performance of the machine.

The other role 7o is an idle role and according to A special novelty of the invention is this bullet in the block so that it has a limited angular

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■ Moves with respect to the centerline of the mounting blocks to trim or finalize the heating tape to the block centerline and the sealing head and a longitudinal alignment between the tape and the edge portions of the oil tube. At the same time, the roller 7o provides limited longitudinal movement along the block, allowing it to be removed from the rollers 68, 7 & of the belt 72 should replacement or repair become necessary. The block 65 is then provided with a U-shaped bracket or yoke member 128 which is slidably received in horizontal slots 13o in the opposing or branched wall segments of the block. A mounting shaft 132 for the roller 7o, which is located in a mounted carrier on a conventional bearing 134- _B, is rotatably mounted at one end in a larger opening 136 in a leg or yoke by a pin 138 which extends vertically through the yoke and the Shaft passes through ... The other end of shaft 132 runs out through an opening 14o lsi adjacent leg of Joeh. The opening is enlarged in a longitudinal direction so that there is clearance for the horizontally rotating shaft around the vertical pin 138. On the side of the block 66, which is next to the fixed end of the shaft 132, is a locking head mounting plate 142, which forms a whole with an outwardly extending shaft 144 and terminates in the upper end of the front pivot arm 9o, whereby the carrier of the Closing head 58 is completed in the machine A bearing is provided in arm 9o to rotate shaft 144. The opposite side of block 66, which is adjacent to the rotatably movable end of shaft 132, has a C-shaped plate 146 The closed part of the plate directed towards the outer end of the corresponding slot 13o determines the outer stop for the yoke 128 and the central one

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open part of the plate is with the larger opening 14 · © in agreement and gives the crossing of the end, the mounting shaft 132 facing the pin 138 is located. The yoke itself is normally in one on the outer sliding part in block 66 by compression spring 148 axial internal unity I50- limited in the block $ where the Outside end of the spring sieve, with a spring guide 1fJ2 on rear part of the yoke 128 is engaged «,

The movable end of the mounting shaft 132 includes a Trimming device 154-> the one two-part rod 155 contains, the cross running end to the shaft 132 on the side of block 66 is provided * A first part 156 of the Rod 155 sat at one end in a corresponding one Slot in the free end of shaft 132 »being a slotted pin or another easily removable means dies® Keeps parts connected to each other. The opposite end of part 156 is threaded and by means of an internally threaded set screw or a similar one Link 158 with a second portion of the rod 155 connected, which is rotatable on an ear-like projection 162 is held on the side of the yoke by a simple bearing made by flanging the end of the Toils 16o and through an Ansats 162 with a blind one. Opening with a larger seat for the flange, part 16o can be made. The set screw 158 is on the "rope 16o attached in a corresponding manner so that they are gs & s-elit will. The first part 156 of the rod is from part 16o w @ g or moved to him, depending on the respective hicatung, in which the adjusting screw has been turned. When the part 156 is moved, the shaft 152 is jogged in a corresponding sighting over its fixed end in the yoke, what an angular shift in block 66 the idle role with respect to the longitudinal axis of the block and of the closing head as a whole. Bs there is therefore a ©

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Device for adjusting the angle of the idler roller in the block and the desired "trimming" of the heating band & Θ3 72 in the pigtail. Under optimal conditions, the rotation axis of the idler roller should run absolutely parallel to that of the drive roller 68, as the tape is sucked parallel in the head absolutely parallel to its longitudinal axis. When the head itself is properly positioned in the machine, the result of this is that the tape will coincide entirely and loosely with the overlapping edge portions of the film tube, if tape and tube are constantly moved along with one another. This is essential in order to obtain a properly centered high strength seal in the film "lined up and in the final package that will be formed from it. With the present construction, the parallelism of the axes of rotation of the Holloa can be maintained. A deviation from this parallelism as a result of such things as acraale Beteiebsabautzen Bssiies or the storage for the Hellen can easily be. In practice, the divergeaa between shoulds will normally be rather small, vm.a the coordination through the Tristm mechanism 15 ^ will be more than sufficient for the necessary correction. In order to ensure correct guidance of the band, the rollers 68, 7o are preferably built up with a light crown «

The aforementioned mounting of the idler roller 70 has the advantage that, in addition to removing the tape 72, it is only necessary to first remove the pin holding the file 156 of the trimmer 154 on the mounting shaft 132 and then remove the tape by hand from the rollers can be seen while pressing the roll in the block against the bias of the spring 148 with the other hand.

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are set. The ease with which the tape was removed and can be used is of particular importance insofar as the maintenance of the capping head is concerned relates to and a particular advantage of the invention. The support or pressure plate 60 is in a slot 64 in middle vertical leg 38 of the socket retainer plate 32 and passes through the lower end of the slot through and results in the desired support or binding pressure of the lOlienkantenteile when these over the Going capping head. The plate, in a preferred example of the invention, is an entire construction, e.g. produced by bending a sheet of metal into the shape held with a small amount of clearance between the the double rear center portions of the sheet metal and the desired slot 64 for the support plate 60 results. One or more approaches can be made in one piece with the metal sheet and the opposing ones Sides of the central leg 38 with another connect after bending "

The support plate 60 itself consists of a blade or knife-like construction and is guided in the slot ent-Tang the rear end of the plate 32 with little play, which is located between the plate 60 and the slot and walls of the central leg 38 results in the facilitate vertical sliding of the support plates. The support plate is held in the leg 38 by an elongated, curved arm member 164 which extends along the slot from the front end of the plate 32, the inner end of the arm being provided with an extension 166 which extends into a correspondingly shaped groove 168 is fitted in the upper edge of the plate Jo and holds it in place. The arm 164 is attached to the socket retainer plate 32 by a pivot pin 17o which is inserted transversely through the leg 38, whereby a

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vertical pivoting movement of the arm and the corresponding sliding movement of the support plate 4m middle leg of the Büchsenhaiteplatte 32 results. The arm 164 · is attached to a Pin 17o pivoted by an air cylinder 172, the on the angle plate 174 under the front end of the Can holder plate 32 is located and by a bracket 175 at the outer end of the piston 176 of the cylinder mechanism to an extension 178 at the end of the arm is that the arm on its pivot pin I70 with every movement of the cylinder can swing freely

In operation, the support plate 60 is normally in place in the lower sliding position in the holding plate 32, the lower edge of the plate 60 through the bottom of the Slit passes through it and, in the state of rest, grips the film from its inner surface when it passes over the sealing head to be led. When the plate 60 is in the. upper position is located on the leg 38, its lower Edge brought out of contact with the foil. These movements can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy Adjusting the stroke of the cylinder mechanism 172 or the Mechanism itself for its support, as already described in connection with the cylinder 1o4, regulated will. The air pressure in cylinder 172 can easily be regulated in this way be that it regulates the pressure so that it brings the support plate 60 into engagement with the film, whereby Sufficient pressure on the film with the relatively free movement of the film along the sealing head and the edge of the plate 60 coincides. A corresponding control circuit can be used with the cylinder mechanism 172 its movements from a distant place cause and contains a manually operated switch with which the machinist the position of the support plate 7o to Slide regulates.

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In the preferred construction, the bottom edge of the .... Support plate with an insert 18o made of material e.g. Teflon, which reduces the tendency of the film to stick to the plate edge? at the same time, the friction between the film and the plate is reduced to the lowest possible value. In the illustrated Construction, the Teflon insert has the shape of a strip and is made into one by friction of the insert ingen slot 182 held in the lower edge of the support plate. Also to stabilize the holding arm 164 and the Support plate 7o in slot 13o can have correspondingly shaped spacers or guide plates 184 inside the Leg 38 be attached, one of these plates in the upper part of the leg parallel to the support arm and a second plate under the arm on the lower End of the leg is located.

To remove the support plate 6o from the liner holding plate 32, the air cylinder 172 has a residual stroke in one of the directions of movement when the support plate 6o from the can holder plate in the normal foil gripping and operative position in plate 32 is of a size that the inner end of arm 164 is below the lower edge the plate 32 drops when the air cylinder is in in the fully pulled or depressed position, as this can be possible.

If the arm is in this position, the support plate 6o can simply be removed from the side of the arm in order to pull the extension 166 off at its inner edge. The support plate 6o can thus be removed from the bushing holding plate for repairing or replacing the Teflon insert 18o can be easily removed. The plate itself does not need to be lifted off. The closing head 58 must be in its lower, ineffective pivot position in the

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Machine to be brought so that the support plate removed can be.

In the particular arrangement shown in which the air cylinder 172 is retracted when the support plate 60 is in the working position in the rifle plate 32, the support arm 164 falls in the plate 32 for removing the support plate by the cylinder mechanism 172 is fully withdrawn. this happens simply by releasing all the air from the cylinder. The control circuit of the cylinder normally contains a corresponding control that enables such deflation.

In operation of the improved film sealing device of the invention, the sealing head 58 will normally by the associated cylinder device 1o4 in a raised position held in the machine, the drive of the belt by the drive motor 124 keeping the belt in constant motion on the plate-like element 74 of the closing head holds. The heating element 80 of the table is then shown in ■ similarly switched on to continuously heat the tape and the foil, which is constantly over the head emotional.

The support plate 60 is then slid in a lower sliding position in the canister plate 32 by its actuator 172 held, whereby the Teflon insert I80 runs under the plate and engages the film, which is under such pressure it is avoided that any wrinkles between the individual film parts and between the film and the Capping head can be eliminated to ensure a uniform permanent bond between them.

The band of the closing head is centered in operation directly to the center line of the can holder plate, so that

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3 U H, H 4 Π / 0 5 2 5

it exactly matches the overlapping edge portion of the foil tube and thereby provides a closure which has maximum strength and aesthetic appearance. Any deviation from the exact tape-foil position which may occur at the start or during operation as a result of wear and tear or other irregularities in the head or the machine is corrected by correctly adjusting the "trim" mechanism 154-. This setting can be made without removing the capping head from the machine, which is a considerable advantage » _;

When the machine is stopped, e.g. if the film tears or another irregularity in one part _: the machine, the actuator 1o4- of the sealing head leaves. 58 move the head out of contact with the film during manual operation, so that undesired scorching or ■ -.- ■ ;; Burning of the foil tube is avoided. When re-entering. When the machine is switched on, the capping head is returned to its normal working position. ..'-..-. . ,

A sealing head or a device has been described here, that of a film packaging machine. _: , a highly qualified lock that attaches to a book _{; :} or another object applied film both -. ^, - · ..-, ■ in terms of strength as well as the appearance = of can produce. The heat sealing device de- ■■ · -. holds several different settings _y the easily the. Align the individual parts exactly to the foil tube in order to achieve a. to give the best sealing. An important feature of the film sealing device is that it is easy to operate, so that most of the parts can be removed for repair or replacement, with the sealing device remaining in the machine. These additional features of the film sealing device

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give better use and an economic advantage in film packaging machines.

summary

In a continuously operating packaging machine with wrapping of the objects to be packaged in film a sleeve-like mechanism places a continuous strip of film or tape in a continuous and tubular manner around the objects that are fed through the machine in two adjacent longitudinal rows, whereby these objects are wrapped in a foil tube with opposing, overlapping free edge parts, which run along the tube and the rows of objects. A closing device for the overlapped Edge parts of the foil tube contains a sealing head with a movable belt that moves in the direction of movement the items in the machine are behind the sleeve mechanism. The band portion of the head reaches up directed and perpendicular in the longitudinal direction on the underside of the overlapped foil edge parts and causes when passing through the head their regulated and continuous heating. The locking device contains a support or pressure plate which is located immediately above a solid plate-shaped member, the the items during wrapping and sealing the foil carries and opposite flanges for carrying the separate rows of objects and a U-shaped Contains track part that serves as a housing for the support plate. The track is open to the ground and engages to the inner or upper surface of the overlapped edge portions of the foil tube as they move past it. The closing head and the support plate are in the machine in the vertical direction between the

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Claims (1)

2322648 A-T-O Wllloughby / Ohio - USA Claims ^! Packaging machine with wrapping objects in foil, like cans, with a film folding device that surrounds a continuous film strip in a tubular shape the objects lays when they are pushed past the facility and so an elongated one Form tubular envelope, characterized in that the foil tube (16) in the longitudinal direction of the Machine and the rows of objects runs and their longitudinal free edge parts on Bottom of the tube (16) lie side by side, the device behind the film folding device in the direction of movement (14) with respect to the movement of the objects in the machine is a continuous interval between the adjacent edge parts of the foil tube (16) when the tubes and Objects are combined from the film folding device (14) that a heating device (22) for the film contains an endless belt which is guided over a fixed heating element (74) and with this heating element forms a unit in the vertical plane between a raised working position in which the endless Tape (72) directly heat to the underside of the foil edge parts over a given length of the foil tube (14), and a lower, inoperative position can be pivoted, from which the band (72) is brought out of the heat transfer layer with the foil edge parts and that a support plate (6o) exerts pressure on the foil edge parts during contact with the heating device lays, with the plate above and immediately opposite the heater between the lower position in contact with the upper surface of the edge portions over -36- 309846/0525 a given length of foil tube and an upper inoperative position is guided by these foil edge parts free is. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the endless belt (72) of the heater (22) between rollers (68, 7o) in opposite ends of a mounting block (66) is held, with one of the rollers mounted in a fixed bearing and with a drive for continuous movement of the belt (72) in block (66) is coupled, and the other roller in a block in mounted on a spherical bearing and guided at an angle around a fixed point in a horizontal plane, which contains a horizontal axis of the first roller, and that the angular position of the second roller in the mounting block so. is set that an inaccuracy of the longitudinal alignment of the rollers (68, 7 °) in the block (66) against each other will be annulled. 3 · Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second roller (7o) moves limited along the mounting block (66) and that a preload the roller in the outermost position in the block with respect to the first-mentioned block, the limited movement of the roller being the It can be removed and inserted into the block of the endless belt. 4. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate (6o) is held in a housing in the form of an inverted T, which forms a support for the objects during their movement through the sleeve-like device (14 ·) and an elongated, sheet-like one Limb that _s i vertically on the edge im. middle vertical leg part of the housing is located and with the film edge parts over an elongated -37- 309846/05 2 5 brought into engagement opening in the bottom of the leg can be" 5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the backing plate (60) also has a long strip of low friction material releasably attached to the Lower edge of the sheet-like member is held. 6. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the sheet-like member is carried on an arm which in the middle leg of the embossing plate from a solid Support at the front end of the plate goes in, and that the arm can rotate on the support, whereby the sheet-like member is brought into and out of engagement with and from the edge portions of the foil tube (14) can. 7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two separate rows of enveloped Objects are guided over the plate in a tube made of plastic film, which runs along the lower part of the oil tube (14) and under the plate in the shape of an inverted T, which is a sleeve-like Means above the plate at its front end with respect to the direction of movement of the objects in the machine and consists of a series of plates that work together, forming a continuous Foil strips downwards and tube-like around successive, objects guided by the device, the sleeve-shaped device being opposite Contains floor panels that extend inwardly under the carrier panel and the opposite edge parts of the film strip under the objects and in mutually overlapping places in the middle part of the Objects lying in two rows lead to one -38- 309846/0525 - 58 - Foil sealing device engages the overlapped edge parts of the foil envelope and a continuous Closing causes when the film envelope and objects emerge from the sleeve-like device, wherein the film sealing device (5S) contains a heater, with an endless belt, which is below the centered point is held to the support plate for the objects and attacks on the edge parts from one side and heats them when the film envelope and the objects from the sleeve-shaped device emerge, and that a support plate (60) above and immediately opposite the Heating device (22) engages the edge parts and regulated pressure from the film sealing device on the opposite side when the film envelope and objects emerge from the sleeve-shaped device, wherein the support plate is located in a slot in the central vertical .Schenkelteil the support plate and the slot is open to the bottom and engages the panel with the foil edge portions. 8β arrangement according to claim 7 * characterized in that the heater is an elongated block-like arrangement with one fixed heating element and one on top Roll (68, 7o) guided endless belt (72) is on held opposite ends and in contact with the heating element (74) and a lower path through an upper path Return path is guided, and that the heating element on arm-like supports vertically between an upper layer, in which the endless belt is in contact with the edge parts, causing regulated heating is, and a lower position is pivoted vertically, in which the tape is at a distance from the edge parts, one of the arms being connected to an actuator and being pivotable about the heater . -39- 309846/0525 between the upper and the lower layer to the ΙΌϋβητ to lead edge parts. 9. Arrangement according to claim 7 »characterized in that the support plate (6o) in the middle leg part of the support plate vertically by an elongated arm vertically "is moved into this plate from a solid support extends to and under the front end of the plate so that the arm connected to an actuator is the support plate regulates and slides in the support plate. Ίο. Arrangement according to claim 9> characterized in that that the lower edge of the backing plate is covered with a removable wear strip of low friction material is provided that does not stick to the plastic film and so the movement of the JPolie / jair support plate during the working of the]? olienvers9nl3 $ ßejL £ direction facilitated. 309846/0 525