EP0239738B1 - Device for feeding lids to a continuously operating container-closing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for feeding covers to a continuously operating container closing machine. The device makes it possible continuously to feed covers to closure tools which revolve in a circular path and during their rotary movement descend, for the closing, onto containers moved past below the closing station, so that the closure tools place and close the covers on the containers. For the transfer of the covers, a cover guide path is moved over a certain region of the rotary movement of the closure tool synchronously and in alignment with the closure tools so that the covers can be delivered during this phase to the closure tool.

Description

The invention relates to a device for loading a continuously operating container closing machine with lids, the lids being fastened to the containers with the aid of at least one closing tool, which rotates on a tool carrier in a circular path while maintaining a horizontal orientation of the lower surface of the tool.

Such a device is e.g. B. from GB-PS-923 741 known. In this publication, a continuously operating container closing machine is described, wherein closing tools are moved in a rotating tool carrier arranged above the transport path on a circular path. The closing tools are positively guided so that the bottom surfaces of the tools remain horizontally aligned. The individual tools periodically lower themselves onto the individual containers that are conveyed under the rotating tool carrier and thereby fasten cover foils on the containers. In this known device, the lid foils are loosely attached to the containers in a separate lid station. The lid station lies in front of the rotating tool carrier when viewed in the transport direction. In this station, a cover film tape is pulled off a cover film supply roll. With the aid of a cutting device, cover film sections are separated from the film web and placed more or less loosely on the containers transported through the cover station. The containers then move on to the closing station, where a closing tool lowers and the covers are then folded over, for example, around a horizontally projecting container edge.

This known device has several disadvantages. Firstly, it is disadvantageous that the lid films can initially only be placed loosely on the containers and then have to be conveyed over a certain conveying path to the actual closing station. This relatively large conveying path already harbors the risk of the covers slipping, but is also disadvantageous in particular in view of the relatively large space requirement of the overall device that this entails.

A further disadvantage of this known system is that the closing tools, which sink onto the containers loosely provided with the lids, can also cause displacements of the loosely deposited film with respect to the container when the containers are received, so that the devices with relatively large projections can be used for these devices Cover films must work over the edges of the containers to ensure that the containers are completely covered in any case when closing.

On the basis of this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset, which makes it possible to precisely and economically place accurately placed lids on the containers for closing and which enables a compact construction of the entire closing machine.

This object is achieved in that a cover guide track is provided which is arranged so that it can be pivoted in the same direction over a transfer pivoting area of the closing tool and in alignment with cover guides on the closing tool, and in that a cover feed device is provided which moves the cover when passing through the transfer pivoting area pushes out of the mouths of the Dekkef guide track into the cover guides on the closing tool.

According to these features, the invention thus provides that the closing tools are provided with lids of a suitable size during their circulation on the tool carrier by inserting them into lid guides attached to the closing tools for this purpose. The closing tools then lower the lids themselves onto the containers, so that the containers are thus provided with the lids directly at the point of closure. Since the closing tools themselves position the lids on the containers, there can be no shifts on any intermediate transport routes. Since the cover guide track of the transfer device carries out a pivoting movement aligned with the cover guides on the closing tool over a certain transfer pivoting area, there is therefore sufficient time available to insert the covers into the cover guides on the closing tool without the circumferential closing tools having to be stopped. This allows fast and continuous loading of the closing tools.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to fasten both prefabricated lids and lids which have only been manufactured in the device precisely and simply in a continuous movement with the aid of the closing tools on continuous containers. Since the lid feed or loading is carried out spatially in the area of the closing station, the entire sealing machine can be made compact.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the cover guide track is part of a swivel frame which is attached to a fixed support via parallel pendulum arms, that the pivot axes of the pendulum arms on the carrier side lie in a horizontal plane with the axis of rotation of the tool carrier, and that the effective length W of the pendulum arms corresponds to the radius R of the circular path of the closing tool. This configuration enables the cover guide track to pass through a swivel area with a swivel radius in a pendulum movement in the same direction, which corresponds to the radius of the circular path of the closing tool. This allows the alignment of the cover guide track to be aligned in a simple manner to the cover guides on the closing tool over the transfer swivel area.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that a cutting device is arranged in the cover guide track with which individual cover film sections are separated from a cover film track. The cutting device makes it possible to separate cover film material drawn off from a cover film supply roll into film sections each of a size required for a cover, and then to insert these film sections into the cover guides on the closing tool. However, such a cutting device is not required if the loading takes place with already prefabricated lids.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that embossing elements are arranged in the cutting device, which produce offset end profiles on the cover film web and on the separated film section during the cutting process in the width direction. With such embossing elements it is achieved that the separated film section is pushed out of the cover film track from the cover guide track into the cover guides on the closing tool during the passage through the transfer pivoting area, without separate feed or drive elements having to be present for this. The end profiles ensure that the cover film web and the separated film section do not slide over one another, but instead abut one another at the separating edge so that the desired pushing out is reliably achieved.

The profile elements can be arranged in such a way that the end profiling on the cover film web and on the film section point in the same direction. While in principle it is also possible to have the end profiles on the cover film web and on the film section point in different directions, an equidirectional profile prevents the cover film web and film section from sliding over one another after separation.

In order to obtain a clean, wrinkle-free embossing of the forehead profile after separating the Dedcel film web and the film section, a further embodiment of the invention provides for one side of the embossing elements, preferably the die side, to be made from a rubber-elastic material. When using such a material, a smooth, unprofiled pressing surface is sufficient in itself.

A further embodiment of the invention provides for the cover guideway from the cutting device to the mouth to be designed as a film bed formed from individual bars. The bars, which are arranged next to each other across the width of the film web and at two levels one above the other to create a guide gap, prevent the separated film sections from twisting or sticking when being pushed out and transferred into the cover guide on the closing tool. A suitable choice of the guide gap height, which is dimensioned only slightly higher than the cover film, also ensures that the end profiles reliably cause the pushing out, even if the film should sag a little downward or protrude upward in some areas of its cross section.

A modified embodiment of the invention provides that the cover guide track has upper and lower guide elements to form a guide gap starting behind the cutting device in the feed direction, which are designed such that the guide gap extends in a zigzag shape in the width direction. In this development, the above-described embossing of the cut edges in the area of the cutting device with the aid of embossing elements provided specifically for this purpose can be omitted. Also, the knife used in the cutting device need not have a cut adapted to the profiles. After the entry into the guideway, the cover film is shaped in a wave or zigzag shape, so that after the cut has been made, a horizontally facing front edge of the cover film path then abuts a zigzag rear edge of the cover film section. As a result, the subsequent film web reliably pushes the cut off lid film section further in the guideway. If, during the feed movement, the cover film web is also pushed so far into the guideway that it has passed through a first enlarged inlet mouth area, it also deforms in a zigzag shape, but nevertheless reliably pushes the cut off cover film section further, because due to the tension in the material constant contact with the parts of the guide elements causing the zigzag shape is ensured, so that the abutting edges cannot slide over or under each other.

Solid profiled guide plates, offset round rods or also guide plates with mutually projecting profile ribs can be provided as guide elements.

Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a clamping device acting on the cover sheet is provided, which is arranged to be vertically displaceable relative to the swivel frame, but is non-displaceable horizontally. When this clamping device is actuated when the transfer pivoting area is reached, it holds the film web firmly, so that the film web executes a relative movement to the pivoting frame when pivoting the same. This relative movement can then be used to push out the film section separated at the cutting station with the help of the end profiles and at the same time to introduce a new piece of film web for the next film section into the cover guideway. The clamping device thus allows together with the profiling elements, a simple implementation of a cover feed device.

With the help of another clamping device that can be swiveled horizontally and vertically with the swivel frame, it is also possible to pull film web material from the cover film supply roll by appropriate actuation if the swivel frame moves from a rear end position reached after passing through the transfer area to the starting point for transfer to a closing tool becomes.

A further development of the invention also provides that a drive for the swivel frame is provided which moves the swivel frame in the same direction when passing through the transfer swivel area with the corresponding rotational speed of the tool and which swivels the swivel frame away from the tool at a higher speed after passing through the transfer swivel area. This drive, which makes it possible to swing the swivel frame out of the movement path of the closing tool after passing through the transfer area at a greater speed in order to enable its free further movement, can be derived, for example, from a curve, cam disc or the like, which in turn, by means of a push rod Depending on the set number of cycles and thus the set rotational speed of the closing tools is driven. As a result, the movements of the swivel frame are synchronized with the rotational movements of the closing tool.

An alternative embodiment provides that the cover guide track for passing through the transfer pivoting area is brought into contact with the cover guides of the closing tool and driven against the force of a spring by means of the rotating tool. This solution eliminates the need for a separate drive because the swivel frame is swiveled by the locking tools themselves. The spring ensures that the mouth of the cover guideway lies securely on the closing tool. Passing through a second swivel range after completion of the transfer at a higher speed can be carried out in this connection with control bars which rotate with the rotating tool carrier and, by suitable coupling with the swivel frame, thus control its movements synchronized with the rotary movement of the closing tools.

After the tool has left the coupling area with the cover station, the latter returns to the starting position by spring force - but equipped with a damping device - in order to transfer the next cover into the next tool.

• Figur 1 zeigt im Ausschnitt eine Verschließmaschine mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Beschickungsvorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht,
• Figur 2 zeigt in einem vergrößerten Ausschnitt die Beschickungsstation in Seitenansicht,
• Figur 3 zeigt die Schneidevorrichtung im Schnitt,
• Figur 4 zeigt einen Schnitt entlang der Linie IV - IV der Figur 3,
• Figur 5 zeigt in einer perspektivischen Ansicht die an den Folienschnittkanten erzeugten wechselseitigen Profilierungen,
• Figur 6 zeigt eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform im Schnitt der entlang der Linie IV - IV der Figur 3 mit einseitiger Profilierung an den Folienschnittkanten,
• Figur 7 zeigt die mit der Ausführungsform nach Figur 6 erhaltenen Profilierungen,
• Figur 8 ist ein Schnitt durch die Schneidevorrichtung entlang der Linie VIII - VIII der Figur 3,
• Figur 9 ist ein Schnitt durch die Schneidevorrichtung entlang der Linie IX - IX der Figur 3,
• Figur 10 zeigt eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Deckelführungsbahnmitschneidestation,
• Figur 11 zeigt einen Schnitt entlang der Linie A - B der Figur 10,
• Figur 12 zeigt eine im Hinblick auf die Führungselemente gemäß Figur 10 abgewandeltes Ausführungsbeispiel durch die Deckelführungsbahn im Schnitt,
• Figur 13 zeigt ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Führungselemente im Schnitt,
• Figuren 14 und 14a zeigen den Verlauf der Deckeffolienbahn vor dem Schnitt vor und nach dem Einlauf in die von den Führungselementen gemäß Figuren 12 -13 gebildeten Führungsbahn,
• Figuren 15 und 15a zeigen die Deckelfolie und die Form des Deckelfolienabschnitts nach dem Schnitt und
• Figuren 16 bis 19 zeigen die Beschickungsvorrichtung in unterschiedlichen Phasen der Übergabe von Deckelfolienabschnitten an das Schließwerkzeug.

In the following the invention is further explained and described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawing.

• FIG. 1 shows a detail of a closing machine with a loading device according to the invention in a side view,
• FIG. 2 shows an enlarged section of the loading station in a side view,
• FIG. 3 shows the cutting device in section,
• FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the mutual profiles created on the film cut edges,
• FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment in section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 with one-sided profiling on the film cut edges,
• FIG. 7 shows the profiles obtained with the embodiment according to FIG. 6,
• FIG. 8 is a section through the cutting device along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 9 is a section through the cutting device along the line IX-IX of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 10 shows a modified embodiment of the cover guideway cutting station,
• FIG. 11 shows a section along the line A - B of FIG. 10,
• FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment, modified with regard to the guide elements according to FIG. 10, through the cover guide track in section,
• FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the guide elements in section,
• FIGS. 14 and 14a show the course of the cover film web before the cut before and after the entry into the guide path formed by the guide elements according to FIGS. 12-13,
• FIGS. 15 and 15a show the cover film and the shape of the cover film section after the cut and
• FIGS. 16 to 19 show the loading device in different phases of the transfer of cover film sections to the closing tool.

In Figure 1, a container closing machine 1 is shown, which is equipped with a loading device 2 according to the invention.

The container closing machine has a closing station, generally designated 5, to which individual open containers 3, for example filled with foodstuffs, are fed in succession with the aid of a conveyor belt 4. The containers are moved continuously by the closing machine 1 and closed at the closing station 5 during their passage.

In the closing station 5, closing tools 6 and 7 on the arms of the closing tool carrier 8 designed as a rotating wing are deflected in a circular path K around a central shaft 9. During its circulation on the circular path, the loading device transfers 2 cover film sections to the individual closing tools. The closing tools then lower onto the containers and close them. The closing process itself does not require any further explanation here. It should only be noted that, for closing, lower tools can also be suitably introduced to the containers, which then work together with the closing tools 6 and 7 in such a way that, for example, a crimp closure under high pressure or a sealing closure is produced.

The loading device 2 according to the exemplary embodiment shown has a swivel frame 11, which is suspended with the aid of pendulum arms 12 relative to a fixed support 19 fastened to a frame 13, swinging around a certain swivel range. This pivot frame carries a Dedcelführungsbahn 20, which is periodically pivoted into the circular path K of the closing tool 7 or 6 by the pivoting movement of the pivot frame and is moved in the same direction on the circular path in the same orientation to the lid guides 30 formed on the tool surfaces during a cover transfer phase.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, prefabricated lids are not used, but a cover film web 15, for example a metal film, is pulled off a cover supply roll 14, the cover film web being finally secured via a fixed roller system 16, a dancer roller system 17 and other suitable guide rollers via a deflection roller 18 on the swivel frame is deflected and conveyed in the direction of the cover guide track 20.

Suitable film sections, each required for the closure of a container, are separated from this cover film web 15 with the aid of the cutting device 28 to be explained in more detail and transferred into the closing tools 6 and 7, respectively.

The loading station is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

On the frame 13, on which the fixed support 19 of the swivel frame 11 is attached, a clamping device 25 is also arranged. When actuated, the clamping device can hold the cover film web in such a way that it can no longer move horizontally with respect to the clamping device. The clamping device 25 is itself horizontally immovable, but vertically displaceably attached to the frame 13 via the guide rod 26. At the end of the tool holder, the swivel frame merges into (a structural unit or) a holder 35 in which a further clamping device 29 and a cutting device 28 are arranged. A cover guide track 20 leads away from the cutting device 28 and, with its mouth 22 in the position shown, runs in alignment and in a horizontal orientation to the tool underside of the closing tool 7 with the cover guides 30 attached there. The closing tools 6 and 7 are each mounted in the closing tool carrier at a distance R (radius of the circular path K) in such a way that the lower tool surfaces and thus also the cover guides always run horizontally. The effective length W of the pendulum arms 12, with which the swivel frame 11 is fastened relative to the fixed support 19, corresponds to the radius R of the rotating closing tools. The axes 23 of the pendulum arms 12 lie in a common horizontal plane ME with the central shaft 9 of the tool carrier. This design and the parallelogram-like suspension of the swivel frame has the result that the transfer pivoting areas 21 can be traversed in the same direction by the swivel bearings 32 of the swivel frame on the one hand and by the bearing point of the closing tool 7 and the cover guide track 20 is moved synchronously and in alignment with the cover guides 30. During this synchronously passed transfer pivoting area, a cover film section 31, which has been separated from the cover film web 15 at the cutting station 28, can then be transferred into the cover guide 30 of the closing tool 7 or of the closing tool 6 when it has reached the corresponding position. The synchronous drive for the rotational movement of the closing tool of the pivoting movement of the swivel frame is effected in the illustrated embodiment with the aid of a push rod 24 which engages one of the pendulum arms 12, which in turn by means of suitable drive elements with the drive M (see FIG. 1), which also drives the tool carrier in a manner not shown, is coupled.

The cutting device 28 is now explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3. The cutting device is accommodated in the holder 35 and has a vertically movable upper knife 33 and a lower knife 34 fixed in the holder and suitably offset with respect to the upper knife. By lowering the upper knife, the cover film web is cut through at the interface. A profiling strip 36, which is arranged below the through-path of the cover film, is assigned to the upper knife 33, while the pressure pieces 37 are assigned to the lower knife 34 as a counter bearing. Both the profiling strip 36 and the pressure pieces 37 are supported by springs 38. The profiling strip 36, the pressure pieces 37 and profiling recesses 43 and 44, which are introduced into the cutting edges of the upper and lower knives, produce forehead profiles 41 and 42 on the separated cover film section 31 on the one hand and on the film web 15 on the other hand during the cutting.

The profiles are different in two Chen embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, the end profiling is carried out in such a way that profilings 41 and 42 offset in the width direction arise, the profiling in the cover film section 31 pointing upwards, while in the cover film web 15 it points downwards (see FIG. 5). . In a further embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the profiles 41 and 42 in the cover film web or the cover film section point to the same side. From FIGS. 4 and 6 in particular it can also be seen that the cover guide track is formed by individual rods 39 and 40 arranged at a distance from one another and forming a guide shaft of height H. The guide gap H (see FIG. 4) is chosen only slightly larger than the thickness of the cover film, so that the cover film web cannot slide over the separated cover film section. Rather, the profiles can be used to reliably push out the separated cover film section. The solution according to FIG. 6 has been found to be particularly advantageous because it can also cause the separated film section to be pushed on even if it sag in parts of a cross section or protrude upwards.

10 to 15a, alternative embodiments for the configuration of the cover guide track with the cutting device are explained below. In these alternative embodiments, knives are used that are not specially profiled, but instead perform smooth cuts. The reliable feed is ensured in that the guide gap 49 following the cutting device 28 is designed in a zigzag shape. This is done according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11 by vertically offset lower and upper round rods 39 ', 40', in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 12 by upper and lower profiled guide plates 45, 46 and in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 13 in a similar manner Reached guide plates 47 and 48 with mutually projecting profile ribs 47a, 48a. Immediately behind the cutting device 28, in all of the exemplary embodiments (this is only shown for the round bars in FIG. 10), an expanded inlet mouth 50 is provided, which reliably guides the incoming film web into the guide gap 49.

FIG. 14 shows, with the omission of a representation of the upper and lower guide elements, a cover film web 15 advanced between these elements in front of and behind the cutting device, even before the cut is made. As can be seen from the sectional illustration in FIG. 14 a (the round bars 39 ′, 40 ′ are shown there), the cover film web 15 in the area of the knife is still almost non-profiled and then goes between the guide rods in the not yet separated, more profiled cover 31 over. After the cutting knife cut has been made, the cut off lid foil section 31 assumes the shape which can be seen in FIGS. 15 and 15a. Corresponding to the profiling by the guide elements (in this case the round rods 39 ', 40'), the area of the cover immediately behind the separating knife arrangement at the level of the inlet opening 50 also has a profiling due to the elasticity of the material (metal foil), but in a weakened form, accepted.

When the cover film web 15 is shifted during the next work cycle, its initially straight end edge meets the profiled end edge of the cover 31, which is thereby pushed further in the guideway. After the end edge of the cover film web 15 has passed the inlet opening 50 between the round bars 39 ', 40', it is profiled itself and in the further course of the advance also the subsequent parts. Because the film resists deformation due to its elasticity (resilience), it will lay tightly against the round bars 39 ', 40' (or the parts of the guide plate which cause the zigzag shape) and is therefore able to to push the cover film section 31 in front of it without it sliding under or over the cover 31.

Sliding under or over the film sections is avoided in particular by the fact that the film sections have the same horizontal position in a sufficient number of points within their thickness dimension due to the tensioning zigzag guide. It is clear that the guide elements are arranged so that the center line of the zigzag gap lies at the level of the horizontal plane of the cover film web entering the cutting device 28.

The feed would also be achievable by a flat guide gap that is no further than the foils are thick. However, such a construction would be more complex and probably more prone to failure in operation.

The mode of operation of the loading device will now be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 19. FIG. 16 shows (just like FIG. 2) the starting position of the transfer process of a cover film section 31 which has already been separated from the cover film web 15 by the cutting device 28 (shown in dashed lines in the figures). The cutting device 28 is now open, as is the clamping device 29. In contrast, the clamping device 25 is closed. The pendulum arms 12 are in a front end position VE. The closing tool 7 located on its circular path counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow P has reached a possible starting point S for the lid transfer. In this position, the cover guide track 20 is aligned with the cover guides 30 of the closing tool 7. Now the swing frame 11 in the direction of arrow P is synchronized with the moving Ver Closing tool 7 pivoted by the pendulum arms 12 driven by the push rod 24, wherein it maintains the horizontal orientation to the closing tool 7 while passing through the hatched transfer pivot area 21. Since the clamping device 25 holds the cover film web, but on the other hand the pivot frame moves with respect to the film web to the left in the drawing, the end profiles now cause the cover film web to pull the previous section 31 out of the cover guide web 20 moving away to the left in a rotational movement into the cover guides on Closing tool 7 pushes.

In the position shown in FIG. 17, the film section is already inserted into the cover guides 30 of the upper tool to about 3/4 of its total length, while the clamping device 25 is still closed. The vertical component of the oscillating movement of the swivel frame in the region of the clamping device 25 has been transmitted by the latter to the vertical guide on the guide rods 26 of the clamping device 25 by means not shown. The dancer roll system 17 (FIG. 1) compensates for the influences of the pendulum movement on the cover film and ensures a uniform web tension of the cover film web.

In Figure 18, the end position of the transfer process has now been reached. The cover film section 31 is inserted into the guides of the closing tool 7. The carrying guides, which can also be provided with suitable clamping elements in order to hold the film section in place, have now taken over the film section and, together with the closing tool 7, guide this in the subsequent lowering movement to a container which has then reached the closing station. Due to the clamping action of the clamping device 25, a new cover film section 31 is already present in the film bed formed by the rods 39 and 40, but is not yet separated from the cover film web. The cutting device 28 is preferably only actuated when the starting position according to FIG. 16 has been reached again. In the phase now reached in FIG. 18 after the cover film section has been transferred, the clamping device 29 now closes while the clamping device 25 opens.

FIG. 19 shows a further phase after the transfer has taken place. In this case, the angle a designates a swivel range that is driven through by way of example, while the angle a 2 is intended to denote an angular section that accelerates through the loading system after the transfer has taken place, in order to get sufficient distance from the closing tool 7 during its further rotation. If the bearing points L of the closing tools 6 and 7 are still in the direction of rotation before the horizontal central plane ME, the movement of the swivel frame begins from its rear end position HE in the direction of the front end position VE, which it reaches when the next closing tool 6 is approximately the same as in FIG Figure 10 has achieved the position shown. During this movement, the clamping device 29 is closed and the clamping device 25 is opened, so that a further piece of cover film web, corresponding to the length of the next required cover film section 31, is drawn off from the supply roll 14. The longest possible cover film section 31 corresponds to the chord 27 of the transfer pivoting region 21. The size of the cover film section required, depending on the size of the closing tool and thus on the container to be closed, can be carried out by controlling the clamping devices 25 and 29 as a function of the path or angle. The clamping devices themselves can be driven mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically, electromagnetically or electrically. Depending on the setting of the control, the transfer of the cover film section 31 can thus be placed at the beginning or in any area between the beginning and end of the possible transfer pivoting area 21. While the tool carrier is continuously moving on a circular path, the swivel frame oscillates as shown about the swivel axes 23. Depending on the control, a standstill or waiting time can be planned in the end positions VE and HE, but it can also be about the free movement phase, e.g. B. to run in the direction of HE to VE as slowly as possible, to be stopped. The speed of movement from VE to HE is largely linked to the speed of the closing tools, at least during the transfer of the cover film in the area of the angle a1. This speed is set by varying the speed by means not shown. A synchronous drive depending on the set number of cycles can be guaranteed via the push rod by controlling it with the aid of a crank, a cam disc or the like.

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for feeding lids to a continuously operating container sealing machine, the lids being secured on the containers by means of at least one sealing tool which, rotating in a circular trajectory on a tool carrier, rotates while maintaining horizontal alignment of the tool bottom surfaces, characterised in that a lid guide track (20) is provided so disposed as to be pivotable, through a transfer pivoting zone (21) of the sealing tool (6, 7), in the same direction and in alignment with lid guides (30) on the sealing tool (6, 7), and in that a lid feed device (25, 41, 42) is provided which on passing through the transfer pivoting zone (21) pushes the lids (31, 31') out of the openings (22) in the lid guide track (20) into the lid guides (30) on the sealing tool (6, 7).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid guide track (20) is part of a pivoting frame (11) secured by parallel swing arms (12) to a stationary carrier (19), the pivots (23) of the swing arms (12) on the carrier side are situated in a horizontal plane (ME) with the axis of rotation (9) of the sealing tool carrier (8) and in that the operative length (W) of the swing arms (12) corresponds to the radius (R) of the circular trajectory (K) of the sealing tool (6, 7).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that a cutting device (28) is disposed in the lid guide track (20) for severing the individual lid foil portions (31) from a lid foil web (15).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that embossing elements (36, 37, 43, 44) are disposed in the cutting device (28) and during the cutting operation produce end face profilings (41, 42) offset in the direction of the width on the lid foil web (15) and on the severed lid foil portion (31 ).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the embossing elements (36, 37, 43, 44) are so disposed that the end profilings (41, 42) on the lid foil web (15) and on the lid foil portion (31) point in opposite directions.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the embossing elements (36, 37, 43, 44) are so constructed that the end face profilings (41, 42) on the lid foil web (15) and on the lid foil portion (31) point in the same direction.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that at least one side of the embossing elements (36, 37, 43, 44) is made from an elastomeric material.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the lid guide track (20) is constructed, from the cutting device (28) as far as the opening (22), in the form of a foil bed formed from individual bars (39, 40).

9. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that to form a guide gap (49) starting behind the cutting device (28) as considered in the direction of the feed the lid guide track (20) has top and bottom guide elements (39', 40'; 45, 46; 47, 48) so constructed that the guide gap (49) extends zig-zag fashion in the direction of the width.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the guide elements (39', 40'; 45, 46; 47, 48) have an inlet opening (50) which widens out towards the cutting device (28).

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that solid profiled guide plates (45, 46) are provided as guide elements.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that round bars (39', 40') offset vertically from one another are provided as guide elements.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that guide plates (47, 48) having alternately projecting profile ribs (47a, 48a) are provided as guide elements.

14. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 2 to 13, characterised in that a clamping device (25) is provided which acts on the lid foil web (15) and which is arranged to be vertically displaceable with respect to the pivoting frame (11) but horizontally non-displaceable.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that another clamping device, (29) pivotable horizontally and vertically is connected to the pivoting frame.

16. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 2 to 15, characterised in that a drive (24) for the pivoting frame (11) is provided which moves the pivoting frame (11) in the same direction as it passes through the transfer pivoting zone (pivoting angle α1) at the speed of rotation of the sealing tool and, after passing through the transfer pivoting zone, pivots the pivoting frame away from the sealing tool (6, 7) at a higher speed (pivoting angle a2).

17. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 2 to 15, characterised in that for the purpose of passing through the transfer pivoting zone (21) the lid guide track (20) is brought with the opening (22) in engagement with the lid guides on the sealing tool (6, 7) and is driven against the force of a spring by means of the rotating sealing tool (6, 7).

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