EP0340360A1 - Form, fill, and seal apparatus - Google Patents
Form, fill, and seal apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0340360A1 EP0340360A1 EP88308437A EP88308437A EP0340360A1 EP 0340360 A1 EP0340360 A1 EP 0340360A1 EP 88308437 A EP88308437 A EP 88308437A EP 88308437 A EP88308437 A EP 88308437A EP 0340360 A1 EP0340360 A1 EP 0340360A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- web
- drive
- drive roller
- sprocket
- receptacles
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
- B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
Abstract
Form and fill packaging apparatus including a vacuum thermoformer where a first plastic web (14) is formed to provide receptacles (16) for receiving articles, a filling station (19) where articles are placed in the formed receptacles and a sealing station (20) where a second web (28) is placed over the filled receptacles and sealed to portions of the web around the receptacles. A first web drive means (54,56) drives the first web through the thermoformer, filling station and sealing station, and a feed mechanism (36) positively feeds the second web to the first web at the sealing station sychronously with driving of the first web.
Description
- The invention relates to forming, filling, and sealing plastic packaging.
- In form, fill, and seal apparatus, a bottom web of plastic is advanced through a vacuum thermoformer (where the plastic web is formed to provide receptacles for receiving articles), a filling station (where articles are placed in the formed receptacles), a sealing station (where a top web made of plastic, paper, or other sheet material is placed over the filled receptacles and sealed to portions of the bottom web around the receptacles to provide covers), and a cutter (where the sealed top and bottom webs are cut at portions between receptacles into separate packages).
- Normally the bottom web of plastic is driven through the thermoformer, filling station, and sealing station via continuous loop drive chains underneath the two side edges of the web. The top web is pulled by virtue of being sealed to the bottom web at the sealing station. The movement of the bottom and top webs typically is intermittent (often referred to as indexed), as the thermoform and fill operations are performed when the web is stationary. During each movement of the webs between the simultaneous form and fill operations at respective stations, both webs are of course accelerated and decelerated. The upper web passes from its supply roll around a weighted dancer, which assists in smoothing out stresses in the upper web. The dancer is lifted as the web is first drawn, and a brake mechanism prevents rotation of the supply roll except when the dancer has been raised to a particular position. Depending upon the tack between upper and lower webs at the seal and the amount of travel of each movement, the speed of the webs during indexing may have to be limited to avoid damage to the seal. E.g., weld seals are strong, are formed quickly, and can permit relatively fast pulling of the upper web. Seals for removable covers are weaker and may be destroyed if the lower web is moved too fast. Seals that take a long time to form and seals involving cover webs made of certain (e.g., fragile) materials may also be destroyed if they are moved too fast.
- In general the invention features improving form and fill packaging apparatus in which a first web of plastic is advanced through a thermoformer at which receptacles are formed in the first web, a filling station at which the receptacles are filled with articles, and a sealing station at which the receptacles are covered by a second web that is sealed to the first web at portions surrounding the receptacles. The improvement involves providing a feed mechanism for positively feeding the second web to the first web at the sealing station synchronously with advancing of the first web. This provides less stress on the seal between the two webs at the sealing station during advancement, promoting seal integrity and permitting higher speeds for weak seals (and thus higher throughput of the packaging apparatus) without deterioration of the seals.
- In preferred embodiments the feed mechanism includes a drive roller located in close proximity to the sealing station; the drive roller is driven by the drive mechanism (e.g., drive chain) for the first web; there is an idle roller that engages the second web with the drive roller; the drive roller is pushed into position against the idle roller during advancement of the webs; the drive roller has drive portions that have a larger diameter than adjacent portions; the drive portions are resilient disks that provide good grip; the drive roller overdrives the second web slightly with respect to the first web to guarantee that the second web is not underdriven; there are a weighted dancer and idle rollers around which the second web travels between a supply roll and the drive roller; and the feed mechanism includes a sprocket that is driven by the first web drive chain, and further sprockets and gears that are mounted on a pivotal lever arm.
- Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof and from the claims.
- The preferred embodiment will now be described.
- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of form, fill, and seal packaging apparatus according to the invention.
- Fig. 2 is a partial diagrammatic perspective view showing a web feed mechanism of the Fig. 1 apparatus between a filling station and a sealing station.
- Fig. 3 is an elevation, partially broken away and in section, showing components of the Fig. 2 feed mechanism.
- Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the Fig. 3 components.
- Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation, partially broken away and in section, of the Fig. 3 components.
- Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown form and fill
packaging apparatus 10. Form and fillapparatus 10 includesvacuum thermoformer 12, which forms first web ofplastic 14 advanced fromsupply roll 15 through it so as to provide formedreceptacles 16 for receiving articles to be packaged atdownstream filling station 19.Sealing station 20 provides a cover over filledreceptacles 16, andcutter 22 cuts the formed, filled, and sealed web into individual packagedproducts 24. - Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,
sealing station 20 includessupply roll 26 of secondupper web 28, which is sealed over the tops of the filled, formedreceptacles 16 to provide covers for them.Web 28 passes fromroller 26 around weighted dancer 30 (which is pivotal about its upper end) andidle rollers positive feeding mechanism 36, which is used to feedweb 28 toweb 14 synchronously with advancing ofweb 14.Feed mechanism 36 includesidle roller 38 anddrive roller 40 mounted on lever arms 42 (only one of which is shown in the figures).Drive roll 40 includesdrive shaft 44 andrubber drive disks 46, which gripweb 28 between them andidle roller 38 when engaged.Drive shaft 44 hasgear 48 that mates withgear 50, which is in turn driven bysprocket 52. Bothgear 50 andsprocket 52 are rotatably mounted by a common shaft onlever arm 42.Web 14 is driven by continuousloop drive chains 54, one on each side ofweb 14, which carry spring-loadedmushroom clips 56 to engage the edges ofweb 14. - Referring to Figs. 3-5, it is seen that
lever arm 42 is mounted for pivoting aboutshaft 58, which is mounted on abracket 60, only two small portions of which are shown on Fig. 3. Solenoid 62 is mounted on a lower part ofbracket 60 and includesplunger 64, which contactslower block 66 oflever arm 42 and is operable to movelever arm 42 counterclockwise. Spring 68 is mounted inrecess 70 ofblock 72 oflever arm 42 and pushes against an upper portion offrame 60 so as tobias lever arm 42 clockwise.Chain 74 engagesupper sprocket 52 andlower sprocket 76, which is mounted for rotation onlever arm 42 withlarge sprocket 78 that hasteeth 80engaging drive chain 54 forweb 14.Sprockets shaft component 82 supported onlever arm 42. In Fig. 3 only a small number ofteeth 80 ofsprocket 78 are shown. It is seen thatmushroom clips 56 include spring-loaded cap members that engage the edge ofweb 14 between them and facing horizontal members. - In operation,
web 14 fromsupply roll 15 is formed atthermoformer 12 to provide formedreceptacles 16. Atfilling station 19, articles (not shown) are placed into formedreceptacles 16 via a loading mechanism (not shown). The filling ofreceptacles 16 atfilling station 19 and the thermoforming atthermoformer 12 occur on portions ofweb 14 when the web is stationary between indexing steps during which new portions of the web are moved into the respective stations. - At
sealing station 20, the formed and filledreceptacles 16 are covered withupper web 28.Upper web 28 is positively fed byfeed mechanism 36 synchronously with the driving ofweb 14. Referring to Fig. 3, asdrive chain 54 forlower web 14 moves, it engagesteeth 80 ofsprocket 78 and causessprocket 78 to rotate. This in turn causes the adjacentsmaller sprocket 76 to rotate and to advancechain 74, in turn causing rotation ofupper sprocket 52,gear 50, andgear 48 ondrive shaft 44.Feed mechanism 36 is engaged whenchain 54 is moving bysolenoid 62, which pusheslever arm 42 counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 3, inturn pushing shaft 44 and drivedisks 46 up againstweb 28, which is supported onidle roller 38.Web 28 is thus fed asdrive shaft 44 is rotated. The ratios of the gears and sprockets are such thatupper web 28 is designed to be overfed slightly (about 1%) with respect tolower web 14 to guarantee thatweb 28 is not underfed with respect toweb 14; owing to tolerances, an exact matching of the feeding of the two webs is unlikely, and small overfeeding of the upper web is much more easily accommodated than small underfeeding.Dancer 30 andidle rolls web 28. After the indexing operation,plunger 64 is retracted, andlever 42 is biased clockwise by spring 68 to disengagerollers 46 fromweb 28; this permits the tension inweb 28 to be adjusted - By using
feed mechanism 36,apparatus 10 can be operated at higher speeds than would be permitted otherwise without a deterioration in seal strength for removable cover seals and other weak seals, e.g., seals that take a long time to form and seals involving fragile cover webs.
Claims (17)
1. Form and fill packaging apparatus comprising
a thermoformer (12) where a first plastic web (14) is formed to provide formed receptacles (16) for receiving articles;
a filling station (19) where articles are placed in the formed receptacles;
a sealing station (20) where a second web (28) is placed over the filled receptacles and sealed to portions of the web around the receptacles;
a first web drive means (54,56) advancing the first web through the thermoformer, filling station and sealing station; and characterized by
a feed mechanism (36) that positively feeds the second web to the first web at the sealing station (20) synchronously with the advancing of the first web.
a thermoformer (12) where a first plastic web (14) is formed to provide formed receptacles (16) for receiving articles;
a filling station (19) where articles are placed in the formed receptacles;
a sealing station (20) where a second web (28) is placed over the filled receptacles and sealed to portions of the web around the receptacles;
a first web drive means (54,56) advancing the first web through the thermoformer, filling station and sealing station; and characterized by
a feed mechanism (36) that positively feeds the second web to the first web at the sealing station (20) synchronously with the advancing of the first web.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a drive roller (40) located in close proximity to the sealing station.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive roller is connected to be driven by the first web drive means (54).
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first web drive means comprises a drive chain (54) that moves at the same speed as the first web.
5. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, further comprising an idle roller (38) that engages the second web (28) with the drive roller.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the feed mechanism comprises an engagement mechanism (62,42) operable to push the drive roller (40) into position against the idle roller (38) during movement of the first web.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the idle roller (38) has a continuous surface.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive roller (40) has drive portions (46) having a larger diameter than adjacent portions.
9. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the drive roller (40) overfeeds the second web slightly with respect to the first web.
10. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 8, further comprising a rotatable supply roll (26) providing a source of the second web.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising idle rolls (32) around which the second web travels between the supply roll and the drive roller.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supply roll has a brake for preventing rotation of the supply roll, and further comprising a weighted dancer (30) operable to release the brake.
13. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the drive means drives the first web intermittently.
14. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a first sprocket (78) that engages the drive chain (54).
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a second sprocket (76) that is driven by the first sprocket (78), a feed chain (74) that is driven by the second sprocket, and a third sprocket (52) that is driven by the feed chain and drives the drive roller (40).
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the feed mechanism comprises a first gear (50) driven by the third sprocket and a second gear (48) that is driven by said first gear and that drives the drive roller.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sprockets, gears, and drive roller are supported by a pivotal lever arm (42) that pivots into position against the second web.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18902588A | 1988-05-02 | 1988-05-02 | |
US189025 | 1988-05-02 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0340360A1 true EP0340360A1 (en) | 1989-11-08 |
Family
ID=22695595
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88308437A Withdrawn EP0340360A1 (en) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-09-13 | Form, fill, and seal apparatus |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0340360A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1299087C (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3318520A1 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-09 | CP Packaging, Inc. | Web material advancement arrangement with an entry drive system in a packaging machine |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3374602A (en) * | 1965-08-18 | 1968-03-26 | Mahaffy & Harder Eng Co | Indicia registration method and apparatus |
US3555768A (en) * | 1968-02-26 | 1971-01-19 | Continental Can Co | Method and apparatus for handling and registering webs for forming packages |
US4120984A (en) * | 1976-10-27 | 1978-10-17 | The Pillsbury Company | Process for preparing food in the package |
-
1988
- 1988-09-13 EP EP88308437A patent/EP0340360A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1988-12-02 CA CA000584845A patent/CA1299087C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3374602A (en) * | 1965-08-18 | 1968-03-26 | Mahaffy & Harder Eng Co | Indicia registration method and apparatus |
US3555768A (en) * | 1968-02-26 | 1971-01-19 | Continental Can Co | Method and apparatus for handling and registering webs for forming packages |
US4120984A (en) * | 1976-10-27 | 1978-10-17 | The Pillsbury Company | Process for preparing food in the package |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3318520A1 (en) * | 2016-11-04 | 2018-05-09 | CP Packaging, Inc. | Web material advancement arrangement with an entry drive system in a packaging machine |
US10526157B2 (en) | 2016-11-04 | 2020-01-07 | Cp Packaging, Inc. | Web material advancement arrangement with an entry drive system in a packaging machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA1299087C (en) | 1992-04-21 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19900315 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19901129 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19930331 |