EP1318083B1 - Gas filled bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

An upper and lower sheet are superimposed and joined along a first lengthwise edge (4) to tender the tubing gas-tight. Inflatable pockets (7a,7b) are formed in a transverse direction by means of spaced apart gas-tight welded seams. The sheets are also continuously joined along a second lengthwise edge (6). The upper sheet has a lengthwise (12) section spaced apart from the lengthwise edges (4,6).

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing gas-filled packing of such plastic hoses and an apparatus for performing the method.

Gas-filled fillers are used, for example, for upholstering objects in transport crates in order to avoid vibrations or damage to the transported objects. The fillers are filled with gas only immediately before their use and can therefore be delivered very space-saving to the packer or consumer and stored in this. Another advantage of the packing is that they can hardly increase the packaging weight due to their low weight and can be recycled sorted after their use, since they are usually made of a single plastic material.

In this regard is from the DE 199 13 408 A1 a prefabricated plastic tube known in the upper film and lower film to form inflatable pockets in the transverse direction by spaced apart pairs of gas-tight welds are welded together, wherein the welds extend from the first longitudinal edge to a predetermined distance from the opposite second longitudinal edge. The pockets each have an accessible from the second longitudinal edge of gas filling opening between the upper and the lower film. As a starting point for the production of such a plastic tube in usually a full plastic hose is present, it must first be divided in the longitudinal direction in two semi-hoses open on one side. This requires an additional step before the actual prefabrication of the plastic tube can take place. Furthermore, it is problematic in the known plastic tube with laterally arranged filling opening that when blowing the air an asymmetry arises because the film on the side facing away from the filling opening inflates to a filling pad, whereas the film must be kept flat in the filling opening by a hold-down to prevent the air from escaping. Due to the resulting asymmetry, it proves difficult to transport the film web straight through the filling device.

From the US Pat. No. 6,213,167 An air-inflatable Dunststofffolienanordnung is known in which two air chamber rows on both sides of a. Air are inflated by injecting air via an injection tool, which is inserted into a channel formed between a top and a bottom foil, formed by check valves formed in the foil structures. The film is transported by a corresponding filling device; In this case, the top is cut open the channel formed between the upper and lower film after the air injection, so that the injection tool can be transported on.

Against this background, it was the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for simplifying the production of random packings.

This task is performed by a procedure with the characteristics of claim 1 and a device having the features of claim 2.

Advantageous embodiments are contained in the subclaims.

The prefabricated for producing gas-filled packing plastic tube which is filled according to the inventive method or with the device according to the invention has two films, which are referred to as the upper film and lower film, and are arranged one above the other and connected at both longitudinal edges continuous gas-tight. Further, the topsheet and backsheet are laterally welded together by spaced gas-tight welds to form inflatable pockets. One of the foils, the plastic tube, which is referred to below by definition as the upper foil, has a longitudinal section extending in its longitudinal direction at a distance from the longitudinal edges. Preferably, the longitudinal section is centered with respect to the width of the plastic tube. The longitudinal section can be introduced as part of the prefabrication of the plastic tube or only by a filling device.

The described plastic tube which is filled according to the inventive method or with the device according to the invention is closed at both longitudinal edges and has at a distance from the longitudinal edges of a longitudinal section. This difference has on the one hand manufacturing advantages, since it is not assumed that an alcohol hose, which first has to be cut in a separate operation from a full hose. Rather, a (flattened) full hose can be used directly, so that a whole film tube can be filled in one operation. The performance of a corresponding manufacturing plant can thus be virtually doubled, since not two half-tubes filled in succession Need to become. Another advantage of the plastic tube is a symmetrical or less one-sided filling process, whereby a run-out of the film from the transport direction is avoided. Finally, a further advantage of the plastic tube is to be seen in that pockets are located on both sides of the longitudinal section, so that the filling bodies formed therefrom are smaller or half as large as filling bodies which extend over the entire width of the plastic tube. Such narrower packing allows greater flexibility in their use as packaging material, the overall height distribution of the packing is more uniform than with wider packing

According to one embodiment of the plastic tube, the transverse welds are formed in pairs, wherein between the two welds of each pair of welds there is a gap in which a perforation of both films in the transverse direction. Preferably, this perforation extends continuously from one longitudinal edge of the plastic tube to the other. The perforation makes it possible to separate after filling the inflatable bags and their gas-tight welding, the packing thus prepared by tearing each other.

The running in the transverse direction to the plastic hose (pairwise or individual) welds preferably terminate at a certain distance from the longitudinal section. As a result, the upper film is not connected to the lower film in a strip around the longitudinal section, so that the edges of the upper film formed by the longitudinal section over the entire length of the plastic tube are movable like a tongue and provide a good sealable access to the inflatable bags.

The lower film of the plastic tube can have a perforation parallel to the longitudinal section through the upper film. After filling the pockets and welding them, the opposing fillers can then be separated longitudinally along said perforation.

In the plastic tube, more than two adjacent rows of pockets may be provided. For this purpose, the upper film and / or the lower film have at least one further, with a distance from the longitudinal edges and the first longitudinal section extending second longitudinal section. In this case, the upper film and the lower film (preferably in the middle) are welded together in each case between two longitudinal sections in the longitudinal direction, so that a new double row of pockets open on one side is formed between the aforementioned longitudinal cuts.

In the region of the longitudinal section, the plastic tube can form markings which form codes for indicating the position of the weld seams and / or for indicating the film thickness and / or for displaying the film width. By marking to indicate the position of the welds an otherwise required, complex synchronization of the device for the production of packing is avoided. The markings are preferably formed as punched outs, but could also be imprinted in a likewise preferred manner. Furthermore, markings with coded information about the procurement unit of the plastic hoses can be punched or printed. Thereby, a device for filling the Plastic hoses the type of film currently inserted into the device (eg film thickness, material, dimensions) capture and so automatically adjust various operating parameters, such as welding time and temperature, filling quantity or filling time, transport speed and transport distances, etc.

In a further development can be provided (preferably in the region of the transverse perforation and at least in the vicinity of the longitudinal edges) punched for engagement of a mandrel for the further transport of the hose. The plastic tube can be passed through a filling device in a simple manner.

Due to the special design of the plastic tube used, a method according to the invention can be carried out very advantageously. In particular, the tab formed by the edges of the upper film along the longitudinal section provides a good opportunity for targeted injection of gas, so that the pockets formed in the plastic hose can be filled to bursting point. Furthermore, the method has the aforementioned advantage that due to the symmetrical effect of inflation and welding the Kunststoff foil no longer tends to run out of its transport direction. Finally, the resulting filler half width on a number pack technical advantages.

With a device according to the invention, the explained advantages of the method according to the invention can be achieved. In this case, in an advantageous embodiment of the device, the Gasbefüllungseinrichtuung having a Einfüllschuh with two pointing in opposite directions gas outlets, wherein the gas outlets can be inserted through the longitudinal slot of the upper film in the area between the films. Such a filling shoe, once it has been introduced into the area between the upper film and the lower film, can be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal slot and in the process fill the pockets successively with compressed air via the lateral gas outlets. The advantage here is that the Unterfölie is closed continuously and offers no possibility for escape of the gas, and that at the same time the upper film rests on the Einfüllschuh, so that at most a slight leakage is possible.

In order to prevent the last-mentioned leakage, the gas filling device has two hold-downs, which press the two tabs formed by the longitudinal section of the upper film against the filling shoe during filling of the gas.

According to a development of the device, this identification device for markings on the plastic tube, by which the machine speed and / or the gas filling quantity and / or the welding time are controlled. With the help of such devices, it is thus possible, different prefabricated plastic tubing in the Filling device, which can automatically adapt to the optimal conditions.

The transport device of the device can transport the plastic tube cyclically. This means that the filling and the welding process take place in each case when the hose is stationary, and that the hose is then transported by a bag length.

It is particularly preferred, however, if the plastic hose is continuously guided past the gas filling device and the welding device. Such a procedure usually allows a larger production capacity, the control engineering effort by the possible abandonment of the clock control can be kept lower.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt in Querrichtung durch den Kunststoffschlauch entlang der Linie I-I von Figur 2;

Fig. 2

eine Aufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt aus dem dungsgemäßen vorkonfektionierten Kunststoffschlauch;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Kunststoffschlauches;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische vergrößerte Ansicht des Bereiches um den Längsschnitt des Kunststoffschlauches.

In the following, the invention will be explained by way of example with the aid of the figures. It shows:

Fig. 1

a cross-section in the transverse direction through the plastic tube along the line II of Figure 2;

Fig. 2

a plan view of a section of the inventive prefabricated plastic tube;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the plastic tube;

Fig. 4

a perspective enlarged view of the area around the longitudinal section of the plastic tube.

In the figures, a detail of a long plastic tube 1 is shown in each case, which is prefabricated for easy production of gas-filled packaging packing.

The plastic tube 1 consists of two superimposed film webs, the so-called top film 2 and the bottom film 3. Typically, this initial configuration is prepared by flattening a (cylindrical) full hose. The two longitudinal edges 4 and 6 of the flattened plastic tube are thus connected from the outset.

Furthermore, the plastic tube 1 in the transverse direction extending weld seam pairs 5, which the upper film and connect the lower film together and form between inflatable bags 7a and 7b. Each individual weld seam pair 5 consists of two parallel, closely adjacent individual welds 5 a and 5 b, between which a longitudinal edge 4 to longitudinal edge 6 continuous perforation 9 is formed by both plastic films 2, 3. As can be seen from FIG. 3, this perforation serves to easily tear off an inflated filling body 7a '.

Furthermore, it can be seen in particular from FIG. 2 that the weld seam pairs 5 do not pass from edge to edge but are interrupted in the middle along a strip. In this middle strip, a longitudinal section 12 is further formed by the upper film 2. Through this longitudinal section 12, two edges of the upper film 2 are generated, which form movable tabs 11, which are not connected to the lower film 3 due to the above-described interruption of the welds 5a, 5b.

If the described plastic hose 1 is to be filled with gas at the end customer to produce inflated packing as packaging body, this is unwound from a supply roll and passed through a device not shown. If the prefabricated plastic tube does not yet contain a longitudinal section, this can be introduced by a knife present in the device. Subsequently, a filling shoe - for example in the form of an inverted "T" - guided under the tabs 11 of the plastic tube 1, wherein two transversely oriented gas outlet openings - preferably via a fan - air or other suitable filling gas respectively in the right pocket 7a or blow the left pocket 7b and fill it up. About hold down the film tabs 11 can be pressed against the filling shoe be used to prevent escape of the gas. The tabs 11 then slide during the transport movement of the plastic tube 1 over the filling shoe, while this blows air on both sides in the pockets 7a, 7b.

The transport of the plastic tube 1 can be done by narrow wheels in the middle region or by engaging in formed on the plastic tube 1 transport perforations. The central approach of the transport forces has the advantage that the film does not warp or tilt.

Immediately after inflation of the pockets 7a, 7b they are welded in the transport direction, wherein in the embodiment of the plastic hose 1 shown in the figures, two parallel welds are placed so that they overlap with the transverse welds 5a, 5b and thus concluded in the final result , tearable fillers 7a ', 7b' provide.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 4, markings in the form of cutouts 10 can be provided in the film tabs 11 or at other locations, which the position of the transverse welds 5a, 5b or other information such as the film thickness or film width, for execution required by the method can code.

Claims (5)

1. A process for the production of gas-filled filling bodies (7a', 7b') comprising the followings steps:

   a) providing a prefabricated plastic tube (1) comprising an upper film (2) and a lower film (3) which are gas-tightly connected together throughout in mutually superposed relationship at both longitudinal edges (4, 6) and are welded together to form inflatable pockets (7a, 7b) in the transverse direction by gas-tight weld seams (5a, 5b) arranged at a spacing relative to each other, wherein the upper film (2) has a longitudinal cut (12) in the longitudinal direction extending at a spacing relative to the longitudinal edges (4, 6) to form gas-filled pockets (7, 7a) at both sides of the longitudinal cut (12), and the lower film in the region of the longitudinal cut is either closed throughout or has a perforation (13) in parallel relationship with the longitudinal cut (12) through the upper film (2) and wherein the weld seams (5a, 5b) extending in the transverse direction end at a spacing from the longitudinal cut (12);

   b) injecting air or another filling gas into each pocket (7a, 7b) through each gas filling opening (8) which is formed by the longitudinal cut (12) in the upper film (2) of the plastic tube (1) by means of a gas filling device which has a filling shoe with two gas outlets facing in mutually opposite directions, wherein the gas outlets are introduced through the longitudinal cut in the upper film into the region between the films, and

   c) gas-tight welding of the gas filling opening (8) of the gas-filled pockets (7a', 7b').
2. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 for the production of a prefabricated plastic tube (1), wherein the plastic tube has an upper film (2) and a lower film (3) which are gas-tightly connected together throughout in mutually superposed relationship at both longitudinal edges (4, 6) and are welded together to form inflatable pockets (7a, 7b) in the transverse direction by gas-tight weld seams (5a, 5b) arranged at a spacing relative to each other, and wherein the upper film (2) has a longitudinal cut (12) in the longitudinal direction extending at a spacing relative to the longitudinal edges (4, 6) to form gas-filled pockets (7, 7a) at both sides of the longitudinal cut (12),
   characterised by

   - a holder for a tube supply;

   - a transport device for transporting the tube through the apparatus by means of narrow wheels in the central region of the plastic tube;

   - a gas filling device in the form of an inverted "T" which is arranged in the region of the longitudinal cut (12) in the upper film (2), wherein the gas filling device has a filling shoe with two gas outlets which face in mutually opposite directions and which are so arranged that they can be introduced through the longitudinal cut in the upper film into the region between the films and wherein the gas filling device has two hold-down means which during the operation of introducing the gas press the upper film against the filling shoe; and

   - a welding device which is also arranged in the region of the longitudinal cut (12) in the upper film (2) and has a welding tool with which the gas filling openings (8) of the pockets (7a, 7b) can be gas-tightly closed with a weld seam extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterised in that it has detection devices for markings (10) on the film, whereby the machine speed and/or the gas filling amount and/or welding time are controlled.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the transport device cyclically transports the tube (1).
5. Apparatus according to one of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that the tube (1) is moved continuously past the gas filling device and the welding device.

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