EP1600412B1 - Film splicing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has first and second unrolling devices (4,5) for film rolls (6,7), a splicer (13,14) for splicing films (2,3) from the first and second unrolling devices at a splicing position, a movable transfer device (10) for transferring a film from an unrolling device to the splicing position and a holding device (11,12a,12b) for holding the film that can be transferred by the transfer device in a fixed position. An independent claim is also included for a packaging machine for packaging with film.

Description

The invention relates to a film splicing station.

When packaging with film usually a film is unrolled from a supply roll. When this film comes to an end, it is connected to the film of a new role, so spliced, so that the beginning of the new film is taken through the end of the expiring film. For this purpose, a film splicing station usually has a first and a second unwinding direction for a respective film roll.

Such a film splicing station is used, for example, in the packaging of beverage containers with shrink film. In this case, the film splicing station can be arranged below the conveying line for the containers in order to obtain a compact packaging machine. However, this causes the film splicing station is not easily accessible.

From the EP 0 464 003 For example, there is known a method of bonding a first web of weldable sheet material to a second web. Here, the beginning of a rolled film is wrapped around a movable member with a welding rail and then pivoted to a position in which the two film webs can be welded together. Here, the beginning of the film shows at the weld in the direction of the previously unrolled role, so that each of the middle of the roll facing sides of the films are welded together.

The disadvantage here is that the welding rail must be pivotable in a range in which the operator has easy access. This leads to a risk of injury because the welding rail can be hot. Furthermore, the continuous concerns of the film on the weld rail can lead to sticking and thus undesirable disturbances. Unfavorable is also the expansive movement of the welding rail and the displacement of the film rolls after splicing from a first position to a second position.

From the EP 0 749 924 is a method for welding two each coming from a supply roll film webs in a packaging machine, and a device for performing the method known. Here, before the welding of the beginning of the new roll between a cylindrical rail and two Andrückschienen must be threaded and then performed between the cylindrical rail and a terminal block. Then the beginning of the film between the terminal block and the cylindrical rail can be clamped. This must be done in close proximity to the expiring foil. Such a threading process is very cumbersome, so that much time is needed here, and in safety terms of concern when it must be done while the film web is running.

Furthermore, the film beginning is guided around a wegbewegbaren rod, which serves to remove the welded films of two heating strips, so as to allow cooling of the weld by the ambient air. In this case, a tensile force is also generated at that welding point of the film web, which runs off for further processing. This can be easy too If the removal of the heating strip leads to damage (cracking) of the weld seam, malfunctions will result.

From the GB 1 184 591 discloses an apparatus for supplying thermoplastic synthetic resin packaging material. Here, the beginning of a new film roll is beaten around a welding head 6, which has two insert sides. The folded end is held between two rails. Again, the threading of the beginning of the film on the welding head is very cumbersome and connected with risks for the operator, since the welding head can be hot here and the expiring film web is in motion. Furthermore, the film can be damaged when threaded around the welding head, if it is still hot.

The JP 63 185 760 A discloses a film closing station according to the respective preamble of claim 1 and claim 10, respectively.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a film splicing station.

This object is achieved by a film splicing station according to claim 1, a method according to claim 10 and a packaging machine according to claim 11.

In the film splicing station, a holding device is provided for the stationary holding of the film. In addition to the stationary holding device, a movable transfer device is provided with which the film can be guided in the splicing position.

With such a device, it is possible to fix the film in its position by the operator with the holding device and actuated by another Transfer device in the area of the splicing device, so bring a danger area.

It is not a complicated "threading" necessary.

The holding device consists of a clamping rod which clamps the film at a suitable point of the film beginning. This clamping bar is loose, d. H. not firmly connected to the film splice station. This facilitates the handling when clamping the film in the clamping bar. The clamping bar with the film clamped therein in turn can be placed in a suitable holder or storage, so as to arrange the film well defined with respect to the film splicing station.

The splicing device is advantageously a welding station that can produce a weld with heat, ultrasound or the like. It is advantageous if the film is arranged during welding between a welding element and a repository, wherein the re-storage is preferably formed by the transfer device itself. The welding element may be a heating element.

Particularly advantageous is a heating element with two heating surfaces, which are spaced. These two arranged on one side of the foils heating surfaces lead to heating of the film in two zones. The one heated zone may be used to separate the film residues to be separated from the spliced film web, whereas the other heated zone may serve to form the seal between the end of the outgoing and the beginning of the incipient film web.

It is also advantageous to provide a sensor for detecting a pattern on the outgoing film, so that the pattern of the expiring film is in a predetermined position with respect to the splicing device during splicing. If the film is printed, it is advantageous, for example, if the welding takes place at an unprinted place, since the printing can be a hindrance when welding film.

In the methods, the beginning of a film is fixed in a holding device for holding the film in place. Then, the film is transferred to the splicing position with a transfer device to be spliced to the end of an expiring film. The splice position is defined by the position at which splicing through the device can occur.

Fig. 1 bis 3, 5 und 6

eine schematische Darstellung einer Folienspleißstation in verschiedenen Verfahrenszuständen, und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Schnittzeichnung eines Schweißelements.

In the following, an embodiment of the splicing station and the method will be explained with reference to the attached figures. Showing:

Fig. 1 to 3, 5 and 6

a schematic representation of a film splicing station in different process states, and

Fig. 4

a schematic sectional view of a welding element.

FIG. 1 shows a film splicing station, with two unwinding 4, 5 on each of which a film roll 6, 7 is arranged. At the in FIG. 1 As shown, the film roll 6 is almost unrolled, so that the film of the full Film roll 7 is to be spliced. The film splicing station 1 has deflection rollers 8, 9 via which the films of the unwinding devices 4, 5 can be deflected in each case. A roller 17 arranged in the lower region of the film splicing station is used for deflecting the respectively expiring film web.

Both the unwinding device 4 and the unwinding device 5 can each be equipped with a suitable drive, as well as with a suitable brake. The brake serves to allow a certain film tension in the film splicing station. A drive is used to prevent excessive tension in the film.

Between the guide rollers 8, 9 and the guide roller 17, a welding head 13 and a slide 15 are arranged on the right side. The welding head 13 and the slider 15 are arranged to be movable transversely to the film travel path. The welding head can be moved to the welding position (s. Fig. 3 ) are moved. The slider 15 can be moved in the path of the expiring film 2.

A terminal strip 11, which can optionally be fixed or stored in the holder 12 a or 12 b, is in FIG. 1 shown in a state in which the film 3 of the roller 7 is clamped in the terminal block 11.

The film 2 of the roller 6 is deflected by the deflection rollers 8 and 17 and runs in the direction 18 from the film consumer. This can be for example a packaging machine with a film wrapping station.

A transfer device 10, which may be a solid rod or a movably suspended roller, is positioned above the deflecting rollers 8, 9 and the holders 12 a, 12 b.

This transfer device 10 can be moved between the guide roller 8 and the holder 12 a on one side and the guide roller 9 and the holder 12 b on the other side down.

On the left side opposite to the welding head 13, a similar welding head 14 is arranged mirror-symmetrically. The welding head 14 can be moved to the left side of the transfer device 10 in the lowered position (see FIG. Fig. 3 ) are moved. This corresponds to the splice position if welded to the weld head 14. Likewise, a slide 16 is arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the slide 15. The slider 16 can be inserted into the web of a film 3, which runs over the rollers 9 and 17.

In the guide roller 17, a further slider 24 is arranged, which can cooperate with the guide roller 17 so that the film between the guide roller 17 and the slider 24 is clamped and thus held.

The mode of operation of the film splicing station 1 will be explained with reference to the figures.

In FIG. 1 the state is shown in which a new film 3 of a new film roll 7 is unrolled so far that they could be clamped in the terminal block 11 and the terminal block 11 was placed in the holder 12 a. The foil 3 is slightly tense here. The film 3 could also easily sag and also have contact with the roller 9.

The film 2 of the old film roll 6 is transported away in direction 18 via the deflection rollers 8 and 17.

The transport can be intermittent as well as continuous.

A suitable sensor can detect the impending exhaustion of the film roll 6. This may be, for example, a sensor for measuring the diameter of the roller 6, as well as a sensor which detects certain marks on the film 2, which indicate the upcoming end of the film 2.

As in FIG. 1 As can be seen, the film 3 has not been wrapped or led around, for example, a welding head or the like, so that a complicated threading or adjustment of the film is not necessary. Only in the easy-to-handle terminal strip 11, the film 3 must be clamped at a suitable position, eg matching a printed image and then inserted into the holder 12 a. Any kind of threading the film in a predetermined narrow space is not necessary, so that the preparation of the film 3 takes little time. The introduction of the film 3 in the in FIG. 1 shown position is also greatly facilitated by the terminal block 11, which is independent of the Folienspleißstation, ie, loose. The fact that the beginning of the form unstable film 3 is fixed by the fixed terminal block 11, the handling of the film 3 is much easier. Thus, the terminal strip 11 can be attached to the film 3 outside the film splicing station, without the rollers or the like are a hindrance. The clamped into the terminal block 11 film 3 can then be quite easily positioned by inserting the Klemmleite 11 in the holder 12 a.

The terminal block 11 does not have to be as in FIG. 1 be arranged at the immediate beginning of the film web 3. If, for example, the film 3 has a pattern or the immediate beginning of the films 3 is damaged by transport or the like, the clamping strip can also be arranged at an initial position of the film 3 which is slightly spaced from the immediate beginning.

If the film 3 carries an example printed pattern, the clamping bar 11 must be arranged at a predetermined position with respect to this pattern, so that the film can then be welded at a predetermined location during welding. This site is preferably a spot without imprint.

Based on the hand-prepared state of the film 3, as in FIG. 1 is shown, the film 3 is guided with the transfer device 10 in the welding position. This is done by a mechanical lowering of the transfer device 10. The lowering of the transfer device 10 can be done electrically, pneumatically, with hand crank drive or the like. The transfer device 10 moves in this case between the guide roller 9 and the terminal block 11 in the holder 12 a through and takes the film 3 with it. The film 3 is thereby unrolled a little further from the roller 7. The transfer device 10 pulls the film 3 in this case until the transfer device 10 relative to the welding head 13, ie before the active part of the welding head 13, is arranged. The film web 2 can be carried away undisturbed while still undisturbed.

In FIG. 2 the state is shown in which the film 3 is now fully prepared for splicing. The transfer device threading through the passage between the clamping bar 11 and the guide roller 9, the film in a well-defined manner in the splicing position without the need for this positioning of the film by hand.

If the film 3 is to be spliced to the film 2, so first moves the slider 24 to fix the expiring film web 2 with the guide roller 17. Subsequently, the welding head 13 extends and pushes the films 2 and 3 together against the transfer device 10 (see Fig. 3 ).

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail of the welding head 13th

At the front end of the welding head 13, a heatable bead band 19 is arranged. The bead band 19 has a bead 23. The bead 23 may be hollow or filled.

The bead band 19 can be heated by external heating devices or by itself having an electrical resistance which is sufficient to heat the bead band 19 by electric current.

The bead band 19 has two flat regions 20, 21, which can lie on the films 2, 3 in the direction transverse to the film web. As a repository serves the transfer device 10th

By the bead band 19, the films 2, 3 are heated in the areas 20, 21; in the area of the bead 23, the films are not or not so much heated.

At the in FIG. 4 shown state of the state in FIG. 3 corresponds, the bead band 19 is pressed firmly on the films 2, 3. Also, a part of the welding head 13 can press on the films 2, 3 for fixing, even if this in FIG. 4 not shown. At the in FIG. 3 . 4 shown state, while the foils 2, 3 are held by the bead band 19 and the welding head 13, the slider 15 is extended (see FIG. 5 ). By inserting the slider 15 in the web of the films 2, 3, the film tension is increased. This is done on the side of the welding head 15, on which the pieces of film are arranged, which are not used further, but remain after splicing in the film splicing station and are removed in any other way.

By increasing the film tension with the slide 15, the films 2, 3 tear off the downwardly extending film parts of the films 2, 3 at the heated point formed by the region 20 of the bead band 19. The area 20 of the bead band 19 thus serves to heat the film for separation, whereas the area 21 of the bead band 19 serves to ensure the welding of the films. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the films 2, 3 between the bead band 19 and the slider 15 are not held about by the slider 13 as well.

Subsequently, the welding head 13, the slider 15 and the slide 24 are moved back in any order or simultaneously in their respective starting position. Of the Film removal in direction 18 can then continue. Here, the film 3 is now unrolled from the new roll 7.

As in FIG. 6 can be seen, at the weld 25 no tab or loose remnant of other film available. Rather, the so-welded film can be used directly in the further packaging process without further action.

Just as the splicing of a new film 3 has been explained to a film 2 can be moved with the welding head 14 and the slider 16 in a mirror-symmetrical manner. In this case, a new foil arranged on the right is spliced to a foil which comes from a roll which is arranged on the left and is exhausted. The beginning of the new roll is fixed in accordance with the terminal strip 11 in the holder 12b.

If films are used which have a pattern, for example by a periodic imprint, it may be desirable to join the films 2 and 3 at predetermined locations. The film 3 can be brought into the splicing position with a predetermined position by attaching the holding device to a specific position of the film 3, so that when the film is transferred to the splicing position, it is arranged with the desired position.

For the outgoing film 2, a sensor 22 may be provided which detects the pattern or characteristic parts of the pattern or other markings of the film corresponding to the periodicity of the pattern. This makes it possible to bring the film with a desired location to the splice position. The sensor 22 may, for example, a camera or to be a light barrier. Advantageously, the sensor 22 is provided downstream of the splicing position, so that regardless of which unwinding device a film is unrolled, recognition with one and the same sensor 22 is possible. In principle, however, it is also possible to provide the sensor 22 upstream of the splicing position, so that a sensor is used for each film.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in addition to the sensor 22, a displacement measuring system is provided with which it is possible to determine the length of the film that has passed after detection of a specific position of the film by the sensor 22. This sensor can be provided, for example, at the deflection roller 17, which determines the transported-away length of the film from the rotation of the roller 17 by, for example, integrating the signal of a yaw rate sensor. By cooperation of the sensor 22 with the displacement measuring system, the draining film can then be arranged at any position with respect to the pattern at the splicing position.

Claims (11)

1. Foil splicing station comprising a first (4) and a second (5) roll-off device for one roll of foil each, a splicing device for splicing of foils of the first and second roll-off device at a splicing position (13, 14), a movable transfer device (10) for transferring a foil (3) of a roll-off device to the splicing position (13, 14), characterized by a holding device (11, 12a, 12b) for stationary holding of the front end of the foil, wherein the foil can be transferred by the transfer device (10), and wherein the holding device (11, 12a, 12b) consists of a clamping rod (11) which is loosely, thus non-fixedly connected to the foil splicing station, wherein a holding or bearing (12a, 12b) is provided, into which the clamping rod (11) with the front end of the foil clamped therein can be inserted to arrange the front end of the foil well defined in relation the foil splicing station.
2. Foil splicing station according to claim 1, characterized in that the splicing device comprises a welding device (13, 14).
3. Foil splicing station according to claim 2, characterized in that the transfer device (10) is designed as a stabilizing bearing for welding using the welding device (13, 14).
4. Foil splicing station according to claim 3, characterized in that the welding device comprises a welding head (13, 14) which bears a heating element (19) and preferably can be moved.
5. Foil splicing station according to claim 4, characterized in that the heating element (19) has two heating areas (20, 21) which are spaced apart and can extend transversely to the transport direction of the foil over entire foil width.
6. Foil splicing station according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a device (15) for increasing tension of the foil is provided, which is preferably arranged on that side of the splicing position on which the foil remaining upon splicing lies.
7. Foil splicing station according to claim 6, characterized in that the foil tension device comprises a slider (15) which can be moved into the foil web.
8. Foil splicing station according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a sensor (22) for identifying a poil pattern is provided.
9. Foil splicing station according to claim 8, characterized in that a distance measuring system for measuring the length of rolled-off foil is provided.
10. Method for splicing a foil (3) of a first roll-off device (4) and a second foil (2) of a second roll-off device (5) comprising the following steps: stationary holding a foil (3) of a roll-of device by means of a holding device (11, 12a, 12b), transferring the foil to a splicing position (13, 14), wherein the foil (3) is stationary hold at another position und splicing the first (3) and second (4) foils at the splicing position (13, 14), wherein the holding device (11, 12a, 12b) consists of a clamping rod (11) which is loosely, thus non-fixedly connected to the foil splicing station, wherein the clamping rod (11) with the front end of the foil clamped therein can be inserted into a holding or bearing (12a, 12b), to arrange the front end of the foil well defined in relation to the foil splicing station.
11. Packaging machine for packaging with foil, characterized by a foil splicing station according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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