EP1852355B1 - Method and transverse sealer for packaging multiple objects in a combined package - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves individual packing and interconnection of articles by a plastic foil (4). The combination packing is manufactured by bringing the articles in a half foil tube and the edges of the combination packing are welded transverse to the transportation direction by a transverse welding equipment and lengthwise by a side welding equipment and between the articles by transverse welding equipment. A seal seam and the separation welding seam are produced by an oblong heated stamp (2), preferably upper stamp. Another oblong stamp (3) is arranged opposite to the former stamp. The lower stamp, is manufactured, as the opposing surface (15) of the latter stamp, and is kept even during the production of the separation welding seam or partly moved toward the former stamp and partly moved with the production of the seal seam against the direction of the former stamp. The opposing surface on the latter stamp is formed differently in each case by vertical movement of a middle area (16) of the former stamp, where recess, even opposing surface or an increase is formed. An independent claim is also included for the transverse welding equipment for continuous foil pathways.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for continuously packaging a plurality of articles in a combination package in which the articles are individually packaged and the individual packages are joined together by means of a plastic film and a transverse welding device suitable for this method.

Under combination packs bag-like packaging understood that are connected to each other via a sealed seam, so that a collapsible packaging, usually consisting of two individual of these bag-like packaging, results. These combination packagings are produced as individual interconnected pouches in which, for example, magazines are manually inserted.

Tubular bag packaging machines are generally known and usually consist of a tubular bag feed, a forming shoulder which deflects the endless tubular bag web in the transport direction and in the region of which the packaged goods are introduced into the tubular bag. This is followed by the welding of the open sides by means of a Seitenschweißeinrichtungeinrichtung and then the separation and welding of the transverse edges by means of a transverse welding device.

So revealed the Laid-Open Publication DE 15 86 100 A1 a corresponding to the preamble of claim 3 apparatus for forming welds between individual packages of thermoplastic packaging materials chain packs, which has a movable welding knife with an irregular working edge as a parting welding tool. The working edge may be sawtooth-shaped or wave-shaped or formed as a row of pins. The apparatus is further equipped with a control for the cutting-welding tool which controls the advancing or working movement of the tool with respect to the welding zone of the packaging material so as to produce either uninterrupted separating welds perforated by a series of packing webs in a predetermined optional order.

The present invention is based on the object of proposing a method and a device which enable the production of combination packaging in the continuous operation of a tubular bag packaging machine.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a transverse welding device having the features of claim 3. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the respective dependent subclaims.

According to the invention, the packaging of articles in a combination packaging takes place in continuous operation on a tubular bag packaging machine by means of the transverse welding device on the one hand, the combination packaging welded at the ends and the film web is separated and on the other hand, a sealed seam is generated between the articles in the combination packaging. This can be realized in simple operation, the production of such a combination packaging in continuous operation. For this purpose, as is customary, the transverse welding device a short distance with the film web moves with. The generation of the separating weld on the one hand and the sealed seam on the other hand by means of only one cross-welding device requires differently configured punch of the transverse welding device and a corresponding control of the cross-welding device for each operation. The triggering depends on whether the punch is moved to the same position or to different positions during the production of the separating weld seam and the sealing seam.

The sealing seam and the separating weld are produced by means of an elongated heated first punch, preferably upper punch, and an elongated, opposing second punch, preferably lower punch, by the counter surface on the second punch for the plastic film in the production of the separating weld or the sealing seam respectively is trained. Depending on the design of the first punch, the counter surface of the second punch may be formed either flat, with an elevation or with a depression, depending on the process to be performed.

To form the elevation, the flat counter surface or the recess of the second punch is moved either partially vertically up or partially vertically down. This can be realized in the current process in a relatively simple manner, the required change of the lower punch. For this purpose, the counter surface of the lower punch is adapted to the upper punch by vertical movement of a central region of the lower punch with respect to its outer regions of the weld to be produced. The counter-surface of the second punch is kept substantially flat in the production of the separating weld or partially moved in the direction of the upper punch, whereby the longitudinal increase is formed and in the manufacture of the seal partially against the direction of the upper punch, so that a longitudinally extending Well is formed. Depending on the design of the first stamp, the formation of the sealed seam can be achieved by a protruding welding edge of the first stamp, which presses the film into the recess, or be sealed by striking the edges of the recess of the mating surface surfaces of the first punch.

Preferably, the moving of the central region by applying a horizontal force on an elongated strip forming the central region, which is guided via a roller bearing on an inclined plane of a second elongated strip.

According to the transverse welding device according to the invention, the counter surface of the second stamp for sealing the film webs with each other without separation of the film webs or for welding the film web with separation of the film web a movable perpendicular to the film web, arranged in the longitudinal direction extending central region. This central region of the mating surface of the second punch is moved depending on the application and construction of the first punch. For this purpose, the second punch is preferably formed in three parts and has a center punch which is movable relative to the two outer part punches of the second punch in the direction of the first punch and thus makes it possible to form the counter surface flat, with depression or with an increase, depending on the as the first punch is formed.

The method and the transverse welding device thus enable the continuous operation with only one device for the transverse welding and the seal, whereby the number of individual packages in a combination packaging can be arbitrary.

Figur 1

die schematische Darstellung eines Folienhalbschlauches mit darin befindlichen Gegenständen, der mittels der Querschweißeinrichtung am Rand verschweißt und getrennt wird;

Figur 2

die Versiegelung des Folienschlauches auf der anderen Seite des in Figur 1 dargestellten Gegenstandes;

Figur 3

die vergrößerte Darstellung des Oberstempels und des Unterstempels der Querschweißeinrichtung gemäß Figur 1;

Figur 4

die vergrößerte Darstellung des Oberstempels und des Unterstempels gemäß Figur 2;

Figur 5

die vergrößerte Darstellung einer anderen Ausführungsform mit dem Oberstempel und dem Unterstempel der Querschweißeinrichtung beim Trennen der Folienbahn;

Figur 6

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der anderen Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 5 beim Versiegeln; und

Figur 7

die schematische Seitenansicht des Mittelstempels des Unterstempels in der angehobenen Stellung (Figur 7a) und in der abgesenkten Stellung (Figur 7b).

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the claims and the drawings. The individual features may be implemented individually or in several embodiments of the invention. They show:

FIG. 1

the schematic representation of a film half tube with objects therein, which is welded and separated by means of the transverse welding device at the edge;

FIG. 2

the sealing of the film tube on the other side of the in FIG. 1 represented item;

FIG. 3

the enlarged view of the upper punch and the lower punch of the transverse welding device according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4

the enlarged view of the upper punch and the lower punch according to FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 5

the enlarged view of another embodiment with the upper punch and the lower punch of the transverse welding device when separating the film web;

FIG. 6

an enlarged view of the other embodiment according to FIG. 5 when sealing; and

FIG. 7

the schematic side view of the center punch of the lower punch in the raised position ( Figure 7a ) and in the lowered position ( FIG. 7b ).

The basic structure of a tubular bag packaging machine is well known and, for example, in the DE 195 15719 shown. In the following, therefore, only the cross-welding device with the under different upper punches and lower punches and their structure and mode of action for the implementation of the method will be explained.

The FIG. 1 shows the essential parts of the invention for a transverse welding device 1 with a first heated plunger 2 (hereinafter called upper punch) and a second punch 3 (hereinafter referred to as lower punch). This results from the general practice of the upper punch 2 from above to move down on the film web 4, which is transported on a conveyor belt, not shown, together with the enclosed by the upper film 5 and the lower film 6 object. In principle, of course, a reverse approach can be realized. The movement of the upper punch 2 takes place both in the production of the separating weld and in the production of the sealing seam on the same height position, so that the movement is carried out by means of a toggle lever, not shown. When moving to different height positions, the movement could be done by servo motors.

FIG. 1 shows the tubular film 4 with three objects 7, which are individually denoted by 7 ', 7 "and 7"', wherein the film 4 between the objects 7 'and 7 "has a sealed seam 8. In the embodiments, it is assumed that the Combination packs, generally designated 9, consist of two bag-like packs 24, each with one article 7, for example magazines, wherein in principle a plurality of bag-like packs 24 can easily be realized in this method and with this device FIG. 1 the objects 7 'and 7 ". Between the objects 7" and 7 "', the separation of the tubular film 4 by the transverse welding device 1 and simultaneous welding of the edge of the combination packaging 9 'takes place.

This process is enlarged in FIG. 3 shown. In this embodiment, the upper punch 2 is designed such that it has a relative to the sealing surfaces 11 set back, tapered welding edge 10. Upper cancel 2 as well as lower cancel 3 extend as well known transversely over the transportation track. On both sides of the upper punch 2 known (not shown), resiliently mounted hold-down plates are arranged, which press the tubular film 4 against the lower punch 3, before the upper punch 2 impinges. As can be seen from the figures, the lower punch 3 consists of a center punch 12 and two outer punches 13 and 14. The outer punch 13 and 14 and the center punch 12 together form a mating surface 15, of which the central region 16 is perpendicular to the tubular film 4 movable. The mating surface 15 with the central region 16 has an elastic heat-resistant material. For the separation and welding process, as he in the FIGS. 1 and 3 is shown, the center punch was moved up to the welding edge 10 of the upper punch 2, whereby the tubular film 4 is also moved in this direction and pressed against the welding edge 10. As a result, the tubular film 4 is separated from the heated welding edge 10 and sealed at the sealing surface 11 at the same time.

In the Figures 2 and 4 the corresponding process for a seal is shown. In the FIG. 2 the objects (collectively denoted by the reference numeral 7) along with the tubular film 4 have moved around an object, so that the cross-welding device 1 is now between the article 7 "'and the article 7""for the production of the next combination packaging 9". In this position, the center punch 12 is lowered with its central region 16 and forms a recess 17, so that the upper punch 2 presses with the sealing surfaces 11 against the counter surface 15. By the formation of the sealing surfaces 11, which are not as sharp as the Welding edge 10, so that no separation of the tubular film 4, but only the desired seal.

In the Figures 5 and 6 another embodiment of the upper punch 2 is shown, which has a relative to the sealing surfaces 11 'protruding welding edge 10'. This causes as in FIG. 5 illustrated, when welding and separating the tubular film 4, the counter surface 15 is substantially planar and the central region 16 is not or only minimally lowered at the end of the center punch 12. When sealing, as in FIG. 6 shown, however, the central region 16 is significantly lowered with the center punch 12, so that again forms a recess 17, in which the tubular film 4 is pressed into this case. Here is a seal between the sealing surfaces 11 'and the edges of the counter surface 15 instead, in this embodiment there is a risk that the welding edge 10' still the tubular film 4 separates. This embodiment is therefore shown and discussed only as a matter of principle, wherein the in the FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrated and discussed embodiment ensures a safe desired function.

In order to realize the movement of the center punch 12 in the lower punch 2, this is, as in the FIGS. 7a and 7b represented, arranged on oblique planes 18 arranged roller bearings 19. By applying a horizontal force to a lower, horizontally movable bar 20, which is guided via further roller bearings 21 on a retaining strip, the center punch 12 can be raised or lowered with the central region 16. Figure 7a shows the center stamp 12 in the raised and FIG. 7b in the lowered position. The provision can be realized either with a corresponding drive or by spring forces.

The combination packings produced by this method and with this cross-welding device can also be produced with a reclosing tab or a reinforcing strip with or without a hanging hole in a known manner.

Claims (6)

1. Method for continuous packaging of a plurality of objects (7) in a combination package (9), in which the objects (7) are packaged individually and the individual packages are connected together by means of a plastic material film (4), in that production of the combination package (9) is effected by introducing the objects (7) into a film half-hose, producing a separating weld seam (23) on the edges of the combination package (9) transversely relative to the transport direction in front of and behind the objects (7) which are disposed in the combination package (9) by means of a transverse welding device (1) and welding of the edges longitudinally to the transport direction on the open side of the film half-hose by means of a side welding device, and a sealing seam (8) is produced between the objects (7) of the combination package (9) by means of the transverse welding device (1), and the sealing seam (8) and the separating weld seam (23) are produced by means of an oblong heated first stamp (2), preferably an upper stamp, and by means of a second oblong stamp (3), preferably a lower stamp, which is disposed opposite said first stamp, in that the counter-face (15) of the second stamp (3) during production of the separating weld seam (23) is held substantially level or is moved partially in the direction of the first stamp (2) and during production of the sealing seam (8) is moved partially counter to the direction of the first stamp (2), the counter-face (15) on the second stamp (3) for the production of the separating weld seam (23) and for the production of the sealing seam (8) being configured respectively differently by means of vertical movement of a central region (16) of the second stamp (3), as a result of which a recess (17), a level counter-face (15) or a raised portion is formed.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the movement of the central region (16) is implemented by applying a horizontal force to an oblong strip (20) which bears the central region (16) via a roller bearing (19) on an inclined plane (18).
3. Transverse welding device for packaging machines which use continuous film webs, having a welding unit which has a first and a second oppositely disposed oblong stamp (2, 3), the transverse welding being effected in continuous operation, the first stamp (2) being heated and having at least one welding edge (10, 10') which contacts the film web (4) and presses against a counter-face (15) of the second stamp (3) for transverse welding and separating of the film webs (4), characterised in that the counter-face (15) of the second stamp (3) for sealing the film webs without separation: of the film webs (4) or for welding the film web (4) with separation of the film webs (4) has a central region (16) which is disposed moveably perpendicular to the film web (4) and extends in the longitudinal direction.
4. Transverse welding device according to claim 3, characterised in that the second stamp (3) has two outer stamps (13, 14) and a central stamp (12) which is moveable in the direction of the first stamp (2).
5. Transverse welding device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that, for sealing, the counter-face (15) has a recess (17) by means of lowering the central region (16).
6. Transverse welding device according to claim 5, characterised in that, for sealing, the first stamp (2) has either a protruding welding edge (10') or the welding edge (10) has projecting sealing faces (11).

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