EP2004491B1 - Method for manufacturing a package and a packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for producing a package with the following steps is described. Forming of a container (13) in a web of a first web material (7); subsequent sealing of a cover (14) onto the container produced within an outer contour of the package to be produced; and thereafter cutting of the container (13) out of the first web material (7) along the outer contour of the package to be produced and outside of an outer contour of the cover (14) sealed thereon.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a packaging and a packaging machine.

For the marketing of goods such as Foods are often packaged in packaging that allows a hygienic and visually appealing presentation.

A known type of packaging is the sealing of the goods to be packaged in so-called thermoformed packaging. These packages are characterized by the fact that the goods airtight and, if desired, can be packaged in a modified atmosphere and at the same time the packaging can be designed cost and visually appealing. In such a method for producing a package, bottom parts of a web of a film material, usually a plastic film, are first used to form packaging bottom parts in the film material. These packaging parts are then filled with the goods to be packaged and then a film material sealed along a peripheral edge as a lid on the respective packaging lower parts. In a subsequent singulation process, which takes place in a single or several successive steps, the produced packages are singulated by cutting through the material of the packaging bottoms and the lid at the same time along the outer contour of the packaging to be produced. In the DE 25 06 446 A1 discloses a thermoforming machine, in which the separation takes place in two steps, in the transport direction and perpendicular to the transport direction.

After such a process can be produced at low cost packaging. However, the packages produced have the disadvantage that their edge is formed by a horizontally extending flat edge portion, which is partially sharp-edged and for some applications does not meet the demands on the optical design of the packaging. If it is desired that the edge of the packaging base have an angled or bent shape, the packaging can not be made meaningfully according to this method since the cutting of the materials of the packaging base and lid must be on two spaced apart planes.

In another known method, prefabricated containers are initially provided and filled. Subsequently, a lidding film is sealed onto the filled containers, which is cut after sealing. The latter methods have the advantage that packaging can be produced in which the edge region of the container can be angled or bent, resulting in an improved appearance of the package. In these methods, however, it is disadvantageous that the prefabricated containers must be exactly positioned individually prior to filling and sealing in order to allow reliable filling and sealing. often the containers are manufactured at a different location from the place of filling, combined into larger groups in stacks and transported to the place of filling. In these cases, the containers must be additionally unstacked before filling. This method is thus more expensive than the one described first.

In the DE 101 54 722 A1 is a packaging machine disclosed in which initially formed from a film packaging trays and these are separated with a downstream arranged cutting station from the film. Subsequently, after filling the separated packaging troughs, a lidding foil is sealed and finally the lidding foil is cut to the desired shape. Since the lidding film is sealed onto separate, independent packaging trays, they must be precisely positioned before sealing. If lid film is to be sealed onto several packaging trays simultaneously in one step, then the packaging trays must be grouped in advance.

GB 850,089 shows a machine for packaging products with a conveyor for conveying a first strip of thermoplastic material through a deformation area, a loading area and a shrink area, with a forming device in the deformation area and with means for feeding a second strip of thermoplastic material.

EP 0 405 365 A1 shows a container packaging with a container and a lid part with which the container is sealed by sealing after it has been filled.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a packaging as well as an improved packaging machine, which allow to produce packages that meet both the highest demands on the optics and can be produced in a cost effective manner.

The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a packaging machine according to claim 12. Further developments of the invention are each characterized in the subclaims.

With the method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention, packages can be produced which have a visually appealing shape. Especially The packaging edges can be formed with angled or rounded edges. Furthermore, there is an advantage that over devices and methods in which lids are sealed on prefabricated packaging troughs or containers, a precise positioning and grouping of the container does not have to be done, since the position of the container is controlled over the entire processing path. As a result, the packaging can be produced inexpensively and in a small space.

The separation of the packaging takes place only at the end of the packaging process and a reliable transport during the packaging process is ensured. When separating the packages, the material of the lid closing the packaging is not cut, and sharp-edged packaging edges can be avoided. The removal of the packaging from the sheet-like material can be done exactly and tightly on a predetermined individually shaped outer contour, whereby visually appealing and mechanically stable packaging can be produced.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Verpa- ckungsmaschine;

Fig. 2

eine schematische perspektivische Darstel- lung einer nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Ver- fahren erzeugten Verpackung;

Fig. 3

eine schematische geschnittene Detailan- sicht einer Ecke der in Fig. 2 dargestell- ten Verpackung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Randbereichs zweier benachbarter Verpackun- gen; und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung der Schneide- station zum Vereinzeln der Verpackungen.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. From the figures show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a packaging machine;

Fig. 2

a schematic perspective view of a packaging produced by the method according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a schematic sectional detailed view of a corner of in Fig. 2 illustrated packaging;

Fig. 4

a schematic sectional view of the edge region of two adjacent packaging gene; and

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of the cutting station for separating the packaging.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As in Fig. 1 can be seen, the packaging machine has a forming station 1, a sealing station 2, a cross-cutting device 3 and a longitudinal cutting device 4, which are arranged in this order in a processing direction R on a machine frame 5. On the input side is located on the machine frame R, a feed roller 6, from which a first web-shaped material 7 is unrolled. In the area of the sealing station 2, a second feed roller 8 is provided, from which a second web-shaped material 9 is unrolled. Behind the sealing station 2 is a discharge device 10 in the form of a roll, on which a remaining after the sealing station 2 Restfoliengitter 9 'of the second web-shaped material is rolled up.

In the area of the sealing station 2, a transport device 11 is further provided, with which the second web-shaped material 9 is actively transported into and out of the sealing station 2 in a main working cycle. This transport device 11 can be realized for example by laterally arranged chains or grippers or by friction rollers. On the output side, a discharge device 12 in the form of a conveyor belt is provided on the packaging machine, are transported with the finished individualized packages. Furthermore, the packaging machine to a feed device, not shown, which engages the first sheet-like material laterally and in the main working cycle cyclically transported in the machining direction. The feed device can be realized, for example, by laterally arranged transport chains, lateral grippers or friction rollers.

In the illustrated embodiment, the forming station 1 is formed as a deep-drawing station in which containers 13 are formed by deep-drawing in the first sheet-like material 7. In this case, the forming station 1 can be designed such that in the direction perpendicular to the processing direction R a plurality of containers are formed side by side. In the transport direction R behind the forming station 1, a filling station, not shown, is provided, in which the containers 13 formed in the first web-shaped material 7 are filled.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing station 2 is formed as a combined sealing and lid cutting station. This combined sealing and lid cutting station is designed so that from the second web-shaped material 9 cover 14 are cut out and sealed onto a peripheral upper edge of the container 13. In this case, the lid 14 are cut with a punch from the second sheet-like material 9 and sealed by supplying heat between a sealing shell and a seal base with the material of the container 13. The first and the second sheet-like material 7, 9 are each formed by plastic films in the present embodiment. The sealing station 2 is further formed in a known manner as a closed chamber in which the atmosphere in the containers 13 is replaced by a replacement gas prior to sealing, such as CO ₂ as inert gas.

The cross cutter 3 is formed as a punch which divides the first sheet material 7 in a direction transverse to the machining direction between adjacent containers 13. The cross-cutting device 3 works in this way, that the first web-shaped material is not cut over the entire web width, but is not severed at least in an edge region. This allows a controlled onward transport by the feed device.

The longitudinal cutting device 4 is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a knife assembly with which the first web-shaped material 7 is severed between adjacent containers 13 and the lateral edge of the first web-shaped material 7, so that behind the longitudinal cutting device 4 individualized packages consisting of the first web-shaped Material 7 are separated.

The operation of the above-described packaging machine will be described below.

The first web-shaped material 7 is unrolled from the feed roller 6 and transported by the feed device into the forming station 1. In the forming station 1, containers 13 are formed by deep drawing in the first sheet-like material 7. The containers are thereby formed so that they have in their peripheral edge region a horizontal first edge portion 20, to which in the circumferential direction outside an angled or bent second edge portion 21 connects, which extends substantially vertically, as in the Fig. 2 to 4 is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, a corner of the container 13 is formed with a horizontal section 22 adjoining the second edge section 21 on the outside.

The containers 13 formed are transported along with the surrounding material of the first web-shaped material 7 in a main working cycle to the filling station, in which they are filled with the goods 15 to be packaged.

Subsequently, the filled containers 13 are transported along with the surrounding material of the first sheet material 7 in the main working cycle by the feed device in the sealing station 2. Synchronized with the feed of the filled container 13, the second web-shaped material 9 is actively transported by the transport device 11 in the main working cycle in the sealing station 2. In the sealing station 2 designed as a combined sealing and lid cutting device, lids 14 are cut out of the second web-shaped material 9 and these are sealed onto the containers 13. This process is based on the Fig. 2 to 4 described in more detail.

The lids 14 are cut out of the second web-shaped material 9 such that their outer contour runs within the outer contour of the container 13 defined by the second edge section 21 and the horizontal section 22. The cover 14 are also sealed within the outer contour of the container 13 along a sealing seam 23 on the first edge portion 20. In Fig. 4 is schematically shown in detail a section through two adjacent containers on the lid 14 have been sealed. As in Fig. 4 can be seen, the sealing seam 23 extends in each case within the defined by the angled or bent edge outer contour of the container 13 and the material of the lid 14 extends only so far that it ends in front of the outer contour of the container 13. In other words, after the sealing station 2, the material of the cover 14 does not protrude beyond the outer contour of the container 13 that defines the later packaging edge. As in the Fig. 2 and 3 is shown, is a rounded corner 14 'of the lid 14, which is located at the provided with the horizontal portion 22 corner of the container 13, after sealing from the first edge portion 20 of the horizontal portion 22 out and thus allows comfortable handling when opening the packaging.

Like also in Fig. 4 can be seen, the first web-shaped material 7 after the sealing station 2 still extends between adjacent containers 13, 13 that they are interconnected. This ensures that the filled and sealed containers 13 can be transported further after the sealing station 2 in the main working cycle of the packaging machine with the first web-shaped material 7.

A residual grid 9 'of the second sheet material 9 remaining after the cut-out of the lid 14 is wound on the output side of the sealing station 2 onto a removal roller 10, so that it can be disposed of or recycled.

After the sealing station 2, the sealed containers 13 are transported further with the advance of the first web-shaped material 7 into the cross-cutting device 3, in which the first web-shaped material 7 is severed in the direction perpendicular to the processing direction R between the containers. The operation of the cross cutter 3 is based on Fig. 5 described.

As in Fig. 5 can be seen, the cross-cutting device 3 consists of a cutting tool 31 and an abutment 30. The cutting tool 31 can be moved in the vertical direction Z relative to the anvil 30, that there is located between first web-like material 7 between two containers 13, a strip 16 of the first sheet material 7 is cut out. In this case, the cross-cutting device 3 is formed such that the cut as close as possible to the formed by the angled or bent second edge portion 21 outer contour of the container 13. It is important that when performing the cut, the material of the lid 14 is not severed, since it already ends within the outer contour of the container 13.

The cross-cutting device 3 is designed such that the first web-shaped material 7 is severed in the direction transverse to the machining direction between the containers, but at least a portion of the side edges of the first web-shaped material 7 is not severed to allow reliable onward transport. Depending on the design of the forming station 1 and the sealing station 2, a plurality of containers 13 are arranged side by side and one behind the other in the first web-shaped material 7 and sealed. In the cross-cutting device 3, with the severing of the first web-shaped material 7 in the transverse direction, the in Fig. 2 illustrated rounded corners of the container 13 is formed.

After the cross-cutting and the formation of the rounded corners, the containers 13 which have not yet been cut in the longitudinal direction are transported further with the first sheet-like material 7 to the longitudinal cutting device 4. Since the first web-shaped material 7 was not completely severed in the cross-cutting device 3 in the transverse direction, but at least one continuous edge portion was left, a reliable further transport of the still connected to the first web-shaped material 7 container 13 can take place.

In the longitudinal cutting device 4, the first web-shaped material 7 is cut in the machining direction, ie in the longitudinal direction, along the outer contour of the container 13 between the rounded corners. The section is again as close as possible to the outer contour of the container 13 forming angled or bent second edge portion 21 performed. Again, it is important that the material of the lid 14 is not severed, as it ends within the outer contour of the container 13.

As a result of the cutting carried out in the longitudinal cutting device 4, the sealed containers 13 produced are completely separated from the first sheet-like material 7 and transported away as separated finished packages with the discharge device 12.

With the described packaging machine and the described method, the in Fig. 2 and 3 produced packaging can be produced. As in Fig. 2 can be seen, the generated packaging has a visually appealing downwardly angled or rounded edge 21, which has a U-shaped cross-section in the embodiment shown. If desired, for example, a corner of the packaging as in Fig. 2 represented with a horizontal edge portion 22 are provided, at which the lid 14 is withdrawn from the container 13 with a protruding corner 14 'for opening the package.

With the packaging machine described, it is possible to produce visually appealing packages with angled or bent edges on a thermoforming machine, in which both the receiving container and the lid can be made within a short working distance and sealed together. Furthermore, the control of the containers is not abandoned during the entire process since they are carried along with the first sheet material until the last process step. It can thus be produced on a cost-saving thermoforming efficient packaging with shapes that could previously be produced only with more expensive and expensive procedures.

The active transport of the second web-like material 9 by means of the transport device 11 has the advantage that the feeding of the second web-like material over the containers 13 can be done exactly and the remaining skeleton can be reliably removed from the sealing device. The Transport device 11 may be arranged, for example, before the sealing station, after the sealing station or so that it extends through the sealing station.

Modifications of the described embodiments are possible. For example, For example, the cross-cutter and the slitter may be combined into a single cutting station in which the containers are e.g. be cut with a punch around along its outer contour of the first sheet material 7. It is important, however, that the material of the lid 14 does not have to be severed during cutting and angled or bent edges of the packaging are produced.

In a further modification, prefabricated lids can also be sealed onto the containers 13 formed in the first sheet-like material 7. These must not extend beyond the outer contour of the packaging to be produced and should not be severed during the separation of the packaging, so that attractive packaging with angled or bent edges can be produced.

It can be processed side by side and one behind the other in the processing direction R in a single operation in each case several packages.

Claims (23)

1. Method for producing a packaging comprising the following steps:

   forming a container (13) in a web of a first web-form material (7);

   subsequent sealing of a lid (14) onto the resultant container within an outer contour of the packaging to be produced; and

   subsequent separation of the container (13) from the first web-form material (7) along the outer contour of the packaging to be produced and outside an outer contour of the lid (14) sealed thereon.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the edge (21) of the packaging to be produced is formed in an angled or bent shape.
3. Method according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the container (13) is formed by thermoforming.
4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the material of the lid (14) is not severed when the container (13) is separated from first web-form material.
5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container (13) is formed and separated in such a way that the packaging produced has an edge (21) extending substantially vertically.
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a lid (14) of which the outer contour extends within the outer contour of the packaging to be produced is sealed on.
7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a lid (14) that is already cut to size is sealed on.
8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lid (14) is separated from a web of a second web-form material (9) before sealing.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the separation of the lid (14) from the second web-form material (9) and the sealing of the lid are performed in one working station.
10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the container (13) is formed and separated in such a way that the packaging produced has a substantially U-shaped edge.
11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the container (13) is filled once said container has been formed and before the lid (14) is sealed on.
12. Packaging machine comprising
    a forming station (1) for forming containers (13) in a first web-form material (7),
    a sealing station (2) arranged downstream thereof in a working direction and configured in such a way that lids (14) are sealed on the containers (13) within an outer contour of the packaging to be produced and disconnected from lids (14) of adjacent containers (13),
    a cutting station (3, 4) arranged downstream of the sealing station (2) in a working direction and configured in such a way that the containers are cut out from the first web-form material (7) along the outer contour of the packaging to be produced and outside an outer contour of the lid (14) sealed onto the containers.
13. Packaging machine according to claim 12, wherein the sealing station (2) is integrated with a lid cutting station configured in such a way that lids (14) are cut out of a web of a second web-form material (9).
14. Packaging machine according to claim 13, wherein the lid cutting station comprises a cutting tool configured in such a way that the lids (14) are cut within the outer contour of the packaging to be produced.
15. Packaging machine according to either claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the lid cutting station is configured in such a way that the lid (14) is cut out prior to sealing.
16. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the forming station (1) is a thermoforming station.
17. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the sealing station (2) is a sealable chamber with a modifiable atmosphere.
18. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the cutting station (3) is formed by a punch that separates the packagings from the first web-form material (7) in one step.
19. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the cutting station is formed by a separate longitudinal cutting device (3) that cuts the first web-form material (7) in the transport direction (R), and by a transverse cutting device (4) that cuts the first web-form material transverse to the transport direction (R).
20. Packaging machine according to claim 19, wherein the transverse cutting device (3) is arranged before the longitudinal cutting device (4).
21. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein a transport device (11) is further provided and moves the second web-form material (9) actively through the sealing station (2).
22. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein a discharge device (10) for collecting a remaining residual lattice of the second web-form material (9) is provided behind the sealing station (2).
23. Packaging machine according to any one of claims 12 to 22, wherein the forming station (1) is configured in such a way that the edge of the packaging to be produced is produced in an angled or bent shape.

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