EP2716559B1 - Verfahren zur Herstellung von Beuteln und Verpackungsvorrichtung zur Herstellung von Beuteln - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Herstellung von Beuteln und Verpackungsvorrichtung zur Herstellung von Beuteln Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2716559B1
EP2716559B1 EP12006916.6A EP12006916A EP2716559B1 EP 2716559 B1 EP2716559 B1 EP 2716559B1 EP 12006916 A EP12006916 A EP 12006916A EP 2716559 B1 EP2716559 B1 EP 2716559B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
leading
trailing
web
pouches
pocket
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.)
Active
Application number
EP12006916.6A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2716559A1 (de
Inventor
Phil HADDOW
Peter Whitlock
Bradley WIGGETT
Stefan Lambertz
Michael Klein
Hans Knops
Wolfgang Reichel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Teepak Spezialmaschinen GmbH and Co KG
Mpac Group PLC
Original Assignee
Teepak Spezialmaschinen GmbH and Co KG
Molins Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Teepak Spezialmaschinen GmbH and Co KG, Molins Ltd filed Critical Teepak Spezialmaschinen GmbH and Co KG
Priority to PT120069166T priority Critical patent/PT2716559E/pt
Priority to EP12006916.6A priority patent/EP2716559B1/de
Priority to ES12006916.6T priority patent/ES2550511T3/es
Publication of EP2716559A1 publication Critical patent/EP2716559A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2716559B1 publication Critical patent/EP2716559B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
    • B65B9/08—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing
    • B65B9/087—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing the web advancing continuously
    • 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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for making pouches and a packaging apparatus for making such pouches.
  • a method for producing pouches comprising the steps of providing a continuous web, folding the web to provide confronting side surfaces joined along a bottom edge and forming a vertical seal between the confronting side surfaces, thereby providing a series of adjacent pockets having opposite side walls, with each pocket having an unsealed opening along a top edge, and filling the pockets through the opening with material and then sealing the opening to provide sealed pouches is known from WO 2007/089838 A2 .
  • the continuous web is guided through a vertical sealer in which the vertical seals are formed after the continuous web has been folded.
  • Those vertical seals are spaced from one another to provide a pocket which is defined by the bottom edge as the bottom of the pocket and a leading edge which is defined by a vertical seal, and a trailing edge which is defined by the neighboring vertical seal.
  • the vertical seal is provided such that neighboring pockets can be separated without impeding the closure of the pocket by the vertical seal. By separating the pockets, individual pouches are formed.
  • the continuous web is transferred to a cutting section in which the continuous web is cut to isolate individual pouches having an unsealed opening along the top edge.
  • Those pouches are transferred by a vacuum belt transport means against which the separated pouches are sucked and transferred to a filler wheel.
  • the filler wheel has gripping elements which are adapted to grip the leading and tailing edges of each pouch, respectively, between jaws and are movable relative to each other to open the unsealed opening. As the distance between the leading and the tailing edges of one single pouch is reduced, the distance between the confronting side surfaces in increased.
  • spouts of a spout wheel can be introduced into the pouches for filling the same with material.
  • the spout wheel and the filler wheel are rotatably driven.
  • the rotational axis of the filler wheel is essentially co-axial to the rotational axis of the spout wheel. However, the rotational axes are slightly inclined relative to each other.
  • a respective spout is received within the open mouth of the pouches and then continuously retracted from the pouch as the filler wheel and the spout wheel are continuously rotated, starting from this position.
  • the gripping means are actuated such that the distance between the leading and the tailing edges of the each spout are increased, thereby bringing the confronting side surfaces closer together and closing the unsealed opening.
  • the pouches are finally sealed by a sealing section arranged at the outer circumference of the filler wheel and provided with heated sealing surfaces abutting against the folded web material for sealing the opening.
  • the method known from WO 2007/089838 A2 and the apparatus for carrying out said method is disadvantageous in that it requires a fusible film material for making the web.
  • Fusible film materials are not suitable for making a packaging for e.g. tea, coffee or the like, because these substances have to be brewed while still contained in the pouch.
  • fusible film materials usually require a plastic material for forming the web or at least a plastic coating on the web, which may be disadvantageous for ecological reasons in case the material has to breathe.
  • the apparatus known from WO 2007/0898238 A2 has a complex constitution, which may be troublesome due to the fact that each pouch is gripped at its leading and trailing edge by a gripping unit.
  • the gripping unit makes manufacturing of the apparatus for carrying out the packaging method expensive.
  • the vacuum belt transport means add to the rather complex constitution of the known apparatus. Further, handling of isolated pouches may cause problems, in particular if pouches are to be made in a fast and economic way.
  • US 4 534 185 A is a further example of a method in which pouches are formed from a continuous web and then transferred as individual items to a filler wheel in which the pouches are filled with material, then sealed and finally discharged from the filler wheel as sealed pouches.
  • the drawbacks of the apparatus and the method known from this prior art document are essentially the same as the ones discussed with reference to WO 2007/089838 A2 .
  • a similar method and apparatus are disclosed in JP 11 292001 A .
  • US 3 563 001 A is an example of an apparatus and a method in which vertical seals are formed on a wheel defining a vertical filler.
  • the continuous web providing pockets between the vertical seals and a bottom edge is continuously conveyed to a filler wheel in which the pockets are filled with material, essentially in the same way as discussed above with reference to WO 2007/089838 A2 .
  • the continuous web is transferred from the circular path around the filler wheel to a linear path and to a top sealer in which the unsealed opening of the pockets is sealed.
  • the continuous web is twisted such that the vertical orientation of the web is transferred into a horizontal orientation.
  • the web is conveyed to a cutting table on which the material defining the pockets is cut at the vertical seal to thereby isolate individual sealed pouches, which are made to slide from the cutting table.
  • a respective apparatus and method is described e.g. in US 5 502 951 A , US 3 597 898 A , CA 2 142 480 A1 or US 6 058 818 A .
  • the aforementioned prior art with a separate cutting station for separating the pouches from a continuous web are bulky. Furthermore, pouches separated on the cutting table have to be collected after cutting in order to further process the individual pouches. In other words, the predetermined orientation and holding of individual pouches is lost during cutting, making processing of the filled and sealed pouches troublesome.
  • US 4 726 170 is a further example describing an apparatus of separating pouches from a chain of interconnected pockets before filling and packaging.
  • the pouch supply apparatus has separating means for separating the chain of interconnected pockets.
  • the separating means comprise a pair of front feed rollers and a pair of rear feed rollers. Each of the pairs of feed rollers comprises an upper pinch roller and a lower pinch roller.
  • the front feed rollers are rotated somewhat faster than the rear feed rollers, thereby producing a speed differential which acts to separate a single pouch from the chain of interconnected pouches at the perforations by tearing.
  • a pouch positioning means is provided at the exit side of the front feed rollers in close proximity thereto for tilting the pouch to arrange the pouch with the unsealed opening thereof at the upper end of the pouch.
  • the present invention aims to provide a method form making pouches and a packaging apparatus for making pouches by at least partially avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages and drawbacks.
  • the present invention aims to improve the method known from WO 2007/089838 A2 such that transfer of the web to the filler wheel is facilitated, and to improve the packaging apparatus in particular to reduce complexity and bulkiness of the apparatus known from WO 2007/089838 A2 .
  • the present invention provides a method as specified in claim 1.
  • the web is perforated to form a perforation between a leading length piece of the web and a trailing length piece of the web.
  • the respective length pieces are adapted to form a leading pocket and a trailing pocket, respectively.
  • the web may be perforated before forming the vertical seal, during forming the vertical seal or after forming the vertical seal.
  • the inventive method specifies the forming step of a perforation between length pieces. Those length pieces may already correspond to the length of pockets, i.e. length sections of the web being provided with the vertical seal.
  • the web is not separated to form isolated pouches, but only perforated such that the continuous web can be treated as a continuum and e.g. prepared for filing the pockets with material and/or filling the pockets while the continuous web still exists.
  • the length pieces forming the pouches are separated by tearing them from the continuous web.
  • the inventive method proposes to increase the distance between a trailing edge of the leading length piece and a leading edge of the trailing length piece.
  • the trailing edge of the leading length piece and/or the leading edge of the trailing length piece may be defined by the perforation. Increasing of the length of adjacent edges of neighboring length pieces will lead to an increased strain on the web at the location of the perforation.
  • the web will be torn at the perforation, thereby isolating the separated length pieces.
  • vertical seal This vertical seal is a seal which is provided at predetermined distances along the longitudinal axis of the folded web.
  • the vertical seal is usually arranged in vertical direction upon filling of the pocket.
  • the feature "vertical seal” does not specify the orientation of the continuous web when the vertical seals are made.
  • the continuous web can have any orientation.
  • the vertical seals can be made by any suitable method adapted to connecting the confronting side surface of the folded web to each other on a regular basis, vertical sealing is achieved by the application of heat to melt a fusible material arranged between the confronting side surfaces of the continuous web to be joined by the vertical seal.
  • the length pieces are separated after pockets have been formed.
  • Tearing of the continuous web will lead to isolation of individual pouches. Tearing of the continuous web is usually conducted before the pouches are filled.
  • the trailing edge of the leading length piece and the leading edge of the trailing length piece are defined by a trailing and a leading end, respectively, of neighboring individual pouches. Those neighbouring leading and trailing edges are usually formed by a single vertical seal, i.e. a seal which has been produced at one instance but may have different sealing section separated by a mid area in which a perforation is made.
  • tearing of the continuous web is conducted as the web is moving in a circular path.
  • the continuous web is preferably abutted against an outer circumference of a rotating filler wheel.
  • the continuous web follows the circular path.
  • the leading and the trailing length pieces are torn apart while the length pieces are moved on the circular path, i.e. while rotating with the filler wheel.
  • tearing action not only the pockets are isolated to render the same pouches but tearing will likewise bring the leading and the trailing edge of a single length piece closer together, thereby urging the confronting side surfaces away from each other at the unsealed opening to open the unsealed opening.
  • tearing apart the length pieces will not only isolate the length pieces but will also widen the opening to facilitate the filling of the pocket with material.
  • the trailing edge of the leading pocket is pierced by a trailing arm of a leading gripping unit of the filler wheel and the leading edge of the trailing pocket is pierced by a leading arm of a trailing gripping unit of the filler wheel.
  • the leading and the trailing pockets are torn apart for forming open pouches by pivoting at least one of the leading and the trailing arms toward the other of the trailing and the leading arms of the same gripping unit.
  • the axis around which the at least one arm is pivoted generally extends parallel to the rotational axis of the filler wheel. In other words, by pivoting the at least one arm, the forward free ends of both arms are brought closer to each other in circumferential direction of the filler wheel.
  • an end side of the free end of each arm is usually provided with needles which are adapted to pierce the material forming the continuous web.
  • the needles may be movable relative to the arm. On a regular basis, the needles are securely held by the respective arms.
  • the web is preferably pressed against those arms by a rotating pressure roll.
  • This rotary pressure roll usually cooperates with the radial end face of each trailing and leading arm, respectively.
  • the rotary pressure roll is usually arranged stationary while the filler wheel is rotating.
  • a longitudinal opening guide means is preferably introduced between the confronting side surfaces.
  • Respective longitudinal opening guide means is usually arranged at the outer circumference of the filler wheel such that the unsealed opening receives the longitudinal opening guide means. Accordingly, the longitudinal opening guide means is introduced through the unsealed opening into an upper end section of the pouch. In said upper end section, the vertical seal usually does not exist.
  • the longitudinal opening guide means usually comprises a guide wedge which is adopted to be introduced into the open mouth of the open pouch.
  • the guide wedge usually extends in circumferential direction and with distance to radial end face of the arms.
  • the guide wedge is usually slightly inclined relative to the plane comprising the filler wheel, which plane extends perpendicular to the rotational axis of the filler wheel.
  • the longitudinal opening guide means usually has a chamfered widening section arranged to be received within the pouch to force the confronting side surface away from each other.
  • This chamfered widening section is arranged at a position in which the longitudinal guide means are already introduced into the open pouch.
  • guide rails extend from the widening section. Said guide rails are spaced from one another and extend essentially in circumferential direction of the filler wheel. The radial distance between the guide rails is preferably selected such that at least a tip of an assigned spout of the spout wheel may be projected between the guide rails.
  • the longitudinal opening guide means preferably extends only over a certain circumferential length along the outer circumference of the filler wheel until the spout has been introduced into the pocket through the unsealed opening.
  • leading and the trailing length pieces are torn apart as the longitudinal opening guide means are received between the confronting side surfaces. Accordingly, the longitudinal opening guide means will assist separation of the confronting side surfaces and thus opening of the unsealed opening of the spout in the course of the carrying action.
  • the pouches are closed by pivoting at least the leading and the trailing arms away from the other of the trailing and the leading arms of the same gripping unit after filling of the pouch. Accordingly, by the pivotable movement of the at least one arm, the confronting side surfaces of each pouch are brought closer to each other at least at an upper end section thereof, i.e. in the region of the unsealed opening. Accordingly, in this preferred embodiment, the pouches are formed while moving on the circular path provided by the filler wheel, are opened on said circular path, are filled while the spout is introduced into the pouch and while moving on the circular path and are subsequently closed by straightening the unsealed opening along the top edge of the pouch while moving on the circular path.
  • the pouches are sealed at the top edge to enclose the volume of the pouch containing the material filled in each pouch.
  • the pouches are transferred from the circular path provided by the filler wheel to a linear sealing path, in which the opening is sealed.
  • the present invention furthermore specifies an apparatus for making pouches as previously known from WO 2007/089838 A2 .
  • This known apparatus has feeding means for feeding a continuous web and folding means for folding the web to provide confronting surfaces joined along a bottom edge. Further, vertical sealing means are provided for forming a vertical seal between the confronting side surfaces at spaced intervals along the web, thereby providing a series of adjacent pockets having opposite side walls with each pocket having an unsealed opening along a top edge.
  • the generic packaging apparatus furthermore has filling means for filling the pockets with a material and horizontal sealing means for finally sealing the unsealed opening.
  • Those means defining the preamble of claim 10 may be formed as described e.g. in WO 2007/089838 A2 .
  • the inventive packaging apparatus furthermore provides perforation means for perforating the continuous web between a leading length piece of the web adapted to form a leading pocket and a trailing length piece of the web adapted to form a trailing pocket.
  • the inventive packaging apparatus has tearing means adapted to tear the leading length piece and the trailing length piece apart by increasing the distance between the trailing edge of the leading length piece and the leading edge of the trailing length piece.
  • Such apparatus is in particular suitable for carrying out the inventive method and for avoiding any cutting of the continuous web to isolate the pouches from the continuous web before the same is secured to the filler wheel.
  • the inventive apparatus is in particular suitable for tearing apart a continuous web made of infiltratable material, such as e.g. the material of which filter bags for tea and other brewable or extractable substances are usually made of.
  • the filling means and the tearing means are assigned to a rotatable filler wheel, thereby providing a separation section at the circumference of the filling wheel and, furthermore, a closing section in which the tearing action is reverted to bring the confronting side surfaces at the top edge closer together.
  • the filler wheel comprises plural leading and trailing arms assigned to pierce the leading and the trailing edge of a length piece of the continuous web adapted to form a single pouch, respectively. At least one of those leading and trailing arms, each of which is assignable to a specific length piece and/or pocket of the continuous web and thus forming a gripping unit for such length piece and/or pocket, is pivotably supported on the filler wheel about an axis extending essentially parallel to the rotational axis of the filler wheel to bring radial free ends of the respective arms closer to each other in circumferential direction of the filler wheel.
  • Each of the radial end faces is provided with needles which project in radial direction and are adapted to pierce the continuous web to secure the same against the leading and the trailing arms, respectively. Securing is attained such that pivotable movement of the at least leading or trailing arm will increase the distance between the trailing edge of a leading length piece and the leading edge of a trailing length piece to thereby tear the continuous web between those to neighboring edges to separate the pouches.
  • Figures 1 and 2 are provided to illustrate a filler wheel 2 of the inventive packaging apparatus.
  • This filler wheel 2 comprises a plurality of leading arms 4 projecting in radial direction and being stationary held on the filler wheel 2 and a plurality of trailing arms 6 which are pivotably held about a joint 8 providing a pivot axis extending essentially parallel to a rotational axis 10 of the filler wheel 2.
  • One leading and one trailing arm define a gripping unit 11.
  • each arm 4, 6 From a radial end face 12 of each arm 4, 6 plural needles 14 project in radial direction of the filler wheel 2.
  • each arm 4, 6 defines an upper segment 4a, 6a and a lower segment 4b 6b, respectively.
  • the needles 14 are each provided on the upper segments 4a, 6a and the lower segments 4b, 6b. Between those upper segments 4a, 6a and the lower segments 4b, 6b, a recess 16 is formed projecting radially inwardly.
  • the filler wheel 2 receives a continuous web 18 which is pulled by opposing pulling rollers 20.
  • the continuous web 18 is received by the pulling rollers 20 as a folded web 18 in which confronting side surfaces 22 are joined along a bottom edge 24 formed by folding.
  • This folded continuous web 18 is furthermore provided with vertical seals 26 defining therebetween pockets 28 which are vertically closed by the vertical seals 26 and, at their bottom, closed by the bottom edge 24, but have an unsealed opening 30 at and below their top edge 31.
  • Respective folded continuous web 18 is e.g. prepared by a sealer previously described e.g. in WO 2007/089838 A2 , the disclosure thereof being incorporated herein by reference.
  • a pressure roll 32 is provided which is adapted to press the continuous web 18 against the radial end face 12 of the arms 4, 6, respectively.
  • the pressure roll 32 is provided with circumferential groove 34 adapted to receive the needles 14.
  • the web is conveyed on a linear path.
  • a rotating perforation knife 36 is provided which cooperates with a stationary knife counter-element 38.
  • the perforation knife 36 and the knife counter-element 38 are adapted to provide a perforation 46 within the vertical seal 26 to divide the same into a leading sealing section 40 of a trailing length piece 48 and a trailing sealing section 42 of a leading length piece 48.
  • the vertical seal 26 does not extend over the entire width, i.e. the vertical extension, of the continuous web 18.
  • the vertical end section arranged above the upper segment 4a, 6a of each arm 4, 6 is not provided with a seal, thereby defining an unsealed vertical end section 44.
  • This unsealed vertical end section 44 has an extension corresponding essentially to 10% of the overall width of the folded continuous web 18 starting from the top edge 31.
  • Fig. 4 the perforation 46 resulting from the treatment of the folded continuous web 18 by the perforation knife 36 and the knife counter-element 38 is depicted between the leading sealing section 44 and the trailing sealing section 42 of two neighboring length pieces 48 of the continuous folded web 18.
  • the continuous folded web 18, when moved along the circular path, will cooperate with a longitudinal opening guide means 50.
  • This longitudinal opening guide means 50 is bent to conform to the outer circumferential contour of the filler wheel 2 and is inclined relative to the plane in which the filler wheel 2 extends and which runs perpendicular to the rotational axis 10 the filler wheel 2. Accordingly, when moved along the circular path, the longitudinal opening guide means 50 is introduced through the unsealed opening 30 and arranged between the confronting side surfaces 22. A forward end of the longitudinal guide means 50 is formed by a single central guide rail 52 (see Fig. 5 ).
  • This central guide rail 52 merges into a chamfered widening section 54 of the longitudinal opening guide 50, from which two parallel guide rails 56 project towards the rearward end of the longitudinal opening guide means 50 which parallel guide rails 56 extend parallel to each other and along the circular path for forming a longitudinal slot 58 therebetween.
  • the embodiment furthermore has a spout wheel 60 from which a plurality of spouts 62 extend which have a chamfered forward free end defining a tip 64.
  • this forward tip 64 of the assigned spout 62 will enter into the longitudinal slot 58 and thereby between confronting side surfaces 22 defining the unsealed vertical end section 44.
  • the spout 52 has been introduced into the pocket 28 with its forward tip 64, the pocket 28 will run free from the longitudinal opening guide means 50 in the course of the rotational movement of the continuous web 18.
  • each pouch P has a leading edge 26a formed by the leading vertical seals 26 and a trailing edge formed by the trailing vertical seals 26.
  • This separation and opening section S is followed by a filling section F in rotational direction of the filler wheel 2.
  • a filling section F in rotational direction of the filler wheel 2.
  • the segment comprising the pressure roll 32 is identified as a piercing section PI in which the continuous web 18 is pierced by the needles 14.
  • the piercing section PI, the opening section O, the separation and opening section S as well as the filling section F are arranged around the circumference of the filler wheel 2 and, thus, on the circular path on which the continuous web 18 is conveyed when the filler wheel 2 is rotated.
  • the spout wheel 60 In the filling section F, the spout wheel 60, having a rotational axis 65 slightly inclined relative to the rotational axis 10 of the filler wheel 2 while essentially being co-axially positioned in relation thereto, is brought closer to the filler wheel 2.
  • the individual spouts 62 are introduced into the pouches P.
  • Material is filled through the spouts 62 into the pouches P.
  • the spouts 62 Simultaneously, in the course of the rotation of the filler wheel 2 and of the spout wheel 60, the spouts 62 are withdrawn from the pouches P, while material is still being filled into the pouches P.
  • the spout 62 At the end of the filler section F, the spout 62 is completely retracted from the assigned pouch P.
  • the closing section C is followed by a discharging section D in which the pouches P are transferred from the circular path and, thus, from the rotational movement of the filler wheel 2, to a linear sealing path formed between an inner conveyor belt 66 and an outer conveyor belt 68 which are depicted in further detail in Fig. 6 .
  • the discharging section D comprises a discharging guide 70 which projects into the filler wheel 2 and is arranged in the recess 16, i.e. between the upper segment 4a, 6a and the lower segment 4b, 6b of the respective arm 4, 6.
  • This discharging guide 70 has a guide surface which forces each pouch P in radial direction away from the filler wheel 2, thereby forcing the material of the web 18 to be extracted from the needles 14.
  • the movement of the pouches P affected by the discharging guide 70 is tangential to the filler wheel 2.
  • the inner conveyor belt 66 has a single belt element cooperating with a lower section of the pouches P.
  • the outer conveyor belt 68 has a lower belt element 68a assigned to the inner conveyor belt 66 and an upper conveyor belt 68b cooperating with the unsealed vertical end section 44.
  • On the inner side there is provided a head sealing means 72 for the purpose of fusing and thereby sealing the unsealed vertical end section 44 in order to seal the whole pouch P.
  • Figs. 7 to 10 visualize a second embodiment which is essentially identical with the first embodiment described above.
  • identical parts are identified with respective reference signs as used for the first embodiment.
  • the filing section F has a slightly reduced extension in circumferential direction.
  • a sealing section SI in which the unsealed opening 30 and the unsealed vertical end section 44 is sealed as the pouches P are moved on the circular path with the rotational movement on the filler wheel 2. Details of the sealing means SI are depicted in Fig. 9 .
  • the head sealing means 72 is arranged above the filler wheel 2 to thereby provide a sealing section SI on the outer circumference of the filler wheel 2.
  • the head sealing means 72 is provided with a heated bar 74 which is curved essentially corresponding to the outer radius of the filler wheel 2.
  • This heated bar 74 is arranged slightly above the upper segment of each leading and trailing arm 4, 6, respectively, so as to cooperate with the unsealed vertical end section 44 of the pockets 28, which are pressed against the head sealing means 72 by an outer sealing belt 76.
  • the head sealing means 72 have a guiding in section which is level with the radial end face 12 of each arm 4, 6 and a guiding out section which radially projects the forward tip provided by all needles 14. Accordingly, by means of the head sealing means 72 the open pockets 28 are forced away from at least the needles 14 provided by the upper segments 4a, 6a of the leading and trailing arm 4, 6, respectively, while at the same time pressing the unsealed vertical end section 44 against the outer sealing belt 76 and as the open pouches P are rotated with the filler wheel 2. After sealing the unsealed vertical end section 44 and thereby providing sealed pouches P, the same are discharged in the discharging section D.
  • the discharging section D comprises inner and outer conveyor belts 66, 68. Both of those conveyor belts 66, 68 have lower and upper conveyor belts a, b.
  • the lower conveyor belt 66b of the inner conveyor belt 66 is arranged within the recess 16, while the upper conveyor belt 66a is arranged above the upper segment 4a, 6a of the arms 4, 6.
  • the conveyor belts 66, 68 are each guided by a curved guiding surface (not shown) to discharge the sealed pouches from the filler wheel 2.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Package Closures (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Verfahren zum Herstellen von Beuteln (P),
    Bereitstellen einer fortlaufenden Bahn (18);
    Falten der Bahn (18) zur Bereitstellung von zueinander orientierten Seitenoberflächen (22), die entlang einer unteren Kante (24) zusammengefügt sind;
    Bilden einer Vertikalabdichtung (26) zwischen den zueinander orientierten Seitenoberflächen (22), wodurch eine Reihe von benachbarten Taschen (28) mit gegenüberliegenden Seitenwänden bereitgestellt wird, wobei jede Tasche eine nicht abgedichtete Öffnung (29) entlang einer oberen Kante (31) aufweist;
    Befüllen der Taschen (28) durch die nicht abgedichtete Öffnung (29) mit Material; Abdichten der nicht abgedichteten Öffnung (29),
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    dass die Bahn (18) durch eine Perforation (46) zwischen einem führenden Längenstück (48) der Bahn (18), das zur Bildung einer führenden Tasche (28) ausgelegt ist, und einem nacheilenden Längenstück (48) der Bahn (18), das zur Bildung einer nacheilenden Tasche (28) ausgelegt ist, perforiert ist, dass die fortlaufende Bahn (18) an einem Außenumfang eines rotierenden Befüllerrades (2) anliegt und einem kreisförmigen Weg folgt, und dass ein Abstand zwischen einer nacheilenden Kante (26b) des führenden Längenstücks (48) und einer führenden Kante (26a) eines nacheilenden Längenstücks (48) zum Abreißen der führenden und der nacheilenden Längenstücke (48) an der Perforation (46) vergrößert wird, während die Längenstücke (48) auf dem kreisförmigen Weg bewegt werden.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die fortlaufende Bahn (18) perforiert wird, nachdem die Taschen (28) gebildet worden sind.
  3. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die nacheilende Kante (26b) einer führenden Tasche von einem nacheilenden Arm (6) des Befüllerrades (2) durchstochen wird und dass die führende Kante (26a) einer nacheilenden Tasche (28) von einem führenden Arm (4) des Befüllerrades (2) durchstochen wird und dass die führenden und die nacheilenden Taschen (28) zur Bildung von offenen Beuteln (P) durch Verschwenken von wenigstens einem der führenden und der nacheilenden Arme (4, 6) der Greifeinheit hin zu dem anderen der nacheilenden und der führenden Arme (4, 6) der Greifeinheit abgerissen werden.
  4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die fortlaufende Bahn (18) gegen den führenden und den nacheilenden Arm (4, 6) von einer rotierenden Druckwalze (32) gedrückt wird.
  5. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Längsöffnungsführungsmittel (50) zwischen den zueinander orientierten Seitenoberflächen (22) und durch die nicht abgedichtete Öffnung (29) eingeführt wird, wenn die fortlaufende Bahn (18) an dem Außenumfang des rotierenden Befüllerrades (2) anliegt, und dass die zueinander orientierten Seitenoberflächen (22) voneinander durch das Längsöffnungsführungsmittel (50) getrennt werden, bis ein Gießer (62) eines Gießerrades (60) in die Tasche (28) eingeführt worden ist.
  6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die führenden und die nacheilenden Längenstücke (48) abgerissen werden, wenn die Längsöffnungsführungsmittel (50) zwischen den zueinander orientierten Seitenoberflächen (22) aufgenommen werden.
  7. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche bei Abhängigkeit von Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass nach dem Befüllen die Beutel (P) durch Verschwenken von wenigstens einem der führenden und der nacheilenden Arme (6) weg von dem anderen der nacheilenden und der führenden Arme (4) geschlossen werden.
  8. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beutel (P) von dem kreisförmigen Weg zu einem linearen Abdichtungsweg zum Abdichten der Öffnung (29) verbracht werden.
  9. Verpackungseinrichtung zum Herstellen von Beuteln (P), umfassend:
    Zuführmittel zum Zuführen einer fortlaufenden Bahn;
    Faltmittel zum Falten der Bahn zur Bereitstellung von zueinander orientierten Oberflächen, die entlang einer unteren Kante (24) zusammengefügt sind;
    Vertikalabdichtungsmittel zum Bilden einer Vertikalabdichtung (26) zwischen den zueinander orientierten Seitenoberflächen (22) in beabstandeten Intervallen entlang der Bahn (18), wodurch eine Reihe von benachbarten Taschen (28) mit gegenüberliegenden Seitenwänden bereitgestellt wird, wobei jede Tasche eine nicht abgedichtete Öffnung (29) entlang einer oberen Kante aufweist;
    Befüllmittel (60, 62) zum Befüllen der Taschen mit einem Material; und
    Horizontalabdichtmittel (72; 74) zum Abdichten der Öffnung (29),
    gekennzeichnet durch
    Perforationsmittel (36, 38) zum Perforieren der fortlaufenden Bahn (18) zwischen einem führenden Längenstück (48) der Bahn (18), das zur Bildung einer führenden Tasche (28) ausgelegt ist, und einem nacheilenden Längenstück (48) der Bahn (18), das zur Bildung einer nacheilenden Tasche (28) ausgelegt ist,
    Abreißmittel (4, 6), die ausgelegt sind zum Abreißen des führenden Längenstücks (48) und des nacheilenden Längenstücks (48) durch Vergrößern des Abstandes zwischen einer nacheilenden Kante (26b) des führenden Längenstücks (48) und einer führenden Kante (26a) des nacheilenden Längenstücks (48); und
    ein rotationsfähiges Befüllerad (2), dem die Befüllmittel (60, 62) und die Abreißmittel (4, 6) zugeordnet sind.
  10. Verpackungseinrichtung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Befüllerrad (2) eine Mehrzahl von führenden und nacheilenden Armen (4, 6) umfasst, wobei wenigstens einer der führenden und nacheilenden Arme (6) verschwenkbar an dem Befüllerrad (2) gestützt ist, und dass Nadeln (14) von einer radialen Endphase (12) des führenden und/oder nacheilenden Armes (4, 6) vorstehen.
EP12006916.6A 2012-10-05 2012-10-05 Verfahren zur Herstellung von Beuteln und Verpackungsvorrichtung zur Herstellung von Beuteln Active EP2716559B1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PT120069166T PT2716559E (pt) 2012-10-05 2012-10-05 Método de fabricação de sacos e aparelho de embalagem de fabricação de sacos
EP12006916.6A EP2716559B1 (de) 2012-10-05 2012-10-05 Verfahren zur Herstellung von Beuteln und Verpackungsvorrichtung zur Herstellung von Beuteln
ES12006916.6T ES2550511T3 (es) 2012-10-05 2012-10-05 Método para preparar bolsas y aparato de envasado para preparar bolsas

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12006916.6A EP2716559B1 (de) 2012-10-05 2012-10-05 Verfahren zur Herstellung von Beuteln und Verpackungsvorrichtung zur Herstellung von Beuteln

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7112064B2 (ja) * 2018-03-26 2022-08-03 株式会社トパック 充填包装機
CN109335181A (zh) * 2018-11-18 2019-02-15 长沙永乐康仪器设备有限公司 一种药品分包机用的包装袋传送系统

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3563001A (en) 1968-02-14 1971-02-16 Cloud Machine Corp Filling head for strip stock packaging machine
US3597898A (en) 1969-05-07 1971-08-10 Cloud Machine Corp Packaging machine
GB1295618A (de) * 1971-07-08 1972-11-08
US4534185A (en) 1983-06-10 1985-08-13 Berry James B Ear frame
IT1192822B (it) * 1985-07-11 1988-05-12 Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd Impianto automatico di riempimento e di confezionamento
CA2142480A1 (en) 1994-02-17 1995-08-18 Donn A. Hartman Modular pouch making machine
US6058818A (en) 1994-11-14 2000-05-09 R.A. Jones & Co. Inc. Convertible pitch knife apparatus
US5502951A (en) 1994-11-14 1996-04-02 R. A. Jones & Co. Inc. Convertible pitch pouch machine
JPH11292001A (ja) 1997-12-18 1999-10-26 Ajinomoto Co Inc 食品の自動包装装置および方法
US7954307B2 (en) 2006-01-31 2011-06-07 R. A. Jones & Co. Inc. Adjustable pouch forming, filling and sealing apparatus and methods
US7191686B1 (en) 2006-02-01 2007-03-20 Frank's Casing Crew & Rental Tools, Inc. Method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting threaded tubulars

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PT2716559E (pt) 2015-10-20
ES2550511T3 (es) 2015-11-10

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