EP2783991A1 - Method and device for packaging products - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging apparatus (1) has a film dispenser (2), a deflecting device (6), and a transverse welding device (11) of two films. A first pressing device (10) is arranged downstream of deflecting device, and a second pressing device (13) is arranged downstream of transverse welding device. A first conveyor belt (8) is arranged in region of first pressing device, and a second conveyor belt (12) is arranged in region of second pressing device. A control unit is arranged between film dispenser, first pressing device and first conveyor belt, to control film elongation. An independent claim is included for a method for packaging products with a band, using a packaging apparatus.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging device for packaging products using a film half-tube or two flat films with a film dispenser transversely to the transport direction of the products on a first conveyor belt, a deflection device for the film half-tube or for the flat films in the field of introduction of the products between the upper and sub-film of the film half-tube or flat films, a transverse welding device for closing and separating the film on the front side, a second conveyor belt, and control means for longitudinally controlling and regulating the transport of film half-tube or flat films. The invention further relates to a method for packaging products with a banderole in a packaging machine.

Such packaging machines are used for packaging a wide variety of products. From the EP 0 537 844 A1 a device for stretching a plastic film web in a packaging machine is known. There products are wrapped in a foil laterally overlapping and sealed in the middle of the overlap. The end faces are sealed as usual by means of a transverse welding device which simultaneously separates the film between two successive products. In this known device is the Stretched film at the front end of the rear product and at the rear end of the front product just before separation and welding by means of the transverse welding device to provide products with a plastic packaging that fits as close as possible to the product, especially at the end faces. For this purpose, by means of two pressing belts, the pressure of which is adjustable from above on the film and the product, the film and above and below fixed to two successive products upstream and downstream of the transverse welding device. By increasing the speed of the second pressure belt and the second conveyor belt, the film is stretched between the two Anpressbändern and transported with this voltage in the region of the transverse welding device. The film is stretched both between the products as well as on a released from the Anpressbändern area briefly. For transverse welding, the speed of the second pressure belt and the second conveyor belt is reduced in order to briefly relax the film between the two products in the region of the transverse welding device and to enable welding and separation. At the same time, in the case of welding by means of a hold-down device, the prestressed film on the second product, which has largely come from the pressure region of the first pressure belt, is maintained. After welding, the front-side welded products are conveyed at greater spacing, ie at a greater transport speed. The pre-stretching of the film just before the transverse welding ensures that the film attaches to the product after welding and thus forms a tight-fitting packaging.

By means of such a device, it is not possible to produce a package, for example, from a banderole, which lies so tightly around the product in the longitudinal direction of the product that it firmly holds two magazines together without them being able to slip out of the banderole, whereby a cycle number of at least 80 cycles per minute.

The present invention is based on the object, in particular for printed products, such as magazines, to propose a possibility with which a tight package in the longitudinal direction is achieved, the packaging should be so tight that even in the case of two superimposed products these are not from the Packaging can slip out. This should be possible at the same time even with a sufficient clock speed of at least 80 cycles per minute.

This object is achieved with a device and a method according to the independent claims 1 and 6. Further advantageous embodiments are shown in the respective dependent subclaims.

According to the invention, the packaging device has a film dispenser for the film half-tube or for the flat films, which is driven driven servo motor. Thus, the speed of unwinding can be controlled via the control device. If the film dispenser carries a film half-tube, a cutting device, preferably a knife, for separating the film half-tube in the longitudinal direction in the folded edge and the formation of two separate flat films, between which the product rests, are arranged laterally between the film dispenser and the deflection device. This has the great advantage that the user, who already works with a film half-tube and thus drives other applications, only has to attach a cutting device for this special application in order to provide the separate film layers in the form of a top film and a bottom film required for further processing receive. The packaging device further comprises a first pressing device downstream of the deflecting device in front of the transverse welding device above the upper film with the product and a second pressing device downstream of the transverse welding device above the upper film with the product. The pressing devices are also controlled servo motor, so that their contact pressure and the speed can be set arbitrarily. Preferably, the pressing devices are designed as suction belts, make it possible to bring through holes by means of vacuum the pressure belts in firm immovable contact with the top film, at the same time by relative contact pressure relative movement between the product and the film is excluded. The first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are each also formed at least in the region of the lying on the conveyor belt films as a suction belt and servo motor controlled. Due to the design as suction belts at least in the areas corresponding to the pressure belts, it is also guaranteed on the underside of the product that a firm adhesion exists between the suction belt and the lower film. The two pressing device are connected to the transverse welding device so that they can perform a movement of the transverse welding device in and against the transport direction. This ensures that the pressing device are as close as possible to the transverse welding device, so that the gap in which the films are free, is as small as possible. By adjusting the transport speed of the film half-tube or the two flat films, the control devices produce an expansion of the films between the film dispenser and the first pressing device, so that the films over the deflection over a longer distance, in which the product already rests between the top film and the bottom film , is maintained. Control means or control means, as used in this context in the description, are programmable electronic circuits which are capable of individually and selectively controlling the individual servomotors of the drive means used. In the text, the top and bottom film is referred to together with films, wherein the top and bottom film can be formed either from two supplied flat films or from a longitudinally cut half-tube film.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, the control means for cross-welding the film reduce the speed of the second conveyor belt and the second pressing means, so that the tension of the upper and lower foil for the transverse welding is canceled. By lifting the tension of the two films, the Transverse welding done in a conventional manner by lowering a top punch, so that the films securely welded together and the film webs are separated. As stated above, the transverse welding device in and against the transport direction, and thus the two pressing device are designed to be movable, so that during the welding process, the cross-welding device together with the pressing devices for the duration of the welding process depending on the speed of the films and the product a corresponding distance is moved in the transport direction. After welding moves in a known manner, the welding punch back to its original position. In addition, after welding, the speed of the second conveyor belt and the second pressing device is increased again to the initial speed by the control device, and further, the elongation of the top and bottom sheets on and under the product is maintained by the second pressing means and the second vacuum conveying belt acts to provide a non-slip adhesion to the top film and the bottom film.

The products are fed to the first conveyor at a higher speed than it moves so that there is relative movement between the inserted product and the films until the product is carried on the lower film. In order for the first pressing belt to detect the product merged with the foils in a defined manner, the latter is designed to be movable in the vertical direction according to a further embodiment of the device, so that the product with the foils is already somewhat below the pressure belt until it is with it its vertically moving part the product pushes the films to the product.

In the method according to the invention, a film half-tube or two flat films is used with a smaller width than that of the products, wherein the film half-tube is cut in the longitudinal direction at its fold edge and thereby forms an upper and a lower film. The film half-tube or the films are stretched from a film dispenser up to a cross-welding device. The elongation is released for sealing and separating the foils in a region adjacent to the end face of the respective product and, after the crosswelding device, it is maintained on the product until the separation of the foils on the inner end face has taken place. Subsequently, the stretching of the films, which has taken place over almost the entire length of the product, is released on the product, so that the films contract in the longitudinal direction and the films wrap tightly around the product as a band.

In the method according to the invention, the film half-tube or the flat films are preferably fed transversely to the transport direction of the products on a first conveyor belt. Optionally, there is a separation of the film half-tube and the folding edge. The cut half-film tube or the flat films are deflected at a deflection device in the region of the introduction of the products in the upper and lower film. The cut-film half-tube or the flat films are stretched between the film dispenser and a first pressing device above the upper film with the product or a first conveyor belt in the region of the first pressing device below the lower film. The stretching of the films on the way of the product under the transverse welding device between the first pressing device or first conveyor belt and a second pressing device above the upper film with the product or a conveyor belt in the region of the second pressing device below the lower film is maintained, the second Pressing device and the second conveyor belt are arranged in the transport direction after the cross-welding device. Subsequently, the speed of the second conveyor belt and the second pressing device is reduced to the point that the voltage between the product located under the second pressing device and the subsequent product located below the first device is canceled. Thereafter, the welding and separating the films by means of the transverse welding device between the two products to form end-side welding to the two successive products, wherein the transverse welding device moves together with the two pressing devices in the transport direction and after separation is moved back again. After welding and cutting, the speed of the second conveyor belt and the second pressing device is increased again to the original speed and the product conveyed out of the region of the second pressing device. This is done by means of a conventional known outlet conveyor.

Due to the interim reduction of the speed of the distance of the products after the cross-welding device is lower than before the cross-welding device. It is essential in the method according to the invention that the stretching of the film over a longer distance, namely from the film dispenser on the deflection to the first Anpressband, this elongation of the film is held on the product and only in a short area on the front page due to Reducing the voltage for the transverse weld from the first pressure belt is released, but is then maintained after the transverse welding of the second pressure belt for the remaining part of the product. When welding at the rear end edge of the product, a small area of the product surface is also not detected by the second pressure belt only in the frontal region and therefore also there the strain released. After welding at both the leading and trailing edges of the product, the released expansion causes the welds to be attracted to the product. Tight folding around the product, as desired in particular for the application of two or more juxtaposed magazines, takes place only after the release of the expansion by the second pressure belt and the suction belt located underneath the second conveyor belt. At this time, the welded ends of the films are already attached to the product, so that the additional release of the stretched film over the length of the product causes a tight contraction of the meanwhile around the product band. According to a further embodiment of the method, the band is arranged out of the middle of the product on a product half, so that the at least two products are firmly held together and the range of products without Banderole, especially in magazines, is not held together and thus remains freely accessible and visible.

Figur 1

eine prinzipielle perspektivische Darstellung der Verpackungsvorrichtung;

Figur 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Verpackungsvorrichtung im Bereich der Querschweißeinrichtung mit den beiden Anpressbändern beidseitig der Querschweißeinrichtung;

Figur 3

eine Darstellung ähnlich Figur 2 mit einem Produkt unter dem ersten Anpressband und einem Produkt unter dem zweiten Anpressband mit gespannter Folie zwischen den beiden Produkten;

Figur 4

die Darstellung entsprechend Figur 3 mit entspannter Folie zwischen den Produkten beim Schweißen;

Figur 5

das an der vorderen Stirnseite verschweißte Produkt auf seinem Weg unter der Querschweißeinrichtung hindurch zu dem zweiten Anpressband, und

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht des vorderen Endes des ersten Anpressbandes vor (Figur 6a) und nach (Figur 6b) der Übernahme eines Produkts.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Individual features in the claims and in the description may be realized alone or in combination with each other. They show:

FIG. 1

a schematic perspective view of the packaging device;

FIG. 2

a schematic side view of the packaging device in the region of the transverse welding device with the two Anpressbändern on both sides of the transverse welding device;

FIG. 3

a representation similar FIG. 2 with a product under the first pressure belt and a product under the second pressure belt with tensioned film between the two products;

FIG. 4

the presentation accordingly FIG. 3 with a relaxed film between the products during welding;

FIG. 5

the welded at the front end product on its way under the transverse welding device through to the second pressing belt, and

FIG. 6

a side view of the front end of the first pressure belt before ( FIG. 6a ) and after ( FIG. 6b ) taking over a product.

The invention will be described with reference to an embodiment in which a film half-tube is used as the starting material. The operation with two flat films is appropriate. FIG. 1 shows the packaging device 1, in a conventional manner, a film transverse to the transport direction the products is supplied. For this purpose, a film dispenser 2 is provided which has a servo drive 3 for unwinding the film. Between the film dispenser 2 and a deflecting device in the form of a forming shoulder 6 for the tubular film 5 is a cutting device 4 for separating the film half-tube 5 in the longitudinal direction, thereby forming two separate film webs, the shape of a top film 15 and a bottom film 16 (FIGS. FIGS. 3 to 5 ) form. The film half-tube 5 is narrower in width than the width of the product and is formed off-center to the product 7 and narrower than the product half. In the region of the forming shoulder 6, products 7 are guided in a known manner between the upper film 15 and the lower film 16. Downstream of the forming shoulder 6 there is a first pressing belt 10 with servo drive 10 ', which is arranged above the product web and whose vertical pressure can be adjusted. In addition, it is designed as a suction belt, that is, it has a plurality of holes through which the film can be firmly sucked by vacuum. In the region of the first pressure belt 10, the first conveyor belt 8 is also formed as a suction belt 8 'at least in the region of the width of the product 7. Following the first pressing belt 10 is a transverse welding device 11, which can also perform a movement in the transport direction during transverse welding. After the cross-welding device 11 is a second conveyor belt 12 and a second pressure belt 13 with servo drive 13 ', wherein the second pressure belt 13 is formed as a suction belt and the second conveyor belt 12 at least in the product width as a suction belt 12'. Both the first pressure belt 10 and the second pressure belt 13 are connected to the transverse welding device 11 and can perform with it the movement in the transport direction and back with.

FIG. 2 shows in side view the first pressure belt 10 and the second pressure belt 13 and the associated transverse welding device 11 with its upper punch 11 'and lower punch 11 "and the first conveyor belt 8 and the second conveyor belt 12 in the areas where they are designed as a suction belt.

The FIGS. 3 to 5 show the procedure for producing a desired packaging with a band that lies taut around the product 7. In the present embodiment, the product 7 consists of two consecutive magazines.

FIG. 3 shows a first product 7 'under the second pressure belt 13 and a first product 7 "under the first Anpressband 10. In the product 7' are at the front edge not shown here, the upper film 15 and the lower film 16 already welded and have already The two pressing belts 10 and 13 rest on the top film 15 and the product 7 'and 7 ", respectively. Also, the suction belt 8 'of the first conveyor belt 8 and the suction belt 12' of the second conveyor belt 12 are actively and firmly connected to the lower film 16 and the respective product 7 'and 7 ", respectively. As a result, the elongation of the upper film 15 and the lower film 16 on the product 7 'and 7 "is maintained. The speed of the two products 7 ', 7 "is the same up to this point in time FIG. 4 shown slightly reduced at the second pressing belt 13 and the second conveyor belt 12, so that the tension of the upper film 15 and the lower film 16 between the two products 7 'and 7 "( FIG. 3 ), as in FIG. 4 shown, dismantled. At this moment, the welding of the upper film 15 and the lower film 16 and separation of the films 15, 16 can be performed by means of the transverse welding device 11 by lowering the upper punch 11 'and raising the lower punch 11 " 11 shows a short distance in the direction of transport and thereby also guides the first pressure belt 10 and the second pressure belt 13. By reducing the speed of the second pressure belt 13 and the second conveyor belt 12, the front end-side region 20 of the product 7 "and the rear end-side region 19 of FIG Product 7 'a relaxation of the films 15, 16 instead. Otherwise, however, the elongation of the films 15, 16 is maintained above and below the respective products. After welding and separating the Foils 15, 16 are applied to the end edges 17 of the product 7 'or to the end edges 18 of the product 7 ".

After the welding and separation have been carried out, the speed of the second conveyor belt 12 and the second pressure belt 13 is increased again to the original speed and the product 7 "is released by the second pressure belt 13, so that it can be transported further by means of, for example, a downstream outlet conveyor belt Release, the stretched top film 15 and the stretched bottom film 16, which are welded to the end edges of the product 7 ', contracted so that the resulting bander tightens the product 7' and in this case clamps both magazines.

In FIG. 5 the rear product 7 "is passed under the transverse welding device 11 from the first conveyor belt 8 or the first pressure belt 10 to the second conveyor belt 12 and the second pressure belt 13. A new product 7"'follows. In the transport of the products 7 'and 7 "as far as possible, the elongation of the films 15, 16 of the suction belt 8' of the first conveyor belt 8 and first pressing belt 10 is maintained and then by the second conveyor belt 12 and the suction belt 12 ' taken over the second conveyor belt 12 until the products 7 again in FIG. 3 have reached the position shown. Then, the process described above starts again.

FIG. 6 shows still the movement of the front end 9 of the first pressure belt 10, which is raised by means of a lifting cylinder 14 for the inlet of a product 7, and then after a certain time to keep the top film 15 and the product 7 safe.

Claims (10)

1. Packaging device (1) for packaging products (7) using a film half-tube (5) or two flat films with a film dispenser (2) transversely to the transport direction of the products (7) on a first conveyor belt (8), a deflection device (6) for the film half-tube (5) or for the flat films in the region of the introduction of the products (7) between the upper and lower film (15 or 16) of the film half-tube (5) or the flat films, a transverse welding device (11) for closing the end face and separating the films (15, 16), a second conveyor belt (12), and control means to control and regulate the transport of film half-tube (5) or flat films in the longitudinal direction,
characterized in that - the film dispenser (2) for the film half-tube (5) or for the flat film servomotor (3) is driven driven, - If necessary between the film dispenser (2) and deflection (6) laterally a cutting device (4) for separating the film half-tube (5) in the longitudinal direction in the folded edge and formation of two separate flat films, between which the product (7) rests, is arranged, a first pressing device (10) downstream of the deflecting device (6) in front of the transverse welding device (11) above the upper film (15) with the product (7) and a second pressing device (13) downstream of the transverse welding device (11) above the upper film (15 ) are arranged with the product (7), which are movable with the transverse welding device (11) in and against the transport direction; - The first conveyor belt (8) at least in the region of the first pressing device (10) in the region of the films (15, 16) and the second conveyor belt (12) at least in the region of the second pressing device (13) in the region of the films (15, 16). are designed as a suction belt, - The control devices between the film dispenser (2) and the first pressing device (10) or the suction belt of the first conveyor belt (8) to produce an expansion of the films (15, 16). 2. Packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that for transverse welding of the films (15, 16) the control means reduce the speed of the second transport means (12) and the second pressing means (13), so that the tension of the films (15, 16) is lifted for the transverse welding, and again increased after welding, wherein the elongation of the films (15, 16) is maintained on and under the product (7). 3. Packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second pressing device (10, 13) are designed as a suction belt. 4. Packaging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pressing device (10) is designed to be movable at the inlet in the vertical direction. 5. Packaging device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as a cutting device (4) between the film dispenser (2) and deflecting device (6) a knife for cutting the film half-tube (5) is arranged. 6. A method for packaging products with a banderole in a packaging machine, characterized in that - A film half-tube (5) or two flat films with a smaller width than that of the products (7) is fed transversely to the transport direction of the products (7), wherein the film half-tube (5) is cut in the longitudinal direction at its fold edge and thereby a top and forming a lower foil (15, 16); - The film half-tube (5) or the flat films from a film dispenser (2) to a transverse welding device (11) with the between the upper and lower film (15, 16) located products (7) is stretched; - To end-side sealing and separating the films, the strain in a to be sealed on this and separate end face (17, 18) of the product (7) adjacent area is repealed; - The remaining elongation of the films (15, 16) is maintained after the transverse welding device (11) on the product (7) until the separation of the films (15, 16) at the rear end face (18) is carried out; and - Subsequently, the stretching of the films (15, 16) is released on the product, so that the films (15, 16) pull together in the longitudinal direction and the films (15, 16) as a band tight around the product (7). 7. A method for packaging products according to claim 6, characterized by - Redirecting the cut film half-tube (5) or the flat films on a deflection device (6) in the region of the introduction of the products (7) in the upper and lower film (15, 16); - Stretching the cut film half-tube (5) or the flat films between the film dispenser (2) and a first pressing device (10) above the top film (15) with the product (7) or a first conveyor belt (8) in the region of the first pressing device (10) below the lower film (16), wherein the first pressing device (10) and the first conveyor belt (8) in front of a transverse welding device (11) for closing and separating the films (15, 16) are frontally arranged; - Maintaining the stretching of the films (15, 16) on the way of the product (7) under the transverse welding device (11) between the first pressing device (10) and first conveyor belt (8) and a second pressing device (13) above the top film (15) with the product (7) or a second conveyor belt (12) in the region of the second pressing device (13) below the lower film (16), wherein the second pressing device (13) and the second conveyor belt (12) in the transport direction according to Transverse welding device (11) are arranged; Reducing the speed of the second conveyor belt (12) and the second pressing device (13) to such an extent that the tension between the product (7 ') under the second pressing device (13) and the subsequent product below the first pressing device (10) ( 7 ") is canceled, Welding and separating the foils (15, 16) by means of the transverse welding device (11) between the two products (7 ', 7 ") to form end-side welding on the two successive products (7', 7"), the transverse welding direction ( 11) together with the two pressing devices (10, 13) moves in the transport direction and is moved back again after separation; - Increasing the speed of the second conveyor belt (12) and the second pressing device (13) and further transport of the front product (7 ') out of the region of the second pressing device (13) out. 7. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the distance of the products (7) after the transverse welding device (11) is lower than in front of the transverse welding device (11). 8. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that at least two products that lie on top of each other are provided with a common tight band. 9. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the band is arranged out of the center of the product on a product half, so that the at least two products are held firmly together and the range of products without banderole, especially in magazines, is not kept together and thus remains freely accessible and visible.

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