EP2883684A1 - Packaging machine and method with loose object holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging machine (2) with a sealing station (9), a conveying unit (23) and at least one loose object carrier (6), which is designed to receive a plurality of packaging objects (7) and which by means of the conveying unit ( 23) of the sealing station (9) can be supplied and this is removable, wherein the loose slide (6) comprises a top part (29) for receiving the packaging objects (7), and wherein the slide (6) in the sealing station (9) for sealing the Packaging objects (7) from a Vorposition (V), in which it can be brought by the conveyor unit (23), in a sealing position (S) is movable, in which it relative to the Vorposition (V) parallel to a tool upper part (10) of the sealing station (9) is brought together on contact.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging machine according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a method for sealing a plurality of packaging objects.

Shell packing machines are also referred to in professional circles as "tray sealers". The most widely used type of such packaging machines has one or more conveyor belts on which the trays are placed and on which the trays are transported into and out of the closing station in a closing station. For this, however, the shells must have a shape with a sufficiently large bottom surface, so they do not slip on the conveyor belts or even fall over.

In an equally common type of packaging machine, the machines have a tray transporting means with tray receptacles. Such trained as a plate chain transport is, for example, in the EP 1 038 773 B1 disclosed. Such plate chains can ensure safe transport of the packaging objects accommodated therein, but are expensive and maintenance-intensive. In addition, the plate chains are often used together only with a special packaging machine and can not be used on different types of packaging machines.

Another packaging machine reveals the EP 2 447 169 A2 , According to a first embodiment, the tray sealing machine described therein comprises tray transport means designed as a plate chain, by means of which trays the tray closing machine is supplied and removed therefrom. The disadvantage here is that the tray transport means can be used only for a single shell type and retooling the tray transport means are time consuming and costly. In addition, this tray transport can only be used on special Schalenverschließmaschinen, because in particular the Werkzeugunter- and the upper tool part of the sealing station must be adapted to the plate chain conveyor. Finally, it has been found in practice that in a trained as a plate chain transport too large distances between the individual shells available. This in turn brings with it the restriction that more waste material is produced on cover foil.

According to the EP 2 447 169 A2 is used as a tray transport means in a schematic representation of a frame member by means of which a plurality of shells of the tray sealing machine can be supplied. After the sealing process, the emptied frame elements along a horizontal return, such as a rail, can be returned to the loading station. In this embodiment, it is particularly problematic to position the frame member during the sealing process in a positionally accurate relative to the lower tool and the upper die of the peel sealer.

Another slide, which supplies a contact lens package to a sealing station, is in the DE 603 18 868 T2 disclosed.

The DE 10 2008 030 510 A1 discloses a packaging machine with a gripper system. The gripper system picks up a plurality of loose to be sealed shells from a feed belt and supplies them to a sealing station, wherein already sealed shells can be passed from the sealing station to a discharge conveyor in the same cycle by means of the gripper system.

The KR 101 104 401 B1 discloses another packaging machine with a shell conveyor formed as a plate chain, in which shell-receiving members are integrated in the plate chain and are intermittently fed to a sealing station.

Another conventional tray transport means with integrated tray carriers is in the DE 199 12 491 A1 the applicant discloses. The plate chain disclosed therein can deliver several shells to the sealing station per working cycle, which, however, leads to a high weight of the plate chain and therefore requires a high drive power.

The DE 103 07 918 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for centering a cup in a cup filling machine. In this case, the cup is centered by a suction device arranged below a cell plate in a recess provided in the cell plate.

The object of the present invention is to make available a packaging machine and a method for its operation which are improved in terms of flexible application possibilities and can be used more economically, in particular with regard to the disadvantages mentioned above in connection with known packaging machines.

This object is achieved by a packaging machine with the features of claim 1 or by a method having the features of claim 20. Advantageous developments of the inventions are specified in the subclaims.

The packaging machine according to the invention comprises a sealing station, a conveying unit and at least one loose object carrier, which is designed to receive a plurality of packaging objects and can be fed to the sealing station by means of the conveying unit and can be removed therefrom. By "loose" is meant that the slide is not permanently rigid or coupled via a hinge with other parts of the packaging machine, in particular with other slides. To accommodate the packaging objects, the slide comprises an upper part. The tray sealing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the slide in the sealing station for sealing the packaging objects from a pre-position, in which it can be brought by the conveyor unit is movable into a sealing position, in which he moved parallel to a preposition with a tool upper part of the sealing station Contact is merged. As such, the loose slide forms a functional part of the sealing station for sealing the packaging objects received therein and ensures that the packaging objects are reliably and precisely provided for the sealing process. Due to the active approach of the slide to the tool top, it may be necessary to dispense with a lifting movement of the upper part of the tool. The fact that the loose slide is relatively light compared to the upper die of the sealing station, it can be faster, quieter and with less energy for the sealing in position.

In the aforementioned parallel displacement of the slide between the pre-position and the sealing position is a purely translational, in particular a vertical displacement thereof between the respective positions. In particular, the slide is moved between two superimposed horizontal planes, wherein it is located in the lower level in the pre-position and in the horizontal plane above it in the sealing position.

Another advantage of the invention is that the loose slide is much more flexible than the plate chains described in connection with the prior art, which are primarily suitable only for a single shell type and can only be used with a packaging machine, because the conversion costs as well would be time consuming. In contrast, the loose slide can be arbitrarily used on different types of packaging machine, without existing tools and transfer means would have to be significantly adapted.

The slide also offers the advantage that any desired packaging objects can be accommodated in a space-saving manner. This is not possible with known, designed as a plate chain transport means, because the shell receptacles formed therein must be arranged in dependence of the conveying path. This dependency does not affect the slide according to the present invention. In this regard, the slide of the invention also has the significant advantage that packaging objects picked up by it can be arranged in such a way that a considerable saving in lid foil material for sealing the packaging objects can occur. For example, it would be possible for triangular, polygonal or freely contoured shaped packaging objects to be interlaced, if necessary arranged irregularly, so that a reduced residual foil lattice is produced during the sealing, as a result of which waste material costs are reduced.

In contrast to the transport means designed as a plate chain, it is possible in the invention to decouple a movement of the object carrier from a movement of the transport means interacting with the packaging machine, for example the supply or discharge belts. The movement of the slide is therefore not dependent on the clock movement of the respective other means of transport. This can significantly speed up the manufacturing cycles because the transport does not have to be stopped when the slide is in the sealing station.

The slide as such can also be stored to save space and easily handled by different conveyor units, which are associated with the packaging machine, which will be explained later.

In the above-mentioned decoupling or displacement of the slide in the sealing station from the conveyor unit, the conveyor unit as such is not mechanically stressed during the sealing cycle, whereby wear on the conveyor unit can be reduced.

In another manner than in conventional packaging machines, in the packaging machine according to the invention, the loose object carrier with the packaging objects received therein is brought to the upper part of the tooling of the sealing station and not the other way around. As already mentioned elsewhere, this can lead to faster throughput times and larger batch sizes and also to a more flexible use of the packaging machine. Finally, any shapes, in particular cup-shaped packaging objects, can be reliably transported by means of the slide.

Preferably, the loose object carrier can be received by means of a lower tool part of the sealing station and can be lifted therefrom to the upper part of the tool. The lower tool part thus takes the object carrier to the upper part of the tool so that the object carrier can be held in position against the upper part of the tool in such a way that the packaging objects received in the object carrier are excellently aligned for the sealing process to the upper part of the tool and to a sealing tool provided therein , A lowering of the upper tool part can be provided along a predetermined stroke, which is not necessary, because the lifting movement of the tool base is sufficient to bring the slide to the upper tool.

The slide for the sealing process in the packaging machine according to the invention can then be aligned in a particularly stable and accurate position if it is "sandwiched" in the sealing position between the upper tool part and the lower tool part. In this case, the slide can still be visible from the outside, at least in sections. The between-clamped slide can be decoupled quickly after the sealing process of the upper tool and the lower part of the tool and can therefore be transported out quickly with the sealed packaging objects from the seal area.

Alternatively to the embodiment just described, in which the slide is visibly clamped, it could also be the case that the object holder in the preposition can be received by the tool lower part in such a way that it is framed or completely enclosed by the latter and through the tool lower part in such a manner the sealing position is movable, that the lower tool part, which is brought together with the upper part of the tool, no longer encloses the object holder visibly outwards. This would have the advantage that there is only a single abutment plane between the upper tool part and the lower tool part, which would make it easier to create an airtight enclosure of the specimen slide when venting the sealed packaging objects in the sealing station.

Preferably, the lower tool part is movable relative to the upper part of the tool between a rest position, in which the object carrier is spaced from the upper tool part, and a sealing position, in which the lower part of the tool presses the object carrier against the upper part of the tool. This simple sequence of movements can be easily coordinated with the transport of the slides into the packaging machine and with the removal of the slides from the packaging machine.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tool lower part is designed as a lifting table, which is arranged below the upper tool part and is movable relative to the upper tool part of the sealing station. The lift table forms a robust base for pressing the slide onto the tool top. By means of the lifting table, which is primarily servomotor adjustable, large pressing forces can be applied for pressing the slide to the tool top arranged above it, whereby the slide between the Werkzeugober- and the tool base can be stable and airtight include.

Preferably, the lifting table comprises a releasable mold plate, in which, corresponding to the packaging object shapes, recesses are provided into which the packaging objects accommodated in the slide can protrude when the lifting table is raised. As a result, the lift table and the mounted thereon slide compact. In addition, the releasable mold plate for the sealing of different packaging objects can be replaced quickly.

Preferably, the upper die, the slide and the lower tool part in the sealing position form an airtight seal chamber. This can be done both by the above-described "sandwich" entrapment of the slide between the Werkzeugober- and the tool base, as well as by a no longer visible from the outside enclosure of the slide between the Werkzeugober- and the lower tool part. In the airtight seal chamber, the packaging objects present in the slide can be exposed to any desired atmosphere.

An airtight closure may be favored if the tool top and / or the tool bottom provides at least one seal which is laid, for example, as a ring cord seal in a respective outer region of the tool top and tool bottom. It is also conceivable that a plurality of ring cord seals are laid concentrically to each other to provide a ring cord sealing track in an outer region of the respective tool parts. This would also provide some damping effect when the slide is trapped between the tool top and tool bottom, resulting in noise reduction.

For generating a vacuum in the airtight sealing chamber, in particular the tool upper part may comprise a vacuum unit. Preferably, the slide comprises at least one evacuation opening, which is formed primarily on an outer region of the upper part of the slide. When the slide is docked, the evacuation port may be aligned with the vacuum unit. Through the evacuation opening, the vacuum can be generated to the lower tool part, where it rests between the lower tool part surface and the underside of the upper part of the slide. On the underside of the upper part of the slide at least one evacuation insert is formed, which forwards the vacuum into a channel system integrated in the upper part of the slide, by means of which the vacuum can be generated up to the respective edge regions of the packaging object receptacles. Thus, the introduced through the tool upper part vacuum is passed within the hermetic seal chamber through the evacuation of the slide upper part to the lower tool part where it in the evacuation insert, which is provided on the underside of the slide upper part, can be introduced and through the connected thereto channel system up to the edge regions of respective packaging recordings can be distributed.

For gassing the packaging objects, in particular the tool lower part has a gassing unit. The gassing unit preferably comprises at least one gassing opening, which is provided in the tool lower part, and can be aligned with at least one gassing insert, which is formed in the object carrier upper part, when the lower tool part receives the slide in order to lift it to the upper tool. The gassing introduces the gas into a channel system provided in the slide upper part, which may be provided specifically for gassing or which is what was previously mentioned in connection with the evacuation, from which the gas can be conducted up to the edge regions of the packaging object receptacles in order to deliver the packaging objects there gas.

Preferably, the upper part of the slide comprises an insert plate which is releasably securable in an insert recess formed on the upper side of the upper part to form the aforementioned channel system therebetween. The channel system lets you adjust and clean it well.

Preferably, the upper tool part of the sealing station and the upper part of the slide are centered merge. As a result, the slide can be brought together with high accuracy and at high speed on contact with the upper tool. Primarily, at least one centering bore is formed in the surface of the upper part of the object carrier facing the tool upper part, and at least one corresponding centering pin is formed in the surface of the tool upper part facing above the slide, which is insertable into the respective centering bore. The centering pin can be inserted into the centering bore with particular reliability when the centering bore and / or the centering pin has a conical section in order to align the upper part of the specimen positionally accurately relative to the upper tool part.

According to a further embodiment, at least one further centering bolt could also be provided in the tool lower part of the sealing station, which moves into a centering hole provided in the underside of the upper part facing towards the lower tool part, in order to receive the object carrier in an exact position and to adjust it to the sealing position. Here, too, a conical section on the centering bolt and / or in the centering hole could provide for improved coupling of the lower tool part to the slide.

Preferably, the delivery unit for insertion of the slide into the sealing station and for guiding out the slide from the sealing station in the conveying direction seen laterally next to the sealing station comprises two drive belts. The drive belts can be moved in synchronism with each other and at least partially overlap one with the packaging machine upstream feeder conveyor and with a downstream packaging machine, so that at least one slide can be picked up from the feed belt or delivered to the discharge conveyor by means of them. The two drive belts extending essentially parallel to each other form a cost-effective variant in order to first provide the slides for the sealing process to the packaging machine and then to remove them.

Preferably, the two drive belts for transporting the slide are pressed against this. By means of the applied by the drive belts pressure forces against the slide this can be pre-positioned reliably and purposefully in the sealing station of the packaging machine. The two drive belts can absorb the slide in particular by means of positive and / or frictional connection in order to transport it safely.

According to a further embodiment, the two drive belts, primarily servo-motor, height adjustable to accommodate at least one slide from the feed belt of the sealing station. In this case, the two drive belts can be raised from a waiting position, in which they are positioned below the transport plane of the feed belt, to lift a arrived at the front end of the feed belt slides from the feed belt, which then by means of the drive belts on a relative to the Zuführbandtransportebene elevated transport plane is transported into the sealing station. This would have the particular advantage that the feed belt could continue to run independently of the two drive belts.

As an alternative to the pressure belts which can be pressed or adjusted in height, the conveyor unit for feeding the slide into the sealing station and for conveying out the slide from the sealing station may comprise a gripper unit which is adjustable in particular by a servo motor. Such a gripper unit could, for example, according to the principle of in the DE 10 2008 030 510 A1 The gripper unit according to the present invention is designed for the respective transport of slides and not just the packaging objects promotes into the sealing station. In the invention, a gripper unit provided for feeding in and out of the slide would have the advantage that greater accelerations of the slide would be possible in comparison to the drive belts described above, as a result of which manufacturing cycles can be shortened.

Preferably, a guide frame is provided in the sealing station, on which the slide is prepositioned relative to the upper die. This can position the slide for recording by means of the gripper unit. When using a conveyor unit, comprising the drive belts described above, the guide frame is not necessary because the recording of the slide can be done by the lower tool part directly from the two drive belts out to bring the slide to the upper tool. Nevertheless, the support of the slide on the guide frame ensures a positionally accurate alignment of the slide relative to the lower tool part so that it can be picked up excellently from it.

So that the slide, in particular the upper part of the slide, forms a stable tool assembly together with the upper tool part and the lower tool part of the sealing station, the upper part is expediently designed as a metallic plate, which in particular makes of stainless steel, which provides for an improved hygiene standard, or of aluminum made, whereby the slide reaches a reduced weight. The property of the reduced weight of the slide also plays an important role in the invention outside of the packaging machine, for example in the return transport or in the provision and storage of the slide, because it is easier to promote or handle.

Preferably, the slide comprises a lower part, on which the upper part is rigidly fastened. The lower part offers particular advantages for the handling and transport of the slide.

An additional weight optimization of the slide can be achieved if the lower part is at least partially made of plastic, preferably made of PE material. Plastic, especially PE material, is extremely easy to clean and prevents bacteria from settling in, making it particularly suitable for the food industry.

For the material-related weight optimization just described can additionally be contributed by the lower part has a first and a second rail on which the upper part is attached. The respective rails have only a small mass, whereby the total weight of the slide can be minimized. In addition, the two rails occupy a relatively small volume of space, which can be advantageous for the storage of the slide. In particular, the slide can be stored with the rails handy on conveyor belts and can also be good from these companies down, be it automated or by manpower.

The two rails are preferably attached to opposite sides of the upper part of the slide and aligned with each other substantially parallel. As a result, the slide is stable on the conveyor belts. During transport of the slide, the two rails are preferably provided transversely to the transport direction on the slide.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the rails each comprise a guide slot, by means of which the slide along a guide, in particular along a guide plate, which is arranged laterally of the conveyor belts, can be guided. The guide slots provide the operator with essential assistance in aligning the slide properly on the conveyor belts, in particular the placement of the guide slots on the guide plate prevents slides from falling off the conveyor on the way.

Preferably, the two rails each comprise at least one alignment element to align two juxtaposed slides to each other. The alignment element, like the guide slot, can make the transport of the slide safer. The alignment element may, for example, be formed as a wave-like counter-toothing in order to engage in the counter-toothed alignment element of a curled slide. Preferably, the respective alignment members protrude laterally beyond the top so that the slide can be slid over a conveyor gap that is between two adjoining conveyor belt sections by a microscope slide docked behind it.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the lower part may comprise a lifting element, which is movably coupled to the lower part and so relative is movable to the upper part, characterized in that the packaging objects received therein are lifted for removal. The lifting element could for example be biased in the lower part. As an alternative to the lifting element integrated in the lower part, the packaging objects received in the slide could also be lifted out of the slide for removal by means of a specially provided lifting device located downstream of the packaging machine. This would reduce the manufacturing cost of the slide.

In particular, the slide comprises an upper part with a plurality of packaging object receptacles for holding packaging objects to be sealed in the packaging machine and a lower part to which a height-adjustable lifting element is coupled, the lifting element being positionable at least between a rest position and a removal position within the lower part wherein, in the rest position, the packaging objects are held in the respective packaging object receptacles for sealing, and wherein in the removal position, the packaging objects are raised by the lifting element so that they can be removed from the packaging object receptacles. Such a slide may be used with different packaging machines to seal packaging objects. Such a slide is particularly well suited to the fact that, after sealing in the packaging machine, the packaging objects can be easily removed from the slide.

In order for the slide to be able to be placed on the guide frame in a positionally accurate manner for receiving by the lower tool part, the two rails preferably each include a lateral guide.

Preferably, the respective rails are connected to at least one foot part which secures the rails to the top of the slide. To guide the slide through the packaging machine, the conveyor unit picks up the slide, in particular on the foot part. So that no signs of wear occur at the foot part, the foot part is preferably made of PA material (polyamide), for example PA6 material (polycaprolactam). This material has a high degree of hardness and is therefore particularly resistant to wear. For a secure picking up of the slide on the foot part, the foot part can be at least partially rotationally symmetrical, in particular double-cone-shaped, and in particular a tapered one for improved reception Section have, in addition to the conveyor unit also transport means for a return of the slide can be coupled. In particular, in each case two foot parts are provided for fastening a rail on the upper part of the slide, which are preferably arranged on the respective corner regions of the slide, whereby the slide can be taken well.

According to a preferred embodiment, the respective rails and / or the respective foot parts comprise notches, by means of which the object carrier can be pre-centered on the same during the reception by the tool lower part. Due to the fact that the object carrier is already pre-centered during the recording by means of the tool lower part, the centering bores and centering pins described above in connection with the tool top part and with the upper part of the object carrier can also be optimally aligned in advance. Thus, the slide can be optimally combined with the lower tool part and with the upper tool.

The lower part preferably comprises at least one stacking nose, by means of which another object carrier can be positioned non-slip on the slide. As a result, several slides can be safely stacked one above the other.

Furthermore, a transponder could be provided in at least one of the two rails, in particular an RFID transponder, in order, for example, to store thereon object-specific parameters. For example, these parameters could include seal characteristics to uniquely associate the slide with a predetermined sealing process or packaging machine.

Heretofore, the invention or the advantageous embodiments thereof have mostly been described in connection with only one slide, which can be supplied to the sealing station individually for sealing a plurality of packaging objects received therein. However, this is by no means restrictive of the invention because, according to a further embodiment, at least two slides can be received during a sealing cycle in the sealing station. In this case, the delivery of the several slides into the sealing station as well as the feeding out of the several slides from the sealing station can take place successively or simultaneously. For simultaneously conveying several slides, preferably a collecting station, mainly comprising several juxtaposed feed belts, provided in front of the packaging machine, from where a plurality of the previously described conveyor units simultaneously remove a plurality of provided slides in order to supply them to the sealing station. Optionally, the plurality of slides could be successively removed from the feed belt and provided to the sealing station for a sealing cycle.

The packaging machine according to the invention can be integrated excellently in a packaging installation, in particular in an annularly closed packaging installation or in an arbitrarily curvy packaging installation along the conveyor section. Such a packaging installation, in addition to the above-described inventive packaging machine, could also provide a removal station for removing finished sealed packaging objects and an insertion station for loading the object carrier with a plurality of unsealed packaging objects. For removal of the packaging objects from a slide this could be positioned over the Aushebestation, being lifted by means of a height-adjustable Aushebeplatte which is adjustable between the rails of the base, the packaging objects arranged above it, which protrude through the upper part, for removal from the slide. The packaging objects could then be manually or automatically removed from the slide.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the packaging installation could provide a return unit, by means of which the emptied slides can be conveyed back to the insertion station.

In particular, the return unit can provide conveying means which receive the slides for return transport in such a way that they can be transported in a substantially 90 ° tilted manner relative to their actual transport orientation. As a result, the slides, without taking up much space to be transported back to the loading station for loading. To convey the slides, the return unit comprises, for example, an endless belt on which the tapered section of the foot part or the rail can be placed. Instead of the belt, a rod conveyor or a driving chain could also be used.

Preferably, the recirculation unit runs close to the packaging machine, but according to a further embodiment it can also be at least partially below it a level of the packaging machine, in particular a plane of the sealing station provided in the packaging machine. As an additional variant, it would also be conceivable that the return unit is arranged above the packaging machine, so that the tilted slides can be conveyed back to the loading station via the packaging machine. This would make better use of space in high production halls.

The insertion station preferably comprises a centering unit, above which at least one slide can be positioned. By means of the centering unit, the packaging objects can be centered in the upper part of the slide. For centering each packaging object, the centering unit preferably comprises in each case a raisable and lowerable mandrel, which can reach through the respective receptacles for the packaging objects which are formed in the upper part of the object carrier, around the packaging objects provided above, for example by a robot at the bottom of the packaging object. For improved centering of the packaging objects, the respective mandrels comprise horizontally displaceable jaws, by means of which the packaging carriers can be fixed and centered on the mandrels. For centering the aforementioned jaws are preferably pneumatically and synchronously adjustable.

After the centering of the packaging objects, the respective mandrels preferably move downwards in order to pull the packaging objects into the receptacles of the upper part of the object carrier. When this is done, the jaws open by retracting inward to release the respective packaging objects. The stocked slides can then be transported to the packaging machine.

The centering unit per se according to another embodiment comprises in particular a height-adjustable mandrel with movable jaws for detecting a packaging object, wherein the mandrel is positionable to the bottom of the packaging object such that an extension of the movable jaws fixes the bottom of the packaging object and zenteniert over the mandrel. In particular, the above-described slides can be positioned over the centering unit such that the respective spikes of the centering unit can pass through the packaging object receptacles to grip overlying packaging objects and center them relative to the mandrel so that the mandrel shuts down the respective packaging objects in place provided Pulling in packaging object receptacles centered. As a result, the packaging objects can be stored properly in the packaging object receptacles.

According to another embodiment, at least one robot could be provided in the packaging installation in order to load the object carriers with packaging objects or to take them out of the microscope slides. In particular, the packaging objects removed from the slide by means of the robot could be fed to a labeling or packaging station where the sealed packaging objects are palletized or boxed.

Furthermore, the packaging system along the transport path could comprise at least one detection unit, by means of which the slide and / or the packaging objects are detectable in the slide. By means of such a detection unit could be determined in particular whether the packaging objects are properly located in the slide. By way of example, such a detection unit can have one or more ultrasound, laser and / or infrared sensors, by means of which the object carrier and the packaging objects accommodated therein can be detected.

A particularly high standard of hygiene can be achieved if the packaging system comprises a washing station in order to clean the slides therein. For example, the wash station could be positioned along the return unit.

The present invention also relates to a method for sealing a plurality of packaging objects, wherein a loose object carrier loaded with a plurality of packaging objects is prepositioned in a sealing station relative to a tool top of the sealing station, and wherein the method is characterized in that the loose object carrier from a preposition in a sealing position is moved, in which it is moved relative to the position in parallel with the upper die of the sealing station on contact. The loose slide can be trained or retrofitted for the transport of different packaging objects, so that on the packaging machine itself, if any, only minor adjustments must be made in a product change.

A particularly reliable approach of the slide to the upper die can be achieved in that the slide is received in the sealing station of a lower tool part and raised by this to the upper tool becomes. In particular, the lower tool part can receive the object holder and press it against the upper part of the tool so that the object carrier is visibly clamped between the lower tool part and the upper part of the tool and together with the latter forms an airtight sealing chamber. The airtight seal chamber is excellent for providing a predetermined atmosphere, for example, by vacuuming and / or flowing the seal chamber with a replacement gas. In this regard, for example, the airtight sealing chamber could be evacuated from the tool upper part and flowed from the lower tool part with a gas. Preferably, the vacuum introduced by the tool upper part spreads through at least one evacuation opening provided in the edge region of the upper part of the slide to the lower tool part, where it rests on the underside of the upper part of the slide and is guided by means of a channel system provided in the upper part of the slide to the respective edge regions of the packaging objects is to evacuate the packaging objects. On the other hand, if appropriate, a protective gas (for example inert gas), which is introduced from the tool lower part into the airtight sealing chamber, can reach the packaging objects through at least one gassing opening provided in the upper part of the slide.

Preferably, not only one, but at least two slides are recorded in a sealing cycle in the sealing station, so that larger batch sizes can be produced.

Figur 1:

eine Verpackungsanlage mit der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsmaschine,

Figur 2:

die erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine mit vorpositioniertem Objektträger in der Siegelstation,

Figur 3:

die erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine mit einem zum Objektträger hochgefahrenen Werkzeugunterteil der Siegelstation,

Figur 4:

die erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine mit der Siegelstation in der Siegelposition,

Figur 5:

die erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine mit einer Greifervorrichtung,

Figur 6A:

eine schematische Darstellung der Fördereinheit mit zwei andrückbaren Antriebsbändern neben der Siegelstation in Wartestellung,

Figur 6B:

die in Figur 6A gezeigten Antriebsbänder in zusammengerückter Stellung,

Figur 6C:

die in Figur 6A gezeigten Antriebsbänder in Vorwärtsbewegung,

Figur 6D:

ein gleichzeitiges Hinaus- sowie Hineinfördern eines Objektträgers in die Verpackungsmaschine mittels der in Figur 6A gezeigten Antriebsbänder,

Figur 6E:

ein Zurückverfahren der in Figur 6A gezeigten Antriebsbänder in die Wartestellung,

Figur 7A:

eine Draufsicht auf zwei höhenverstellbare Antriebsbänder neben der Siegelstation als Alternative zur Fördereinheit gemäß den Figuren 6A bis 6E,

Figur 7B:

eine Seitenansicht der höhenverstellbaren Antriebsbänder,

Figur 8A:

eine schematische Darstellung von alternativen Antriebsbändern, die gemäß einer Ausführungsform Mitnehmer aufweisen,

Figur 8B:

ein Zuführband mit Mitnehmern zum Fördern der Objektträger zur Verpackungsmaschine,

Figur 9:

eine schematische Darstellung zum Zuführen der Objektträger in die Siegelstation mittels Mitnehmerketten,

Figur 10:

eine Perspektivdarstellung des Objektträgers,

Figur 11:

eine Draufsicht auf den Objektträger,

Figur 12:

eine Darstellung des Objektträgers von unten,

Figur 13:

eine schematische Abfolge der Zentriereinheit, mittels welcher sich die Verpackungsobjekte im Oberteil des Objektträgers zentrieren lassen, und

Figur 14:

eine schematische Darstellung einer Verpackungsmaschine mit einer Rückführeinheit.

The invention will be further clarified with reference to the embodiments described in the following figures. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a packaging installation with the packaging machine according to the invention,

FIG. 2:

the packaging machine according to the invention with prepositioned slide in the sealing station,

FIG. 3:

the packaging machine according to the invention with a tool base of the sealing station raised to the microscope slide,

FIG. 4:

the packaging machine according to the invention with the sealing station in the sealing position,

FIG. 5:

the packaging machine according to the invention with a gripper device,

FIG. 6A:

a schematic representation of the conveyor unit with two pressureable drive belts next to the sealing station in waiting position,

FIG. 6B:

in the FIG. 6A shown drive belts in a contracted position,

FIG. 6C:

in the FIG. 6A shown drive belts in forward motion,

FIG. 6D:

simultaneously conveying a slide out and into the packaging machine by means of the in FIG. 6A shown drive belts,

FIG. 6E:

a back process of in FIG. 6A shown drive belts in the waiting position,

FIG. 7A:

a plan view of two height-adjustable drive belts next to the sealing station as an alternative to the conveyor unit according to the FIGS. 6A to 6E .

FIG. 7B:

a side view of the height-adjustable drive belts,

FIG. 8A:

a schematic representation of alternative drive belts, which have according to an embodiment driver,

FIG. 8B:

a feed belt with carriers for conveying the slides to the packaging machine,

FIG. 9:

a schematic representation for feeding the slide into the sealing station by means of driving chains,

FIG. 10:

a perspective view of the slide,

FIG. 11:

a top view of the slide,

FIG. 12:

a representation of the slide from below,

FIG. 13:

a schematic sequence of the centering unit, by means of which the packaging objects can be centered in the upper part of the slide, and

FIG. 14:

a schematic representation of a packaging machine with a feedback unit.

FIG. 1 shows a ring-shaped closed packaging system 1 with a packaging machine 2 according to the invention, a Aushebestation 3 and an insertion station 4. The packaging machine 2 are fed on a conveyor belt 5 slide 6 in a row for a sealing process. In the respective slides 6 packaging objects 7 are included, for example, trays to be closed. The packaging objects 7 may have any container shape for containing therein solid or liquid food products or even medical products. From the packaging machine 2 leads a discharge conveyor 8 to Aushebestation 3. On the discharge conveyor 8, the slides 6, which are removed from the packaging machine 2 with finished sealed packaging objects 7, transported to empty the slide 6 to the removal station 3.

FIG. 2 The sealing station 9 comprises an upper tool 10 and a lower tool part 11. Between the upper tool part 10 and the lower tool part 11 of the slide 6 is prepositioned on a guide frame 12. Of the upper die 10 protrude two centering pins 13 down. These can, as will be described later, engage in centering openings of the slide 6, when this rests on the upper tool 10. In FIG. 2 the slide 6 is in a pre-position V on the guide frame 12. The lower tool part 11 is located according to FIG. 2 in a rest position, in which the slide 6 is still spaced from the upper tool 10 and the slide 6 has not yet been absorbed by the lower tool part 11.

FIG. 3 shows the packaging machine 2, wherein the lower tool part 11 is moved up to the slide 6. How to be good in the FIG. 3 can see, the tool base 11 docks from below to a facing underside of the slide 6 to lift it from the guide frame 12 towards the tool upper part 10. In the FIG. 3 the slide 6 is still spaced from the upper tool 10, where it is pressed by a further start-up of the lower tool part 11 against the upper tool part 10. This happens in connection with the FIG. 4 ,

In FIG. 4 the slide 6 is pressed by the continued stroke of the lower tool part 11 against the upper tool 10. In this case, the slide 6 is removed from the guide frame 12. The decoupled from the guide frame 12 slide 6 is clamped between the upper tool part 10 and the lower tool part 11 to form therebetween an airtight seal chamber K, wherein the slide 6, the tool base 11 partially surrounds. In the FIG. 4 the slide 6 is positioned in a sealing position S and the lower tool part 11 in a sealed position. In the sealing position S, a lidding film 100, which is guided by the packaging machine 2, is clamped between the tool upper part 10 and the slide 6 and by means of a sealing tool, not shown, which is located in the upper die 10 of the sealing station 9, on the packaging objects 7 received in the slide sealed. After sealing, a residual foil grid 200 is transported out of the sealing station 9 as waste material.

FIGS. 5 to 9 show the packaging machine 2 according to the invention with different variants of a conveyor unit 23, by means of which the loose slides 6 of the sealing station 9 can be supplied and by means of which the slides 6 can be transported out of the sealing chamber 9 after the sealing process. In this case, the conveying unit 23 in particular the means of transport, which in connection with the FIGS. 5 to 9 are provided directly on the packaging machine 2. Furthermore, the means of transport provided immediately before the packaging machine 2, for example the feed belt 5 and / or a gripper unit 14 (see below), as well as the transport means provided immediately after the packaging machine 2, for example the discharge belt 8, may also belong to the conveyor unit 23.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the packaging machine according to the invention 2. The packaging machine 2 comprises a gripper unit 14 with longitudinal guides 15 and gripper arms 16. The gripper arms 16 are slidable along the longitudinal guides 15 in order to convey the slide 6 into the sealing station 9 or herauszufördern. The gripper arms 16 are adjustable transversely to the transport direction to receive or release the slides 6. The gripper arms 16 each comprise a gripper 17, which includes gripper openings 18 for receiving the slides 6, which can receive these at corner areas of the slide 6, in particular at later described foot portions of the slide 6. According to FIG. 5 extends the gripper 17 from End of a slide 6 to the beginning of a trailing slide 6, so that an overlap for simultaneously out and in-promoting each of a slide 6 in the packaging machine 2 is possible.

FIG. 6A shows a schematic plan view of the packaging machine 2, to which the conveyor belt 5 successively transported slide 6. From the packaging machine 2, the discharge conveyor 8 leads away, in order to transport the slides 6 with the finished sealed packaging objects 7 thereon. In the transport direction F, the packaging machine 2 is assigned two drive belts 19 laterally. The two drive belts 19 are aligned parallel to one another and pass through the packaging machine 2. The respective drive belts 19 overlap a certain length X of the feed belt 5 and the discharge belt 8. In this case, the overlap length X substantially corresponds to the length of the slide 6. This can ensure that the drive belts 19 easily pick up a slide 6 from the end of the feed conveyor 5 can to promote this in the packaging machine. It is also possible that the drive belts 19 promote a slide 6 out of the packaging machine 2 and park on the discharge belt 8.

FIG. 6A also shows a stopper unit 20. The stopper unit 20 comprises a first stopper 21, which is arranged at the end of the feed belt 5. The first stopper 21 prevents the slide 6 waiting in front of the packaging machine 2 from uncontrollably entering the packaging machine 2 from the feed belt 5. Behind the waiting in front of the packaging machine 2 slide 6, a second stopper 22 is arranged, which also belongs to the stopper unit 20. The second stopper 22 prevents a further slide 6 arranged behind the front slide 6 from hitting it when it is picked up by the drive belts 19. By the stopper unit 20, it is possible that the feed belt 5 is constantly running to accumulate slide 6 before the packaging machine 2. In particular, the stop unit 20 ensures a smooth transport of the slides 6 into the packaging machine 2.

FIG. 6B shows how the two drive belts 19 are pressed against the already positioned in the sealing station 9 slide 6 and against the waiting on the conveyor belt 5 slides 6 to transport the slides 6.

The transporting out of the slide 6 from the sealing station 9 begins in the schematic representation of FIG. 6C , At the time of FIG. 6C the sealing process in the sealing station 9 of the packaging machine 2 is completed and the slide 6 can be transported out. In order for this slide 6 to be able to follow another at the same time, the first stopper 21 opens and releases the slide 6 waiting at the end of the delivery conveyor. The arrows on the front two slides 6 indicate a simultaneous conveying of the arranged in the packaging machine 2 slide 6 and the waiting at the end of the feed belt 5 slide 6, the one slide 6 transported out of the packaging machine 2 and arranged behind the slide 6 in the Packaging machine 2 is transported.

In FIG. 6D the object carrier 6, which was initially arranged in the packaging machine 2, was placed on the discharge belt 8. The in the FIGS. 6A to 6C At the end of the feed belt 5 waiting slide 6 has now arrived in the packaging machine 2. So that a further slide 6 can move on the feed belt 5, the first stopper 21 is now activated.

To initiate the sealing process, drive according to FIG. 6E the drive belts 19 away from the arranged in the sealing station 9 slide 6, wherein simultaneously or with a time delay, the second stopper 22 is deactivated, so that a further slide 6 can move to the end of the Zuführbands 5. The lower tool part 11 can receive the retained slide 6 directly from the drive belts 19, without first being turned off. In particular, the recording of the slide 6 is coordinated in time such that the drive belts 19 move away in a fast reaction to the outside as soon as the lower tool part 11 docks from below on the slide 6.

Once the sealing process for the arranged in the sealing station 9 slide 6 is completed, another slide 6 is moved to the end of the Zuführbands 5, wherein the first transported slide 6 is transported away on the discharge conveyor 8. The process can then again according to FIG. 6A kick off.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an alternative to the conveyor unit 23 with the drive belts 19 according to the FIGS. 6A to 6E , FIG. 7A shows that the conveyor unit 23 comprises two height-adjustable drive belts 24 which are adapted to the slides 6 successively feed into the packaging machine or transport them out of the packaging machine 2. The height-adjustable drive belts 24 also overlap a certain length X of the feed belt 5 and the discharge belt 8, so that the picking up or the delivery of a slide 6 from the feed belt or to the discharge belt 8 works without problems. At the end of the feed belt 5 is at the first stopper 21, a slide 6, which can be picked up by the drive belts 24. In FIG. 7A, the two height-adjustable drive belts 24 are located in a height plane below the feed belt 5 so that they can pick up the object carrier 6 positioned thereon during startup.

The recording of the slide 6 is shown in the side view in FIG. 7B shown. For this purpose, the two height-adjustable drive belts 24 move from the lowered waiting position upwards to receive the slide 6 positioned at the end of the feeding belt 5. Once the slide 6 is located on the two drive belts 24 and is decoupled from the feed belt 5, promote him this in the packaging machine 2, where it can be parked, for example, on the guide frame 12 or as long as the two height-adjustable drive belts 24 is worn to him the tool base 11 receives and moves against the upper tool part 10. Also in the in the FIGS. 7A and 7B shown variant of the conveyor unit 23, it is possible that the feed belt 5 runs continuously and thus ensures a rapid move of slides 6 to the packaging machine 2.

In the Figures 8A and 8B a further variant of the conveyor unit 23 is shown. According to Figure 8A the feed belt 5 comprises drivers 25, for example driver rods. In this embodiment, the feed belt 5 runs intermittently, ie in time with the sealing station 9. The conveyor unit 23 here comprises two laterally positioned drive belts 26, wherein the in Figure 8A Drive belt 26 arranged on the left side of the packaging machine comprises by way of example transducers 27 which pick up the respective object carriers 6 from the feed belt 5 and pull them into the packaging machine 2. It would also be conceivable that, as in accordance with FIG. 8B shown, the feed belt 5 with a conveyor unit according to the FIGS. 6A to E combined.

FIG. 9 shows a further variant of the conveyor unit 23. According to FIG. 9 the conveying unit 23 comprises two driving chains 28 along which the slides 6 can be successively fed to the sealing machine 9 of the packaging machine 2 in time with the sealing station 9. As in FIG. 9 As shown, the packaging object receptacles 30 may be arbitrarily and irregularly arranged to reduce lid sheet material.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the slide 6. The slide 6 comprises an upper part 29 which is formed as a substantially rectangular metal plate and has sixteen packaging object receptacles 30. In the packaging object receptacles 30, the packaging objects 7 are added. The upper part 29 comprises two evacuation openings 31 on opposite outer regions. The evacuation openings 31 allow a vacuum to be transmitted from the upper die 10 to the lower die part 11 arranged below the slide 6. The upper part 29 of the slide 6 further comprises at two corners centering holes 32. In the centering holes 32 engage previously in connection with FIG. 2 mentioned centering pin 13 when the slide 6 is brought together with the upper tool 10.

The slide 6 further comprises a lower part 33, on which the upper part 29 is fixed. The lower part 33 comprises according to FIG. 10 four foot parts 34, which are each attached to a corner region of the upper part 29. The foot portions 34 are each formed in a double-cone shape and each comprise a tapered region 35, to which in particular the conveyor unit 23 and other means of transport, for example, for a return transport of the slide 6, can attack. For a particularly high hardness and abrasion resistance, the feet 34 may be made of PA6 material. FIG. 10 also shows that the respective foot portions 34 have notches 36 on their inwardly facing side. The notches 36 are used for pre-centering of the slide 6 by the lower tool part 11.

According to FIG. 10 The lower part 33 furthermore comprises two rails 37, each of which is fastened to two feet 34 each. The rails 37 are used to support the slide 6 on conveyor belts of the packaging installation 1, for example, on the feed belt 5 and the discharge belt 8. The rails 37 each comprise an alignment element 38, which according to FIG. 10 is wave-shaped or designed as a rack. The alignment element 38 serves for docking with a slide 6 transported ahead or behind. In addition to the respective alignment elements 38, guide slots 39 are provided on the respective rails 37. The guide slots 39 have the purpose of correctly orienting the slide 6 along its conveying path, wherein the guide slots 39 can be placed on a guide plate, not shown, which is provided along the conveying path. Thus, an operator can place the slide 6 only properly oriented on the conveyor belts. Furthermore, the respective rails 37 comprise a lateral guide 40 on both sides. The lateral guide 40 is designed in such a way that it bears against the guide frame 12 in the sealing station 9, so that the slide 6 is stably supported in the preliminary position. Finally shows FIG. 10 a stacking nose 41 formed at the corners of the top 29. The stacking nose 41 provides a stable stacking of slides 6. Finally, in FIG. 10 an insert plate 29a in a according to FIG. 11 attached insert tray 29b attached.

FIG. 11 shows the slide 6 from the top view, wherein from the top 29, the insert plate 29a is removed, so you look into the insertion tray 29b. In FIG. 11 It can be clearly seen that the upper part 29 comprises a plurality of openings 42. The openings 42 are connected to the respective packaging object receptacles 30 via a channel system provided in the upper part 29, in particular in the insert plate 29a of the object carrier 6. The openings 42 may be the aforementioned evacuation and / or gassing entries.

From the plan view of the slide 6 can be further seen that the respective alignment elements 38 project under the upper part 29, which substantially corresponds to the height of the toothing. This makes it possible that juxtaposed slides 6 can easily cross conveyor belt gaps without a one-sided drop.

FIG. 12 shows the slide 6 from below. In this view, it can be clearly seen that the respective rails 37 have cut-outs 43 at their corner areas, which facilitate a stacking of several slides 6 and in particular can be placed on the respective stacking lugs 41.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic sequence for centering a packaging object 7 in a packaging object receptacle 30 by means of a centering unit 44, which is provided for example in the region of the insertion station 4. The centering unit 44 comprises a mandrel 45, which is adjustable in height. The object carrier 6 can be positioned above the centering unit 44 in such a way that the mandrel 45 moves through the packaging object receptacle 30 and grips the packaging object 7 arranged above it on the ground. This is shown in steps 1 to 3. On the mandrel 45 are two laterally displaceable Baking 46 is provided. Once the mandrel 45 abuts the bottom of the packaging object 30, the jaws 46 can move outward (step 4) to center the packaging object 7 on the mandrel 45. If this is done, then according to step 5, the mandrel 45 moved down and thus pulls the packaging object 7 in the packaging object receiving 30. Once the mandrel 45 has reached a lower position in which the packaging object 7 is completely drawn into the packaging object 30, open the jaws 46 and release the packaging object 7 (step 6). Depending on the number of packaging object receptacles 30 in the slide 6, a corresponding number of spikes 45 may be provided in the centering unit 44.

FIG. 14 shows a recycling unit 45, which is arranged next to the packaging machine 2. By means of the return unit 45, the slides 6 can be tilted by 90 °, for example, to the insertion station 4, in the FIG. 14 not shown, are transported back.

The invention may also relate in isolation to one or more of the features described above, wherein, in particular, the centering unit 44 and the slide 6 together with the lifting element 48 may represent own inventions. The slide 6 may also be formed in one piece, for example as a milled aluminum body.

Claims (18)

Packaging machine (2) with a sealing station (9), a conveying unit (23) and at least one loose object carrier (6) which is designed to receive a plurality of packaging objects (7) and which is conveyed by means of the conveying unit (23) to the sealing station (9 ) can be supplied and this is removable,
wherein the loose object carrier (6) comprises an upper part (29) for receiving the packaging objects (7),
characterized,
in that the object carrier (6) in the sealing station (9) for sealing the packaging objects (7) is movable from a preliminary position (V), in which it can be brought by the conveyor unit (23), into a sealing position (S) in which it displaced parallel to a primary part (V) with a tool upper part (10) of the sealing station (9) is brought together to contact. Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide (6) by means of a lower tool part (11) of the sealing station (9) is receivable and on the upper tool part (10) can be raised. Packaging machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the tool lower part (11) relative to the upper tool part (10) between a rest position, in which the slide (6) from the tool upper part (10) is spaced, and a sealing layer, in which he the slide (6 ) against the upper tool part (10) pushes, is movable. Packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the upper tool part (10), the upper part (29) of the object carrier (6) docked thereto and the lower tool part (11) form an airtight sealing chamber (K). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper tool part (10) of the sealing station (9) and the upper part (29) of the slide (6) are centered merge. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor unit (23) for conveying the slide (6) into the sealing station (9) and for conveying out the slide (6) from the sealing station (9) in the conveying direction (F) seen laterally in addition to the sealing station (9) comprises two drive belts (19). Packaging machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conveying unit (23) for conveying the slide (6) into the sealing station (9) and for conveying out the slide (6) from the sealing station (9) has a gripper unit (14). includes. Packaging machine according to claim 7, characterized in that in the sealing station (9) a guide frame (12) is provided, on which the slide (6) is prepositioned relative to the upper tool part (10). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (6) comprises a lower part (33) on which the upper part (29) is rigidly fastened. Packaging machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the lower part (23) has a first and a second rail (37) on which the upper part (29) is fixed. Packaging machine according to claim 10, characterized in that in both rails (37) a guide slot (39) is provided, by means of which the slide (6) in the conveying direction (F) can be aligned. Packaging machine according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the two rails (37) each comprise an alignment element (38) to align two juxtaposed slides (6) to each other. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one, two or even more object carriers (6) can be received during a sealing cycle in the sealing station (9). Packaging installation (1) with a packaging machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, a removal station (3) for removing finished sealed packaging objects (7) and an insertion station (4) for loading the object carrier (6) with a plurality of unsealed packaging objects (7). Packaging installation according to claim 14, comprising a return unit (45) for providing empty slides (6) for loading with packaging objects (7). A method of sealing a plurality of packaging objects (7), comprising the following steps: - Pre-positioning of a plurality of packaging objects (7) equipped loose slide (6) in a sealing station (9) relative to a tool upper part (10) of the sealing station (9), and - Moving the loose object carrier (6) from its pre-position (V) in a sealing position (S), in which it relative to the preliminary position (V) parallel to the tool upper part (10) of the sealing station (9) is brought together to contact. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the slide (6) is received in the sealing station (9) by a lower tool part (11) and is raised by this to the upper tool part (10). A method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that one, two or more slides (6) are received in the sealing station (9) during a sealing cycle.

Images