EP3581516B1 - Skin packaging and method and sealing station for preparation of skin packages - Google Patents

Skin packaging and method and sealing station for preparation of skin packages Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3581516B1
EP3581516B1 EP18177051.2A EP18177051A EP3581516B1 EP 3581516 B1 EP3581516 B1 EP 3581516B1 EP 18177051 A EP18177051 A EP 18177051A EP 3581516 B1 EP3581516 B1 EP 3581516B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sealing
base
sealing tool
top film
frame
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
EP18177051.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3581516A1 (en
Inventor
Stefan Löffler
Harald GEHRKE
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.)
Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG
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 Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG
Priority to EP18177051.2A priority Critical patent/EP3581516B1/en
Priority to ES18177051T priority patent/ES2912663T3/en
Priority to US16/436,400 priority patent/US20190375566A1/en
Priority to CN201910502305.5A priority patent/CN110577021B/en
Publication of EP3581516A1 publication Critical patent/EP3581516A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3581516B1 publication Critical patent/EP3581516B1/en
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
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D75/305—Skin packages
    • 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
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
    • B65B11/52—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins one sheet being rendered plastic, e.g. by heating, and forced by fluid pressure, e.g. vacuum, into engagement with the other sheet and contents, e.g. skin-, blister-, or bubble- packaging
    • 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
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
    • 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
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/14—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by reciprocating or oscillating members
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2577/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks, bags
    • B65D2577/10—Container closures formed after filling
    • B65D2577/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers
    • B65D2577/2066—Means on, or attached to, container flange facilitating opening, e.g. non-bonding region, cut-out

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and a sealing station for producing a skin pack.
  • Vacuum packaging i.e. packaging from which the air has been sucked out as far as possible, is often used to pack food products in order to extend their shelf life.
  • a further development is the so-called skin packaging, in which an elastic upper film, the skin film, is placed tension-free and tightly over a base and a product placed on it.
  • the base can also be designed in the form of a shell into which the product is placed.
  • the base and the top film are connected to one another in a gas-tight manner in a circumferential sealing area.
  • the skin packaging has properties that allow a particularly advantageous product presentation. This fixes the product in the tray and prevents the product from falling apart or liquid escaping from the product into the tray space.
  • a packaging is known in which a double-layer skin film covers a product located in a tray. A tab is formed to pull off the top of the two skin films.
  • EP3450327 is prior art according to Art. 54(3) EPC and also discloses a skin pack and a method and a sealing station for producing such a pack.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening option for a skin pack.
  • a skin pack comprises a base and a top film, the top film being a skin film and the base and the top film being sealed to one another in a gas-tight manner along a circumferential sealing area.
  • the base and the top film extend in one or more edge areas outside the sealing area, in particular in the form of a tear-off corner, and are not sealed to one another there.
  • the sealing area extend to the very edge of the skin pack, ie up to the cut edge, it would be difficult for the consumer to detach the top film from the backing in a small section, grasp the top film and peel it off the backing to open the package.
  • the top film and the base are only guided loosely one on top of the other in an edge section next to the sealing area, the consumer can easily grasp the top film and pull it off the base. He therefore does not have to use any additional tools.
  • the sealing area includes a sealing seam.
  • the sealing seam is also a peripheral area that is usually relatively narrow and runs in the edge area.
  • the upper film and the base are connected to one another in a particularly stable manner using pressure and heat.
  • the sealing seam is therefore even stronger than the remaining sealing area, which reliably prevents the skin packaging from being opened unintentionally, even if particularly heavy or large products are packaged or the packaging is exposed to particularly high mechanical loads during transport and sale.
  • the base has an offset in the edge area, which the top film spans to make it easier to grip the top film and thus to open the skin pack by pulling off the top film.
  • the offset which can for example be in the form of a step or slope directed downwards, allows the top film to be gripped directly without it first having to be spread apart from the base by bending the edge of the packaging or by pressing against it.
  • the offset can also be in the form of nubs or a web pointing upwards, so that the top film is pressed upwards and protrudes in the unsealed edge region. All variants make it particularly easy to open the skin packaging.
  • the base is preferably designed as a shell, in particular as a deep-drawn lower film.
  • a tray offers advantages when inserting the product, for example preventing liquids from running off, and also offers additional protection of the product through the side edges when the pack is closed. A higher torsional rigidity is also achieved in this way than with flat surfaces.
  • the sealing area has a discrete angle adjacent to the tear-off corner. If the top film is pulled from the tear-open corner onto the bend or a corner of the sealing area, the force is particularly advantageously concentrated on one point at the corner or bend and then distributed evenly on the two sides of the bend. This is how the top film peel off particularly well, especially if the top film and base are connected to one another by a sealed seam.
  • a sealing station according to the invention for producing a skin pack comprises an upper part of the sealing tool with a first frame and a concave dome having air ducts, and a lower part of the sealing tool with a second frame and a base receptacle.
  • the upper part of the sealing tool and/or the lower part of the sealing tool is mounted so that it can be adjusted in height in order to approach one another and to contact one another at their first and second frames, thus forming a gas-tight sealing tool chamber.
  • the sealing station is also configured to connect a substrate to a top film, which is a skin film, in a gas-tight manner by forming a sealing area.
  • the first frame of the upper sealing tool and the second frame of the lower sealing tool are configured to clamp a portion of the base and a portion of the top film so that they are exempt from heating and deformation during the sealing process.
  • the required pressures and temperatures can be created within the sealing tool chamber, which are necessary for the sealing process, i.e. the connection of the upper film with the base.
  • the clamped sections of top film and base are not affected, which prevents the formation of a sealed area, ie a connection between top film and base, there.
  • the sections can also extend further outwards and protrude beyond the frames, so that no sealing process takes place there either.
  • the sealing station preferably has a height-adjustable sealing plate, the sealing plate having a sealing surface which is suitable for connecting a base to an upper film in a gas-tight manner by forming a sealed seam.
  • the sealing surface is pressed onto the upper film and the base by the movable sealing plate, these being mounted on a support surface so that the desired contact pressure can be applied. This creates a particularly stable connection between the top film and the base.
  • the sealing surface can be heated in order to additionally support the formation of the sealing seam.
  • the first frame of the upper part of the sealing tool and the second frame of the lower part of the sealing tool are usually made of a material approved for the food sector.
  • the material or materials from which the first frame and the second frame are formed have a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the dome and the sealing plate in order to ensure energy-efficient heating of the dome and To allow sealing plate, however, to minimize the heat transfer to the frame.
  • the frames could be made of stainless steel and the dome and sealing plate made of aluminum.
  • the first frame of the upper part of the sealing tool and/or the second frame of the lower part of the sealing tool is formed at least in sections from a plastic and/or ceramic material.
  • the sections that clamp the top film can have a particularly low thermal conductivity, as a result of which no heat is transferred to the top film either.
  • the use of such materials is therefore particularly useful in the area of the tear-off corner, so that heat from the heated dome or sealing surface, for example, is not transferred to the top film and the base.
  • the first frame of the upper part of the sealing tool and/or the second frame of the lower part of the sealing tool is cooled, in particular water-cooled by channels running therein. In this way, any unwanted heat transferred into the frame can also be dissipated. This is not only helpful for forming the unsealed opening aid or tear-off corner, but also offers protection for an operator of the sealing station or packaging machine from heat-related injuries when touching the frame.
  • the frame of the lower part of the sealing tool preferably has a recess which is designed to accommodate a downwardly protruding offset of the base so that the offset is not deformed when the base and the top film are clamped between the two frames.
  • the frame of the upper part of the sealing tool can also have a recess in order to accommodate an offset protruding upwards from the flat base surface of the lower film. The offset, which creates a distance between the base and the top film in order to be able to grip the latter better, is thus inserted into the recess and thus retains its shape and thus its function even when the frames are pressed together.
  • the lower part of the sealing tool is at least partially interchangeable in order to accommodate documents of different shapes, in particular documents in the form of a bowl.
  • the same sealing station can seal different packages as required.
  • One way of doing this is by inserting appropriate inserts into the lower part of the sealing tool. The documents can then be placed in or on these inserts.
  • Figure 1A shows a sectional view of a skin pack 1 with a substantially flat base 3, on which a product 5 is placed and sealed with a top film 7, which is a skin film.
  • a circumferential sealing area 9 the base 3 and the top film 7 are sealed together in a gas-tight manner.
  • An unsealed edge region 11 is formed on the left-hand side of the skin pack 1, on which the base 3 and the top film 7 are not sealed to one another.
  • an optional offset 13 in the form of a step is formed in the base 3, so that the base 3 and the top film 7 are at a distance from one another and the top film 7 can thus be gripped more easily in order to pull it off the base 3 to open the skin packaging 1.
  • Figure 1B corresponds to skin packaging 1, as in Figure 1A shown, but the offset 13 is in the form of a slope.
  • Figure 1C shows a further variant of the skin packaging 1, in which the offset 13 is designed as an upward nub.
  • the nub may be tapered in shape.
  • the nub can also be a substantially round and/or hollow point-shaped section of the base 3 that is pressed upwards. However, it can also be a web in the base 3 in the unsealed edge region 11 that has a certain longitudinal extension.
  • figure 2 shows a sectional view of a skin pack 1 with a base 3 in the form of a bowl.
  • the skin film 7 encloses the product 5 placed in the tray 3, fixes it and lies against the inside of the tray 3 without play.
  • the tray 3 has a raised, circumferential and horizontal edge 15 on which the upper film 7 forms a circumferential sealed area 9 with the base 3 and border areas 11 which are unsealed in sections.
  • One or more offsets 13 can optionally be formed in the unsealed edge areas 11 .
  • FIG 3 shows a perspective side view of a sealing station 17, comprising a sealing tool upper part 19 and a sealing tool lower part 21.
  • the sealing tool upper part 19 comprises a first frame 23 and the sealing tool lower part 21 the second frame 25.
  • the frames 23, 25 are designed in such a way that they can seal four skin packs 1 per work cycle.
  • the four bases 3, which are usually connected to one another, are placed in the second frame 25, here in the form of shells.
  • base receptacles 27 for the shells 3 themselves and recesses 29 for the offsets 13 are formed in the second frame 25 .
  • the unsealed edge regions 11 in the form of tear-open corners are expediently oriented towards the edges parallel to the transport direction T, ie, for example, towards the transport chains leading to the upper film 7 .
  • the surrounding sealed area 9 and the unsealed edge area 11 in the form of a tear-open corner are marked on the basis of the base 3 .
  • the sealing area 9 has a discrete bend 31 at the tear-off corners 11, which improves the opening behavior when the top film 7 is pulled off.
  • Bores 33 are arranged laterally in the second, lower frame 25 and serve to evacuate the skin packaging 1 .
  • figure 4 shows the sealing tool upper part 19 from below.
  • the first frame 23 has the appropriate shape to suit figure 3 to create the sealed area 9 in the area within the first and second frames 23, 25 and the unsealed edge area 11 of the skin packaging 1 adjacent thereto.
  • recesses 39 are formed in the first frame 23 in order to enable the area between the upper film 7 and the base 3, ie the interior of the skin packaging 1, to be evacuated by means of the bores 33.
  • FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view obliquely from below of a sealing tool upper part 19.
  • the first frame 23 has the shape that defines the sealed area 9 and the unsealed area 11 of the skin packaging 1 (see FIG figure 3 ).
  • the two domes 35 are formed as part of a sealing plate 41 .
  • the sealing plate 41 is arranged to be movable relative to the first frame 23 .
  • the sealing plate 41 can be moved downwards when the sealing tool chamber is already closed and a sealing surface 43 can be pressed onto the upper film 7 and the base 3 in order to connect them to one another in a particularly stable manner.
  • An edge support of the lower part 21 of the sealing tool, on which the corresponding sections of the upper film 7 and the base 3 lie, generates the necessary counter-pressure.
  • the recesses 39 allow the skin packaging 1 to be evacuated by means of the bores 33 arranged in the second frame 25.
  • FIG 6 shows a side sectional view of a sealing station 17 for a skin pack 1.
  • the base 3 is mounted in the second, lower frame 25.
  • FIG. The first frame 23 is lowered onto the second frame 25, with a part of the base 3 and the upper film 7 being clamped between them, and a gas-tight sealing tool chamber 45 is thus formed.
  • Shown within the first frame 23 is an optional sealing plate 41 which is in an upper position and is slidable to depress a sealing surface 43 of the sealing plate 41 so as to form a seal seam 44 .
  • An edge support 47 serves as a counter-element for creating the desired pressure.
  • the top film 7 is still aligned straight, with an inner section 49 of the top film 7 and an inner section 50 of the base 3 inside, and outer sections 51 of the top film 7 and outer sections 52 of the substrate 3 are located outside of the closed sealing tool chamber 45. Parts of the outer sections 51, 52 are between the first and second Frame 23, 25 clamped. Water can be conducted through channels 53 within the frames 23,25 in order to cool the frames 23,25.
  • the functioning of the sealing station 17 for producing a skin pack 1 is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.
  • the base 3 is provided in a lower part 21 of the sealing tool with a product 5 placed on the base 3 and then an upper film 7 , which is a skin film, is fed in above the product 5 and base 3 .
  • the sealing tool chamber 45 is then closed by pressing the first frame 23 of the upper sealing tool part 19 and the second frame 25 of the lower sealing tool part 21 together, with the upper film 7 and the base 3 being clamped circumferentially between the first and second frames 23, 25 and the sealing tool chamber 45 being Pressing together is completed gas-tight.
  • inner sections 49, 50 of the top film 7 and base 3 are located within the sealing tool chamber 45 and outer sections 51, 52 are located outside of the sealing tool chamber 45.
  • the inner section 49 of the upper film 7 is now sucked into the dome 35 of the upper part 19 of the sealing tool by forming a vacuum in the region between the dome 35 and the upper film 7 . There the inner section 49 of the upper film is heated.
  • the top film 7 with the base 3 is clamped in the edge area 11 of the skin packaging 1 outside of a sealing area 9 between the first frame 23 of the upper part of the sealing tool 19 and the second frame 25 of the bottom part of the sealing tool 21, so that this edge area 11 of the top film 7 and the base 3 is neither deformed nor heated by a pressure difference, so that the upper film 7 is not sealed to the base 3 in this edge region 11 .
  • a vacuum is then formed in the space between the top film 7 and the base 3 .
  • the upper film 7 lies on the base 3 and the product 5 on it.
  • the base 3 is provided in the form of a tray with a product 5 placed in the tray.
  • a sealing plate 41 is preferably pressed onto an edge support 47 of the lower part 21 of the sealing tool and the top film 7 and base 3 located thereon, and a sealed seam 44 is thus formed.
  • air is evacuated and supplied above the upper film 7 via air ducts 37 in the dome 35 of the upper part 19 of the sealing tool.
  • the sealing station 17 can be configured to seal more than two rows of skin packs 1 at the same time. If flat bases 3 are used, they can also have ribbing or other embossing, which increases the rigidity of the base 3 .
  • the offset 13 can also have any other shape which is suitable for spacing the base 3 from the top film 7 .

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Siegelstation zur Herstellung einer Skinverpackung.The present invention relates to a method and a sealing station for producing a skin pack.

Vakuumverpackungen, also Verpackungen, aus deren Inneren die Luft weitestgehend abgesaugt ist, werden häufig zum Verpacken von Lebensmittelprodukten verwendet, um deren Haltbarkeit zu verlängern. Eine Weiterentwicklung ist dabei die sogenannte Skinverpackung, bei welcher eine elastische Oberfolie, die Skinfolie, spannungsfrei und eng anliegend über eine Unterlage und ein darauf aufgelegtes Produkt gelegt wird. Die Unterlage kann dabei auch in Form einer Schale ausgebildet sein, in welche das Produkt eingelegt wird. Die Unterlage und die Oberfolie sind nach dem Verpackungsvorgang, dem Siegeln in einem umlaufenden Siegelbereich, gasdicht miteinander verbunden. Die Skinverpackung weist Eigenschaften auf, welche eine besonders vorteilhafte Produktpräsentation erlauben. So wird das in der Schale befindliche Produkt fixiert und ein Auseinanderfallen des Produkts oder ein Austritt von Flüssigkeit aus dem Produkt in den Schalenraum vermieden. Aufgrund der stabilen Verbindung von Unterlage und Oberfolie im Siegelbereich ist das Produkt während des Transports sicher fixiert, und ein ungewolltes selbständiges Öffnen der Skinverpackung wird verhindert. Die feste Verbindung von Unterlage und Oberfolie erschwert allerdings auch das Öffnen der Verpackung durch einen Verbraucher, um das Produkt zu entnehmen.Vacuum packaging, i.e. packaging from which the air has been sucked out as far as possible, is often used to pack food products in order to extend their shelf life. A further development is the so-called skin packaging, in which an elastic upper film, the skin film, is placed tension-free and tightly over a base and a product placed on it. The base can also be designed in the form of a shell into which the product is placed. After the packaging process, i.e. sealing, the base and the top film are connected to one another in a gas-tight manner in a circumferential sealing area. The skin packaging has properties that allow a particularly advantageous product presentation. This fixes the product in the tray and prevents the product from falling apart or liquid escaping from the product into the tray space. Due to the stable connection of base and top film in the sealing area, the product is securely fixed during transport and unintentional opening of the skin packaging is prevented. However, the firm connection of base and top film also makes it more difficult for a consumer to open the packaging in order to remove the product.

Aus der US 6,044,622 ist eine Verpackung bekannt, bei welcher eine doppellagige Skinfolie ein in einer Schale befindliches Produkt abdeckt. Zum Abziehen der oberen der beiden Skinfolien wird eine Lasche ausgebildet.From the U.S. 6,044,622 a packaging is known in which a double-layer skin film covers a product located in a tray. A tab is formed to pull off the top of the two skin films.

Aus der WO 97/25258 A1 ist eine weitere Skinverpackung bekannt. EP3450327 ist Stand der Technik gemäss Art. 54(3) EPÜ und offenbart ebenfalls eine Skinverpackung sowie ein Verfahren und eine Siegelstation zur Herstellung einer solchen Verpackung.From the WO 97/25258 A1 Another skin packaging is known. EP3450327 is prior art according to Art. 54(3) EPC and also discloses a skin pack and a method and a sealing station for producing such a pack.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, eine verbesserte Öffnungsmöglichkeit für eine Skinverpackung bereitzustellen.The object of the present invention is to provide an improved opening option for a skin pack.

Die Aufgabe wird gelöst durch ein Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Skinverpackung gemäß Anspruch 1 sowie eine Siegelstation zum Herstellen einer Skinverpackung gemäß Anspruch 5. Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen angegeben.The object is achieved by a method for producing a skin pack according to claim 1 and a sealing station for producing a skin pack according to claim 5. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Eine Skinverpackung umfasst eine Unterlage und eine Oberfolie, wobei die Oberfolie eine Skinfolie ist und wobei die Unterlage und die Oberfolie entlang eines umlaufenden Siegelbereichs miteinander gasdicht versiegelt sind. Dabei erstrecken sich die Unterlage und die Oberfolie in einem oder mehreren Randbereichen außerhalb des Siegelbereichs, insbesondere in Form einer Aufreißecke, und sind dort nicht miteinander versiegelt. Würde sich der Siegelbereich bis zum äußersten Rand der Skinverpackung, also bis zu deren Schnittkante, erstrecken, so wäre es für den Verbraucher schwierig, die Oberfolie von der Unterlage in einem kleinen Abschnitt zu lösen, die Oberfolie zu fassen und sie von der Unterlage abzuziehen um die Verpackung zu öffnen. Werden jedoch die Oberfolie und die Unterlage in einem Randabschnitt neben dem Siegelbereich nur lose aufeinanderliegend geführt, so kann der Verbraucher mühelos die Oberfolie greifen und sie von der Unterlage abziehen. Er muss somit auch kein zusätzliches Werkzeug zu Hilfe nehmen.A skin pack comprises a base and a top film, the top film being a skin film and the base and the top film being sealed to one another in a gas-tight manner along a circumferential sealing area. The base and the top film extend in one or more edge areas outside the sealing area, in particular in the form of a tear-off corner, and are not sealed to one another there. Would the sealing area extend to the very edge of the skin pack, ie up to the cut edge, it would be difficult for the consumer to detach the top film from the backing in a small section, grasp the top film and peel it off the backing to open the package. However, if the top film and the base are only guided loosely one on top of the other in an edge section next to the sealing area, the consumer can easily grasp the top film and pull it off the base. He therefore does not have to use any additional tools.

In einer vorteilhaften Variante umfasst der Siegelbereich eine Siegelnaht. Die Siegelnaht ist ebenfalls ein umlaufender, üblicherweise relativ schmaler und im Randbereich verlaufender, Bereich. Dazu wird zusätzlich zum weiter unten erläuterten Skinprozess die Oberfolie und die Unterlage mit Druck und Wärme besonders stabil miteinander verbunden. Die Siegelnaht weist somit eine noch größere Festigkeit als der restliche Siegelbereich auf, wodurch ein ungewolltes Öffnen der Skinverpackung zuverlässig verhindert wird, auch wenn besonders schwere oder große Produkte verpackt sind oder die Verpackung bei Transport und Verkauf besonders hohen mechanischen Belastungen ausgesetzt ist.In an advantageous variant, the sealing area includes a sealing seam. The sealing seam is also a peripheral area that is usually relatively narrow and runs in the edge area. For this purpose, in addition to the skin process explained below, the upper film and the base are connected to one another in a particularly stable manner using pressure and heat. The sealing seam is therefore even stronger than the remaining sealing area, which reliably prevents the skin packaging from being opened unintentionally, even if particularly heavy or large products are packaged or the packaging is exposed to particularly high mechanical loads during transport and sale.

In einer besonders vorteilhaften Variante weist die Unterlage in dem Randbereich einen Versatz auf, welchen die Oberfolie überspannt, um das Greifen der Oberfolie und damit das Öffnen der Skinverpackung durch Abziehen der Oberfolie zu erleichtern. Der Versatz, welcher beispielsweise in Form einer nach unten gerichteten Stufe oder Schräge ausgebildet sein kann, erlaubt das direkte Greifen der Oberfolie, ohne dass diese erst durch ein Biegen des Verpackungsrandes oder ein Gegendrücken von der Unterlage abgespreizt werden müsste. Der Versatz kann auch als nach oben gerichteter Noppen oder Steg geformt, sein, so dass die Oberfolie in dem unversiegelten Randbereich nach oben gedrückt wird und absteht. Alle Varianten ermöglichen es, die Skinverpackung besonders einfach zu öffnen.In a particularly advantageous variant, the base has an offset in the edge area, which the top film spans to make it easier to grip the top film and thus to open the skin pack by pulling off the top film. The offset, which can for example be in the form of a step or slope directed downwards, allows the top film to be gripped directly without it first having to be spread apart from the base by bending the edge of the packaging or by pressing against it. The offset can also be in the form of nubs or a web pointing upwards, so that the top film is pressed upwards and protrudes in the unsealed edge region. All variants make it particularly easy to open the skin packaging.

Vorzugsweise ist die Unterlage als Schale, insbesondere als eine tiefgezogene Unterfolie, ausgebildet. Eine Schale bietet Vorteile beim Einlegen des Produkts, verhindert zum Beispiel das Ablaufen von Flüssigkeiten, und bietet auch, wenn die Packung verschlossen ist, einen zusätzlichen Schutz des Produkts durch die seitlichen Ränder. Auch wird so eine höhere Verwindungssteifigkeit als bei flachen Unterlagen erreicht.The base is preferably designed as a shell, in particular as a deep-drawn lower film. A tray offers advantages when inserting the product, for example preventing liquids from running off, and also offers additional protection of the product through the side edges when the pack is closed. A higher torsional rigidity is also achieved in this way than with flat surfaces.

In einer gängigen Variante weist der Siegelbereich benachbart zu der Aufreißecke eine diskrete Abwinklung auf. Wird die Oberfolie von der Aufreißecke aus auf die Abwinklung bzw. auf eine Ecke des Siegelbereichs hin aufgezogen, so wird an der Ecke bzw. Abwinklung die Kraft besonders vorteilhaft auf einen Punkt konzentriert und anschließend gleichmäßig auf die beiden Seiten der Abwinklung verteilt. So lässt sich die Oberfolie besonders gut abziehen, insbesondere wenn Oberfolie und Unterlage durch eine Siegelnaht miteinander verbunden sind.In a common variant, the sealing area has a discrete angle adjacent to the tear-off corner. If the top film is pulled from the tear-open corner onto the bend or a corner of the sealing area, the force is particularly advantageously concentrated on one point at the corner or bend and then distributed evenly on the two sides of the bend. This is how the top film peel off particularly well, especially if the top film and base are connected to one another by a sealed seam.

Eine erfindungsgemäße Siegelstation zum Herstellen einer Skinverpackung umfasst ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil mit einem ersten Rahmen und einen konkaven, Luftkanäle aufweisenden, Dom, und ein Siegelwerkzeugunterteil mit einem zweiten Rahmen und einer Unterlagenaufnahme. Dabei ist das Siegelwerkzeugoberteil und/oder das Siegelwerkzeugunterteil höhenverstellbar gelagert, um einander angenähert zu werden und sich an ihren ersten und zweiten Rahmen zu kontaktieren und so eine gasdichte Siegelwerkzeugkammer zu bilden. Die Siegelstation ist desweiteren dazu konfiguriert, eine Unterlage mit einer Oberfolie, welche eine Skinfolie ist, durch Ausbilden eines Siegelbereichs gasdicht miteinander zu verbinden. Dabei sind der erste Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils und der zweite Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils dazu konfiguriert, einen Abschnitt der Unterlage und einen Abschnitt der Oberfolie zu klemmen, so dass diese von einer Erwärmung und Verformung während des Siegelverfahrens ausgenommen sind. So können innerhalb der Siegelwerkzeugkammer die benötigten Drücke und Temperaturen geschaffen werden, welche für den Siegelprozess, also das Verbinden der Oberfolie mit der Unterlage, nötig sind. Gleichzeitig werden die geklemmten Abschnitte von Oberfolie und Unterlage davon nicht beeinflusst, wodurch die Ausbildung eines Siegelbereichs, also einer Verbindung von Oberfolie und Unterlage, dort verhindert wird. Auch können sich die Abschnitte weiter nach außen erstrecken und über die Rahmen herausstehen, so dass dort ebenfalls kein Siegelvorgang stattfindet.A sealing station according to the invention for producing a skin pack comprises an upper part of the sealing tool with a first frame and a concave dome having air ducts, and a lower part of the sealing tool with a second frame and a base receptacle. The upper part of the sealing tool and/or the lower part of the sealing tool is mounted so that it can be adjusted in height in order to approach one another and to contact one another at their first and second frames, thus forming a gas-tight sealing tool chamber. The sealing station is also configured to connect a substrate to a top film, which is a skin film, in a gas-tight manner by forming a sealing area. The first frame of the upper sealing tool and the second frame of the lower sealing tool are configured to clamp a portion of the base and a portion of the top film so that they are exempt from heating and deformation during the sealing process. In this way, the required pressures and temperatures can be created within the sealing tool chamber, which are necessary for the sealing process, i.e. the connection of the upper film with the base. At the same time, the clamped sections of top film and base are not affected, which prevents the formation of a sealed area, ie a connection between top film and base, there. The sections can also extend further outwards and protrude beyond the frames, so that no sealing process takes place there either.

Bevorzugt weist die Siegelstation eine höhenverstellbare Siegelplatte auf, wobei die Siegelplatte eine Siegelfläche aufweist, welche dazu geeignet ist, eine Unterlage mit einer Oberfolie durch Ausbilden einer Siegelnaht gasdicht zu verbinden. Durch die bewegliche Siegelplatte wird die Siegelfläche auf die Oberfolie und die Unterlage gedrückt, wobei diese auf einer Auflagefläche gelagert sind, so dass der gewünschte Anpressdruck angewendet werden kann. Dadurch kommt eine besonders stabile Verbindung von Oberfolie und Unterlage zustande. Zusätzlich kann die Siegelfläche beheizt sein, um das Ausbilden der Siegelnaht zusätzlich zu unterstützen.The sealing station preferably has a height-adjustable sealing plate, the sealing plate having a sealing surface which is suitable for connecting a base to an upper film in a gas-tight manner by forming a sealed seam. The sealing surface is pressed onto the upper film and the base by the movable sealing plate, these being mounted on a support surface so that the desired contact pressure can be applied. This creates a particularly stable connection between the top film and the base. In addition, the sealing surface can be heated in order to additionally support the formation of the sealing seam.

Üblicherweise sind der erste Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils und der zweite Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils aus einem für den Lebensmittelbereich zugelassenen Material gebildet. Selbiges gilt für den Dom sowie die Siegelplatte im Siegelwerkzeugoberteil. Dabei kann es sinnvoll sein, dass das oder die Materialien, aus welchen der erste Rahmen und der zweite Rahmen gebildet sind, eine geringere Wärmeleitfähigkeit aufweisen als das Material des Doms und der Siegelplatte, um ein energieeffizientes Beheizen von Dom und Siegelplatte zu ermöglichen, den Wärmeübertrag auf die Rahmen jedoch zu minimieren. So könnten die Rahmen aus Edelstahl und der Dom und die Siegelplatte aus Aluminium gebildet sein.The first frame of the upper part of the sealing tool and the second frame of the lower part of the sealing tool are usually made of a material approved for the food sector. The same applies to the dome and the sealing plate in the upper part of the sealing tool. It can be useful that the material or materials from which the first frame and the second frame are formed have a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the dome and the sealing plate in order to ensure energy-efficient heating of the dome and To allow sealing plate, however, to minimize the heat transfer to the frame. For example, the frames could be made of stainless steel and the dome and sealing plate made of aluminum.

In einer zweckmäßigen Variante ist der erste Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils und/oder der zweite Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils zumindest abschnittsweise aus einem Kunststoff- und/oder Keramikmaterial gebildet. So können beispielsweise die Abschnitte, welche die Oberfolie klemmen, eine besonders niedrige Wärmeleitfähigkeit aufweisen, wodurch auf die Oberfolie auch keine Wärme übertragen wird. Insbesondere im Bereich der Aufreißecke ist deshalb ein Einsatz solcher Materialen sinnvoll, damit beispielsweise Wärme vom beheizten Dom oder Siegelfläche nicht auf die Oberfolie und die Unterlage übertragen wird.In an expedient variant, the first frame of the upper part of the sealing tool and/or the second frame of the lower part of the sealing tool is formed at least in sections from a plastic and/or ceramic material. For example, the sections that clamp the top film can have a particularly low thermal conductivity, as a result of which no heat is transferred to the top film either. The use of such materials is therefore particularly useful in the area of the tear-off corner, so that heat from the heated dome or sealing surface, for example, is not transferred to the top film and the base.

In einer gängigen Variante ist der erste Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils und/oder der zweite Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils gekühlt, insbesondere durch darin verlaufende Kanäle wassergekühlt. Damit kann zusätzlich eine unerwünschte, in die Rahmen übertragene Wärme abgeführt werden. Dies ist nicht nur zur Ausbildung der unversiegelten Öffnungshilfe bzw. Aufreißecke hilfreich sondern bietet auch einen Schutz eines Bedieners der Siegelstation bzw. Verpackungsmaschine vor hitzebedingten Verletzungen beim Berühren der Rahmen.In a common variant, the first frame of the upper part of the sealing tool and/or the second frame of the lower part of the sealing tool is cooled, in particular water-cooled by channels running therein. In this way, any unwanted heat transferred into the frame can also be dissipated. This is not only helpful for forming the unsealed opening aid or tear-off corner, but also offers protection for an operator of the sealing station or packaging machine from heat-related injuries when touching the frame.

Bevorzugt weist der Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils eine Ausnehmung auf, welche dazu ausgebildet ist, einen nach unten hervorstehenden Versatz der Unterlage aufzunehmen, um beim Klemmen der Unterlage und der Oberfolie zwischen die beiden Rahmen den Versatz nicht zu deformieren. Entsprechend kann auch der Rahmen des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils eine Ausnehmung aufweisen, um einen von der ebenen Grundfläche der Unterfolie nach oben hervorstehenden Versatz aufzunehmen. Der Versatz, welcher einen Abstand zwischen Unterlage und Oberfolie herstellt, um letztere besser greifen zu können, wird also in die Ausnehmung eingelegt und behält dadurch auch beim Zusammenpressen der Rahmen seine Form und damit seine Funktion bei.The frame of the lower part of the sealing tool preferably has a recess which is designed to accommodate a downwardly protruding offset of the base so that the offset is not deformed when the base and the top film are clamped between the two frames. Correspondingly, the frame of the upper part of the sealing tool can also have a recess in order to accommodate an offset protruding upwards from the flat base surface of the lower film. The offset, which creates a distance between the base and the top film in order to be able to grip the latter better, is thus inserted into the recess and thus retains its shape and thus its function even when the frames are pressed together.

Idealerweise ist das Siegelwerkzeugunterteil zumindest teilweise austauschbar, um Unterlagen unterschiedlicher Form, insbesondere Unterlagen in Schalenform, aufzunehmen. So kann dieselbe Siegelstation je nach Bedarf unterschiedliche Verpackungen versiegeln. Eine Möglichkeit, dies zu realisieren, sind entsprechende Einsätze, welche in das Siegelwerkzeugunterteil eingelegt werden. In bzw. auf diese Einsätze können dann die Unterlagen gelegt werden.Ideally, the lower part of the sealing tool is at least partially interchangeable in order to accommodate documents of different shapes, in particular documents in the form of a bowl. In this way, the same sealing station can seal different packages as required. One way of doing this is by inserting appropriate inserts into the lower part of the sealing tool. The documents can then be placed in or on these inserts.

Im Folgenden werden Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung anhand der Figuren näher beschrieben. Dabei zeigen

Figur 1A:
eine seitliche Schnittansicht einer Skinverpackung mit Produkt und einer flachen Unterlage mit einem nach unten gerichteten Versatz in Form einer Stufe,
Figur 1B:
eine seitliche Schnittansicht einer Skinverpackung mit Produkt und einer flachen Unterlage mit einem nach unten gerichteten Versatz in Form einer Schräge,
Figur 1C:
eine seitliche Schnittansicht einer Skinverpackung mit Produkt und einer flachen Unterlage mit einem nach oben gerichteten Versatz in Form einer Noppe,
Figur 2:
eine seitliche Schnittansicht einer Skinverpackung mit Produkt und einer Unterlage in Schalenform,
Figur 3:
eine perspektivische Seitenansicht einer Siegelstation, umfassend ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil und ein Siegelwerkzeugunterteil, sowie vier im Verbund angeordneten Unterlagen,
Figur 4:
eine Draufsicht von unten auf ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil,
Figur 5:
eine perspektivische Schnittansicht von schräg unten auf ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil, und
Figur 6:
eine seitliche Schnittansicht einer Siegelstation.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the figures. show it
Figure 1A:
a side sectional view of a skin package with product and a flat base with a downward offset in the form of a step,
Figure 1B:
a side sectional view of a skin package with product and a flat base with a downward offset in the form of a slope,
Figure 1C:
a side sectional view of a skin package with product and a flat base with an upward offset in the form of a knob,
Figure 2:
a side sectional view of a skin pack with product and a base in the form of a tray,
Figure 3:
a perspective side view of a sealing station, comprising a sealing tool upper part and a sealing tool lower part, as well as four documents arranged in the composite,
Figure 4:
a top view from below of a sealing tool upper part,
Figure 5:
a perspective sectional view obliquely from below of a sealing tool upper part, and
Figure 6:
a side sectional view of a sealing station.

Einander entsprechende Komponenten sind in den Figuren jeweils mit gleichen Bezugszeichen versehen.Corresponding components are each provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Figur 1A zeigt eine Schnittansicht einer Skinverpackung 1 mit einer im Wesentlichen flachen Unterlage 3, auf welcher ein Produkt 5 aufgelegt ist und mit einer Oberfolie 7, welche eine Skinfolie ist, versiegelt ist. In einem umlaufenden Siegelbereich 9 sind die Unterlage 3 und die Oberfolie 7 gasdicht miteinander versiegelt. An der linken Seite der Skinverpackung 1 ist ein unversiegelter Randbereich 11 ausgebildet, an welchem die Unterlage 3 und die Oberfolie 7 nicht miteinander versiegelt sind. Zusätzlich ist in der Unterlage 3 ein optionaler Versatz 13 in Form einer Stufe ausgebildet, so dass Unterlage 3 und Oberfolie 7 einen Abstand zueinander aufweisen und die Oberfolie 7 damit leichter gegriffen werden kann, um sie zum Öffnen der Skinverpackung 1 von der Unterlage 3 abzuziehen. Figure 1A shows a sectional view of a skin pack 1 with a substantially flat base 3, on which a product 5 is placed and sealed with a top film 7, which is a skin film. In a circumferential sealing area 9, the base 3 and the top film 7 are sealed together in a gas-tight manner. An unsealed edge region 11 is formed on the left-hand side of the skin pack 1, on which the base 3 and the top film 7 are not sealed to one another. In addition, an optional offset 13 in the form of a step is formed in the base 3, so that the base 3 and the top film 7 are at a distance from one another and the top film 7 can thus be gripped more easily in order to pull it off the base 3 to open the skin packaging 1.

Figur 1B entspricht der Skinverpackung 1, wie in Figur 1A dargestellt, jedoch ist der Versatz 13 in Form einer Schräge ausgebildet. Figure 1B corresponds to skin packaging 1, as in Figure 1A shown, but the offset 13 is in the form of a slope.

Figur 1C zeigt eine weitere Variante der Skinverpackung 1, bei welcher der Versatz 13 als eine nach oben stehende Noppe ausgebildet ist. Wie gezeigt, kann die Noppe spitz zulaufend geformt sein. Genauso kann die Noppe auch ein im Wesentlichen runder und/oder hohler, nach oben gedrückter punktförmiger Abschnitt der Unterlage 3 sein. Es kann sich jedoch auch um einen eine gewisse Längsausdehnung aufweisenden Steg in der Unterlage 3 im unversiegelten Randbereich 11 handeln. Figure 1C shows a further variant of the skin packaging 1, in which the offset 13 is designed as an upward nub. As shown, the nub may be tapered in shape. In the same way, the nub can also be a substantially round and/or hollow point-shaped section of the base 3 that is pressed upwards. However, it can also be a web in the base 3 in the unsealed edge region 11 that has a certain longitudinal extension.

Figur 2 zeigt eine Schnittansicht einer Skinverpackung 1 mit einer Unterlage 3 in Schalenform. Die Skinfolie 7 umspannt das in die Schale 3 eingelegte Produkt 5, fixiert dieses und legt sich spielfrei an die Innenseite der Schale 3 an. Die Schale 3 weist einen erhöhten umlaufenden und horizontalen Rand 15 auf, auf welchem die Oberfolie 7 mit der Unterlage 3 einen umlaufenden Siegelbereich 9 bildet und sich abschnittsweise unversiegelte Randbereiche 11 anschließen. Auch können ein oder mehrere Versätze 13 in den unversiegelten Randbereichen 11 optional ausgebildet sein. figure 2 shows a sectional view of a skin pack 1 with a base 3 in the form of a bowl. The skin film 7 encloses the product 5 placed in the tray 3, fixes it and lies against the inside of the tray 3 without play. The tray 3 has a raised, circumferential and horizontal edge 15 on which the upper film 7 forms a circumferential sealed area 9 with the base 3 and border areas 11 which are unsealed in sections. One or more offsets 13 can optionally be formed in the unsealed edge areas 11 .

Figur 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Seitenansicht einer Siegelstation 17, umfassend ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil 19 und ein Siegelwerkzeugunterteil 21. Das Siegelwerkzeugoberteil 19 umfasst einen ersten Rahmen 23 und das Siegelwerkzeugunterteil 21 den zweiten Rahmen 25. Der Übersichtlichkeit halber sind Komponenten zum Heben und Senken des ersten Rahmens 23 und/oder des zweiten Rahmens 25 oder die Komponenten der Förderstrecke nicht gezeigt. Die Rahmen 23, 25 sind so gestaltet, dass sie vier Skinverpackungen 1 pro Arbeitstakt versiegeln können. Dazu werden die vier, üblicherweise miteinander verbundenen, Unterlagen 3, hier in Form von Schalen, in den zweiten Rahmen 25 eingelegt. Dabei sind Unterlagenaufnahmen 27 für die Schalen 3 selbst sowie Ausnehmungen 29 für die Versätze 13 in dem zweiten Rahmen 25 ausgebildet. Die unversiegelten Randbereiche 11 in Form von Aufreißecken sind zweckmäßig zu den zur Transportrichtung T parallelen Rändern, also beispielsweise zu die Oberfolie 7 führenden Transportketten hin, orientiert. In der Abbildung gekennzeichnet sind anhand der Unterlage 3 der umlaufende Siegelbereich 9 sowie der unversiegelte Randbereich 11 in Form einer Aufreißecke. An den Aufreißecken 11 weist der Siegelbereich 9 eine diskrete Abwinklung 31 auf, welche das Öffnungsverhalten beim Abziehen der Oberfolie 7 verbessert. figure 3 shows a perspective side view of a sealing station 17, comprising a sealing tool upper part 19 and a sealing tool lower part 21. The sealing tool upper part 19 comprises a first frame 23 and the sealing tool lower part 21 the second frame 25. For the sake of clarity, components for raising and lowering the first frame 23 and/or of the second frame 25 or the components of the conveyor line are not shown. The frames 23, 25 are designed in such a way that they can seal four skin packs 1 per work cycle. For this purpose, the four bases 3, which are usually connected to one another, are placed in the second frame 25, here in the form of shells. In this case, base receptacles 27 for the shells 3 themselves and recesses 29 for the offsets 13 are formed in the second frame 25 . The unsealed edge regions 11 in the form of tear-open corners are expediently oriented towards the edges parallel to the transport direction T, ie, for example, towards the transport chains leading to the upper film 7 . In the figure, the surrounding sealed area 9 and the unsealed edge area 11 in the form of a tear-open corner are marked on the basis of the base 3 . The sealing area 9 has a discrete bend 31 at the tear-off corners 11, which improves the opening behavior when the top film 7 is pulled off.

Seitlich sind im zweiten, unteren Rahmen 25 Bohrungen 33 angeordnet, welche zum Evakuieren der Skinverpackung 1 dienen.Bores 33 are arranged laterally in the second, lower frame 25 and serve to evacuate the skin packaging 1 .

Figur 4 zeigt das Siegelwerkzeugoberteil 19 von unten. Innerhalb des ersten Rahmens 23 sind vier konkav nach oben gewölbte Dome 35 angeordnet. Über Luftkanäle 37 in den Domen 35 kann der Raum zwischen Dom 35 und Oberfolie 7 evakuiert werden, so dass sich die Oberfolie 7 an den jeweiligen Dom 35 anlegt und von diesem erwärmt werden kann. Der erste Rahmen 23 weist die passende Form auf, um entsprechend Figur 3 im Bereich innerhalb des ersten und zweiten Rahmens 23, 25 den Siegelbereich 9 und benachbart dazu den unversiegelten Randbereich 11 der Skinverpackung 1 zu schaffen. Desweiteren sind im ersten Rahmen 23 Aussparungen 39 ausgebildet, um ein Evakuieren des Bereichs zwischen Oberfolie 7 und Unterlage 3, also des Inneren der Skinverpackung 1, mittels der Bohrungen 33 zu ermöglichen. figure 4 shows the sealing tool upper part 19 from below. Inside the first frame 23 four concave domes 35 are arranged. The space between the dome 35 and the upper film 7 can be evacuated via air ducts 37 in the domes 35, so that the upper film 7 rests against the respective dome 35 and can be heated by it. The first frame 23 has the appropriate shape to suit figure 3 to create the sealed area 9 in the area within the first and second frames 23, 25 and the unsealed edge area 11 of the skin packaging 1 adjacent thereto. Furthermore, recesses 39 are formed in the first frame 23 in order to enable the area between the upper film 7 and the base 3, ie the interior of the skin packaging 1, to be evacuated by means of the bores 33.

Figur 5 zeigt eine perspektivische Schnittansicht von schräg unten auf ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil 19. Der erste Rahmen 23 weist die Form auf, welche den Siegelbereich 9 und den unversiegelten Bereich 11 der Skinverpackung 1 definiert (siehe Figur 3). Die zwei Dome 35 sind in dieser Ausführungsform als Teil einer Siegelplatte 41 ausgebildet. Die Siegelplatte 41 ist relativ zu dem ersten Rahmen 23 beweglich angeordnet. So kann die Siegelplatte 41 bei bereits verschlossener Siegelwerkzeugkammer nach unten bewegt und eine Siegelfläche 43 auf die Oberfolie 7 und die Unterlage 3 gedrückt werden um diese besonders stabil miteinander zu verbinden. Dabei erzeugt eine Randauflage des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils 21, auf welcher die entsprechenden Abschnitte der Oberfolie 7 und der Unterlage 3 aufliegen, für den nötigen Gegendruck. Die Aussparungen 39 erlauben das Evakuieren der Skinverpackung 1 mittels der im zweiten Rahmen 25 angeordneten Bohrungen 33. figure 5 shows a perspective sectional view obliquely from below of a sealing tool upper part 19. The first frame 23 has the shape that defines the sealed area 9 and the unsealed area 11 of the skin packaging 1 (see FIG figure 3 ). In this embodiment, the two domes 35 are formed as part of a sealing plate 41 . The sealing plate 41 is arranged to be movable relative to the first frame 23 . Thus the sealing plate 41 can be moved downwards when the sealing tool chamber is already closed and a sealing surface 43 can be pressed onto the upper film 7 and the base 3 in order to connect them to one another in a particularly stable manner. An edge support of the lower part 21 of the sealing tool, on which the corresponding sections of the upper film 7 and the base 3 lie, generates the necessary counter-pressure. The recesses 39 allow the skin packaging 1 to be evacuated by means of the bores 33 arranged in the second frame 25.

Figur 6 zeigt eine seitliche Schnittansicht einer Siegelstation 17 für eine Skinverpackung 1. Die Unterlage 3 ist in dem zweiten, unteren Rahmen 25 gelagert. Der erste Rahmen 23 ist auf den zweiten Rahmen 25 abgesenkt, wobei ein Teil der Unterlage 3 sowie die Oberfolie 7 zwischengeklemmt sind und so eine gasdichte Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45 gebildet wird. Innerhalb des ersten Rahmens 23 ist eine optionale Siegelplatte 41 gezeigt, welche sich in einer oberen Stellung befindet und verschiebbar ist, um eine Siegelfläche 43 der Siegelplatte 41 nach unten zu drücken, um so eine Siegelnaht 44 auszubilden. Eine Randauflage 47 dient dabei als Gegenelement zur Ausbildung des gewünschten Drucks. Die Oberfolie 7 ist noch gerade ausgerichtet, wobei sich ein innerer Abschnitt 49 der Oberfolie 7 und ein innerer Abschnitt 50 der Unterlage 3 innerhalb, und äußere Abschnitte 51 der Oberfolie 7 und äußere Abschnitte 52 der Unterlage 3 außerhalb der geschlossenen Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45 befinden. Teile der äußeren Abschnitte 51, 52 sind zwischen den ersten und zweiten Rahmen 23, 25 geklemmt. Durch Kanäle 53 innerhalb der Rahmen 23, 25 kann Wasser geführt werden, um die Rahmen 23, 25 zu kühlen. figure 6 shows a side sectional view of a sealing station 17 for a skin pack 1. The base 3 is mounted in the second, lower frame 25. FIG. The first frame 23 is lowered onto the second frame 25, with a part of the base 3 and the upper film 7 being clamped between them, and a gas-tight sealing tool chamber 45 is thus formed. Shown within the first frame 23 is an optional sealing plate 41 which is in an upper position and is slidable to depress a sealing surface 43 of the sealing plate 41 so as to form a seal seam 44 . An edge support 47 serves as a counter-element for creating the desired pressure. The top film 7 is still aligned straight, with an inner section 49 of the top film 7 and an inner section 50 of the base 3 inside, and outer sections 51 of the top film 7 and outer sections 52 of the substrate 3 are located outside of the closed sealing tool chamber 45. Parts of the outer sections 51, 52 are between the first and second Frame 23, 25 clamped. Water can be conducted through channels 53 within the frames 23,25 in order to cool the frames 23,25.

Im Folgenden wird die Funktionsweise der Siegelstation 17 zur Herstelllung einer Skinverpackung 1 anhand der Figuren näher beschrieben. Die Unterlage 3 wird in einem Siegelwerkzeugunterteil 21 mit einem auf die Unterlage 3 aufgelegten Produkt 5 bereitgestellt und sodann eine Oberfolie 7, welche eine Skinfolie ist, oberhalb von Produkt 5 und Unterlage 3 zugeführt. Dann wird die Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45 durch Aufeinanderpressen des ersten Rahmens 23 des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils 19 und des zweiten Rahmens 25 des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils 21 geschlossen, wobei die Oberfolie 7 und die Unterlage 3 umlaufend zwischen dem ersten und zweiten Rahmen 23, 25 geklemmt sind und die Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45 durch das Aufeinanderpressen gasdicht abgeschlossen ist. Somit befinden sich innere Abschnitte 49, 50 von Oberfolie 7 und Unterlage 3 innerhalb der Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45 und äußere Abschnitte 51, 52 außerhalb der Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45.The functioning of the sealing station 17 for producing a skin pack 1 is described in more detail below with reference to the figures. The base 3 is provided in a lower part 21 of the sealing tool with a product 5 placed on the base 3 and then an upper film 7 , which is a skin film, is fed in above the product 5 and base 3 . The sealing tool chamber 45 is then closed by pressing the first frame 23 of the upper sealing tool part 19 and the second frame 25 of the lower sealing tool part 21 together, with the upper film 7 and the base 3 being clamped circumferentially between the first and second frames 23, 25 and the sealing tool chamber 45 being Pressing together is completed gas-tight. Thus, inner sections 49, 50 of the top film 7 and base 3 are located within the sealing tool chamber 45 and outer sections 51, 52 are located outside of the sealing tool chamber 45.

Es wird nun der innere Abschnitt 49 der Oberfolie 7 in den Dom 35 des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils 19, durch Ausbilden eines Vakuums im Bereich zwischen Dom 35 und Oberfolie 7, angesaugt. Dort wird der innere Abschnitt 49 der Oberfolie erwärmt.The inner section 49 of the upper film 7 is now sucked into the dome 35 of the upper part 19 of the sealing tool by forming a vacuum in the region between the dome 35 and the upper film 7 . There the inner section 49 of the upper film is heated.

Beim Schließen der Siegelwerkzeugkammer 45 wird die Oberfolie 7 mit der Unterlage 3 in dem Randbereich 11 der Skinverpackung 1 außerhalb eines Siegelbereichs 9 zwischen den ersten Rahmen 23 des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils 19 und den zweiten Rahmen 25 des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils 21 geklemmt, so dass dieser Randbereich 11 der Oberfolie 7 und der Unterlage 3 weder durch einen Druckunterschied verformt noch erwärmt wird und so keine Versiegelung der Oberfolie 7 mit der Unterlage 3 in diesem Randbereich 11 stattfindet.When the sealing tool chamber 45 is closed, the top film 7 with the base 3 is clamped in the edge area 11 of the skin packaging 1 outside of a sealing area 9 between the first frame 23 of the upper part of the sealing tool 19 and the second frame 25 of the bottom part of the sealing tool 21, so that this edge area 11 of the top film 7 and the base 3 is neither deformed nor heated by a pressure difference, so that the upper film 7 is not sealed to the base 3 in this edge region 11 .

Anschließend wird ein Vakuum im Raum zwischen der Oberfolie 7 und der Unterlage 3 ausgebildet. Durch das Herstellen des Atmosphärendrucks zwischen Dom 35 bzw. Siegelwerkzeugoberteil 19 und Oberfolie 7 legt sich die Oberfolie 7 auf die Unterlage 3 und das darauf befindliche Produkt 5.A vacuum is then formed in the space between the top film 7 and the base 3 . By creating the atmospheric pressure between the mandrel 35 or the upper part 19 of the sealing tool and the upper film 7, the upper film 7 lies on the base 3 and the product 5 on it.

In einer gängigen Variante wird die Unterlage 3 in Form einer Schale mit einem in die Schale eingelegten Produkt 5 bereitgestellt.In a common variant, the base 3 is provided in the form of a tray with a product 5 placed in the tray.

Vorzugsweise wird eine Siegelplatte 41 auf eine Randauflage 47 des Siegelwerkzeugunterteils 21 und die sich darauf befindlichen Oberfolie 7 und Unterlage 3 niedergedrückt und so eine Siegelnaht 44 ausgebildet.A sealing plate 41 is preferably pressed onto an edge support 47 of the lower part 21 of the sealing tool and the top film 7 and base 3 located thereon, and a sealed seam 44 is thus formed.

Üblicherweise erfolgt das Evakuieren und Zuführen von Luft oberhalb der Oberfolie 7 über Luftkanäle 37 im Dom 35 des Siegelwerkzeugoberteils 19.Usually, air is evacuated and supplied above the upper film 7 via air ducts 37 in the dome 35 of the upper part 19 of the sealing tool.

Ausgehend von den oben dargestellten Ausführungsformen einer Skinverpackung 1 und einer Siegelstation 17 sind vielerlei Variationen derselben möglich. So kann die Siegelstation 17 beispielsweise dazu konfiguriert sein, mehr als zwei Reihen Skinverpackungen 1 gleichzeitig zu versiegeln. Werden flache Unterlagen 3 verwendet, so können diese auch eine Riffelung oder sonstige Prägungen aufweisen, wodurch eine Steifigkeit der Unterlage 3 erhöht wird. Der Versatz 13 kann neben den hier gezeigten Varianten auch jede andere Form aufweisen, welche dazu geeignet ist, die Unterlage 3 von der Oberfolie 7 zu beabstanden.Based on the above-described embodiments of a skin pack 1 and a sealing station 17, many variations thereof are possible. For example, the sealing station 17 can be configured to seal more than two rows of skin packs 1 at the same time. If flat bases 3 are used, they can also have ribbing or other embossing, which increases the rigidity of the base 3 . In addition to the variants shown here, the offset 13 can also have any other shape which is suitable for spacing the base 3 from the top film 7 .

Claims (10)

  1. Method for manufacturing a skin pack (1) comprising:
    providing a base (3) in a sealing tool lower part (21) with a product (5) placed on the base (3),
    feeding a top film (7), which is a skin film, above product (5) and base (3),
    closing a sealing tool chamber (45) by pressing together a first frame (23) of a sealing tool upper part (19) and a second frame (25) of the sealing tool lower part (21), wherein the top film (7) and the base (3) are clamped circumferentially between the first and second frames (23, 25) and the sealing tool chamber (45) is gas-tightly closed by the pressing together, and whereby inner sections (49, 50) of top film (7) and base (3) are inside the sealing tool chamber (45) and outer sections (51, 52) are outside the sealing tool chamber (45),
    sucking the inner section (49) of the top film (7) into a dome (35) of the sealing tool upper part (19) by forming a vacuum in the region between dome (35) and top film (7),
    heating the inner section (49) of the top film (7),
    forming a vacuum in the space between the top film (7) and the base (3),
    establishing the atmospheric pressure between dome (35) or sealing tool upper part (19) and top film (7), whereby the top film (7) lies on the base (3) and the product (5) positioned thereon,
    characterized in that the method further comprises that
    when the sealing tool chamber (45) is closed, the top film (7) and the base (3) are clamped in an edge region (11) of the skin pack (1) outside a sealing region (9) between the first frame (23) of the sealing tool upper part (19) and the second frame (25) of the sealing tool lower part (21), so that this edge region (11) of the top film (7) and the base (3) is neither deformed by a pressure difference nor heated and so no sealing of the top film (7) with the base (3) takes place in this edge region (11).
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (3) is provided in the form of a tray with a product (5) inserted into the tray (3).
  3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a sealing plate (41) is pressed down on an edge support (47) of the sealing tool lower part (21) and the top film (7) and base (3) located thereon, and a sealing seam (44) is formed.
  4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the evacuation and supply of air takes place above the top film (7) via air channels (37) in the dome (35) of the sealing tool upper part (19).
  5. Sealing station (17) for manufacturing a skin pack (1), wherein the sealing station (17) comprises a sealing tool upper part (19) with a first frame (23) and a concave dome (35) comprising air channels (37), and the sealing station (17) comprises a sealing tool lower part (21) with a second frame (25) and a base holder (27), wherein the sealing tool upper part (19) and/or the sealing tool lower part (21) is height-adjustably mounted to be brought closer to each other and to contact each other on their first and second frames (23, 25) and to thereby form a gas-tight sealing tool chamber (45) and the sealing station (17) is configured to connect a base (3) to a top film (7), which is a skin film, in a gas-tight manner by forming a sealing region (9), the sealing station (17) being characterized in that the first frame (23) of the sealing tool upper part (19) and the second frame (25) of the sealing tool lower part (21) are configured to clamp a section (52) of the base and a section (51) of the top film (7) so that they are excluded from heating and deformation during the sealing process.
  6. Sealing station according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a height-adjustable sealing plate (41), the sealing plate (41) comprising a sealing surface (43) which is suitable for connecting a base (3) to a top film (7) in a gas-tight manner by forming a sealing seam (44).
  7. Sealing station according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the first frame (23) of the sealing tool upper part (19) and/or the second frame (25) of the sealing tool lower part (21) is formed at least in sections from a plastic and/or ceramic material.
  8. Sealing station according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the first frame (23) of the sealing tool upper part (19) and/or the second frame (25) of the sealing tool lower part (21) is cooled, in particular water-cooled by channels (53) running therein.
  9. Sealing station according to one of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the frame (25) of the sealing tool lower part (21) has a recess (29) which is designed to accommodate an offset (13) of the base (3) in order not to deform the offset (13) when the base (3) and the top film (7) are clamped between the two frames (23, 25).
  10. Sealing station according to one of the claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the sealing tool lower part (21) is at least partially replaceable in order to receive bases (3) of different shape, in particular bases (3) in tray form.
EP18177051.2A 2018-06-11 2018-06-11 Skin packaging and method and sealing station for preparation of skin packages Active EP3581516B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18177051.2A EP3581516B1 (en) 2018-06-11 2018-06-11 Skin packaging and method and sealing station for preparation of skin packages
ES18177051T ES2912663T3 (en) 2018-06-11 2018-06-11 Film packaging as well as method and sealing station for the production of a film packaging
US16/436,400 US20190375566A1 (en) 2018-06-11 2019-06-10 Skin pack as well as method and sealing station for manufacturing a skin pack
CN201910502305.5A CN110577021B (en) 2018-06-11 2019-06-11 Skin package, and method and sealing station for manufacturing a skin package

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18177051.2A EP3581516B1 (en) 2018-06-11 2018-06-11 Skin packaging and method and sealing station for preparation of skin packages

Publications (2)

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EP3581516A1 EP3581516A1 (en) 2019-12-18
EP3581516B1 true EP3581516B1 (en) 2022-02-23

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EP (1) EP3581516B1 (en)
CN (1) CN110577021B (en)
ES (1) ES2912663T3 (en)

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DE102020129551A1 (en) 2020-11-10 2022-05-12 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg Forming station for forming packaging cavities
ES2963146T3 (en) 2021-03-30 2024-03-25 Ulma Packaging S Coop Sealing tool for a packaging machine
CN113521567B (en) * 2021-07-18 2022-10-04 上海市肺科医院 Radiotherapy body membrane and low temperature thermoplastic film applying device
CN117657520A (en) * 2024-02-01 2024-03-08 华侨大学 Ceramic tea set equipment for packing

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ES2912663T3 (en) 2022-05-26
US20190375566A1 (en) 2019-12-12
CN110577021A (en) 2019-12-17
CN110577021B (en) 2022-07-01
EP3581516A1 (en) 2019-12-18

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