EP3696098B1 - Method for operating, in particular resetting, a film packing machine and film packing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a film packaging machine. In particular, the present invention relates to resetting or restarting a film packaging machine after the film packaging machine has been suddenly switched off or stopped. A corresponding film packaging machine is also proposed.

A film packaging machine according to the preamble of claim 18 and its general structure is known, for example, from the publication DE 102011 015 111 A1 known.

Packaging machines are used in many industrial applications for packaging different packaged goods. The packaged goods can be consumer items such as data carriers, books or the usual items sold in supermarkets items, but also special items such as spare parts or building materials such as clay. Packaging machines are also regularly used for magazines with inserts or in the mail order sector. Film packaging machines have gained in importance in recent years, particularly in the mail order sector.

In the case of film packaging machines, a basic distinction is made between form shoulder machines, series packaging machines and banding machines. While form, fill and seal machines and series packaging machines are designed to completely wrap a packaged item in film, a banding machine only wraps a band around the packaged item to be packaged.

In the context of the present invention, a “packaging machine” is primarily understood to mean a packaging machine in the sense of a series packaging machine. The term "outer packaging" or an "envelopment" is to be understood as meaning film packaging that completely encloses the packaged goods, in which an upper film web and a lower film web are welded together on all four sides of the packaged goods.

Packaging machines therefore always have a so-called cross-cut welding device, which welds the outer packaging transversely to the transport direction of the packaged goods in the packaging machine and at least partially cuts through. Furthermore, packaging machines have longitudinal welding devices or longitudinal cutting welding devices, which weld the outer packaging parallel to the transport direction of the packaged goods and cut off any overhanging film. The excess film is then usually collected and reused by means of a film return.

Packaging machines are rarely made for just one specific packaged good. Usually, packaging machines should be able to process packaged goods of different dimensions. The packaged goods differ on the one hand in their width and on the other hand in their height. Accordingly, it was proposed to adjust the longitudinal sealing device of the packaging machine, in order to be able to adapt the packaging machine to different packaged goods. However, the longitudinal cut-off welding device can also initially work with a constant width, which welds a maximum width. In a subsequent processing station, a so-called "sealing" takes place, in which the width of the packaging bag is reduced.

Furthermore, foil webs of different thicknesses, colors and folds are possible, since the outer packaging can vary from packaged good to packaged good. The film material can also vary from packaged item to packaged item.

Many film packaging machines of this type, which work in series pack principle or as series packaging machines, are used in the field of mail order, particularly in the course of the increasing importance of online mail order. Packaged goods put together in a random order are wrapped in the film outer packaging and already provided with a label. This foil packaging bag with the label is often sent directly to the customer.

Such machines are capable of recognizing the incoming packaged goods, for example using an invoice that is enclosed with the packaged goods and has a barcode. This barcode can be scanned and, based on this, the associated label can then be applied by means of the labeling device to the upper film web and/or the lower film web in an area from which the film packaging bag for this special packaged good is then formed.

In such film packaging machines, work is particularly time-critical. As many packaged goods as possible are to be packed and labeled within a certain time frame.

It can happen again and again that the film packaging machine has to be stopped. There are many reasons why the film packaging machine stops in this way. Certain parameters of the film packaging machine, such as temperatures, voltage or current values, can be outside of safe limits areas are running so that the film packaging machine has to be stopped. For example, operators can move into a safe area of the film packaging machine, which is detected and makes it necessary to stop the film packaging machine for safety reasons. It can be established that packaged goods are labeled incorrectly, for which the reasons can in turn also be diverse, so that it is necessary to stop the film packaging machine.

Such a sudden stop of the film packaging machine requires the film packaging machine to be restarted after the fault has been eliminated. However, there are several challenges here. Basically, when the film packaging machine suddenly stops, the film packaging machine is not in a reproducible state. The film packaging machine stops immediately in the middle of an operation, so the stopped state of the film packaging machine can be arbitrary and cannot be determined in advance. The film packaging machine must therefore be restarted from an unknown state each time. Since there are many different stations in the film packaging machine, data transmission streams, the question of the executed work step of a current work cycle, spatial arrangements of the elements with respect to one another and similar aspects are therefore unknown. The restarting of a film packaging machine therefore also requires manual intervention to a large extent in order to restart the film packaging machine.

In the above-described case of using the film packaging machine for mail order, it must also be ensured that the packaged goods currently being processed have actually been provided with the correct label. This often means that packaged goods in the film packaging machine during an emergency stop and packaged goods packed by the film packaging machine during the process of restarting are ejected as a precaution, unpacked again manually and fed back into the packaging process upstream of the film packaging machine in order to ensure that the respective packaged goods be provided with a film outer packaging or shipping bag that is actually assigned to the respective packaged goods and has the correct label. However, these steps can be cumbersome, and they are also quite time-consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above problems and to provide a possibility for high-quality cut-off sealing of film webs, in particular thick, multi-layer and colored film webs. In particular, the restarting or resetting of a film packaging machine for the mail order business is to be improved.

A method is therefore proposed for operating, in particular resetting, a film packaging machine for wrapping packaged goods in an upper film web and a lower film web, the film packaging machine having a transverse severing sealing device and two longitudinal severing sealing devices, the two longitudinal severing sealing devices being opposite one another for welding, in particular parallel to the film sections of the upper film web and the lower film web running in the transport direction and/or opposite one another are arranged on two opposite sides, in particular on two opposite sides of the film packaging machine and/or on two opposite sides of the upper film web and the lower film web, wherein the packaged goods pass through the film packaging machine in a transport direction, and wherein the transverse separation welding device in the transport direction before the at least a longitudinal cutting welding device is arranged. The method has the following steps: Completing a longitudinal seal and conveying out the packaged goods in the transport direction that have passed through the transverse cut-off sealing device, with the packaged goods located in front of the cross cut-off sealing device being stopped in the transport direction, moving back a welded front end of the upper film and the Lower film, in particular the upper film web and the lower film web, in such a way that the front end is positioned in or at an upstream end of the longitudinal welding devices with respect to the transport direction; Execution of a longitudinal and transverse welding process necessary for a single packaged item to produce an empty bag; moving back the welded front end of the upper film web and the lower film web again in such a way that the front end is positioned in or at an upstream end of the longitudinal welding devices, in particular longitudinal severing welding device, with respect to the transport direction; and restarting the film wrapping machine.

Furthermore, a film packaging machine for wrapping packaged goods in an upper film web and a lower film web is proposed, the film packaging machine having a transverse severing sealing device and two longitudinal severing sealing devices, the two longitudinal severing sealing devices, in particular opposite one another, for welding and/or or opposing film sections of the upper film web and the lower film web are arranged on two opposite sides, in particular on two opposite sides of the film packaging machine and/or on two opposite sides of the upper film web and the lower film web, with the packaged goods passing the film packaging machine traversed in a direction of transport, and wherein the cross cutting welding device is arranged in the transport direction in front of the longitudinal cutting welding devices, un d wherein the film packaging machine also has a control device which is designed to carry out the following steps: Completing a longitudinal seal and conveying out the packaged goods in the transport direction that have passed through the cross-cutting sealing device, in particular with the packaged goods located in front of or in the cross-cutting sealing device in the transport direction to be stopped; Moving back a front end of the upper film and the lower film that is welded to one another, in particular the upper film web and the lower film web, in such a way that the front end is positioned in a front end, in particular upstream, end of the longitudinal welding devices with respect to the transport direction; Execution of a longitudinal and transverse welding process necessary for a single packaged item to produce an empty bag; moving back the welded together front end of the upper film web and the lower film web such that the front end is positioned in the front, in particular upstream, end of the longitudinal welding devices, in particular longitudinal severing welding device, with respect to the transport direction; and restarting the film wrapping machine.

By means of the proposed method and the proposed film packaging machine, it is possible to enable the film packaging machine to be reset to a neutral state from which it can resume normal operation. By means of the proposed method and the proposed film packaging machine, it is also ensured that automatically halted or interrupted sub-processes are completely completed, so that when the film packaging machine is restarted, no incorrect assignment of labeling and packaged goods, the so-called "line-up" can occur. Furthermore, it is not necessary to remove, unpack and put back properly packaged goods. Only the creation of an empty bag, which is deliberately created and then ejected, is acceptable. However, such an empty bag is easily recognizable due to the simple absence of the packaged goods, and it can be disposed of in its entirety. Furthermore, the upper web of film and the lower web of film have to be moved back twice, on the one hand to be able to run a complete cycle to produce the empty bag and on the other hand to then bring about a defined starting point for restarting the film packaging machine. With a film packaging machine using the series packing principle, i.e. with a separately added upper film web and lower film web, which are welded together on all four sides of the packaged goods, this is possible without any problems, since the film webs are also fed back in the opposite direction to the usual transport direction due to the lack of a forming shoulder in the film web feed can become.

The task set at the beginning is thus completely solved.

In one embodiment of the method, it can be provided that the film packaging machine is stopped before the finishing step, with all packaged goods being stopped in the film packaging machine.

In this way, it is ensured that there are no more movements after an emergency stop or a stop of the film packaging machine, which may have been ordered, and that further measures can be initiated from this stopped state of all packaged goods.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the film packaging machine receives a stop signal before the finishing step.

Such a stop signal can be given manually by an operator, for example by hitting an emergency stop switch. Such a stop signal can also be generated automatically by the machine, for example if certain operating parameters run out of previously defined ranges or, for example, it is recognized that a "line-up" is taking place, i.e. applied labels are no longer applied to the correct, originally assigned packaged goods.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the stop signal is generated manually or is an automatically generated stop signal, in particular the automatically generated stop signal being generated due to unauthorized entry into a security area or incorrect assignment of a label to a packaged item.

In this way, automatic stopping processes of the presently corresponding conditions can be initiated automatically.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that during the step of completing the longitudinal seal and conveying out the packaged goods that have passed through the transverse separation seal, a lateral overhang and/or thermal shrinkage is also welded off.

Those packaged goods that have passed through the cross-cut welding device already have a cross-cut weld seam on the film webs surrounding them in front of them and behind them in the transport direction. Only the longitudinal weld seams on the side are either not finished at all, partially or in their entirety, but further processes to be carried out to produce the final film bag may not have been completed either. As proposed, these packaged goods are first completed and conveyed out. However, no subsequent packaged goods that are located in front of the cross-cut sealing device are subsequently conveyed. In the case of these packaged goods, it is particularly ensured that the foil bag in the longitudinal direction, ie the front and rear transverse severing weld seam, has already been completed, so that the correct distance between the upper foil web and the correct section of the lower foil web is assigned, since this is done is before an emergency stop occurs. These packaged goods can be completed. They are thus longitudinally welded or their longitudinal welding is completed and then they are also passed through the subsequent, downstream processing stations, such as the indicated welding station and/or a thermal shrinkage tunnel.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that, with respect to the transport direction, before the packaged goods enter between the upper and lower film webs, a code assigned to a respective packaged goods is recorded.

For example, such a code can be a barcode that is arranged on an invoice for the packaged goods or on another object assigned to the packaged goods. This code is recorded before the packaged goods arrive, so that the packaged goods are "known" from this point in time and are processed in the film packaging machine. The work processes specifically assigned to the packaged goods then follow.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that between the step of moving back and the step of executing an input of a clearing signal that indicates a clearing of a region of packaged goods lying between a location of detection of the code and the cross-cutting welding device.

In this way, those packaged goods whose code has been recorded, but which have not yet entered the cross-cut sealing device for the packaging process, are removed from the machine. Data recorded with regard to these packaged goods can then, for example, simply be deleted. If these packaged goods then run through the detection device again later, which detects their code, the packaging process assigned to them is triggered again.

By waiting for this clearance signal, it can be ensured that a retraction step is not initiated until the area has been separated from the cross-cutting welding device or possibly directly in the cross-cutting welding device is actually cleared and physical collisions with packaged goods cannot occur during the reverse movement. Under certain circumstances, when the machine is stopped, packaged goods can be located directly between the cross-cutting welding stamp in a cross-cutting welding device, so that either elements of the cross-cutting welding device or the upper or lower film web could collide with the packaged goods when they are pulled back or could be unnecessarily stressed. This is avoided.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the empty bag is removed from the machine between the step of carrying it out and moving it back again.

In the simplest case, the empty bag, which is easily recognizable due to the lack of packaged goods, can simply be removed from a downstream conveyor belt by an operator.

In a further embodiment, provision can be made for the empty bag to be ejected from the film packaging machine after the execution step. Of course, it is also possible for the empty bag to be detected and ejected from the film packaging machine either because of its known position in the present packaging machine or by way of its detection via an optical sensor or, for example, a weight sensor.

Due to the defined restart of the machine, the film packaging machine knows that an empty bag will be produced at a certain point in time. For example, its position can then be tracked further by the film packaging machine, so that, for example, the empty bag is selectively ejected from the further course of the packaged goods on a transport device by means of a lock.

In a further embodiment it can be provided that before the step of restarting from the film packaging machine cleared packaged goods the direction of transport before the location of the detection of the code assigned to a respective packaged good can be brought back into the film packaging machine.

In this way, after restarting the machine, the code of the corresponding packaged goods is simply scanned again and its specific packaging process is restarted on the reset film packaging machine with application of the assigned label.

In a further refinement, it can be provided that a code assigned to a respective packaged item is detected optically, in particular from below through a transport level onto which the packaged item is conveyed in the direction of transport.

In this way, for example, the respective packaged goods can be arranged on a simple piece of paper or another object that has the code. A transport device which, for example, has conveyor belts that are spaced apart from one another or has a transparent floor plane is then suitable for detecting the corresponding codes from below. As a rule, these are suitable processes to ensure the reliable assignment of such a code during the transport process and its recording.

In a further refinement, provision can be made for a data memory of the labeling device, in which label data to be printed are stored, to be erased before the restarting step. This ensures that the label data to be printed from the packaging process that was interrupted while the machine was stopped are still present in the film packaging machine when the film packaging machine is restarted and are accidentally applied to packaged goods that are not assigned to this data. It must be ensured that not only is the film packaging machine physically reset, ie the individual elements of the film packaging machine are brought into a state that corresponds to the regular initial state when the film packaging machine is started up, but also one linked to the packaging processes Data stream, in particular the label data, is deleted and in an empty initial state.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that a label assigned to the packaged goods is applied to the upper and/or the lower film web before the upper and/or the lower film web enters the transverse severing welding device.

In this way, it is possible to assign a label to the packaged goods entering the cross-cutting sealing device, which label is applied directly to the film bag then formed from the upper film web and the lower film web. The foil bag can then be sent directly using the label.

In a further embodiment it can be provided that the front end remains clamped in one or both of the steps of moving back between the upper film web and the lower film web clamping transport roller of the longitudinal cutting welding device.

Transport rollers are often provided at the upstream end of the longitudinal cut-off welding device, between which the upper and lower foil webs are attracted lying one on top of the other and then fed to or passed by the longitudinal cut-off welding device, for example a heated cut-off welding knife. During the return or at the end of the step or both steps of the return, the front end remains clamped here, so that the film packaging machine can be started again immediately in the transport direction, without the front end here in any way getting into the longitudinal cut-off welding device or the transport rollers having to thread.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that an upper supply roll, from which at least part of the upper film web is unwound, and/or a lower supply roll, from which at least part of the lower film web is unwound, counteracts the retraction during one or both of the steps the transport direction is driven.

In this way, tightening of the upper film web and/or the lower film web in the direction of transport can remain ensured during the retraction. In addition, the reversing of the machine is supported by driving the supply rolls in the direction of rotation opposite to that of the transport direction.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that in the restart step, the first packaged goods entering the film packaging machine are driven through the opened transverse cut-off welding device to the front end of the upper film web and the lower film web that is welded to one another and is located in the longitudinal cut-off welding device.

In this way, the restart of the packaging process is accomplished. Since the front end of the upper film web and the lower film web is still in the longitudinal cut-off sealing device, the first packaged goods must pass through the open transverse cut-off sealing device, i.e. the spaced-apart upper stamp and lower stamp, and into the so-called "foil curtain", i.e. the upper and retract the lower web of film so that it is then removed from the supply rolls as usual by the further packaged goods that are being conveyed.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the film packaging machine returns to a normal operating mode after the first packaged goods have been fed in.

Normal operation is then restored in this way. As usual, this first packaged good was scanned using its code, the label is applied and it is then provided with the transverse cut weld seam behind it and, as usual, runs through the longitudinal cut weld device to complete the first packaged good and its foil bag. All subsequent packaged goods are then processed as usual.

In one embodiment of the film packaging machine, it can be provided that the film packaging machine has a detection device for detecting a code assigned to the packaged goods.

In this way, the advantages already described above for the method are achieved. The code can be recorded and then, for example, the packaging process assigned to the packaged goods can be triggered.

In a further embodiment it can be provided that the film packaging machine has at least one labeling device in order to apply a label to the upper and/or lower film web.

In this way, the packaging bag can be provided with the shipping label directly. In particular, this label can be triggered using the previously recorded code.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the film packaging machine also has an upper supply roll for at least part of the upper film web and/or a lower supply roll for at least part of the lower film web, and the film packaging machine also has at least one drive device for rotating the has the upper and/or the lower supply roll in both directions of rotation.

In this way, not only can the unrolling of the corresponding film web be simplified, but also the rolling up of the respective film web can be assisted during the retraction.

It goes without saying that all the configurations described for the method are also suitable for the film packaging machine and vice versa.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below not only in the combination specified in each case, but also can be used in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer Folienverpackungsmaschine,

Fig. 2

eine lediglich beispielhafte Darstellung des Abschnitts II in der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens, und

Fig. 4 bis Fig. 10

verschiedene Zustände der Folienverpackungsmaschine während des Ablaufs des Verfahrens in einer Draufsicht.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

1

a schematic view of a film packaging machine,

2

a purely exemplary representation of Section II in the 1 ,

3

a schematic flowchart of a method, and

Figures 4 to 10

various states of the film packaging machine during the course of the process in a plan view.

1 shows a film packaging machine 10 in a schematic view. The packaging machine 10 is used to provide packaged goods 1 to 6 with an outer packaging. For this purpose, the packaged goods 1 to 6 are moved through the film packaging machine 10 in a transport direction T.

The packaged goods 1-6 are wrapped by the film packaging machine 10 with an upper web of film 14 which is unwound from a film feed or supply roll 15 . Since it is a series packaging machine, a lower web of film 16 is unwound from a lower film feed or supply roll 17 . This type of wrapping then corresponds to the principle of a so-called series packaging machine, so that the present invention is explained accordingly using the example of a film packaging machine 10 configured as a series packaging machine.

The upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 converge in a film plane 18 . The packaged goods 1-6 thus enter the upper film web 14 and lower film web 16 which converge. The film webs 14, 16 can first be subjected to transverse tightening.

A transverse tightening device 20 is provided for this purpose. The respective packaged goods 1-6 with the transversely tightened film webs 14, 16 reach a transverse severing welding device 22. The transverse severing welding device 22 welds the film webs 14, 16 together transversely to the transport direction T and cuts through the film webs 14, 16 at least partially, so that the packaged goods 1- 6 no longer has contact with the packaged goods 1-6 preceding it along the weld seam.

The packaged goods 1-6 then travel through a longitudinal severing welding device which has two longitudinal severing welding devices 24, 24' lying opposite one another with respect to a transport direction T, which are intended to weld the film webs 14, 16 together on the sides of the packaged goods 12 and to cut off a film overhang at the side. Finally, the side of the packaged goods 12 pointing opposite to the transport direction T is again welded and separated by the cross-cutting welding device 22 . The packaged goods 1-6 are now welded and trimmed on all four sides, so that the packaged goods 1-6 are completely surrounded by a film cover.

The sequence of the transverse severing welding device 22, the longitudinal severing welding devices 24, 24' and the transverse tightening device 20 is only shown as an example in a frequently occurring configuration. Elements of the transverse tightening device 20 can also be provided between or in the transverse severing welding device 22 or the longitudinal severing welding devices 24, 24'.

Provision can then be made for at least one further module to follow, for example a shrink tunnel 26, which is heated to a specific temperature and shrinks the film webs 14, 16 onto the packaged goods 1-6, so that the film webs 14, 16 cover the packaged goods 1 -6 enclose tightly and without play. Furthermore, a welding station can be provided, for example, which cuts off a film overhang that is still present after passing through the longitudinal cut-off welding devices 24, 24', lying tightly against the packaged goods in the longitudinal direction. This can be provided in particular for packaged goods 12 with changing widths. The packaging process is then complete.

The presence of a shrink tunnel 26 basically depends on the requirements placed on the packaging. A shrink tunnel 26 does not necessarily have to be present, particularly in series packaging machines.

Furthermore, the film packaging machine 10 generally has adjusting devices 28 in order to be able to adjust the film packaging machine 10 to packaged goods of different widths, lengths and heights. The speed of the packaging process can also be set using the adjustment devices 28 . Furthermore, options are provided for adjusting the film packaging machine 10 to different types of film, which can differ from one another, for example, in terms of thickness, tear strength and surface quality.

Finally, a film return 30 is generally provided, which collects excess film material cut off by the longitudinal cut-off welding devices 24, 24' in order to feed it, for example, to a recycling process.

Furthermore, the film packaging machine 10 has a labeling device 27 or 27', shown schematically. The labeling device 27 is intended to apply a label to the upper film web 14 . Alternatively and/or cumulatively, it can be provided that a labeling device 27 ′ is also provided, which applies a label or another object to be stuck onto the lower film web 16 . The labeling device 27 and/or 27 ′ are arranged upstream of the cross-cutting welding device 20 .

Furthermore, a detection device 29 is provided, which is used to detect a packaged goods 1-6 or a barcode attached to the respective packaged goods in order to package the respective packaged goods 1-6 specifically, in particular to apply a suitable label. The detection device 29 is preferably designed optically and can detect the packaged goods from below through a gap and/or a transparent transport plane. Alternatively and/or cumulatively, a detection device 29' can also be provided at a different position, for example above the packaged goods to be packaged.

In this way, a packaged item that runs through the position designated by the packaged item 1 can be detected and tracked by the detection device 29 . The labeling device 27 or 27' then applies a suitable label in each case, in which 1 situation shown, the label just provided for the packaged goods 3. The packaged goods then run into the foil curtain, see packaged goods 4. Then the packaged goods each pass through the cross-cut welding device, see then packaged goods 5. They then pass through the longitudinal cut-off welding device 24, 24' and, if necessary, the subsequent welding stations and/or shrink tunnels, etc. see the packaged goods 6.

A control device controlling the film packaging machine 10 is shown schematically and is denoted by 31 . This control device can have an input device 33, by means of which an operator can, for example, stop the film packaging machine 10 or can give an input signal to the control device 31, for example to the effect that an area of packaged goods lying between the detection device 29 and the cross-cutting sealing device 22, in which 1 illustrated situation in packaged goods 1-4, is cleared.

II designates a section of the film packaging machine 10, which in 2 shown in detail.

The one in the 2 The detailed view shown shows the transverse tensioning device 20, the transverse cutting welding device 22 and the longitudinal cutting welding devices 24, 24'.

The transverse tensioning device 20 generally has an upper transverse tensioning wheel 32 and a lower transverse tensioning wheel 34 which pull in the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 between them and tension them in a transverse direction, i.e. perpendicular to the transport direction T. It is generally provided that the transverse tensioning wheels 32, 34 are inclined slightly outwards with their axis of rotation.

A first transport device 36 conveys the packaged goods to be packaged on the film level 18 up to the transverse cut-off sealing device 22. There the first transport device 36 ends in a first deflection roller 38. To the first transport device 36 This is followed by a second transport device 40, which conveys the packaged goods 1-6 from the transverse cutting welding device 22 to the longitudinal cutting welding devices 24, 24'. The longitudinal cutting welding devices 24, 24' and the transition from the second transport device 40 to the longitudinal cutting welding devices 24, 24' are shown only schematically and can be designed as desired.

The second transport device 40 begins with a second deflection roller 42, which is moved very close to the first deflection roller 38 in a first position. This first position is in the 2 shown and is intended to denote that position in which a stamp gap between the first deflection roller 38 and the second deflection roller 42 is minimized.

The transverse cutting welding device 22 has a first die, in the embodiment shown the upper die 44, and a second die, in the embodiment shown the lower die 46. In the following we will therefore speak directly of the upper stamp and the lower stamp. The upper stamp 44 and the lower stamp 46 can be moved toward one another in order to at least partially cut through and weld the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 .

in the in 2 In the first position shown, however, this is not possible because the punch gap is closed. The upper punch 44 and the lower punch 46 cannot meet because the second deflection roller 42 is located between them.

The second transport device 40 is therefore movable in the horizontal direction, i.e. parallel to the film plane 18. This movement is illustrated by an arrow 48.

The lower punch 46 in turn moves along a direction indicated by an arrow 49 . When the film packaging machine 10 is in an operating state, the direction 48 runs horizontally and the direction 49 runs vertically. According to the terminology used in the context of the present description, the direction 48 extends in the direction of a "length" of the film packaging machine 10 or one of its elements. The direction 49 correspondingly designates an "elevation". Perpendicular to the direction 48 and Consequently, a "width" of the film packaging machine 10 or the lower punch 46 extends in direction 49.

In order to bring about the movements, a drive device 50 is provided. The drive device 50 is in 2 shown only schematically. Any device can be used, preferably a servomotor or other suitable electric motor is provided to effect the movements.

For this purpose, the drive device 50 drives a two-sided lever or double lever 52 which, on the one hand, has a first lever 54 which is articulated to the lower punch 46 and, on the other hand, has a second lever 56 which is articulated to the upper punch 44 . In this way, both a movement of the lower punch in a direction 49 upwards and a movement of the upper punch 44 in a direction 49 downwards can be effected by means of a rotation of the double lever 52 caused by the drive device 50 .

Furthermore, an upstream end region of the longitudinal cut-off welding device 24 is denoted by the reference number 6 . Also shown are the pairs of rollers 62, which can draw in the upper and lower web of film between them. As will be explained below, the upper or lower film web 14, 16 should not be upstream, ie in the 2 to the left, are pulled out of the longitudinal cutting welding device 24. The welded film webs or their front welded together end lying in the transport direction T thus remains in the 2 shown on the right of the pairs of rollers 62 drawn into the longitudinal cutting welding device 24.

In principle, the second transport device 40 does not necessarily have to be designed to be movable horizontally in the direction of arrow 48, sufficiently large packaged goods must regularly be transported, a stamp gap between the upper stamp 44 and the lower stamp 46 of the transverse severing welding device 22 can always be open and the second transport device 40 accordingly not be designed to be movable being.

3 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for resetting or restarting the film packaging machine 10 figs 4 to 10 described. the figs 4 to 10 show the film packaging machine very schematically 1 and 2 in a top view. This is particularly suitable for showing the process of restarting and the position of the individual packaged goods in the individual process steps.

In principle, the method 100 for operating, in particular resetting, a film packaging machine 10 for wrapping packaged goods 1-6 in an upper film web 14 and a lower film web 16 has the following steps.

A film packaging machine 10 is provided which has a transverse cut-off sealing device and two longitudinal cut-off sealing devices, the two longitudinal cut-off sealing devices being arranged opposite one another for sealing film sections of the upper film web and the lower film web on two opposite sides of the film packaging machine. The packaged goods pass through the film packaging machine 10 in one transport direction. The cross cutting welding device is arranged in front of the longitudinal cutting welding devices in the transport direction. The following steps will now be carried out.

In a step 102, a longitudinal welding is carried out first and those packaged goods that have already passed through the transverse separation welding device are conveyed out in the direction of transport. This means that for these packaged goods, a cross cut welding has already taken place in front of and behind the respective packaged goods. In particular, the packaged goods for which the transverse separating weld seam is only formed in front of the packaged goods in the transport direction is not conveyed further in the transport direction, but is stopped. Provision can also be made for these packaged goods to be cleared out of the film packaging machine immediately after the machine has stopped; in any case, these packaged goods are not transported any further into the longitudinal cut-off welding device. In this way, these packaged goods remain accessible for clearing and can, if necessary, be removed in the opposite direction to the usual transport direction by the stopped and opened cross-cutting sealing device.

In this way, the packaged goods located upstream of the cross-cut welding device, whose associated film bag has already been cross-cut welded in front of and behind the respective packaged goods, are now completed with regard to their longitudinal welding and conveyed further downstream. There, for example, welding and/or further processing of the film bag can then take place. As usual, this is fully processed and exited from the film packaging machine. This operation is facing the figs 4 and 4 to understand.

the 4 Fig. 12 shows a plan view of the stopped film wrapping machine. The packaged goods 1-6 are arranged in the transport direction T from bottom to top. Correspondingly, only the film web 14 can be seen schematically in the plan view. This is unwound, fed into the transverse cut-off welding device and then runs on into the longitudinal cut-off welding devices 24, 24'. There, the corresponding foil bags are longitudinally cut and the protruding foil strips are removed. The packaged goods 1-3 are still on a transport device 36, which conveys them to the cross-separation welding device 22. The packaged goods 4-6 are already standing on a transport device 40 located upstream of the cross-cutting welding device. The corresponding position of the transport direction T is marked with the reference number 70 . The position of the transverse cutting welding device 22 in the transport direction T is denoted by 72 . The beginning of the longitudinal separating welding devices 24 in the transport direction T is denoted by 74 and the end of the longitudinal separating welding devices 24, 24' in the transport direction T is denoted by 76.

Thus, in step 102, the packaged goods 4-6, which have already passed through the transverse cutting welding devices and in which a transverse cutting weld seam is provided both in front of them and behind them, would be completed in one processing step and guided through the longitudinal cutting welding device 24, 24'. The packaged goods 1-3 are not transported any further and are stopped. It will now be the one in the figure 5 The state shown is that the packaged goods 4-6 that have already been cross-cut welded are removed and the packaged goods 1-3 are still in the packaging machine 10. In particular, the packaged goods 3 is critical here, since it may already be in a cross-separation welding process that has already started, for example at position 72, ie between the opened and stopped transverse severing welding stamps or even something behind it, without the transverse severing weld seam located behind the packaged goods 3 already being closed. After selecting the packaged goods 4-6, the situation then arises that the area in front of the packaged goods 1-3 in the direction of transport is free. Since the packaged goods 4, as in the 4 shown, is also completed, the upper film web 14, just like the lower film web 16, was pulled through the longitudinal severing welding devices 24, 24' to such an extent that the packaged goods 4 could be transported away with the film bag completely closed on all four sides. The weld seam that connects the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16, which was created when the rear edge of the film bag of the packaged goods 4 in the transport direction was welded off, is therefore located in the middle of the longitudinal separation welding device between positions 74 and 76.

A step 104 of retracting this welding together of the upper end of the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 then takes place in such a way that the front end is positioned in an upstream end of the longitudinal severing welding device with respect to the transport direction.

The condition is in the 6 shown. The front end, in which the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 are connected, is in the retracted state at the very beginning of the longitudinal severing welding device 24, 24', ie in the vicinity of the position 74 of the transport direction T. The packaged goods 1-3 are now cleared. In principle, these packaged goods can be conveyed backwards. However, the packaged goods can also simply be removed manually. In principle, the packaged goods 1-3 can be cleared out at this point in time, but also at an earlier point in time, for example during or before step 104 or also during or before step 102.

It then results in the 7 shown condition. The area between position 70 at the level of the detection device up to the end of the longitudinal cut-off welding device, position 76, has been cleared of packaged goods. As before, the front end of the upper film web 14 and lower film web 16 welded together is located at the start of the longitudinal severing welding device 24, 24', also in front of position 74.

In a step 106, a longitudinal and transverse welding process, which is necessary for a single packaged item, is carried out to produce an empty bag.

This empty bag is denoted by reference number 78 . A single cycle of the film packaging machine 10 thus takes place. This means that the upper film web 14 and film webs are conveyed further, a transverse cut-off welding process takes place, which produces the rear cut-off welded edge of the empty bag, and the empty bag is pulled completely through the longitudinal cut-off welding device, so that a packaging bag that is welded on all four sides is produced, but which does not packaged goods contains.

In this way it is ensured that the work step during which the film packaging machine 10 was stopped is carried out completely. Any "residues" left in the packaging machine, whether these remainders are in the form of electronic data or in the form of fully or partially completed operations, for example labels that are partially or poorly applied, separating rivets that are fully or partially completed, slight fusions due to excessive Temperatures after stopping at the cut-off seals or similar unknown aspects are all assigned to the empty bag and fed out of the machine with it. The empty bag can then either be removed manually or, since the packaging machine knows that an empty bag has been produced, it can be ejected downstream. Any unpacking of packaged goods or the like is no longer necessary, because the bag can simply be disposed of.

It is important that the work step during which the film packaging machine was stopped has been completed using the empty bag and that all residues, data processing and other "leftovers" have been processed.

Once again, it is of course the case that the front end of the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 that have been welded together are drawn into the longitudinal severing welding device. Therefore, in a step 108, the front end of the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16 welded to one another are moved back again in such a way that the front end is in one direction with respect to the transport direction upstream end of the slitting welders. This process is in the 9 shown. The front end is now back in position 76. The machine is empty both physically in that all packaged goods have been removed and in the sense that the stopped or interrupted work step has been completed. In this state, the data memory of elements of the film packaging machine 10 can still be completely emptied or erased. In particular, data can be stored in the detection device 29 and/or in the labeling device 27, 27'. In this way, it is further ensured that when the machine is started up again, no data set remaining in any memory is executed, for example applied in the form of a label to the upper film web and/or the lower film web, so that a "sequence" can be present again, the wrong assignment of applied labels to packaged goods.

The labeling devices are often only equipped with a shift memory, so that a single wrong data record would throw the entire process apart. The complete deletion of such shift memories in particular thus ensures that the film packaging machine has also been completely reset in the area of data processing.

Step 110 of restarting the film packaging machine then takes place.

This state is in the 10 shown. A new packaged item 1' enters the film packaging machine 10, runs through the detection device 29, is recognized and processed. As a rule, this first packaged item must be conveyed a little further through the cross-cutting sealing device 22 until it enters the so-called "foil priority", i.e. the front end of the upper film web 14 and the lower film web 16, which are welded together, comes into contact with them and the Foil web continues to unroll. A corresponding control of the film packaging machine 10 can then take this into account and start the film transport in the area where the supply rolls 15, 17 and the longitudinal cut-off welding device 24, 24' are unrolled either with a delay or when it is known that the packaged goods 1 are lying against this film curtain . Like each subsequent packaged goods 2, 3, etc., the retraction takes place in the Foil curtain then, as in normal ongoing operation, directly at the cross-cutting welding device 22.

The machine is now working in normal operating mode again.

Overall, an empty bag had to be removed in order to switch the machine back to normal operating mode after stopping. The packaged goods 1-3 that have been removed only have to be brought in again upstream of the detection device 29 with respect to the transport direction T and are processed normally. Further work is avoided, in particular no packaged goods that have already been sealed in the film bag have to be unpacked. Resetting the film packaging machine is therefore much faster and more user-friendly. Normal operation can be resumed much more quickly.

Claims (21)

1. Method (100) for operating, in particular resetting, a film packaging machine (10) for wrapping goods to be packed (1-6) in an upper film web (14) and a lower film web (16), wherein the film packaging machine (10) has a cross-cutting welding device (22) and two longitudinal cutting welding devices (24), wherein the two longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) are arranged to weld film sections of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) on two mutually opposite sides, wherein the goods to be packed (1-6) run through the film packaging machine (10) in a transport direction, and wherein the cross-cutting welding device (22) is arranged before the longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) in the transport direction (T), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

   • finishing (102) the longitudinal welding and the conveying out in the transport direction (T) of the packed goods (1-6) which have passed through the cross-cutting welding device (22), in particular wherein the packed goods (1-6) that are located before or in the cross-cutting welding device (22) are stopped in the transport direction (T);

   • moving back (104) a front end of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) that have been welded to each other, in such a way that the front end is positioned in an end of the longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) that is upstream with respect to the transport direction;

   • performing (106) a longitudinal and transverse cutting operation that is needed for a single packed item to produce an empty bag;

   • again (108) moving back the front end of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) that have been welded to each other, in such a way that the front end is positioned in the end of the longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) that is upstream with respect to the transport direction; and

   • restarting (110) the film packaging machine (10).
2. Method (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that before the finishing step, the film packaging machine (10) is stopped, wherein all the goods to be packed (1-6) in the film packaging machine (10) are stopped.
3. Method (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the film packaging machine (10) receives a stop signal before the finishing step.
4. Method (100) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the stop signal is generated manually or is an automatically generated stop signal, in particular wherein the automatically generated stop signal is generated because of an unauthorised entry into a safety region or an erroneous assignment of a label to a packed item.
5. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that during the finishing step of the longitudinal welding and the conveying out of the packed goods (1-6) which have passed through the cross-cutting welding device (22), a lateral film overhang is also welded off and/or heat-shrinking is carried out.
6. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that with respect to the transport direction (T), before the packed item runs in between the upper and the lower film web (14, 16), a code assigned to a respective packed item is detected.
7. Method (100) according to Claim 6, characterized in that between the moving-back step and the performing step, a wait is made for the entry of a clearance signal, which indicates a clearance of an area of packed goods between a location of the detection of the code and the cross-cutting welding device (22).
8. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the empty bag is removed from the machine between the performing step and again moving back.
9. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that after the performing step, the empty bag is discharged from the film packaging machine (10).
10. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that before the restarting step, packed goods (1-6) cleared out of the film packaging machine (10) are introduced into the film packaging machine (10) again upstream, with respect to the transport direction (T), of the location at which the code assigned to a respective packed item is detected.
11. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a code assigned to a respective packed item is detected optically, in particular from below by a transport plane on which the packed item is conveyed in the transport direction.
12. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that before the restarting step, a data memory of the labelling device in which label data to be printed are stored is erased.
13. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a label assigned to the packed item is applied to the upper and/or the lower film web (14, 16) before the upper and/or the lower film web (14, 16) runs into the cross-cutting welding device (22).
14. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in one or both of the moving-back steps, the front end remains clamped between transport rollers of the longitudinal cutting welding device which clamp the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16).
15. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that an upper supply roll, from which at least part of the upper film web (14) is unwound, and/or a lower supply roll, from which at least part of the lower film web (16) is unwound, are driven counter to the transport direction (T) during one or both of the moving-back steps.
16. Method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in the restarting step, the first item to be packed moving into the film packaging machine (10) moves in through the open cross-cutting welding device (22) onto the front end of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) that have been welded to each other, which end is located in the longitudinal cutting welding device.
17. Method (100) according to Claim 16, characterized in that the film packaging machine (10) returns into a normal operating mode after the first item to be packed has moved in.
18. Film packaging machine (10) for wrapping goods to be packed in an upper film web (14) and a lower film web (16), wherein the film packaging machine (10) has a cross-cutting welding device (22) and two longitudinal cutting welding devices (24), wherein the two longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) are arranged to weld film sections of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) on two mutually opposite sides, wherein the goods to be packed (1-6) run through the film packaging machine (10) in a transport direction, and wherein the cross-cutting welding device (22) is arranged before the longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) in the transport direction (T), and characterized in that the film packaging machine (10) further has a control device, which is designed to execute the following steps:

    • finishing the longitudinal welding and the conveying out in the transport direction (T) of the packed goods (1-6) which have passed through the cross-cutting welding device (22), in particular wherein the packed goods (1-6) that are located before or in the cross-cutting welding device (22) are stopped in the transport direction (T);

    • moving back a front end of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) that have been welded to each other, in such a way that the front end is positioned in an end of the longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) that is upstream with respect to the transport direction;

    • performing a longitudinal and transverse cutting operation that is needed for a single packed item to produce an empty bag;

    • again moving back the front end of the upper film web (14) and the lower film web (16) that have been welded to each other, in such a way that the front end is positioned in the end of the longitudinal cutting welding devices (24) that is upstream with respect to the transport direction; and

    • restarting the film packaging machine (10).
19. Film packaging machine (10) according to Claim 18, characterized in that the film packaging machine (10) has a detection device for detecting a code assigned to the packed item.
20. Film packaging machine (10) according to Claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the film packaging machine (10) has at least one labelling device in order to apply a label to the upper and/or the lower film web (16).
21. Film packaging machine (10) according to one of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the film packaging machine (10) further has an upper supply roll for at least part of the upper film web (14) and/or a lower supply roll for at least part of the lower film web (16), and wherein the film packaging machine (10) further has at least one drive device for rotating the upper and/or the lower supply roll in both directions of rotation.

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