EP3696105A1 - Deep drawing packaging machine with edge strip lifter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoforming packaging machine (1), comprising a machine frame (2), a forming station (3) for producing packaging trays (4) from a lower film (5), a sealing station (6) downstream of the forming station (3) in the production direction (R) ) for closing the packaging trays (4), including a product (P) inserted therein, by means of an upper film (7), a cutting station downstream of the sealing station (6) in the production direction (R) for (8) separating finished packaging (V) and a residual film material station (10) for receiving a residual film material (11) left over from the manufacturing process. According to the invention, at least one ejector unit (18) is provided for residual film material (11), which protrudes at least in sections into a covered machine area (12) of the thermoforming packaging machine (1) and which is designed to remove residual film material (11) that has arrived within the covered machine area (12). and to convey it at least in sections out of the covered machine area (12) so that the conveyed-out residual film material (11) can be grasped by an operator by hand outside the covered machine area (12). The invention also relates to a method for conveying a residual film material (11) out of a covered machine area (12) of a thermoforming packaging machine (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a thermoforming packaging machine with the technical features according to claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for conveying a residual film material out of a covered machine area of a thermoforming packaging machine according to claim 12.

It is common practice that when a thermoforming packaging machine is started up, an operator removes the residual film material that has arrived at the machine outlet within a covered machine area, i.e. Film material that has not been processed into packaging is pulled out of the machine area by hand after removing the protective cover and connects it to a residual film station positioned at the machine outlet. In the further course of the production process, the residual film material released at the end of a film transport device, for example on a clamp chain, can then be automatically wound up by means of the residual film material station.

From a safety point of view, however, it is questionable if the operator to handle the residual film material in a covered, for example with the help of protective covers, i.e. The machine area of the thermoforming packaging machine that cannot be seen from outside reaches into it in an impermissible manner in order to grasp the residual film material by hand and to pull it out to connect it to the residual film material station.

At the same time, it can be undesirable for the thermoforming packaging machine to be stopped for handling the residual film material by removing the protective cover, because this reduces its machine availability.

In view of these safety and operational problems, the object of the invention is to improve a thermoforming packaging machine and a related method in such a way that the handling of residual film material is made easier for the operator.

This object is achieved by a deep-drawing packaging machine according to claim 1. A method according to the invention for achieving the object is specified in the independent method claim 12.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The thermoforming packaging machine according to the invention comprises a machine frame, a forming station for producing packaging trays from a lower film, a sealing station downstream of the forming station in the production direction for closing the packaging trays, including a product inserted therein, by means of an upper film, a cutting station downstream of the sealing station in the production direction for separating finished products Packaging and a residual film material station for receiving residual film material left over from the manufacturing process.

According to the invention, the thermoforming packaging machine further comprises at least one ejector unit for residual film material, which protrudes at least in sections into a covered machine area of the thermoforming packaging machine and which is designed to receive residual film material that has arrived within the covered machine area and to convey it at least in sections out of the covered machine area, so that the residual film material conveyed out in particular outside the covered machine area by an operator by hand or in an automated manner for further handling or can be extracted. The remaining film material conveyed out can then be connected to the remaining film material station or fed to it without any problems by hand or automatically.

In other words, by means of the lifting unit, the residual film material received on it inside the machine frame can be conveyed out of the non-visible machine area of the thermoforming packaging machine in such a way that it can be easily and safely gripped by the operator outside the non-visible machine area or handled in an automated manner in order to use the To connect residual film material station. Consequently, the lifting unit can be used to prevent the operator from reaching into the covered machine area. To operate the ejector unit, the thermoforming packaging machine can always be ready for operation, in particular it can remain in production mode, which leads to an increase in machine availability.

In the case of the invention, the lifting unit functions functionally as an extended arm of the operator, with which the operator can safely pull out residual film material from the covered machine area for further handling. However, his hands always remain outside the covered machine area when operating the lifting unit, so that no injuries can occur.

A covered machine area is a machine room formed on the thermoforming packaging machine, in particular at its exit, which under normal circumstances cannot be seen from the outside and in which in particular a film transport device of the thermoforming packaging machine has its outlet. In the operating mode of the thermoforming packaging machine, the covered machine area can be at least partially delimited from above by at least one protective cover positioned on the machine frame. However, other machine parts, in particular side cladding shells of the deep-drawing packaging machine, can also be used to delimit the covered machine area.

In connection with the invention, the remaining film material is primarily in the form of strips. Such residual film strips are released at the exit of the film transport device and must be removed. Depending on the machine format, two or more residual film strips are left over. Preferably, a number of ejector units corresponding to a number of remaining residual film strips are arranged on the deep-drawing packaging machine for their reception. In the case of two remaining film strips transported along opposite machine sides, two lifting units are thus likewise arranged on the respective machine sides in the area of the remaining film material station.

The lifter unit is preferably adjustably mounted between a first position in which the lifter unit for receiving the residual film material at least partially protrudes into the covered machine area, and a second position in which the lifter unit is positioned outside the covered machine area. In particular, the lifting unit is arranged in its first position at an exit of a film transport device formed on the thermoforming packaging machine, for example in the form of a clamp chain, so that residual film material released by the film transport device is automatically deflected past the lifting unit. A loose end of residual film material released at the beginning of the manufacturing process can be moved past the lifter unit by the advance of the film transport device in such a way that it is picked up by the lifter unit when it is moved from the first to the second position, pulled along and out of the covered machine area is transported out, in particular outside the covered machine area to be grasped or extracted by hand or by machine.

It is advantageous if the ejector unit in its second position has residual film material that has been picked up and conveyed out thereon in a clearly visible and easily accessible manner for the operator outside the covered machine area. For example, in the second Position the remaining film material held ready by means of the lifting unit from the covered machine area protruding from the covered machine area with a protrusion of at least 2 cm, for example in the form of a tangible loop.

The ejector unit, in particular an engagement means provided thereon, is preferably mounted displaceably on a support frame of the residual film material station. This enables inexpensive cultivation. This also ensures that the operator intuitively uses the lifting unit fastened at the location of the residual film material station to handle the residual film material. The displaceable mounting of the lifting unit also enables, in particular, a compact design.

One embodiment of the invention provides that the lifter unit is designed at least partially in color to differentiate it from the machine parts that are adjacent to it and visible from the outside, in particular different in color from the cover components enclosing the covered machine area, for example in a signal color, e.g. red, green or blue in order to generate a signal effect for the operator as a safety-relevant intervention unit.

To form the covered machine area, a first and a second protective cover are preferably arranged one behind the other on the machine frame in the production direction, the lifting unit protruding into the covered machine area through a gap left between the protective covers. An opening width of the gap is preferably not larger than 2 cm, more preferably not larger than 1.5 cm and more preferably not larger than 1 cm. The gap can thus be so narrow in the form of a slot that a hand of the operator does not fit through the gap into the interior of the covered machine area.

The respective protective covers can have any shape to form the covered machine area. For example, the first and / or the second protective cover could at least partially have a hood shape, a plate shape and / or a frame shape. According to a variant, the gap could be provided directly between a cover plate attached to the thermoforming packaging machine as a protective cover and a frame part which ensures that the two protective hoods last positioned on the thermoforming packaging machine in the production direction are correctly arranged relative to one another.

One variant provides that at least one of the two protective covers is removably placed on the machine frame. In addition to the actual protective function, the protective cover can thus be removed from the thermoforming packaging machine for conversion work and improved cleaning. To actually operate the lifter unit, i.e. However, in order to convey residual film material out of the covered machine area, the respective protective covers can remain on the thermoforming packaging machine. This means that the thermoforming packaging machine remains ready for operation when the ejector unit is operated.

At least one guide unit for residual film material is preferably positioned within the covered machine area, with the residual film material being able to be deflected in a targeted manner on the guide unit. A movement of the residual film material can thus be directed within the covered machine area in such a way that the residual film material leaves an exit of the covered machine area in a targeted manner, which is formed, for example, in the form of the previously described gap. In particular, the guide unit is configured to deflect the remaining film material received on it, at least in sections, vertically out of the covered machine area when the lifting unit is adjusted from the first to the second position.

One embodiment of the invention provides that the lifting unit has a manually displaceable slide bar and / or as an integral, i.e. one-piece, bent sheet metal part is formed. In this form, the lifting unit forms a functional component on the thermoforming packaging machine that can be used for the highest hygienic requirements. As an alternative to manual operability, the lifting unit could be mounted so that it can be adjusted in an automated manner. A pneumatic cylinder, for example, would be conceivable as an actuator for adjusting the lifting unit.

An embodiment, which is simple in terms of construction, but is expedient, provides that the lifting unit has a linear link guide by means of which the lifting unit is adjustably supported. In particular, the lifter unit is mounted so that it can be adjusted vertically along a column of the residual film material station. To operate the lifting unit, it is advantageous if the lifting unit has a handle for manual operation which is positioned outside the covered machine room.

Residual film material, in particular in the form of a leftover film edge strip, can be picked up particularly well within the covered machine area by means of the lifting unit if the lifting unit has a curved lifting arm with a hook formed on it for receiving the residual film material. The lifter arm and / or the hook formed thereon can be bent into the interior of the covered machine area in such a way that one end of the residual film material strip is automatically guided over it due to a film material feed. A hook shape formed on the lifter unit can prevent the remaining film material from slipping off the lifter unit when it is pulled out.

The lifter unit is preferably designed essentially as an L-profile, whereby a stable configuration is achieved and a robust displacement of the lifter unit between the first and the second position is possible so that the remaining film material can be safely conveyed out of the covered machine area.

According to one embodiment, the residual film material station is designed as a winding or suction device for receiving the respective film edge strips released by a film transport device at the machine exit. In this form, the residual film material station can take up residual film material synchronously with the respective work cycles of the thermoforming packaging machine in order to reliably transport it away from the covered machine area provided there at the machine outlet of the thermoforming packaging machine.

The invention also relates to a method for conveying a residual film material out of a covered machine area of a thermoforming packaging machine. According to the invention, residual film material that has arrived within the covered machine area is picked up by means of an adjustably mounted lifting unit protruding at least partially into the covered machine area and at least partially conveyed out of the covered machine area so that the conveyed-out residual film material outside the covered machine area can be gripped by an operator by hand or handled automatically . In this position, which has been removed from the covered machine area, the residual film material can be gripped manually, in particular by the operator, and can be connected to a residual film material station provided on the thermoforming packaging machine at the machine outlet. Once this has been done, the residual film material that arrives in the covered machine area can be wound up reliably synchronously with the manufacturing process by means of the residual film material station, for example by a winding process.

Optionally, the lifting unit conveys the remaining film material out of the covered machine area through a gap left between protective covers arranged one behind the other in the production direction. The lifter unit thus forms a kind of auxiliary device for the operator, which, as an extended arm of the operator, picks up residual film material in the covered machine area and removes it from this, so that the operator leaves the residual film material outside a danger area, i.e. outside of the covered machine room, can safely reach by hand without having to remove one of the protective covers from the thermoforming packaging machine.

An advantageous embodiment provides that the remaining film material is deflected on a guide unit in the direction of the gap when it is conveyed out of the covered machine area. In particular, this ensures that residual film material which is to be conveyed out of the covered machine area leaves the covered machine area in a targeted manner.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Tiefziehverpackungsmaschine,

Figur 2

eine Perspektivdarstellung einer an der Tiefziehverpackungsmaschine angeordneten Restfolienmaterialstation,

Figur 3

eine in einem abgedeckten Maschinenbereich hineinragende Aushebereinheit zum Aufnehmen von darin angelangtem Restfolienmaterial, und

Figur 4

die in Figur 3 gezeigte Aushebereinheit in einer im Vergleich zur Figur 3 verlagerten Position außerhalb des abgedeckten Maschinenbereichs, um daran aufgenommenes Restfolienmaterial zur weiteren Handhabe einem Bediener zu übergeben.

The present invention is explained in more detail by way of example with the aid of the following figures. Show it:

Figure 1

a schematic side view of a thermoforming packaging machine,

Figure 2

a perspective view of a residual film material station arranged on the thermoforming packaging machine,

Figure 3

a lifting unit protruding into a covered machine area for picking up residual film material that has arrived therein, and

Figure 4

in the Figure 3 shown lifting unit in a compared to Figure 3 relocated position outside of the covered machine area in order to hand over the remaining film material picked up on it to an operator for further handling.

Figure 1 shows a thermoforming packaging machine 1. The thermoforming packaging machine 1 comprises a machine frame 2, a forming station 3 for producing packaging trays 4 from a lower film 5 and a sealing station 6 downstream of the forming station 3 in the production direction R for closing the packaging trays 4, including a product P inserted therein, by means of an upper film 7.

According to Figure 1 the thermoforming packaging machine 1 further downstream of the sealing station 6 in the production direction R comprises a cutting station 8 for separating finished packaging V. The finished packaging V is made available at a machine outlet 9 of the thermoforming packaging machine 1 for removal or further transport.

A residual film material station 10 is positioned behind the cutting station 8, viewed in the production direction R. The residual film material station 10 receives a residual film material 11 that has not been processed into packaging V during manufacture. The remaining film material 11 is according to Figure 1 guided out of a covered machine area 12 through an opening 13 formed thereon and wound up by a take-up roll 14 of the residual film material station 10. Instead of the take-up roll 14, a suction unit (not shown in the figures) could equally well be provided at the residual film material station 10 in order to pick up residual film material 11 that was left over during the manufacturing process.

Furthermore, in Figure 1 schematically shows that a first and a second protective cover 15, 16 are arranged on the machine frame 2 one behind the other in the production direction R to form the covered machine area 12.

Figure 2 shows the remaining film material station 10 Figure 1 in isolated representation. The residual film material station 10 comprises a support frame 17. Two take-up rollers 14 are mounted next to one another on the support frame 17. Remaining film strips 11a, 11b, which are only shown schematically and in part, are wound onto the two winding rollers 14. The two residual film strips 11a, 11b form residual film material 11 that was left over after the packaging V was manufactured.

In order to prevent a return or blockage in the machine area of the thermoforming packaging machine 1, the remaining film material 11 is led out of the covered machine area 12 and continuously wound onto the take-up rolls 14 according to a machine cycle of the packaging machine 1, in order to be subsequently disposed of.

Next is in Figure 2 a lifting unit 18 for the residual film material 11 is provided. In Figure 2 the lifting unit 18 is provided for the remaining film strip 11b. Although this is not shown, a further lifting unit can also be provided on the other side for the remaining film strip 11a.

The lifting unit 18 protrudes in sections into the covered machine area 12 of the thermoforming packaging machine 1. The lifting unit 18 is designed to remove residual film material 11 that has arrived therein within the covered machine area 12, in Figure 2 to pick up the remaining film strip 11b, in particular when the thermoforming packaging machine 1 is put into operation or during production, and to convey it out of the covered machine area 12 at least in sections. The conveyed out residual film strip 11b can then be grasped by hand by an operator outside the covered machine area 12 in order to be connected to the take-up roll 14 of the residual film material station 10 provided for this purpose.

According to Figure 2 the lifting unit 18 is designed as a slide bar 19. The slide bar 19 is present here as an integral bent sheet metal part and is fastened to the support frame 17 of the residual film material station 10 so as to be adjustable in the vertical direction y ₁ . The lifting unit 18 comprises a linear link guide 20, by means of which the lifting unit 18 is mounted on the support frame 17 so as to be adjustable along the vertical direction y ₁ .

Figure 2 also shows that the lifter unit 18 has a handle 21 for manual operation, which is positioned outside of the covered machine room 12. A lifting arm 22, which is equipped with a hook 23, is provided below the link guide 20 on the lifting unit 18.

Within the covered machine area 12, a guide unit 24 for the residual film material 11 is attached to the support frame 17 of the residual film material station 10, the residual film material 11, ie according to FIG Figure 2 the remaining film strip 11b, by means of the guide unit 24, can be deflected in a targeted manner outside of the covered machine area 12. For this purpose, the guide unit 24 is equipped with a deflection roller 25.

Figure 2 shows that in order to form the covered machine area 12 at the residual film material station 10, in addition to the one already in FIG Figure 1 Second protective cover 16 shown, a cover plate 26 and a frame part 27 are arranged. To better illustrate the lifting unit 18, FIG Figure 2 the first protective cover 15 from Figure 1 omitted. The exit of the covered machine area 12 is already shown in Figure 1 opening 13 shown in Figure 2 designed as a gap 28 between the cover plate 26 or the support frame 17 and the frame part 27. The lifting unit 18 is fastened to the support frame 17 in such a way that it protrudes through the gap 28 into the covered machine area 12.

The lifting unit 18 according to the invention is shown in FIG Figure 2 shown by way of example in a functional connection with the remaining film strip 11b. On the other side of the support frame 17 for handling the residual film strip 11a, a further lifting unit and a further guide unit can be arranged, so to speak, in mirror image.

Figure 3 shows the lifting unit 18 in a first position P1. In the first position P1, the lifting unit 18 for receiving the remaining film material 11 protrudes at least partially into the covered machine area 12. Figure 3 also shows a film transport device 31 which transports the film material to be processed along the thermoforming packaging machine 1 from work station to work station.

The film transport device 31 from Figure 3 comprises a clamp chain 32 with clamping links 33 arranged thereon. The clamp chain 32 is deflected via an outlet wheel 34 of the film transport device 31. As the clamp chain 32 gets onto the discharge wheel 34 and is deflected by it, the clamping links 33 formed on the clamp chain 32 open, so that the remaining film material 11 is released into the covered machine area 12.

According to Figure 3 the released residual film material 11, here in the form of the residual film strip 11b, is pushed over the hook 23 formed on the lifting unit 18. This can be achieved through a certain inherent rigidity of the residual film material 11 and is also possible in particular due to the immediate position of the hook 23 next to the release location of the residual film material 11 from the chain of clips 32. If necessary, for an improved continuation of the residual film material 11, further guide components (not shown) can be used to ensure that the residual film material 11 is pushed over the hook 23 of the lifting unit 18.

Figure 4 shows the lifter unit 18 in a second position P2 in which the lifter unit 18 is positioned outside the covered machine room 12. In particular, the hook 23 formed on the lifter unit 18 is now located above the gap 28 in order to keep the residual film material 11, in particular the residual film strip 11b, received thereon in loop form, outside the covered machine area 12 in such a way that it can be manually gripped by an operator.

Figure 4 also shows that the remaining film material 11 is released from the clamp chain 32 in the region of a last release element 35 of the clamping elements 33 and towards the deflection roller 25 the guide unit 24 is tensioned. On the deflecting roller 25, the remaining film material 11 is guided upward in a targeted manner in the vertical direction y ₂ to the gap 28. The residual film material 11 lifted out of the covered machine area 12 in the form of a loop from the gap 18 on the hook 23 can be grasped by the operator by hand and via an in Figure 2 reel means 36 shown are pulled to be connected to the take-up reel 14.

Looking at the Figures 3 and 4th the lifting unit 18 is present as an extended arm of the operator in order to reach into a danger area of the thermoforming packaging machine 1. This makes it possible to use the ejector unit 18 to get into the covered machine area 12 in such a way that residual film material 11 that has arrived therein, in particular in the form of the two residual film strips 11a, 11b, can be picked up and pulled out of the covered machine area 12 in order to move outside the covered machine area 12 to be taken and connected to the respective take-up rollers 14.

In the Figures 2 to 4 only the lifting unit 18 for the remaining film strip 11b is shown. A guide or use of the in Figure 2 The remaining film strip 11a shown can be carried out by means of a lifting unit arranged in a comparable manner on its side.

As a result of the possibility of engaging in the covered machine area 12 with the aid of the lifting unit used according to the invention, the gap 28 can be dimensioned so tightly that manual intervention in the covered machine area 12 is no longer possible for the operator. This can lead to a forced use of the lifting unit 18 arranged at the residual film material station 10, so that overall improved machine safety is achieved.

Claims (14)

Thermoforming packaging machine (1), comprising a machine frame (2), a forming station (3) for producing packaging trays (4) from a lower film (5), a sealing station (6) downstream of the forming station (3) in the production direction (R) for closing the Packaging trays (4), including a product (P) inserted therein, by means of an upper film (7), a cutting station downstream of the sealing station (6) in the production direction (R) for (8) separating finished packaging (V) and a residual film material station (10 ) for receiving a residual film material (11) left over from the manufacturing process, characterized by at least one lifting unit (18) for residual film material (11), which protrudes at least in sections into a covered machine area (12) of the thermoforming packaging machine (1) and which is designed to be inside of the covered machine area (12) received therein remaining film material (11) and at least cut it off to be conveyed out of the covered machine area (12) in steps. Thermoforming packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) between a first position (P1), in which the lifting unit (18) for receiving the remaining film material (11) protrudes at least partially into the covered machine area (12), and a second Position (P2) is adjustable, in which the lifting unit (18) is positioned outside the covered machine room (12). Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) is displaceably mounted on a support frame (17) of the residual film material station (10). Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first and a second protective cover (15, 16) are arranged one behind the other on the machine frame (2) in order to form the covered machine area (12) in the production direction (R), the lifting unit (18 ) protrudes through a gap (28) left free between the protective covers (15, 16) into the covered machine area (12). Thermoforming packaging machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the two protective covers (15, 16) is removably placed on the machine frame (2). Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one guide unit (24) for the residual film material (11) is positioned within the covered machine area (12), the residual film material (11) being able to be deflected in a targeted manner by means of the guide unit (24). Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) has a manually adjustable slide bar (19) and / or is designed as an integral bent sheet metal part. Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) has a linear link guide (20) by means of which the lifting unit (18) is adjustably mounted. Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) has a handle (21) for manual actuation which is positioned outside the covered machine area (12). Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) has a curved lifting arm (22) with a hook (23) formed thereon for receiving the residual film material (11). Thermoforming packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the residual film material station (10) is designed as a winding (14) or suction device for receiving the respective film edge strips (11a, 11b) released by a film transport device (31) at the machine exit (9). Method for conveying a residual film material (11) out of a covered machine area (12) of a thermoforming packaging machine (1), with residual film material (11) which has arrived therein within the covered machine area (12) by means of an adjustable bearing that protrudes at least partially into the covered machine area (12) Lifting unit (18) is received and at least in sections conveyed out of the covered machine area (12). Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the lifting unit (18) conveys the remaining film material (11) out of the covered machine area (12) through a gap (28) left free between protective covers (15, 16) arranged one behind the other in the production direction (R). Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the remaining film material (11) is deflected on a guide unit (24) in the direction of the gap (28) when it is conveyed out of the covered machine area (12).

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