EP4389374A1 - Device for cutting packages - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for cutting packaging, comprising a first drive shaft for driving a first cutting knife and a second drive shaft arranged parallel to the first drive shaft for driving a second cutting knife, wherein the second cutting knife is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and wherein the device comprises an adjusting device associated with the second cutting knife with a movable actuator, wherein the actuator is designed to adjust a position of the second cutting knife and/or a pressing force of the second cutting knife on the first cutting knife and the actuator is mounted so as to be movable along a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and spaced apart from the axis of rotation.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cutting packages according to claim 1 and to a method for adjusting a pressing force of a second cutting knife on a first cutting knife and/or a position of the second cutting knife of a device for cutting packages according to independent claim 12.

State of the art

Devices for cutting packaging are known from the prior art. The devices usually comprise cutting blades arranged in pairs, which are arranged in such a way that they can cut a film guided along a packaging or for a packaging. For this purpose, the cutting blades are arranged adjacent to one another so that the cutting blades exert a pressing force on one another.

It is also known to arrange the cutting blades on different cutting shafts. For this purpose, it is also known to arrange a first cutting blade on a first cutting shaft and to arrange at least a second or a second and a third cutting blade on the second cutting shaft, with the two or three cutting blades working together in such a way that a film is cut. If the second and third cutting blades are arranged together on the second cutting shaft, it can be provided that the position of the second and third cutting blades relative to one another can be adjusted so that the packaging can also be cut into strips.

During operation of known devices, it may be necessary to adjust the relative arrangement of the cutting blades, for example to set the strip width or to regulate the pressure of the cutting blades against each other or to remove a cutting shaft with the cutting blades arranged on it from the device for the purpose of changing the format. However, this conversion work has so far involved considerable construction effort and also requires an operator to intervene in the device, which poses a risk of injury due to the sharp cutting blades.

Task

Based on the known state of the art, the technical problem to be solved is to provide a device for cutting packaging, with which the setting the pressing force and/or the replacement of cutting blades can be structurally simpler and at the same time ensured safely.

Solution

This object is achieved according to the invention by the device for cutting packaging according to independent claim 1 and the method for adjusting a pressing force of a second cutting blade on a first cutting blade and/or a position of the second cutting blade of a device for cutting packaging. Advantageous further developments are covered in the subclaims.

The device according to the invention for cutting packaging comprises a first drive shaft for driving a first cutting knife and a second drive shaft arranged parallel to the first drive shaft for driving a second cutting knife, wherein the second cutting knife is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and wherein the device comprises an adjustment device associated with the second cutting knife with a movable actuator, wherein the actuator is designed to adjust a position of the second cutting knife and/or a pressing force of the second cutting knife on the first cutting knife and the actuator is mounted so as to be movable along a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and spaced apart from the axis of rotation.

The direction parallel to the axis of rotation and spaced from the axis of rotation is to be understood as the direction along which the actuator is movably mounted and not a direction that is merely parallel to this direction. According to the invention, the actuator is therefore not arranged to be movable coaxially to the axis of rotation, but is positioned offset to the axis of rotation and arranged to be movable along a direction offset to the axis of rotation but parallel to it. In particular, it can be provided that the adjustment device or at least the actuator is arranged outside the cutting blade and an imaginary cylinder whose cross section forms the cutting blade.

This makes any suspension or hub of the cutting blade, around which the cutting blade itself is mounted so that it can rotate, easier to access, which is particularly beneficial when changing formats and/or blades. At the same time, the spaced arrangement enables an advantageous adjustment of the guide ratio when moving the second cutting blade, which leads to a more precise determination or adjustment of the pressing force.

It can be provided that the actuator is a pneumatically actuated actuator, for example a piston of a pneumatic cylinder or a membrane. This allows the pressing force to be adjusted and the second cutting blade to be moved in a technically simple and reliable manner.

The device can comprise a third cutting blade that can be driven by the second drive shaft, wherein the adjusting device is designed to adjust a distance between the second cutting blade and the third cutting blade. This allows settings for the cutting width to be made when cutting packaging or parts of packaging.

In a further development of this embodiment, it is provided that a first reset element is assigned to the second cutting blade and a second reset element is assigned to the third cutting blade, wherein the first reset element and the second reset element can cause a movement of the actuator into a synchronous movement of the second cutting blade and the third cutting blade.

The return element can be designed as a spring, for example, or can comprise such a spring, which can be arranged between the actuator and, for example, a fixed part of the holder and pre-tensions the respective cutting blade in the direction of the actuator. The movement of the actuator can thus be evenly distributed between the second and third cutting blades due to the effect against the spring force.

It can also be provided that the second drive shaft, the second cutting blade and the adjustment device are arranged on a common frame. This makes it easy to replace the cutting blades. In particular, there is no need to remove individual cutting blades separately, which reduces the risk of injury to the operator.

The adjustment device can be designed to adjust the position of the second cutting knife between a working position in which the second cutting knife is arranged together with the first cutting knife for cutting packaging, and a rest position in which the second cutting knife is arranged at a distance from the first cutting knife. This simplifies the conversion of the devices, in particular the risk of injury to an operator is further reduced.

The adjusting device can be arranged on a suspension of the second cutting blade or the adjusting device can be designed to determine a position of a suspension of the second Cutting blade. The suspension of the second cutting blade can, for example, form a connecting element to a fixed frame of the device or encompass this. If the connecting element itself is arranged to be movable, the position of the suspension can also be changed with this embodiment. This can be used advantageously to achieve, for example, larger adjustment paths for the cutting blade. This can be used advantageously to convert the device to, for example, additional cutting blades or to replace cutting blades. If the adjustment device is arranged on the suspension itself, this offers a reliable reference for setting the position and/or other force of the second cutting blade, whereby a variable coarse adjustment of the position of the cutting blade is still possible.

It can be provided that the suspension is arranged on a guide parallel to the second drive shaft. The guide can be designed, for example, as a rail along which the suspension can be movably mounted. A detachable connection to the guide (for example via screws) can be provided to fix the suspension. If the guide is detachably connected to the device, this allows cutting blades to be easily replaced.

The device can comprise a force sensor that can measure a pressing force between the second cutting blade and the first cutting blade. This allows the pressing force between the first and second cutting blades to be reliably adjusted.

The device can comprise a control unit for controlling the adjustment device. This enables automatic adjustment of the pressing force and/or position of the second cutting blade. This avoids errors that can occur with manual operation. Alternatively, a manually operable adjustment device can be provided for manually adjusting the adjustment device or the actuating element. This reduces the complexity of the device.

The control unit can be designed to control the adjustment device depending on the pressing force. In particular, the force sensor already mentioned in one of the embodiments described above can be used. By interacting with the control unit and the force sensor, a control circuit can optionally be established that adjusts the actuator depending on the pressing force, for example until a desired pressing force is reached. This allows changes in the position of the second cutting blade, for example due to wear, to be taken into account. Alternatively or additionally, the wear on the cutting blades can be reduced by adjusting the pressing force by the contact pressure is precisely adjusted to a desired value, preferably one that involves little wear.

The method according to the invention for adjusting a pressing force of a second cutting knife on a first cutting knife and/or a position of the second cutting knife of a device for cutting packaging, the device comprising a first drive shaft for driving the first cutting knife and a second drive shaft arranged parallel to the first drive shaft for driving the second cutting knife, wherein the second cutting knife is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and wherein the device comprises an adjusting device associated with the second cutting knife with a movable actuator, wherein the actuator is designed to adjust a position of the second cutting knife and/or a pressing force of the second cutting knife on the first cutting knife and the actuator is mounted so as to be movable along a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and spaced apart from the axis of rotation, comprises changing the position of the actuator for adjusting the pressing force and/or the position of the second cutting knife.

This method allows for improved adjustment of the contact pressure.

It can be provided that the device comprises a control unit and a force sensor, and wherein the control unit controls the adjustment device depending on the pressing force measured by the force sensor between the second cutting blade and the first cutting blade in order to adjust the pressing force and/or the position of the second cutting blade. This enables automatic and reliable adjustment of the pressing force and/or the position of the second cutting blade.

The method can include adjusting the position of the second cutting knife between a working position, in which the second cutting knife is arranged together with the first cutting knife for cutting packaging, and a rest position, in which the second cutting knife is spaced apart from the first cutting knife, by means of the adjusting device. In the rest position, the cutting knife can be removed from a suspension, for example. This simplifies the conversion of the device.

The device can comprise a third cutting blade which is driven by the second drive shaft, wherein the method comprises adjusting a distance between the second cutting blade and the third cutting blade by means of the adjusting device. In this way, the adjustment of cutting widths can also be carried out advantageously.

All embodiments described here can be combined with one another, so that the device and/or the method can comprise only some or several or all of the described features.

Short description of the characters

Fig.1

shows a schematic representation of a device for cutting packaging

Fig.2

shows a schematic view of a cutting blade arrangement according to an embodiment

Fig.3

shows an embodiment of a cutting blade with associated adjustment device

Fig. 4a and b

show different embodiments of an adjustment device

Fig. 5a and b

show different embodiments of a cutting blade arrangement with two cutting blades

Detailed description

Fig.1 shows a schematic view of a device 110 for cutting packaging 130. The term packaging 130 is to be understood in a general sense here and can, for example, include the cutting of interconnected, preformed packaging trays. According to the invention, however, this should also be understood to mean the cutting of a film web from which packaging is later produced.

The device 110 comprises a transport device 104 which transports the packages 130 to be cut along a transport device T. The transport device 104 can be designed, for example, as a single-row or multi-row conveyor belt that can transport packages 130. However, the invention is not limited in this regard.

The device 110 is preferably further assigned a control unit 180, which can be designed as a computer, for example, and can control at least some of the functions of the device 110 and in particular of the cutting blade or cutting blade arrangement 100 described below.

Furthermore, the device 110 comprises a cutting blade arrangement 100. The cutting blade arrangement 100 can comprise a frame 113 which is detachably connected (for example via screw connections) to the transport device 104 or another part of the device 110.

The cutting blade arrangement 100 further comprises a first drive shaft 101, which is connected to a first cutting blade 111. The first drive shaft 101 is rotatably mounted and is operatively connected to the cutting blade 111 such that a rotation of the first drive shaft 101 can be translated into a rotation of the first cutting blade 111. For this purpose, the first cutting blade 111 can be arranged directly on the first drive shaft 101 or can be rotatably mounted about an axis that runs parallel to the first drive shaft 101. In the latter case, a transmission in the form of two or more intermeshing gears can be provided, which translates the rotation of the first drive shaft 101 into a rotation of the first cutting blade 111.

Furthermore, the cutting blade assembly 100 comprises a second drive shaft 102 which is operatively connected to at least one second cutting blade 121 in order to set the second cutting blade 121 in rotation. As with reference to Fig.2 As will be described later, it is preferably provided that the second cutting blade 121 is not arranged on the second drive shaft 102, but is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis or axis of rotation running parallel thereto. By rotating the second drive shaft 102, the second cutting blade 121 can be set in rotation, for example by means of suitable intermeshing gears.

The drive shafts 101 and 102 preferably run or extend parallel to one another. In particular, however, the first cutting blade 111 and the second cutting blade 121 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a part of the packaging 130 to be cut can be positioned between them and the first cutting blade 111 and the second cutting blade 121 can interact in such a way that the packaging is separated by the first cutting blade 111 and the second cutting blade 121.

In the Fig.1 In the embodiment shown, three first cutting blades 111 and corresponding three second cutting blades 121 are provided, so that the packaging or film web 130 is divided into four packaging strips 131-134 after passing through the cutting blade arrangement 100. This is not mandatory and any other number of first cutting blades 111 and second cutting blades 121 can be provided. Furthermore, as described in the following embodiments, each first cutting blade 111 a pair of second cutting blades 121 may be assigned in order to realize a strip cut of the packaging 130.

In the sense of the invention, the first cutting knife 111 and the second cutting knife 121 do not both have to have a sharp cutting edge that can cause the packaging to be separated or the packaging 130 to be cut. It can also be provided that the first cutting knife 111 is designed as a counter-cutting knife and does not itself have a sharp cutting edge and the second cutting knife 121 has a sharp cutting edge. An alternative design is also conceivable, in which the first cutting knife 111 has a sharp cutting edge and the second cutting knife 121 is designed as a counter-cutting knife without a sharp cutting edge. Alternatively, the first cutting knife 111 and the second cutting knife 121 can also have a sharp cutting edge.

Fig.2 shows a more detailed view of a cutting blade arrangement 200 according to Fig.1 .

The cutting blade assembly 200 may comprise a frame 202 for receiving the second drive shaft 222 and the second cutting blades 221, 224 and 225. The second cutting blade or blades may be connected to the second drive shaft 222 via suitable gears (here schematically shown as gear 223) so that a driving force of the second drive shaft 222 can be transmitted to the respective cutting blades 221, 224 and 225.

The respective second cutting blades 221, 224 and 225 can be rotatably attached to cutting blade elements 250. The cutting blade elements 250 can also be arranged on a guide 226 via suitable connecting elements 227, such as clamps, or can be firmly connected to the frame 202.

The cutting blade arrangement 200 also includes the first cutting blade component 201 shown here with 201 with the first drive shaft 212 and the associated first cutting blades 211, 213 and 214. This can, but does not have to, be connected to the frame 202. If the first cutting blade component 201 is connected to the frame 202 (not shown here), the frame 202 can also be located below the transport device 104 (see Fig.1 ) to provide a connection for the first drive shaft 212. Alternatively, the first cutting blade component 201 can also be mounted within the transport device 104 (see Fig.1 ) and the frame 202 may only be intended to accommodate the second cutting blades 221, 224, 225.

The first drive shaft and the second drive shaft can be driven by drives not shown here, such as a servo motor or an actuator, wherein each drive shaft can be assigned exactly one separate drive or the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft can be driven by a common drive.

Fig.3 shows an embodiment of the invention using a single second cutting blade 314, which in the Fig.3 is stored in the cutting blade unit 250. Schematically shown in the Fig.3 The guide 226 is also shown, to which the cutting blade unit 250 can be attached, for example, via clamping elements. It can be provided that the cutting blade unit 250 is mounted as a whole so that it can be moved relative to the guide 226, so that it can be moved along the guide (in the embodiment shown here to the left or right). For this purpose, for example, the clamping element 227 ( Fig.2 ) and the cutting blade unit 250 can be moved and then the clamping element 227 can be refastened.

In the Fig.3 In the embodiment shown, the second cutting blade 314 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis R, for example along a hub 316 running through the second cutting blade 314. The rotation axis R runs through the center of the second cutting blade 314, which is preferably essentially circular in shape. The second cutting blade 314 can be mounted in a suspension 313, which is movably arranged in the cutting blade unit 250 (in particular movably along the hub 316). In the embodiment shown in Fig.3 In the embodiment shown, the second cutting blade 314 is arranged adjacent to the first cutting blade 320, so that by interaction of the first cutting blade 320 and the second cutting blade 314, a packaging or film of a packaging (not shown here) can be cut.

According to the invention, the arrangement shown here further comprises an adjusting device 310, which is preferably but not necessarily arranged in the cutting blade unit 250. The adjusting device 310 comprises an actuator 312 which is movably mounted along the direction D (see double arrow), which can be connected, for example, to a counter element 311 which is fixedly arranged in the cutting blade unit 250, so that the actuator 312 is movably mounted along the direction D in order to move at least the second cutting blade 314, optionally also the suspension 313 of the second cutting blade, along the double arrow direction shown, so that the second cutting blade 314 can be moved along the hub 316 along the double arrow direction shown. As a result, according to the invention, both the pressing force of the second Cutting blade 314 to the first cutting blade 320 as well as the relative position of the second cutting blade 314 to the first cutting blade 320 can be adjusted.

According to the invention, it is provided that the adjustment device 310 and in particular the actuator 312 is movable along a direction of movement D which runs parallel to the axis of rotation R, but is spaced apart from it. The distance of the direction of movement D from the axis of rotation R is basically arbitrary. However, this distance is preferably greater than the radius of the second cutting blade 314, so that the adjustment device 310 and in particular the actuator 312 acts on a position of the suspension 313 which does not overlap with the second cutting blade 314. In particular, the actuator 312 can be movably mounted along a direction D which lies outside an imaginary cylinder whose cross section is the second cutting blade 314. The movable actuator 312 is preferably located on the side of the second cutting blade 314 opposite the first cutting blade 320, as seen from the axis of rotation R.

In the embodiment shown here, the adjustment device 310 is designed as a pneumatic adjustment device and the actuator 312 is designed as a pneumatically actuated actuator. This is to be understood in such a way that the position of the actuator can be changed along the direction D by supplying or discharging air or compressed air.

It can be provided that a compressed air supply 352 (such as a compressor) is connected to the adjustment device 310 for the purpose of supplying or discharging air, in particular compressed air. If more than one cutting blade 314 or more than one cutting blade unit 250 is provided (see also, for example, the description of the Fig. 1 and 2 ), it can be provided that a common compressed air supply 352 is provided for all second cutting blades, wherein all second cutting blades can be operatively connected to the compressed air supply 352 via a common main compressed air line and corresponding distribution lines which lead to the individual adjustment devices.

While manual control of the compressed air supply and thus of the pneumatically actuated actuator 312 is generally possible, it can also be provided that the compressed air supply is connected to the control unit 180 for the purpose of exchanging control data. The control unit 180 can control the movement of the actuator 312 by controlling the compressed air supply 352 in order to adjust the position of the second cutting blade 314 relative to the first cutting blade 320 or the pressing force of the second cutting blade 314 on the first cutting blade 320.

For this purpose, the device can comprise a force sensor 353. This force sensor is preferably arranged and designed to measure a pressing force between the second cutting blade 314 and the first cutting blade 320. The measured pressing force can then be transmitted from the force sensor 353 to the control unit 180, which can then control the compressed air supply 352 based on the measured pressing force in order to set the pressing force between the second cutting blade 314 and the first cutting blade 320 to, for example, a necessary or desired value. For this purpose, the compressed air supply 352 is actuated in order to control the position or movement of the actuator 312 along the direction D, thereby changing the position of the second cutting blade 314.

If the position of the second cutting blade is changed only to the extent that physical contact continues to exist between the first cutting blade 320 and the second cutting blade 314, this changes the pressing force between the first cutting blade 320 and the second cutting blade 314.

However, the adjustment device 310 can also be used advantageously to transfer the second cutting blade 314 from a working position, in which it can interact with the first cutting blade to cut a package, to a rest position in which the second cutting blade 314 is spaced apart from the first cutting blade 320. If the second cutting blade is moved to this position, the second cutting blade or all second cutting blades can be released from the device for cutting packages, for example by lifting the frame 202 (see Fig.2 ) can be achieved.

Alternatively, the second cutting blade can also be released from the suspension 313, for example by removing the hub 316. For example, the second cutting blade can be mounted in the suspension together with one or more locking rings that are arranged coaxially to the cutting blade and extend partially along the hub 316. After removing the second cutting blade and the locking ring(s), the cutting blade can be released from the locking rings and, for example, replaced.

In the Fig.3 the adjustment device is arranged such that the counter element 311 is connected to the cutting blade unit 250 attached to the guide 226 and the actuator 312 moves the suspension 313 of the second cutting blade 314 relative to the cutting blade unit 250. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the actuator 312 is connected to the fixed cutting unit 250 and the counter element 311 of the adjustment device is connected to the suspension 313, so that the fixed part is displaced by actuating the actuator 312.

The Fig. 4a shows an embodiment of an adjusting device 410 of the general embodiment of the Figure 3 as a pneumatic cylinder.

In the illustration shown here, only the suspension 313 is shown with the second cutting blade 314 arranged therein, which is mounted so as to be rotatable about the hub 316. The adjustment device 410 comprises a pneumatic cylinder, the piston 412 of which is designed as an actuator. The cylinder 411 is the counter element of the adjustment device and can be supplied with compressed air via the compressed air supply 352 (optionally controlled by the control unit 180), so that the actuator 412 can be moved along the double arrow direction shown in order to adjust the position or pressing force of the second cutting blade 314 to the first cutting blade (not shown here) analogously to the Fig.3 to change.

The piston 412 can be firmly connected to the suspension 313, for example via one or more screw connections.

Fig. 4b shows a Fig. 4a alternative embodiment. Here too, only the suspension 313 and the second cutting blade 314, which is mounted so as to be rotatable about the hub 316, are shown. In the embodiment shown here, the adjusting device 420 comprises a compressed air intake 421 into which compressed air can be introduced or withdrawn via the compressed air supply 352. As described in the previous embodiments, this can be optimally controlled by the control unit 180.

In this embodiment, the adjustment device 420 further comprises a membrane 422 that can be moved by compressed air and is operatively connected to the suspension 313 or to the cutting blade 314, so that the position of the suspension or of the second cutting blade 314 can be changed depending on the pressure prevailing in the compressed air intake 421 or the pressure difference between the interior of the compressed air intake 421 and the external pressure. If the internal pressure in the compressed air intake 421 is reduced, the movable membrane 422 is pulled in the direction of the compressed air intake 421. As a result, the second cutting blade 314 or the suspension 313 and the second cutting blade arranged therein are also moved in the direction of the compressed air intake 421, as a result of which, for example, the second cutting blade can be brought closer to the first cutting blade or the pressing force on the first cutting blade can be increased.

If the internal pressure in the compressed air intake is increased, the membrane is moved in the opposite direction and accordingly the suspension 313 or the second cutting blade 314 is moved so that the pressure force on the first cutting blade is reduced or the distance between the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade is increased.

It is understood that increasing and decreasing the pressing force or the distance to the first cutting blade depends on the positioning of the first cutting blade. What has been described so far applies to an arrangement of the first cutting blade in the Fig. 4b to the left of the second cutting blade. The reverse applies for an arrangement of the first cutting blade to the right of the second cutting blade 314.

The membrane 422 can be glued to the suspension 313 of the second cutting blade 314, for example. Other embodiments for connecting the membrane 422 to the suspension 313 are also conceivable. For example, the membrane can be screwed to the suspension, wherein one or more sealing elements can be provided to seal the pressure chamber enclosed between the compressed air intake 421 and the movable membrane 422. Other embodiments are also conceivable, provided that a movement of the membrane 422 can be converted into a movement of the suspension 313 to move the cutting blade 314.

In Fig. 4b a return element 317 is also shown. This return element 317 can be designed, for example, as a spring or as a pair of mutually repelling magnets. The return element can preferably be designed in such a way that it preloads the suspension 313 in the direction of the adjustment device 410. This has the effect that when the internal pressure in the pressure receiver 421 is reduced and the membrane 422 moves in the direction of the compressed air receiver 421, the suspension 313 is also pressed in this direction by the restoring force of the return element 317 acting from the opposite side. In such an embodiment, a fixed connection between the movable membrane 422 and the suspension 413 can be omitted, but can still be provided optionally.

A corresponding reset element can also be found in the Fig. 4a described embodiment. Alternatively, in the Fig. 4a the piston of the pneumatic cylinder can also be designed as a component of the suspension 313 of the second cutting blade 314 or can be connected to it, for example, via screw connections or other fixed connections.

Fig. 5a shows a further embodiment of the invention, wherein in the cutting blade unit 500 shown here, two second cutting blades 510 and 520 are rotatably mounted about a common rotation axis R, which is formed, for example, by the hub 516. Instead of a continuous hub 516, a separate hub can be provided. In this embodiment too, the second cutting blades can be assigned suspensions as described in the previous embodiments, which, however, are not described in further detail here.

The second cutting blades 510 and 520 can cooperate with a first cutting blade 540 to realize a strip cut of a film, wherein the strip cut comprises a severing of the film such that a strip is severed from the packaging between the first second cutting blade 510 and the second second cutting blade 520 in cooperation with the first cutting blade 540.

The cutting blade unit 500 preferably comprises a frame 530 that supports the two second cutting blades 510 and 520 or their suspensions. The frame 530 can comprise a central element 531, but this does not have to be the case. In the embodiment shown here, each of the second cutting blades 510 and 520 is assigned a separate adjustment device 551 or 552, which can optionally be attached to the central element 531. These adjustment devices 551 and 552 can be designed in accordance with any of the previous embodiments. In particular, each of the adjustment devices 551 and 552 can be connected to a compressed air supply 352 in accordance with the previous embodiments via a suitable compressed air supply line 561 or 562. The compressed air supply 352 can in turn be connected to the control unit 180 so that the control unit can control the position of the first and second cutting blades 510 and the position of the second cutting blade 520, for example based on a pressing force measured by a force sensor.

For this purpose, it can be provided that each of the second cutting blades is assigned its own force sensor 571 or 572, which can measure the pressing force of the respective second cutting blade on the first cutting blade 540. The control unit 180 can then obtain the measured pressing force from each of the force sensors 571 and 572 (for example via a suitable data connection) and then control the adjusting device 551 or 552 based on the measured pressing force in order to control the pressing force and/or the position of the first second cutting blade 510 or the second second cutting blade 520.

Analogous to the embodiments described so far, the first second cutting blade 510 and the second second cutting blade 520 can be assigned reset elements 581 and 582, respectively, which preferably cause a reset force of the respective second cutting blade in the direction of the respective adjustment device. This ensures reliable adjustment of the position or pressing force of the second cutting blades 510 and 520.

By providing separate adjustment devices 551 and 552, it is possible to set the distance D 1 of the first second cutting blade 510 to the first cutting blade 540 and the distance D ₂ of the second second cutting blade 520 to the first cutting blade 540 independently of one another. The same applies to the pressing force exerted by the respective second cutting blades on the first cutting blade 540. This can be used advantageously to take into account, for example, uneven wear of the second second cutting blades 510 and 520.

Fig. 5b shows a Fig. 5a alternative embodiment, in which the first second cutting blade 510 and the second second cutting blade 520 are assigned a common adjusting device 560, which comprises two actuators 561 and 562, wherein one of these actuators 561 and 562 is connected to one of the second cutting blades 510 and 520. Preferably, the adjusting device 560 comprises exactly one compressed air receiving area 563 that can be pressurized with compressed air. This can be, for example, the fixed part of a pneumatic cylinder or, as for example with reference to Fig. 4b As already described, the compressed air intake.

The actuators 561 and 562 can be designed accordingly as cylinder pistons of a planatic cylinder or as movable membranes.

With this design, the number of compressed air lines can be reduced.

Furthermore, analogous to the previously described embodiments, each of the second cutting blades 510 and 520 can also be assigned a reset element in this embodiment. The reset elements 571 and 572 cause a reset force or preload force of the respective second cutting blade 510 and 520 in the direction of the adjustment device 560. This can be used particularly advantageously in this embodiment to cause a synchronous movement of the cutting blades 510 and 520, so that the distances D ₁ and D ₂ to the first cutting blade 540 or the corresponding pressing forces for both cutting blades are as equal as possible.

Claims (15)

Device (110) for cutting packaging (130), comprising a first drive shaft (101) for driving a first cutting knife (111) and a second drive shaft (102) arranged parallel to the first drive shaft for driving a second cutting knife (121), wherein the second cutting knife is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (R), and wherein the device (100) comprises an adjusting device (310) associated with the second cutting knife (121) and having a movable actuator (312), wherein the actuator (312) is designed to adjust a position of the second cutting knife (121) and/or a pressing force of the second cutting knife (121) on the first cutting knife (111), and the actuator (312) is mounted so as to be movable along a direction (D) parallel to the axis of rotation (R) and spaced apart from the axis of rotation (R). Device (110) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (312) is a pneumatically actuable actuator, for example a piston (412) of a pneumatic cylinder or a membrane (422). Device (110) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device (110) comprises a third cutting blade (520) which can be driven by the second drive shaft (101), wherein the adjusting device (310) is designed to adjust a distance between the second cutting blade (510) and the third cutting blade (520). Device (110) according to claim 3, wherein the second cutting blade (510) is assigned a first reset element (571, 581) and the third cutting blade (520) is assigned a second reset element (572, 582), wherein the first reset element (571, 581) and the second reset element (572, 582) can convert a movement of the actuator into a synchronous movement of the second cutting blade (510) and the third cutting blade (520). Device (110) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second drive shaft (102), the second cutting blade (121) and the adjusting device (310) are arranged on a common frame (202). Device (110) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adjusting device (310) for adjusting the position of the second cutting knife (121) is arranged between a working position in which the second cutting knife (121) is arranged together with the first cutting knife (111) for cutting packages (130), and a rest position in which in which the second cutting blade (121) is arranged at a distance from the first cutting blade (111). Device (110) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adjusting device (310) is arranged on a suspension (313) of the second cutting blade (314) or wherein the adjusting device (310) is designed to adjust a position of a suspension (313) of the second cutting blade (314). Device (110) according to claim 7, wherein the suspension (313) is arranged on a guide (226) parallel to the second drive shaft (102). Device (110) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the device comprises a force sensor (353) which can measure a pressing force between the second cutting blade (314) and the first cutting blade (111). Device (110) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the device comprises a control unit (180) for controlling the adjustment device (310). Device (110) according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (180) is designed to control the adjusting device (310) depending on the pressing force. Method for adjusting a pressing force of a second cutting knife (121) on a first cutting knife (111) and/or a position of the second cutting knife (121) of a device (110) for cutting packaging (130), the device (110) comprising a first drive shaft (101) for driving the first cutting knife (111) and a second drive shaft (102) arranged parallel to the first drive shaft (101) for driving the second cutting knife (121), wherein the second cutting knife (121) is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (R) and wherein the device (110) comprises an adjusting device (310) associated with the second cutting knife (121) with a movable actuator (312), wherein the actuator (312) for adjusting a position of the second cutting knife (121) and/or a pressing force of the second cutting knife (121) is formed on the first cutting blade (111) and the actuator (310) is movably mounted along a direction (D) parallel to the axis of rotation (R) and spaced from the axis of rotation (R), wherein the method comprises changing the position of the actuator (310) to adjust the pressing force and/or the position of the second cutting blade (121). Method according to claim 12, wherein the device (110) comprises a control unit (180) and a force sensor (353), and wherein the control unit (180) controls the adjusting device (310) depending on the pressing force measured by the force sensor (353) between the second cutting blade (314) and the first cutting blade (111) for adjusting the pressing force and/or the position of the second cutting blade (314). Method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the method comprises adjusting the position of the second cutting knife (121) between a working position in which the second cutting knife (121) is arranged together with the first cutting knife (111) for cutting packages (130) and a rest position in which the second cutting knife (121) is spaced from the first cutting knife (111), by means of the adjusting device (310). Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the device (110) comprises a third cutting blade (520) driven by the second drive shaft (102), the method comprising adjusting a distance between the second cutting blade (510) and the third cutting blade (520) by means of the adjusting device (310).

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