JPH0834411A - Packaging machine for shaping, packing and sealing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To regulate the tension of a strip without exerting action on the stretching capacity and deforming capacity of a material by providing an opening part constituting a part of a path to the chamber in a regulation means regulating the tension of the strip along the path to connect the same to a vacuum means freely regulating the vacuum in the chamber. CONSTITUTION: In order to correctly package an article along a beam 15, the tension of a strip 11 is regulated by a regulation unit 30. Therefore, when the strip passes through an opening part 48, this strip is sucked into a chamber 44 by a suction device and a recessed part forms the bent part 67 turned to the opening part 48. A freely adjustable vacuum is formed in the chamber 44 by the suction device connected to the chamber 44 by a tubular main body to regulate the tension of the strip 11. A unit 30 regulates the tension of the strip 11 on the basis of the vacuum in the chamber 44 that is, on the basis of the quantity related to the tension of the strip and, therefore, the tension of the strip can be regulated highly accurately.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to so-called forming, filling,
And a sealing and packaging machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art Packaging machines of the type described above usually have a packaging beam, the inlet of which is fed simultaneously with a continuous strip of packaging material and a series of products. Along the packaging beam, the strip is first folded in a U-shape around the product and the lateral edges of the strip are joined under the product by a strip traction unit, thus formed. A continuous tubular package is cut into several parts and the ends of these parts are closed to form a series of individually packaged products in a so-called "pillow pack" package.

In a packaging machine of the type described above, a given tension has to be applied to the strip at the entrance of the packaging beam, this function usually being regulated with a braking device arranged along the path of the strip. Done by unit. The braking device reduces the speed of travel of the strip with respect to the speed applied by the strip traction unit in order to ensure that the strip folds properly, i.e. without wrinkles that would reject the product. Tensioning The above-described method for tensioning the strip has several drawbacks.

The first drawback is that the tension of the strip is adjusted by having a large effect on the stretch and deformation properties of the material, ie by changing the length of the strip, and thus the tension and length. It is adjusted on the basis of the relationship between the three different quantities, so that the tension cannot be adjusted exactly. Indeed, a slight adjustment of the braking device, and therefore a slight extension of the strip length, results in a large change in tension.

A second drawback is that the tension of the strip at the entrance of the packaging beam must be kept constant or the range of variation must be very narrow, but the properties of the strip material only vary significantly from reel to reel. It means that devices of the above-mentioned type need to be continuously adjusted even during the operation of the packaging machine, since they vary greatly even in the same reel. Factors that affect the properties of the material and the strip itself are atmospheric factors such as humidity at storage and operating conditions, or geometric factors such as reel geometry or packaging machine axis misalignment.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a forming, filling and hermetic packaging machine designed to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a product loading device, a product packaging device for continuously receiving products from the product loading device, and a packaged product from the product packaging device. And a supply line for supplying a continuous strip of packaging material to and through the product packaging apparatus, the supply line comprising a strip traction unit and guiding means constituting a given path. Forming, filling, wherein the strip is fed to the traction unit along the path and the feed line further comprises adjusting means for adjusting the tension of the strip along the path. In the hermetic packaging machine, the adjusting means has a chamber and a vacuum means connected to the chamber for forming a vacuum inside the chamber so as to be adjustable. The chamber has an opening which constitutes a part of the path, the packaging machine is provided, characterized in that.

According to the preferred embodiment of the above line,
The traction unit constitutes the outlet end of the track, the track is substantially U-shaped, and the chamber is located at the concave portion of the track.

The chamber preferably further comprises adjusting means for adjusting the size of the opening in a direction transverse to the path.

The chamber preferably further comprises further adjusting means for adjusting the position of the opening in a direction transverse to the path.

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

1 shows a so-called "form, fill and seal" wrapping machine for respectively wrapping a product 2 in a so-called "pillow pack" wrap 3.

The packaging machine 1 receives the well-known product loading device 6, the well-known product packaging machine 7, and the packaged product 2 from the device 7, and supplies these products to the delivery station 9 of the packaging machine 1. Has a load bearing frame 5 which supports a known delivery conveyor 8 for. The packaging machine 1 further comprises a feed line 10 at least partially overlapping the devices 6 and 7 for feeding and passing a continuous strip 11 of packaging material into the inlet 12 of the device 7, which line comprises: It is supported on the frame 5.

The charging device 6 comprises a well known substantially horizontal conveyor 13 for feeding ordered products 2 in the direction 14 to the inlet 12 of the device 7. The direction of arrow 14 is parallel to conveyor 13.

The packaging device 7 includes a product 2 and a strip 1.
1 are fed simultaneously and a well-known packaging beam 15 for folding the strip 11 around the product 2 in a U-shape is provided at the inlet 1.
It is located at 2. Furthermore, the device 7 has a known traction unit 16 which is arranged downstream of the beam 15 and constitutes the delivery element of the line 10, which joins the lateral edges of the strip 11 under the product 2. To form a continuous tubular package 18 as well as the strip 1
It has two rolls 17 (only one shown) for pulling 1 and applying a given tension to it. The device 7 further receives a package 18 from the unit 16 and cuts this package in a known manner into a series of packaged products 2,
It has a known closing-cutting unit 19 for feeding these products 2 to the conveyor 8. Packaged product 2 is
The line 10 supplied by the conveyor 8 to the station 9 in a direction parallel to the direction 14 constitutes a substantially U-shaped path P for the strip 11, which path P is
A delivery arm 20 formed by the delivery part 21 of the conveyor 13 and the packaging device 7 extending in the direction of the arrow 14 and above this arm 20 from the known unwinding device 23 for the reel 24 of the strip 11 parallel to the direction 14. The charging arm 22 extends. The arm 22 is connected to an intermediate arm 26 at a guide roller 25 mounted on the frame 5, which rotates about an axis 25a perpendicular to the vertical front surface of the frame 5, which intermediate arm guides the roller 25. It extends to a roller 28 in a direction 27 substantially perpendicular to the direction 14 and connects the arm 22 to the arm 20. The roller 28 is arranged below the roller 25 and above the conveyor 13 and is parallel to the axis 25a.
Rotate around.

The supply line 10 further comprises an adjusting unit 30 for adjusting the tension of the strip 11 when the strip 16 is being pulled by the unit 16. This unit is located along the arm 26 between the arms 20 and 22. That is, it is arranged inside the space 31 substantially surrounded by the path P.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit 30 has a casing 32 which is integral with the surface 5a of the frame 5 and which has a tubular body 33, the axis 34 of the tubular body having the surface 5a and the direction 27 (FIG. 3). See) is perpendicular to. Unit 30 further extends coaxially with axis 34 and body 3
3 through a tubular guide rod 35 supported by 3 and a bush 37 placed between the rod 35 and
A substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped container 36 slidably connected to
Have.

The container 36 has two lateral walls 38 and 39 which are perpendicular to the axis 34 and parallel to the surface 5a,
The walls 38 of these walls are arranged facing the surface 5a and are also parallel to each other and the surface 5a and the direction 27.
Has a substantially U-shaped wall 40 disposed between the walls 38 and 39, forming two opposed portions 41 and 42 perpendicular to the. The container 36 contains a plate 43 extending between the plates 38 and 39 and parallel to these plates, the plate 43 having an axis 34.
A chamber 44 having a longitudinal axis 45 perpendicular to the
Is movable parallel to itself, so as to make up with the walls 39 and 40. The chamber 44 is connected to a known suction device 46. The inlet end of the suction device 46 has two tubular bodies 4 telescopically connected to each other.
7a and 47b, these tubular bodies being integral with the plate 43 and the casing 32, respectively, to provide a device for guiding the container 36 when the container 36 is moved parallel to the axis 34. Form with. Furthermore, the chamber 44 has an opening 48 extending transversely to the axis 45 and the surface 5a, which opening is arranged along a part of the path P.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit 30 has two adjusting devices 49 housed parallel to each other in the space between the casing 32 and the wall 38, by means of these adjusting devices the opening 48. The size can be adjusted in a direction 48a parallel to the axis 34 and transverse to the path P.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, each adjusting device 49 includes a driven screw 5 integral with the plate 43.
1. Driven bush 52 with internal thread, integral with wall 38 of container 36, differential joint constituted by screw 51 and tubular body 53 coaxial with bush 52, with axis 54 perpendicular to surface 5a Have 50. The main body 53 is
It has a female screw that is screwed with the screw 51 and a first male screw 56 that is screwed with the bush 52, and is rotated about the axis 54 by a first chain drive device 57 housed in the casing 32. The first chain drive is slidable in the axial direction, but the body 53 is fixed so that the angle is fixed.
Has a gear 58 attached to. Body 53 has axis 5
When rotated about 4, the screw 51 and the bush 52
Moves axially opposite direction 48a, thus
The plate 43 and the wall 38 are moved in opposite directions to move the container 3
The rest of 6, the walls 39 and 40, move with the body.

The main body 53 has the gear 5 with respect to the first screw 56.
8 has a second male thread 59 located on the opposite side thereof which is connected to the female thread 60 of the gear 61 and which is adapted to change the position of the axis 45 in the direction 48a, namely the wall 38 and the container. Second housing 36, which is housed in the casing 32
It is moved by the chain drive device 62.

As shown in FIG. 2, drive devices 57 and 62 are provided.
Are driven by gears 63 and 64 coaxial with the axial direction 34, respectively. These gears 63 and 64 are mounted on drive shafts 65 and 66, which extend along the tubular body 33 and are coaxial with the axis 34, respectively.

In actual use, the strip 11 is pulled and fed by the traction unit 16 along the feed line 10 through the inlet 12 of the packaging device 7 simultaneously with the product 2. These products 2 are transferred to the inlet 1 at the conveyor 13 of the device 6.
2 and then wrapped with strips 11 to form a continuous wrap 18 and then a pillow pack wrap 3.

The tension of the strip 11 is adjusted by the adjusting unit 30 so that the product is correctly packaged along the beam 15. To this end, as the strip passes through the opening 48, the strip is sucked by a suction device 46.
Is sucked into the chamber 44, and the concave portion forms a bent portion 67 facing the opening portion 48.

The chamber 44 has tubular bodies 47a and 47b.
An adjustable vacuum is created in the chamber 44 and the tension of the strip 11 is adjusted by means of a suction device 46 connected by. Unlike conventional adjusters that adjust the tension of the strip 11 by acting on the elasticity of the strip material, the unit 30 is based on the vacuum in the chamber 44, i.e., on the amount associated with the tension of the strip 11. The tension of the strip 11 can be adjusted and thus the tension can be adjusted with high precision.

Furthermore, the unit 30 applies a given tension to the strip 11 without stretching the strip 11 and thus not only the strip 11 made of a substantially elastic material but also a substantially paper-like material. A strip 11 made of an inelastic material can also be used.

Another advantage of unit 30 is that chamber 44
The tension exerted on the strip 11 by the hydrostatic vacuum 44 therein is substantially evenly distributed over the entire width of the strip.

Furthermore, the unit 30 continuously corrects the alignment of the strip 11 with respect to the packaging beam 15, compensating for the axial misalignment of the packaging machine and defects in the geometry of the reel 24 or the elasticity of the strip material.

If the size or width of the strip 11 changes, the same unit 30 can be used to make the tension and alignment adjustments described above. This unit scales the size of chamber 44 and opening 48 in the direction 48, as described above.
Two adjusting devices 49 for sliding contact between the lateral edge of the strip 11 and the wall 39 and the plate 43, adjusted by a.
Have. This sliding contact is required for both strip alignment and aperture sealing to maintain a given vacuum in chamber 44.

The device 49 moves the axis 45 in the direction 48a, moving the strip 11 relative to the device 49 itself,
Adjust its alignment with respect to the packaging beam 15.

Finally, the fact that the path P is substantially U-shaped means that the strip 1 is glued on one side.
When using No. 1 it is particularly advantageous to mount with the adhesive side out, by eliminating contact between the adhesive side and the guide roll.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a line according to the invention, partly in section and some parts removed for clarity.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

4 is an enlarged view of the detail of FIG. 2 with the lateral wall 38 and the plate 43 spaced apart.

5 is an enlarged view of the detail of FIG. 2 with the lateral wall 38 and the plate 43 in contact.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Forming, Filling and Sealing Packing Machine 2 Product 6 Product Charging Device 7 Product Packing Machine 8 Delivery Conveyor 9 Delivery Station 10 Supply Line 11 Strip 16 Traction Unit 24 Reel 25 Guide Roller 28 Guide Roller 30 Adjusting Unit 31 Space 44 Vacuum Chamber 46 suction device 48 opening 50 differential joint 53 tubular body 57 first chain drive 58 gear 61 gear 62 second chain drive 63 gear 64 gear P path

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A product charging device (6), a product packaging device (7) for continuously receiving products (2) from the product charging device (6), and a product packaging device (7) already packaged. A delivery conveyor (8) for receiving the product (2) of the product, and a supply line (10) for supplying a continuous strip (11) of packaging material to and through the product packaging device (7). With the supply line (10)
Has a strip traction unit (16) and a guide means (25, 28) constituting a given path (P), said strip (11) being along said path (P) said traction unit (25). 16), and the supply line (1
0) is the strip (1) along the path (P).
In a forming, filling and sealing packaging machine (1) further comprising adjusting means (30) for adjusting the tension of 1), said adjusting means (30) adjusting a vacuum inside the chamber (44). A vacuum means (46) connected to the chamber (44) for forming freely, the chamber (44) having an opening (48) forming a part of the path (P). A packaging machine characterized by the following. 2. The towing unit (16) constitutes the outlet end of the path (P), the path (P) is substantially U-shaped, and the chamber (44) is the path (P). )
2. Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged at the concave portion (31) of the. 3. The chamber (44) adjusts means (50, 57, 57) for adjusting the size of the opening (48) in a direction (48a) transverse to the path (P).
58, 63) further comprising:
The packaging machine described in. 4. The chamber (44) further adjusts means (53, 6) for adjusting the position of the opening (48) in a direction (48a) transverse to the path (P).
The packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: 1, 62, 64).