RU2791891C2 - Packaging method and packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: method and a packaging machine for creating packages from a continuous film. According to the method, among other things, the quality of the seams formed during the creation of film packages is verified. The chamber is sealed around the area of the film sleeve containing the work area, a cross section and a transverse seam on each side of the cross section are created in the specified work area. To verify, the pressure in the chamber is lowered, the property of the fluid located in the chamber or in the part of the hose located in the chamber is determined, and depending on the specified determination, the quality of at least one of the seams located in the chamber is determined.

EFFECT: invention provides high efficiency during use.

15 cl, 7 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to methods for packaging machines and to packaging machines.

PRIOR ART

In packaging machines, products are packed into packages containing seams. Some of these foodstuffs require packaging with sealed seals, and any incomplete or improper seal will adversely affect the shelf life of the product. In order to check the quality of the seals of the package, tests of the packages are usually carried out. Mechanical methods are commonly used to test packages, which generally involve applying mechanical pressure to the package and determining the expected response as the mechanical pressure applied to the package and the package's compressive strength increase. Other known systems use vacuum to force gases out of the package through any improper seal. There are also systems that combine both methods, or other systems that use optical inspection systems, for example, to establish the quality of the seams.

Said inspection systems perform the test immediately after the packages have left the packaging machine. In addition to the requirement for more space in the packing room and careful maintenance, these systems detect improper seals some time after the creation of packages, which leads to a large number of package rejections when determining an improper seal in the analyzed package, and this sometimes also requires the creation of means of communication between the packaging machine and inspection systems in order to report the detection of an improper seam and stop production.

Document WO2017191465A2 discloses a device for detecting leaks in containers. In this regard, the packages are made with the possibility of individually passing through the area of definition. In the definition area, at least one roller presses against the package, applying mechanical pressure to it, as said package moves, so that if there is an improper seal, the gas in the package eventually flows out of the specified package. The device contains a means for creating a drawing action relative to the air in the specified detection area and for determining whether there is a change in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air drawn in from the specified detection area, establishing that there are leaks in the package, depending on the specified setting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for a packaging machine and a packaging machine as defined in the claims.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for a packaging machine in which products are packaged in packages made from film.

The method includes the following steps:

- longitudinal seam connection together of two longitudinal ends of the film, while as a result of the specified seam connection a film sleeve is obtained containing a longitudinal seam,

- performing a transverse seam and cut operation with respect to the working area of the film sleeve, during which a cross cut and a transverse seam are created in the specified work area on each side of the cross cut, while as a result of the transverse seam connection and cutting operation, a film sleeve is obtained, sealed in transversely at one end by a transverse seal formed upstream of the transverse cut, and a package separated from said film sleeve by a transverse cut and comprising a transverse seal formed downstream of said cross cut, and

- supply of the product to be packed in a package through a film sleeve.

According to the method, prior to or during the transverse seaming and cutting operation, the chamber is sealed around the area of the film sleeve containing the work area by clamping at least one transverse clamping area of the film sleeve upstream of the work area. After sealing the chamber, the film sleeve contains, being surrounded by said chamber, a first test area between the work area and the clamping area and a second test area downstream of the work area.

In addition, according to the method, when the chamber is sealed, the pressure inside the chamber is lowered and at least one property of the gaseous fluid inside the chamber, inside the first test area and/or inside the second test area of the film sleeve, is determined after the operation of transverse seaming and cutting and during or after the pressure drop inside the chamber.

After that, it is determined whether there is a fluid leakage in any of the test areas of the film sleeve, depending on the specified definition, establishing that at least one of the seams placed inside the chamber is of inadequate quality, when determining the leakage.

The properties of the gaseous fluid (usually air) contained in the chamber are known under normal conditions, and the properties of the gaseous fluid (air and/or other gas or mixture of gases) contained in the film sleeve within the first test area and the second test area, under normal conditions. conditions are also known (eg, quantity, pressure, temperature, composition of the gaseous fluid, concentration of gases in said fluid). The properties of these gaseous fluids, for example, the properties of both the fluid contained in the chamber and the fluid contained in the film sleeve, during depressurization of the chamber under normal conditions, if there is no fluid leakage in any of the test areas, are also known. . Thus, using the method according to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether any of the seams placed inside said chamber were improperly formed at the end of the transverse seam joining and cutting operation, since the decrease in pressure in the chamber leads to leakage of the fluid contained in the chamber. within at least one of the test areas, through any seam that may be improper, which would be seen when determining the properties of the fluid within the chamber and/or in any of the test areas, after application of a pressure reduction or during said reduction.

Thus, by depressurizing the chamber and determining the properties of the fluid as described, it can be easily determined during or after said depressurization whether all of the seams placed within the chamber are proper, or vice versa, at least one of them is not. is. When determining the presence of leakage, it is concluded that at least one of these seams is a low quality seam due to the fact that it is not airtight, while when determining the absence of any leakage, it is determined that these seams are high quality seams.

The proposed method also allows you to determine the quality of these seams in the packaging machine itself, thereby reducing the required space (allowing you to do without a separate installation or machine for the specified determination from the packaging machine), which makes it possible, if necessary, to check the quality of the seams obtained in each packaging cycle of the machine for the purpose of individual checking each package. This also results in a reduction in the time spent on checking the quality of the seams and careful control of the entire production of packages, if necessary.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a packaging machine for making continuous film packages.

Packing machine contains:

- a film supply device adapted for film supply,

- a longitudinal seam tool adapted to longitudinally seam together the two longitudinal ends of the film to form a sleeve, thereby creating a film sleeve with a longitudinal seam, and

- a device for transverse seam connection and cutting, located downstream relative to the device for longitudinal seam connection and forming device, adapted for transverse seam connection and cutting of the film sleeve in the working area of the specified film sleeve, while in the specified working area a transverse cut and a transverse a seam on each side of the cross section and a package is obtained downstream of the cross section after actuation of the cross seam and cut tool.

The machine additionally contains:

- a sealing device located downstream of the forming device and movable between a working position in which it delimits a chamber sealed around the area of the film sleeve containing the working area, and a waiting position, while the device for transverse seaming and cutting is attached to the sealing device so that it is enclosed in the chamber when the specified sealing device is in the working position,

- a pumping device adapted to reduce the pressure inside said chamber,

- a determination device adapted to determine at least one property of the gaseous fluid contained in the chamber or inside the film sleeve and/or the package or part of the package placed in said chamber, and

- a control device that is in communication with the determination device and adapted to determine the quality of the seams located in the chamber, depending on the determination made by the specified determination device.

The control device is further adapted to cause the coordinated actuation of the sealing device, the transverse seaming and cutting device, the pumping device and the detection device. The advantages discussed in relation to the method are also achieved in relation to the machine.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the drawings and detailed description of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHICS

In FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a packaging machine according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2 schematically shows a portion of a sealing device delimiting a chamber around a film sleeve region, wherein said film sleeve region comprises a work area (after a transverse seam and cut operation according to an embodiment of the method according to the present invention).

In FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the transverse seam and cut tool and the sealing tool of the machine of FIG. 1 when the camera is sealed.

In FIG. 4 shows the region of the film sleeve placed in the sealed chamber of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the transverse seam and cut tool and the sealing tool of FIG. 3 when the chamber is sealed and when the suture and cutting tools are in working order.

In FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the transverse seam and cut tool and the sealing tool of FIG. 3 when said sealing device is in the standby position.

In FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the transverse seam and cut tool and the sealing tool of FIG. 3 when the chamber is sealed and during the depressurization of the interior of the chamber after the transverse seaming and cutting operation has been performed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a method suitable for use in a packaging machine 100, preferably a vertical packaging machine such as the one shown in FIG. 1. Although the figure shows a vertical machine 100, the method is not limited to machines of this type and can also be applied to horizontal or inclined machines.

In the machine 100, a film sleeve 1 is formed from a continuous film by forming said film into a sleeve shape, for example by using a forming tool 102 adapted for this purpose and forming a longitudinal seam 1.1 at the two longitudinal ends of said film to form a sleeve. The longitudinal seam 1.1 is formed either by folding said ends together or by applying them to the forming tool 102. As the film is advanced, the film sleeve 1 advances in advance direction A, and said advance may be continuous or discontinuous.

The operation of transverse seaming and cutting is carried out in this working area 1.0 of the film sleeve 1, shown as an example in FIG. 2 downstream of the longitudinal seam tool 103. The transverse cut 1.0c and the transverse seam 1.01 and 1.02 on each side of the cross cut 1.0c are made in said work area 1.0 during said transverse seam and cut operation. The transverse seam and cut operation results in a film sleeve 1 transversely sealed at one end with the first transverse seam 1.01 (the transverse seam 1.01 created during the transverse seam and cut operation upstream of the transverse cut 1.0c), and a package E separated from said film sleeve 1 downstream of the cross section 1.0c, sealed at one end with a transverse seam 1.02 created during said cross seam and cut operation downstream of the cross section 1.0c, and sealed at the other end with a transverse seam corresponding to the first transverse seam 1.01 of the film sleeve 1 formed during the previous transverse seam and cut operation. The section of film sleeve 1 is physically separated from the rest of the film sleeve 1 by a transverse cut 1.0c, and said separated section is a package E, which of course contains, in addition to the two transverse seams 1.01 and 1.02, a longitudinal seam 1.1. The distance between two successive cross cuts 1.0c is therefore equal to the length of the package E to be created.

The product to be packaged is introduced into the package E between two transverse seaming and cutting operations, said product being fed through the film tube 1.

The E package is created in the packaging cycle. Each packaging cycle includes a transverse sealing and cutting operation, and in the packaging cycle, a package E is created and a transverse seam 1.01, with which the film sleeve 1 is sealed, and which serves as a sealing means for one end of the package E, which is created in the next packaging cycle. In addition, each packaging cycle can be carried out using the film tube 1 moving continuously in the advance direction A, or using said film tube 1 moving discontinuously in the advance direction A. In this latter case, the progress of the film sleeve 1 is interrupted to perform the operation of cross-cutting and seaming, and is resumed after this operation is completed until the next interruption (which occurs when the film sleeve 1 is moved by a length equal to the length of the package E, which is to be created in the next packaging loop) to create a new package E.

According to the method, prior to or during the transverse seaming and cutting operation, the chamber 3 is sealed around the area of the film sleeve 1 containing the work area 1.0 by clamping at least one transverse clamping area P1 of the film sleeve 1 upstream of the work area 1.0, as shown in Fig. fig. 2 and FIG. 3. Chamber 3 is created under said clamping area P1. When the chamber 3 is sealed, the film sleeve 1 contains, being surrounded by said chamber 3, a first inspection area Z1 between the working area 1.0 and the clamping area P1 and a second inspection area Z2 downstream of the working area 1.0, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

When the chamber 3 is sealed, the pressure inside the chamber 3 is reduced by pumping out the gas trapped inside the chamber 3, and at least one property of the gaseous fluid inside the chamber 3 is determined inside the first inspection area Z1 and/or inside the second inspection area Z2, according to completion of the cross-sealing and cutting operation, and during or after the depressurization inside the chamber 3. In addition, it is determined whether there is a fluid leak in any of the test areas Z1 and Z2, depending on the specified determination, and it is determined that at least one of the seams placed inside the chamber 3 (transverse seams 1.01 and 1.02 and at least part of the longitudinal seam 1.1) is of inadequate quality when determining leakage. If no leakage is detected, establish that these seams are adequate.

The presence of a leak is determined based on one of the following options:

- determining the presence or concentration of this gas in chamber 3, while said given gas is the gas inside the film sleeve 1 and in the package E, obtained after the appropriate operation of transverse seam joining and cutting, establishing that there is a leak, when determining the presence of the indicated gas (for the case in which the specified gas should not be in chamber 3 under normal conditions), if at the time of determination the concentration of the specified gas is determined to exceed the preset value for the specified moment, or if the determined concentration of the specified gas deviates from the preset standard trend during the pressure decrease in the chamber 3;

- determining the pressure or amount of gaseous fluid present in the chamber 3, establishing that there is a leak, if at the time of determination the pressure or amount of said fluid is determined to exceed a predetermined value for a specified moment, or if a certain pressure or a certain amount of said fluid deviates from a pre-set standard trend during the depressurization of chamber 3;

- determining the pressure, volume or concentration of a gaseous fluid located inside the first test area Z1 and / or inside the second test area Z2, establishing that there is a leak, if at the time of determination the pressure, volume or concentration of the specified fluid is determined, which is less than previously a set value for a specified moment in the analyzed test area Z1 or Z2, or if a certain pressure, a certain volume or a certain concentration of said fluid in the analyzed test area Z1 or Z2 deviate from a predetermined standard trend during the depressurization of the chamber 3; And

- any combination of the previous options.

In some embodiments of the method, mechanical pressure is applied to at least one test area Z1 and Z2 when the chamber 3 is sealed, during the determination of at least one property of the gaseous fluid inside the chamber 3, inside the first test area Z1 and/or inside the second test area Z2. Therefore, the pressure of the gaseous fluid inside the test area Z1 or Z2, which is pressed against, increases, and the leakage of said fluid becomes very likely in the case of a defective weld, which makes it possible to ensure a more reliable determination of the quality of said welds.

In some embodiments, the application of this mechanical pressure further assists in establishing the presence of a leak based at least on a determination of the pressure or volume of fluid within the test area Z1 and/or Z2 to which said mechanical pressure is applied. In these cases, in order to determine the pressure or volume of the gaseous fluid inside said test area Z1 and/or Z2, the corresponding test area Z1 and/or Z2 is mechanically pressed from the outside of the film sleeve 1 or package E with a predetermined force and set compressing or expelling fluid within said test area Z1 and/or Z2. Mechanical pressure on the respective test area Z1 and/or Z2 can be carried out by moving the probe pressing on the specified test area Z1 or Z2, and in order to establish the presence of a leak, the volume and/or dynamics of changes in the volume of the specified test area Z1 or Z2 are determined; determine the pressure of the gaseous fluid placed inside the specified test area Z1 or Z2; or determine the dynamics of the pressure change of the gaseous fluid within the specified test area Z1 or Z2, while the presence of a leak is determined if the pressure or volume of the specified gaseous fluid differs from the preset value or if the dynamics of its change differs from the preset standard during pressure reduction in chamber 3. Preferably one probe is used for each test area Z1 and Z2, therefore it is possible to determine which test area Z1 and/or Z2 is leaking, so that it is also possible to remove only the package E or only part of the film sleeve 1 when installing that any of the seams is of inadequate quality.

The method can be applied to packaging with or without modified atmosphere.

In those applications of modified atmosphere packaging to determine the presence of a leak based on the presence or concentration of a given gas in the chamber 3, the specified given gas is the gas inside the film sleeve 1 and in the package E, obtained after the corresponding operation of cross seam joining and cutting , wherein said detection is performed by a sensor such as a chemical sensor, an optical chemical sensor or an optical sensor, for example enclosed in the chamber 3, when said chamber 3 is sealed.

In packaging applications with or without modified atmosphere, in order to determine the presence of a leak based on a determination of the pressure or amount of fluid in the chamber 3, this determination is made by determining the pressure inside the chamber 3 using, for example, a pressure sensor, or by determining the flow , pumped out of the chamber 3 during pressure reduction by means of, for example, a flow meter.

In modified atmosphere packaging applications, in order to determine the concentration of a gaseous fluid within at least one of the test areas Z1 and Z2, a sensor, such as an optical or optical chemical sensor, is placed opposite said test area Z1 or Z2 to determine the concentration given gas located in the specified test area Z1 or Z2.

When the chamber 3 is sealed, in some embodiments, the film sleeve 1 is furthermore subjected to an additional clamping operation in an additional transverse clamping region P2 downstream of the working region 1.0. In other embodiments, the chamber 3 is sealed so that the entire downstream portion of the film sleeve 1 relative to the working area 1.0 is enclosed in said chamber 3, i.e. the entire package E is enclosed within the chamber 3.

In some embodiments, furthermore, the continuity of the longitudinal seam 1.1 of the film sleeve 1, preferably upstream of the nip region P1 of said film sleeve 1, is determined, determining that the longitudinal seam 1.1 is of poor quality, in the event of a lack of continuity being determined. For example, an infrared camera or an ultrasonic detector facing said longitudinal seam 1.1 can be used for this purpose.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a continuous film packaging machine 100 adapted to support the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The machine 100 includes a film feeder (not shown in the drawings) adapted to feed a continuous film. The film is wound into a roll and the film feeder is suitable for unwinding and feeding it to, for example, a forming tool 102 adapted to form the film into a tube shape. The mold tool 102 includes, for example, a knot-like region that receives the film and forces said film to surround the mold tool 102 such that the film is shaped into a tube.

The machine 100 further comprises an advancing device 110 for carrying out the movement of the film in the form of a sleeve in the advancing direction A, which is the vertical direction in the case of the vertical machine 100, and a longitudinal seaming tool 103 adapted for longitudinally seaming the two longitudinal ends of the film together into a shape. sleeves, while the result is the specified seam connection of the film sleeve 1 with a longitudinal seam 1.1.

The creation of the film sleeve 1 is the first step in creating the desired package E. The machine 100 further comprises a transverse seam and cut tool located downstream of the longitudinal seam tool 103 (and to the forming tool 102, if present) adapted for transverse seam connection and cutting of the film sleeve 1 in the work area 1.0 of the specified film sleeve 1, while in the specified work area 1.0 a cross section 1.0c and a transverse seam 1.01 and 1.02 are created on each side of the cross section 1.0c. After actuating the transverse sealing tool and cutting, the package E is obtained downstream of the 1.0c cross-cut, while the film sleeve 1, which is sealed (via the 1.01 transverse seam), is obtained upstream of said 1.0c cross-section. Package E is sealed with a longitudinal seal 1.1 and sealed at both ends with a transverse seal 1.02 created during said actuation and with a transverse seal 1.01 created during the previous actuation of the transverse seam and cut tool. The product to be packaged in package E is introduced into the film sleeve 1 between two successive actuations of the transverse seam and cut device using means adapted for this purpose. The machine 100 is thus adapted for packaging products in packages E.

The transverse suture and cut tool comprises a cutting tool 104.0 for making the transverse incision 1.0c and corresponding suture tools 104.1 and 104.2 for forming each of the transverse seams 1.01 and 1.02 as shown in FIG. 3. The two suture tools 104.1 and 104.2 preferably move together with each other.

The transverse seaming and cutting device is divided into two parts facing each other, between which the film sleeve 1 moves in the advancing direction A. To perform the corresponding actuation, at least one of said parts is moved relative to the other, the corresponding area of the film sleeve 1 is sandwiched between said two parts, as shown in FIG. 5, which shows the actuation of the suture tools 104.1 and 104.2 and the actuation of the cutting tool 104.0. Each suture tool 104.1 and 104.2 preferably includes a respective support such that said suture tool 104.1 and 104.2 presses a respective region of the film sleeve 1 against its respective support to form a seam. Both supports preferably belong to the same support element 104.3.

The proposed machine 100 is further adapted to determine whether or not there are leaks in the film sleeve 1 and/or package E, and to establish the quality of at least one of the seams located in the chamber 3 (transverse seams 1.01 and 1.02 and at least part of the longitudinal seam 1.1), depending on the specified definition.

To this end, the machine 100 further comprises a sealing tool 105 located downstream of the longitudinal seam tool 103 (and the forming tool 102, if present) and movable between an operating position 105P1 in which it delimits the chamber 3 sealed around the area of the film sleeve 1 containing the work area 1.0 and the standby position 105P2, the transverse seaming and cutting device being attached to the sealing device 105 so that it is enclosed in the chamber 3 when said sealing device 105 is in the working position 105P1. The sealing device 105 preferably comprises two parts 105.1 and 105.2 facing each other, between which the film sleeve 1 moves in the advancing direction A. In order to seal the chamber 3, at least one of said parts moves to the other part (preferably both parts 105.1 and 105.2 move), leaving the area of the film sleeve 1 between said two parts 105.1 and 105.2. Said parts 105.1 and 105.2 are adapted to delimit the space when the sealing device 105 is in the working position 105P1 (chamber 3), while they may additionally contain a joint to ensure the hermetic sealing of the chamber 3. The sealing device 105 can thus be located in at least two positions: operating position 105P1, in which chamber 3 is sealed, and standby position 105P2, in which chamber 3 is not demarcated (see FIG. 6). Each part 105.1 and 105.2 defines an internal cavity, and when the sealing device 105 is in working position 105P1, both cavities are in communication with each other and define the chamber 3.

The transverse seam and cut tool is attached to the sealing tool 105 so that the cutting tool 104.0 and the seaming tools 104.1 and 104.2 of said transverse seam and cut tool are placed in the chamber 3 when said chamber 3 is sealed. These tools 104.0, 104.1 and 104.2 are movably attached to the sealing device 105 in the transverse direction relative to the advance direction A (to move further from the film sleeve 1 and closer to it). Each of the two facing parts of the transverse seam and cut tool is preferably movably attached to a respective part 105.1 and 105.2 of the sealing tool 105.

Machine 100 further comprises a pumping device, not shown in the drawings, which is in fluid communication with chamber 3 when said chamber 3 is sealed. To this end, the evacuation device is in fluid communication with the cavity defined by at least one of the parts 105.1 or 105.2 of the sealing device 105. The evacuation device is adapted to depressurize the chamber 3 through said fluid communication. In some embodiments, the evacuation device comprises a vacuum pump or similar device for evacuating the gas inside the chamber 3, while in other embodiments it may contain an injector for injecting air into the pipeline, through which communication with the corresponding cavity is so close to the specified cavity. , as far as possible, so that it creates a negative pressure at the indicated point of injection (therefore, in the cavity), while drawing in the fluid located in the area where the negative pressure was created (Venturi effect), and thereby evacuating the gas located inside chamber 3.

When the pressure inside the chamber 3 is reduced, the gaseous fluid contained in the film sleeve 1, in the package E or in the part of the package E placed in said chamber 3, between the clamping regions P1 and P2, increases in volume, as shown by way of example in FIG. 7 (which shows retraction after the operation of transverse seaming and cutting), so that if any of the seams located in the chamber 3 is not properly formed, the said decrease in pressure in the chamber 3 will cause the said fluid to leak into the chamber 3, and a leak will occur. .

The machine 100 further comprises a determination device, not shown in the drawings, adapted to determine at least one property of the gaseous fluid located in the chamber 3 or inside the film sleeve 1 and/or package E or part of the package E placed in said chamber 3, and a control device, not shown in the drawings, in communication with the determination device and adapted to determine the quality of the seams located in the chamber, depending on the determination made by said determination device. Depending on this definition, the control device is able to determine whether there are leaks from inside the package E and/or the film sleeve 1, therefore, is able to determine whether or not the quality of said seams is good: if there are leaks, the quality is not good, while the quality is good, if it is determined that there are no leaks.

The control device is further adapted to cause the coordinated actuation of the transverse seaming and cutting device, the sealing device, the pumping device and the determination device, the machine 100 is thereby adapted to support and implement the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The detection device is preferably placed in one of the parts 105.1 or 105.2 of the sealing device 105 (in the cavity defined by said part 105.1 or 105.2). The determination device comprises at least one sensor, and the type of sensor depends on the required determination (the determination device may comprise, for example, optical sensors, optical chemical sensors, chemical sensors, pressure sensors or flow meters). In case the detection device contains several sensors, they can be attached with the possibility of replacement to any part 105.1 and 105.2, the only requirement that must be met is that they must be contained in the chamber 3 or they must be in communication in fluid with chamber 3 (depending on the type of sensor), when creating or sealing said chamber 3.

The detection device may therefore comprise, for example, at least one sensor adapted to detect the presence or concentration of a given gas in the chamber 3, the control device in this case being adapted to detect that at least one of the respective seams has an improper quality, when determining the presence of said gas, if, at the time of determination, a concentration of said gas is determined that exceeds a predetermined value for a specified moment, or if a certain concentration of said gas deviates from a predetermined standard trend; and/or at least one sensor adapted to detect the pressure or amount of gaseous fluid present in the chamber 3, the control device 108 in this case being adapted to detect that at least one of the respective welds is of poor quality if a certain pressure or a certain amount of gaseous fluid differs from a predetermined threshold value, or if the pressure or amount of gaseous fluid in the chamber 3 deviates from a predetermined standard trend.

The sealing device 105 may have a length in advance direction A that is greater than the length of the packages E created, so that when the chamber 3 is created or sealed, the package E is enclosed in said chamber 3, and all seams of said package E are checked for quality. the fixture 105 may have a length in advance direction A which is less than the length of the packages E to be created, as shown in the drawings, so that after the appropriate operation of transverse seaming and cutting, the package E is partially enclosed in said chamber 3, with the entire product of the package E preferably placed downstream of chamber 3.

In some embodiments, the machine 100 further comprises a detection device, not depicted in the graphics, facing the mold tool 102 and positioned downstream of the longitudinal seam tool 103 in advancing direction A (and relative to the mold tool 102, if any), adapted to determine the continuity of the longitudinal seam 1.1 of the film sleeve 1 and in communication with the control device, while said control device is adapted to determine whether or not the longitudinal seam 1.1 is appropriate, depending on the specified definition. The determination device may comprise, for example, an infrared camera or an ultrasonic detector.

In some embodiments, the machine 100 includes a pressure-applying element, not shown in the graphics, attached to the sealing device 105 and facing the film sleeve 1. The pressure-applying element is adapted to apply mechanical pressure to the film sleeve 1 and/or to the package E or part of the package E, placed in the chamber 3, so that it increases the pressure of the gaseous fluid inside the film sleeve 1 and/or the package E or part of the package E located in the chamber 3, and promotes the leakage of said fluid into the chamber 3 if the seam is defective . The pressure-applying element may be a stylus, such as that described in relation to the first aspect of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the determining device is adapted to detect the pressure exerted by the pressure-applying element and/or the movement of the pressure-applying element when pressed against the area of the film sleeve 1 and/or package E located in the chamber 3 which it acts on, as described in relation to the first aspect of the present invention.

Claims (32)

1. A method for packaging foodstuffs in film-formed packages using a packaging machine in which food products are packaged in film-formed packages (E), the method including the following steps: - longitudinal seam connection together of the two longitudinal ends of the film, while as a result of the specified seam connection, a film sleeve (1) with a longitudinal seam (1.1) is obtained, - performing the operation of transverse seam connection and cutting in relation to the working area (1.0) of the film sleeve (1), during which a transverse cut (1.0c) and a transverse seam (1.01, 1.02) are created in the specified working area (1.0) on each side of the transverse cut (1.0c), whereby the operation of transverse seaming and cutting produces a film sleeve (1) transversely sealed at one end with a transverse seam (1.01) formed upstream of the cross cut (1.0c), and a package (E) separated from the film sleeve (1) by means of a transverse cut (1.0c), containing a transverse seam (1.02) formed downstream of said cross cut (1.0c), and - supply of the food product to be packed in the package (E) through the film sleeve (1), characterized in that, according to the method, before or during the operation of transverse seaming and cutting, or during it, the chamber (3) is sealed around the area of the film sleeve (1) containing the working area (1.0), clamping at least one transverse clamping area (P1) of the film sleeve (1) upstream relative to the working area (1.0), while the film sleeve (1) contains, being surrounded by the camera (3), the first test area (Z1) between the working area (1.0) and the clamping area (P1) and the second test area (Z2) downstream of the working area (1.0), and when the chamber (3) is sealed, the pressure inside the chamber (3) is reduced and at least one property of the gaseous fluid inside the chamber (3) is determined inside the first test area (Z1) and/or inside the second test area (Z2), at the end of the transverse seam and cut operation and during or after the pressure inside the chamber (3) is released, establishing whether there is a leak gaseous fluid in any of the test areas (Z1, Z2), depending on the specified definition and establishing that at least one of the seams (1.01, 1.02, 1.1) placed inside the chamber (3) is of inadequate quality, when determining leaks. 2. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the presence of a leak is determined on the basis of one of the following options: - determining the presence or concentration of a given gas in the chamber (3), while said given gas is the gas inside the film sleeve (1) and in the package (E), obtained after the appropriate operation of transverse seaming and cutting, establishing that there is leakage, when determining the presence of said gas, if at the moment of determination the concentration of said gas is determined to be higher than the predetermined value for the specified moment, or if the determined concentration of said gas deviates from the predetermined standard trend during the depressurization of the chamber (3); - determining the pressure or amount of gaseous fluid contained in the chamber (3), establishing that there is a leak, if at the time of determination the pressure or amount of said fluid is determined to exceed a predetermined value for a specified moment, or if a certain pressure or a certain amount of said the fluid medium deviates from the pre-set standard dynamics of change during the pressure decrease in the chamber (3); - determining the pressure, volume or concentration of a gaseous fluid located inside the first test area (Z1) and/or inside the second test area (Z2), establishing that there is a leak if the pressure, volume or concentration of said fluid is determined at the moment of determination, less than a pre-set value for a specified moment in the analyzed test area (Z1, Z2), or if a certain pressure, a certain volume or a certain concentration of the specified fluid in the analyzed test area (Z1, Z2) deviate from a pre-set standard time course lowering the pressure in the chamber (3); And - any combination of the previous options. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that mechanical pressure is applied to at least one test area (Z1, Z2) when the chamber (3) is sealed, during the determination of at least one property of the gaseous fluid in inside the chamber (3), inside the first test area (Z1) and/or inside the second test area (Z2). 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the presence of leakage is determined at least on the basis of determining the pressure or volume of the gaseous fluid located inside the test area (Z1, Z2) to which mechanical pressure is applied, and in order to determine the pressure or volume of gaseous fluid inside the specified test area (Z1, Z2), the specified test area (Z1, Z2) is mechanically pressed from the outside of the film sleeve (1) or package (E) with a predetermined force and the compression or displacement of the fluid is set environment in the specified test area (Z1, Z2). 5. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 2-4, characterized in that the presence of a leak is established at least on the basis of determining the presence or concentration of a given gas in the chamber (3), while said given gas is a gas inside the film sleeve (1) and in the package (E) obtained after the operation of transverse seaming and cutting, and while the specified determination is performed using a sensor enclosed in the chamber (3), when the specified chamber (3) is sealed. 6. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 2-4, characterized in that the presence of a leak is established at least on the basis of determining the pressure or the amount of gaseous fluid in the chamber (3), and this determination is performed by determining the pressure inside the chamber (3) or by determining the flow, evacuated from the chamber (3) during pressure reduction. 7. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, characterized in that when the chamber (3) is sealed, an additional clamping operation is carried out in an additional transverse clamping area (P2) downstream of the working area (1.0). 8. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, characterized in that the continuity of the longitudinal seam (1.1) of the film sleeve (1) is determined upstream relative to the chamber (3), while in the case of determining the lack of continuity, it is determined that the longitudinal seam (1.1) is of inadequate quality. 9. Packing machine for implementing the method according to paragraphs. 1-8 containing: - a film feeder adapted to feed the film, - a device (103) for longitudinal seam connection, adapted for longitudinal seam connection together of two longitudinal ends of the film to obtain the shape of a sleeve, while as a result of this seam connection, a film sleeve (1) with a longitudinal seam (1.1) is created, and - a device for transverse seam connection and cutting, placed downstream relative to the device (103) for longitudinal seam connection and adapted for transverse seam connection and cutting of the film sleeve (1) in the working area (1.0) of the specified film sleeve (1), while in the specified work area (1.0) create a cross section (1.0c) and a transverse seam (1.01, 1.02) on each side of the cross section (1.0c) and get the package (E) downstream of the cross section (1.0c) after bringing into the action of the device for transverse seaming and cutting, characterized in that the machine (100) further comprises: - a sealing device (105) located downstream of the device (103) for longitudinal seam connection and made with the possibility of moving between the working position (105P1), in which it delimits the chamber (3) sealed around the area of the film sleeve (1), containing the work area (1.0), and the waiting position (105P2), while the device for transverse seaming and cutting is attached to the sealing device (105) so that it is enclosed in the chamber (3), when the specified sealing device (105) is in working position (105Р1), - a pumping device adapted to reduce the pressure inside said chamber (3), - a determination device adapted to determine at least one property of the gaseous fluid located in the chamber (3) or inside the film sleeve (1) and/or the package (E) or part of the package (E) placed in said chamber (3) , And - a control device in communication with the determination device (107) and adapted to determine the quality of the seams (1.01, 1.02, 1.1) located in the chamber (3), depending on the determination made by said determination device, wherein the control device is further adapted to cause the coordinated actuation of the sealing device (105), the transverse seaming and cutting device, the pumping device and the detection device. 10. The machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the detection device contains at least one sensor adapted to determine the presence or concentration of a given gas in a sealed chamber (3), while the control device is adapted to establish that at least one of the corresponding seams is of inadequate quality, when determining the presence of the specified gas, if at the time of determination the concentration of the specified gas is determined to exceed the predetermined value for the specified moment, or if the determined concentration of the specified gas deviates from the predetermined standard dynamics of change; and/or at least one sensor adapted to detect the pressure or amount of gaseous fluid contained in the sealed chamber (3), wherein the control device is adapted to determine that at least one of the respective welds is of inadequate quality, if a certain the pressure or determined amount of gaseous fluid differs from a predetermined threshold value, or if the pressure or amount of gaseous fluid present in the sealed chamber (3) deviates from a predetermined standard trend. 11. The machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the sealing device (105) comprises two parts (105.1, 105.2) facing each other and facing the film sleeve (1), between which said film sleeve (1) moves in the direction (A) of advancing, wherein at least one of said parts (105.1, 105.2) is adapted to move to the other part (105.1, 105.2) in order to create or seal the chamber (3) in the working position (105P1), while each part (105.1, 105.2) of the sealing device (105) defines an internal cavity, so that when the sealing device (105) is in the working position (105P1), both cavities are in communication with each other and define the chamber (3). 12. The machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the detection device comprises at least one sensor attached to one of the parts (105.1, 105.2) of the sealing device (105) and enclosed in the cavity defined by said part (105.1, 105.2), or in fluid communication with said cavity. 13. Machine according to any one of paragraphs. 9-12, characterized in that it contains a pressure-applying element attached to the sealing device (105) and facing the film sleeve (1), while the pressure-applying element is adapted to press on at least one area of the film sleeve (1) and/ or package (E) located in the chamber (3) when said chamber (3) is sealed. 14. The machine according to claim. 13, characterized in that the detection device is adapted to determine the pressure exerted by the pressure element and / or move the pressure element when pressed against the area of the film sleeve (1) and / or package (E) located in chamber (3) on which it acts. 15. Machine according to any one of paragraphs. 9-14, characterized in that the sealing device (105) has a length in the direction (A) of advance, which is less than the length of the packages (E) to be created, so that when the sealed chamber (3) is created or sealed, the package (E) partially enclosed in said sealed chamber (3).

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