US20150135650A1 - Thermo-forming packaging machine with adjustable chain guide - Google Patents
Thermo-forming packaging machine with adjustable chain guide Download PDFInfo
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- US20150135650A1 US20150135650A1 US14/539,865 US201414539865A US2015135650A1 US 20150135650 A1 US20150135650 A1 US 20150135650A1 US 201414539865 A US201414539865 A US 201414539865A US 2015135650 A1 US2015135650 A1 US 2015135650A1
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- Prior art keywords
- chain guide
- thermo
- packaging machine
- forming packaging
- guide sections
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
- B65B59/02—Arrangements to enable adjustments to be made while the machine is running
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
- B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
- B65B41/12—Feeding webs from rolls
- B65B41/14—Feeding webs from rolls by grippers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
- B65B59/003—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
- B65B59/005—Adjustable conveying means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
- B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
Definitions
- the invention relates to a thermo-forming packaging machine and to a method for operating a thermo-forming packaging machine.
- thermo-forming packaging machine is known from DE 1 586 180 which discloses manual parallel adjustment of the chain guides relative to each other to adjust the distance of the chain guides to different film widths.
- DE 10 2008 016 243 A1 discloses a thermo-forming packaging machine with a chain guide in a loading stretch adjustable by using pneumatic cylinders. The adjustment is provided for relaxing the film transverse to the direction of transport in order to determine as accurately as possible the weight of the product loaded into the trays being molded into the film.
- Thermo-forming packaging machines processing polypropylene (PP) films or polystyrene (PS) films as a lower film occasionally already comprise a chain guide convergingly aligned by factory provision at least immediately downstream of the forming station. This is due to the special property of PP and PS films which are heated in the forming station and into which the trays are molded, where the subsequent cooling of the PP or PS film results in shrinkage of the film by 1% to 2% width transverse to the direction of transport. Without a converging chain guide, the clamping chains disposed on both sides would as a film transport device not be able to hold the film shortened in the transverse direction. Convergence of the chain guide is designed corresponding to the film to be processed.
- Convergence of the chain guide is via adjustment pins connecting the chain guide to the frame adjustable to a small degree in order to be able to set a transverse tension as homogeneous as possible with respect to a type of film along the film in the direction of transport. Adjusting the transverse tension along the chain guide is difficult and requires much skill and experience, as inter alia transverse tension is not measurable.
- These packaging machines have the further drawback that they can only be used for PP or PS films, since processing polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), or polyethylene (PE) films require a continuous parallel chain guide as these films exhibit little or no shrinkage after the molding process. Processing such non-shrinkable films is not possible in a known thermo-forming packaging machine with an at least partially convergingly aligned chain guide.
- the object of the present invention is to improve a thermo-forming packaging machine to the extent that both shrinkable films, such as PP or PS films, as well as hardly shrinkable or non-shrinkable films, such as PE, PET or PA films, can be processed.
- thermo-forming packaging machine comprises a forming station for molding trays into a lower film, a loading stretch, and a sealing station for closing the trays filled with a product with a top film, where the lower film can be transported by two clamping chains disposed on both sides of the lower film and the clamping chains are each guided in a plurality of chain guide sections of which at least some are adjustable transverse to the direction of production along one or both clamping chains
- the thermo-forming packaging machine according one embodiment is characterized in that at least one of two oppositely disposed chain guide sections is adjustable using a controller and power-operated actuators, where the two oppositely disposed chain guides are alignable optionally either parallel to each other or converging to each other.
- both oppositely disposed chain guide sections are adjustable converging to each other.
- This allows the processing of shrinkable and non-shrinkable lower films without any retooling or manual activities by the operator on the chain guide sections.
- the flexibility of such a thermo-forming packaging machine is thereby increased.
- Converging to each other is to be understood such that one chain guide section approaches the other, where either one chain guide section is aligned parallel to the direction of production and the other chain guide section is aligned at an angle to the direction of production, or both chain guide sections are aligned at an angle (i.e. non-parallel) to the direction of production.
- the adjustable chain guide sections may be disposed downstream, in particular immediately downstream of the forming station, since the lower film shrinks in this region when cooling after and during the molding process and this film shrinkage can be compensated for by the adjustable chain guide sections.
- the actuators can comprise pneumatic cylinders, lifting spindle drives or servo motors in order to be able to firstly receive a transverse tension and secondly to be able to perform other flexible adjustments of the chain guide sections.
- At least one lifting stroke limiter by way of an adjustable stop position can be provided when employing of pneumatic cylinders.
- the adjustable stop position may be provided in or on the pneumatic cylinder.
- a lifting limiter can be effected by on one or two stop switches that detect the position of the piston in a non-contact manner through the housing.
- an adjustment range of up to 12 mm is provided for the actuators in order to be able to process both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films as well as different film widths.
- a plurality of successive chain guide sections can be adjustable in the direction of production in order to be able to achieve an evenly converging course of a chain guide along a longer stretch.
- the controller is configured to store the position of the actuators in recipes and to adjust the adjustable chain guide sections accordingly when changing recipes so that the thermo-forming packaging machine comprises automatic chain guide adjustment.
- Sensors may be provided to detect transverse tension, transverse to the direction of production, which acts via the lower film upon the adjustable chain guide sections, in order to adjust the actuators or the chain guide sections, respectively, automatically such that a predetermined transverse tension along the entire chain guidance can in the thermo-forming packaging machine be set in a controlled manner Wrinkling of the lower film can thereby be avoided.
- the controller is configured to perform the adjustment of the chain guide sections in dependence on the power input of a transport drive of the clamping chains This is a simple structural design, because information about current or power input is with servo drives given at the servo control card and is also readable by the controller. By using a formula, a factor, or a table, the translation to an average transverse tension can be performed in the controller.
- a method for operating a thermo-forming packaging machine which in the direction of production can include consecutively a forming station for molding trays into a lower film, a loading stretch, and a sealing station for closing the trays filled with a product with a top film, where the lower film is transported by two clamping chains disposed on both sides of the lower film and the clamping chains are each guided in a plurality of chain guide sections of which at least some are along one or both clamping chains adjustable transverse to the direction of production, provides a controller.
- This controller may adjust at least one of two oppositely disposed chain guide sections by use of power-operated actuators, so that the two oppositely disposed chain guides are brought from an orientation that is parallel to each other into one that is converging to each other. Adjustment of the chain guide is thereby possible automatically between chain guides that are aligned parallel to each other and that are oriented converging to each other, and both shrinkable as well as non-shrinkable lower films can be processed on such a thermo-forming packaging machines.
- Adjustment of the chain guide sections by use of the controller can be preformed in dependence of the transverse tension of the lower film acting upon the chain guide sections.
- the transverse tension can be determined by sensors or alternatively indirectly via the power input of the transport drive of the clamping chains.
- a range for the transverse tension to be set may be entered in the controller and stored there so as to allow automatic adjustment of the chain guide sections when changing from a shrinkable to a non-shrinkable lower film.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with chain guides set in parallel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with partially converging set chain guides for the same film width as in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with chain guides set in parallel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with partially conversion set chain guides for a film width differing from FIG. 3 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the adjustable chain guide of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged section view of the adjustable chain guide from FIG. 5 in the direction of production.
- FIG. 1 schematically shows a thermo-forming packaging machine 1 according to the invention with a forming station 2 for molding trays 3 into a lower film 4 , a sealing station 5 for sealing a top film 40 —shown in broken lines—onto the lower film 4 , and a cutting station 6 for separating the packages 7 .
- a loading stretch 8 can be provided which extends to the sealing station 5 .
- Products 30 are manually or automatically loaded into the trays 3 along the loading stretch 8 .
- the thermo-forming packaging machine 1 comprises a machine frame 9 with two side frames 10 extending on both sides along the direction of production R.
- a chain guide is provided on each side frame 10 and each can comprise a plurality of chain guide sections 11 . They can guide one clamping chain 12 —in FIG. 1 only indicated schematically—for each side frame 10 for grasping the lower film 4 , unwinding it from a film roll 13 , and transporting it in the direction of production R through the thermo-forming packaging machine 1 by use of a common transport drive 14 .
- the lower film 4 has a film width A and is made, for example, of PE, PA, or PET.
- the chain guide sections 11 on both sides are aligned parallel to each other and thereby ensure generally even transverse tension F of the lower film 4 at the chain guides, and the lower film 4 can be transported through the thermo-forming packaging machine 1 without wrinkles
- the inventive thermo-forming packaging machine 1 is shown in FIG. 2 having convergingly set chain guide sections 11 .
- the lower film 4 has the same original film width A as shown in FIG. 1 , but the lower film 4 is in the present case made of PS or PP. Since the lower film 4 may be for thermo-forming greatly heated in the forming station 2 , the lower film 4 cools down after the molding process 4 and the film undergoes shrinkage of between approximately 1% to 2%. This leads to a reduction of the film width A and also to a reduction of the dimensions of the trays 3 themselves both transverse to and along the direction of production R.
- the chain guides being oppositely disposed when viewed in the direction of production R, can approach their distance B in the direction of production to become a distance B′.
- the chain guide sections 11 are in the lower film transport plane at an angle relative to one another or the chain guide tapers as a whole, respectively. It is also conceivable, however, that only the chain guide sections 11 from one side are at an angle to the other and therefore both oppositely disposed chain guide sections 11 are at an angle to one another and are therewith also aligned convergingly.
- the converging course of the chain guide may be provided in the region in which the lower film 4 undergoes shrinkage.
- the chain guide sections 11 can be again aligned parallel to one another and have a distance B′ that is reduced in accordance with shrinkage.
- a controller 16 can be provided in or on a controller cabinet 15 to controls the actuators 17 —shown in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6 —in order to adjust the chain guide sections 11 accordingly.
- the adjustment positions of all actuators 17 can be stored in the controller 16 and associated to programs or recipes.
- the actuators 17 and their direction of motion are shown in FIG. 2 schematicly by black arrows.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 show a variant in which the thermo-forming packaging machine 1 processes various film widths C, D with the lower film 4 being of different film material.
- the lower film 4 is, for example, a film made of PE, PA, or PET (i.e., non-shrinkable film) having a film width C.
- the lower film 4 is, for example, a film made of PS, or PP (i.e., shrinkable film) having a film width D, where film width D is greater than film width C.
- the chain guide sections 11 can be adjusted by the controller 6 using the actuators 17 .
- the chain guide sections 11 are, in the region of the loading stretch 8 and upstream in the forming station 2 and upstream thereof, adjusted outwardly to accommodate the new, wider lower film 4 and transport it with optimal transverse tension F and without wrinkles.
- FIG. 5 shows an enlarged section of FIG. 2 in the region of the dashed line.
- the clamping chain 12 is guided in the chain guide sections 11 and holds the lower film 4 .
- the actuators 17 may be mounted to the side frame 9 and connected to one end of a chain guiding section 11 .
- Each adjustable chain guide section 11 can comprise one respective actuator 17 at each end.
- the actuator 17 is shown schematically in FIG. 5 as a pneumatic cylinder.
- Actuator 17 can in FIGS. 1-5 comprise a servo motor or a lifting spindle drive or the like.
- a sensor 18 can optionally be provided between actuator 17 and the chain guide section 11 and measure the tension stress corresponding to the transverse tension F.
- Sensor 18 may be connected to controller 16 in order for the controller 16 to be able to adjust the actuators 17 such that all adjustable chain guide sections 11 are set such that an even transverse tension F acts upon lower film 4 long the direction of production R.
- FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of FIG. 5 in the direction opposite to the direction of production R.
- the pneumatic cylinder of actuator 17 can comprise two adjustable stop switches 19 attached to the outer side via which the stroke of the piston 20 is limited.
- Sensor 18 may be provided at the piston end and is in turn connected to the chain guide section 11 .
- the clamping chain 12 can comprise clamps 21 a and 21 b clamping the lower film 4 The clamping force may be generated by a spring 22 .
- the adjustable stop position 19 can also be provided as a set screw at one or both face ends of the pneumatic cylinder 17 .
- a lifting spindle drive a linear drive or a servo drive as an actuator
- mechanically adjustable stop positions 19 can be omitted and the position of the chain guide sections 11 or the position of the actuator 17 , respectively, can be transmitted to the controller 16 using a position measuring system. Controller 16 can in turn perform the adjustment of the actuators 17 without an operator.
- films such as PP, PS, PE, PET or PA films does not constitute any restriction to in particular these films, but they are merely films that are very common in the market.
Abstract
Description
- This Application claims priority to European Patent Application Number 13193125.5 filed Nov. 15, 2013, to Christian Lau and Elmar Ehrmann entitled “Thermo-Forming Packaging Machine with Adjustable Chain Guide,” currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The invention relates to a thermo-forming packaging machine and to a method for operating a thermo-forming packaging machine.
- A thermo-forming packaging machine is known from
DE 1 586 180 which discloses manual parallel adjustment of the chain guides relative to each other to adjust the distance of the chain guides to different film widths. - DE 10 2008 016 243 A1 discloses a thermo-forming packaging machine with a chain guide in a loading stretch adjustable by using pneumatic cylinders. The adjustment is provided for relaxing the film transverse to the direction of transport in order to determine as accurately as possible the weight of the product loaded into the trays being molded into the film.
- Thermo-forming packaging machines processing polypropylene (PP) films or polystyrene (PS) films as a lower film occasionally already comprise a chain guide convergingly aligned by factory provision at least immediately downstream of the forming station. This is due to the special property of PP and PS films which are heated in the forming station and into which the trays are molded, where the subsequent cooling of the PP or PS film results in shrinkage of the film by 1% to 2% width transverse to the direction of transport. Without a converging chain guide, the clamping chains disposed on both sides would as a film transport device not be able to hold the film shortened in the transverse direction. Convergence of the chain guide is designed corresponding to the film to be processed. Convergence of the chain guide is via adjustment pins connecting the chain guide to the frame adjustable to a small degree in order to be able to set a transverse tension as homogeneous as possible with respect to a type of film along the film in the direction of transport. Adjusting the transverse tension along the chain guide is difficult and requires much skill and experience, as inter alia transverse tension is not measurable. These packaging machines have the further drawback that they can only be used for PP or PS films, since processing polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), or polyethylene (PE) films require a continuous parallel chain guide as these films exhibit little or no shrinkage after the molding process. Processing such non-shrinkable films is not possible in a known thermo-forming packaging machine with an at least partially convergingly aligned chain guide.
- The object of the present invention is to improve a thermo-forming packaging machine to the extent that both shrinkable films, such as PP or PS films, as well as hardly shrinkable or non-shrinkable films, such as PE, PET or PA films, can be processed.
- The thermo-forming packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a forming station for molding trays into a lower film, a loading stretch, and a sealing station for closing the trays filled with a product with a top film, where the lower film can be transported by two clamping chains disposed on both sides of the lower film and the clamping chains are each guided in a plurality of chain guide sections of which at least some are adjustable transverse to the direction of production along one or both clamping chains The thermo-forming packaging machine according one embodiment is characterized in that at least one of two oppositely disposed chain guide sections is adjustable using a controller and power-operated actuators, where the two oppositely disposed chain guides are alignable optionally either parallel to each other or converging to each other. Preferably both oppositely disposed chain guide sections are adjustable converging to each other. This allows the processing of shrinkable and non-shrinkable lower films without any retooling or manual activities by the operator on the chain guide sections. The flexibility of such a thermo-forming packaging machine is thereby increased. “Converging to each other” is to be understood such that one chain guide section approaches the other, where either one chain guide section is aligned parallel to the direction of production and the other chain guide section is aligned at an angle to the direction of production, or both chain guide sections are aligned at an angle (i.e. non-parallel) to the direction of production.
- The adjustable chain guide sections may be disposed downstream, in particular immediately downstream of the forming station, since the lower film shrinks in this region when cooling after and during the molding process and this film shrinkage can be compensated for by the adjustable chain guide sections.
- The actuators can comprise pneumatic cylinders, lifting spindle drives or servo motors in order to be able to firstly receive a transverse tension and secondly to be able to perform other flexible adjustments of the chain guide sections.
- At least one lifting stroke limiter by way of an adjustable stop position can be provided when employing of pneumatic cylinders. The adjustable stop position may be provided in or on the pneumatic cylinder. For example, a lifting limiter can be effected by on one or two stop switches that detect the position of the piston in a non-contact manner through the housing.
- In one embodiment, an adjustment range of up to 12 mm is provided for the actuators in order to be able to process both shrinkable and non-shrinkable films as well as different film widths.
- A plurality of successive chain guide sections can be adjustable in the direction of production in order to be able to achieve an evenly converging course of a chain guide along a longer stretch.
- In one embodiment, the controller is configured to store the position of the actuators in recipes and to adjust the adjustable chain guide sections accordingly when changing recipes so that the thermo-forming packaging machine comprises automatic chain guide adjustment.
- Sensors may be provided to detect transverse tension, transverse to the direction of production, which acts via the lower film upon the adjustable chain guide sections, in order to adjust the actuators or the chain guide sections, respectively, automatically such that a predetermined transverse tension along the entire chain guidance can in the thermo-forming packaging machine be set in a controlled manner Wrinkling of the lower film can thereby be avoided.
- In an alternative embodiment, the controller is configured to perform the adjustment of the chain guide sections in dependence on the power input of a transport drive of the clamping chains This is a simple structural design, because information about current or power input is with servo drives given at the servo control card and is also readable by the controller. By using a formula, a factor, or a table, the translation to an average transverse tension can be performed in the controller.
- A method according to the invention for operating a thermo-forming packaging machine, which in the direction of production can include consecutively a forming station for molding trays into a lower film, a loading stretch, and a sealing station for closing the trays filled with a product with a top film, where the lower film is transported by two clamping chains disposed on both sides of the lower film and the clamping chains are each guided in a plurality of chain guide sections of which at least some are along one or both clamping chains adjustable transverse to the direction of production, provides a controller. This controller may adjust at least one of two oppositely disposed chain guide sections by use of power-operated actuators, so that the two oppositely disposed chain guides are brought from an orientation that is parallel to each other into one that is converging to each other. Adjustment of the chain guide is thereby possible automatically between chain guides that are aligned parallel to each other and that are oriented converging to each other, and both shrinkable as well as non-shrinkable lower films can be processed on such a thermo-forming packaging machines.
- Adjustment of the chain guide sections by use of the controller can be preformed in dependence of the transverse tension of the lower film acting upon the chain guide sections.
- The transverse tension can be determined by sensors or alternatively indirectly via the power input of the transport drive of the clamping chains.
- A range for the transverse tension to be set may be entered in the controller and stored there so as to allow automatic adjustment of the chain guide sections when changing from a shrinkable to a non-shrinkable lower film.
- Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.
- In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views:
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FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with chain guides set in parallel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with partially converging set chain guides for the same film width as inFIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with chain guides set in parallel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a thermo-forming packaging machine with partially conversion set chain guides for a film width differing fromFIG. 3 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the adjustable chain guide ofFIG. 2 ; and -
FIG. 6 is an enlarged section view of the adjustable chain guide fromFIG. 5 in the direction of production. - Same components are throughout the figures designated with the same reference numerals.
- The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.
- The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
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FIG. 1 schematically shows a thermo-formingpackaging machine 1 according to the invention with a formingstation 2 formolding trays 3 into a lower film 4, asealing station 5 for sealing atop film 40—shown in broken lines—onto the lower film 4, and acutting station 6 for separating the packages 7. In a direction of production R downstream of the formingstation 2, aloading stretch 8 can be provided which extends to thesealing station 5.Products 30 are manually or automatically loaded into thetrays 3 along theloading stretch 8. - The thermo-forming
packaging machine 1 comprises amachine frame 9 with twoside frames 10 extending on both sides along the direction of production R. A chain guide is provided on eachside frame 10 and each can comprise a plurality ofchain guide sections 11. They can guide oneclamping chain 12—inFIG. 1 only indicated schematically—for eachside frame 10 for grasping the lower film 4, unwinding it from afilm roll 13, and transporting it in the direction of production R through the thermo-formingpackaging machine 1 by use of acommon transport drive 14. In one embodiment, the lower film 4 has a film width A and is made, for example, of PE, PA, or PET. For processing or transporting these lower films 4, thechain guide sections 11 on both sides are aligned parallel to each other and thereby ensure generally even transverse tension F of the lower film 4 at the chain guides, and the lower film 4 can be transported through the thermo-formingpackaging machine 1 without wrinkles - The inventive thermo-forming
packaging machine 1 is shown inFIG. 2 having convergingly setchain guide sections 11. The lower film 4 has the same original film width A as shown inFIG. 1 , but the lower film 4 is in the present case made of PS or PP. Since the lower film 4 may be for thermo-forming greatly heated in the formingstation 2, the lower film 4 cools down after the molding process 4 and the film undergoes shrinkage of between approximately 1% to 2%. This leads to a reduction of the film width A and also to a reduction of the dimensions of thetrays 3 themselves both transverse to and along the direction of production R. - The transverse tension F, increased due to the reduced film width A′, can firstly lead to the
clamping chains 12 in parallel oriented chain guides, as shown inFIG. 1 , no longer being able to hold and thereby no longer being able to transport the lower film 4. Secondly, wrinkling of the lower film 4 can occur when the transverse tension F becomes too great. To counteract these problems, thechain guide sections 11 can be, at least in the region of theloading stretch 8, set converging or conical to each other so as to compensate for the shrinkage of the lower film 4 transverse to the direction of production R. The term “converging” is defined such that, as shown inFIG. 2 , the chain guides, being oppositely disposed when viewed in the direction of production R, can approach their distance B in the direction of production to become a distance B′. Thechain guide sections 11 are in the lower film transport plane at an angle relative to one another or the chain guide tapers as a whole, respectively. It is also conceivable, however, that only thechain guide sections 11 from one side are at an angle to the other and therefore both oppositely disposedchain guide sections 11 are at an angle to one another and are therewith also aligned convergingly. - The converging course of the chain guide may be provided in the region in which the lower film 4 undergoes shrinkage. In the regions following downstream in which there is no further shrinkage of the lower film 4, the
chain guide sections 11 can be again aligned parallel to one another and have a distance B′ that is reduced in accordance with shrinkage. - Since the trays (or troughs) 3, due to shrinkage of the lower film 4, also experience a change in their dimensions to become slightly
smaller trays 3′, the tools of the sealingstation 5 and the cuttingstation 6 may be adjusted to thetrays 3. Acontroller 16, can be provided in or on acontroller cabinet 15 to controls theactuators 17—shown in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6—in order to adjust thechain guide sections 11 accordingly. For this purpose, the adjustment positions of allactuators 17 can be stored in thecontroller 16 and associated to programs or recipes. Theactuators 17 and their direction of motion are shown inFIG. 2 schematicly by black arrows. When changing films between shrinkable and non-shrinkable lower films 4, the thermo-formingpackaging machine 1 may be adjusted automatically. Thechain guide sections 11 can be adjusted such that there is always an optimal transverse tension F given during the transport of the lower film 4. -
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a variant in which the thermo-formingpackaging machine 1 processes various film widths C, D with the lower film 4 being of different film material. InFIG. 3 , the lower film 4 is, for example, a film made of PE, PA, or PET (i.e., non-shrinkable film) having a film width C. InFIG. 4 , the lower film 4 is, for example, a film made of PS, or PP (i.e., shrinkable film) having a film width D, where film width D is greater than film width C. When converting from non-shrinkable lower film 4 withchain guide sections 11 aligned parallel to each other (FIG. 3 ) to a broader, shrinkable lower film 4 (FIG. 4 ), thechain guide sections 11 can be adjusted by thecontroller 6 using theactuators 17. In contrast toFIG. 2 , thechain guide sections 11 are, in the region of theloading stretch 8 and upstream in the formingstation 2 and upstream thereof, adjusted outwardly to accommodate the new, wider lower film 4 and transport it with optimal transverse tension F and without wrinkles. -
FIG. 5 shows an enlarged section ofFIG. 2 in the region of the dashed line. The clampingchain 12 is guided in thechain guide sections 11 and holds the lower film 4. Theactuators 17 may be mounted to theside frame 9 and connected to one end of achain guiding section 11. Each adjustablechain guide section 11 can comprise onerespective actuator 17 at each end. Theactuator 17 is shown schematically inFIG. 5 as a pneumatic cylinder.Actuator 17, however, can inFIGS. 1-5 comprise a servo motor or a lifting spindle drive or the like. Asensor 18 can optionally be provided betweenactuator 17 and thechain guide section 11 and measure the tension stress corresponding to the transversetension F. Sensor 18 may be connected tocontroller 16 in order for thecontroller 16 to be able to adjust theactuators 17 such that all adjustablechain guide sections 11 are set such that an even transverse tension F acts upon lower film 4 long the direction of production R. -
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view ofFIG. 5 in the direction opposite to the direction of production R. The pneumatic cylinder ofactuator 17 can comprise two adjustable stop switches 19 attached to the outer side via which the stroke of thepiston 20 is limited.Sensor 18 may be provided at the piston end and is in turn connected to thechain guide section 11. The clampingchain 12 can comprise clamps 21 a and 21 b clamping the lower film 4 The clamping force may be generated by aspring 22. - Alternatively, the
adjustable stop position 19 can also be provided as a set screw at one or both face ends of thepneumatic cylinder 17. When employing a lifting spindle drive, a linear drive or a servo drive as an actuator, mechanically adjustable stop positions 19 can be omitted and the position of thechain guide sections 11 or the position of theactuator 17, respectively, can be transmitted to thecontroller 16 using a position measuring system.Controller 16 can in turn perform the adjustment of theactuators 17 without an operator. - The material specification for films such as PP, PS, PE, PET or PA films does not constitute any restriction to in particular these films, but they are merely films that are very common in the market.
- From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.
- The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
Claims (17)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP13193125.5A EP2873623B1 (en) | 2013-11-15 | 2013-11-15 | Deep draw packaging machine with adjustable chain guide |
EP13193125.5 | 2013-11-15 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20150135650A1 true US20150135650A1 (en) | 2015-05-21 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/539,865 Abandoned US20150135650A1 (en) | 2013-11-15 | 2014-11-12 | Thermo-forming packaging machine with adjustable chain guide |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20150135650A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2873623B1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2574484T3 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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CN105730798A (en) * | 2016-04-27 | 2016-07-06 | 广东裕利智能科技股份有限公司 | Automatic thermal-shrink packaging machine for toy rails |
US20170313455A1 (en) * | 2016-05-02 | 2017-11-02 | INDAG Gesellschaft für lndustriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KG | Processing device for foil pouches |
DE102016122625A1 (en) * | 2016-11-23 | 2018-05-24 | Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg | Thermoforming packaging machine with pulling device |
US11767138B2 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2023-09-26 | Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh | Method for controlling the position of a material web edge |
US11891202B2 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2024-02-06 | Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh | Unwinding a film roll in a packaging machine |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019011448A1 (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2019-01-17 | Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg | Method for producing packs, and thermoforming packaging machine |
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- 2013-11-15 ES ES13193125.5T patent/ES2574484T3/en active Active
- 2013-11-15 EP EP13193125.5A patent/EP2873623B1/en active Active
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- 2014-11-12 US US14/539,865 patent/US20150135650A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US5492216A (en) * | 1994-03-09 | 1996-02-20 | Simplimatic Engineering Company | Method and apparatus for transferring containers while maintaining vertical orientation |
US7278248B2 (en) * | 2002-12-30 | 2007-10-09 | Tuan Vinh Le | Case sealer with moving flap closers |
US20060080945A1 (en) * | 2004-10-15 | 2006-04-20 | Luca Baldanza | Device and method for changing automatically the size of packs in a conveyor, in particular for an automatic packaging machine |
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CN105730798A (en) * | 2016-04-27 | 2016-07-06 | 广东裕利智能科技股份有限公司 | Automatic thermal-shrink packaging machine for toy rails |
US20170313455A1 (en) * | 2016-05-02 | 2017-11-02 | INDAG Gesellschaft für lndustriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KG | Processing device for foil pouches |
US11053039B2 (en) * | 2016-05-02 | 2021-07-06 | Indag Pouch Partners Gmbh | Processing device for foil pouches |
DE102016122625A1 (en) * | 2016-11-23 | 2018-05-24 | Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg | Thermoforming packaging machine with pulling device |
US10532844B2 (en) | 2016-11-23 | 2020-01-14 | Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg | Thermoform packaging machine with pulling device |
US11767138B2 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2023-09-26 | Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh | Method for controlling the position of a material web edge |
US11891202B2 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2024-02-06 | Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh | Unwinding a film roll in a packaging machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ES2574484T3 (en) | 2016-06-20 |
EP2873623B1 (en) | 2016-05-11 |
EP2873623A1 (en) | 2015-05-20 |
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Owner name: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG, GERMANY Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER GMBH & CO. KG;REEL/FRAME:038440/0657 Effective date: 20151223 |
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