WO2009080295A1

WO2009080295A1 - Packaging machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009080295A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/010857
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Biechteler
Original assignee: Ulma Packaging Technological Center, S. Coop
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2009-07-02
Also published as: DE102007062543A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging machine, comprising a machine frame, at least one first and second frame profile (4, 5) forming the machine frame, and at least one tool (7) supported by the frame profiles (4, 5), and wherein the frame profiles (4, 5) are enclosed by the at least one tool (7).

Description

^■ packaging ^machine

The invention relates to a packaging machine comprising a machine frame, at least one first and second frame profile forming the machine frame, and at least one tool carried by the frame profiles.

The invention further relates to a packaging machine comprising a machine frame, at least one first and second frame profile forming the machine frame, at least one tool supported by the frame profiles, and chain guides, each with a circulating transport chain with film gripping means comprising a thermoplastic packaging film for their stepwise transport within the packaging Keep the machine on both sides.

In known packaging machines form a first frame profile and arranged at a distance and parallel to the first frame profile second frame profile, the supporting elements of the packaging machine. The two frame profiles thus form the outer boundary of the packaging machine. All parts which serve to produce the thermoplastic film consisting of packaging troughs, which accomplish the transport of the film with the packaging troughs and serve the sealing and separating the stocked packaging troughs are arranged between the frame profiles or translatable by suitable means between the frame.

A packaging machine as previously described is known in the art in which a closing press is provided with two dies mounted in two movable holders located above and below the horizontal guide track. The holders are in a frame in a common axis of movement rectilinear, as described earlier, namely guided within the frame and connected to a arranged between them reciprocating drive organ.

Another solution of the prior art is characterized in that an upper chamber lid is attached to a machine frame. Against this chamber lid, a chamber floor can be pressed by means of a lifting device. The frame profile according to this known solution of the prior art is not enclosed by the tool.

Also, another known prior art solution shows a packaging device with a frame-like welding device which is attached to a machine frame. The tool after this solution is also located

- 3 - within the frame, which is formed by a chamber housing.

The packaging machines have an insert area in which the staff manually or otherwise fill products with the packaging trays formed in a tool. Due to the relatively large distance between the personnel and the place of filling, the filling process is difficult to carry out, ie it is unacceptable from the point of view of physical stress, because work breaks for physical regeneration have to be taken after a brief intervention of the staff.

In addition, the chain guide is attached to the inside of the relevant frame profile or the machine base by various spacers. This arrangement means that the distance between the chain guide and the frame profile or the machine base, due to the distance to be maintained, which the tool determines therebetween, the chain guide must be made unusually stable and expensive. The chain guide is made, for example, with a closed sheath made of stainless steel, which leads to an increase in the outer dimensions of the packaging machine and in particular makes it difficult to clean the inner region of the chain guide. Furthermore, resulting from the aforementioned arrangement of the chain guide a certain instability, which is the reason for an inaccurate guidance of the film web. Likewise, a controlled voltage curve across the film transport direction is not guaranteed. Further, the holders carrying the chain guide cause the translational adjustability of the tools to be restricted because the holders are disposed in a position that blocks a change in the tool position. Last but not least, the known packaging machines are further adversely affected by the fact that the tools are concealed by the outer frame profiles and, in the case of a tool defect, this can only be detected with significant demonstrations.

- 4 - Day and time can be solved.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a packaging machine that is designed ergonomically for the operator.

To solve this problem, the invention is based on a packaging machine as described above and proposes that at least one frame profile is enclosed by the at least one tool. Furthermore, the object according to the invention is achieved by a packaging machine which comprises a machine frame which at least consists of a machine frame forming first and second frame profile, at least one supported by the frame profiles tool and guides each having a conveying means which has foil gripping means hold the packaging material or packaging trays on both sides for its gradual transport and the frame profile in particular directly carries the chain guide.

The effect according to the invention becomes clear, in particular when considering FIGS. 1 and 2. In Fig. 1, the arrangement according to the prior art is shown in which is arranged on the outside of the profile frame and this also ultimately limits the accessibility for the insertion staff. According to the proposal according to the invention, at least one frame profile is enclosed by the tool, as indicated in FIG. This means that the accessibility restricting frame profile part is offset inwards and so the ergonomic situation is significantly improved because the operators do not have to bend so far into it. The same is also achieved by the further inventive proposal, in which ultimately dispensed with the spacers for holding the chain guide and this is now constructed directly on the frame profile. By a direct arrangement

- 5 - the chain guide on the frame profile, for example, omitting the spacers, machine width is saved or the ergonomics much easier because the operator also upright all in all upright reaches the entire film width and can insert goods to be packaged in the molded-in wells. Of course, the chain guide has a certain width under expression of its own stability. An additional spacing can be dispensed with according to the invention.

In contrast to all known from the prior art solutions, it is possible by the inventive design, namely to enclose the frame profile of at least one tool, the accessibility to the tool, in particular for the loading of the packaging to improve significantly. The distance to the tool, which was previously dictated by the frame and which was relatively wide due to this structural design, is now no longer available because the tool is, so to speak, outside the frame. The frame is seen in section within the tool, whereby this is guided safely. The structural design according to the invention now achieves that there is no longer any distance to this tool and the operators can very easily feed the shaped packages. No single solution of the prior art pursues this novel and inventive concept. Rather, in all known packaging machines, the frames outside the tool or the tools are guided within at least one frame, resulting in a larger width of the machine and in particular the loading of the finished molded packaging is difficult.

The effect according to the invention is in no way limited to the use of a conveyor chain as conveying means. The invention also expressly claims protection for solutions which

- 6 - use other means of transport than a conveyor chain. So far as it is subsequently spoken of a conveyor chain, this is of course in the same way to understand the use of a conveyor. The exemplary description of the conveyor chain does not limit the invention to this application.

It is clear that the two aforementioned proposals each independently solve the task of the invention. Of course, it is also possible to combine both proposals with each other, which is also the subject of this invention.

In a preferred variant of the invention it is provided that the first and second frame profile are enclosed by the tool. This results in the advantage of an ergonomically favorable situation on both sides of the packaging machine. It is also possible to construct the packaging machine symmetrically with respect to the machine frame, but also with respect to the tools.

The first frame profile is arranged parallel to the second frame profile. Both frame profiles, which preferably have the cross-sectional shape of a rectangle, are received by a machine stand having machine feet which are interconnected by transverse and longitudinal struts.

The inclusion of the frame profiles on the machine stand takes place in such a way that the frame profiles on the machine stand are adjustable relative to each other by the use of suitable means.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the one, the frame profiles enclosing tool has means for forming packaging trays, which consists of a so-called thermoplastic

- 7 - Lower film are formed. A further tool may further comprise means for sealing, preferably heat-sealing, the packaging troughs by means of a so-called thermoplastic upper film, and a tool may comprise means for cutting and separating the packaging troughs sealed with the upper film.

It is clear that the above-mentioned tools describe the possible types of tools by way of example only and not exhaustively. Of course, the term "tool" also describes any other specially trained tool, eg. B. also special tools and the like. In this respect, the term "tool" should be interpreted comprehensively.

The leadership of a packaging machine according to the invention in an alternative embodiment also consists of a first guide for the flow and a second guide for the return of the conveyor.

In a preferred variant of the invention, an endlessly circulating conveyor, for. B. a film transport chain or the like. However, the conveyor can also be designed differently according to the invention.

The chain guide of a packaging machine according to the invention consists of a first chain guide for the flow and a second chain guide for the return of the film transport chain.

It is conceivable that in a further embodiment of the invention, the circulating film transport chain is unguided in the region of the return, d. H. In this area can be dispensed with the chain guide.

According to the invention, it is provided that it is sufficient if at least

- 8th - at least the first chain guide, which forms the lead of the film transport chain, is attached directly, if possible directly to the frame profile of the packaging machine.

The fact that in each case a frame profile and a (chain) guide are connected directly by suitable means, for example by screwing, a structural unit with high stability and static safety is created. Each frame profile can thus, as illustrated above, be the carrier of the first and second chain guides receiving the film transport chain or the first and second guides receiving the guide means.

A significant advantage is achieved with the inventive solution further characterized in that in the longitudinal extension of the packaging machine, namely between the mold for forming the packaging trays and the tool for sealing the packaging trays, an operating area for loading the packaging trays was created, from which the operator the packaging trays , in contrast to the state of the art, can fill in ergonomic posture without physical strain.

Another advantage is that the position of the individual arranged on the frame profiles tools is variable if necessary. As a result, access to one or the other tool, for example in the event of a repair, can be made easier and faster.

With the incorporation according to the invention of the frame profiles and the chain guides of the film transport chain into the individual tools, as already mentioned, in the case of handling on the same, a comparatively good accessibility to the individual tools is provided. In addition, in particular between the mold and the sealing tool is located at a small distance to the packaging troughs operating

- 9 - rich, which greatly facilitates the filling of the packaging troughs by the operating personnel.

Likewise, in a variant of the invention, the positions of the individual tools in the case of need in the direction of the machine axis readily readily changed, so that even here, compared to the prior art, relatively little assembly time is taken.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment.

In the drawings show:

1 shows the cross section of a schematically illustrated machine frame with frame profiles, tools and chain guides of a packaging machine according to the prior art,

2 shows a schematic representation of the machine frame with frame profiles, tools and chain guides of a packaging machine according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows the cross section along the line A A in Figure 4 of a schematically illustrated machine frame with frame profiles, tools and chain guides a packaging machine according to the invention and

- 10 - Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a packaging machine according to the invention.

In the schematic cross-sectional view of a known packaging machine 1 according to FIG. 1, the free end face of resting on a footprint 2 machine feet 3 with a box-shaped frame profile 4 and 5 by suitable connecting means 6, which are indicated by a dash-dot line connected. Here, the frame profiles 4, 5 form the supporting elements of the packaging machine 1. Between the parallel frame sections 4, 5 and the machine feet 3, a forming tool 7 is arranged, which is here designed to produce at least one packaging tray 8 consisting of thermoplastic film. The schematically illustrated forming tool 7 consists of a first, stationary mold half 7a and a second mold half 7b, which is movable relative to the first mold half 7a for forming and final shaping of the packaging troughs 8. For relative movement, the two tool halves are in operative connection with a stroke drive 9 indicated by a dash-dot line. The double arrow 25 indicates the directions of movement of the tool half 7b. Each one for transporting the thermoplastic lower film, not shown here, endlessly circulating film transport chain is added to chain guides 10, 11, which are within the fixed, first mold half 7a. Due to the lying outside of the tool halves 7a, 7b frame sections 4.5, the molded packaging trays 8 are spaced to fill them relatively far from the operator. This spacing leads to a relatively high physical load during the filling of the packaging troughs for the operating personnel.

In Figure 2, the inventive solution is shown in a simplified manner. The packaging machine 1 comprises here by a

- 11 - suitable means associated with the machine feet 3 machine frame. The machine frame is therefore essentially formed from a first longitudinally extended frame profile 4 and from a second frame profile 5 extending parallel to the first frame profile, and accommodates at least one forming tool 7 carried by the frame profiles 4, 5. The frame sections 4, 5 are supported by machine feet 3 on the ground. The machine feet 3 are connected by transverse struts 14 (transverse to the longitudinal extent of the machine) and longitudinal struts 15 (parallel to the longitudinal extent of the machine) and rigidify the packaging machine. It is now essential to the invention that the frame profiles 4, 5 are enclosed by the at least one molding tool 7. The cross-section of the frame sections 4, 5 has the shape of a rectangle, so that a chain guide 10, 11 can be mounted on at least one of the upwardly and downwardly directed surfaces of the frame profiles 4, 5 to receive an endlessly circulating film transport chain equipped with film gripping means is. The molding tool 7 shown in Fig. 2 is also here, as known from the prior art, from an upper mold half 7a and a lower mold half 7b.

Although only one forming tool 7 is shown in FIG. 2, the frame profiles 4, 5 may be enclosed by further tools, as shown in the following description.

3 is a sectional view along the line A - A in Figure 4, and with respect to the components with Fig.l identical, so that here the same components are provided with the same reference numerals.

The packaging machine 1 comprises a machine frame, which is formed by at least a first frame profile 4 and a second frame profile 5, and comprises at least one of the frame profiles 4, 5 supported mold 7 and a

- 12 - Chain guide 10, 11 for receiving a packaging material / packaging tray 8 holding, equipped with Folien-Greifmittein transport chain.

According to the invention, the respective frame profile 4, 5 carries at least one chain guide 10, 12 or 11, 13. In the present exemplary embodiment, the frame profile 4 carries a chain guide 10 and the frame profile 5 a chain guide 11. Both chain guides 10,11 are used for translational movement of the packaging material 8,26 within the packaging machine 1. Another chain guide 12, 13 serves to return the transport chain. It should be noted that it is not mandatory to provide for returning the transport chain, the chain guides 12 and 13, because the transport chains in another way, without affecting the transport process can be traced back. Characterized in that the frame sections 4, 5 and the chain guides 10, 11 and 12, 13 are enclosed by the forming tool 7, a reduced overall width of the packaging machine 1 is achieved in comparison to the prior art, which leads to a considerable cost reduction in the machine production, with the effect of better accessibility of the operator in particular to the mold 7 and the packaging troughs 8. In that the frame sections 4, 5 and the chain guides 10, 12 and 11, 13 are connected by suitable connecting means, for example by screwing means, to form a structural unit are, the chain guides are given a high stability and a good static security.

4 shows a packaging machine 1 with the features designed according to the invention in an overall view. The packaging machine 1 rests here with the machine feet 3 on a footprint 2. In an inlet region 16 of the machine designed as a roll 17 supply of thermoplastic packaging material (lower film 26) is wound.

- 13 - This packaging material 26 is held at its transverse to the transport direction 23 edges by the film gripping means of a recorded in the chain guides 10,11 and endlessly circulating conveyor chain and in the mold 7, which is a tool for molding packaging trays transported. After forming the packaging trays they are removed from the mold and pass through an insertion area 24. In the loading area, the operating personnel is positioned. Due to the inclusion according to the invention of the frame profiles 4, 5 and the chain guides 10, 11 in at least the forming tool 7 and the sealing or welding tool 18, the filling of the packaging troughs 8 produced from the lower foil 26 can be effortlessly carried out by the operating personnel. Above the sealing or welding tool 18, which here serves to seal the filled packaging troughs by means of a metallic or thermoplastic upper film 20, a stock of film formed as a roll 19 is received. The sealed packaging troughs subsequently reach by means of the abovementioned transport chains to further cutting tools 21, by means of which the packaging troughs are separated by cutting in order to subsequently reach the outlet region 22.

The claims now filed with the application and later are attempts to formulate without prejudice to the attainment of further protection.

If, on closer examination, in particular also of the relevant prior art, it appears that one or the other feature is beneficial for the purpose of the invention, but not of decisive importance, it is of course already desired to formulate such a feature , in particular in the main claim, no longer having.

The relationships mentioned in the dependent claims point to the further development of the subject matter of the main

- 14 - claim by the features of the respective subclaim. However, these are not to be understood as a waiver of obtaining independent, objective protection for the features of the dependent claims.

Features that have hitherto been disclosed only in the description can be claimed in the course of the method as of essential importance to the invention, for example to delineate the prior art.

Features which have been disclosed only in the description, or also individual features of claims comprising a plurality of features, may at any time be included in the first claim for distinction from the prior art, even if such features are associated with others Characteristics were mentioned or achieve particularly favorable results in connection with other features.

- 15 -

Claims

Claims:

A packaging machine comprising a machine frame, at least one first and second frame profile forming the machine frame and at least one tool supported by the frame profiles, characterized in that at least one frame profile (4, 5) is enclosed by the at least one tool.

2. Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second frame profile (4, 5) are enclosed by the tool.

3. Packaging machine according to one or both of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame profiles (4,5) of a machine stand with machine feet (3), which are connected by cross struts (14) and longitudinal struts (15) with each other, are added ,

4. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first frame profile (4) is arranged parallel to the second frame profile (5) and / or each frame profile (4,5) preferably has the cross-sectional shape of a rectangle.

5. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the tool along the machine longitudinal axis is variable.

6. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that

in that a molding tool (7) is provided which has means for forming packaging troughs (8) consisting of a thermoplastic lower film (26) and / or

a sealing or welding tool (18) is provided which has means for sealing the packaging troughs (8) by means of a top film (20) and / or

a cutting tool (21) is provided which has means for cutting and separating the packaging troughs (8) closed by the upper film (20).

7. Packaging machine, in particular according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a machine frame, at least one machine frame forming the first and second frame profile (4,5), at least one of the frame profiles (4,5) supported mold (7)

- 17 - and chain guides (10,11), each having a conveying means which has film gripping means which hold the packaging material / packaging troughs (8) on both sides for its gradual transport, characterized in that the frame profile (4, 5), in particular directly, the chain guide (10,11).

8. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by an endless circulating conveyor and / or the guide of a first chain guide (10,11) for the flow and preferably a second chain guide (12,13) for the return of the conveyor consists.

9. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame profile (4,5) and the chain guide (10,12; 11,13) are formed by suitable connecting means to form a structural unit with high stability and static safety.

10. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that by direct screwing the chain guide (10,12; 11,13) on the frame profile (4,5) of the guide stability and static security is awarded.

11. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulating film transport chain is unguided in the region of the return.

12. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that as conveying means a film transport chain and for the Füh-

- 18 - a chain guide (10, 12, 11, 13) is provided.

13. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each frame profile (4, 5) is carrier of the circulating foil transport chain receiving first and second chain guide (10, 12, 11, 13).

14. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the longitudinal extension of the packaging machine (1) between the tool (7) for forming the packaging troughs (8) and the sealing or welding tool (18) for sealing the packaging troughs (8 ) an insert area

(24) for charging the packaging troughs (8) is formed.

15. Packaging machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tools (7, 18, 21) are arranged positionally variable on the frame profiles (4,5).