WO2013131893A1

WO2013131893A1 - Packaging machine having a completion indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2013131893A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/054366
Authority: WO
Inventors: Silvio Quaglia
Original assignee: Gea Cfs Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-03-09
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2013-09-12
Also published as: DE102012004565A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging machine (1), along which a bottom film web (8) is transported cyclically by a transport means, comprising: • - a deep drawing cycle (2), which forms a format (15) of a plurality of packaging recesses (6) in the bottom film web during each cycle, • - a filling station (7), in which each packaging recess is filled with a disk-shaped good to be packaged (16), • - a sealing station (15), which fastens a top film web (14) to the bottom film web (8) in a bonded manner, and • - a cutting device (27), which separates the units of packaging thus completed from the film webs, • - wherein next to each packaging recess, an indicator is present, which contains information about how the number of disks must change.

Description

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Packaging machine with a completion indicator

The present invention relates to a packaging machine, along which a

Sub-web is transported intermittently with a means of transport, with:

a thermoforming station, the per cycle a format of several packaging trays in the

Underfilm train shapes,

a filling station in which a wafer-like packaged product is filled into each packaging tray,

a sealing station, which integrally fastens a top film web with a bottom film web and

a cutting device, the so-finished packages from the

Individually separated film webs.

Such packaging machines are well known in the art and are used, for example, to package disklike foods such as sausage, cheese and / or ham slices or other weighed and / or countable products. These packaging machines are referred to as so-called form-fill-seal packaging (FFS) packaging machines. In these

Packaging machines will be a Unterfolienbahn cyclically along the

Transporting packaging machine and initially formed one or more packaging tray (s) in the lower film web. Subsequently, this packaging machine is filled in a filling station with slices of packaged goods, in particular food slices, or other weighing and / or countable packaged goods. It is important that the respective packaging tray is filled as accurately as possible and / or exact number, but in particular has no underweight and / or not too small a number. There must be the possibility of a weight and / or number correction after filling the packaging tray.

It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine in which the operating staff sees whether a packaging tray is filled in terms of weight and / or number of pieces and / or how its filling has to be corrected.

The problem is solved with a packaging machine, along which a sub-film web is transported intermittently with a means of transport, with:

a thermoforming station, which forms a format of several packaging troughs per cycle in the lower film web, a filling station in which a wafer-like packaged product is filled into each packaging tray,

a sealing station, which connects a top film web with the bottom film web and

- A cutting device, the so finished packaging from the

Separated film sheets,

having, next to each packaging tray, an indicator containing information as to whether the correct number of slices or other weighed or countable products are in the packaging tray.

The present invention relates to a packaging machine, in particular a form-fill-seal packaging machine (FFS packaging machine). In these

Packaging machines will be a Unterfolienbahn cyclically along the

Transporting packaging machine and initially formed one or more packaging tray (s) in the lower film web. Subsequently, this packaging machine is filled in a filling station with slices of packaged goods, in particular food slices, or other weighing and / or countable packaged goods.

According to the invention, a display is now provided next to each packaging tray containing information about whether and if so how the number of slices or other weighed and / or countable packaging goods in the respective packaging tray must be changed. Due to the fact that the display, preferably directly, is located next to the packaging tray, the respective operating personnel need not take their eyes off the packaging machine in order to determine whether the filling of a packaging tray needs to be corrected. For putting in the operator can easily assign the respective display of the respective packaging tray and it recognizes immediately in which packaging tray one or more discs or other weighed and / or countable packaged goods added or one or more discs must be removed.

The disclosure made on this subject of the present invention applies equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

According to the invention at a clock a plurality of packaging trays in

At the same time deep-drawn, filled and provided with a cover foil. The number of displays comprising the packaging machine according to the invention preferably corresponds to the number of packaging troughs. In a format change, the ads are preferably at least partially replaced as well. According to a further or a preferred object of the present invention, the display is provided within the framework or in the means of transporting the packaging machine and / or in the area of support for the sub-web.

The display may be any display familiar to one skilled in the art. The display may represent numerical values with a corresponding sign or, for example, a bar whose length is preferably proportional to the number of slices to be added or removed. Preferably, the display is provided in multiple colors. Preferably, it has the colors green and red. Preferably, in an underweight packaging tray another color, especially red, is selected as in an overweight packaging tray, in which the display preferably green lights. In particular, the display is designed so that the operator immediately recognizes the number of discs to be removed or added.

The display preferably has at least one, preferably a plurality of LEDs and / or OLEDs. With the LEDs or the OLEDs numerical values and corresponding signs and / or one or more bars can be displayed, wherein at one

Bar representation preferably a LED / OLED to be added or a

LED / OLED corresponds to a disc to be removed. For example, if two slices have to be removed, two LEDs / OLEDs will light up in the beam.

Alternatively, the display consists only of plus and minus signs, with a plus sign to be added or a minus sign corresponds to a disc to be removed. For example, if two slices have to be added, two appear in the display

Plus sign.

Alternatively or additionally, the display is a projection on the lower film web and / or on the support of the lower film web and / or from the top of the packaged goods. This projection should be visible to the operator regardless of the material of the sub-web or its support and / or depending on the permeability of the structure of the packaged and / or its surface. This projection .

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can be done for example by a laser beam. For example, the projection may be a pattern corresponding to the number of slices to be removed or added.

Preferably, the display is a bar which extends from a center line to the right and to the left, being underweight the respective one

Packaging tray in the one and in excess weight in the opposite direction from the center line extends. This representation is particularly advantageous in color blindness. Preferably, the length of the beam is proportional to the number of slices that must be added or removed.

The packaging machine preferably has a correction station. These

Correction station is upstream of a sealing station, in which the respective packaging tray is sealed with a cover sheet arranged. Preferably, the

Correction station downstream of the insertion station. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the correction station can also be identical to the insertion station.

Further preferably, the packaging machine according to the invention has a

Handling device, such as a robot, on, with the number of

Packaging goods for the respective packaging tray is corrected. The

Control of the packaging machine sends a signal to the

Handling device further, which then corrects the number of packaged goods for the respective packaging tray accordingly. The display serves the operating and / or maintenance personnel to check the correct function of the

Handling device.

Preferably, a sensor, for example a camera, is provided on the packaging machine, which detects the information content of the display and its signal to

Control example of the robot is used.

Further preferably, the packaging machine according to the invention has a scale with which the weight of the respective packaging tray is determined. The signal of this scale is forwarded to a control / regulation of the packaging machine, which controls each display in the area of the packaging tray accordingly and indicates to the operator by how many slices the respective packaging tray supplements or how many slices must be removed from the respective packaging tray. _c

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Further preferably, the packaging machine according to the invention has a

Counting device with which the number of packaged goods for each

Packaging tray is determined. The signal of this counter is sent to a

Control / regulation of the packaging machine forwarded, which controls each display in the area of the packaging tray accordingly and the operator displays how many packaged goods the respective packaging tray supplements or how many packaged goods must be removed from the respective packaging tray.

Alternatively or additionally, the packaging machine has a counter that counts the number of packaged goods filled into a packaging tray and compares it with a desired value. The display then shows the deviation from the setpoint.

The inventions will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2. These

Explanations are merely exemplary and limit the general

Inventive idea not one. The explanations apply equally to all articles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the packaging machine according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the weight display.

FIG. 1 shows the packaging machine 1 according to the invention, which has a thermoforming station 2, a filling station 7 and a sealing station 19. A sub-web 8, here one

Plastic film web 8, is withdrawn from a supply roll and cyclically transported along the packaging machine according to the invention from right to left. At one cycle, the lower film web 8 is transported on by a format length 26. For this purpose, the packaging machine has two transport means (not shown), in the present case in each case two endless chains, which are arranged to the right and left of the lower film web 8. Both at the beginning and at the end of the packaging machine at least one gear is provided for each chain in each case, around which the respective chain is deflected. At least one of these gears is driven. The gears in the input area and / or in the output area may be connected to each other, preferably by a rigid shaft. Each transport means has a plurality of clamping means which grip the lower film web 8 in the inlet region 24 by clamping and the movement of the

Transport means transmitted to the lower film web 8. In the outlet area of the

Packaging machine, the clamping connection between the transport and the lower film web 8 is released again. In the thermoforming station 2, which has an upper tool 3 "

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and a lower tool 4 has, which has the shape of the packaging tray to be produced, the packaging trays 6 are formed in the film web 8. The

Lower tool 4 is arranged on a lifting table 5, which, as symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable. Before each film feed, the lower tool 4 is lowered and then raised again. In the further course of the packaging machine, the packaging trays are then in the filling station 7 with the disc-shaped

Packaged goods 16 filled. In the subsequent sealing station 15, which also consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 1 1, a top film 14 is firmly bonded to the lower film web 8, preferably by sealing. Also in the sealing station, the upper tool and / or the lower tool are lowered or raised before and after each film transport. Before closing the packaging tray 6 with a top film 14 each packaging tray is weighed and / or determines the number of slices of the packaged product in the respective packaging tray. If the weight and / or the number of slices do not meet the target specifications, this is indicated, which will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 2 and there is a corresponding correction by the discs added or

Discs are taken. This is done in a correction station 22, which may be provided downstream of the insertion station 7. The person skilled in the art understands that the correction station 22 and the insertion station 7 can be identical. The upper film 14 can in

Be guided by means of transport or transported by transport chains, these means of transport then extend only from the sealing station and possibly downstream. Otherwise, the statements that have been made to the means of transport of the lower film apply. In the further course of the packaging machine are the finished

Packaging is separated, which takes place in the present case with the cross cutter 25 and the slitter 17. The cross cutter 25 can also be raised or lowered in the present case by means of a lifting device 9.

FIG. 2 shows the correction station 22 of the packaging machine according to the invention. The packaging machine has a frame and a transporting agent protection 19 and in each case a lower film web support 10 between two rows of packing troughs 20. In this correction station 22, in the present case, there is a format of nine packaging troughs arranged in three parallel rows 20 which are parallel to the one

Transport direction 21 of the lower film web 8 extend, are arranged. In the case of an index, the lower film web is transported further by a format length 26, but is preferably still for the weight correction. First, within the correction station or upstream of the correction station, the weight of each packaging tray is determined and thereby determined by a controller, such as a PLC, by how many Slices the portion in the respective packaging tray must be added or reduced. In the area of each packaging tray, a display 13 is provided which represents the result of weighing and, if necessary, the need for correction. By doing

In this case, each display 13 consists of ten LEDs, with five LEDs on the right and five each on the left of a center line 23, the zero line. Preferably, the LEDs on the left and right of the center line 23 different colors.

In particular, the LEDs are red and green. In the event that a packaging

For example, if the LEDs are underweight, the LEDs on the right side of the midline will light up. For example, if a packaging tray is overweight, the LEDs to the left of the center line will light up. In the present case, the displays 13 are in the area of the frame or the means of transport protection 19 and in the area of

Lower film support 10 arranged. The fact that the displays 13 are each immediately adjacent to the respective packaging tray 6, the operator does not have his gaze away from the packaging trays to determine whether a packaging tray is wrong weight. In a format change, the sub-web supports 10 must be changed as a rule. The respective display 13 is then preferably automatically changed without an additional step.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 packaging machine

2 thermoforming station

3 upper tool of the thermoforming station

4 lower tool of thermoforming station

5 lifting table, carrier of a tool of the sealing, thermoforming station and / or the cutting device

6 packaging tray

7 first filling station

8 sub-web

9 lifting device

10 Support of sub-web 8

1 1 lower tool of the sealing station

12 upper tool of the sealing station

13 display, display means

14 top film web, lid film

15 sealing station

16 packaged goods

17 slitter

18 format, format length

19 frame, means of transport intervention protection

20 series

21 transport direction of the lower film web

22 correction station

23 center line

24 inlet area

25 cross cutters

26 format length

Claims

claims:

1 . Packaging machine (1), along which a lower film web (8) with a

Transport is transported intermittently, with:

a thermoforming station (2) which forms a format (15) per cycle of a plurality of packaging troughs (6) in the lower film web (8),

- A filling station (7), in which a disc-like packaged goods (16) in each

Packaging tray (6) is filled,

- A sealing station (15), which connects an upper film web (14) with the lower film web (8) cohesively and

a cutting device (27) which separates the thus finished packages from the film webs (8, 14),

characterized in that, in addition to each packaging tray, it comprises a display (13) containing information on how the number of slices has to be changed.

2. Packaging machine (1) according to claim 1 or the preamble of

Claim 1, characterized in that the display in

Frame / Transportmitteleingriffschutz (19) of the packaging machine and / or in the region of the support (10) of the lower film web (8) is provided.

3. Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display has at least one, preferably a plurality of LEDs and / or OLEDs and / or lamps.

4. Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display is a projection on the lower film web and / or the support of the lower film web and / or on the packaged goods and / or on the frame and / or on the means of transport protection.

5. Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display is multi-colored.

6. Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display is a bar which extends from a center line (23) to the right and to the left.

7. Packaging machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the length of the beam is proportional to the number of discs to be supplemented or removed.

Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a correction station (22).

Packaging machine (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the correction of the number of packaging goods to be supplemented by hand and / or with handling aids and / or by means of robots.