WO2014065698A1

WO2014065698A1 - Method of packaging in the double-side thermoformed package with compressed gas filling and the automated machine for its realization

Info

Publication number: WO2014065698A1
Application number: PCT/RU2013/000154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrey Andreyevich LITSOV
Original assignee: Litsov Andrey Andreyevich
Priority date: 2013-02-26
Filing date: 2013-02-26
Publication date: 2014-05-01

Abstract

This invention is related to packaging of the products into the package with filling by the compressed gas. The invention object consists in creation of the method of conveyor combination of the new automated technological operations on strengthening of springy properties of the package during of the packaging and the machine for its realization. The technical result consists in increase of such operations efficiency at improved accuracy of connection of the package parts. The assigned task is solved by that in the package having the bottom and upper cells, the cells are performed on one detail providing closure of the cells and mismatch of the edges of the detail at the detail bending. The automated machine for realization of the method of packaging, performed in the form of the conveyor is also suggested.

Description

METHOD OF PACKAGING IN THE DOUBLE-SIDE THE MOFORMED PACKAGE WITH COMPRESSED GAS FILLING AND THE AUTOMATED MACHINE FOR ITS

REALIZATION

Invention is related to packaging of products in the package with compressed gas filling. For packaging of fragile volume products, it is necessary to have a package with higher springy protective properties.

The automated machine for packaging in two blisters is known that contains a welding unit andmulti-axis actuator which places a bottom blister, a packaging product and an upper blister on the supporting plates in the sectors of the rotary table

(see http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=k51sKEnNgBw).

The absence of strengthening of springy protective properties of the package in the process of packaging can be considered as disadvantage of such machine, because it is necessary to produce package from film with the heightened thickness.

The automated machine for packaging in the double-side blister is known which contains a conveyor with supporting plates with leafs placed on it, multi-axis actuator that places double-side blister, the packaging product on the supporting plate and performs bending of the double-side blister by the leaf rotation(see http : //www, voutube. com/watch? v=jH4MCoCR - w).

The absence of strengthening of springy protective properties of the package in the process of packaging can be considered as disadvantage of such machine, because it is necessary to produce package from film with the heightened thickness. One of the methods of strengthening of springy protective properties of the package is filling it with compressed gas that allowsproducing package from film with reduced thickness.

The nearest analogue to the claimed method is the method claimed in the patent for the DEVICE FOR PACKAGING OF PRODUCTS (patent of the Russian Federation on Useful model N° 40577 ICL B34B127/02). The device contains a stationary platform with a shell located on the frame-table for placing of a package cell, a moving element, a heater and a gas supply unit. The stationary platform has a surface on which the shell for placing of the package cell is located. The moving element is performed in the form of a platform, which contains a surface with a shell for placing of a cell corresponding to the cell on the stationary platform. On the surfaces of both platforms, there are seals, providing a gap between platforms, performed with closed repetitive geometrical forms. The heater is moving relative to the platforms. Outside the contour of one of the shells on the platform surface in the place of the heater location, there is a slot, and on the surface of other platform in the place, corresponding to the location of the heater there is clamping gasket. Thus, the clamping gasket and the heater are performed with the closed repetitive geometrical forms. In one of the shells, there is an aperture for gas supply.

The main disadvantages of such device are next:

- Low output,

- Low accuracy of package parts matching, that demands complicated cutting along the edge of the finished product.

The cause of such disadvantages are:

- Violation of the conveyor method, which use in modern packing machines, connected with presence of "the stationary platform placed on the frame-table",

- Necessity of complicated manipulations with the cells at their placing,that can be executed only manually,

- Pressure of the compressed gas upon the unfixed cells, leading to strong mismatch of the package parts after welding,

- One-sided heating of the cells at the welding, connected with that "in the place corresponding to the location of the heater there is a clamping gasket" instead of the second heater,

- Natural cooling of the welding area via heat diffusion through the immobile compressed gas and the polymeric cellmaterial, which have very low heat conductivity.

The invention goal consists in creation of a method of conveyor combination of new automated technological operations for strengthening of the springy properties of the package in the process of packaging, and machine for its realization.

The technical result consists in improvement of such operations productivity at improved accuracy of package parts matching.

The assigned task is solved by the method according to the claim 1 and by the machineaccording to the claim 10.

The invention is explained with the drawings, namely: Fig.l -scheme of the layout of the package detail on the supporting plate with the leaf, Fig.2 - the top view of the supporting plate with the leaf, Fig.3 - the scheme of the welding unit. For simplification of the drawings on the figures the variant of package detail with only one upper cell and one bottom cell of circular cross-section is given.

The positions on the figures and in the text designate the following:

1 - detail of the double-side thermoformed package, 2 - protruding edge of the detail 1 ,

3 - upper cell in the detail 1 ,

4 - bottom cell in the detail 1 ,

5 -multistation rotary table,

6 - supporting plate,

7 -rotary leaf on the supporting plate 6,

8 -rotaryactuator of the leaf 7,

9 - apertures on the supporting plate surface 6,

10 - aperture under the leaf 7,

11 - groove on the supporting plate surface 6 for the compressed gas supply to the cells 3 and 4,

12 - hole on the supporting plate surface 6 for the compressed gas supply to the groove 1 1 ,

13 - space limitation cup around the part of the detail 1 with the upper cells 3,

14 - space limitation cup around the part of the detail 1 with the bottom cells 4,

15 - actuator of the cup 13 moving over the rotary table 5,

16 - internal ledge in the cup 13 for placing of the supporting plate 6 with the leaf 7 and the bent detail 1 ,

17 - groove on the internal ledge surface 16 for the displacement of the protruding edge 2 at the compressed gas supply,

18 - hole in the cup 13 for the compressed gas supply to the hole 12 of the supporting plate 6,

19 - elastic tube for filling of the compressed gas from the cup 13 to the cup 14,

20 - circular clamping heater around the upper cells 3,

21 - circular supporting heater around the bottom cells 4,

22 - holder of the circular clamping heater 20,

23 - holder of the circular supporting heater 21 ,

24 - actuator of heater 20 moving in the cup 13,

25 - actuator of heater 21 moving in the cup 14,

26 - thermal insulator of the circular clamping heater 20,

27 - thermal insulator of the circular supporting heater 21 ,

28 - figured hollow inside the holder 22 of the response form for the cell 3,

29 - figured hollow inside the holder 23 of the response form for the cell 4,

30 - fan for circulation of the compressed gas in the cup 13, 31 - fan for circulation of the compressed gas in the cup 14,

32 - input channels of the circulating compressed gas into the fans 30,

33 - input channels of the circulating compressed gas into the fans 31 ,

34 - output channels of the circulating compressed gas from the fans 30,

35 - output channels of the circulating compressed gas from the fans 31 ,

36 - circular slot of welding area blast cooling around the upper cells 3,

37 - circular slot of welding area blast coolingaround the bottom cells 4,

38 - element of the female part of the multichannel connector of power supply onto the table 5,

39 - element of the male part of the multichannel connector of power supply onto the table 5.

Description of the claimed solution essence.

The method of packaging of fragile volume products consists in that the product is placed between the upper and bottom thermoformed cells, the compressed gas is introduced into the cells and welding is performed along the perimeter around the cells.

Thus according to the claimed solution:

- It is used the package detail, performed in the thermoforming machine, having the upper and bottom cells performed on one common detail ensuring at detail bending cell closure and mismatch of the detail edges atthat the protruding edge is located closer to the upper cell,

- Placing of the detail on the supporting plate with the leaf is performed in such a way, that the axis of the detail bending is located over the axis of the leaf rotation, the detail part with the bottom cells is located on the supporting plate, thus the bottom cells are located in the apertures in the plate, the detail part with the upper cells and the protruding edge is located on the leaf and outside of it,

- Fixation of the detail part located on the supporting plate is performed,

- Loading of the packaging products into the bottom cells of the detail is performed, -Closure of the upper and bottom cells by detail bending at the leaf rotation, leaf clamping of the border of the detail part with the upper cells to the detail part with the bottom cells and protruding of the edge of the detail part with the upper cells are performed,

- Limitation of space around the detail is performed, - Compressed gas supply into the limited space by gas stream directed to the protruding edge of the detail part with the upper cells from the side of the supporting plate is performed,

- Compressed gas supply is stopped after obtaining of the compressed gas preset pressure in the limited space,

- Supporting and clamping heaters are heated,

- Clamping heaters are moved for the welding area clamping to the supporting heaters,

- After welding heating of the heaters is stopped and they are moved to the initial position,

- Welding area is cooled by forcedly circulation of the compressed gas in the limited space,

- Space limitation is removed,

- Cutting of the pack units from the detail is performed,

- Clamping of the pack units is removed by leaf rotation into the initial position,

- Fixation of the pack units to the supporting plate is removed,

- Unloading of the pack units, as the finished products, from the rotary table is performed,

- All technological operations are combined by the conveyor method on the rotary table.

The claimed method is realized by means of the machine in which all technological packaging operations are performed by the conveyor method and, as a result, the machine is characterized by high output.

On the input of the machine, there is a package detail 1 with the protruding edge 2, containing the thermoformed upper cells 3 and the bottom cells 4 for placing of the packaging product, the multi-axis actuator providing placing of the detail 1 on the multistation rotary table 5.

In each sector of rotary table 5, are mst&Wedsupporting plate 6 with the rotary leaf 7 and technological units: detail bending, space limitation, compressed gas supply, welding, power supply and elements ofwelding area cooling.

The supporting plate 6 has the rectangular form and radial position. The rotary leaf 7 is located in such a way that its axis of rotation coincides with the upper rib of the sidewall surface of the supporting plate 6 nearest to the edge of the rotary table 5. The rotary actuator 8is needed for leaf 7 rotation. On the supporting plate 6 surface, (see Fig. 1 and fig. 2) there areapertures 9 for placing of the bottom cells 4 in them and under the leaf 7 there is the aperture 10 for placing of the upper cells 3 in it. On the supporting plate surface 6 there is a groove 11 for the compressed gas supply into the cells 3 and 4, a hole 12 crossing the surface of the groove 1 1 , grooves of the output of the knives blade for pack units cutting. The groove 1 1 of the compressed gas supply is performed in the place of projection of the protruding edge 2 on the supporting plate 6.

Multi-axis actuator places the detail 1 on the supporting plate 6 and the leaf 7 in such a way that the detail 1 axis of bending is located above the leaf 7 axis of rotation. Together with this the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 is located on the supporting plate 6, the bottom cells 4 are located in the apertures 9 of the supporting plate 6, the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 and the protruding edge 2 is placed on the leaf 7 and outside of it.

Near table 5, the actuator of the packaging product loading into the cells 4 is installed.

The unit of the detailfixation consists of the fixation element, the actuator for this element and the energy distributor at its inputs. In the active position of the actuator, the fixation element performs fixation of the detail 1 part with bottom cells to the surface of the plate 6, providing absence of displacement of the detail 1 at rotation of the leaf 7 and at welding.

The unit of the detailbending consists of the actuator 8 for the leaf 7 rotation and the energy distributor at its inputs. In the initial position, the surface of the leaf 7 is at the same level as the surface of the plate 6. In the active position, the surface of the leaf 7 presses the border of the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 to the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 in such a way, that the closure between the cells 3 and 4 is performed. Together with this the edge 2 protrudes beyond the edge of the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 and it is located above the groove 1 1 in the supporting plate 6 for the compressed gas supply.

The unit of the space limitation consists of the cups 13 and 14, the actuator 15 (see Fig.3) and the energy distributor at its inputs. The bottom of the cup 13 is fixed on the rod of the actuator 15 of moving along the guides above the aperture 9 in the supporting plate 6. In the initial position, the cup 13 is located above the table 5 in such a way, that it does not interfere with placing and bending of the detail 1 and cutting of the pack units. In the active position, the edges of the cup 13 are pressed to the table 5. Inside the cup 13, there is a ledge 16 in which at the active position the cup 13, the plate 6 with the leaf 7, the detail 1 are situated. At the bottom of the ledge 16 along the wall of the cup 13, there is a groove 17 for the edge 2 displacement. On the surface of the cup 13 edge there is a slot for placement of the axis of the leaf 7 rotation. The cup 14 edges are fixed around the aperture 9 from below.

The unit of the compressed gas supply consists of the through hole 18 in the cup

13, the hole 12 and the groove 1 1 in the supporting plate 6, the pneumatic valve connected by an elastic tubes with the stationary source of the compressed gas. The hole 1 8 is performed on the external surface of the cup 13 bottom and goes through the sidewall of the cup 13 up to the closure with the hole 12 in the plate 6. In the sidewall of the cup 13 and the cup 14 there installed the ends of the elastic tube 19 of the compressed gas flowing from the cup 13 into the cup 14, which length is chosen for providing necessary moving of the cup 13.

The unit of the welding consists of the circular clamping heaters 20 around the upper cells 3 and circular supporting heaters 21 around the bottom cells 4, the holders 22 and 23 of the heaters, the actuators 24 and 25, the circular thermal insulators 26 and 27, energy distributors at the inputs of heaters 20, 21 and the actuators 24, 25, correspondingly. The bottoms of the holders 22 and 23 are fixed on the rods of the actuators 24 and 25 with possibility of moving inside the corresponding cups 13 and 14. The heaters 20 and 21 are installed on the thermal insulators 26 and 27, which are installed on the edge surface of the holders 22 and 23, correspondingly. The internal dimensions of the insulators 26 and 27 are equal to the overall dimensions of the cells 3 and 4, and the internal dimensions of the heaters 20 and 21 are larger than they are. The external dimensions of the insulators 26 and 27 are larger than the external dimensions of the heaters 20 and 21. The bottoms of the holders 22, 23 have the form of the external surface, which is response to the form of the bottoms internal surface of the cups 13, 14 and form of internal surface hollows 28 and 29is response to the external surfaces of the cells 3 and 4, correspondingly. The length of the holders 22 and 23 is chosen to provide, at the initial position of the heaters 20 and 21 , small and sufficient for the welding elimination distance between the heaters and the welding area at the moment of pressing of the holder bottoms to the bottoms of the their cups. In the active position, the heaters 20 press the welding area to the heaters 21 with the preset welding pressure.

Elements of welding area coolingconsists of the fans 30, 31 'for the compressed gas forced circulation in the limited space, the channels 32, 33 of input of the compressed gas to the fans, the channels 34, 35 of output of the compressed gas from the fans, the narrow circular slots 36, 37 of the welding area blast cooling, the contactors at the inputs of the fans. The fans 30 and 31 are installed inside of the bottoms of the holders 22 and 23. The channels 32 and 33 are performed inside of the holders 22 and 23 bottoms. The channels 34 and 35 are performed insideof the holders 22 and 23 bottoms and walls. The narrow circular slots 36 and 37 are performed on the edge surface of the holders 22 and 23 along the internal edge of the thermal insulators 26 and 27. The contactors at the inputs of the fans 30 and 31 are located outside of the cups 13 and 14 are connected to the fans by the elastic electric wires through the sealed holes in the walls of these cups. During theblast cooling the bottoms of the holders 22, 23 are pressed to the bottoms of the cups 13, 14 and the circular slots 36, 37 are situated at a small distance from the welding area.

The unit of the pack units cutting contains knives performed with the possibility of moving along the line of cutting according to the dimensions of the flat part of the finished products. The holder with the cutting knives has the dimensions and initial position, which is not interfere it moving between the upper cells 3 and the edges of the cup 13 being in the initial position at rotation of the table 5. In the active position, the edges of the cutting knives blade are located in the grooves of the knives blade output on the plate 6.

The unit of the energy supply into the technological units on the rotary table is performed as the multichannel connector. The female part of the multichannel connector is performed as the details 38, located in each sector of the rotary table 5, contacts of which from one side are connected to the energy distributors, the pneumatic valve and the contactors located in this sector. The male part of the multichannel connector is performed as the detail 39 with possibility of moving above the details 38 with formation of connections and breaks in the channels. For this purpose on the surface of the detail 39 the contacts,which located onthe one side, connected to the stationary energy sources, and locatedon the other side at the initial position located on the small, providing break of the channels, distance from the corresponding contacts in the details 38, and in the active position pressed to them. The actuator of moving of the detail 39 is fixed on the frame above the table 5.

On the output of the machine near the table 5, the actuators for unloading from the table 5 of the pack units as finished products and waste from cutting are installed.

The invention is performed as follows.

The surface of the rotary table 5 can be divided, artificially, to the equal sectors which amount is equal to the amount of the technological operations beginning simultaneously. For convenience of explanation, we will divide space around the table 5 into fourteen equal volume sectors and will successively numbersvolume sectors of space around the table 5 so that the volume sector with the multi-axis actuator of the detail 1 placing will be volume sector jN°l .

The method of packaging of fragile volume products in the double-side thermoformed package consists of technological operations on the rotary table 5 and thermoformed upper 3 and bottom 4 package cells, repeating contours of the upper and bottom part of the packaging product, is performed on one detail.Together with this there provided closure of the cells and mismatch of the detail edges at detail bending and the protruding edge, which located closer to the upper cells 3 and have area of protruding, at pressureon which by the gas pressure of the compressed air in the package the absence of the cells closure is provided.

- In volume sector Ml, the multi-axis actuator performs placing of the detail 1 on the supporting plate 6 with the leaf 7 so that the axis of the detail 1 bending is located above the axis of the leaf 7 rotation. Together with thisthe detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 is located on the supporting plate 6 and the bottom cells 3 are located into the apertures 9 in the plate 6,the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 and the protruding edge 2 is located on the leaf 7 and outside of it. At the same time, the heaters 21 are in the active position (without heating) in the plane of the upper surface of the plate 6. The figured hollow 29 inside the holder 23 and the aperture 10 under the leaf 7 provide centering of the detail 1 on the plate 6. The power distributor of the actuator 25 provides maintenance of the heater 21 in the active position up to volume sector N°& of the rotary table 5.

- In volume sector M2, the fixation element performs fixation of the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 located on the supporting plate 6, and the power distributor of the fixation element actuator provides maintenance of fixation up to volume sector N°12 of the rotary table 5.

- In volume sector M3, the multi-axis actuator performs loading of the packaging products into the bottom cells 4 of the detail 1 .

- In volume sector M4, the actuator 8 performs bending of the detail 1 by leaf 7 rotation, as a result the upper cells 3 are closed with the corresponding bottom cells 4, the border of the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 is pressed by the leaf 7 to the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4. Together with this the protruding edge 2 protrudes above the edge of the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 3 and it is located above the groove 1 1 of the compressed gas supply in the plate 6. The power distributor of the actuator 8 provides maintenance of pressure by the leaf 7 up to volume sector JV21 1 of the rotary table 5. - In sector M>5, space limitation around the detail 1 performsat moving of the cup 13 by actuator 15 from the initial position above the aperture 9to the active position at which the edges of the cup 13 are pressed to the surface of the table 5 around the plate 6 with bent detail 1. The power distributor of the actuator 15 provides maintenance of the cup 13 in the active position up to volume sector jY°9of the rotary table 5. At the same time, the edge of the cup 14 is attached from below around the aperture 9.

- In volume sector M6, compressed gas supply into the limited space is performed from the groove 1 1 of the plate 6 to the protruding edge 2 of the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3. The compressed gas is supplied into the groove 1 1 through the hole 12 on the surface of the plate 6, the hole 18 inside the cup 13, through the pneumatic valve up to stationary distribution of the gas pressure in the limited space equal to the compressed gas pressure in the package. The pneumatic valve provides maintenance of the compressed gas pressure in the limited space up to volume sector N°9 of the rotary table 5.

- In volume sector M7, power is supplied to the heaters 20, 21 , installed on the edges of the holders 22, 23, correspondingly, and the actuator 24 performs moving of the heaters 20 into the active position at which they press with the preset pressure the welding area along the perimeter around the cells 3 and 4 to the heaters 21. The power distributors of the heaters 20, 21 provide energy maintenance in the heaters, and the power distributor of the actuator 24 provides maintenance of the heater 20 in the active position only during welding.

- In volume sector M8,e\ectnc current suppliedto the fans 30, 3 l and moving of the heaters 20 into the initial position by the actuator 24 and of the heaters 21 by the actuator 25 is performed. Together with this bottom of the holders 22, 23 are pressed to the bottoms of the cups 13, 14 and the thermal energy penetrated in the process of welding through the thermal insulators 26, 27 dissipates in the bodies of the cups and holders 13, 14, 22, 23.Thus, the fans 30, 31 perform circulation of the compressed gas in the limited space at which the gas stream passes through the channels 32, 33 into the bottoms of the holders, the channels 34, 35 into bodies of the holders, the narrow circular slots 36, 37of blast cooling at the edges of the holders. The contactors of the fans 30, 31 provide electric current supply into the fans only during of the welding area cooling.

- In volume sector ^_?9,space limiting is removed at the cup 13 moving by the actuator 15 to the initial position above the table 5. - In volume sector JV_?i0,cutting of the pack units is performed at moving of the knife holder by the actuator into the active position at which the cutting edges of the knives are located through detail 1 slots into grooves on plate 6 for the cutting knife output.

- In volume sector Mil, the clamping of the pack units is removed by the leaf 7rotationin the reverse direction.

- In volume sector JVsl2,the fixation of the pack units on plate 6 is removed and the supporting heaters 21 by the actuator 25moving into the active position (without heating) in the plane of the upper surface of the plate 6.

- In volume sectors M13 and M14movements of the pack units as the finished products and cutting waste from the table 5 are performed by the multi-axis actuators.

Energy supply into the details 38 of the female part of the multichannel connector into each sector of the rotary table is performed during stoppage of the table 5and moving of the detail 39 of the direct part of the multichannel connector by the actuator into the active position, when contacts of the detail 38 and 39 are pressed. At initial position, a break in the connector channels is formed between the contacts of the details 38 and detail 39 as the contacts in the detail 39 are located at the small, providing break in the channels, distance above the contacts in the details 38.

The device for realization of the method of packaging in the double-side thermoformed package works as follows.

The multi-axis actuator places detail 1 on the multistation rotary table 5.

In each sector of the rotary table 5 are installed: the supporting plate 6 with the rotary leaf 7 and the technological units: of the detail fixation, of the detail bending, of the space limitation, of the compressed gas supply, of the welding, of the energy supply onto rotary table and also the elements of the welding area cooling. Near the rotary table, an additional unit of the pack units cutting is placed.

The multi-axis actuator places the detail 1 on the plate 6 and the rotary leaf 7 so that (see Fig.1 and Fig.2) the axis of the detail 1 bending is located above the axis of the leaf 7 rotation. Together with this the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 is located on the supporting plate 6, thus the bottom cells 3 are located in the apertures 9 performed in the plate 6, , the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 and the protruding edge 2 is located on the leaf 7 and outside of it. At that position, the detail 1 is centered by the aperture 10 under the leaf 7 and by the figured hollow 29 in the holder 23 of the heater 21 , which is situated in the plane of the surface of the plate 6. The supporting plate 6 is necessary for fixation on it of the detail 1 part with the bottom cells at the leaf 7 rotation, welding, gas supply into the cells 3 and 4, cutting of the pack units. The rotary leaf 7 is necessary for formation of the double-side thermoformed package at bending of the detail 1 by the leaf axis rotation to 180° and for clamping of the border of the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 to the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4. The latter is necessary for high accuracy preservation of the detail parts matching during of the compressed gas supply into the cells 3, 4 and during of welding around the cells 3 and 4.

Activation of the unit of fixation of the detail 1 part is performed by energy supply from the detail 39 pressed to the detail 38 located in volume sector jV°2 into the actuator of the fixation element aswhich rarefied air or the electrostatic charges can be used. The optimal element in realization is the rarefied air and for this purpose, the actuatorof the fixation unit is performed in the form of the closed air cavity located inside the plate 6, which communicates via the through holes with the plate surface on which the detail 1 part is placed. Distributor at the actuator inputs is performedas pneumatic valve which output channel is connected to the air cavity through the air channel performed in the plate 6. Supply of rarefied air is stops after obtaining of the stationary distribution of the necessary rarefied air pressure in the closed air cavity into plate 6.

The pneumatic valve in all technological units as one output channel, two input channels and two control channels. In the absence of the compressed air supply to control channels, the output channel is blocked and the compressed or rarefied air supplied to this channel earlier, is kept in this channel. At the compressed air, supply into the first control channel the output channel is joined to the first input channel, and the compressed or rarefied air can be supplied to the output channel. At the compressed air, supply into the second control channel the output channel is joined to the second inputchannel, which is connected to the ambient air, and the compressed or rarefied air earlier contained in the output channel goes out into the ambient air. Thus, the first input channel and both control channels of the pneumatic valve are connected to the corresponding channels in located in the same sector of the rotary table of the detail 38 of the female parts of the multichannel connector in the unit of energy supply.

Fixation of the detail 1 part on the plate 6 is performed at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N°2 and simultaneous compressed air supply into the first control channel and rarefied air supply in the first input channel of the pneumatic valve. During the table 5 rotation,pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 is absent, the output channel of the pneumatic valve is blocked and the rarefied air is kept in the plate 6 cavity up to volume sector jV°l 2 of the rotary table 5.

Deactivation of the unit of fixationis performed in volume sector N°12 afterpressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N°12 with compressed air supply into the second control channel of the pneumatic valve.

The detail 1 can have surface irregularities between the cells, which were formed during the thermoforming. For improvement of vacuum suction of such regularities in sector Ν°2 near the rotary table 5 the clamping plate is installed. It performed with possibility of moving above the detail 1 so that in the initial position, the clamping plate is at small, but sufficient for unimpeded turn of the rotary table 5, distance above the surface of the detail 1 and in the active position the clamping plate presses the detail 1 surface irregularities to the plate 6 surface. Movement of the clamping plate to the detail 1 surface is performed simultaneously with movement of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in the multichannel connector of energy supply. The actuator of the clamping plate movement is fixed on the frame near the table 5.

Loading of the packaging product is performed in volume sector N°3.

Activation of the unit of the detail 1 bending is performed by energy supply from the detail 39 pressed to the detail 38 located in volume sector N°4 into the actuator 8 of the leaf 7 rotation in which capacity an electric or a pneumatic actuator can be used. The optimal in realization is use of the rotary pneumatic single acting cylinder with the pneumatic valve at its inputs. The principle of the pneumatic valve operation in the unit of the detail bending is completely similar to the principle of the pneumatic valve operation in the unit of fixation of the detail part.The distinction only is that the detail 1 bending is performed at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector jN°5 with compressed air supply both in the first control channel, and in the first input channel of the pneumatic valve. As a result of such supply the pneumatic cylinder8 rotates the leaf 7to 180°, performing the bending of the detail 1 and clamping of the border of the detail 1 part with the upper cells 3 to the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 so that closure between cells 3 and 4 is performed. Together with this the protruding edge 2 protrudes beyond the edge of the detail 1 part with the bottom cells 4 and it is located above the groove 1 lof the compressed gas supply in the supporting plate 6. During the table 5rotationpressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 is absent, the output channel of the pneumatic valve is blocked and the compressed air is kept in the pneumatic cylinder8 up to volume sector JY°1 1 of the rotary table 5.

Deactivation of the unit of the detail bending and of the leaf 7 return into the initial position is performed by the spring of pneumatic cylinder 8 at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N°l 1 with the compressed air supply into the second control cannel of the pneumatic valve. The leaf 7 form and torque force at the turn are chosen to provide possibility of disclosing of the cells 3 and 4, sufficient for penetration of the compressed gas into these cells, at impact from the side of the supporting plate on the protruding edge by the pressure equal to the pressure of the compressed gas in the package.

Activation of the unit of space limitation is performed by energy supply from the detail 39 pressed to the detail 38 located in volume sector j\l 5 into the actuator 15 of the cup 13 moving above the holes 9 in which capacity the electric or the pneumatic actuator can be used. Use of the pneumatic single acting cylinderwith the pneumatic valve at its inputs provides the improved productivity of the unit of space limitation operation. The principle of operation of the pneumatic valve and the pneumatic cylinder in the unit of space limitation is similar to it in the unit of the detail bending with only difference that space limitation is performed at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector jV«5. Because of the compressed air supply, the pneumatic cylinder 15 hermetically presses the edge of the cup 13 to the table 5 surface thus performing space limitation around the detail 1 part with the cells 3. (See fig. 3). Thus, the supporting plate 6 with the leaf 7 and the detail 1 are located inside the ledge 16 performed inside the cup 13. Space limitation around the detail 1 part with the cells 4 is performed by fixation of the edge of the cup 14 around the holes 9 in which the cells 4 are located. During the table 5rotationpressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 is absent, the output channel of the pneumatic valve is blocked and the compressed air is kept in the pneumatic cylinder 15 up to volume sector JN°9 of the rotary table 5.

Deactivation of the unit of space limitation and return of the cup 13 into the initial position is performed by pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N°9 at the compressed air supply into the second control channel of the pneumatic valve. Return of the cup 13 by the spring of its pneumatic cylinder 15 in the initial position can be performedduring the table 5 rotation.

In the capacity of the cup, it is possible to use details of another form providing durability and tightness at pressing of the detail edge to the rotary table. Activation of the unit of the compressed gas supply is performed by the compressed air supply from the detail 39 pressed to the detail 38 located in volume sector j\T°6 into the pneumatic valve. The compressed gas supply is performed through the hole 18 in the cup 13, through the hole 12 and the groove 1 1 of the plate 6. The principle of operation of the pneumatic valve in the unit of the compressed gas supply is similar to it in the unit of the detail fixation.Difference is only that the compressed gas supply is performed at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N°6 and instead of the rarefied air the compressed gas of the package filling is supplied. Compressed gas in the output channel of the pneumatic valve is kept in limited space up to volume sector N°9 of the rotary table 5.

Deactivation of the unit of the compressed gas supply is performed automaticallyin volume sector j\°9at removing space limitation.

For filling of the cells with the compressed gas, it is necessary to have a gap between the edges of the bent detail 1 , and for welding, it is necessary to have no gap.

For high efficiency of the machine, the maximum speed of filling of the compressed gas is required. If the compressed gas is supplied into the limited space from above or from one side, then it is possible to receive the initial "collapse" of the detail 1 and deformation of the packaging product by the compressed gas wave. Mechanical fixation of the detail 1 edges and control of this fixation for formation and removal of the gap of the compressed gas supply is possible. The disadvantage of this solution is technical complexity of mechanical manipulations in the small limited space and low productivity connected with additional mechanical moving. The suggested technical solution uses pressure force of the compressed gas necessary for filling of the cells 3 and 4 for the gap formation between the detail 1 edges. The compressed gas presses on the protruding edge 2 above the groove 1 1 of the plate 6 and the edge 2 moves into the volume of the groove 17 of the cup 13. As a result between the edge 2 and the edge of the fixed part of the detail 1 the gap sufficient for filling of the compressed gas into the cells 3 and 4 is formed. At that,not stationary distribution of the compressed gas pressure will be firstly set in the cells 3 and 4 that will allow avoiding deformation of the packaging product by the compressed gas wave. Gas fillings the space around the cells 3 through the small, but longlength slot between the detail 1 and the inner walls of the cup 13 which area is much less than the gap area formed between the detail 1 edges. It is necessary, but not sufficient condition of absence of the packaging product deformation by the compressed gas wave. The additional necessary for sufficiency condition of absence of the packaging product deformation by the compressed gas wave is excess of the free volume around the cells 3 and 4, including volume of the tube 19 connecting the cups 13 and 14 over the free volume in the cells 3 and 4 with the packaging product. Such excess is easily achieved by selection of length and diameter of the tube 19. As a result, the free volume in the limited space should be minimal, but not less than the free volume inside the cells 3 and 4 with the packaging product. Such criterion is especially important, if the packaging product has high open porosity, for example, like cotton candy, sugar volume of which has several percent of its volume. At that, speed of the compressed gas stationary pressure setting inside the cells 3 and 4 will be larger than speed of the compressed gas stationary pressure around these cells and deformation of the packaging product by the compressed gas wave will be absent for sure.

For minimization of the limited space volume in the holders 22 and 23 of the heaters 20 and 21 the figured hollows 28 and 29 are performed, which have the form response to the form of the cells 3 and 4, correspondingly.

The compressed gas supply is stopped at setting of the compressed gas pressure corresponding to the pressure in the package of the finished product. Thus, the protruding edge 2 goes out from the groove 17, moves into the initial position above the groove 1 1 in the plate 6 under the influence of the elastic force in the detail 1 , and the gap between the detail 1 edges is absent. The suggested method of the compressed gas supply into the protruding edge 2 has improved synergetic efficiency as it allows implementation of fast "self-generating" of the gap between the detail 1 edges at the compressed gas supply and fast "self-removal" of this gap at the compressed gas supply stoppage that promotes increase in the machine efficiency. Thus, owing to the leaf 8 clamping, the package 1 parts keep high accuracy of the connection.

For increase in operating efficiency of the welding unit double-side welding or simultaneous welding by the heaters located both around the cells 3 and around the cells 4 is used. The heaters 20 and 21 have the circular form for providing welding along the perimeter around each cell 3 and each cell 4, and they are installed at the edges of the holders 22, 23 that are fixed on the rods of the pneumatic cylinder24, 25 of the heaters 20, 21 moving in the cups 13, 14, correspondingly.

Activation of the welding unit is performed by energy supply from the detail 39 pressed to the detail 38 located in sector N°7 into the actuator 24 of the heaters 20 moving in which capacity the electric or the pneumatic actuator can be used. Use of the pneumaticshort-stroke single acting cylinderas actuator 24 and 25 provides improved efficiency of the welding unit operation. The principle of operation of the pneumatic cylinder 24 or 25 in the welding unit is completely similar to the principle of operation of the pneumatic cylinder 1 5 in the unit of space limitation, with only difference that welding is performed at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in sector N°7. Because of the compressed air supply into the pneumatic cylinder24, the heaters 20 press the welding area to the heaters 21 at preset welding pressure. In order to avoid displacement of the detail 1 at pressing of the heaters 20 to it which can have shock character, the heaters 21 are located in the plane surface ofplate 6and fixed to the moment of the welding unit activation, namely, in volume sector JV°1 1 of the rotary table 5. As a result, the welding area inside the aperture 9 in the plate 6 has a support in the form of the heaters 21. The choice of the heaters 21 instead of the heaters 20 as a support is explained by that durability of the detail 1 fixation on the surface of the plate 6 is steadier against shock action from above the plate, as a result of which there can be only small displacement of the detail 1 , than against shock action from below the plate, as a result of which there can occur not only displacement of the detail 1 , but also its separation from the plate 6 surface. For accurate stoppage of the heaters 21 movement to the plate 6 surface in the holder 23 fixing lugs are precision- performed and in the plate 6 fixing ledges are precision-performed which close at reaching of the plate 6 surface by the heaters of 21. Besides, the pneumatic cylinder 25 of the heaters 21 moving is chosen to provide supporting properties to the heaters 21 at pressing to them of the welding area by the heaters 20.

At welding of the thermoplastic films, it is very important to have firm adjoining of the films to each other. Otherwise, at obtaining of the plastic state of the welding area the films can be broken through by the heaters at the elastic force of the film parts not adjoining to each other. In the suggested technical solution, firm adjoining of the films is provided by the elastic force of the detail 1 part with the cells 3 at clamping of its border by the leaf 7.

As the heaters it is possible to use the electric heaters made from the material with high resistivity, or the heaters in the form of the tubes made from the material with high heat conductivity in which the high temperature carrier propagates.

Use of the electric heaters with the electric contactor at its inputs provides the improved efficiency of the welding unit operation at simplification of its design. The electric contactor is necessary for providing of break and contact in the circuit of supply of the pulse electric current of a large amplitude to the heaters. The pulse electric current is supplied into the heaters 20 and 21 at the moment of the welding unit activation that is at the moment of the beginning of the heaters 20 movement to the welding area.

The lengths of the holders 22 and 23 are chosen to provide a small gap between the heaters 20 and 21 being in the initial position and the welding area, therefore, moving of the heaters 20 from the initial position up topressing of the welding area to the heaters 21 will be fast enough.

Heat from the heaters 20 and 21 , penetrating through the thermal insulators 26 and 27, is dissipated inside the holders 22 and 23, and at the initial position of the heaters inside the cups 13 and 14 too, due topressing of their bottoms. For increase in speed of heat dissipation the cups 13, 14, the holders 22, 23 are made from the material with high heat conductivity.

Deactivation of the welding unit on the electric current is performed in volume sector N°7 at the end of pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38. Return of the heaters 20 and 21 into the initial position by the springs of their pneumatic cylinder 24 and 25 is performed at pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N28.

Activation of the cooling elements of the welding area is performed by the electric current supply from the detail 39 pressed to the detail 38 located in volume sector j\°8 into the fans 30 and 31 , installed in the bottoms of the holders 22 and 23, correspondingly, with the contactors at the inputs.

For increase in cooling efficiency of the welding area double-side cooling by the fans installed in the holders 22 and 23 is used.

The welding area cooling is a process on which the machine efficiency depends, to the greatest degree, as it is impossible to move the cup 13 to the initial position up to the moment of sufficient hardening of the welding area and if there are methods of fast heating by impulses of the current with the large amplitude, there are methods of such fast cooling are absent.

It is known, that heat conductivity of the moving gas depends on the speed of its movement and it increases by several orders in comparison with heat conductivity of the stationary gas to the size comparable with heat conductivity of metals, and speed of gas circulation by the fan in the limited space is the higher, the less is the volume of this space.

The fans 30 and 31 are installed inside the bottoms of the holders 22 and 23 for forced circulation of the compressed gas. This stream passes through the channels 32, 33 of input of the circulating compressed gas into the fans, the channels 34, 35 of output of the circulating compressed gas from the fans, blasts the welding area from the narrow circular slots 36, 37. Then this stream returns into the channels of input 32 and 33 through the gaps between the cups 13, 14 and the holders 22,23, correspondingly. Thus the temperature of the compressed gas is reduced by heat transfer into the holders and the cups made from the material with high heat conductivity. The narrowness of the circular slots 36 and 37 of the welding area blasting which are performed on the edges of the holders 22 and 23 closely located to the welding area provides the increased speed of circulation of the compressed gas above the welding area and the increased speed of its cooling.

In the suggested technical solution installation of the heaters 20 and 21 on the edge of the holders 22 and 23, which are located in the initial position near the welding area and their bottoms are pressed to the bottoms of the cups 13 and 14, has increased synergetic efficiency because it improves machine efficiency as a result of: reduction of time of the heaters 20 and 21 moving into the active position, reduction of time of the welding area cooling at increase of speed of the compressed gas circulation in the reduced gap between the edges of the holders 22 and 23 and the welding area and reduction of time of heat dissipation both in the holders 22, 23, and in the cups 13,14.

For increasing speed of cooling, the forced external cooling of the cups 13 and 14 from the stationary sources of low temperature and supply of the cooled and dry compressed gas into the hole 18 in the cup 13 is possible.

Deactivation of the elements of the welding area cooling is performed in volume sector N° 8 at the end of pressing of the detail 39 to the detail 38 in volume sector N°8.

For the place saving in the sectors of the table 5 it is possible to locate the pneumatic valves on the bottom surface of table 5.

Activation of the unit of the pack units cutting, installed in volume sector N°10 near the table 5, is perfonned by electric current supply to the actuator of the knife holders moving above the supporting plate 6 and to the actuator of these knives moving along cutting lines according to the dimensions of the package of the finished products. The cutting unit can have a design similar to the design of the cutting unit in the flatbed cutters. For that on the surface of the plate 6 the grooves of the cutting knife outputare performed, which are not crossed with the air cavity for vacuum suction inside the plate 6, and in volume sector N°4 vacuum suction of the details 1 , necessary for cutting, is performed. Cutting with the knife in the form of a rotating cylindrical surface with a sharp edge provides the greatest efficiency of the pack units cutting. Such cutting has increased synergetic efficiency as it is characterized by the increased speed of cutting which is performed simultaneously on the whole length of the line of cutting. The actuator in the form of the electromotor connected to the knife and fixed on the lath, performed with the possibility of moving above the plate 6, rotates the cylindrical knife. During the cutting for clamping of the detail 1 parts with the upper cells 3 on lath installed the holder of the spring-loaded leg, which at the active position of the cylindrical knife presses these parts of the detail 1 on the plate 6. The blades installed on the leg holders perform incisions on the pack units for simplification of the package opening before usage of this packed product. For this purpose on the surface of the supporting plate 6 the grooves of the incision blade output are made which are not crossed with the air cavity of vacuum suction and have larger depth than the grooves of the cutting knife output and provide location of the incision blades in these grooves that does not interfere with cutting.

In the suggested technical solution the method of the compressed or rarefied air and electric current supply by the multichannel connector consisting of the female parts 38 located in each sector of the table of 6 and the moving male part 39 located above the table 5 has increased synergetic efficiency as it allows matching, by the conveyor method, of the rotary table rotation with supply of energy from the stationary sources into its sectors. The optimal kind of contacts in the female details 38 and the male detail 39 of the connector for the pneumatic cylinders, pneumatic valves and electric contactors are the contact holes and conducting surfaces. The detail 39 of the male part consists of two elements, each of which is performed with the possibility of moving above the details 38, at that on the first element the control contact holes of the pneumatic valves and the contactors are located, and on the second element all other contact holes and conducting surfaces are located. In time pressing of the second element of the detail 39 to the details 38 is performed first and then pressing of the first element of the detail 39 to the details 38 is performed, later pressing of the first element of the detail 39 and then pressing of the second element of the detail 39 is removed. Blocking of the channels of the rarefied, compressed air and gas supply near their sources in absence of pressing of the detail 39 elements to the details 38 at the table 5 rotationis performed by the valves controlled synchronously together with the table 5 rotary actuator.

The optimal location of the details 38 on the rotary table 5 is the vertexes of angles sector of this table.

Contacts in the form of holes and conducting surfaces are located in the details 38 equally, and in the detail 39 which optimal form is circle they are distributed in sectors, according to the technological operations performed in the corresponding volume sectors of the rotary table 5.

In volume sectors .N°13 and jV°14 of the rotary table 5 unloading of pack units as a finished products and wastes of cutting is performed.

The claimed method and the machine for its realization will allow packing of the fragile and volume products by the conveyor method for their transportation to any distances at reduction of the cost price of the package and packaging process, so it can be a new direction in packaging business.

Claims

1. METHOD OF PACKAGING IN THE DOUBLE-SIDE THERMOFORMED PACKAGE WITH COMPRESSEDGAS FILLING having, at least, one upper and one bottom cells repeating contours of the upper and bottom parts of the packaging product; including placing of the bottom cell on the supporting plate, placing of the packaging product in it, formation of the limited space around the cells, compressed gas supply into the limited space, welding on the perimeter around the cells by the heater, cooling of the welding area, removal of space limitation, finished product unloading, differing by that:

- the package having the upper and bottom cells is made from one detail providing closure of the cells and mismatch of the detail edges at the detail bending, at that the protruding edge is located closer to the upper cell;

- the detail placing on the supporting plate with the rotary leaf is performed so that the detail part with the bottom cell is located on the plate, at that the bottom cell is located in the plate holes, the bending axis of the detail is located above the axis of the leaf rotation, the detail part with the upper cell and the protruding edge is located on the leaf and outside of it;

- fixation of the detail part on the supporting plate is performed;

- bending of the detail by the leaf rotation for closure of the upper and bottom cells, clamping by the leaf of the border of the detail part with the upper cell to the detail part with the bottom cell, protruding of the edge providing disconnection of the cells at impact of the pressure equal to the pressure of the compressed gas in the package is performed;

- the compressed gas supply into the limited space is performed in the form of the gas stream directed to the protruding edge from the side of the supporting plate;

- cooling of the welding area is performed by forced circulation of the compressed gas in the limited space;

- cutting of the welded cells is performed;

- thus, all technological operations are combined by the conveyor method.

2. The method according to item 1 , differing by that closure of the cells and mismatch of the edges of the detail at the detail bending is provided by thermoforming of the asymmetrically located cells on one detail with the subsequent symmetric cutting of the edges.

3. The method according to item 1 , differing by that closure of the cells and mismatch of the edges of the detail at the detail bending is provided by thermoforming of the symmetrically located cells on one detail with the subsequent asymmetric cutting of the edges.

4. The method according to item 1 , differing by that fixation on the supporting plate of the detail part located on it is performed by vacuum suction.

5. The method according to item 1 , differing by that welding is performed by the heaters located both around the upper cells, and around the bottom cells.

6. The method according to item 5, differing by that welding is performed by pressing of the welding area by the heaters located around the upper cell to the heaters located around the bottom cell,

7. The method according to item 1 , differing by that circulation of the compressed gas in the limited space is performed by the fans located both above the upper cell, and under the bottom cell,

8. The method according to item 1 , differing by that cooling of the welding area is performed by blasting with the stream of the circulating compressed gas,

9. The method according to item 1 , differing by that cutting of the package items is performed with a knife performed in the form of the rotating cylinder with sharp edge.

10. AUTOMATED MACHINE FOR PACKAGING IN THE DOUBLE-SIDE THERMOFORMED PACKAGE WITH COMPRESSEDGAS FILLING, having, at least, one upper and one bottom cells repeating contours of the upper and bottom parts of the packaging product; containing a supporting plate and technological units: unit of space limitation around the package detail, unit of the compressed gas supply in the limited space, welding unit with the moving heater, differing by that it is performed in the form of the conveyor in which sectors the supporting plates with rotary leafs are placed, and the additional technological units: of fixation of detail part, of the detail bending, of energy supply to the conveyor, additional elements for cooling of the welding area, and additional unit of cutting which is placed near the conveyor, at that the supporting plate is configured for placing of the package detail part with the bottom cell on it and for this purpose on its surface the aperture of placing of the bottom cell are performed, the leaf is configured for placing of the detail part with the upper cell and protruding edge on it, the unit of fixation of the detail part is configured for fixation on the supporting plate of the detail part placed on it with the bottom cell, the bending unit is configured for bending of the detail by the leaf rotation up to clamping by the leaf of the border of the detail part with the upper cell to the detail part with the bottom cell and protruding of the edges of the detail part with the upper cell, the unit of the compressed gas supply into the limited space is configured for the compressed gas supply to the protruding edge from the side of the supporting plate, the welding unit is configured for double-side welding by the heaters and double-side cooling of the welding area, the elements of cooling of the welding area are configured for forced circulation of the compressed gas in the limited space, the cutting unit is configured for cutting of the welded cells from the detail, the unit of energy supply on the conveyor is configured for energy supply into the technological units in the sectors of the conveyor from the stationary sources.

11. The machine according to item 10, differing by that the supporting plate is performed with the possibility of fixation on it of the detail part with the bottom cell by vacuum suction and is supplied with the pneumatic valve for this purpose.

12. The machine according to item 10, differing by that the welding unit consists of the circular moving heaters around the bottom cell and the moving circular heaters around the upper cell.

13. The machine according to item 10, differing by that the heater holders are performed in the form of the cups from the material with high heat conductivity and the circular heaters are installed on the circular thermal insulators on the surface of the edge of the cups.

14. The machine according to item 10, differing by that the elements of cooling of the welding area contain the fans of the compressed gas circulation in the limited space.

15. The machine according to item 10, differing by that the cutting knife is performed in the form of the rotating cylinder with the sharp edge, at that on the surface of the supporting plate the grooves of the cutting knife output are performed.

16. The machine according to item 10, differing by that the conveyor is performed in the form of the multistation rotary table.

17 The machine according to item 12, differing by that the parameters of the actuator of the circular heater moving around the bottom cell are chosen to be sufficient for providing of support properties to these heaters at pressing of the welding area to them by the circular heaters around the upper cell.

18. The machine according to item 13, differing by that the channels of input of the circulating compressed gas into the fans are performed in the bottoms of the cups, the channels of output of the circulating compressed gas from the fans are performed in the bottoms and walls of the cups with the output through the circular slot located on the surface of the cup edges along internal edge of the circular insulator.

19. The machine according to item 14, differing by that the elements of cooling of the welding area contain the fans of the compressed gas circulation around the bottom cell and the fans of the compressed gas circulation around the upper cell.

20. The machine according to item 16, differing by that the unit of energy supply is performed in the fonn of the multichannel connector of the pneumatic and electric channels which female part is performed in the form of the details with the contact holes and conducting surfaces which, from one side, are connected to the pneumatic valves located in this sector and the contactors, and on the bottom surface of the elements of the detail of the connector male part the contact holes and conducting surfaces are located which, from one side, are connected to the stationary sources of the compressed, rarefied air and gas and the electric current.