WO2014075940A1

WO2014075940A1 - Tubular-bag machine having a gas-adjusting device, and gas-adjusting device for such a tubular-bag machine

Info

Publication number: WO2014075940A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/072953
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcel Egli; Roland Weckerle; Michael Grether
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-11-14
Filing date: 2013-11-04
Publication date: 2014-05-22
Also published as: EP2920078A1; US20160288937A1; EP2920078B1; DE102012220730A1

Abstract

The invention specifies an in particular horizontal tubular-bag machine (5) in which objects (2) which are provided for packaging are conveyed along a conveying direction (6) by means of a conveying apparatus (51). The tubular-bag machine (5) has an apparatus (50, 43) for producing from a packaging sheet material (12) a packaging tube (13) extending in the conveying direction (6), and also has a longitudinal-connection device (53, 54) and a transverse-connection device (44) for producing longitudinal and transverse connections in the packaging tube (13). Also provided is a gas-adjusting device (8) with an introduction head (80) for engaging in the packaging tube (13) in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, wherein the introduction head (80) has a first gas-passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) and at least one second gas-passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) by way of which a gas is fed into the packaging tube (13) or removed therefrom.

Description

TITLE

Tubular bag machine with a Gaseinstellvorrichtung and Gaseinstellvorrichtung for such a bag machine

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a tubular bag machine with a Gaseinstellvorrichtung. The gas adjustment device is used, in particular, to remove air from a packaging tube formed by the tubular bag machine and / or to supply gas to the packaging tube. The invention also relates to a Gaseinstellvorrichtung and a method for adjusting the gas content of the packages for such a tubular bag machine.

STATE OF THE ART

In the packaging industry, tubular bag machines are used to package products in a packaging film. In principle, a distinction must be made between horizontal and vertical tubular bag machines.

In horizontal tubular bag machines, a packaging film unwound from a roll is formed around products or product groups which are fed in series into a tube which laterally encloses these products or product groups. Both the packaging tube and the products to be packaged are usually moved together and continuously by means of a conveying means in a direction which is substantially horizontal relative to the direction of gravity. The two longitudinal film edge regions of the packaging film are doing with their respective inner side to a so-called fin seam, which also as a longitudinal sealing seam can be designated, merged and glued together, sealed or welded. Subsequently, the packaging tube thus formed is welded transversely to the fin seam by two mutually opposing transverse sealing jaw pairs and at the same time or in a subsequent process step separated into individual packages.

In vertical bagging machines, by contrast, the packaging tube usually extends substantially in the direction of gravity and the machine drops the product to be packaged into the packaging tube after both the longitudinal seal and the transverse seal of the bottom of the package have already been formed.

In the case of tubular bag machines, there is the problem that too much air is trapped in the manufactured packages, which can lead to bloated packages. In order to prevent this, the tubular bag machines often have suction devices, by means of which the air is sucked out of the packaging tube immediately before sealing.

For example, CH 436 102 shows a device for packaging units of goods, in which air is sucked out of the packaging tube by means of a lance or tube extending in the conveying direction in the vicinity of the transverse weld. The disadvantage of such systems, in which a lance protrudes into the packaging tube, is that the lance in the packaging tube requires a relatively large amount of space and thereby increases the amount of packaging material in the packages produced. In the case of small and elongated products to be packaged, there is also a risk that the products will be displaced in the packaging tube on contact with the tube. With higher speeds of the machine, this effect is further enhanced. Further, in the event of a malfunction of the tubular bag machine and subsequent intervention by the operator re-introducing the lance in the packaging tube is relatively cumbersome, and there is also the risk that the lance will be damaged.

Especially for products which in contact with oxygen or air their In addition, properties often require a protective atmosphere in the packs to increase the shelf life of the products. These may be, for example, fresh foods, bakery products and pharmaceutical products, such as, in particular, blister tablets. Accordingly, in order to produce a protective atmosphere in the packages, the tubular bag machines often include means for supplying a protective gas, such as nitrogen, to the packaging tube immediately prior to sealing. By supplying the inert gas, the oxygen is displaced simultaneously. Often, however, additional suction devices are provided to separately suck off the air or oxygen for supplying the protective gas. In this way, the protective gas atmosphere can be optimally adjusted, and it can also be prevented in particular that the packages are not inflated too much by the supplied gas.

In CH 610 260 a horizontal tubular bag machine is described, in which immediately before a heated SchweissroUenpaar, which serves for welding the longitudinal seam, a flat nozzle protrudes from below between the two longitudinal film edge regions of the packaging tube. Through this flat nozzle air is sucked out of the packaging tube. Further flat nozzles may be provided to introduce a pressurized gas into the packaging tube to create a protective atmosphere in the packages. Roller pairs are respectively arranged between the individual flat nozzles in order to ensure a sealing of the packaging tube, so that no foreign air can penetrate into the tube between the flat nozzles or gas can escape from the tube. This design with a plurality of flat nozzles and roller pairs arranged between them is relatively complex and takes up a lot of space. In addition, the formation of leakage openings between the individual flat nozzles is unavoidable.

In the case of the above-mentioned tubular bag machines, the quantities of discharged air and supplied gas have to be readjusted each time depending on the respective package volume, the objects to be packed, the product distance on the conveyor, the running speed of the machine, etc. This adjustment must be performed and optimized by the operator by hand, which is a relatively tedious and time-consuming process. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tubular bag machine with a Gaseinstellvorrichtung, which has a simple and inexpensive construction, and which also allows efficient adjustment of the protective atmosphere in the packs and also can be used at higher powers. To solve this problem, a tubular bag machine is proposed, as indicated in claim 1. In addition, in claim 13, a Gaseinstellvorrichtung for such a tubular bag machine and in claim 15, a method for adjusting the gas content of packages by means of such a tubular bag machine specified. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In the following text, the term "gas" refers in each case to a substance and / or a mixture which is in the gaseous state of aggregation, which may be, for example, nitrogen or else air a gas passage of, for example, nitrogen or air in any direction is suitable.

The present invention thus provides a tubular bag machine, which is in particular a horizontal tubular bag machine, and which is used for packaging objects by means of a packaging film, comprising a conveyor for conveying objects, which are provided for packaging by means of the tubular bag machine along a conveying direction;

a device for producing a packaging tube extending in the conveying direction from a packaging film;

a longitudinal connection device for producing a longitudinal connection of the packaging tube along a longitudinal film edge region of the packaging film;

a cross connection device for producing cross connections in the packaging film, which extend substantially transversely to the longitudinal connection; such as

a Gaseinstellvorrichtung with an insertion head for engaging in the packaging tube transversely to the conveying direction, wherein the insertion head has a first gas passage opening for supplying or discharging a gas into or out of the packaging tube.

The introduction head also has at least one second gas passage opening for supplying or discharging a gas into or out of the packaging tube.

The provision of at least two gas passage openings on the insertion head allows an extremely simple and inexpensive construction of the flow wrapper. The Gaseinstellvorrichtung may in particular have a total of a very compact design, so that it can be retrofitted as a simple connector in a tubular bag machine of the prior art. By providing at least two gas passage openings, the Gaseinstellvorrichtung has a minimal space requirement and can be easily arranged, for example, directly between two pairs of rollers. In particular, no additional pairs of rollers are necessary for sealing between the individual gas passage openings. Simple guide plates, which are arranged laterally on the Gaseinstellvorrichtung, for example, already sufficient for this purpose.

Another advantage of the flow wrapper mentioned is that the gas passage openings can be arranged in the conveying direction at random distances from each other. Thus, in particular, an air extraction and a gas supply in the packaging tube with any distance from each other, whereby, inter alia, an optimal control of the Luftabsaugmenge and / or the Gaszuführmenge is made possible. It can even be provided a plurality of gas passage openings for the air extraction and / or a plurality of gas passage openings for the gas supply to the insertion, so that the distance of air extraction and gas supply even during operation of the tubular bag machine can still be changed by only a portion of the gas passages is selected for the air extraction or the gas supply. Alternatively, a plurality of gas passage openings for the air extraction and / or a plurality of gas passage openings for the gas supply can be used simultaneously in any order. The Gas setting device and thus the flow wrapper is thus very versatile and flexible.

The insertion head is in particular designed to intervene in the packaging tube in such a way that gas can be introduced into or removed from the packaging tube substantially in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The first and the second gas passage opening may each serve both for supplying gas or both for discharging gas. Preferably, however, one of these two gas passage openings for supplying and the other serves for the discharge of gas.

Preferably, the insertion head thus has at least one third gas passage opening in addition to the first and the second gas passage opening. The third gas passage opening can be used, for example, for a pressure measurement or other measurements except for the air extraction or the gas supply. It is also conceivable that different gases are introduced into the packaging tube through the various gas passage openings. Optionally, gases of different temperatures may also be introduced into the packaging tube through the various gas passage openings and intermixed therewith, e.g. to regulate the temperature in the hose. This can be advantageous if the gas warmed up in the finished pack subsequently cools down again and thereby reduces the volume of the pack.

In the areas between the individual gas passage openings, an optimal sealing of the packaging tube with respect to the Gaseinstellvorrichtung outwards to the surrounding atmosphere can be ensured because the side surfaces of the packaging tube or the longitudinal edge of the film wrapping film in these areas not several times by means of pairs of rollers first together and then again have to be taken apart. The tubular bag machine can thus be constructed in particular such that practically no leakage openings occur in the region of the gas adjustment device.

In order to achieve an optimum seal, the tubular bag machine usually has contact pressure elements and / or guide elements which laterally in the region of Gaseinstellvorrichtung or are arranged in the conveying direction immediately before and / or after the Gaseinstellvorrichtung and serve to press the longitudinal film edge regions of the packaging film to the Gaseinstellvorrichtung or to lead along this. For this purpose, pressure rollers and / or laterally mounted brushes are advantageously provided. Particularly advantageous these are resiliently pressed against the Gaseinstellvorrichtung. The pressure rollers may for this purpose have in particular elastically formed outer surfaces. Additionally or alternatively, guide elements such as, in particular, guide rollers can be provided which serve to guide the longitudinal foil edge regions along the gas adjustment device such that they rest against the introduction head and abut the insertion head, in particular in the region arranged downstream in the conveying direction from the gas passage opening, and in particular immediately afterward the gas adjustment so abut each other that in this area substantially no connection (leak) between the packaging tube and the environment may arise. In order to facilitate the insertion of a new packaging tube in the flow wrapper, the pressing and / or guide elements are advantageous in particular hydraulically or pneumatically removable from each other, in particular wegschwenkbar.

In a construction with virtually no leakage openings and gas passage openings arranged close to one another, an efficient regulation of the air extraction and / or the gas supply can be provided in particular. For this purpose, the tubular pouch machine preferably has a control and / or regulating unit which is designed to supply an air discharge quantity and / or gas supply quantity depending on the packing volume and / or the properties of the objects to be packaged and / or of the delivery settings of the gas adjustment device Conveyor and / or values to be measured by sensors on the Gaseinstellvorrichtung to optimize. The currently supplied or discharged gas can be accurately adjusted with the control and / or regulating unit. With the conveyor settings, in particular the speed at which the objects to be packaged are transported and the distances of the objects to be packaged are meant. At a start, after an interruption or when the machine is stopped or during operation, the conveying speed is changed, the control can the air suction and / or the gas supply continuously to the adjust changing conveyor speed. The sensors which are advantageously close to or, in particular, advantageously mounted directly on the introduction head of the gas adjustment device can be, for example, pressure sensors or sensors which measure the oxygen content in the packaging tube. For example, ultrasonic sensors or optical sensors may be present. By arranging a sensor near or directly at the insertion head in the region of the gas passage openings, the distances over which the gas has to be transported from the packaging tube to the sensor can be reduced, which enables a quick and accurate measurement. A rapid measurement in this context means, in particular, that during the time until the measurement result with respect to a particular package is established, fewer than 12 packages, preferably less than 6 packages, more preferably less than 3 packages are produced. The machine speed is advantageously at least 50 packs per minute, more preferably at least 150 packs per minute, and most advantageously at least 200 packs per minute. Advantageously, the control is set such that the amount of supplied gas as close as possible corresponds to the actual amount of gas required for the packs. The protective atmosphere in the packages can thus be adjusted in a very efficient manner.

Of course, a tubular bag machine may also have two or more such Gaseinstellvorrichtungen, between which in the conveying direction in particular in each case a seal can be done by means of pairs of rollers.

The tubular bag machine preferably shapes the tubular bag continuously, which means that the packaging tube and the tubular bag formed therefrom are preferably moved in the conveying direction at a substantially constant speed in the tubular bag machine. With a substantially constant speed is to be understood in this context that the film web and thus the packaging tube does not come to a halt to form the individual packages, and in particular its speed is not changed. Process-related speed changes, however, can occur, in particular to compensate for uneven Packgutzufuhr or compensate for missing Packgut, so that no empty packages arise, etc. The Gaseinstellvorrichtung advantageously forms a stationary unit of the tubular bag machine, which is stationary with respect to Machine frame of the bag machine is attached.

As conveying means for the feeding of the objects usually a chain is used with drivers, each driver transported one or more objects and passes at the point in the packaging tube, where it is formed. However, other conveyors are conceivable, such as e.g. a variety of magnetically driven linear motors that transport the objects. As a conveyor for the packaging tube with the objects therein usually arranged below a tread roller pairs are used, which are pressed against the longitudinal side foil edge regions opposite. The tread usually has a longitudinal slot for receiving the longitudinal film edge regions of the packaging film.

The longitudinal connection device may in particular be a longitudinal sealing device, which as a rule has heatable pairs of rollers. In the case of the longitudinal connection of the packaging tube, the two film edge regions of the packaging film which are superposed on one another with their inner side are usually connected to one another by means of the longitudinal connection device. The person skilled in the art, the resulting compound under the names "Finseal" or "Flossennaht" known. Also, "lapseal" or "overlap seams" are known, in which the inside of the one film edge region are placed over the outside of the other film edge region and thus joined together. The longitudinal connection device can in principle be designed for the production of finseal or else for the production of lapseal connections.

The cross-connection device can be, in particular, a rotating or revolving transverse sealing device known to the person skilled in the art, which, for example, has opposable heatable jaws which can be pressed against the packaging tube. Advantageously, the cross-connection device has a known from the prior art separation device, such as cutting or crushing knife, which are intended to separate the packages in the region of the cross-connections from each other. Advantageously, the longitudinal / transverse connecting device is designed as a longitudinal / transverse sealing device. Under a sealing device is usually understood a device which connects two layers of material by applying pressure and / or heat. The sealing device seals the packaging tube by sealing elements compressing the film edge regions from opposite sides of the packaging tube. The film edge regions can preferably have sealing layers which promote bonding of the material layers. Preferably, the sealing elements are heated and in addition to pressure heat to the film layers. Other methods are known which promote the sealing of the film layers, such as, for example, the application of high-frequency vibrations to the sealing jaws (ultrasonic sealing).

As a rule, the insertion head has a longitudinal direction extending in the conveying direction, and the second gas passage opening is arranged longitudinally below the first gas passage opening.

In a preferred embodiment, the insertion head has a first uninterrupted abutment surface and a second uninterrupted abutment surface, the first abutment surface for abutting a first side surface of the packaging tube and the second abutment surface for abutment with a second side surface of the packaging tube opposite the first side surface the first gas passage opening and the second gas passage opening are arranged between these two uninterrupted abutment surfaces. The abutment surfaces may each, but need not, be formed as a plane.

Advantageously, the insertion head has a main portion within which the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface extend substantially parallel to one another. The first gas passage opening and the second gas passage opening are then advantageously arranged in this main section. A close concern of the side surfaces of the packaging tube in the gas passage opening is ensured.

Preferably, the insertion head has a first wedge-shaped section, within which approach the first contact surface and the second contact surface in the conveying direction or in the longitudinal direction of each other wedge-shaped. This first wedge-shaped section is advantageously arranged between two rollers of the longitudinal connection device, which serve for sealing the longitudinal film edge regions of the packaging film. Alternatively or additionally, guide rollers may be provided which guide the longitudinal-side film edge regions in the conveying direction immediately after the wedge-shaped section towards each other. The side surfaces of the packaging tube can be brought together again after passing through the area with the gas passage openings and avoiding leakage openings.

In addition, the insertion head preferably additionally or additionally has a second wedge-shaped section, within which the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface approach each other in a wedge shape in a direction opposite to the longitudinal direction or counter to the conveying direction. A slow spreading of the longitudinal film edge regions of the packaging film in the conveying direction can be achieved without leakage openings occur. Of course, the gas passage openings can also be arranged in the areas of the first and / or second wedge-shaped section. If a main section with parallel abutment surfaces and / or a first wedge-shaped section and / or a second wedge-shaped section are present, the transitions of the first and the second abutment surface between these sections are preferably configured to be continuous. Of course, the transition regions can also be formed by means of an edge. Preferably, a gas passage opening is arranged within the first and / or the second wedge-shaped section. This gas passage opening is particularly suitable for measuring the gas properties, since it can be arranged directly in the region of the longitudinal and / or cross-connection device.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first gas passage opening and / or the second gas passage opening is formed as a slot, which has a substantially greater extent in the longitudinal direction of the insertion than perpendicular to it. Advantageously, the extension of the slot in the longitudinal direction of the insertion, so in the conveying direction, even greater by a multiple than perpendicular thereto. Preferably, the slot has a Width between 1 mm and 20 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 10 mm. Preferably, the slot has a length between 10 mm and 100 mm, more preferably between 20 mm and 50 mm. The gas passage opening can thereby be adapted to the shape and the movement of the packaging tube in the tubular bag machine, whereby a more efficient guest setting is achieved.

Usually, the Gaseinstellvorrichtung has at least one connecting piece, which is connected to the first gas passage opening or with the second gas passage opening, and which serves for connecting a gas supply or gas discharge. This connecting piece then preferably extends outwards substantially perpendicularly to the first lateral abutment surface and / or to the second lateral abutment surface. Particularly preferably, the connection piece extends outwards in a direction pointing horizontally and perpendicular to the conveying direction. The connection of vacuum lines, gas supply lines and / or measuring lines to the Gaseinstellvorrichtung is facilitated. Preferably, a separate connection piece is provided for each of the gas passage openings. But it is also conceivable that a single connection piece is connected to two or more gas passage openings. Furthermore, the Gaseinstellvorrichtung also have a control valve with which the gas supply and / or discharge can be controlled directly.

Preferably, the first gas passage opening, which is advantageously arranged in the conveying direction in front of the second gas passage opening, for sucking gas from the packaging tube and is in particular limited by an orifice structure, which is uneven in the mouth direction of the first gas passage opening. The mouth structure can be configured in particular corrugated. Such an orifice structure prevents the objects to be packaged from being attracted by the vacuum to the gas passage opening and sealing them laterally as a result, which would impair the extraction of the air or gas from the packaging tube and even lead to the objects becoming caught at the gas passage opening , Also, a gas supply opening serving for the gas supply can be limited by an orifice structure, which is uneven and particularly wavy in the mouth direction, to the gassing also to ensure at the moment in which the object to be packaged is located directly above the opening.

Advantageously, the insertion head has a continuous or uninterrupted, essentially flat mouth surface, within which both the first gas passage opening and the second gas passage opening and in particular, if present, further gas passage openings open outwards. The air extraction and the gas supply can be done in the same plane. Preferably, the first and / or the second gas passage opening extend in their mouth region in each case in a longitudinally inclined angle relative to the mouth surface. Thus, especially in gas supply openings, the gas flow direction into the packaging tube can be influenced. It is also a Gaseinstellvorrichtung for a tubular bag machine, which is designed as stated above, indicated. The Gaseinstellvorrichtung serves to adjust the gas content of packages, which are produced by means of the tubular bag machine from a packaging tube. The Gaseinstellvorrichtung has an insertion head for lateral engagement in the packaging tube, wherein the insertion head has a first gas passage opening and at least one second gas passage opening for supplying or discharging a gas into or out of the packaging tube. The insertion head is thus designed to engage in the packaging tube substantially transversely to the conveying direction. Advantageously, the insertion head on abutment surfaces for conditioning of side surfaces of the packaging tube, wherein the abutment surfaces extend continuously over approximately the entire length of the insertion head. It is even possible that the insertion head is integrally formed as a whole. There is also provided a method for adjusting the gas content of packages, which are produced by means of a tubular bag machine, which is designed in particular as stated above, from a conveyed in a conveying direction packaging tube, wherein formed by a formed on the packaging tube side opening Gas is discharged from the packaging tube and at the same time gas is introduced into the packaging tube through the same lateral opening.

When the machine is restarted, gas is preferably first introduced in an increased quantity through the gas inlet openings into the packaging tube, before the actual production of the packages then begins. As a result, the oxygen contained in the packaging tube can be displaced. Optionally, at the same time air can be sucked through a further gas passage opening. After a preset time or when the gas measurement provides a tolerable measurement result, the machine preferably begins automatically with the production of the packs. Particularly preferably, only gas is alternately sucked off after starting the engine for a short time intervals and only gas is supplied. This can be done in particular until the gas measurement delivers a tolerable measurement result. Subsequently, the machine advantageously begins automatically with the production of packages.

During a brief interruption of packing, the gas supply and / or exhaust is advantageously maintained (eg, for a certain time and / or until the operating state of the machine changes) to prevent the packaging tube from refilling with air, with a type of gas curtain , To save gas, while a reduced amount of gas can be added and removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a horizontal bagging machine according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a schematically represented horizontal tubular bag machine according to the invention; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tubular bag machine shown in FIG. 2; FIG. Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of an inventive

Tubular bag machine with Gaseinstellvorrichtung, wherein the tread and the packaging film are littered;

5 is a cross-sectional view of a schematically illustrated, according to the invention tubular bag machine in a transverse to

Conveying direction of the tubular bag machine extending plane;

6 is a perspective view of the invention shown in FIG. 4

Gaseinstellvorrichtung;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view in the plane VII-VII of the shown in Fig. 6

Gaseinstellvorrichtung;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken in the plane VIII-VIII of Fig. 6 shown

Gaseinstellvorrichtung;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view in the plane IX-IX of the shown in Fig. 8

Gaseinstellvorrichtung;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view in the plane X-X of the shown in Fig. 8

Gaseinstellvorrichtung; such as

Fig. 11 is a view of a Gaseinstellvorrichtung and unheated

Roller pairs, heated roller pairs and a guide unit one

Flow wrapper from above.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal tubular bag machine 4, as is well known from the prior art. As packaging material 1, the tubular bag machine 4 has a film roll 10, which contains a packaging film 12.

The tubular bag machine 4 has a machine frame 40 with operating and display elements 42 attached thereto. On the upper side of the tubular bag machine 4, a running surface 400 is provided, which has a longitudinal slot 401. This longitudinal slot 401 serves to receive the longitudinal-side film edge regions of the packaging film 12 formed into a packaging tube during transport of the objects to be packaged along the longitudinal direction of the tread 400. The tubular bag machine 4 shown in FIG. 1 also has a longitudinal connection device, not visible here, arranged below the tread 400 and a cross-connection and separation device 44, which in known manner seals the packaging tube 13 welded transversely to the conveying direction between the objects to be packaged and separated into individual packages. In the present case, the cross-connection and separation device 44 is a follower cross-connection and separation device 44 of the prior art, which runs along with the packaging tube over a certain distance in the conveying direction for producing a transverse connection.

The gas adjusting device according to the invention, as described below, can readily be used in the tubular bag machine of the prior art shown in FIG.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show diagrammatically a tubular bag machine 5 according to the invention. Components or components which have a similar effect or fulfill the same function as the corresponding components shown in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

As is usual with horizontal tubular bag machines of the prior art, a packaging tube 13 is also formed in the case of the tubular bag machine 5 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by means of a folding box 43 from a wrapping film 12 wound on a film roll 10, which objects to be packed 2 are arranged in series be transported by means of a conveyor chain 51 along a conveying direction (arrow 6) in the folding box 43, laterally, that is transversely to the conveying direction, encloses. For the transport of the objects 2, the conveyor chain 51 driver 510 on. The packaging film 12 is fed to the folding box 43 via deflection rollers 50. On the underside of the objects to be packaged 2, the two longitudinal film edge regions 120 of the packaging film 12 are brought together, so that they rest against each other with their inner side and finally form a fin seam.

Along the conveying direction indicated by the arrow 6 is the Packing tube 13 is supplied together with the objects to be packaged 2 an unheated pair of rollers 52, which presses the two longitudinal film edge portions 120 of the packaging film 12 from opposite directions against each other to seal the packaging tube 13 laterally or downwardly. Immediately following the unheated pair of rollers 52, a Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8 is arranged in the conveying direction 6, which protrudes with an insertion head 80 from below, between the two longitudinal film edge portions 120 of the packaging film 12 in a lateral opening of the packaging tube 13. In this case, the gas adjustment device 8 preferably protrudes into the packaging tube 13 so far that the upper side of the running surface 400 is substantially flush with the upper side of the gas adjustment device 8 substantially.

In the conveying direction 6 immediately downstream of the gas adjusting device 8, a first heatable pair of rollers 53 is arranged, which presses the two longitudinal film edge portions 120 of the packaging tube 13 sealingly against each other and heats up so that they are welded together. The pairs of rollers 52 and 53 are in particular arranged so directly before or after the Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8 that an escape and / or ingress of air from or into the packaging tube 13 in the area between the Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8 and the pair of rollers 52 and 53 is prevented , In the region of the gas adjustment device 8, lateral pressure elements 56 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) are provided in order to press the longitudinal foil edge regions 120 of the packaging film 12 against the gas adjustment device 8 from opposite sides. As pressing elements 56, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, roller pairs with preferably elastically formed outer surfaces are conceivable. The pressing elements 56 are used in particular to seal the packaging tube 13 with respect to the gas adjusting device 8 to the outside.

In the conveying direction 6 following the heatable pair of rollers 53, a preheating 57 is arranged below the running surface 400, which preheats the packaging tube 13 to an elevated temperature which is suitable for the final sealing. By means of a subsequent second heatable roller pair 54, the fin seam is finally finally welded. The heated roller pairs 53 and 54 and the Preheating 57 thus together form a longitudinal connection device. The roller pairs 52, 53 and 54, however, also constitute a conveying device in order to convey the packaging tube 13 and thus the objects 2 to be packaged along the conveying direction.

Subsequent to the longitudinal connection device 53, 54 and 57, a here rotating Querverbindungs- and separating device 44 is provided in the conveying direction 6, which has oppositely disposed, rotating shafts 440 and 441 with attached jaws 442 and 443. Knives 444, which are respectively attached to the jaws 442 and 443, are used to cut the packaging tube 13 transversely to the conveying direction 6. As a result, packages 3 are formed, which are received in the conveying direction 6 following the cross-linking and separating device 44 by a conveyor belt 55 for further processing become. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the tubular bag machine 5 has a vacuum pump 93, which serves for sucking air out of the packaging tube 13 through the gas adjusting device 8 and via a vacuum line 90. For producing a protective atmosphere in the packs 3, a gassing device 94 with a gas conveying means or fan is provided to introduce a corresponding gas, such as nitrogen, via a gas supply line 91 and through the gas adjusting device 8 into the packaging tube 13.

Particularly in the area of the gas adjustment device 8 arranged at the rear in the conveying direction 6, measurements can be carried out by means of one or more sensors in order to obtain information regarding the gas content present in the packaging tube 13 in this area. For example, the pressure or oxygen content in the packaging tube 13 can be examined. However, it is also possible for example to carry out an ultrasound measurement or an optical measurement in order to check the presence, the correct position and / or the distance of the individual objects 2 from one another. The results of these measurements are transmitted via a measuring line 92 to an evaluation unit 95. The transmission can be done, for example, electrically or optically via a fiber optic cable. Alternatively, could also directly through the measuring line 92 gas from the packaging tube 13 by the Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8 are sucked through to be analyzed in the evaluation unit 95 by a sensor.

Based on the results of the evaluation unit 95 and / or on adjustment parameters, which were entered into the system by means of the operating and display elements 42, by means of a control unit 96, a regulation of the vacuum pump 93 and the gassing 94 are made to the in the packaging tube 13 and in particular to optimize in the packs 3 prevailing gas content. For this purpose, the control unit 96 is connected to the evaluation unit 95, the gassing device 94 and the vacuum pump 93. The lines 90, 91, 92, the vacuum pump 93, the gassing device 94 and the units 95, 96 together form a gas supply and discharge device 9.

FIG. 4 shows a partial view of the tubular-bag machine 5, wherein in particular the arrangement of the gas-adjusting device 8 within the tubular-bag machine 5 is clearly recognizable. The packaging tube 13 and the pressing elements 56 are omitted in FIG. 4 for reasons of illustration. As already stated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas adjusting device 8 is arranged directly between the unheated pair of rollers 52 and the heated pair of rollers 53, which serves for the longitudinal sealing of the packaging tube 13. The insertion head 80 protrudes upward into the packaging tube 13 substantially parallel to the axes of rotation 520, 530 and 540 of the roller pairs 52, 53 and 54.

The gas adjustment device 8 here has a vacuum connecting piece 810 and two connecting pieces 811 and 812 for the gas supply, which extend substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction 6 horizontally between the roller pairs 52 and 53 outwardly. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the preheating 57 arranged immediately after the first heatable pair of rollers 53 has a longitudinal slot which serves to receive the two longitudinal film edge regions 120 of the packaging film 12 so that a preheating of these film edge regions 120 in the preheating 57 is made possible ,

In FIG. 4, the pressing elements 56, which are the longitudinal foil edge regions 120 of the packaging film 12 press on the insertion head 80, not shown. However, the pressing elements 56 can be seen in FIG. The pressing elements 56 may be formed as rollers and / or as guide elements, such as guide plates, which may extend in particular in the conveying direction over the entire length of the insertion head 80.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the packaging tube 13 bounds, in the region of the gas adjustment device 8, together with the top side of the insertion head 80, an interior 7 that is tightly sealed toward the outside, in which the object 2 to be packaged is accommodated.

FIGS. 6 to 10 show a gas adjusting device 8 according to an embodiment of the invention. The Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8 has an integrally formed here total insertion head 80, which is suitable for engaging in the packaging tube 13 transverse to the conveying direction 6. The insertion head 80 has two lateral abutment surfaces 800 which serve to abut the two longitudinal film edge regions 120 of the packaging film 12. Since the lateral abutment surfaces 800 each extend in the conveying direction 6 uninterrupted over the entire length of the insertion head 80, an opposite concern of the side surfaces of the packaging tube 13 at the insertion head 80 over the entire length of the insertion head 80 is possible.

The insertion head 80 has a main portion, within which the two abutment surfaces 800 extend completely parallel to each other. Following this main section, a wedge-shaped section 801 is arranged, both in the conveying direction and in the direction counter to the conveying direction, in which the lateral abutment surfaces 800, starting from the main section, approach each other in a wedge shape. The wedge-shaped sections 801 are used for spreading and subsequent merging of the side surfaces of the packaging tube thirteenth

Within the main section, the insertion head 80 has a suction opening 802 and two gassing openings 804 and 805, which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. In this case, in the conveying direction 6, the gassing openings 804 and 805 arranged downstream of the suction opening 802. The suction opening 802 and the gassing openings 804 and 805 are each formed as a slot having a substantially greater extent in the longitudinal direction of the insertion head 80 and in the conveying direction than perpendicular to it. The openings 802, 804 and 805 each open in the region of a newly formed mouth surface 809, which forms the top of the insertion head 80. Because there are two gassing openings 804 and 805, the distance of the gassing opening to the suction opening 802 or the area of the entire effective gassing opening is flexibly adjustable. In order to ensure a suction of air from the packaging tube 13 through the suction opening 802, even if an object to be packaged 2 is located directly in the region of the suction opening 802 and is attracted by the vacuum, the suction opening 802 is laterally formed by an upwardly wavy Mouth structure 806 limited.

Between the suction opening 802 and the gassing opening 804, the insertion head 80 has a circular sensor opening 803, which is suitable for receiving a sensor. This may be, for example, an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor for measuring the distance between the objects 2 to be packaged.

In the wedge-shaped section 801 adjoining the main section immediately adjacent to the suction opening 802, an additional gassing opening 807 is provided, which is smaller by a multiple compared to the gassing openings 804 and 805. The gassing opening 807 serves in particular for introducing gas in the conveying direction respectively directly in front of and behind the objects 2 to be packaged. By means of this additional gassing opening 807, the efficiency with regard to the supply of gas into the packaging tube 13 can be improved. In the conveying direction at the insertion head 80 at the rearmost arranged wedge-shaped portion 801, a sensor opening 808 is provided which serves to measure the oxygen content in the packaging tube 13. The sensor opening 808 may be for inserting a sensor or for aspirating gas which then becomes a sensor is served, serve. Characterized in that the sensor opening 808 is arranged in the conveying direction very close to the gas passage openings 802, 804 and 805, in the case of a non-quality specifications corresponding measurement result can be reacted immediately, and the relevant (s) package (s) 3, for example by means of compressed air be sorted out in the area of the conveyor belt 55. In the area of the conveyor belt 55, therefore, a blow-out device is advantageously arranged. Alternatively, of course, if necessary, the machine can be stopped immediately. In particular, it can be prevented that a large number of faulty packages are not produced until the measurement result is known and can be reacted.

At the bottom of the insertion head 80, a distributor housing 81 is attached, which forms part of the Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8. This distributor housing 81 has a Luftsammeikammer 813 and Gassammeikammern 814 and 815, in which the suction opening 802 and the gassing openings 804 and 805 open. In order to allow air extraction through the suction opening 802 and the Luftsammeikammer 813, a vacuum port 810 for connecting the vacuum line 90 is provided on the distributor housing 81, which opens into the Luftsammeikammer 813. Similarly, connecting stubs 81 1 and 812 are provided, which serve to connect gas supply lines 91 and open into the gas collecting chamber 814 or 815. Both the vacuum connecting piece 810 and the connecting pieces 811, 812 for the gas supply each extend substantially perpendicular to the lateral abutment surfaces 800 in the region of the main portion of the insertion head outwards.

Downwards, ie on the opposite side of the insertion head 80, the Gaseinstellvorrichtung 8 has a bottom plate 817 which seals the Luftsammeikammer 813 and the Gassammeikammern 814 and 815 downwards. On the bottom plate 817, two additional connecting pieces 816 are mounted, which extend perpendicular to the bottom plate 817 downwards. The first of these connecting stubs 816, which can be seen in FIG. 8, is connected to the sensor opening 808. The second of these additional connecting piece 816 is not visible in the figures. It extends parallel to the first connecting piece 816 downwards and communicates with the gassing 807 in connection. The connecting pieces 816 are used to connect lines, which with the gassing 807 and the sensor opening 808 in Connection stand. By means of screws 818, the bottom plate 817 is fastened to the distributor housing 81 from below.

FIG. 11 shows a gas adjusting device in a view from above. Elements having the same or similar function or effect as corresponding elements listed in FIGS. 1 to 10 each have the same reference number as these elements. The tubular bag machine here has a guide unit 100 arranged in the region of the gas adjusting device. This guide unit 100 serves to guide the longitudinal film edge regions 120 of the packaging film 12 close to the abutment surfaces 800 adjacent to the insertion head 80 and immediately after the insertion head 80 to merge the film edge regions 120 in such a way that there is no leakage between the insertion head 80 and the seal roller pair 53 is formed. In this case, the guide unit 100 ensures, in particular, that the foil edge regions 120 in the region of the gassing opening 804 or, if there are several, in the region of the gassing openings 804, 805 and in the downstream direction thereof in the conveying direction 6 of the insertion head 80 rests tightly against the abutment surfaces 800 , It is also ensured that the two foil edge regions 120 are close to each other immediately after the insertion head 80 and the sealing roller pair 53 and no gas and / or air from the resp. can enter the interior of the packaging tube 13. With a close concern to the abutment surfaces 800 of the insertion head leak openings between the film edge regions 120 and the insertion head 80 are avoided.

The guide unit 100 has two guide rollers 101, which guide the film edge regions 120 subsequently to the insertion head 80 from opposite sides toward one another. Along the conveying direction 6, the guide rollers 101 are thus arranged downward to the insertion head 80. So that packaging films 12 with unevenly thick film edge regions 120 can be carried out between the guide rollers 101 without any problems, they are also arranged at a slight distance from one another in the regular operation of the tubular bag machine. The foil edge regions 120 are thus guided toward each other by the guide rollers 101, as a rule, but not pressed against one another. Likewise, thicker film edge areas at splice points, as in the case of film production in the case of splicing Merging of film parts arise, can be processed easily.

In order to facilitate the insertion of a new packaging film 12 in the tubular bag machine, the guide rollers 101 are pivoted away from each other. They are each attached to a first end of a lever arm 103 for this purpose. Preferably, the two lever arms 103 are each acted upon by a spring force such that they press the guide rollers 101 towards each other. The lever arms 103 are each hydraulically or pneumatically pivotable about a pivot axis 104 by means of a cylinder 102, for example. For this purpose, the cylinders 102 each have a piston which is connected to the respectively second end of the lever arm 103. This swiveling apart can be carried out even with very thick splices, as described above, during the continuous operation of the machine.

Of course, the invention described herein is not limited to the mentioned embodiment, and a variety of modifications are possible. For example, the gas adjustment device could also have a smaller number of suction or gassing openings. For example, there could be only two gassing openings or only one gassing opening and one suction opening. However, there must be at least two openings which allow gas to pass through the insertion head. The two lateral abutment surfaces of the insertion head need not necessarily be arranged in a main portion parallel to each other. It would also be conceivable that the two wedge-shaped sections 801 directly adjoin one another and the suction and / or gassing openings are arranged within these wedge-shaped sections. The lateral abutment surfaces of the insertion head could also each be inclined in the vertical direction. Instead of just a single object, it would also be possible to pack several objects together in one pack by means of the tubular bag machine. Furthermore, the Gaseinstellvorrichtung could also be used exclusively for sucking air from the packaging tube or exclusively for supplying gas into the packaging tube. In this case, the tubular bag machine could, in addition to the gas adjustment device, have a lance projecting into the packaging tube, which accomplishes the gassing or the air suction. Instead of continuously, the tubular bag machine can also be operated clocked. A Variety of other modifications is conceivable.

Claims

1. tubular bag machine (5), which is in particular a horizontal tubular bag machine (5), and which for packaging objects (2) by means of a packaging film (12) is used, comprising

a conveying device (51) for conveying objects (2), which are provided for packaging by means of the tubular bag machine (5), along a conveying direction (6);

a device (50, 43) for producing a packaging tube (13) extending in the conveying direction (6) from a packaging film (12); a longitudinal connection device (53, 54) for producing a longitudinal connection of the packaging tube (13) along a longitudinal film edge region (120) of the packaging film (12);

a cross-connection device (44) for producing cross-connections in the packaging film (12), which extend substantially transversely to the longitudinal connection; such as

a Gaseinstellvorrichtung (8) with an insertion head (80) for engaging in the packaging tube (13) transversely to the conveying direction, wherein the insertion head (80) has a first gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) for supplying or discharging a gas in or from the packaging tube (13), characterized in that

the introduction head (80) has at least one second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) for supplying or discharging a gas into or out of the packaging tube (13).

2. tubular pouch machine (5) according to claim 1, wherein the insertion head (80) in the conveying direction (6) extending longitudinal direction, and wherein the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 808) in the longitudinal direction subsequent to the first gas passage opening (802 , 804, 805, 807) is arranged.

3. tubular bag machine (5) according to claim 2, wherein the first gas passage opening (802) for sucking air from the Packaging tube (13) is used, and wherein the second gas passage opening (804, 805, 808) for supplying gas into the packaging tube (13) is used.

The flow wrapper (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insertion head (80) has a first continuous abutment surface (800) and a second continuous abutment surface (800), the first abutment surface (800) for abutting a first side surface (800). 120) of the packaging tube (13) and the second abutment surface (800) for abutment of a second, the first side surface (120) opposite side surface (120) of the packaging tube (13) is used, and wherein the first gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) and the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) between these two continuous abutment surfaces (800) are arranged.

5. The tubular bag machine (5) according to claim 4, wherein the insertion head (80) has a main portion within which the first abutment surface (800) and the second abutment surface (800) extend substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the first gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) and the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) are arranged in this main section.

6. tubular pouch machine (5) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the insertion head (80) has a first wedge-shaped portion (801), within which the first abutment surface (800) and the second abutment surface (800) approach each other in the longitudinal direction wedge-shaped , and / or a second wedge-shaped portion (801) within which the first abutment surface (800) and the second abutment surface (800) in a direction opposite to the longitudinal direction approach each other in a wedge shape.

7. tubular pouch machine (5) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) and / or the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) formed as a slot is, which in the longitudinal direction of the insertion head (80) is a much larger Expansion has as perpendicular to it.

8. A tubular bag machine (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion head (80) in addition to the first and the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) at least one third gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808).

9. tubular pouch machine (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and / or the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) for sucking gas from the packaging tube (13) and from an orifice structure (806) is limited, which is formed uneven in the mouth direction of the first gas passage opening (802).

10. The tubular bag machine (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion head (80) has a continuous, substantially flat mouth surface (809), within which both the first gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) and the second gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) open to the outside.

11. tubular bag machine (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion head (80) has at least one sensor for measuring the gas properties in the packaging tube (13).

12. tubular pouch machine (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular pouch machine (5) has a control unit (96) which is adapted to a gas through the Gaseinstellvorrichtung (8) flowing Gaszuführ- and / or Abführmenge depending on the pack volume and / or from the properties of the objects to be packaged (2) and / or from the delivery settings of the conveyor (51) and / or values measured by sensors on the gas adjustment device (8).

13. Gaseinstellvorrichtung (8) for a particular horizontal flow wrapper (5) according to one of claims 1 to 12 for adjusting the gas content of packages (3), which are produced by means of the tubular bag machine (5) from a packaging tube (13), comprising

an introducer head (80) for laterally engaging the packaging tube (13), the introducer head (80) having a first gas passage opening (802, 804, 805, 807, 808) for feeding or discharging a gas into or out of the packaging tube (13) having,

characterized in that

14. Gaseinstellvorrichtung (8) according to claim 13, wherein the insertion head (80) abutment surfaces (800) for abutment of side surfaces (120) of the packaging tube (13), wherein the abutment surfaces (800) continuously over approximately the entire length of the Einführkopfes ( 80).

15. A method for adjusting the gas content of packages (3) which are produced by means of a tubular bag machine (5), in particular a tubular bag machine according to one of claims 1 to 12, from a conveyed in a conveying direction packaging tube (13), wherein by a on the packaging tube (13) gas is discharged from the packaging tube (13) and simultaneously gas is introduced into the packaging tube (13) through the same lateral opening.