WO2014198613A1

WO2014198613A1 - Packaging machine having a sealing means

Info

Publication number: WO2014198613A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/061623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reiner Paul
Original assignee: Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-06-12
Filing date: 2014-06-04
Publication date: 2014-12-18
Also published as: BR112015030694A2; US20160130024A1; CN105408212A; RU2652160C2; MX2015016870A; EP3007982A1; EP3007982B1; RU2016100208A; ES2632249T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging machine comprising a sealing station which uses a sealing means to join an upper film web to a lower film web by sealing, said sealing means having at least one opening which is connected to a vacuum source and/or a source of substitute gas. The present invention also relates to a sealing frame.

Description

Packaging machine with a sealant

The present invention relates to a packaging machine with a sealing station, which seals a top film web to a bottom film web with a sealing agent, wherein the

Sealant having at least one opening which is connected to a vacuum source and / or a replacement gas source. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sealing glasses.

Such packaging machines are well known from the prior art and are used, for example, to a deep-drawn in the lower film web

Packaging tray, which has subsequently been filled, with a cover sheet to

close by sealing the top film to the bottom film. Prior to sealing, these packages often have gas exchange in and / or in front of the sealing station, i. the air or gas present in the interior of the packaging is sucked off by means of a negative pressure and / or at least partially replaced by a replacement gas introduced between the upper and lower films, in particular blown. Nowadays, these packaging machines usually produce several packages per machine cycle at the same time, in which the gas exchange is preferably carried out individually or identically.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine that meets these requirements.

The object is achieved with a packaging machine with a sealing station, which seals a top film web to a bottom film web with a sealing agent, wherein the

Sealant having at least one opening which is connected to a vacuum source and / or an exchange gas source, wherein in the sealing means at least one valve is provided, with which the gas flow is adjustable at the opening.

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

Packaging machines, a sub-film web, in particular cyclically, transported along the packaging machine and initially one or more packaging tray (s) formed in the lower film web. Each packaging tray is then filled in a filling station with a packaged product, in particular food slices, or other countable and / or countable packaged goods, in particular food, and then with a lid film, which is attached to the packaging tray, in particular sealed, closed. Preferably, at a clock a plurality of

Packaging trays are essentially deep-drawn, filled and filled at one and the same time Cover foil provided. This variety of packaging trays is called a so-called format containing (X * Y packaging trays).

The sealing of the upper film to the lower film takes place under the influence of heat and pressure with a sealant. This sealing means is preferably a heated sealing frame, which defines the shape of the sealing seam and which generally has per recess a packaging recess which at least partially receives the packaging recess during sealing. The sealing frame seals the cover film to all packaging troughs of a format at the same time, is preferably provided below the lower film web and is preferably lifted for sealing and preferably lowered after sealing. When lifting the sealing frame is pressed against an upper tool, such as a sealing frame or a plate. The two film webs, which are located between the sealing glasses and the upper tool, pressed together and sealed under the influence of heat to each other.

According to the invention, a sealing tool, in particular the sealing glasses, now has at least one opening which is connected to a vacuum source and / or an exchange gas source. Through this opening, either existing air is sucked between the two film webs and / or injected a replacement gas between the two film webs. The openings preferably extend in a row which runs parallel to the transport direction of the lower film web. For gas exchange, at least one, preferably a plurality of holes are preferably introduced into the lower film web before the sealing station, through which the gas passes into the space between the two film webs or is sucked out of it. Alternatively, the vacuum can also be introduced by means of longitudinally and / or transversely arranged nozzles, so-called transverse or longitudinal nozzles, as disclosed for example in DE 102006020360, and / or the gas exchange can take place.

According to the invention, a valve is now provided in the sealing means or at least one nozzle, with which the flow at the opening is adjustable, i. For example, volume flow per time, flow direction and / or flow rate.

In particular, if there are a plurality of openings in the sealant, the gas flow, i. the intake of the air and / or the blowing of the exchange gas per packaging tray of a format are controlled individually or in groups. This makes it possible per format in the packaging wells to obtain substantially the same gas atmosphere or specifically to achieve different ratios.

Preferably, a conduit, for example in the form of a bore, which connects one or more openings to a vacuum and / or exchange gas source is provided in the tool, in particular in the sealing gland. In this line is now a valve provided with which the cross section of the conduit can be changed at the location of the valve to adjust the flow resistance and thus the amount of gas sucked into the opening or blown out of the opening, or the flow rate of the gas. Targeted adjustment of the flow velocity of the gas can

For example, it can be used to prevent light and / or moving, slipping, or even fly-away products, such as low-fat sausage slices with little stick-on effect, from moving and / or flying away.

Preferably, a blind hole is provided in the line into which a cylinder is inserted with a through hole. The through hole can be completely or only partially aligned with the line and thereby change the flow cross section. But it is also possible to screw into the blind hole a screw or a valve tappet, which changes the cross section of the blind hole and thus the line.

The valve can be driven manually or by motor.

The adjustment of each valve may be automatic, for example, by a sensor measuring the atmosphere in the package or the flow rate at the port and then adjusting the respective valve accordingly.

Preferably, the sealing tool, in particular the sealing glasses, a plurality of openings whose flow is at least partially, preferably completely adjustable individually.

Preferably, the valve has a securing means, which secures it in its respective position, so that it does not move automatically during operation of the packaging machine. Such a securing means is for example a paint.

Another object of the present invention is a sealing glasses, having an opening which is connected to a line, wherein in the conduit a valve is provided, with which a gas flow from or into the opening is adjustable.

The statements made on this subject of the present invention apply equally to the packaging machine according to the invention and vice versa.

Preferably, the sealing glasses on a plurality of openings, which are preferably provided on opposite sides, in particular along a line.

Preferably, each opening is connected to a gas line, which is preferably incorporated in the wall of the sealing glasses, in particular by drilling. Each gas line is connected to a source of vacuum and / or exchange gas. In each of these lines a valve provided, with which the gas flow can be adjusted by the respective line.

Preferably, a blind hole is provided in each line, which serves as a seat for a valve body, such as a cylinder or in which a valve body can be screwed.

Another object of the present invention is a nozzle, preferably a transverse and / or longitudinal nozzle, comprising one or more openings, which are connected to a conduit, wherein in one or each line, a valve is provided, with a gas flow from or in the opening is adjustable.

The inventions will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. These

Explanations are merely exemplary and limit the general

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

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

Figure 2 shows the sealant, here a sealant.

FIG. 3 shows a valve

FIG. 1 shows the packaging machine 1 according to the invention, which has a thermoforming station 2, a filling station 7 and a sealing station 15. A sub-web 8, here one

Plastic film web 8, is withdrawn from a supply roll and cyclically transported along the packaging machine according to the invention from right to left. At one cycle, the lower film web 8 is transported on by one format length. For this purpose, the packaging machine has two transport means (not shown), in the present case in each case two endless chains, which are arranged to the right and left of the lower film web 8. Both at the beginning and at the end of the packaging machine at least one gear is provided for each chain in each case, around which the respective chain is deflected. At least one of these gears is driven. The gears in the input area and / or in the output area may be connected to each other, preferably by a rigid shaft. Each transport means has a plurality of clamping means, which the Sub - film web 8 in the inlet region 19 clamped grip and the movement of the

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

Packaging machine, the clamping connection between the transport and the lower film web 8 is released again. Downstream of the inlet region 19, a heating means 13 is provided, which heats the film web 8, especially when it is stationary. In the thermoforming station 2, which has an upper tool 3 and a lower tool 4, which has the shape of the packaging tray to be produced, the packaging trays 6 are formed in the warmed film web 8. The lower tool 4 is arranged on a lifting table 5, which, as symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable. Before each film feed, the lower tool 4 is lowered and then raised again. In the further course of the packaging machine, the packaging trays are then filled in the filling station 7 with the packaged goods 16. In the adjoining

Sealing station 15, which also consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 1 1, a top film 14 is firmly bonded by sealing, attached to the lower film web 8. Also in the sealing station, the upper tool and / or the lower tool are lowered or raised before and after each film transport. The upper film 14 may be guided in means of transport or be transported by transport chains, this transport then only from the sealing station and possibly

extend downstream. Otherwise, the statements that have been made to the means of transport of the lower film apply. The upper foil can also be warmed up with a heating medium and deep-drawn. For sealing, for example, a heatable sealing frame is provided as a lower tool 11, which per opening has an opening into which the packaging recess is sealed during sealing, i. in the upward movement of the

Submerged dipping tool. For sealing, the upper and the lower film web between the upper and the lower tool 12, 1 1 are pressed together and connect under the influence of heat and pressure. After sealing, the tools 1 1, 12 are moved apart vertically again. Before and / or when sealing the top film to the

Bottom film is in each packaging recess a gas exchange. For this, the air present in the packaging recess is first partially sucked off and then replaced by a replacement gas. For this purpose, in the region of each format holes are introduced into the lower film web in the lower film in the region of the transport chains, through which the air is sucked between the film webs 8, 14 and the replacement gas is then blown in. In the further course of the packaging machine, the finished packages are separated, which in the present case with the cross cutter 18 and the

Slitter 17 takes place. The cross cutter 18 can also be raised or lowered in the present case with a lifting device 9. FIG. 2 shows details of the sealing glasses 20, which in the present case represents the lower tool 11. This sealing glasses is heated to seal and accordingly has not shown heating means. In its edge region, the sealing glasses have a plurality of openings 22 through which air can flow or a replacement gas can flow out. These openings 22 are each connected to a conduit 21 in the sealing glasses

is incorporated, drilled here, and connects each opening 22 to a vacuum and / or exchange gas source. In line 21, a valve is provided in each case, with which the gas flow from the opening 22 or into the opening 22 can be adjusted or regulated. In the present case, the valve is provided as a blind hole in the conduit 21, which serves as a valve seat for a valve body 23, here a cylindrical body with a

Through hole 25 is used. The body has a seal 26, here an O-ring seal, and is arranged in the blind hole so that the through-bore 25 can be aligned with the conduit 21 when the valve is to be fully opened. By turning the

Valve body in clockwise or counterclockwise, however, reduces the overlap of the through hole 25 and the line 21, thereby reducing the flow through the conduit 21 is reduced. A complete shut-off of the gas flow is possible. The valve body has in the present case a slot which can receive the tip of a screwdriver, with which the adjustment of the valve takes place. With the optional existing fastener 24, the valve is secured against falling out and after setting the desired flow, the valve is preferably secured, for example with locking paint against adjustment.

FIG. 3 shows the valve body 23 in detail.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 packaging machine

2 forming station, thermoforming station

3 upper tool of the thermoforming station

4 lower tool of thermoforming station

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

6 packaging tray

7 first filling station

8 film web, bottom film web

9 lifting device

10 drive

1 1 lower tool of the sealing station

12 upper tool of the sealing station

13 heating means

14 top film web, lid film

15 sealing station

16 packaged goods

17 slitter

18 cross cutters

19 inlet area

20 sealants

21 line

22 opening

23 valve body

24 fasteners

25 passage

26 seal

Claims

claims:

1 . Packaging machine (1) with a sealing station (15), which seals a top film web (14) to a bottom film web (8) with a sealing means (1 1, 12, 20), wherein the sealing means (11, 12, 20) has at least one opening (22) connected to a vacuum source and / or an exchange gas source

characterized in that in the sealing means (1 1, 12, 20) or a nozzle in the sealing station at least one valve (23) is provided, with which the flow at the opening (22) is adjustable.

2. Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Sealant is a sealant.

3. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the sealing means comprises a plurality of openings (22) whose flow is at least partially, preferably completely individually adjustable.

4. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the valve can be driven manually or by motor.

5. Sealing gland (20) comprising an opening connected to a conduit,

characterized in that in the line a valve (23) is provided, with which a gas flow from or into the opening is adjustable.

6. nozzle, preferably a transverse and / or longitudinal nozzle, comprising one or more openings, which are connected to a line, wherein in one or each line, a valve is provided, with which a gas flow from or into the opening is adjustable.