Patent Application
20250145317
The invention concerns a packaging device, a packaging machine, a filling system, and a method for operating a packaging device.
From the prior art, packaging machines for packaging filling materials, for example food products, in containers and/or bottles are already known. Furthermore, packaging machines designed as closing machines are known, which are configured for a closing, in particular a sealing, of containers and/or bottles, namely a plurality of containers and/or bottles on a plurality of paths, by means of packaging materials. Such packaging machines thus have a high machine turnout. Especially for such machines a good accessibility for refilling and/or exchanging of packaging materials in at least one packaging material store of the packaging machine is indispensable. With a high machine turnout, it may be the case that a refilling and/or exchanging of the packaging material store is necessary several times per hour. From the prior art, it is already known to fill and/or exchange the packaging material store in a refilling position directly above a working position within the packaging machine. It is also already known to move the packaging store at least partially sideways out of a machine frame of the packaging machine by means of a horizontal movement. Due to considerable size differences between a machine and an operator of the machine, the filling and/or exchanging of packaging materials in the packaging material store requires considerable effort and is associated with increased time expenditure. Moreover, often aids, such as lifting platforms and/or walkable platforms and/or pedestals, are required in order to be able to ensure a fast reachability of the packaging material store in the refilling position for the operator. However, this requires an increased effort and involves some safety risks for the operator, such as the inhalation of gases from a sterilization process of the machine when the operator is situated directly above the machine for reaching the refilling position, and/or there is a burn risk at possibly hot pipes arranged above the machine for process technical purposes. Due to the difficult accessibility of the packaging material store according to the described prior art, often there may often be faulty and/or incomplete loading and/or faulty and/or incomplete filling of the packaging material store, which leads to time-consuming consequential disturbances in the operation process of the machine. Furthermore, for example, an exchange of the entire packaging material store also requires considerable input and is complicated.
From DE 10 2009 042 211 A1, EP 0 411 523 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,531 B2, packaging devices with a carrier unit for receiving at least one packaging material store, which is configured to move the packaging material store from a working position into a refilling position by a first movement and at least one subsequent second movement, are already known.
The invention is based on a packaging device, in particular a closing device, with a carrier unit for receiving at least one packaging material store, which is configured to move the packaging material store from a working position into a refilling position by a first movement and at least one subsequent second movement, wherein the carrier unit is configured to move the packaging material store from the working position into the refilling position by a subsequent third movement, the third movement being a movement along a height direction.
It is proposed that the packaging material store is realized as a packaging material magazine and is configured to accommodate a plurality of packaging materials.
Such an implementation permits augmenting comfort with respect to an operator comfort. Due to the subsequent third movement according to the invention for moving at least one packaging material store from a working position into a refilling position, at least a filling and/or an exchange and/or a subsequent loading of packaging materials into the packaging material store can be made easier and more comfortable for an operator. It is furthermore possible, in contrast to the known prior art, to provide a refilling position which is ergonomically easily accessible for the operator and which can be advantageously reached by the operator without further aids. Furthermore, this allows improving accessibility as well as increasing safety, in particular for the operator. It is further possible to increase efficiency, with respect to product efficiency and/or cost efficiency and/or work efficiency and/or operation efficiency, since faulty and/or incomplete loading and/or faulty and/or incomplete filling of the packaging material store can be reduced, a precision, in particular a working precision, can be augmented, and thus time expenditure and/or costs are reducible. Furthermore, an exchange and/or replacement of the entire packaging material store, for example for maintenance purposes, for cleaning and/or for repair, can be advantageously improved, namely facilitated and/or made safer and/or more comfortable.
The packaging device preferably forms a subassembly of a packaging machine, in particular of a closing machine. However, it would also be conceivable for the packaging device to comprise the entire packaging machine. The packaging machine is configured, without being limited thereto, for a packaging of filling materials. The filling material may be a liquid, pasty and/or chunky product, advantageously a food product, a pharmaceutical product, a consumer product and/or a beauty and/or body care product, such as for example sauces, dairy products, in particular yoghurts, bread spreads, pastes, ready-made meals, confectionery products, creams and/or shampoos or the like. Preferentially the packaging machine that is realized as a closing machine is configured for a closing of at least one receiving unit. Particularly preferably the packaging device is a sealing device for a sealing at least of the receiving unit, in particular of several receiving units. The receiving unit may for example be a container, a cup, a bottle, a tray or the like. In particular, the receiving unit is configured for receiving the filling material. Advantageously, the receiving unit can be packaged, in particular closed, preferably sealed, with a packaging material. The packaging material is preferably configured, by means of the closing, in particular the sealing, for a watertight and/or gastight closing of the receiving unit.
It would also be conceivable that the packaging machine may be realized as a forming, filling and closing machine and may be configured for a forming at least of the receiving unit with at least one cavity, for a subsequent filling of the at least one cavity at least with the filling material and for a subsequent packaging, in particular closing, at least of the filled cavity. The packaging machine is particularly preferably part of a filling system, in particular of a food product filling system. The filling system is configured, without being limited thereto, for an at least partially automatic filling of filling material. It would also be conceivable for the filling system to be configured for preparing and subsequent filling food products, in particular dishes and/or meals. In particular, the filling system is in a factory configured for producing products. The filling system may comprise a plurality of units and/or devices which may be used for a treatment and/or processing and/or production and/or filling and/or packaging of filling material, in particular products.
In particular depending on the filling material, the receiving unit and/or the packaging material may at least partially or at least to a large portion consist of and/or be producible from a metal, a mineral, for example glass, and/or paper and/or a fiber-based material and/or wood and/or ceramic and/or plastic and/or a composite material. The receiving unit and the packaging material may consist of and/or be produced from the same material or from different materials. In the present case, the term “to a large portion” is to mean, for example, at least 55%, advantageously at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 85% and particularly advantageously at most 95% of a volume and/or mass fraction.
Preferably the packaging material and/or the receiving unit are/is at least partially or at least to a large portion made of a plastic and/or of a fiber-based packaging material, for example a paper-based packaging material, and/or of a composite material. A “fiber-based packaging material” is to be understood as a packaging material that was obtained at least to a large portion of at least 55 weight %, in particular at least 65 weight %, advantageously at least 75 weight %, particularly advantageously at least 85 weight %, preferably at least 95 weight % and particularly preferably at least 99 weight %, from plant starting materials, in particular from wood, and/or was recycled from products of plant starting materials. For example, the fiber-based packaging material may comprise pulps, in particular cellulose, and/or wood materials and/or waste paper materials, and may in particular be realized as paper and/or cardboard. The fiber-based packaging material could be realized completely from one or more plant starting materials. It is also conceivable that the fiber-based packaging material is a composite material that consists of a plant starting material coated with plastic.
The packaging material may for example be a stopper, a cork and/or particularly preferably a cover, in particular a pull-off cover. Preferably the packaging material, in particular the cover, is realized in a foil-shaped or plate-shaped manner, in particular as a sealing lid, for a closing of the receiving unit. In particular, the packaging machine is configured for connecting and closing, in particular sealing—by means of force transmission and/or energy transmission—the packaging material, in particular the cover, with the receiving unit in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner, preferably by substance-to-substance bond.
Preferably at least the packaging material store is part of the packaging device. In particular, the packaging material store is configured for accommodating packaging material. Advantageously the packaging material store is a lid store, in particular a sealing lid store. Preferentially the packaging material store is realized as a packaging material magazine and is configured to accommodate several packaging materials. The packaging material store may comprise at least one receiving region for the packaging material, advantageously several receiving regions for packaging materials. It would be conceivable for the receiving regions to be arranged in a matrix-like manner. The packaging materials could, for example, be stored in stacks in the packaging material store. Preferentially the packaging materials are stored in stacks in the receiving regions. In particular, the packaging material store is configured for storage and/or accommodation and/or holding of packaging material. In the refilling position the packaging material store can be filled up and/or refilled with packaging material. Alternatively and/or additionally, in the refilling position packaging material can be replaced and/or exchanged from the packaging material store. It would also be conceivable that in the refilling position the entire packaging material store is exchangeable and/or replaceable, in particular for maintenance and/or for changing packaging materials, for example changing the shape and/or the size of packaging materials.
The packaging machine may comprise a machine frame, in particular a base frame and/or a housing unit. Preferably the carrier unit is arranged at least partially on the machine frame, in particular within the machine frame, and is movable with respect to the machine frame. In particular, the carrier unit is configured for receiving and moving at least the packaging material store.
Advantageously the working position is located within the machine frame, in particular in an inner region of the packaging machine. Preferably, in the working position the packaging materials can be removed from the packaging material store and can be used for packaging, in particular for a closing at least of the receiving unit. The packaging material store may comprise at least one retaining element, for example a pin, and/or a retaining element which is configured to prevent the packaging materials from falling out of the packaging material store. Preferably the retaining element is in the working position detachable, for example displaceable and/or extractable and/or foldable, for the purpose of providing the packaging materials from the packaging material store for a closing of at least the receiving unit. The packaging machine may comprise a remover, which is configured for moving the provided packaging material to the receiving unit, in particular for removing the packaging material at least from the packaging material store and then moving the packaging material to the receiving unit. In particular, the aforementioned movements for transferring the packaging material store from the working position into at least the refilling position differ from movements in the working position for providing the packaging materials, like for example the detachment of at least the retaining element or the removal of the packaging material.
For the exchange and/or refilling of packaging materials in the packaging material store, the packaging material store is movable into the refilling position by means of the carrier unit. Preferably the refilling position is located outside the machine frame, in particular in an outer region of the packaging machine. Advantageously, during at least one operation state of the packaging machine, namely during the closing at least of the receiving unit, the packaging material store is movable from the working position into the refilling position and preferably vice versa.
In particular, the carrier unit moves the packaging material store from the working position into a first holding position by means of the first movement. The first holding position may also be referred to as an intermediate position. By means of a subsequent second movement, the carrier unit can move the packaging material store from the first holding position into a second holding position. In particular, in the prior art the second holding position serves as a refilling position. According to the present invention, the carrier unit is capable of moving the packaging material store from the second holding position into the refilling position by means of the subsequent third movement.
Advantageously, the just described movement process of the packaging material store from the working position into the refilling position is also reversible. In particular, the carrier unit is configured for moving at least the packaging material store from the refilling position into the working position. Particularly preferably, the carrier unit is configured for moving the packaging material store from the refilling position into the working position by means of a fourth movement, a subsequent fifth movement and a subsequent sixth movement. The carrier unit is capable of moving the packaging material store from the refilling position into the second holding position by means of the fourth movement. The carrier unit is capable of moving the packaging material store from the second holding position into the first holding position by means of the subsequent fifth movement. Preferably, the carrier unit moves the packaging material store from the second holding position into the working position by means of the subsequent sixth movement.
In the present document, numeral words such as, for example, “first” and “second”, which precede certain terms, merely serve to distinguish objects and/or to assign objects to one another; they do not imply an existing total number and/or ranking of the objects. In particular a “second object” does not necessarily imply an existence of a “first object”. Furthermore, here and in the following “configured” is to mean specially programmed, designed and/or equipped. By an object being configured for a certain function is to be understood that the object fulfils and/or carries out this certain function in at least one application state and/or operation state.
The first movement and/or at least the subsequent second movement, in particular the fifth movement and/or the subsequent sixth movement, could be a non-linear movement, like for example a rotational movement, a pivoting movement and/or a tilting movement. Preferably the first movement and/or at least the subsequent second movement and/or the fifth movement and/or the subsequent sixth movement are/is a translational movement. The translational movement may be realized in a height direction and/or in a width direction. Depending on a point of view, in particular relative to the packaging machine, here and in the following the width direction may also be understood as a depth direction. The width direction and the depth direction may be exchanged depending on a view. Particularly preferably the first movement, in particular and/or the sixth movement, is realized along the height direction. In particular, the first movement, in particular and/or the sixth movement, is a vertical movement.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the second movement is a movement along a width direction. This allows further improving comfort and making a filling and/or an exchange and/or a subsequent loading of packaging materials into a packaging material store in a refilling position more comfortable and more efficient for an operator. By a second movement in the width direction, a distance to the working position can advantageously be provided, which in turn allows increasing safety. The fifth movement may be a movement along the width direction. In particular, the second movement, in particular and/or the fifth movement, is a horizontal movement.
It would be conceivable that the third movement, in particular and/or the fourth movement, is a non-linear movement, like for example a rotational movement, a pivoting movement and/or a tilting movement. Preferably at least the third movement comprises a translational movement. This allows achieving a particularly easily accessible and/or comfortable refilling position for an operator. Furthermore, a comfort can be further increased with respect to an operator comfort. In particular, the fourth movement comprises a translational movement.
The first movement, in particular and/or the fourth movement, could possibly be realized along the width direction. However, in order to further increase comfort, it is proposed that the third movement is a movement along a height direction. This allows actually providing a refilling position which is comfortable and/or easily accessible for an operator. Beyond this, the operator will be able to work in ergonomically favorable fashion and to fill a packaging material store with packaging material in the refilling position and/or to exchange the packaging material and/or to even exchange at least the packaging material store, for example for maintenance purposes. Moreover, it is preferably possible to dispense with additional aids for reaching the refilling position. In particular, the fourth movement is a movement in a height direction.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the first movement and the third movement run at least substantially antiparallel. In this way efficiency and/or comfort can be further increased and a construction can be improved. In this context, “at least substantially” is to mean that a deviation from a predefined value and/or from a direction is less than 25%, preferably less than 10% and particularly preferably less than 5% of the predefined value and/or of the direction. “Substantially antiparallel” is here intended to mean an orientation of a direction relative to a reference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein the direction has a deviation from the reference direction that is in particular less than 8°, advantageously less than 5° and particularly advantageously less than 2°. The first movement may run at least substantially antiparallel to the sixth movement. The second movement may run at least substantially antiparallel to the fifth movement. Preferably the third movement runs at least substantially antiparallel to the fourth movement and/or at least substantially parallel to the sixth movement. The fourth movement may run at least substantially antiparallel to the sixth movement and/or at least substantially parallel to the first movement.
It is further proposed that an overall movement of the packaging material store between the working position and the refilling position is at least substantially U-shaped. As a result, a simple and clear overall movement of a packaging material store is enabled and thus, in addition to comfort, in particular operator comfort, efficiency and/or a construction can be further improved. It is moreover possible to augment safety and to simplify and/or clarify a control-ling at least of the packaging material store from a working position into the refilling position, and advantageously vice versa. In particular, the “U” is an inverted U. Advantageously the overall movement of the packaging material store between the working position and the refilling position has an inverted U-shape. Alternatively, the “U” may also be an at least substantially side-ways-tilted U, which is open in particular to the right or to the left. For example, the overall movement could be composed of the first movement along the width direction, the subsequent second movement along the height direction and the subsequent third movement along the width direction, in particular antiparallel to the first movement. The carrier unit is capable of moving the packaging material store from the working position into the refilling position, and preferably also vice versa, by means of an overall movement which is like an at least substantially inverted U. Advantageously the movements, in particular within the overall movement, for example the first movement and at least the subsequent second movement, and/or the second movement and at least the subsequent third movement, and/or the first movement and the subsequent second movement and at least the subsequent third movement, are connected to each other via radii. In this way a fluid and comfortable transition is enabled between the movements, preferably within the overall movement.
In a further aspect of the invention, which can in particular be considered both independently and in combination with the other aspects of the invention, it is proposed that the packaging device comprises at least one further packaging material store, which is reversibly connectable at least to the carrier unit. In this way comfort, namely with respect to operator comfort, as well as efficiency can be increased and/or a construction can be improved. Due to a reversible connection of a further packaging material store to a carrier unit, the carrier unit can be used at least for moving the further packaging material store, namely for traversing the further packaging material store from a working position into a refilling position, and advantageously vice versa. Beyond this, a differentiation can be made between a packaging material store and the further packaging material store.
Advantageously the further packaging material store is a further packaging material magazine. In particular, the aforementioned implementations and definitions of the packaging material store are also applicable to the further packaging material store. Preferably the further packaging material store is in the working position located directly above at least the remover. In the working position the packaging material can get from the packaging material store into the further packaging material store and can be removed from the further packaging material store at least by the remover. Preferably the packaging material store is in particular configured, in the working position, for filling and/or supplying the further packaging material store with packaging material. In particular, viewed in a height direction, the packaging material store is in the working position arranged directly above the further packaging material store. In particular, the packaging material store differs from the further packaging material store in that at least during that operation state of the packaging machine in which at least the receiving unit is closed and the packaging material store is currently in a different position from the working position, for example in the first holding position or the second holding position or the refilling position, the further packaging material store is still in the working position.
The carrier unit and the further packaging material store could be connectable to each other indirectly or directly, namely in straightforward fashion, without components and/or structural units situated between them. The further packaging material store may be connectable to the carrier unit in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner, for example by means of a latching connection and/or plug connection and/or rotary connection and/or screw connection or the like.
If the further packaging material store is reversibly connectable to the packaging material store, this allows further optimizing comfort as well as efficiency. Moreover, a construction can be improved, and preferably locking and/or unlocking between a packaging material store and a further packaging material store can be provided. The packaging material store and the further packaging material store could be connectable to each other indirectly or preferably directly, namely in straightforward fashion, without components and/or structural units situated between them. In particular, the further packaging material store is connected to the carrier unit indirectly via the connection to the packaging material store. The further packaging material store may be connectable to the packaging material store in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner, for ex-ample by means of a latching connection and/or plug connection and/or rotary connection and/or screw connection or the like. The further packaging material store may be lockable and unlockable with the packaging material store. In particular in the working position and in the refilling position the further packaging material store and the packaging material store are reversibly connectable to each other.
It is moreover proposed that the further packaging material store is movable into the refilling position by means of the carrier unit. This allows providing an especially high degree of comfort and efficiency. Furthermore, an exchange and/or replacement of a further packaging material store, for example for maintenance purposes, for cleaning and/or for repair, can be improved, namely facilitated and/or made more comfortable and/or more secure. Moreover, a refilling position which is ergonomically easily accessible and/or comfortable for an operator can be provided not only for a packaging material store but also for at least one further packaging material store. Beyond this, due to the movement of the further packaging material store with the transport unit, a construction can be improved since additional units and/or elements for moving the further packaging material store may advantageously be dispensed with.
In particular, the carrier unit performs with the further packaging material store the same movement course from the working position to the refilling position, and preferably also vice versa, as the carrier unit performs with just the packaging material store. Advantageously independently of whether the carrier unit receives only the packaging material store or the packaging material store and the further packaging material store and moves it/them to the refilling position, in particular back at least into the working position, the carrier unit performs identical movements. The further packaging material store can be replaced and/or exchanged in the refilling position, for example for maintenance purposes, for cleaning, for repair and/or for using other packaging materials having different sizes and/or shapes.
It is also proposed that the filling system comprises a transport unit for receiving the packaging material store and/or the further packaging material store and for a transport of the packaging material store and/or the further packaging material store to the refilling position. This allows considerably reducing an effort involved in exchanging and/or refilling a packaging material store and/or a further packaging material store, thus further increasing comfort, in particular user comfort, as well as efficiency.
The transport unit is capable of receiving and carrying the packaging material store and/or the further packaging material store in the refilling position. For example, when the further packaging material store has been received by the transport unit, the further packaging material store can be unlocked by the carrier unit and/or by the packaging material store. Then the further packaging material store could be exchanged and/or maintained. For this purpose, the further packaging material store could be transported away from the refilling position by the transport unit. After exchange and/or maintenance, the further packaging material store could be transported back to the refilling position by the transport unit. In the refilling position, the further packaging material store can be connected once again to the carrier unit and/or to the packaging material store in order to be moved, in particular transferred, to the working position by the carrier unit. The transport unit preferably has a height adjustment unit. By means of the height adjustment unit, the transport unit can be adapted to the refilling position, in particular to a position of the packaging material store and/or of the further packaging material store, for the purpose of receiving the packaging material store and/or the further packaging material store.
In a further aspect of the invention, which can in particular be considered both independently and in combination with the other aspects of the invention, it is proposed that the packaging device comprises at least one sensor unit for a detection of packaging material in the at least one packaging material store during at least one movement antiparallel to the second movement. This allows optimizing, namely facilitating and/or making more efficient, a checking of packaging materials, for example of a printing and/or of a correct positioning, in at least one packaging material store. Moreover, comfort and efficiency can be increased.
The sensor unit may for example be an IR sensor, a camera, a scanner and/or a sensor unit deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art. In particular, during a movement of the carrier unit antiparallel to the second movement, in particular during a fifth movement of the carrier unit, the sensor unit checks the packaging material in the at least one packaging material store. In particular, the sensor unit is configured to check, for example, a correct placement of packaging material in the at least one packaging material store. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor unit is capable of checking a printing and/or a shape and/or a size of the packaging material. The sensor unit may check whether the packaging materials used, which are in particular located in the packaging material store, are the correct packaging materials to be used for closing at least the receiving unit.
In addition, the invention is based on a method for operating a packaging device, in particular the aforementioned packaging device, with a packaging material store which is moved from a working position into a refilling position by means of a first movement and at least one subsequent second movement. It is proposed that the packaging material store is moved from the working position into the refilling position by means of a subsequent third movement. Such a method for operating the packaging device advantageously allows achieving a particularly high level of comfort, in particular operator comfort, and providing a refilling position which is easily accessible for an operator.
The method for operating the packaging device may comprise several method steps. Advantageously, the method comprises a first method step, in which the packaging material store is moved from the working position into a first holding position by means of the first movement. In particular, the method comprises a second method step, in which the packaging material store is moved from the first holding position into a second holding position by means of the subsequent second movement. The method may comprise a third method step, in which the packaging material store is moved from the second holding position into the refilling position by means of the subsequent third movement. With regard to a temporal progression, the second method step is advantageously realized after the first method step and before the third method step. For transferring at least the packaging material store from the refilling position into the working position, the method may comprise at least a fourth method step. In the fourth method step, the packaging material store is moved from the refilling position into the second holding position by means of a fourth movement. The method may comprise a fifth method step, in which the packaging material store is moved from the second holding position into the first holding position by means of a subsequent fifth movement. Furthermore, the method may comprise a sixth method step, in which the packaging material store is moved from the first holding position into the working position by means of a subsequent sixth movement. The just described method may also be applied to the transfer of the further packaging material store from the working position into the refilling position, and preferably vice versa.
The packaging device and/or the packaging machine and/or the filling system and/or the method shall not be limited to the above-described application and implementation. In particular, for fulfilling a functionality that is described here, the packaging device and/or the packaging machine and/or the filling system and/or the method may comprise a number of individual elements, components and units that differs from a number given here.
Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the features individually and will find further expedient combinations.
In the drawings:
In the following, only one of the multiply present objects in the figures is respectively provided with a reference numeral. Furthermore, the present figures are schematic illustrations and not true-to-scale.
The packaging machine 10a comprises a packaging device 12a. Accordingly, in the present case the packaging device 12a is realized as a closing device. The packaging device 12a is configured for a closing at least of the receiving unit 36a in which the filling material is situated. In this exemplary implementation the packaging device 12a is configured for a sealing of the receiving unit 36a. At least the receiving unit 36a is closable, preferably sealable, by means of a packaging material. The packaging material (not illustrated) is in the present case a cover. Alternatively or additionally, the packaging material could be a stopper and/or a cork. In this exemplary embodiment the packaging material is realized in a foil-shaped or plate-shaped form, actually as a sealing lid. The packaging machine 10a is configured for connecting and closing, in the present case sealing, by means of force transmission and/or energy transmission, the packaging material, namely the cover, with the receiving unit 36a in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner, in the present case by substance-to-substance bond.
The packaging device 12a comprises at least one packaging material store 16a, which is configured for accommodating packaging material. In the present case the packaging material store 16a is realized as a packaging material magazine and is configured for receiving several packaging materials. Furthermore, the packaging material store 16a is configured for storage and/or accommodation and/or holding of packaging material. In a refilling position 26a, the packaging material store 16a can be filled and/or refilled with packaging material. Alternatively or additionally, packaging material from the packaging material store 16a can be replaced and/or exchanged in the refilling position 26a. It is also conceivable that in the refilling position 26a the entire packaging material store 16a can be exchanged and/or replaced, for example for maintenance and/or for changing the shape and/or the size of packaging materials.
The packaging device 12a comprises a carrier unit 14a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for accommodating at least the packaging material store 16a. The packaging machine 10a further comprises a machine frame 68a.
In the present case the carrier unit 14a is at least partially arranged on the machine frame 68a and is movable with respect to the machine frame 68a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving at least the packaging material store 16a, namely at least into the refilling position 26a, preferably also back to the working position 20a.
In the following progression, a movement at least of the packaging material store 16a from a working position 20a to the refilling position 26a will be explained. In
The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the working position 20a into a refilling position 26a by means of a first movement 28a and at least one subsequent second movement 30a. In the present case, the carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the working position 20a into the refilling position 26a by means of a subsequent third movement 32a.
The method for operating the packaging device 12a comprises a first method step 100a, in which the packaging material store 16a is moved from the working position 20a into a first holding position 64a by means of the first movement 28a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the working position 20a into the first holding position 64a by means of the first movement 28a.
The method for operating the packaging device 12a comprises a second method step 102a, in which the packaging material store 16a is moved from the first holding position 64a into a second holding position 66a by means of the subsequent second movement 30a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the first holding position 64a into the second holding position 66a by means of the subsequent second movement 30a.
The method for operating the packaging device 12a comprises a third method step 104a, in which the packaging material store 16a is moved from the second holding position 66a into the refilling position 26a by means of the subsequent third movement 32a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the second holding position 66a into the refilling position 26a by means of the subsequent third movement 32a.
In order to bring the packaging material store 16a back into the working position after filling or refilling and/or exchange, the carrier unit 14a is configured for moving at least the packaging material store 16a from the refilling position 26a into the working position 20a. In the present case, the movement of the packaging material store 16a from the working position 20a into the refilling position 26a is reversible.
The method for operating the packaging device 12a comprises a fourth method step 106a, in which the packaging material store 16a is moved from the refilling position 26a into the second holding position 66a by means of a fourth movement 52a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the refilling position 26a into the second holding position 66a by means of the fourth movement 52a.
The method for operating the packaging device 12a comprises a fifth method step 108a, in which the packaging material store 16a is moved from the second holding position 66a into the first holding position 64a by means of a subsequent fifth movement 54a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the second holding position 66a into the first holding position 64a by means of the subsequent fifth movement 54a.
The method for operating the packaging device 12a comprises a sixth method step 110a, in which the packaging material store 16a is moved from the first holding position 64a into the working position 20a by means of a subsequent sixth movement 56a. The carrier unit 14a is configured for moving the packaging material store 16a from the first holding position 64a into the working position 20a by means of the subsequent sixth movement 56a.
The aforementioned movements, namely the first movement 28a, the subsequent second movement 30a, the subsequent third movement 32a, the fourth movement 52a, the subsequent fifth movement 54a and/or the subsequent sixth movement 56a, could be a non-linear movement, like for example a rotational movement, a pivoting movement and/or a tilting movement. In the present exemplary implementation, the first movement 28a and at least the second movement 30a are translational movements. The fifth movement 54a and at least the sixth movement 56a are translational movements. In the present case the third movement 32a comprises a translational movement. Furthermore, the fourth movement 52a comprises a translational movement. The translational movements may take place both in a height direction 70a and in a width direction 72a. Depending on a viewing direction towards the packaging machine 10a, the width direction 72a may also be understood as a depth direction. In the present case only the width direction 72a is specified.
According to
Furthermore, the first movement 28a and the third movement 32a run at least substantially antiparallel. The fourth movement 52a and the sixth movement 56a run at least substantially antiparallel.
The overall movement of the packaging material store 16a between the working position 20a and the refilling position 26a is at least substantially U-shaped (see
For a detection of the packaging materials at least in the packaging material store 16a, the packaging device 12a comprises at least one sensor unit 60a, which detects the packaging materials at least in the packaging material store 16a during at least one movement at least substantially antiparallel to the second movement 30a. The aforementioned movement that is at least substantially antiparallel to the second movement 30a is in the present case the fifth movement 54a. This allows optimizing a checking of packaging materials, for example of a printing and/or of a correct positioning, in at least one packaging material store 16b.
In
In the present exemplary embodiment, a filling system 50b with a packaging machine 10b is shown (see
Viewed in a height direction 70b, the further packaging material store 18b is in the working position 20b located directly above at least one remover 38b of the packaging machine 10b. The packaging material store 16b is configured for filling and/or supplying the further packaging material store 18b with packaging material. Viewed in the height direction 70b, the packaging material store 16b is in the working position 20b arranged directly above the further packaging material store 18b.
The further packaging material store 18b is movable into the refilling position 26b by means of the carrier unit 14b. In the refilling position 26b the further packaging material store 18b can be replaced and/or exchanged, for example for maintenance purposes, for cleaning, for repair and/or for using other packaging materials having different sizes and/or shapes. With regard to the overall movement and the movement course of the carrier unit 14b for moving at least the further packaging material store 18b from the working position 20b into the refilling position 26b, reference is made to the detailed explanation in the exemplary embodiment a.
Furthermore, the filling system 50b comprises a transport unit 62b for receiving the packaging material store 16b and/or the further packaging material store 18b and for transporting the packaging material store 16b and/or the further packaging material store 18b to the refilling position 26b. The transport unit 62b is illustrated in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2022 101 947.0 | Jan 2022 | DE | national |
This patent application is a U.S. national stage application of international patent application PCT/EP2023/051995, filed on Jan. 27, 2023, which is based on and claims priority to German patent application DE 10 2022 101 947.0, filed on Jan. 27, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/051995 | 1/27/2023 | WO |
