The present invention relates to a packaging machine with a combined shaping and sealing station which has an upper tool and a lower tool and which shapes a center film web and seals the latter to a lower film web. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for shaping and sealing a center film web to a lower film web.
Nowadays items of packaging often have a plurality of products which are separated from one another by a center film web. Items of packaging of this type are referred to as multiple-layer film items of packaging. DE 10 2005 048 491 B4 discloses a packaging machine for producing a multi-layer film item of packaging of this type. However, this packaging machine does not offer the possibility of shaping the center film.
It was, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine and a method which do not have the disadvantages of the prior art.
The object is achieved by a packaging machine with a sealing station which has an upper tool and a lower tool and which seals a center film web to a lower film web, wherein the upper tool and/or the lower tool of the sealing station have/has a means for shaping the center film web.
The present invention relates to a packaging machine with a sealing station which has an upper tool and a lower tool. Packaging machines of this type in particular serve to produce items of plastic packaging. In particular, the packaging machine according to the invention is suitable for producing a multiple-layer film item of packaging. In a multiple-layer film item of packaging, at least two products are packaged, separated by a center film. In the sealing station of the packaging machine according to the invention, a center film web is sealed to a lower film web. Here, the lower tool and the upper tool move toward one another. Sealing of the center film web to the lower film web typically takes place under exposure to heat and/or pressure.
It is now provided according to the invention for the upper tool and/or the lower tool to have a means for shaping the center film web. Shaping of the center film web preferably takes place prior to the latter being sealed to the lower film web. The connection between the center film web and the lower film web is preferably peelable, that is to say not welded in a fixed and/or integral manner, but releasable with little energy being applied.
On account of the upper tool and the lower tool having a means for shaping the center film web, shaping the center film web in a separate shaping station can be dispensed with. This considerably simplifies the packaging machine according to the invention.
The upper tool and/or the lower tool preferably have/has a heating zone for heating the center film web prior to shaping. This heating zone is preferably disposed in the vicinity of the sealing means, particularly preferably in the immediate vicinity of the sealing means, very particularly preferably adjacent to the sealing means, for example the sealing frame, of the upper tool and/or lower tool. The heating zone is preferably situated in the region of the upper tool. The heating zone may likewise preferably be embodied as a separately vertically driven unit or as a component of the die.
A die for shaping the center film web is preferably provided between the upper tool and/or the lower tool. This die is preferably movably, in particular vertically displaceably disposed on the upper tool. This die may preferably be temperature controlled, in particular heated or cooled. Particularly for optimizing the quality of shaping, the die may be equipped with ducts, via which a cushion of residual air may be suctioned off by means of vacuum units, so that the film lies against the die in the base region.
Very particularly preferably, the die has a shaping part which is movably, in particular horizontally displaceably, mounted in relation to the die. Preferably, this shaping part is displaceably mounted on the die and, driven by a drive, can move in two preferably opposing directions. By way of this shaping part, shaping of the center film web, in particular after having been pre-shaped by the die, can be supported. Using this shaping part, it is furthermore possible to simultaneously shape the center film web and the lower film web. On account thereof it is possible for a re-closure means to be molded-in on the center film web and on the lower film web. The shaping part is preferably heated.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper tool and/or the lower tool have/has a compressed-air supply for shaping the center film web. By way of this gas supply, a positive pressure may be generated in particular above the center film web, which pressure presses the center film web in the direction of the lower film web. Here, the center film web preferably lies against a product placed on the lower film web and/or against the lower film web. Alternatively or additionally, this gas supply may also be employed for generating a negative pressure above the center film web. By means of this negative pressure, the center film web can be moved in the direction of the heating zone for improving the heat transfer between the heating zone and the center film web. The lower tool, at least in portions, is preferably designed as a racial for the center film web which is to be shaped.
The upper tool and/or the lower tool, in particular the upper tool, preferably have/has a movable shaping part for shaping the center film web or for supporting shaping of the latter. Preferably, this shaping part is displaceably mounted on the upper tool and, driven by a drive, can move in two preferably opposing directions.
Furthermore preferably, the packaging machine according to the invention has a further sealing station for sealing an upper film web to the center film web. This sealing takes place, in particular, after a further product has been placed on the center film web.
Furthermore preferably, the packaging machine according to the invention has two separate means, for example punches, for introducing gassing openings into the center film web and the lower film web. A gas exchange between the center film web and the lower film web and between the center film web and the upper film web may take place via these gassing openings. Preferably, the first means is provided ahead of the first sealing station and the second means following the first sealing station.
Furthermore preferably, the packaging machine according to the invention has two separate inserting stations. By way of the first inserting station, first products are in each case inserted into a packaging tray molded-in on the lower film web. By way of the second inserting station, second products are placed onto the center film web which is preferably also shaped as a tray.
Furthermore preferably, downstream of the second sealing station, the packaging machine according to the invention has a singularization station in which the completed items of packaging are in each case cut out from the lower film web, center film web and upper film web.
A further subject matter of the present invention is a method for sealing a center film web to a lower film web, in which the center film web is shaped, in particular prior to sealing, in a region between the upper tool and the lower tool.
The explanations made with respect to the packaging machine according to the invention apply in equal measure to the method according to the invention, and vice versa.
It is provided according to the invention that the center film web is shaped, in particular prior to sealing the center film web to the lower film web, in a region between the upper tool and the lower tool. On account thereof, a shaping station which is separate from the sealing station can be dispensed with, on account of which the method according to the invention can be carried out in a substantially simpler and a substantially more energy-efficient manner.
The center film web, prior to shaping, is preferably heated with a heating means. This heating means is preferably disposed in the upper tool.
Furthermore preferably, a packaging tray which is molded-in on the lower film web is filled, prior to sealing, with a first product.
A gas exchange preferably takes place prior to sealing the center film web to the lower film web. This gas exchange is preferably performed via clearances which have been introduced into the lower film web. Alternatively, this gas exchange may also be performed by means of a lance system which, in the industry, is referred to as a transverse nozzle bar.
Preferably after shaping the center film web and after sealing the center film web to the lower film web, a second product is placed onto the center film web, in particular into a tray molded-in on the center film web.
Thereafter, an upper film web is preferably sealed to the center film web in order to close the space above the second product.
A gas exchange in the space between the center film web and the upper film web preferably takes place prior to sealing the upper film web to the center film web. This gas exchange preferably takes place via clearances which nave been incorporated into the center film web after the latter has been sealed to the lower film web. Alternatively, this gas exchange may also be performed by means of a lance system.
A re-closure means is preferably molded-in between the center film web and the lower film web, in that the lower film web and the center film web are deformed substantially simultaneously, in particular by the same tool. This deformation preferably takes place after the center film web has been sealed to the lower film web. This re-closure means is preferably carried out by a shaping tool which is provided on a die, for example. This tool is preferably heated, such that the re-closure means is molded-in on the center film web and the lower film web by way of plastic deformation.
As a further embodiment of the present invention, the multiple-layer film items of packaging of interest here may also display two or more center film webs. With all embodiments, the upper film may also be shaped, either shaped downward in order to securely hold the topmost inserted product and to simultaneously obtain a more stable overall packaging, or shaped upward in order to achieve a more appealing design of the overall packaging.
In the case of the film webs of interest here, these may be any type of film or foil, respectively, which is known to a person skilled in the art of food technology; for example, the film is a soft or hard film from PP, PA/PE, PVC, A-Pet, paper, cardboard, metal or any other meaningful mixture and/or integrally interconnected layers of these components.
The invention will be explained in the following by means of
These explanations are only exemplary and do not limit the general concept of the invention. These explanations apply in equal measure to the packaging machine according to the invention and to the method according to the invention.
a shows the molding-in of the re-closure means.
Finally, the items of packaging are singularized from the film webs 17, 20, 26 in a singularization station 7.
Also in the case of the embodiment according to
In the case of the embodiment according to
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2011 120 601.2 | Dec 2011 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2012/074936 | 12/10/2012 | WO | 00 | 6/5/2014 |