RECEPTION SLEEVE

Abstract

A reception sleeve that may be mounted on a mandrel of a packaging machine for winding up a film used in the packaging process on the reception sleeve. The reception sleeve may include a plurality of hinges. Each hinge may have a hinge axis, wherein each hinge axis may be oriented in a direction parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve. The reception sleeve may be mounted on a reception mandrel of the packaging machine, preferably for winding a residual film grid remaining after sealing trays in the packaging machine. The mandrel may include a mechanism for selectively tensioning the reception sleeve thereon to tension the reception sleeve to allow the mandrel to transfer a winding torque to the reception sleeve, and to reduce the tension so the reception sleeve can easily be removed from the mandrel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to European Patent Application Number 16158285.3 filed Mar. 2, 2016, to Albert Gabler, currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reception sleeve that can be mounted on a mandrel of a packaging machine for winding a film.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION′

FR 2 770 502 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,092; US 2007/0278342 A1; and DE 102008033349 A1 disclose embodiments of film winders. The winders disclosed in these references may be provided with mandrels comprising radially adjustable tensioning elements so that, after the winding process, the roll with the wound-up film material can be removed or pulled off from the mandrel. In practice, all these devices often experience the problem that, in the case of thin webs, the residual film grid is wound up under high tensile stress and the diameter reduction through the radially adjustable tensioning elements is incapable of compensating for the constriction applied by the wound up, tensioned film, and it is still difficult to easily remove the roll from the mandrel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to improve the removal of a wound-up residual film grid from a residual film winder, in particular the residual film winder of tray sealers.

This object is achieved by a reception sleeve according to the present invention used for winding up a film, preferably a residual film grid, at a packaging machine, wherein the reception sleeve comprises a plurality of hinges, said hinges being oriented parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve. A residual film grid is the remaining portion of a film after the packages have been sealed with the film and the packages have been cut-out and/or separated from the film during the production of a sealed package in a packaging machine. The reception sleeve may fold into itself for removing the reception sleeve from a film roll that has been wound thereon, and allow re-use of the reception sleeve for a subsequent winding operation.

Preferably, the reception sleeve may comprise at least two respective neighboring or adjacent link elements, which define respective hinges, so as to allow the formation of a hinge by means of this simple structural design. All the link elements in common substantially define in particular an annularly closed, hollow, approximately cylindrical body.

The link elements may be configured to be folded inwards towards the central axis of the reception sleeve.

Preferably, the reception sleeve may comprise at least five link elements, so that, when the reception sleeve is folded up, the outer diameter thereof can be reduced to a high degree.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, all the link elements may comprise articulation axes, and all of the articulation axes may be configured to be oriented such that they are parallel to one another, so as to allow easy handling when the reception sleeve is applied to the tensioning mandrel and when it is being removed from the roll.

The reception sleeve may be preferably adapted to be formed into an approximately cylindrical shape, so that it can easily be pushed onto the cylindrical tensioning mandrel.

The reception sleeve may preferably be composed of link elements, which are articulated on one another.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the reception sleeve may be configured such that it can be pushed onto a reception mandrel of a residual film winder of a packaging machine, preferably of a tray sealer. A method according to the present invention may be used for winding-up a film using a reception sleeve as described above, preferably winding-up a residual film grid, at a packaging machine, wherein the reception sleeve comprises a plurality of hinges and said hinges being oriented parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve, wherein the method may comprise the following steps: (1)pushing the reception sleeve onto a reception mandrel of a residual film winder, (2) winding a film or a residual film grid onto the reception sleeve so as to form a roll, (3) relaxing the reception sleeve, (4) pulling the reception sleeve, together with the roll, off from the reception mandrel, (5) folding the reception sleeve inwards, and (6) removing the reception sleeve from the roll.

Preferably, the method may also comprise the following step: tensioning the reception sleeve on the reception mandrel using a tensioning unit, so as to allow the reception mandrel to transmit a torque to the reception sleeve for winding up a film, and/or un-tensioning or reducing the tension applied to the reception sleeve to relax the reception sleeve for removal from the reception mandrel.

It will be advantageous to form the reception sleeve such that it assumes an approximately cylindrical shape during tensioning on the reception mandrel.

It is also imaginable to provide an alternative embodiment, wherein the reception sleeve is connected to the reception mandrel using one or a plurality of follower members such that the torque is transmitted from the tensioning mandrel to the reception sleeve through the follower member(s). Likewise, the reception sleeve may be tensioned on the reception mandrel using two conical bushings serving as tensioners, optionally also using follower members, in that the two bushings take hold of the reception sleeve through an axially oriented movement towards one another, so that the torque can be transmitted from the mandrel to the reception sleeve.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail making reference to the following drawings, in which the individual figures show:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a tray sealer in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a residual film winder, a reception mandrel, and a reception sleeve according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the reception sleeve of FIG. 2 partially pushed onto the reception mandrel;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the residual film winder of FIG. 2, wherein the reception sleeve is mounted on the reception mandrel in a tensioned condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reception sleeve of FIG. 2 having a roll of a residual film grid wound thereon;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the residual film winder of FIG. 2, wherein the reception sleeve is mounted on the reception mandrel in a relaxed condition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a reception sleeve in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, wherein the reception sleeve is removed from the tensioning mandrel, and the residual film grid is wound upon the reception sleeve in a roll;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the reception sleeve of FIG. 7 having the residual film grid wound thereon, wherein the reception sleeve is in a partially folded condition; and

FIG. 9 is a front view of one embodiment of a reception sleeve in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure illustrating the folded reception sleeve after the reception sleeve is removed from the roll of the residual film grid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

FIG. 1 shows a packaging machine 1 in the form of a tray sealing machine, also referred to as tray sealer. The packaging machine 1 comprises a feed belt 2, one or a plurality of work stations 3 (for example, an evacuating station, a sealing station and a cutting station), a discharge belt 4, a machine frame 5, a gripper system 6, a film tensioning device 7, an operating device 8, a film supply roll 9 and a residual film winder 10.

During operation, the feed belt 2 and the discharge belt 4 may be used for transporting tray-shaped packages into and out of the work station 3 using the gripper system 6. In the work station 3, the packages may be evacuated, gas-flushed, sealed and cut. A film 11 is supplied by the film supply roll 9 and passed through the film tensioning device 7. In the work station 3, the package, which is not shown in detail, is sealed with the film 11 and an air-tight package is produced. The remaining cut-off residual film is wound up in the form of what is known as a residual film grid using the residual film winder 10 to form a roll 12 of the residual film grid.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a reception mandrel 13 of the residual film winder 10 and a reception sleeve 20 according to the present invention. The reception sleeve 20 has a central axis 30 in a longitudinal direction. The reception mandrel 13 comprises tensioning units (tensioners) 14 in the form of paddles, which can be adjusted in radial expansion of the reception mandrel 13 so as to allow tensioning of the reception sleeve 20 on the reception mandrel to allow for transferring torque from the reception mandrel 13 to the reception sleeve 20 to wind the film. The reception mandrel 13 has a push-on and centering device 15 at the front end thereof for supporting pushing-on of the flexibly configured reception sleeve 20, also shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the residual film winder 10 with the reception sleeve 20, in its pushed-on condition, and four tensioning units 14 at an outwardly tensioned position, at which they apply pressure to the inner side of the reception sleeve 20 (cf. the direction of the arrows), so as to allow transfer of the torque required for winding-up the film 11 from mandrel 13 to reception sleeve 20. Also a different number of tensioning units or a different variant of tensioning units are imaginable for tensioning the reception sleeve 20 on the reception mandrel 13 and are within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a wound-up roll 12 of a residual film grid on reception sleeve 20. In order to allow the roll 12 to be pulled off from the reception mandrel 13 together with the reception sleeve 20, as shown in FIG. 6, the tensioning units 14 are folded inwards in advance, so as to eliminate the tension and allow an almost friction-free removal of the reception sleeve 20 as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the residual film winder 10 with the reception sleeve 20 positioned on the reception mandrel 13, the tensioning units 14 being here relaxed (see the direction of the arrows) and the reception sleeve 20 being adapted to be pulled off from the reception mandrel 13, as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the reception sleeve 20 comprising nine link elements 21, wherein the link elements 21 are each articulated on a respective neighboring or adjacent link element 21 and rotatable or pivotable relative to one another about an articulation axis A. Two respective neighboring or adjacent link elements 21 define a hinge 40, and the link elements 21 are adapted to be pivoted or folded about the articulation axis A, which also defines the hinge axis. The articulation axes A and thus also the hinges 40 are oriented parallel to the central axis 30. This allows, in a first step, inward pivoting of at least two link elements 21a, b, so as to reduce the compression applied to the reception sleeve 20 that has been generated during the film winding process due to the tensioned film being wound thereon.

FIG. 9 shows the reception sleeve 20 at a position, at which, in a second step, a plurality of link elements 21 have been folded inwards, thus allowing the reception sleeve 20 to be very easily removed from the roll 12 and to be subsequently pushed again onto the reception mandrel 13 in an unfolded state to be re-used to wind another roll of cut-off residual film.

According to further imaginable variants of the reception sleeve 20, a different number of link elements 21 is imaginable and within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, link elements 21 may be produced from a rigid or semi-flexible material. Other link elements may be similar to link elements or link chains known from EP 1270454 A1.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A reception sleeve for winding up a film at a packaging machine, wherein the reception sleeve comprises: a plurality of hinges, wherein said hinges are oriented parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve.

2. The reception sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the reception sleeve comprises at least two adjacent link elements that define one of said plurality of hinges.

3. The reception sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the at least two link elements are configured to be folded inwards towards the central axis of the reception sleeve.

4. The reception sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the reception sleeve comprises at least five link elements.

5. The reception sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the link elements each comprise an articulation axis, wherein all the articulation axes are oriented parallel to one another.

6. The reception sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the reception sleeve is configured to be tensioned into a substantially cylindrical shape.

7. The reception sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the reception sleeve is configured to be pushed onto a reception mandrel of a residual film winder of said packaging machine.

8. A method of winding-up a film on a packaging machine said method comprising the following steps: pushing a reception sleeve onto a reception mandrel of a residual film winder of said packaging machine, wherein said reception sleeve comprises a plurality of hinges and said hinges are parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve;winding a film onto the reception sleeve to form a roll of the film;pulling off the reception sleeve together with the roll of the film from the reception mandrel after the winding step;folding the reception sleeve inwards toward the central axis on one of the plurality of hinges after the pulling off step; andremoving the reception sleeve from the roll after the folding step.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step: tensioning the reception sleeve on the reception mandrel using at least one tensioner, so the reception mandrel is operable to transmit a torque to the reception sleeve for winding up a film.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of relaxing the reception sleeve on the reception mandrel after the tensioning step.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of tensioning the reception sleeve such that it assumes a substantially cylindrical shape.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the packaging machine is a tray sealing machine and the film is a residual film grid, wherein the residual film grid including the portion of the film remaining after the trays have been sealed and the tray lids have been cut from said film.