Patent Application
20220193696
This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to German patent application number DE 10 2020 134 811.8, filed Dec. 23, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a sealing station for a packaging machine. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a method for separating a particle-laden gas flow at a sealing tool of a packaging machine.
In practice, deep-drawing packaging machines and tray sealers are used to produce sealed packages. A sealing station can be used at such machines to seal with a top film unsealed deep-drawn depressions or prefabricated tray elements, respectively, that it is supplied. For this purpose, the sealing station comprises a tool lower part and a tool upper part which can form a hermetically sealable chamber in which, prior to sealing with the top film dispensed from a top film receptacle, the atmosphere in the deep-drawn depressions or in the tray elements can be evacuated and/or can be replaced with a gas mixture by gas flushing with, for example, a replacement gas.
For example, EP 3 733 536 A1 discloses a sealing station with a tool lower part configured for atmosphere exchange.
In the case of atmosphere exchange, in particular if the air in the packaging is optionally extracted by way of a vacuum and replaced with a preset gas mixture, however, it can happen in particular when packaging products with loose components on the product surface, for example, with products coated with breading or herbs, that individual components are blown out of the packaging and that the extraction ducts of the tool lower part are contaminated as a result. Contaminated extraction ducts have to be cleaned regularly and lead to considerable machine downtimes.
Though the extraction ducts mentioned above do not exist in tools that are configured exclusively for gas purging, loose product components, for example, breading, herbs, etc., are then blown directly into the machine space and then contaminate the machine region used for food packaging.
An object of the disclosure is to provide a sealing tool for a packaging machine with which the drawbacks described above in connection with known tools can be eliminated. It is furthermore the object of the disclosure to provide a corresponding method.
The disclosure relates to a sealing tool for a packaging machine, for example, a deep-drawing packaging machine or a tray sealer. According to the disclosure, the sealing tool comprises a tool lower part with at least one centrifugal separator for separating a particle-laden gas flow.
The centrifugal separator provided according to the disclosure at the tool lower part ensures that the product particles that may be whirled up during an atmosphere exchange, for example, breading or herb particles, can substantially be filtered out of the atmosphere, i.e., from the gas flow generated within the sealing tool. This prevents the particles released from the product from spreading inside the sealing tool, i.e., outside its packaging. As a result, the centrifugal separator can effectively counteract contamination of the sealing tool. In particular, this makes it possible to reduce the cleaning intervals required at the packaging machine due to the accumulation of particles, which leads to lower machine downtimes.
It is advantageous to have the centrifugal separator be configured as a tangential cyclone separator. It forms a simple technical measure that can be implemented in an inexpensive manner at the tool lower part. Separating a gas flow that is potentially laden with particles using a tangential cyclone separator into particles and pure gas is possible in a tight installation space, i.e., it is predestined for a multifunctional tool lower part.
The centrifugal separator preferably comprises an inlet cylinder and an inlet which tapers towards the inlet cylinder. This makes it possible for a large volume flow of the gas flow to be captured and be directed precisely to the centrifugal separator. The inlet which tapers towards the inlet cylinder further provides a jet effect, whereby the particle-laden gas flow can be accelerated into the inlet cylinder so that the particles can be better separated from the gas flow due to the increased centrifugal forces acting upon them.
An advantageous variant provides that the inlet is associated with a tray receptacle of the tool lower part. The centrifugal separator is then positioned with its inlet in the immediate vicinity of the product and is open theretoward so that any particles that may be whirled up can be easily captured due to the suction effect of the centrifugal separator.
The tool lower part preferably comprises at least one extraction duct and/or at least one gas flushing duct. The extraction duct can be used to generate a vacuum inside the sealing tool, i.e., inside a chamber thereon that can be closed. It is conceivable to have the extraction duct and the centrifugal separator be present as separate components or be designed as an integral functional unit at the tool lower part. In a separate embodiment, the centrifugal separator could be positioned directly adjacent to the extraction duct, in particular adjacent to an extraction opening formed thereon. As an integral functional unit, the centrifugal separator could be formed directly at the inlet of the extraction duct.
In particular, it is advantageous to provide the centrifugal separator closer to the extraction duct than to the gas flushing duct, in particular to a gas flush opening formed thereon. For example, the centrifugal separator and the extraction duct could be formed together on a side of the tool lower part that is disposed opposite to another side of the tool lower part on which one or more gas flush openings are formed.
It would be conceivable to have all extraction ducts, that can be used at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange, comprise a centrifugal separator at the inlets formed on the former, meaning at all extraction openings. This means that the air mass extracted from the sealing tool can be cleaned completely.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the tool lower part comprises a particle collection container for the centrifugal separator. Received therein can be the particles separated from the air or from the gas flow by use of the centrifugal separator within the sealing tool. It can be easily emptied and cleaned in a short time. The particle collection container provides a central collection point for the particles to which the particles can be fed in a controlled manner.
It is conceivable that the tool lower part comprises a filling level indicator for the particle collection container. The tool lower part preferably comprises a window, for example, a transparent wall, which enables an operator to look into the interior of the particle collection container.
It would be possible for the tool lower part to comprise several centrifugal separators. They can be functionally connected to one another or can be driven individually, for example, by way of a valve device provided for this purpose. In particular, the centrifugal separators can be arranged adjacent to one another along one side of the tool lower part to which the gas flow is directed during an atmosphere exchange. This has the effect that the potentially particle-laden gas flow enters the inlet region of the centrifugal separator(s) in its direction of flow, i.e., without being deflected at that time, which promotes the removal of the particles contained therein.
The centrifugal separator at the tool lower part is preferably configured for separating a particle-laden gas flow that is blown through the former and/or for separating a particle-laden gas flow that is sucked into the former. The centrifugal separator can then be used during a gas flushing process and/or during an evacuation of the sealing tool.
The centrifugal separator can preferably be connected to a pump that can be employed at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange. The centrifugal separator can be connected at least temporarily, for example, during predetermined evacuation intervals, for example, to the pump that can be employed for an evacuation process at the sealing tool. It is conceivable to have the centrifugal separator be operatable permanently while the sealing tool is in operation in order to continuously extract the particles flying around from its surroundings.
A preferred variant provides that the tool lower part be assembled from several plates disposed one above the other in a stack-like manner, where the centrifugal separator is formed to be integrated within at least two plates that are disposed one above the other. With such a sandwich structure, the centrifugal separator can be produced inexpensively at the tool lower part.
The centrifugal separator preferably comprise a cylindrical insert built into the tool lower part and having a conical separation section for the particle-laden gas flow. Such an insert member can be produced separately and inexpensively and can subsequently be installed as a component at the tool lower part without any problems.
The disclosure also relates to a packaging machine which is present in particular in the form of a deep-drawing packaging machine or in the form of a tray sealer, where the packaging machine comprises at least one sealing tool with a centrifugal separator for separating a particle-laden gas flow.
The disclosure further relates to a method for separating a particle-laden gas flow at a sealing tool of a packaging machine, where the particle-laden gas flow is by way of a centrifugal separator provided at a tool lower part of the sealing tool. This can prevent any particles whirled up during an atmosphere exchange process that is carried out at the sealing tool, for example, breading particles, herb flakes, or the like, from contaminating the sealing tool, in particular extraction ducts provided thereon. The centrifugal separator thus promotes operation that meets the highest hygienic standards.
The centrifugal separator is preferably operated with a pump that is employed at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange. For example, a pump used for an evacuation process at the sealing tool can simultaneously be functionally connected to the centrifugal separator, i.e., during evacuation, and/or during a subsequent process, for example, during a gas flushing process.
It is conceivable to have the centrifugal separator be operated with a pressure vessel that can be employed at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange. For example, such a pressure vessel can flush replacement gas into the sealing tool, in particular into a chamber therein previously evacuated, where the gas flow thus generated within the sealing tool is at least in part blown through the centrifugal separator so that any particles possibly contained therein remain in the centrifugal separator.
The disclosure shall be explained in more detail according to the following figures by use of embodiments, where:
Same components are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.
In the embodiment shown, forming station 2 is configured as a deep-drawing station in which depressions are formed into base film 8 by deep drawing, for example, by way of compressed air and/or vacuum. Forming station 2 can be configured such that several depressions are formed adjacent to one another in the direction perpendicular to direction of transport R. Provided in direction of transport R downstream of the forming station is a filling stretch 12 in which the depressions formed in base film 8 are filled with products.
Sealing station 3 comprises a hermetically sealable chamber 3a in which the atmosphere in the depressions can be evacuated and/or replaced by gas flushing with an exchange gas or with a gas mixture prior to the sealing process with top film 10 that is dispensed from a top film receptacle 9.
Transverse cutting device 4 can be configured as a punch which severs base film 8 and top film 10 in a direction transverse to direction of transport R between adjacent depressions. Transverse cutting device 4 operates in such a way that base film 8 is cut open not over the entire width, but is instead not severed at least in one edge region. This enables controlled onward transportation by transport chain 11.
Longitudinal cutting device 5 can be configured as a knife assembly with which base film 8 and top film 10 are severed between adjacent depressions and at the lateral edge of base film 8 in direction of transport R so that individual packages are present downstream of longitudinal cutting device 5.
Right and left transport chains 11 of deep-drawing packaging machine 1, which grip base film 8 on both sides, are each guided in a chain guide 13. These chain guides 13 are each protected towards the outside by a side panel 14 of deep-drawing packaging machine 1 and possibly attached to side panel 14. Side panel 14 can be a sheet metal part.
Deep-drawing packaging machine 1 also comprises a control device 19. Its task is to control and monitor the processes running in deep-drawing packaging machine 1. A display device 20a with control elements 20b is used to visualize or influence the process sequences in deep-drawing packaging machine 1 to or by an operator.
Tool lower part 25 comprises a first and a second centrifugal separator 26a, 26b. However, just a single centrifugal separator 26a, 26b could just as well be formed at tool lower part 25.
A corner region has been cut out at tool lower part 25 in
Centrifugal separator 26a is configured as a tangential cyclone separator 27 according to
Centrifugal separator 26a comprises a particle collection container 31 which is formed in first plate 28. Particle collection container 31 is produced as a milled recess in first plate 28. Furthermore, centrifugal separator 26a comprises an inlet cylinder 32 and an inlet 33 which tapers towards inlet cylinder 32. Both inlet cylinder 32 as well as inlet 33 are formed in third plate 30. An extraction pipe 34 is arranged within inlet cylinder 32.
Inlet 33 of centrifugal separator 26a is associated with a tray receptacle 37 of tool lower part 25. Tray receptacle 37 is configured to receive a deep-drawn depression or a prefabricated tray S therein. Furthermore,
For evacuating sealing tool 24, the latter could also do without extraction openings 38. This means that the air mass extracted to create a vacuum inside sealing tool 24 flows completely through both centrifugal separators 26a, 26b.
As furthermore shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020134811.8 | Dec 2020 | DE | national |
