Method for packaging products and thermoforming packaging machine
阅读说明:本技术 用于包装产品的方法和热成形包装机 (Method for packaging products and thermoforming packaging machine ) 是由 K·莫南格 M·哈根穆雷 于 2019-08-28 设计创作,主要内容包括:本发明涉及用于包装产品的方法和热成形包装机。使用输送装置(13)以计时的方式沿着传输方向(T)朝向成形站(5)、朝向装载路径(7)、进一步朝向密封站(9)并再进一步朝向切割站(11)输送基膜(17)。在成形站(5)中,通过热成形在基膜(17)中形成包装槽。在装载路径(7)中,利用产品(23)填充包装槽。在密封站(9)中,通过将顶膜(25)密封地连接到基膜(17)来密封被填充的包装槽。在切割站(11)中,从膜组合体将被填充的包装槽切割出来。基膜(17)中在相对于包装槽限定的位置形成定心孔(33),通过将至少一个定心销(41)接合到定心孔(33)中使基膜(17)对准。(The present invention relates to a method and a thermoforming packaging machine for packaging products. The base film (17) is conveyed in a timed manner along a conveying direction (T) towards the forming station (5), towards the loading path (7), further towards the sealing station (9) and further towards the cutting station (11) using a conveying device (13). In the forming station (5), packaging slots are formed in the base film (17) by thermoforming. In the loading path (7), the packaging slot is filled with a product (23). In the sealing station (9), the filled packaging trough is sealed by sealingly attaching a top film (25) to a base film (17). In a cutting station (11), the filled packaging slots are cut out of the film assembly. A centering hole (33) is formed in the base film (17) at a position defined with respect to the packaging slot, and the base film (17) is aligned by engaging at least one centering pin (41) into the centering hole (33).)
1. A method for packaging a product (23), comprising:
conveying the base film (17) in a timed manner along a conveying direction (T) towards a forming station (5), towards a loading path (7), further towards a sealing station (9) and further towards a cutting station (11) using a conveying device (13);
-forming, in said forming station (5), a packaging slot in said base film (17) by thermoforming;
-forming a centring hole (33) in the base film (17) in a defined position with respect to the packaging trough;
-filling the packaging slots with a product (23) in the loading path (7);
-sealing the filled packaging pockets by sealingly connecting a top film (25) to the base film (17) in the sealing station (9);
in the cutting station (11), the filled packaging slots are cut out of the film assembly,
it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,
-aligning the base film (17) by engaging at least one centering pin (41) into the centering hole (33).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one centering pin (41) comprises at least one centering pin (41) provided in said cutting station (11).
3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper cutting tool part (11a) and the lower cutting tool part (11b) of the cutting station (11) perform a relative movement towards each other for cutting out the filled packaging slots, during which relative movement the at least one centring pin (41) is engaged into the centring hole (33) so that the base film (17) is aligned in the cutting station (11) before the actual cutting process.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one centering pin (41) comprises at least one centering pin (41) provided in said sealing station (9).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing tool upper part (9a) and the sealing tool lower part (9b) of the sealing station (9) perform a relative movement towards each other for sealingly connecting the top film (25) to the base film (17), during which relative movement the at least one centring pin (41) is engaged into the centring hole (33) so that the base film (17) is aligned in the sealing station (9) before the actual sealing process.
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centring hole (33) is formed when the packaging slot is formed in the forming station (5), in particular the centring hole (33) is formed by die cutting.
7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that upstream of said at least one centering pin (41) in the transport direction (T), said base film (17) is released by said conveying means (13) so that said base film (17) has play for being aligned by said centering pin (41).
8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base film (17) is held on both lateral sides in the transport direction (T) by gripping elements of a gripping chain (19) of the transport device (13) for transporting the base film (17), and in that the gripping elements release the base film (17) upstream of the at least one centring pin (41) in the transport direction (T).
9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that upstream of said at least one centring pin (41) in said transport direction (T), said base film (17) or said film assembly is severed transversely to said transport direction (T) using transverse cutting means (45, 45').
10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse cutting device (45, 45') is integrated in the cutting station (11) or the sealing station (9) or is provided as a separate station.
11. A thermoforming packaging machine (1) for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, said thermoforming packaging machine (1) comprising:
a forming station (5) for forming packaging slots in a base film (17) by thermoforming;
a die-cutting tool for forming a centering hole (33) in the base film (17) in a defined position with respect to the packaging slot;
a loading path (7) for filling the packaging slot with a product (23) to be packaged;
a sealing station (9) for sealing the filled packaging slots by sealingly connecting a top film (25) to a base film (17);
a cutting station (11) for cutting the filled packaging slots out of the film assembly; and
a conveying device (13) for conveying the base film (17) in a timed manner along a conveying direction (T) towards the forming station (5), towards the loading path (7), further towards the sealing station (9) and still further towards the cutting station (11),
it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,
the thermoforming packaging machine (1) comprises at least one centering pin (41), said at least one centering pin (41) being configured to align the base film (17) by engaging into the centering hole (33).
Technical Field
The present invention relates to packaging products in a thermoforming packaging machine.
Background
In the thermoforming packaging machines known from practice, the base film web is supplied in sequence to a forming station, a loading path, a sealing station and a cutting station by means of a conveying device. In the forming station, a packaging slot is formed in the base film by thermoforming. In the loading path, the packaging slot is filled with the product to be packaged. In the sealing station, the filled packaging trough is closed by sealing the top film onto the filled packaging trough. In the cutting station, sealed packages are finally cut out of the film assembly. Various products may be packaged in a thermoform packaging machine. The thermoforming packaging machine is particularly suitable for packaging, for example, food products or medical-technical products.
A packaging machine for packaging objects in blister packs (blisterpackaging) is known from DE 102006045292 a 1. To facilitate assembly of the packaging machine at the assembly site, the packaging machine is divided into separate modules each having a drive for the base film. Such a module comprises, for example, a forming station for forming a bowl in the base film strip. In addition, the module is provided with a filling station for supplying the products, a sealing station for closing the packages and a punching and cutting device. In order to synchronize the work cycles of the individual modules with each other, compensation rings are provided which are provided in order to give the base film web a constant tension at specific locations.
Typically, the packages produced in thermoforming packaging machines have a circumferential flange region, which comprises, in particular, a sealing seam (the connection between the packaging trough and the top film). In principle, some applications desire to form the flange as narrow as possible. However, this can be problematic as tolerances for the positioning of the sealing seam and tolerances for the process of cutting the sealed package from the film assembly must fall within the flange area.
The following thermoforming packaging machines are known from EP 2740679 a 1: not only are the packaging slots formed in the forming station, but also holes are introduced into the packaging slots at defined positions by means of a die-cutting device. These holes are used as reference elements and are each detected by means of a measuring system, such as a light barrier (light barrier), before reaching the sealing station and the cutting station. The sealing station and the cutting station can be moved by the adjusting means along the direction of film transport and can each be suitably aligned in a timed manner with respect to the packaging slot to be processed, based on the detected position of the hole. The sealing station and the cutting station can then always be positioned relatively precisely with respect to the position of the packaging slots, so that transport tolerances are at least partially compensated, so that packages with relatively small flanges can be produced. One disadvantage of this system is that the sealing station and the cutting station must be formed to be adjustably movable to enable alignment relative to the base film. In addition, a separate measurement system for detecting the hole is required.
Disclosure of Invention
The object of the present invention is to find a method for producing packages with a small flange width in a thermoforming packaging machine in a reproducible manner with as little effort as possible and reliably.
This object is achieved by the subject matter of scheme 1 and the subject matter of
The invention relates to a method for packaging products, wherein, for example, food products or pharmaceutical technical products can be packaged. The method comprises the following steps: the base film is conveyed by means of a conveyor device in a conveying direction towards the forming station, towards the loading path, further towards the sealing station and still further towards the cutting station in a timed (intermittent) manner. In the forming station, a packaging groove (packing gauge) is formed in the base film by thermoforming. In the loading path, the packaging slots are filled with product. This can be done, for example, manually or automatically. In the sealing station, the filled packaging trough is sealed by sealingly attaching a top film to a base film. Alternatively, sealing may be performed under vacuum or an inert gas environment. This is useful, for example, if it is desired to extend the shelf life of a packaged food product. In the cutting station, filled packaging slots are cut out of the film assembly. This can be done, for example, by cutting (particularly, die cutting) the base and top films thoroughly along the packaging outline.
According to the invention, a centering hole is formed in the base film in a defined position relative to the packaging trough. The base film is then aligned (aligned) by engaging at least one centering pin into the centering hole. The base film may be moved for alignment by engaging the centering pins into the corresponding centering holes. The moving of the base film during the aligning may include shifting a position of the base film and/or changing a shape of the base film by stretching the base film. In particular, by the engagement between the centering pins and the centering holes, the base film can be aligned along the transport direction and/or along a transverse direction extending perpendicular to the transport direction, i.e. the base film can be made to perform a movement during alignment along the transport direction (or along the opposite direction of the transport direction) and/or aligned transverse to the transport direction. The alignment may take place in particular in a horizontal plane.
By aligning the base film, a deviation and an inaccuracy in timing conveyance (clockkedconveyance) of the base film by the conveyance device are compensated. Therefore, the advancing tolerance during the time-measuring conveyance of the base film can be significantly reduced. Thus, the position of the packaging slots formed in the base film relative to the different processing stations can be set very precisely. Due to such improved processing accuracy, it is possible, for example, to produce packages with narrower flanges, since the tolerance area covered by the flanges is reduced. In summary, the production of packages becomes more accurate and reproducible.
Aligning the base film by mechanically engaging the centering pins into the corresponding centering holes is particularly inexpensive and easy to implement. It is not necessary to provide a separate device for detecting the centering hole. According to the present invention, since the base film is aligned instead of the corresponding work station, the work station does not have to be adjustably moved. For example, the workstation may simply be attached in a fixed manner to the frame of the packaging machine.
The at least one centering pin preferably comprises at least one centering pin provided in the cutting station. By aligning the base film in the cutting station, the packaging slots can be positioned directly before cutting them out of the film assembly. This ensures that the cutting will be performed as accurately as possible along the desired contour of the package.
The upper cutting tool part and the lower cutting tool part of the cutting station can perform a relative movement towards each other for cutting out the filled packaging slots. Preferably, during this relative movement, at least one centering pin is engaged in a corresponding centering hole, so that the base film is aligned in the cutting station before the actual cutting action.
In particular, the centering pin may be provided at the upper portion of the cutting tool or at the lower portion of the cutting tool. The centering pins can then engage into the corresponding centering holes during the relative movement between the upper cutting tool part and the lower cutting tool part without additional means (in particular without their own drive).
Alternatively, or in addition to providing the centering pins in the cutting station, the at least one centering pin may comprise at least one centering pin provided in the sealing station. The centering pin can directly align the base film before sealing the top film, thereby improving the positioning accuracy of the sealing seam relative to the packaging groove.
In order to sealingly connect the top film to the base film, the sealing tool upper part and the sealing tool lower part of the sealing station may perform a relative movement towards each other. Preferably, during this relative movement, at least one centering pin is engaged in a corresponding centering hole, so that the base film is aligned in the sealing station before the actual sealing action.
In particular, the centering pin may be attached to the sealing tool upper part or the sealing tool lower part and may engage into the corresponding centering hole during the relative movement between the sealing tool upper part and the sealing tool lower part without additional means (in particular without any additional drive means).
According to an advantageous embodiment, the centering hole is formed when the packaging slot is formed in the forming station. In particular, this can be done by punching out a centering hole. For example, a corresponding punching device can be integrated in the forming station, so that the drive of the forming station for thermoforming the packaging slots is also used for punching. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to provide a separate punching station for forming the centering hole. When forming the centering hole in the forming station, the defined position of the centering hole relative to the packaging slot can be obtained particularly easily and accurately.
According to an embodiment, upstream of the at least one centering pin in the transport direction, the base film is released by the transport device such that the base film has play for being aligned by the centering pin. This can ensure that the centering pins can align the base film without stretching the base film. This is particularly important for hard films that are difficult to stretch. However, even for films that can be easily stretched, this is advantageous because overstretching of the film and the consequent local reduction in film thickness can be at least partially prevented.
The conveying device preferably comprises a gripper chain for conveying the base film, the gripper chain having gripper elements which hold the base film on both lateral sides in the conveying direction. The clamping element may release the base film upstream of the at least one centering pin in the transport direction.
According to another embodiment, the base film or film combination (base mold sealed with the top film) is severed transversely to the transport direction, in particular completely severed, with a transverse cutting device upstream of the at least one centering pin in the transport direction. This facilitates the alignment by the centering pin in the transport direction, since the aligned film portions can be moved independently of the following film portions.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the transverse cutting device is integrated in the cutting station or the sealing station. The use of a transverse cutting device for cutting transversely to the transport direction is expediently carried out before the alignment by means of the centering pin. The transverse cutting device can be integrated in the cutting station or the sealing station in such a way that the drive of the cutting station or the sealing station is shared. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to provide the transverse cutting device as a separate station.
The invention also relates to a thermoforming packaging machine. The thermoforming packaging machine according to the invention is designed and configured to carry out the method according to the invention.
The thermoforming packaging machine comprises: a forming station for forming a packaging slot in the base film by thermoforming; a loading path for filling the packaging slot with a product to be packaged; a sealing station for closing the filled packaging trough by sealing the top film to the base film; a cutting station for cutting the filled packaging slots from the film assembly; and a conveying device for conveying the base film in a timed manner along the conveying direction towards the forming station, towards the loading path, further towards the sealing station and still further towards the cutting station. In addition, a punching tool is provided for forming a centering hole in the base film at a defined position relative to the packaging trough. Furthermore, there is at least one centering pin configured to align the base film by engaging into the centering hole.
Drawings
The invention will be explained below using embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:
fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a thermoform packaging machine having a cross-cutting apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a thermoform packaging machine for release film upstream of a sealing station and upstream of a cutting station, in accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a completed package according to an embodiment; and
fig. 4 shows the different operating states in chronological order when aligning the base film in the sealing station or the cutting station in a schematic sectional view through the sealing station or the cutting station according to an embodiment.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a thermoforming packaging machine 1 according to an embodiment. The thermoforming packaging machine 1 comprises a frame 3 on which frame 3 there are arranged in a fixed manner along a transport direction T a forming
The forming
In the loading path 7, downstream of the forming
After sealing, the filled packaging slots are cut out of the film composite in a cutting
Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through an
In order to improve the positioning accuracy of the
However, as shown in dashed lines in fig. 1, it is also conceivable that the punching tool is not integrated in the forming
At least one
In the case shown in part a of fig. 4, the
With the centering pins 41 engaged in the centering
In the embodiment shown, the centering pins 41 are provided in the tool
The centering
As explained, the centering is preferably performed in the sealing
In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a
As shown in dashed lines in fig. 1, it is alternatively also conceivable to integrate the transverse cutting device in the sealing
Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the thermoforming packaging machine 1. Similar to the embodiment according to fig. 1, a centering
In the embodiment of fig. 2, no transverse cutting device is provided. Instead, the
The cutting
As mentioned, it is not absolutely necessary to center the base die 17 by means of the centering
Different methods have been described to provide the
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