Patents Assigned to IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
  • Patent number: 6698576
    Abstract: In a method for transferring a product in a packaging machine, the product is engaged from behind by a pushing element which is mounted on and driven by a first circulating continuous conveyor and moved from a transfer station along a sliding surface for transfer to an ongoing conveyor device. While being moved, the product is guided between the pushing element and a forward limiting element which is mounted on a second circulating continuous conveyor. To ensure a precise, rapid transfer, the forward limiting element is returned to the transfer station after the product has been moved by the carrying run of its second continuous conveyor and is used as the pushing element for the next product to be moved. The pushing element is guided back to the transfer station in the opposite direction to that in which the product is conveyed by means of its first continuous conveyor and is used as the limiting element for the next product to be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hähnel, Richard Christ
  • Patent number: 6503180
    Abstract: A device for transferring a folded box from a magazine accommodating flat folded boxes to a circulating transport device thereby simultaneously erecting same, comprises a holding device transferring and carrying the folded box during transfer, and an erecting member. The holding device and the erecting member are rotatably disposed on a planetary part of a planetary gearing and are moved along a hypocycloid path having several turning points and intermediate curves. The planetary part is rotatably disposed on a planetary support which rotates about a stationary sun axis. Via a first gearing arrangement, the holding device is subjected to a superimposed, first correcting rotary motion defined along a first control curve and, via a second gearing arrangement, the erecting member is subjected to a superimposed, second correcting rotary motion defined along a second control curve. Both gearing arrangements are disposed substantially coaxially with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Plüschow, Bernd Hähnel
  • Patent number: 6405852
    Abstract: A transport device in a packaging machine, in particular a tube filling machine, comprises an endless belt guided via at least two deflection pulleys on the outer side of which a plurality of supporting devices are disposed. One end of each supporting device is borne for pivoting on the endless belt via a bolt extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the endless belt with the opposite end engaging with the neighboring supporting device in a pivoting manner and also in a displaceable manner in the longitudinal direction of the endless belt. For precision bearing thereof, the supporting device is connected to the neighboring supporting device via at least one joint plate, connected to the supporting device for pivoting about a first axis and connected to the neighboring supporting device for pivoting about a second axis which is parallel thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Christ
  • Patent number: 6385945
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a package transporting means, in particular a folding box transporting means, and a transverse pushing device comprising a plunger which can be displaced substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction of the package transporting means, by means of which a package disposed on the package transporting means can be displaced perpendicularly to the transport direction. Several plungers are thereby displaceably disposed at equal distances on an endless transport device circulating substantially parallel with respect to the transport direction of the package transporting means, wherein a cam track defines the displacement of the plungers and comprises a first section for axial extension of the plunger and a subsequent second section for axial retraction of the plunger. To enable simple and quick adaptation to the format of the folding box to be displaced, at least the first section of the cam track is formed by an adjustable abutment surface on which a first roller travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Hähnel
  • Patent number: 6381923
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a folding box transporting device and a closing device for alignment and insertion of the closing flaps of a folding box, wherein the closing device supports at least one closing tool which rotates, via a drive and a gearing, while maintaining its orientation. The gearing is a planetary gearing which ensures precise motion of the closing tools even at high packaging machine cycle frequencies. The planetary support can thereby be connected to an intermediate shaft surrounded by a coaxially disposed hollow drive shaft, wherein the hollow drive shaft is borne for rigid rotation along with the intermediate shaft but in an axially displaceable fashion to permit axial or vertical adjustment of the planetary gearing and therefore of the closing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Plüschow, Bernd Hähnel
  • Patent number: 6354060
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a transfer device for inserting a product into a package, and a circulating leaflet transport device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders, each receiving one leaflet and by means of which the leaflet can be disposed between the product and the package in the region of the transfer device for insertion, together with the product, into the package. A stop is disposed in the region of the transfer device and in the transport path of the tong-like holder to open the holder for releasing the leaflet. If there is no package in the transfer station, the stop can be removed from the transport path of the tong-like holders into a non-operating position, for passage of a holder without opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Plüschow, Dirk Witte
  • Patent number: 6339910
    Abstract: A device for insertion of products into a packaging container in a packaging machine comprises an insertion plunger which is guided along a certain path parallel to the product and a cover element which can be pre-positioned above the product by a first displacement control and which can be lowered onto the products via a second displacement control. The insertion plunger and the cover element can exercise an insertion motion to insert the products into the container. In order to guarantee a precise seating of the cover element and to facilitate a simple reconfiguration to differing product formats, the second displacement control comprises a substantially vertical control surface as well as an element engaging the control surface for horizontal displacement thereby, wherein the horizontal adjustment displacement of the element can be transformed by a transformation device into the vertical lowering motion of the cover element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hähnel, Walter Dreizler
  • Patent number: 6332528
    Abstract: A plurality of packages and/or products disposed next to each other transverse to the transport direction can be transported together by a transport device in a packaging machine. A guiding device facilitates a change in the mutual sideward separations of the packages and/or products transverse to the transport direction. In order to prevent a retardation of the products in the guiding device, the guiding device has a plurality of conveyor belts disposed next to each other and extending in the transport direction, each for the acceptance of one package and/or one product which are slanted with respect to each other in such a manner that their mutual separation transverse to the transport direction increases in the transport direction. The conveyor belts are substantially of equal lengths and are driven by a common drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Willi Rink
  • Patent number: 6319163
    Abstract: A transport device in a packaging machine includes a plurality of circulating transport chains which each travel over at least one chain wheel. In order to be able to adjust the transport device to differing formats for the bulk product and/or the packaging, the chain wheels can be adjusted with respect to each other in a peripheral direction upon a support shaft. In order to effect as simple and compact a construction as possible, a hydraulic fastening device is provided for fixing the chain wheels relative to each other, wherein the fastening device can be deactivated by means of a releasing device to effect adjustment. The chain wheels can be radially fixed to the shaft by the hydraulic fastening device. It is however also possible for the chain wheels to be disposed on coaxial shaft members which can be adjusted with respect to each other in the peripheral direction and which can be fixed to each other by the hydraulic fastening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Plüschow, Walter Dreizler
  • Patent number: 6276893
    Abstract: A folded box hopper in a packaging machine comprises a hopper shaft accepting a stack of flattened folded boxes as well as a transfer device having a gripper by means of which the lowermost folded box of the stack can be removed from the hopper shaft, and having an input belt for introducing the folded boxes into the hopper shaft. A first adjustment device serves for adjusting the height of the gripper and of the hopper shaft relative to a downstream transport belt and a second adjustment device is provided for aligning the hopper shaft relative to the gripper, wherein the height and/or tilt of the input belt can be changed. A simple adjustment of the input belt is effected in that the input belt is borne at the hopper shaft in a hinged fashion via a first bearing at its front end proximate the hopper shaft and is borne, via a second bearing proximate its rear end to follow a control path. The control path can thereby be defined by a pendulous support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Plüschow, Bernd Hähnel
  • Patent number: 6082077
    Abstract: A tube filling machine, including a conveying device rotating about a pair of axes defining a plane and having a plurality of holding elements in each of which a tube can be inserted. The tubes can be conveyed through individual works stations. In order to permit a simple modification and adaptation of the orientation of the tubes during their passage through the tube filling machine, the plane defined by the axes is inclined at an angle .alpha. to the horizontal, and each tube is so held in its holding element that its longitudinal axis is inclined at an angle .beta. relative to the defined plane. The angle .alpha. and the angle .beta. are preferably in the range 20 to 70.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Christ
  • Patent number: 4957581
    Abstract: To prevent an end of a filled container, upon heating by a hot air for subsequent welding of edges thereof, from coming into contact and sticking to a retainer, a centering gas such as, for example, air is supplied from an external source to the container end. Edges of the filling opening of the container are heated by a hot gas for a subsequent closing of the same through a nozzle introducible into the filling opening of the container end. A centering fluid is directed at the end of the container with a component of flow of the centering in an axial direction of the container to provide for a contact-free centering of the container end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Jahrig, Lutz Langenhahn, Robert Riedl
  • Patent number: 4553659
    Abstract: An insertion apparatus is provided for inserting continuously supplied products into containers. The insertion apparatus includes an ejection device which moves parallel to products along an endless conveyor system, and a curved directrix which is adapted to guide the ejection device in a direction which effects lateral movement of the products. The directrix is inclined relative to the direction of movement of the products, and a device is provided for bypassing movement of the ejection device with respect to the directrix so that the ejection device will move independently of the movement of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Reim, Dieter Pluschow
  • Patent number: 4502262
    Abstract: Apparatus for positioning inserts relative to a product on a product chain prior to packaging the product in a product container, the apparatus includes insert transport belts for conveying the inserts to an insert pincer chain adapted to position the inserts relative to the product prior to release of the inserts from the insert pincer chain. The insert pincer chain is positioned below the product chain. The insert pincer chain is directed along the side of the product chain in a transfer zone at which the inserts are transferred from the insert pincer chain to the product chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Reim, Horst Garthe