Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tray sealing machine and, in addition, to a method for gently picking-up trays and for gently depositing sealed packages.

Abstract: A thermoforming packaging machine includes a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a film web, a filling path for filling products into the troughs, a sealing station for sealing the troughs, a chain guide for guiding a transport chain for the film web, a transverse cutting device for cutting the film web in a direction transverse to the transport direction, a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the film web in the transport direction, and a control device for controlling processes running on the thermoforming packaging machine. The transverse cutting device comprises a film punch, an adjustment drive which can be controlled by the control device for closing and opening the film punch, and a detection unit which is connected to the control device and which has at least one sensor which is configured to detect, per processing cycle, a force progression occurring at the film punch during opening and closing.

Abstract: In order to reliably detect, without supplying electric current or any other type of energy to a gripper, whether a rear end of a product caliber is in a grippable position close to a gripper base body and/or gripper claws are extended into the product caliber, i.e., are activated, a signal transmitter may be moved into an activated position via a purely mechanical operative connection between a sensing element, which detects the approach of the product caliber to the gripper base body in a contacting manner, which position can be detected by a sensor arranged far behind the gripper at a base frame of the machine.

Abstract: A packaging assembly comprising a feed conveyor, a gripping area and an undergripper, wherein the feed conveyor has a conveying surface and is suitable for conveying on the conveying surface a product support into the gripping area. The undergripper is configured to grip the product support in the gripping area from below. The packaging assembly has, in the gripping area, a support strip for the product support with an inner edge and an upper surface, the upper surface being raised in comparison with the conveying surface of the feed conveyor.

Abstract: A thermoforming packaging machine comprises a film source, a forming station, a sealing station and a conveying device. The film source is configured to receive a lower film supply roll and provide a lower film web unwound from the lower film supply roll. The conveying device is configured to convey the lower film web from the film source to the forming station and further to the sealing station. The film source comprises a holding mandrel for receiving thereon the lower film supply roll and a film storage device configured for accommodating a variable length of the lower film web and regulating a film tension of the lower film web. The holding mandrel and the film storage device are arranged one above the other in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A packaging machine with an atmosphere modifying station in which an atmosphere within a packaging to be produced can be modified by evacuating air and/or introducing a gas. The packaging machine has a pressure control device that may control an evacuation pressure and/or a gassing pressure. The pressure control device may comprise a first controllable 2/2-way valve and a second controllable 2/2-way valve, both which are configured to influence the evacuation pressure and/or the gassing pressure by setting a volume flow. The first and second 2/2-way valves are connected in parallel with one another and are controllable independently of one another. In one embodiment, the first and second 2/2-way valves are preferably electrically controllable. A method of modifying an atmosphere within a package using a packaging machine and pressure control device is also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a sealing station of a packaging machine for producing, in the case of possibly varying filling degrees, packages with at least substantially similar package appearances, the method comprising the execution of a comparison between a detected pressure curve and a reference pressure curve, and the calculation of a filling degree of the package positioned within the sealing station on the basis of the comparison between the detected pressure curve and the reference pressure curve, and/or the calculation of a volume flow with respect to the pressure curve or the reference pressure curve, and the setting of at least one process parameter at the packaging machine with due regard to the calculated filling degree and/or the volume flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a residual film winder for a packaging machine, wherein the residual film winder comprises a reception mandrel, a reception sleeve, and at least one film spreader. The reception sleeve is configured to be arranged onto the reception mandrel. The film spreader has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end extends out of the reception sleeve, and the first end has an outer contour extending along its long axis. The outer contour of the film spreader has at least two sections, a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections are not parallel to each other.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine with a forming station for deep-drawing trays into a film, a loading stretch for filling products into the trays, and a sealing station for sealing the trays. The deep-drawing packaging machine further comprises at least one vacuum cooling station which is disposed in a direction of transport upstream of the sealing station and which is formed for vacuum cooling the products placed into the trays along the loading stretch. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for vacuum cooling products.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a machine frame, at least one work station attached to the machine frame, and a transport device with a transfer unit for feeding trays to the work station, wherein the transfer unit comprises a suction plate for transporting trays in a predetermined transport plane. The suction plate may comprises at least one reception mold which is formed at least in part having the shape of an inner contour of an upper opening region of a tray facing it, provided to the reception mold for reception and transport, so that the reception mold during transport in the transport plane of the tray is arranged in a positive-fit manner in its upper opening region and aligns the tray in the transport plane in a predetermined position on the suction plate. The invention also relates to a method for supplying trays to a work station of a packaging machine.

Abstract: Packaging machine for packaging products in plastic packaging having at least one sealing station for receiving a plastic packaging to be sealed in a reception region within the sealing station. The packaging machine includes a supply line capable to supply a gas to the reception region, a discharge line capable to discharge a gas from the reception region. A valve may be disposed in the discharge line. Further, a vacuum pump may be connected to the discharge line to pump gas out of the reception region through the discharge line valve. A measuring line may be connected to the reception region at a connection point and may be connected to the discharge line in a region between the valve and the vacuum pump via a connecting line. A first shut-off valve may disposed in the connecting line and a second shut-off valve may be disposed in the measuring line.

Abstract: The work station for a packaging machine comprises an upper tool, a lower tool, and a lifting mechanism. The lower tool is guided for a closing motion directed along a vertical direction towards the upper tool. The lifting mechanism comprises a toggle lever mechanism which connects the lower tool to a support structure. The lifting mechanism comprises a first actuator assembly and a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly is configured to apply a first force for raising the lower tool. The second actuator assembly is configured to apply a second force for raising the lower tool. The first actuator assembly acts upon the lower tool while bypassing the toggle lever mechanism. The second actuator assembly acts upon the toggle lever mechanism.

Abstract: A thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming station. The forming station comprises at least one forming tool lower part, the forming tool lower part may be movable transversely to an operating direction of the thermoform packaging machine. The forming tool lower part may comprise at least one reception unit with one or a plurality of troughs for receiving cardboard elements. At a forming position the forming tool lower parts are in contact with the forming tool upper parts such that the first film web may be formed-in into the forming tool lower parts. Further, the first film web may be formed-in into the cardboard elements during the forming process and, in the case of a skin film, an adhering or an adhesive connection may be established between the skin film and the inner surfaces of the cardboard elements.

Abstract: A packaging machine having several work stations, a transport chain and a chain deflection pulley on which the transport chain is mounted. The transport chain comprises chain clips, each chain clip having an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part and/or the lower part may be moveable relative to each other to move the chain clips between an open position and a closed position. The material blank may be introduced into the open chain clips and secured in the closed chain clips to transport the material blank in a direction of transport using the transport chain. A chain opening mechanism may be actively and operably changed between an opening state and a closing state in order to open and close at least one chain clip disposed on a planar oriented section of the transport chain and/or to maintain an already opened chain clip in an open state.

Abstract: A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different processes. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and the measuring devices. A work cycle at the packaging machine comprises at least a first functional process and a second functional process at one or at different working units, the second functional process starting later than the first functional process. The control unit may execute an early start for the second functional process of a working unit, when an actual process value of the preceding first functional process of the program sequence of one of the working units has not yet reached the respective target process value. The control unit may control the early start of the second functional process based on an approximation method for predetermining the temporal end of the first functional process.

Abstract: A packaging machine having at least one working component that is mounted in an adjustable manner relative to a machine frame between a first and a second position, and that incorporates at least one pneumatic unit. A coupling member may be mounted in a tiltable manner relative to an axis, and in one embodiment, the coupling member may connect the pneumatic unit to the working component. The coupling member may be arranged at least in part within a piston of the pneumatic unit and may be mounted in a linearly adjustable manner along the axis.

Abstract: A thermoform packaging machine comprising, as work stations, a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a packaging film, at least one sealing station for sealing the troughs with a cover film, and a cutting station as well as a feeding device for causing a feed of the packaging film. A method for using such a thermoform packaging machine wherein a controller determines for two or more work stations, prior to a process step, which required feed length each of these work stations has, the required feed length indicating the distance by which the packaging film will have to be conveyed for the next process step of the respective work station, before a feed length specification is ascertained from the required feed lengths determined and the feeding device is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: A tool cart having a frame, a lifting device for lifting the frame, a locking device to lock the tool cart horizontally relative to a work station or a packaging machine (collectively referred to below as the “packaging machine”), and a stop element that may engage with an underside of the packaging machine when lifted. The lifting device and locking device operate independently. A method for transferring a tool component including one or more of the steps of: aligning the tool cart relative to the packaging machine; locking the tool cart in position relative to the packaging machine; lifting a frame of the tool cart by way of a lifting device until the stop element engages an underside of the packaging machine; and transferring the tool component between the tool cart and the packaging machine may be included.

Abstract: A method for operating a tray conveying apparatus, wherein a tray edge of a tray to be destacked is guided in contact with and along a support until the tray has been deposited on a conveying unit positioned therebelow. An apparatus for destacking and further conveying trays that may comprise a destacker for destacking trays, wherein the destacker may also comprise a frame for accommodating at least one tray stack and a plurality of destacking screws configured to be operated in a respective direction of rotation. Each destacking screw may comprise a helically configured spiral or groove with a support. A conveying unit may be positioned below the destacker and used for receiving and transporting the destacked trays from the destacker.

Abstract: A method for operating a packaging machine including one or more of the method steps advancing a transport chain along a chain deflection pulley, wherein chain clips are arranged on the transport chain and moved during the advancing motion of the transport chain along a run-on contour, to open at least one of the chain clips; introducing a flat material blank into the at least one open chain clip using a feed device or by entraining the flat material blank using a connection to a second material blank preceding the flat material blank, wherein the material blank enters the open chain clip during an advancing motion of the transport chain; closing the chain clip by leaving the run-on contour, to grip and secure the material blank in the chain clip; and transporting the material blank to a work station using the transport chain.