Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine and a method for the production of individual packagings. Each package may include a planar product carrier and a top film which encloses a product disposed on the product carrier in a gas-tight manner. The packaging machine may include a sealing station with a tool upper part having an outer frame and at least one sealing tool movably mounted for a sealing operation, and a tool lower part that comprises a belt conveying module with at least one conveyor belt mounted thereon. The tool upper part and the tool lower part are moved toward each other to form a sealing chamber in a closed position of the sealing station. In the closed position, the sealing tool may be lowered within the sealing chamber from a resting position to a sealing position to seal the package.

Abstract: A gripper that comprises a first receiving plate for receiving a first product portion and a second receiving plate for receiving a second product portion, wherein the receiving plates are movable relative to one another. The gripper further including a first movable stop which is movable relative to the first receiving plate, and a second movable stop which is movable relative to the second receiving plate. The gripper is distinguished by the fact that the first stop and second stop are movable relative to one another so as to move the product portions towards one another when the gripper is closed such that the product portions then may be positioned to overlap one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray sealer comprising a gripper device with two gripper arms, a supply device for unsealed trays, a removal device for sealed trays and a sealing device. Each gripper arm can comprise a coupling device that is configured to hold a first tray gripper for supplying trays into the sealing device and a second tray gripper for removing trays from the sealing device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a packaging machine, which comprises a control unit having a process parameter generator designed to determine specific process parameters for a production process of the packaging machine. The control unit of the packaging machine also comprises a recipe generator for an adjustment process of the packaging machine preceding the production process or can be connected to a recipe generator of the apparatus, which generator is designed as a separate unit. The respective recipe generator comprises a set of rules for determining recipe variables for the adjustment process of the packaging machine and is designed to generate the recipe variables with reference to a plurality of data and to form therefrom a recipe data set for the adjustment process of the packaging machine. A method for using the apparatus is also included.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different process. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and to the measuring devices. The measuring devices may detect actual process values at the respective working units and forwarding these values to the control unit for monitoring the respective working units. The control unit may create a specific program sequence for each of the individual working units and/or a program sequence coordinated with respect to the working units, by comparing the actual process values from the respective measuring devices with associated target process values from a memory. The individual working units may function according to this program sequence, depending on the actual process values detected at these working units, and/or the working units are coordinated with one another based on the actual process values.

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 tray sealer including a sealing station comprising a tool upper part, a clamping frame and a tool lower part. The tool upper part may surround a dome-shaped die used for deforming a skinnable top film. First and second channels in the dome-shaped die and in the tool upper part, respectively, are connectable to one another. The tool upper part or the dome-shaped die may comprise at least a third channel communicating with a vacuum generator so as to generate a thermal air convection from the first channel to the third channel along a side of the top film facing the dome-shaped die.

Abstract: The sealing device for packages that includes a control unit, a sealing station, an unwinder for a film web, a cutting device provided upstream of the sealing station and used for producing film sections of the film web, a film feed device for feeding the film sections to the sealing station, a conveying device for conveying packages into the sealing station. Preferrably, the packages include food packed in a gas-tight manner. Further, the sealing station may comprise upper and lower sealing elements that are configured for clamping the package and the film section in common between the lower and upper sealing elements and for sealing the film section onto the package. The sealing device may also include the sealing elements being adapted to be synchronously moved along with the continuously moving package during the sealing process.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a sealing station with a sealing tool, a side frame and at least a first as well as a second upper protective cover respectively for placement onto a top side of the side frame during the manufacturing operations, wherein each of the two protective covers form a body with a lid, multiple side walls as well as a bottom. In one embodiment, the two protective covers can be stacked on one another, wherein at least one of the two protective covers forms at least one stack stop on the lid to which an edge of the floor of the other protective cover can be coupled in a removable way if the two protective covers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the packaging machine may be a deep-drawing packaging machine or a tray-sealing machine.

Abstract: A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, at least one measurement device and a plurality of work units for different processes. One of the work units is designed as a sealing station which comprises at least one moisture sensor designed as the measurement device which is functionally connected to the control unit and is designed to detect moisture within the sealing station as a time-dependent measured variable during a program sequence of the sealing station. The program sequence may comprise an evacuation process, wherein the control unit is designed to calculate a rate of change in the moisture during the evacuation process of the sealing station. The control unit may abort the evacuation process performed on the sealing station, based on the rate of change, before reaching a target vacuum pressure within the sealing station, immediately or after a specified delay time elapses.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a machine frame and at least one workstation with a lifting gear for supporting and moving a lower tool part between an open and a closed position. The workstation may include an upper tool part to act in cooperation with the lower tool part during a working operation. The lower tool part may be engaged with or near in proximity to an upper tool part in the closed position, and will be spaced apart from the upper tool part in the open position. A tilting mechanism is provided for a tool changing operation to tilt the lower tool part into a tilted position when the lower tool part is in the open position. In one embodiment, the lower tool part is removed from the packaging machine on a rail system in the direction corresponding to the tilted position.

Abstract: Slicers for cutting food such as sausage, cheese or meat, for example, into slices. Such slicers, and processes related thereto, may simultaneously slice at least two stick-shaped pieces of food by a cutting blade. The feeding of the food that is sliced may be further improved thereby. An exemplary feed unit (9) for feeding food (10) to a cutting blade (7) includes at least one gripper carriage (20) including a gripper receiving beam (22) and at least one movable gripper (21). This gripper (21) may be operated by a stationary drive, and the mechanical work for seizing can be transferred to the grippers (21) via guides or further drive structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoform packaging machine, comprising a controller and a film punch, which includes a lever mechanism, a tool, upper part and a tool lower part. At least one of the tool upper part and the tool lower part are movable by means of the lever mechanism such that the tool upper part and the tool lower part approach each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging assembly and a method of packaging differently sized products, such as fresh meat cuts. The packaging assembly can include at least one thermoform packaging machine having at least two forming stations. The thermoform packaging machine can also include a control unit configured for providing, during operation and in a manner that is automatically adaptable in response to the supplied products, formats with a first or a second number of troughs for placing the respective products thereinto.

Abstract: A thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming station for thermoforming troughs in a bottom film web adapted to be conveyed in the thermoform packaging machine in a conveying direction, as well as a closing station for closing the troughs with a cover film. The machine further comprises a machine frame that includes a plurality of interconnected vertical members, longitudinal members, cross members, and machine feet. At least one substantially U-shaped or O-shaped portal is rigidly integrated in the machine frame, the portal comprising two columns and a crossbar extending between the two columns and above a conveying plane of the bottom film web transversely to the conveying direction, wherein the portal has a 2-axis robot mounted thereon.

Abstract: A thermo-forming packaging machine having a transport device that is configured to convey a lower film in a film transport surface along a transport direction from a forming station for forming troughs in the lower film via an inserting track for filling the troughs with products to a sealing station for sealing the troughs with an upper film and further to a cutting station for separating the sealed troughs. The film transport surface may include an area that ascends along the transport direction, either between the forming station and the sealing station or following the sealing station. The ascending areas may be followed in the transport direction by an even area. As a result, one of a product feeding device for feeding of products or a packaging discharge device for leading away packages may be positioned particularly close to the lower film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray sealer comprising a gripper device with two gripper arms, a supply device for unsealed trays, a removal device for sealed trays and a sealing device. Each gripper arm can comprise a coupling device that is configured to hold a first tray gripper for supplying trays into the sealing device and a second tray gripper for removing trays from the sealing device.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system for forming a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of products (provided to the conveyor individually or in respective groups) that are intended for an infeed process on a packaging machine. The plurality of products may be oriented in a row transversely to the conveying direction. The conveyor belt system may include a distributing belt module that takes up products from an upstream positioned product provider, a buffer belt module arranged downstream of the distributing belt module and configured to convey in a plurality of tracks extending side by side along the conveying direction a respective plurality of products one after the other, and an orienting belt module that can position the products in at least one row transversely oriented to the conveying direction according to the predetermined arrangement, the orienting belt module being positioned downstream of the buffer belt module in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A forming station for a thermoform packaging machine, wherein the forming station comprises a forming tool upper part and a forming tool lower part that are each configured for cooperating so as to thermoform a film positioned between the forming tool lower part and the forming tool upper part. The forming station includes a first change bar that is adapted to be releasably attached to a reception area of the forming tool lower part and the first change bar carries a plurality of punches or blades.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a packaging machine with a fluid pump assembly of the radial cylinder type, the assembly comprising a plurality of at least three pumps. Each pump has a piston guided in a cylinder, as well as a high pressure port and a low pressure port. A manifold is provided connecting the high pressure ports of a first group of first stage pumps so that the pumps of this first group are operatively connected in parallel, while at least one second stage pump is operatively connected to the first group of pumps in series. The invention is further directed to a method for generating a vacuum in a packaging machine with a fluid pump assembly.