Abstract: A robot according to the present disclosure includes a support structure and at least three main arms mounted to be movable relative to the support structure, wherein the outer ends facing away from the support structure are movable to different spatial positions relative to the support structure and relative to each other. The robot further comprises connecting elements having the same lengths by means of which the outer end of each main arm can be connected at a defined distance from the outer end of the two adjacent main arms. The present disclosure also provides a method of calibrating a robot.

Abstract: A sealing tool for a packaging machine comprises a sealing tool outer part, a sealing tool inner part that is movable in the sealing tool outer part, and a seal provided between the sealing tool outer part and the sealing tool inner part. The has a planar and annular design and is fixed in a first holding region at the sealing tool outer part as well as in a second holding region at the sealing tool inner part. The second holding region is disposed at or in the proximity of an outer edge of the sealing tool inner part.

Abstract: A package that comprises a bottom, a plurality of sidewalls extending away from the bottom defining an open top, each sidewall coupled to the bottom with a bottom-to-sidewall transition. The package may include a plurality of curved corner sidewalls disposed between the sidewalls and coupled to the bottom with a bottom-to-corner transition. The bottom-to-sidewall transition may comprise three sections, wherein a second section is substantially planar or slightly arced and the first and third sections being curved as necessary. The package may also include the bottom-to-corner transition comprising at least three sections, the second section being substantially planar wherein the first and third sections are curved as necessary. The second sections of both transitions may be angularly orientated to the bottom and sidewalls. The package may further include a plurality of transition elements between to couple the bottom-to-corner and bottom-to-side transitions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a conveyor lane divider for dividing trays that are received in one lane from an infeed conveyor and are passed on to a two-lane production unit. The conveyor lane divider has a line motion control system that can be automatically initialized when starting.

Abstract: A tray sealer and related method for sealing trays with a lid film wherein the trays may comprise several sealing planes that may be inclined with respect to each other. The tray sealer may include a tray seat and an upper sealing part operably disposed therein. The tray seat may comprise a circumferential tray edge support for supporting a tray edge of a tray. The upper sealing tool part may comprise a cutting facility and a circumferential sealing member for sealing a lid film onto the tray edge along a sealed seam. The tray edge support may include at least one first region with a first support plane and a second region with a second support plane. The first and second support planes may be orientated at an incline relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermo-forming packaging machine comprising a product feeder for feeding a product to a loading stretch of the packaging machine, and a film web having trays formed therein wherein the trays are configured to receive a product. The product feeder may be arranged at least partially parallel to the loading stretch of the packaging machine. The thermo-forming packaging machine also includes a side panel disposed along the loading stretch that is formed such that it also forms part of the product feeder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging facility and a method for operating a packaging facility to manufacture a folding package, where said folding package is folded using a folding device and is closed using a latching device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for the high-pressure treatment of products, particularly of packaged foodstuffs. The device comprises a high-pressure chamber and a discharge valve for discharging high-pressure medium out of the high-pressure chamber. The invention is characterized in that a controllable actuator is provided for adjusting the rate of the pressure decrease in the high-pressure chamber at least over a predetermined pressure range. The disclosure also relates to a method for the high-pressure treatment of products, wherein pressure decrease takes place in a first phase and in a second phase, and the mean pressure decrease rate in the first phase is higher than in the second phase.

Abstract: A thermo-forming packaging machine having a machine frame and a film advance device for gripping one side of a film web and for transporting the film web through one or more workstations in the thermo-forming packaging machine The film advance device may be provided only on one side of the machine frame allowing the present packaging machine to utilize packaging film webs of different widths. The thermo-forming packaging machine may also include an alignment device to align an edge of the packaging film with the film advance device. The thermo-forming packaging machine may also include one or more counter supports to prevent the film from being displaced by a forming tool lower part of the forming station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically teaching parameters to a tray sealer, for example, position values, acceleration values and/or distances.

Abstract: A thermoforming packaging machine according to the disclosure comprises a forming station for producing packaging troughs in a bottom foil, and a filler for filling the packaging troughs with products. The filler is arranged at a transition region for conveying the packaging troughs from a first transport plane to a second transport plane. A corresponding method for filling packaging troughs with products is also provided.

Abstract: A deep-drawing packaging machine that includes a sealing station and a method for changing the sealing frame together with the sealing plate at the sealing station. The sealing station includes a sealing plate and a sealing frame. The sealing plate may be releasably coupled to an upper sealing tool part, and the sealing frame may be slidably removable at a lower sealing tool part. The sealing frame may be slidable on rails. The sealing frame may include one or more centering aids for aligning the sealing plate with respect to said sealing frame during removal thereof. The centering aids may be displaceable underneath a film web by the upper sealing tool part during the clamping of the film web between the sealing frame and the upper sealing tool part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine and to a method of operating such a deep-drawing packaging machine, comprising a lifting device for a workstation, wherein a lower tool part connected to a stand and an upper tool part connected to a frame are coupled to each other and driven by a motor such that both tools may at least partially move together towards a film web.

Abstract: A method of transferring an article from a first drivable conveyor means to a second drivable conveyor means, the transfer of the article taking place during a synchronous phase in which the first and the second conveyor means have the same common speed as one another at any time. The method is characterized in that, during the synchronous phase, the common speed increases at least sectionwise and/or decreases at least sectionwise. A corresponding conveyor system operable for performing the method of transferring an article from a first drivable conveyor means to a second drivable conveyor means, as well as a packaging plant comprising such a conveyor system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool changing device of a work station in a thermoform packaging machine, used for allowing a work insert to be pushed out of the work station laterally relative to the production direction, a chain guide be movable vertically to the tool insert.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tensioning device (15) for an endless transport belt (14), whereby the tensioning device (15) comprises two tensioning edges (16) around which the transport belt (14) is deflectable, and at least one spring section (26, 26?) integrally formed with the tensioning edges (16) and arranged between the two tensioning edges (16). This tensioning device (15) can be provided with a transport belt (14) and used in an automatic gripper system (1).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for the high-pressure treatment of products, particularly of packaged foodstuffs. The device comprises a high-pressure chamber and a discharge valve for discharging high-pressure medium out of the high-pressure chamber. The invention is characterized in that a controllable actuator is provided for adjusting the rate of the pressure decrease in the high-pressure chamber at least over a predetermined pressure range. The disclosure also relates to a method for the high-pressure treatment of products, wherein pressure decrease takes place in a first phase and in a second phase, and the mean pressure decrease rate in the first phase is higher than in the second phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray-sealing machine with a control unit and a matrix monitoring device for detecting a misalignment of a tray in a sealing tool bottom part and/or the presence of foreign matter between the sealing tool bottom part and a sealing tool upper part, and for distinguishing this from product projecting from the tray.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a packaging machine and a method, wherein one embodiment of a protective device comprises a protective hood and the protective hood is lifted around a shaft comprising two rolls, and is shifted by means of guides in the protective hood on the rolls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoform packaging machine and a method of operating a thermoform packaging machine, which comprises an infeed station and a pre-sealing station, so as to feed elongate products into troughs and retain them therein until a cover film has been fixed so as to cover the troughs.