Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a packaging container, a web of material including a fiber-containing material is conveyed through a preforming station and through a forming station. In the preforming station, a forming region of the web of material is preformed by cooperation of a preforming die upper part with a preforming die lower part, the forming region being deformed between the preforming die upper part and the preforming die lower part during the preforming. In the forming station, a packaging depression is formed in the preformed forming region by cooperation of a forming die upper part with a forming die lower part, wherein the preformed forming region is deformed between the forming die upper part and the forming die lower part during forming.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cutting device which is adapted for cutting substantially round packaging corners from a film web, wherein the cutting device has at least one cutting tool comprising a cutting punch which has at its outside at least one concavity provided for forming a cutting edge of the cutting punch. According to the disclosure, the cutting edge has a cutting contour extending both transversely and longitudinally along the cutting punch. The disclosure further relates to a method for manufacturing a cutting punch.

Abstract: A working station for a packaging machine, wherein the working station has a lifting unit having a pressure source and a lifting actuator connected to the pressure source. The lifting actuator comprises a hose comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a seal having a seal cap engaging the outer surface. The seal further comprises an insert engaging the inner surface. Furthermore, the seal clamps a clamping portion of the wall of the hose between the insert and the seal cap in a fluidtight, preferably gastight, manner.

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: 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 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.

Abstract: A working station for a packaging, machine, wherein the working station has a lifting unit having a pressure source and a lifting actuator connected to the pressure source. The lifting actuator comprises a hose comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a seal having a seal cap engaging the outer surface. The seal further comprises an insert engaging the inner surface. Furthermore, the seal clamps a clamping portion of the wall of the hose between the insert and the seal cap in a fluidtight, preferably gastight, manner.

Abstract: A pre-punched material sheet for constructing a packaging trough, the material sheet includes a sub-area that has been punched out incompletely so that the sub-area is connected to a residual area of the material sheet through a plurality of retaining lugs. The material sheet is positioned on top of a female die part of a forming tool and the sub-area at least partially covers an opening of a forming cavity of the female die part. The residual area of the material sheet may be clamped in position against the female die part. The sub-area of the material sheet is sucked onto an insert in the forming cavity using a vacuum. The insert is vertically movable in the forming cavity from a first position to a second position to draw the sheet into the forming cavity and thereby form the packaging trough.

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 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 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.

Abstract: A packaging machine that includes a base film being conveyed in a clocked manner using a conveying device along a direction of transport to a forming station. The film is further conveyed to a loading path, onward to a sealing station and again onward to a cutting station. Packaging troughs are formed into the base film in the forming station by thermoforming. The packaging troughs are filled with products in the loading path. The filled packaging troughs are sealed by sealingly connecting a top film to the base film in the sealing station. The filled packaging troughs are cut out from the film composite in the cutting station. Centering holes are formed in the base film in a defined relative position to the packaging troughs, and the base film is aligned by engagement of at least one centering pin into the centering holes.

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: 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 pre-punched material sheet for constructing a packaging trough, the material sheet includes a sub-area that has been punched out incompletely so that the sub-area is connected to a residual area of the material sheet through a plurality of retaining lugs. The material sheet is positioned on top of a female die part of a forming tool and the sub-area at least partially covers an opening of a forming cavity of the female die part. The residual area of the material sheet may be clamped in position against the female die part. The sub-area of the material sheet is sucked onto an insert in the forming cavity using a vacuum. The insert is vertically movable in the forming cavity from a first position to a second position to draw the sheet into the forming cavity and thereby form the packaging trough.

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 chamber conveyor belt machine having a machine frame, a chamber cover with two or more columns and a lifting device for lifting the chamber cover. The lifting device may include a safety system that includes a latching rail that cooperates with a latching hook disposed on at least one of the two columns. The safety system may include one or more sensors for determining whether the lifting device is working correctly or is in a failure condition. The safety system may prevent the chamber conveyor belt machine from operating if a failure condition is sensed.

Abstract: A method and a device for packaging of products (28) in bags (26) comprises the steps of “forming a chamber (4) around the bag (26) by closing a lid (5)” and “evacuating the chamber (4)” or is formed such, respectively, in order to carry out these steps. It is the object of the device and the method, respectively, to enable an increase of the cycle performance of a packaging machine. Therefore, simultaneously with sealing the bag (26) by a sealing bar (11), the chamber (4) is vented and the bag (26) is clamped by at least a first clamping bar (10, 12).

Abstract: A chamber conveyor belt machine having a machine frame, a chamber cover with two or more columns and a lifting device for lifting the chamber cover. The lifting device may include a safety system that includes a latching rail that cooperates with a latching hook disposed on at least one of the two columns. The safety system may include one or more sensors for determining whether the lifting device is working correctly or is in a failure condition. The safety system may prevent the chamber conveyor belt machine from operating if a failure condition is sensed.