PACKAGING MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING INDIVIDUALLY EVACUATED AND/OR GAS TREATED PACKS
The present invention relates to a packaging machine (1) in which a material web is transported cyclically, having: a thermoforming station (2), which, during each cycle, forms a pattern of a plurality of pack cavities in the material web, —a filling station (7) in which an article is introduced into each pack cavity, —a sealing station (19), which fastens an upper material web integrally on the material web, wherein, prior to the integral connection being made, the pack cavity has gas evacuated from it and/or admitted to it, and—a cutting device (27), by means of which the packs produced in this way are separated from the material webs. The present invention further relates to a method for producing a pack, in the case of which a material web is transported cyclically along a packaging machine and, during each cycle, a pattern of a plurality of pack cavities is formed in the material web, the pack cavities are then filled with an article and then an upper material web is sealed onto the pack cavities, wherein, prior to the sealing operation, the pack cavities have gas evacuated from them and/or gas exchange is carried out.
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The present invention relates to a packaging machine, in which a material web is transported cyclically, comprising
-
- a thermoforming station, which, during each cycle, forms a pattern of a plurality of packaging wells in the material web,
- a filling station, in which a product to be packaged is filled into each packaging well,
- a sealing station, which integrally bonds an upper material web to the material web, wherein, prior to the integral bond being made, the packaging well is degassed and/or gassed, and
- a cutting device, which separates the packagings thus produced from the material webs.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing a packaging, in which a material web is transported cyclically along a packaging machine and, during each cycle, a pattern of a plurality of packaging wells is formed in the material web, the packaging wells are then filled with a product to be packaged, and an upper material web is then sealed onto the packaging well, wherein, prior to the sealing operation, the packaging well is degassed and/or a gas exchange is carried out.
The generic packaging machine and the generic method are known from the prior art. Nowadays, ever-increasing demands with regard to quality are placed on packaging machines and methods of this type. At the same time, the respective packagings have to be produced in an increasingly more favorable manner.
The object of the present invention was therefore to improve existing packaging machines and methods and/or to be able to produce packagings more favorably.
The object is achieved by a packaging machine, in which a material web is transported cyclically, comprising:
-
- a thermoforming station, which, during each cycle, forms a pattern of a plurality of packaging wells in the material web,
- a filling station, in which a product to be packaged is filled into each packaging well,
- a sealing station, which integrally bonds an upper material web to the material web, wherein, prior to the integral bond being made, the packaging well is degassed and/or gassed, and
- a cutting device, which separates the packagings thus produced from the material webs,
wherein the packaging machine has a gassing and/or a degassing means, with which the individual packaging wells within a pattern can be gassed and/or degassed individually, at least in part.
The present invention relates to a packaging machine. This packaging machine is preferably what is known as an FFS packaging machine, that is to say what is known as a form-fill-seal packaging machine.
With a packaging machine of this type, a material web is transported cyclically along the packaging machine. With each cycle, a pattern consisting of a plurality of packaging wells is formed in a material web, generally a plastic film web, for example by means of thermoforming, and, once the respective packaging well has been filled with a product to be packaged, the packaging wells are closed in a sealing station with an upper material web, which is generally likewise a plastic film web. Here, the upper material web is integrally bonded, in particular by means of sealing, to the lower material web. Before this connection, the packaging wells are now degassed and/or gassed in accordance with the invention, wherein, in the case of the degassing process, a certain vacuum, that is to say a certain negative pressure, is generated in the packaging well. In the event of a gassing process, a gas exchange takes place in the packaging well, that is to say the atmosphere of the packaging well is replaced at least in part by an exchange gas. This gas exchange may follow a degassing of the packaging well. The exchange gas may be, for example, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon or oxygen or a mixture of these or of other gases. Once the upper material web has been arranged in an integrally bonded manner on the lower material web, the packagings thus finished are then separated from the material web. Here, the upper material web can be severed separately from the lower material web. It is also possible however to sever the two material webs at the same time.
In accordance with the invention, the packaging machine comprises a gassing and/or a degassing means, with which the individual packaging wells within a pattern can be gassed and/or degassed individually, at least in part. It is preferably possible to gas and/or degas each packaging well differently. It is thus possible to take account of the conditions prevailing individually in the respective packaging well. As a result, the degassing and/or gassing time can be reduced and/or the volume that is removed from the packaging well in event of degassing or that is blown into the packaging well in the event of gassing can be reduced. The respective packagings can thus be produced more cost-effectively and/or more quickly and/or with higher quality. Furthermore, the negative pressure generated in the respective packaging well or the quantity of gas fed to the respective packaging well can be determined and protocolled precisely, which may be of great significance in the case of quality monitoring.
The gassing and degassing means are preferably provided as one unit.
As already mentioned above, during each cycle, a plurality of packaging wells are formed in the lower material web, are filled and are then closed. A pattern of this type has at least one column, wherein a column has a plurality of packaging wells arranged transverse to the direction of transport of the lower material web. A pattern of this type preferably has a plurality of columns of this type, which are arranged in succession based on the direction of transport of the lower material web. A pattern additionally has a plurality of rows of packaging wells, which are arranged parallel to the direction of transport of the lower material web.
Now, a shut-off member, for example a valve, is preferably provided in the gassing and/or in the degassing means per packaging well, per row and/or per column within a pattern. With this shut-off member, it is possible for example to individually determine the gas volume that is removed from the packaging well or that is blown into the packaging well.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packaging machine has a measurement means, preferably a measurement means per packaging well, a measurement means per row and/or a measurement means per column within a pattern, with which the pressure and/or the concentration of at least one gas component in the packaging well(s) can be determined.
Furthermore, the packaging machine according to the invention is preferably provided with a controller, which for example controls the shut-off member. In particular, this control process takes place on the basis of one or more signals of the measurement means.
Furthermore, the packaging machine according to the invention preferably has a means with which the fill level of the product to be packaged in the respective packaging well and/or the filling capacity of the product to be packaged within the respective packaging well can be determined. For example, the shut-off member can again be controlled in accordance with this measurement signal in order to individually control the gas volume that is removed from or fed to the respective packaging well.
The gassing and/or degassing means is preferably an exchange part that is exchanged in the event of a pattern change. Due to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible in the event of a pattern change to likewise exchange the gassing and/or degassing means so that a gassing and/or degassing means adapted to the respective pattern can be used. The gassing or degassing means is preferably provided on the packaging machine according to the invention by means of a quick-release fastener.
The present invention further relates to a method for producing a packaging, in which a material web is transported cyclically along a packaging machine and, during each cycle, a pattern of a plurality of packaging wells is formed in the material web and the packaging wells are then filled with a product to be packaged, and an upper material web is then sealed onto the packaging well, wherein, before the sealing operation, the packaging wells are degassed and/or a gas exchange is carried out, and in which the packaging wells within a pattern are each degassed and/or gassed individually, at least in part.
The statements made with regard to the packaging machine according to the invention apply equally to the method according to the invention, and vice versa.
In accordance with the method according to the invention, it is possible to degas and/or gas each of the respective packaging wells within a pattern at least in part.
The quantity of gas and/or the negative pressure that is generated in or fed to the respective packaging well is preferably controlled.
The inventions will be explained hereinafter with reference to
- 1 packaging machine
- 2 thermoforming station
- 3 upper tool of the thermoforming station
- 4 lower tool of the thermoforming station
- 5 lift table, support of a tool of the sealing station, thermoforming station and/or of the cutting device
- 6, 6′ packaging well
- 7 filling station
- 8 lower material web, lower film web
- 9 lifting direction
- 10 frame
- 11 lower tool of the sealing station
- 12 upper tool of the sealing station
- 13 gassing means, gassing nozzle
- 14 upper material web, upper film web, cover film
- 15 pattern
- 16 product to be packaged
- 17 degassing means
- 18 column
- 19 sealing station
- 20 gassing tree, degassing tree
- 21 nozzle
- 22 valve
- 23 direction of flow
- 24 row
- 23 cutting device
- 26 inlet region
- 27 longitudinal cutter
Claims
1. A packaging machine in which a material web is transported cyclically, comprising
- a thermoforming station, which, during each cycle, forms a pattern of a plurality of packaging wells in the material web,
- a filling station, in which a product to be packaged is filled into each packaging well,
- a sealing station, which integrally bonds an upper material web to the material web, wherein, prior to the integral bond being made, the packaging well is degassed and/or gassed, and
- a cutting device, which separates the packagings thus produced from the material webs,
- wherein the packaging machine has a gassing means and/or a degassing means, with which the individual packaging wells within a patter can be individually gassed and/or degassed.
2-10. (canceled)
11. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gassing means and the degassing means are provided in one unit.
12. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein one shut-off member is provided in the gassing means and/or in the degassing means per packaging well, per row and/or per column within a pattern.
13. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein one shut-off member is provided in the gassing means and/or in the degassing means per packaging well, per row and/or per column within a pattern.
14. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein it has a measurement means, preferably per packaging well, per row and/or per column within a pattern, with which the pressure and/or the concentration of at least one gas component in the packaging well(s) can be determined.
15. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the packaging machine has a measurement means, per packaging well, per row, and/or per column within a pattern, with which the pressure and/or the concentration of at least one gas component in the packaging well(s) can be determined.
16. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the packaging machine has a measurement means, per packaging well, per row, and/or per column within a pattern, with which the pressure and/or the concentration of at least one gas component in the packaging well(s) can be determined.
17. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein it has a controller which controls the shut-off members, preferably on the basis of a signal of the measurement means.
18. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the packaging machine has a controller which controls the shut-off members, preferably on the basis of a signal of the measurement means.
19. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein it has a means with which the fill level of the product to be packaged in the respective packaging well is established.
20. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein it has a means with which the fill level of the product to be packaged in the respective packaging well is established.
21. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the packaging machine has a means with which the fill level of the product to be packaged in the respective packaging well is established.
22. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the packaging machine has a means with which the fill level of the product to be packaged in the respective packaging well is established.
23. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein the controller controls the shut-off member on the basis of the respective fill level in the packaging well.
24. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 21, wherein the controller controls the shut-off member on the basis of the respective fill level in the packaging well.
25. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 22, wherein the controller controls the shut-off member on the basis of the respective fill level in the packaging well.
26. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gassing means and/or degassing means is an exchange part that can be exchanged in the event of a pattern change.
27. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 24, wherein the gassing means and/or degassing means is an exchange part that can be exchanged in the event of a pattern change.
28. A method for producing a packaging, in which a material web is transported cyclically along a packaging machine and,
- during each cycle, a pattern of a plurality of packaging wells is formed in the material web and the packaging wells are then filled with a product to be packaged, and an upper material web is then sealed onto the packaging wells,
- wherein, before the sealing operation, the packaging wells are degassed and/or a gas exchange is carried out,
- wherein the packaging wells within a pattern are each degassed and/or gassed individually.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the quantity of gas and/or the negative pressure in the respective packaging well can be controlled.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 27, 2012
Publication Date: Jan 23, 2014
Applicant: CFS Germany GMBH (Biedenkopf-Wallau)
Inventors: Gerd Hübner (Wilnsdorf), Klaus Meyer (Breidenbach)
Application Number: 13/981,664
International Classification: B65B 9/04 (20060101);