EP2517963B1 - Packaging machine with transport device - Google Patents

Packaging machine with transport device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2517963B1
EP2517963B1 EP11003534.2A EP11003534A EP2517963B1 EP 2517963 B1 EP2517963 B1 EP 2517963B1 EP 11003534 A EP11003534 A EP 11003534A EP 2517963 B1 EP2517963 B1 EP 2517963B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transport
tray
transport device
trays
packaging machine
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP11003534.2A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2517963A1 (en
Inventor
Franz Osterrieder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG
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Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG
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Application filed by Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH and Co KG
Priority to EP11003534.2A priority Critical patent/EP2517963B1/en
Priority to ES11003534T priority patent/ES2436274T3/en
Priority to US13/458,292 priority patent/US9296505B2/en
Publication of EP2517963A1 publication Critical patent/EP2517963A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2517963B1 publication Critical patent/EP2517963B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/14—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by reciprocating or oscillating members
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/52—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using roller-ways or endless conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/162—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by feeding web material to securing means
    • B65B7/164—Securing by heat-sealing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a packaging machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for a packaging machine with a transport device according to claim 11.
  • a tray sealing machine in which a gripper system detects trays that have been positioned on a feed belt by means of two horizontally movable grippers.
  • the grippers transport the trays into a sealing station, where they are closed with a cover foil. After the closing process, the closed trays are transported out of the sealing station by the two grippers and transferred to a discharge conveyor.
  • the grippers simultaneously transport both the unsealed trays into the sealing station and the sealed trays out of the sealing station.
  • Such a gripper system requires a large amount of space for the gripper movements that take place outside or especially laterally of the sealing station, as well as for the drive and guide devices of the gripper system.
  • the prerequisite for the use of gripper systems is that the trays are spaced, grouped and positioned corresponding to the grippers on a feed belt, after being fed at an irregular or inappropriate distance to the feed belt of the seaming machine.
  • Such a gripper system can not be used for an at least three-lane tray sealing machine.
  • the WO 2011/012652 A1 discloses a tray sealing machine having a transport unit having recesses for trays to receive the trays therein and slide on a plane.
  • the transport unit extends along the entire tray sealing machine.
  • the WO 20041056655 A2 discloses a vacuum packaging machine for evacuating and sealing products in bags transported on conveyor belts.
  • the object of the packaging machine according to the invention is to provide a universal space-saving possibility with regard to the number of lanes in order to transport shells into a sealing station and out of a sealing station.
  • the packaging machine namely a tray sealing machine, comprises a sealing station for closing containers with a cover film, wherein the sealing station has a sealing tool upper part and a tray receptacle for lifting at least one container to the sealing tool upper part.
  • a transport plane is defined, wherein a transport device in the lowered position of the tray receptacle (11) is provided within an opening provided for the tray in the tray receptacle and adapted to transport the tray in the transport plane along the tray receptacle.
  • the trays can be provided by a feed belt at an arbitrary distance, as they are taken over by the transport device and positioned according to the opening in the tray receptacle.
  • the transport device is multi-row and / or multi-track, in particular three or more tracks, in order to increase the number of shells in the sealing tool and thus to increase the performance of the packaging machine.
  • recesses for the tray receptacle are provided on the transport device. This makes it possible that the shell receptacle can dip into the transport device in a lowered position or the transport device is arranged in the openings provided for the shells, so that the upper edge of the shell receptacle at the same height or only a small distance, preferably 0.1 mm to 5mm, below the transport plane of the transport device is arranged.
  • the transport device preferably has at least one conveyor belt in order to transport the tray by resting the container bottom on the conveyor belt.
  • a conveyor belt is flexible in use, since various shell dimensions and shapes of tray bottoms can be transported. If such a conveyor belt is present, the transport plane for the tray bottom to be transported is defined by the top of the upper run of the conveyor belt.
  • the conveyor belt pulleys on adjustment that allow a switch to other formats in conjunction with a corresponding tray receptacle without changing the transport unit or a conveyor belt.
  • the transport device preferably has deflection rollers in order to carry out the course of the conveyor belt in such a way that it is possible to immerse the tray receptacle in the transport device since the transport belt is deflected in such a way that a free space is provided for the tray receptacle.
  • deflection rollers in order to achieve a minimum deflection radius, so-called knife edges can also be used.
  • a first group of deflection rollers or knife edges which determine the position of the conveyor belt in the transport plane and ensure that the conveyor belt is deflected out of this transport plane down or from below into the transport plane.
  • a second group of pulleys which may have a larger diameter than the first group of pulleys, is preferably provided further below.
  • the clearance between the upper end of a pulley from this second group of pulleys and the transport plane should be at least equal to the height of the shell receptacle, preferably even be slightly larger, so that the shell receptacle in its lowered position may still be above the pulleys, but not protrudes upward beyond the transport plane. It is conceivable that the conveyor belt is guided in a U-shape around the rollers of this second group of deflection rollers. The diameter of this second group of deflection rollers thus determines the width of a recess of the transport device into which the shell receptacle can dip.
  • the shell receptacle preferably has a surface for receiving a shell edge, which preferably lies at the same height or below the transport plane during the transport of the shell.
  • the shell can be pushed onto the surface of the shell receptacle during transport along the shell receptacle when the bottom of the shell is not completely received by the transport device. This occurs especially in the transition from a feed belt to the Transport system or between two adjacent in the direction of transport openings of the shell receptacle.
  • the speeds of the conveyor belt of the transport device and of the feed device of the feed device are preferably synchronized in order to be able to transfer a knowledge of the position of the tray on the feed device to the transport device without further sensor systems.
  • the transport device has a number of successively arranged conveyor belts corresponding to the number of trays to be closed in a row. This allows positioning of individual trays in the area of the openings in the tray receptacle independently of adjacent trays.
  • the trays are e.g. taken over by a feeder on the transport device and positioned so that a tray receiving several trays, which are transported one behind the other by the transport device, can lift off the transport device and move to a sealing tool top to close the shells with a lid foil.
  • a transport plane for the bottom of the trays to be transported is defined, and the transport means transports the trays within a provided for the shells openings of the tray receptacle in the transport plane along the tray receptacle.
  • This method can also be used in a multi-lane packaging machine and allows the acquisition of individual shells or a pre-grouped number of shells.
  • the tray receptacle After closing, the tray receptacle preferably deposits the trays on the conveyor belt and the transport device transfers the trays to a discharge device.
  • the transport device takes in a limited period of time during the period of transfer of the sealed trays to the discharge device at the same time on new trays to be closed from the feeder to further increase the performance of the packaging machine.
  • the tray receptacle lifts a plurality of trays, corresponding to the openings in the tray receptacle, which are transported side by side by the transport means to guide them to the sealing tool top so that they can close the group of trays with a cover sheet.
  • a sensor detects the position of a shell on the feeder or on the transport device and a controller controls the transport device so that the shell is positioned congruent to the opening of the shell receptacle and thus the shell receptacle can accommodate the shell.
  • the method is particularly suitable for multi-track tray sealers in which product-filled trays are transported to the sealing station via a plurality of feed belts arranged in parallel and correspondingly positioned or arranged by the transport device within the sealing station.
  • the method is not limited to this and further embodiments are conceivable.
  • Fig. 1 shows a packaging machine 1 according to the invention in the form of a tray sealing machine, also called a tray sealer, with a sealing station 2, a feed device 3 and a discharge device 4.
  • a lid film 5 is unrolled from a material storage 6, guided below a sealing tool upper part 7 and wound onto a residual film winder 8.
  • a single-track transport device 9 in this case transports trays 10 along a tray receptacle 11. The trays 10 are transported in a transport direction R through the packaging machine 1.
  • Fig. 2a shows the transport device 9 with a conveyor belt 12 and a plurality of deflection rollers 13a, 13b in the position in which the trays 10 are transported.
  • An unillustrated servo drive drives a shaft 14, via which the conveyor belt 12 is driven.
  • cup holder 11 has a frame 15 which is connected via guides 16 with a lifting device, not shown.
  • the conveyor belt 12 is in openings 20 (see Fig. 3 ) of the tray receptacle at the same height with the top of the tray receptacle or slightly over the tray receptacle 11 and defines with its top a transport plane E for the tray bottom 10 a.
  • the height difference between the transport plane E and the shell receptacle 11 is just large enough to ensure sufficient friction of the tray bottom 10a on the conveyor belt 12.
  • Fig. 2b shows the shell receptacle 11 in a raised position, in which the shells 10 are received at its laterally projecting shell edge 17 of the shell receptacle 11.
  • the upper deflection rollers 13b are designed with a very small diameter to bring the conveyor belt 12 as close as possible to the inside of the opening 20 in the shell receptacle 11, the distance S, the gap between two adjacent openings 20 in the shell receptacle 11 and between two adjacent sections of the conveyor belt 12 corresponds to be able to bridge.
  • the lower guide rollers 13a define the course of the lower run of the conveyor belt 12 together with the shaft 14 arranged in the middle.
  • a first group of guide rollers 13b and support rollers is provided, which are located directly below the transport or conveyor line.
  • These larger guide rollers 13c of the second group is the Conveyor 12 is placed in a U-shape.
  • the pulleys of the first and second groups guide the upper strand of the conveyor belt 12 so that two gaps or recesses 18 arise along the conveying path, into which the webs 19 of the tray receptacle 11 can subsequently dip.
  • the distance between the top of the pulleys 13c of the second group and the transport plane E is large enough that the shell receptacle 11 in its lowered position not on the transport plane E after projects beyond the top, but preferably lies completely below the transport plane E.
  • the pulleys 13 b of the first group of upper pulleys have a smaller diameter than the pulleys 13 c of the second group of upper pulleys 13 b, so that the recesses 18 in the horizontal direction as possible not much wider than the webs 19 of the shell receptacle eleventh
  • Fig. 3 shows three pre-grouped trays 10 on a feeder 3 and a tray receptacle 11 with three openings 20 for receiving a group of three trays 10.
  • a sensor 21 at the end of the feeder 3 detects, for example, the leading edge of the tray 10 closest to the conveyor 9, and forwards this position to a controller not shown in detail.
  • the control is preferably also provided for the control or activation of all existing in the packaging machine 1 drives.
  • Fig. 4 It is shown how the trays 10 after positioning by means of the transport device 9 along the tray receptacle 11 in the transport direction R congruent over the openings 20 of the tray receptacle 11 are.
  • Fig. 5 shows the tray receptacle 11 in the raised against the sealing tool upper part 7 position for closing the shells 10 with a cover film not shown in this figure 5.
  • the closing process can also be carried out under vacuum or a modified atmosphere.
  • Fig. 6 shows the tray receptacle 11 again in the lowered position as in Fig. 4 ,
  • the three shells 10 are closed with a portion of the cover sheet 5 and the tray bottom 10a is located on the conveyor belt 12 of the transport device.
  • Fig. 7 shows the transfer of the sealed trays 10 to the discharge device 4, which supplies the trays 10, for example, further production steps such as checking by means of a metal detector, weighing or labeling.
  • FIG. 8 shows a three-row and three-lane variant of the transport device 9 with three parallel to each other in the transport direction R arranged conveyor belts 12.
  • the tray holder 11 in this case has nine openings 20 accordingly.
  • the transport device 9 is also able to take over shells 10, which are not prepositioned on a feed device 3, from the feed device and to position them congruently with the openings 20.
  • Each of the conveyor belts 12 may be synchronized with the feeder 3 or a preceding or following conveyor 12 of the conveyor 9.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Verpackungsmaschine gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 und auf ein Verfahren für eine Verpackungsmaschine mit einer Transporteinrichtung nach Anspruch 11.The invention relates to a packaging machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for a packaging machine with a transport device according to claim 11.

Aus der DE 10 2008 030 510 A1 ist eine Schalenverschließmaschine bekannt, bei der ein Greifersystem Schalen, die auf einem Zuführband positioniert wurden, mittels zweier horizontal bewegbarer Greifer erfasst. Die Greifer transportieren die Schalen in eine Siegelstation, in der sie mit einer Deckelfolie verschlossen werden. Nach dem Verschließvorgang werden die verschlossenen Schalen durch die zwei Greifer aus der Siegelstation heraustransportiert und auf ein Abführband übergeben. Dabei transportieren die Greifer gleichzeitig sowohl die unverschlossenen Schalen in die Siegelstation als auch die verschlossenen Schalen aus der Siegelstation heraus. Ein solches Greifersystem benötigt einen hohen Raumbedarf für die Greiferbewegungen, die außerhalb bzw. vor allem seitlich der Siegelstation stattfinden, sowie für die Antriebs- und Führungseinrichtungen des Greifersystems. Voraussetzung für den Einsatz von Greifersystemen ist, dass die Schalen entsprechend zu den Greifern auf einem Zuführband beabstandet, gruppiert und positioniert werden, nachdem sie in einem unregelmäßigen oder nicht passenden Abstand dem Zuführband der Verschließmaschine zugeführt werden. Ein solches Greifersystem ist nicht für eine wenigstens dreispurige Schalenverschließmaschine einsetzbar.From the DE 10 2008 030 510 A1 For example, a tray sealing machine is known in which a gripper system detects trays that have been positioned on a feed belt by means of two horizontally movable grippers. The grippers transport the trays into a sealing station, where they are closed with a cover foil. After the closing process, the closed trays are transported out of the sealing station by the two grippers and transferred to a discharge conveyor. The grippers simultaneously transport both the unsealed trays into the sealing station and the sealed trays out of the sealing station. Such a gripper system requires a large amount of space for the gripper movements that take place outside or especially laterally of the sealing station, as well as for the drive and guide devices of the gripper system. The prerequisite for the use of gripper systems is that the trays are spaced, grouped and positioned corresponding to the grippers on a feed belt, after being fed at an irregular or inappropriate distance to the feed belt of the seaming machine. Such a gripper system can not be used for an at least three-lane tray sealing machine.

Die WO 2011/012652 A1 offenbart eine Schalenverschließmaschine mit einer Transporteinheit, die Aussparungen für Schalen aufweist, um die Schalen darin aufzunehmen und auf einer Ebene zu schieben. Die Transporteinheit erstreckt sich entlang der gesamten Schalenverschließmaschine.The WO 2011/012652 A1 discloses a tray sealing machine having a transport unit having recesses for trays to receive the trays therein and slide on a plane. The transport unit extends along the entire tray sealing machine.

Die WO 20041056655 A2 offenbart eine Vakuumverpackungsmaschine, um Produkte in Beuteln, die auf Transportbändern transportiert werden, zu evakuieren und zu versiegeln.The WO 20041056655 A2 discloses a vacuum packaging machine for evacuating and sealing products in bags transported on conveyor belts.

Aufgabe der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsmaschine ist es, eine hinsichtlich der Spurenanzahl universell einsetzbare und raumsparende Möglichkeit zur Verfügung zu stellen, um Schalen in eine Siegelstation und aus einer Siegelstation zu transportieren.The object of the packaging machine according to the invention is to provide a universal space-saving possibility with regard to the number of lanes in order to transport shells into a sealing station and out of a sealing station.

Diese Aufgabe wird gelöst durch eine Verpackungsmaschine mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1 bzw. durch ein Verfahren zum Betrieb einer Verpackungsmaschine nach Anspruch 11. Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen angegeben.This object is achieved by a packaging machine with the features of claim 1 or by a method for operating a packaging machine according to claim 11. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Die erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine, nämlich eine Schalenverschließmaschine, umfasst eine Siegelstation zum Verschließen von Behältern mit einer Deckelfolie, wobei die Siegelstation ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil und eine Schalenaufnahme zum Anheben wenigstens eines Behälters an das Siegelwerkzeugoberteil aufweist. Für den zu transportierenden Schalenboden ist eine Transportebene definiert, wobei eine Transporteinrichtung in der abgesenkten Stellung der Schalenaufnahme (11) innerhalb einer für die Schale vorgesehene Öffnung in der Schalenaufnahme vorgesehen und dazu ausgebildet ist, um die Schale in der Transportebene entlang der Schalenaufnahme zu transportieren. Dabei können die Schalen von einem Zuführband in einem willkürlichen Abstand bereitgestellt werden, da sie von der Transporteinrichtung übernommen und entsprechend der Öffnung in der Schalenaufnahme positioniert werden.The packaging machine according to the invention, namely a tray sealing machine, comprises a sealing station for closing containers with a cover film, wherein the sealing station has a sealing tool upper part and a tray receptacle for lifting at least one container to the sealing tool upper part. For the tray bottom to be transported, a transport plane is defined, wherein a transport device in the lowered position of the tray receptacle (11) is provided within an opening provided for the tray in the tray receptacle and adapted to transport the tray in the transport plane along the tray receptacle. In this case, the trays can be provided by a feed belt at an arbitrary distance, as they are taken over by the transport device and positioned according to the opening in the tray receptacle.

Vorzugsweise ist die Transporteinrichtung mehrreihig und/oder mehrspurig, insbesondere drei- oder mehrspurig, um die Anzahl der Schalen in dem Siegelwerkzeug zu erhöhen und damit auch die Leistung der Verpackungsmaschine zu steigern.Preferably, the transport device is multi-row and / or multi-track, in particular three or more tracks, in order to increase the number of shells in the sealing tool and thus to increase the performance of the packaging machine.

In einer besonders vorteilhaften Ausführung sind an der Transporteinrichtung Aussparungen für die Schalenaufnahme vorgesehen. Dies ermöglicht, dass die Schalenaufnahme in einer abgesenkten Stellung in die Transporteinrichtung eintauchen kann bzw. die Transporteinrichtung derart in den für die Schalen vorgesehenen Öffnungen angeordnet ist, so dass die Oberkante der Schalenaufnahme auf gleicher Höhe oder mit einem nur geringen Abstand, vorzugsweise 0,1mm bis 5mm, unterhalb der Transportebene der Transporteinrichtung angeordnet ist.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, recesses for the tray receptacle are provided on the transport device. This makes it possible that the shell receptacle can dip into the transport device in a lowered position or the transport device is arranged in the openings provided for the shells, so that the upper edge of the shell receptacle at the same height or only a small distance, preferably 0.1 mm to 5mm, below the transport plane of the transport device is arranged.

Die Transporteinrichtung weist vorzugsweise wenigstens ein Transportband auf, um die Schale durch das Aufliegen des Behälterbodens auf dem Transportband zu transportieren. Ein Transportband ist flexibel im Einsatz, da verschiedene Schalenabmessungen und Formen von Schalenböden transportiert werden können. Wenn solch ein Transportband vorliegt, wird die Transportebene für den zu transportierenden Schalenboden durch die Oberseite des Obertrums des Transportbands definiert. Vorzugsweise weisen für das Transportband vorgesehene Umlenkrollen Verstellmöglichkeiten auf, die eine Umstellung auf andere Formate in Verbindung mit einer entsprechenden Schalenaufnahme ermöglichen, ohne die Transporteinheit oder ein Transportband zu wechseln.The transport device preferably has at least one conveyor belt in order to transport the tray by resting the container bottom on the conveyor belt. A conveyor belt is flexible in use, since various shell dimensions and shapes of tray bottoms can be transported. If such a conveyor belt is present, the transport plane for the tray bottom to be transported is defined by the top of the upper run of the conveyor belt. Preferably, provided for the conveyor belt pulleys on adjustment that allow a switch to other formats in conjunction with a corresponding tray receptacle without changing the transport unit or a conveyor belt.

Die Transporteinrichtung weist bevorzugt Umlenkrollen auf, um den Verlauf des Transportbands so auszuführen, dass ein Eintauchen der Schalenaufnahme in der Transporteinrichtung ermöglicht ist, da dabei das Transportband so umgelenkt wird, dass ein Freiraum für die Schalenaufnahme gewährt wird. Um einen minimalen Umlenkradius zu erreichen, sind auch sogenannte Messerkanten einsetzbar.The transport device preferably has deflection rollers in order to carry out the course of the conveyor belt in such a way that it is possible to immerse the tray receptacle in the transport device since the transport belt is deflected in such a way that a free space is provided for the tray receptacle. In order to achieve a minimum deflection radius, so-called knife edges can also be used.

Zweckmäßig ist es, wenn eine erste Gruppe von Umlenkrollen oder Messerkanten vorgesehen ist, die die Lage des Transportbands in der Transportebene festlegen und dafür sorgen, dass das Transportband aus dieser Transportebene heraus nach unten bzw. von unten in die Transportebene hinein abgelenkt wird. Durch diese Ablenkung des Transportbands entstehen Aussparungen oder Absätze entlang der Transportstrecke, in die die Schalenaufnahme eintauchen kann, so dass sie nicht mehr über die Transportebene hinaus nach oben vorsteht und so den Transport der Schalen auf der Transporteinrichtung nicht behindert. Eine zweite Gruppe von Umlenkrollen, die einen größeren Durchmesser als die erste Gruppe von Umlenkrollen haben können, ist vorzugsweise weiter unten vorgesehen. Der Freiraum zwischen dem oberen Ende einer Umlenkrolle aus dieser zweiten Gruppe von Umlenkrollen und der Transportebene sollte mindestens der Höhe der Schalenaufnahme entsprechen, vorzugsweise sogar noch etwas größer sein, damit die Schalenaufnahme in ihrer abgesenkten Stellung zwar noch oberhalb der Umlenkrollen liegen kann, aber eben nicht über die Transportebene hinaus nach oben vorsteht. Denkbar ist es, dass das Transportband U-förmig um die Rollen dieser zweiten Gruppe von Umlenkrollen herumgeführt ist. Der Durchmesser dieser zweiten Gruppe von Umlenkrollen bestimmt damit die Breite einer Aussparung der Transporteinrichtung, in die die Schalenaufnahme eintauchen kann.It is expedient if a first group of deflection rollers or knife edges is provided, which determine the position of the conveyor belt in the transport plane and ensure that the conveyor belt is deflected out of this transport plane down or from below into the transport plane. By this deflection of the conveyor belt recesses or heels along the transport path, in which the tray receptacle can dip, so that they no longer project beyond the transport plane upwards and so does not hinder the transport of the shells on the transport device. A second group of pulleys, which may have a larger diameter than the first group of pulleys, is preferably provided further below. The clearance between the upper end of a pulley from this second group of pulleys and the transport plane should be at least equal to the height of the shell receptacle, preferably even be slightly larger, so that the shell receptacle in its lowered position may still be above the pulleys, but not protrudes upward beyond the transport plane. It is conceivable that the conveyor belt is guided in a U-shape around the rollers of this second group of deflection rollers. The diameter of this second group of deflection rollers thus determines the width of a recess of the transport device into which the shell receptacle can dip.

Die Schalenaufnahme weist vorzugsweise eine Fläche zur Aufnahme eines Schalenrandes auf, die während des Transports der Schale vorzugsweise auf gleicher Höhe oder unterhalb der Transportebene liegt. Dabei kann die Schale auf der Oberfläche der Schalenaufnahme beim Transport entlang der Schalenaufnahme geschoben werden, wenn der Boden der Schale nicht vollständig von der Transporteinrichtung aufgenommen ist. Dies tritt vor allem beim Übergang von einem Zuführband auf das Transportsystem bzw. zwischen zwei in Transportrichtung benachbarten Öffnungen der Schalenaufnahme auf.The shell receptacle preferably has a surface for receiving a shell edge, which preferably lies at the same height or below the transport plane during the transport of the shell. In this case, the shell can be pushed onto the surface of the shell receptacle during transport along the shell receptacle when the bottom of the shell is not completely received by the transport device. This occurs especially in the transition from a feed belt to the Transport system or between two adjacent in the direction of transport openings of the shell receptacle.

Während der Schalenübernahme von einer Zuführeinrichtung auf die Transporteinrichtung werden bevorzugt die Geschwindigkeiten des Transportbandes der Transporteinrichtung und des Zuführmittels der Zuführeinrichtung synchronisiert, um eine in einer Steuerung vorhandene Kenntnis von der Position der Schale auf der Zuführeinrichtung ohne weitere Sensorsysteme auch auf die Transporteinrichtung übernehmen zu können.During the takeover of shells from a feed device to the transport device, the speeds of the conveyor belt of the transport device and of the feed device of the feed device are preferably synchronized in order to be able to transfer a knowledge of the position of the tray on the feed device to the transport device without further sensor systems.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausführung weist die Transporteinrichtung eine Anzahl von hintereinander angeordneten Transportbändern entsprechend der Anzahl der in einer Reihe zu verschließende Schalen auf. Dies ermöglicht eine Positionierung einzelner Schalen im Bereich der Öffnungen in der Schalenaufnahme unabhängig zu benachbarten Schalen.In an advantageous embodiment, the transport device has a number of successively arranged conveyor belts corresponding to the number of trays to be closed in a row. This allows positioning of individual trays in the area of the openings in the tray receptacle independently of adjacent trays.

Beim erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren zum Positionieren von mehreren Schalen in einer Siegelstation einer Verpackungsmaschine mittels einer Transporteinrichtung werden die Schalen z.B. von einer Zuführeinrichtung auf die Transporteinrichtung übernommen und so positioniert, dass eine Schalenaufnahme mehrere Schalen, die hintereinander von der Transporteinrichtung transportiert werden, von der Transporteinrichtung abheben und an ein Siegelwerkzeugoberteil bewegen kann, um die Schalen mit einer Deckelfolie zu verschließen. Durch die Transporteinrichtung wird eine Transportebene für den Boden der zu transportierenden Schalen definiert, und die Transporteinrichtung transportiert die Schalen innerhalb einer für die Schalen vorgesehenen Öffnungen der Schalenaufnahme in der Transportebene entlang der Schalenaufnahme. Dieses Verfahren kann auch in einer mehrspurigen Verpackungsmaschine eingesetzt werden und ermöglicht die Übernahme einzelner Schalen oder auch einer vorgruppierten Anzahl von Schalen.In the method according to the invention for positioning a plurality of trays in a sealing station of a packaging machine by means of a transport device, the trays are e.g. taken over by a feeder on the transport device and positioned so that a tray receiving several trays, which are transported one behind the other by the transport device, can lift off the transport device and move to a sealing tool top to close the shells with a lid foil. By the transport means a transport plane for the bottom of the trays to be transported is defined, and the transport means transports the trays within a provided for the shells openings of the tray receptacle in the transport plane along the tray receptacle. This method can also be used in a multi-lane packaging machine and allows the acquisition of individual shells or a pre-grouped number of shells.

Vorzugsweise legt die Schalenaufnahme nach dem Verschließen die Schalen auf das Transportband ab und die Transporteinrichtung übergibt die Schalen an eine Abführeinrichtung.After closing, the tray receptacle preferably deposits the trays on the conveyor belt and the transport device transfers the trays to a discharge device.

Bevorzugt nimmt die Transporteinrichtung in einem begrenzten Zeitabschnitt während des Zeitraumes der Übergabe der verschlossenen Schalen an die Abführeinrichtung gleichzeitig neue zu verschließende Schalen von der Zuführeinrichtung auf, um die Leistung der Verpackungsmaschine noch weiter zu steigern.Preferably, the transport device takes in a limited period of time during the period of transfer of the sealed trays to the discharge device at the same time on new trays to be closed from the feeder to further increase the performance of the packaging machine.

Vorzugsweise hebt die Schalenaufnahme mehrere entsprechend der Öffnungen in der Schalenaufnahme vorhandene Schalen, die nebeneinander von der Transporteinrichtung transportiert werden, an, um sie an das Siegelwerkzeugoberteil heranzuführen, sodass diese die Gruppe von Schalen mit einer Deckelfolie verschließen kann.Preferably, the tray receptacle lifts a plurality of trays, corresponding to the openings in the tray receptacle, which are transported side by side by the transport means to guide them to the sealing tool top so that they can close the group of trays with a cover sheet.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausführung erfasst ein Sensor die Position einer Schale auf der Zuführeinrichtung oder auf der Transporteinrichtung und eine Steuerung steuert die Transporteinrichtung so an, dass die Schale deckungsgleich zur Öffnung der Schalenaufnahme positioniert wird und somit die Schalenaufnahme die Schale aufnehmen kann.In an advantageous embodiment, a sensor detects the position of a shell on the feeder or on the transport device and a controller controls the transport device so that the shell is positioned congruent to the opening of the shell receptacle and thus the shell receptacle can accommodate the shell.

Das Verfahren eignet sich besonders für mehrspurige Traysealer (Schalenverschließmaschinen), bei denen mit Produkt gefüllte Schalen über mehrere parallel angeordnete Zuführbänder an die Siegelstation herantransportiert und von der Transporteinrichtung innerhalb der Siegelstation entsprechend positioniert bzw. angeordnet werden. Das Verfahren ist aber nicht darauf beschränkt und es sind noch weitere Ausgestaltungen denkbar.The method is particularly suitable for multi-track tray sealers in which product-filled trays are transported to the sealing station via a plurality of feed belts arranged in parallel and correspondingly positioned or arranged by the transport device within the sealing station. However, the method is not limited to this and further embodiments are conceivable.

Im Folgenden wird ein vorteilhaftes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert.In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in detail with reference to a drawing.

Im Einzelnen zeigen:

Figur 1
eine schematische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsmaschine,
Figur 2a
eine schematische Seitenansicht der Transporteinrichtung und Schalenaufnahme in der Transportstellung,
Figur 2b
eine schematische Seitenansicht der Transporteinrichtung und Schalenaufnahme in einer angehobenen Stellung,
Figur 3
eine schematische Ansicht einer Siegelstation mit einer Zuführ- und Abführeinrichtung mit Schalen auf der Zuführeinrichtung,
Figur 4
eine schematische Ansicht wie Figur 3 mit Behältern auf dem Transportsystem,
Figur 5
eine schematische Ansicht wie Figur 4 mit angehobener Schalenaufnahme,
Figur 6
eine schematische Ansicht wie Figur 3 mit auf dem Transportsystem abgesetzten verschlossenen Schalen,
Figur 7
eine schematische Ansicht wie Figur 6 mit Schalen auf der Abführeinrichtung, und
Figur 8
eine schematische Ansicht einer dreireihigen und dreispurigen Ausführung.
In detail show:
FIG. 1
a schematic view of a packaging machine according to the invention,
FIG. 2a
a schematic side view of the transport device and tray receptacle in the transport position,
FIG. 2b
a schematic side view of the transport device and tray receptacle in a raised position,
FIG. 3
a schematic view of a sealing station with a feeding and discharging device with trays on the feeder,
FIG. 4
a schematic view like FIG. 3 with containers on the transport system,
FIG. 5
a schematic view like FIG. 4 with raised bowl intake,
FIG. 6
a schematic view like FIG. 3 with sealed trays placed on the transport system,
FIG. 7
a schematic view like FIG. 6 with shells on the discharge device, and
FIG. 8
a schematic view of a three-row and three-lane version.

Gleiche Komponenten sind in den Figuren durchgängig mit gleichen Bezugszeichen versehen.The same components are provided throughout the figures with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 zeigt eine erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine 1 in Form einer Schalenverschließmaschine, auch Traysealer genannt, mit einer Siegelstation 2, einer Zuführeinrichtung 3 und einer Abführeinrichtung 4. Eine Deckelfolie 5 wird von einem Materialspeicher 6 abgerollt, unterhalb eines Siegelwerkzeugoberteils 7 geführt und auf einen Restfolienwickler 8 aufgewickelt. Eine in diesem Fall einspurige Transporteinrichtung 9 transportiert Schalen 10 entlang einer Schalenaufnahme 11. Dabei werden die Schalen 10 in einer Transportrichtung R durch die Verpackungsmaschine 1 transportiert. Fig. 1 shows a packaging machine 1 according to the invention in the form of a tray sealing machine, also called a tray sealer, with a sealing station 2, a feed device 3 and a discharge device 4. A lid film 5 is unrolled from a material storage 6, guided below a sealing tool upper part 7 and wound onto a residual film winder 8. A single-track transport device 9 in this case transports trays 10 along a tray receptacle 11. The trays 10 are transported in a transport direction R through the packaging machine 1.

Fig. 2a zeigt die Transporteinrichtung 9 mit einem Transportband 12 und mehreren Umlenkrollen 13a, 13b in der Stellung, in der die Schalen 10 transportiert werden. Ein nicht dargestellter Servoantrieb treibt eine Welle 14 an, über die das Transportband 12 angetrieben wird. Die in Fig. 2a in ihrer abgesenkten Stellung dargestellte Schalenaufnahme 11 weist einen Rahmen 15 auf, welcher über Führungen 16 mit einer nicht dargestellten Hubeinrichtung verbunden ist. Das Transportband 12 steht in Öffnungen 20 (siehe Fig. 3) der Schalenaufnahme auf gleicher Höhe mit der Oberseite der Schalenaufnahme oder leicht über die Schalenaufnahme 11 über und definiert mit seiner Oberseite eine Transportebene E für den Schalenboden 10a. Dabei ist der Höhenunterschied zwischen der Transportebene E und der Schalenaufnahme 11 gerade groß genug, um eine ausreichende Friktion des Schalenbodens 10a auf dem Transportband 12 sicherzustellen. Fig. 2a shows the transport device 9 with a conveyor belt 12 and a plurality of deflection rollers 13a, 13b in the position in which the trays 10 are transported. An unillustrated servo drive drives a shaft 14, via which the conveyor belt 12 is driven. In the Fig. 2a in its lowered position shown cup holder 11 has a frame 15 which is connected via guides 16 with a lifting device, not shown. The conveyor belt 12 is in openings 20 (see Fig. 3 ) of the tray receptacle at the same height with the top of the tray receptacle or slightly over the tray receptacle 11 and defines with its top a transport plane E for the tray bottom 10 a. The height difference between the transport plane E and the shell receptacle 11 is just large enough to ensure sufficient friction of the tray bottom 10a on the conveyor belt 12.

Fig. 2b zeigt die Schalenaufnahme 11 in einer angehobenen Stellung, bei der die Schalen 10 an ihrem seitlich abstehenden Schalenrand 17 von der Schalenaufnahme 11 aufgenommen sind. Es sind hier deutlich die Aussparungen 18 für Stege 19 der Schalenaufnahme 11 zu erkennen, wobei die Aussparungen 18 durch die Umlenkrollen 13a, 13b und den dadurch ausgeführten Verlauf des Transportbands 12 ermöglicht sind. Dabei sind die oberen Umlenkrollen 13b mit einem sehr kleinen Durchmesser ausgeführt, um das Transportband 12 möglichst nah an die Innenseite der Öffnung 20 in der Schalenaufnahme 11 heranzuführen, um die Strecke S, die einer Lücke zwischen zwei benachbarten Öffnungen 20 in der Schalenaufnahme 11 bzw. zwischen zwei benachbarten Teilstücken des Transportbandes 12 entspricht, überbrücken zu können. Fig. 2b shows the shell receptacle 11 in a raised position, in which the shells 10 are received at its laterally projecting shell edge 17 of the shell receptacle 11. It can be clearly seen here the recesses 18 for webs 19 of the shell receptacle 11, wherein the recesses 18 are made possible by the deflection rollers 13a, 13b and the course of the conveyor belt 12 executed thereby. In this case, the upper deflection rollers 13b are designed with a very small diameter to bring the conveyor belt 12 as close as possible to the inside of the opening 20 in the shell receptacle 11, the distance S, the gap between two adjacent openings 20 in the shell receptacle 11 and between two adjacent sections of the conveyor belt 12 corresponds to be able to bridge.

Aus den Figuren 2a und 2b wird deutlich, dass die unteren Umlenkrollen 13a zusammen mit der in der Mitte angeordneten Welle 14 den Verlauf des Untertrums des Transportbands 12 festlegen. Zum Festlegen des Verlaufs des Obertrums des Transportbands 12 ist eine erste Gruppe von Umlenkrollen 13b bzw. Tragrollen vorgesehen, die sich direkt unterhalb der Transport- oder Förderstrecke befinden. Eine zweite Gruppe von in diesem Fall zwei oberen Umlenkrollen 13c, die einen größeren Durchmesser haben als die Trag- oder Umlenkrollen 13b der ersten Gruppe, befindet sich in größerem Abstand nach unten von der Transportebene E. Um diese größeren Umlenkrollen 13c der zweiten Gruppe ist das Transportband 12 U-förmig herumgelegt. Die Umlenkrollen der ersten und der zweiten Gruppe führen das Obertrum des Transportbands 12 so, dass zwei Lücken bzw. Aussparungen 18 entlang der Förderstrecke entstehen, in die anschließend die Stege 19 der Schalenaufnahme 11 eintauchen können. In vertikaler Richtung ist der Abstand zwischen der Oberseite der Umlenkrollen 13c der zweiten Gruppe und der Transportebene E groß genug, dass die Schalenaufnahme 11 in ihrer abgesenkten Stellung nicht über die Transportebene E nach oben hinaus vorsteht, sondern vorzugsweise vollständig unterhalb der Transportebene E liegt. Die Umlenkrollen 13b der ersten Gruppe von oberen Umlenkrollen haben einen kleineren Durchmesser als die Umlenkrollen 13c der zweiten Gruppe von oberen Umlenkrollen 13b, damit die Aussparungen 18 in horizontaler Richtung möglichst nicht viel breiter werden als die Stege 19 der Schalenaufnahme 11.From the FIGS. 2a and 2b It is clear that the lower guide rollers 13a define the course of the lower run of the conveyor belt 12 together with the shaft 14 arranged in the middle. To set the course of the upper run of the conveyor belt 12, a first group of guide rollers 13b and support rollers is provided, which are located directly below the transport or conveyor line. A second group of in this case two upper guide rollers 13c, which have a larger diameter than the support or guide rollers 13b of the first group, is located at a greater distance down from the transport plane E. These larger guide rollers 13c of the second group is the Conveyor 12 is placed in a U-shape. The pulleys of the first and second groups guide the upper strand of the conveyor belt 12 so that two gaps or recesses 18 arise along the conveying path, into which the webs 19 of the tray receptacle 11 can subsequently dip. In the vertical direction, the distance between the top of the pulleys 13c of the second group and the transport plane E is large enough that the shell receptacle 11 in its lowered position not on the transport plane E after projects beyond the top, but preferably lies completely below the transport plane E. The pulleys 13 b of the first group of upper pulleys have a smaller diameter than the pulleys 13 c of the second group of upper pulleys 13 b, so that the recesses 18 in the horizontal direction as possible not much wider than the webs 19 of the shell receptacle eleventh

Fig. 3 zeigt drei vorgruppierte Schalen 10 auf einer Zuführeinrichtung 3 und eine Schalenaufnahme 11 mit drei Öffnungen 20 zur Aufnahme von einer Gruppe mit drei Schalen 10. Ein Sensor 21 am Ende der Zuführeinrichtung 3 erfasst beispielsweise die Vorderkante der Schale 10, die sich am nächsten an der Transporteinrichtung 9 befindet, und leitet diese Position an eine nicht näher gezeigte Steuerung weiter. Die Steuerung ist vorzugsweise auch für die Regelung bzw. Ansteuerung aller in der Verpackungsmaschine 1 vorhandenen Antriebe vorgesehen. Fig. 3 shows three pre-grouped trays 10 on a feeder 3 and a tray receptacle 11 with three openings 20 for receiving a group of three trays 10. A sensor 21 at the end of the feeder 3 detects, for example, the leading edge of the tray 10 closest to the conveyor 9, and forwards this position to a controller not shown in detail. The control is preferably also provided for the control or activation of all existing in the packaging machine 1 drives.

In Fig. 4 ist gezeigt, wie sich die Schalen 10 nach dem Positionieren mittels der Transporteinrichtung 9 entlang der Schalenaufnahme 11 in der Transportrichtung R deckungsgleich über den Öffnungen 20 der Schalenaufnahme 11 befinden.In Fig. 4 It is shown how the trays 10 after positioning by means of the transport device 9 along the tray receptacle 11 in the transport direction R congruent over the openings 20 of the tray receptacle 11 are.

Fig. 5 zeigt die Schalenaufnahme 11 in der gegen das Siegelwerkzeugoberteil 7 angehobenen Stellung zum Verschließen der Schalen 10 mit einer in dieser Figur nicht dargestellten Deckelfolie 5. Der Verschließvorgang kann dabei auch unter Vakuum oder einer modifizierten Atmosphäre ausgeführt werden. Fig. 5 shows the tray receptacle 11 in the raised against the sealing tool upper part 7 position for closing the shells 10 with a cover film not shown in this figure 5. The closing process can also be carried out under vacuum or a modified atmosphere.

Fig. 6 zeigt die Schalenaufnahme 11 wieder in der abgesenkten Stellung wie in Fig. 4. Die drei Schalen 10 sind mit einem Teil der Deckelfolie 5 verschlossen und der Schalenboden 10a befindet sich auf dem Transportband 12 der Transporteinrichtung 9. Fig. 6 shows the tray receptacle 11 again in the lowered position as in Fig. 4 , The three shells 10 are closed with a portion of the cover sheet 5 and the tray bottom 10a is located on the conveyor belt 12 of the transport device. 9

Fig. 7 zeigt die Übergabe der verschlossenen Schalen 10 auf die Abführeinrichtung 4, die die Schalen 10 beispielsweise weiteren Produktionsschritten wie Überprüfung mittels eines Metalldetektors, Wiegen oder Etikettieren zuführt. Fig. 7 shows the transfer of the sealed trays 10 to the discharge device 4, which supplies the trays 10, for example, further production steps such as checking by means of a metal detector, weighing or labeling.

Figur 8 zeigt eine dreireihige und dreispurige Variante der Transporteinrichtung 9 mit drei parallel nebeneinander in Transportrichtung R angeordneten Transportbändern 12. Die Schalenaufnahme 11 weist hierbei entsprechend neun Öffnungen 20 auf. FIG. 8 shows a three-row and three-lane variant of the transport device 9 with three parallel to each other in the transport direction R arranged conveyor belts 12. The tray holder 11 in this case has nine openings 20 accordingly.

Als weitere Variante ist es sowohl für einspurige, als auch für mehrspurige Verpackungsmaschinen denkbar, dass für jede Öffnungen 20 in der Schalenaufnahme 11 ein separates Transportband 12 vorgesehen ist, das entweder einzeln oder in Gruppen mittels eines Servoantriebs angetrieben und über eine Maschinensteuerung angesteuert wird.As a further variant, it is conceivable for single-lane, as well as multi-lane packaging machines that for each opening 20 in the shell receptacle 11, a separate conveyor belt 12 is provided, which is driven either individually or in groups by means of a servo drive and controlled by a machine control.

Die Transporteinrichtung 9 ist in der Lage, auch Schalen 10, die nicht auf einer Zuführeinrichtung 3 vorpositioniert werden, von der Zuführeinrichtung zu übernehmen und deckungsgleich mit den Öffnungen 20 zu positionieren. Jedes der Transportbänder 12 kann mit der Zuführeinrichtung 3 oder einem vorangehenden oder folgendem Transportband 12 der Transporteinrichtung 9 synchronisiert werden.The transport device 9 is also able to take over shells 10, which are not prepositioned on a feed device 3, from the feed device and to position them congruently with the openings 20. Each of the conveyor belts 12 may be synchronized with the feeder 3 or a preceding or following conveyor 12 of the conveyor 9.

Claims (15)

  1. Packaging machine (1) comprising a sealing station (2) for sealing trays (10) with a top film (5), wherein the sealing station (2) comprises a sealing tool upper part (7) and a tray carrier (11) for lifting at least one tray (10) to the sealing tool upper part (7), wherein a transport device (9) is provided, defining a transport plane (E) for said tray bottom (10a) to be transported, characterized in that in the lowered position of the tray carrier, said transport device (9) is provided within an opening (20) provided for said tray (10) in said tray carrier (11), in order to transport said tray (10) in said transport plane (E) along said tray carrier (11).
  2. Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said transport device (9) is multi-row, in particular three-row or more than three-row.
  3. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that spacings (18) for said tray carrier (11) are comprised on said transport device (9).
  4. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transport device (9) comprises at least one transport belt (12).
  5. Packaging machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said transport device (9) comprises deflection rollers (13a, 13b) to direct the path of said transport belt (12) such that lowering said tray support (11) into said transport device (9) is enabled.
  6. Packaging machine according to one of the claims 4 or 5, characterized in that a first group of upper deflection rollers (13b) for said transport belt (12) is arranged above a second group of upper deflection rollers (13c).
  7. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tray carrier (11) comprises an area for receiving a tray edge (17) which during transport of said tray (10) is at the same height of or below said transport plane (E).
  8. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transport device (9) comprises at least two transport belts (12) arranged in parallel in a transport direction (R).
  9. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the transfer of packages from a feeding device (3) to said transport device (9), the velocities of said transport belt (12) of said transport device (9) and a feeding unit of said feeding device (3) are synchronized.
  10. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transport device (9) comprises a number of consecutively arranged transport belts (12) corresponding to the number of trays (10) to be sealed in a row.
  11. Method for positioning trays (10) in a sealing station (2) of a packaging machine (1) by means of a transport device (9), wherein said trays (10) on said transport device (9) are positioned such that a tray carrier (11) can lift several trays (10), which are transported in a row by the transport device (9), from said transport device (9) and move themto a sealing tool upper part (7) so that said trays (10) are sealed there with a top film (5), wherein said transport device defines a transport plane (E) for said tray bottoms (10a) to be transported, characterized in that said transport device (9) transports said trays (10) in the lowered position of the tray carrier within a plurality of openings (20) provided for said trays (10) in said tray carrier (11) in said transport plane (E) along said tray carrier (11).
  12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that said tray carrier (11) positions said tray (10) after sealing onto said transport device (9) and said transport device (9) transfers said trays (10) to a discharge device (4).
  13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that said transport device (9), during a time period within the period of transferring said sealed trays (10) to said discharge device (4), simultaneously receives trays (10) to be newly sealed from said feeding device (3).
  14. Packaging machine according to claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said tray carrier (11) lifts multiple trays (10) being transported adjacently by said transport device (9).
  15. Method according to one of the preceding claims 11 to 14, characterized in that at least one sensor (21) detects the position of a tray (10) on said feeding device (3) or on said transport device (9) and a controller controls said transport device (9) such that said tray (10) is positioned such that said tray carrier (11) can receive said tray (10).
EP11003534.2A 2011-04-29 2011-04-29 Packaging machine with transport device Active EP2517963B1 (en)

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EP11003534.2A EP2517963B1 (en) 2011-04-29 2011-04-29 Packaging machine with transport device
ES11003534T ES2436274T3 (en) 2011-04-29 2011-04-29 Packaging machine with conveyor equipment
US13/458,292 US9296505B2 (en) 2011-04-29 2012-04-27 Packaging machine with transport device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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DE102019218265A1 (en) * 2019-11-26 2021-05-27 Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller Se & Co. Kg PACKAGING MACHINE WITH SEALED PULLEY

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140165502A1 (en) * 2011-07-01 2014-06-19 Leung Chi Wah Sealing Apparatus
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US9296505B2 (en) 2016-03-29

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