EP3868674A1 - Method and device for individually packaging and group-sealing small items such as chocolate pieces or bars - Google Patents
Method and device for individually packaging and group-sealing small items such as chocolate pieces or bars Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3868674A1 EP3868674A1 EP20212831.0A EP20212831A EP3868674A1 EP 3868674 A1 EP3868674 A1 EP 3868674A1 EP 20212831 A EP20212831 A EP 20212831A EP 3868674 A1 EP3868674 A1 EP 3868674A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- sealing
- articles
- article
- packaging
- group
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 206
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 80
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 55
- 235000019219 chocolate Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 239000005022 packaging material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 27
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 29
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012858 packaging process Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 43
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 206010040954 Skin wrinkling Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000013736 caramel Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000009508 confectionery Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000014448 bouillon/stock cubes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000011475 lollipops Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012785 packaging film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006280 packaging film Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000750 progressive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- 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
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
- B65B11/28—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets
- B65B11/30—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
- B65B11/32—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a curved path, e.g. on rotary tables or turrets to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube
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- 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
- B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
- B65B25/005—Packaging other articles presenting special problems packaging of confectionery
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- 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
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- 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
- B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
- B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
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- 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
- B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
- B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
- B65B65/006—Multiple parallel packaging lines
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and a device for packaging and sealing small articles such as chocolate pieces or bars on one or more article webs.
- Sealing in intermittent packaging machines is generally carried out in cycles, as are all other processing steps. This means that the processing, in particular the sealing, is carried out at a station while the product is at a standstill. After completion of the processing process, the respective product is transported to the following position, where the next processing step is carried out. In the event that the processing time, e.g. when sealing at one processing station, is not sufficient, further downstream stations are equipped with a sealing device in order to achieve the required sealing time.
- the main influencing factors for the successful sealing of packaging are the parameters of sealing temperature, sealing pressure and sealing duration, which are directly related to the properties of the packaging to be sealed (e.g. type and thickness of the packaging, seal coating).
- the type of packaging determines its thermal conductivity, the melting temperature and the shrinkage behavior due to temperature input.
- the thickness of the packaging determines the time it takes for heat to pass through to the sealing layer, the insulation behavior between the bottom layer and the article, and the compression behavior under pressure.
- the seal coating is important in terms of the melting point of the coating.
- the fold is fixed by sealing by bringing a sealing element into contact with the packaging material from the outside after the fold wrapper has been produced, in order to connect the packaging material layers together, preferably at the product base.
- the product which applies the corresponding counter pressure, is arranged on the inside of the packaging.
- heat is introduced into the packaging from the outside on one side through the sealing element in order to enable the sealing process. In this case, however, a certain amount of heat penetrates further than just into the packaging and, if necessary, also heats the product.
- chocolate products set very narrow limits here until they are destroyed.
- the parameters sealing pressure, sealing temperature and sealing time can be selected to a very limited extent.
- the sealing point may even cool down slightly again. Due to this cyclical energy input, the amount of heat introduced is very difficult to control and depends on other parameters, some of which are difficult to influence (such as component tolerances). In the case of temperature-insensitive products, this does not play a major role, since significantly more heat is introduced into the sealing point than is necessary for sealing, which compensates for tolerances in the amount of heat transferred.
- an additional inner wrap can also serve as a thermal barrier.
- the object of the present invention is to enable constant sealing times, sealing pressures and sealing temperatures, independently of the speed of the packaging process, in order to achieve a reproducible seal without damaging the article.
- the present invention provides the method according to claim 1 and the device according to claim 9.
- the essential feature of the invention is the decoupling of the sealing process from a speed-dependent packaging process.
- groups are formed from individual products or articles of a pre-process, e.g., synchronously wrapped in packaging, and these are transferred to a time-controlled follow-up process in which the sealing takes place.
- the sealing time can vary depending on the size of the groups can be significantly adapted according to the requirements. The necessary sealing time is thus achieved despite the short cycle rates.
- the dimensioning is done in such a way that the necessary sealing time for the individual products in the group is available at maximum packaging speed. Because the sealing process is decoupled from the pre-process in terms of time and drive, the sealing stamps are lifted from the product after a constant sealing time, even if the pre-wrapping process is slowed down and therefore takes place over a longer cycle time. This ensures a constant sealing time.
- Each individual product within the group preferably comes into contact with its own seal stamp once.
- This sealing stamp preferably lingers on the product for a constant period to be specified in order to bring about the seal.
- height tolerances can be compensated, which results in the same sealing pressure for all products.
- sealing preferably overlapping sections of the packaging material, which is individually folded around each article of the respective group, are connected by pressing a sealing element from the outside against the packaging material, while the article arranged on the inside of the packaging material applies the counterpressure.
- step A individual articles arranged in rows are transported along the respective article path, preferably one after the other over at least one rotary head.
- the articles can go to different workstations one after the other and be processed at each of these workstations.
- each article in step A passes through at least two different work stations in succession, the packaging means assigned to the article being folded in each of these work stations one after the other by different folding means. This makes it possible to carry out different folding steps one after the other in order to finish packing the article at the end of the packaging process. Ideally, all sides of the fully packaged article are covered with packaging material.
- each article is individually packaged in step A in an intermittent process and remains in each of these workstations for a uniform dwell time.
- each folding step of the packaging material can be carried out in a stationary manner, so that the construction of a packaging device in comparison to a continuously operating packaging machine that the folding steps are carried out during the movement of the articles and corresponding folding means are to be provided, can be significantly simplified.
- a sealing time in which the packaging of each article in the respective group is sealed in step C is longer than the dwell time in step A. This allows pressure and temperature-sensitive articles such as chocolate pieces or bars to be packaged particularly gently and be sealed.
- each article of the respective group in step C during a sealing time in which the packaging of each article of the respective group is sealed preferably remains stationary in a sealing device and / or is kept in contact with a respective sealing element, preferably the sealing time for each article in the group begins and / or ends at the same time.
- the sealing time and the group size or the number of articles to be sealed per group the article output in step C can be adapted to the article output in step A.
- the group of packaged articles is transported away together after step C. This facilitates the handling of the article in the method according to the invention.
- the articles can also be delivered synchronously to the individual cycle of the machine, if this is more favorable for the subsequent process (e.g. if groups have to be formed in the subsequent process that are not the same as the group size in the sealing process).
- step B it can be advantageous if the articles in step B are fed to a grouping device one after the other to form the respective group, preferably individually, the grouping device preferably being designed to transport the articles of the respective group in groups for subsequent sealing in step C, whereby the grouping device is particularly preferably movable independently of a packaging device packing the articles.
- the articles can, for example, be stowed in step B to form a group on the respective article path or can be fed from a plurality of article paths to a common article path.
- step B the speeds and / or the distances between the articles forming the group are changed, preferably reduced, in comparison to step A in order to form the respective group.
- each article of the respective group is assigned at least one sealing element of its own, whereby each sealing element is preferably regulated individually, preferably as a function of at least one parameter measured on the sealing element, such as a sealing duration and / or a sealing temperature and / or a seal print.
- each sealing element is preferably regulated individually, preferably as a function of at least one parameter measured on the sealing element, such as a sealing duration and / or a sealing temperature and / or a seal print.
- step A it can prove to be useful if the articles are conveyed in step A through at least one circular article path section. This takes place, for example, in a packaging machine with at least one rotating head, which each article passes through one after the other in the packaging process.
- step B and / or step C are arranged and / or transported on a linear article path section. This simplifies the formation of the group of packaged articles and the group-wise transport into and out of the sealing device.
- step C the orientations and / or the speeds and / or the mutual spacings of the articles of a respective group are constant and / or uniform. If the orientations and / or the speeds and / or the mutual distances of the articles are constant, the respective article does not change its orientation and / or its speed and / or its distance to an adjacent article, at least during the sealing in step C. If the orientations and / or the speeds and / or the mutual distances of the articles are uniform, all articles will have the same orientations and / or the same speeds and / or the same mutual distances at least during the sealing in step C.
- the articles are sealed in a stationary manner in the sealing device, i.e. the articles do not move during the sealing.
- the articles it is also possible for the articles to be transported in groups at a constant speed in step C, with the sealing taking place, for example, in a mobile sealing device on the way to a delivery station.
- Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for packaging and sealing small articles such as chocolate pieces or bars on one or more article webs, preferably according to the method according to one of the preceding statements, comprising: A packaging device for packaging the small-piece articles by assigning a packaging material to each article and folding the packaging material around this article.
- a grouping device for grouping at least two of the individually packaged articles to form a group of individually packaged articles.
- a sealing device for the simultaneous sealing of the packaging of all individually packaged articles of the group of packaged articles.
- This device can process steps A, B and C as often as desired and preferably simultaneously.
- the pressure and / or the temperature and / or the duration of the sealing with the sealing device can be adjusted independently of the speed of the packaging device.
- the device comprises at least two transport units, which are designed to move back and forth between the packaging device / grouping device and the sealing device, the transport units preferably being designed so that one of the transport units is always packaged alternately Receives articles from the packaging device, while the other transport unit provides the group of articles for sealing in the sealing device.
- the sealing device has its own sealing stamp for each article of the group, the sealing stamp preferably being resiliently mounted to compensate for tolerances with respect to the article to be sealed, the sealing stamp preferably being transferred to a non-use position when the packaging device is stopped.
- the sealing stamps preferably have at least one of the following properties: 1) Each sealing stamp is spring-loaded to compensate for tolerances for the individual article. 2) After the sealing process, all sealing stamps lift off at the same time for the removal of the sealed articles and for the supply of the subsequent products to be sealed. 3) All sealing stamps lift off at the same time when the machine stops, so that there are no melted articles / burned film under the sealing device.
- Articles or products are understood in particular to be chocolate pieces or bars. However, the invention is expressly not limited to the packaging of chocolate pieces or bars.
- Other small-piece items are, for example, confectionery such as hard caramels, soft caramels, lollipops, but also bouillon cubes or brewing tablets or small consumer goods such as dishwasher tablets. All articles preferably have the same shape, for example a parallelepiped or cube shape, although other article shapes are also possible.
- the method according to the invention according to the present embodiment is used for packaging and sealing, for example, cuboid chocolate pieces or bars and is carried out on a device 1 according to the invention for packaging and sealing chocolate pieces or bars.
- the articles A are packaged and sealed on only one article web P1.
- the packing and sealing of the articles A can also take place simultaneously on several parallel article tracks P1, in a departure from the present exemplary embodiment.
- a corresponding device for packaging articles on A parallel product lines is from the EP 2 906 473 A1 known to the applicant.
- Step A is preferably a wrapping process (clock-synchronized) and takes place, for example, on an intermittently operating packaging device 2.
- the articles A in the packaging device 2 are sequentially arranged in a row as an article or product flow, preferably over at least one rotary head (cf. EP 2 906 473 A1 ) guided through different workstations.
- the packaging material is initially assigned to the articles A, then the packaging material is folded in the workstations using appropriate folding means so that the packaging material completely surrounds the respective article A.
- the packaging is fed to the article A, for example, radially to the axis of rotation of a rotary head, on the side facing the rotary head, so that the article A quasi "runs into” the waiting packaging.
- a tube is formed from the packaging material around the article A, and the tube ends protruding over the article are folded onto the front side and the bottom of the article in various folding processes.
- the packaging is preferably a one-piece, one-layer, one-layer, air-impermeable and sealable Packaging film (mono film) made of plastic is used. However, composite films or several layers of packaging material can also be used.
- the sealability can be achieved by a sealable coating or by the packaging itself. In the last-mentioned variant, the packaging itself, ie without a coating, can be thermally activated in order to achieve a seal.
- the packaging material can be separated, for example from a packaging material roll, before or after being fed to the article A.
- the packaging or wrapping process in step A takes place according to the described embodiment, preferably synchronously in the packaging device 2.
- the packaging or wrapping process can be intermittent or continuous.
- each article A stays for the same length of time at the processing location, i.e. at one of several work stations.
- the dwell time changes depending on the machine speed. With a higher output, the dwell time in each work station is correspondingly short.
- the continuous packaging process the article is continuously in motion and the packaging material assigned to the article is folded, for example, by means of moving folding means.
- step B the individually wrapped or packaged articles A are brought together and grouped, for example in a grouping device 3, to form groups G.
- a grouping device 3 In the case of intermittent packaging processes or devices 2, an article A is picked up per work cycle by a transport unit 5a, 5b that is available (cf. Figure 2b ).
- the number of articles A per group G can be changed, for example, as a function of the output of the packaging device 2, the number of articles A per group G preferably being increased as the output of the packaging device 2 increases.
- a plurality of articles A is referred to here as group G, which is moved and processed in step A independently of the conveying speed of the packaging device 2 or the article A.
- each group G comprises four individually packaged articles A.
- each group G comprises two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight or more articles A.
- the group size or the number of articles A to be sealed per group G can be changed as a function of the sealing time and the output of the packaging device 2.
- a change in the sealing time may be necessary, for example, in order to seal articles A of different sizes or of different compositions, taking into account the article-specific requirements with regard to sealing pressure and sealing temperature, with uniform or uniform sealing results.
- the group size preferably remains constant during operation of the packaging device 2. Therefore, the number of items A per group G should be determined in advance so that they are suitable for the Maximum output of the packaging device 2 is sufficient. For lower cycle rates, the sealing stamps are then simply lifted off, as in connection with Fig. 2 is described.
- the group size can preferably be adjusted when changing the format from small to large article A (lower output).
- the article transport between the grouping device 3 and the sealing device 4 downstream in the transport direction is carried out by a 2-train or multi-train system with at least two transport units 5a, 5b, which alternately take over article A from the pre-process or the packaging device 2 and to the subsequent process or the sealing device 4 passed.
- a 2-train or multi-train system with at least two transport units 5a, 5b, which alternately take over article A from the pre-process or the packaging device 2 and to the subsequent process or the sealing device 4 passed.
- the sealing in step C takes place in the sealing device 4 in a time-controlled manner, for example.
- Fig. 1 the sealing device 4 is shown in the pivoted-open state.
- the transport device in the form of the 2-train or multi-train system with the two transport units 5a, 5b transports the groups G of packaged articles A through the sealing device 4, decoupled from the preprocess.
- the groups G stay on one of the two transport units 5a, 5b with a fixed duration in the sealing device 4 and preferably leave it immediately after the sealing has been completed, regardless of whether the following group G has already been formed.
- the group size determines the possible dwell time in the sealing device 4 and is designed for the maximum output of the packaging device 2.
- the transport units 5a and 5b as well as the sealing device 4 are preferably driven by independent drives, whereby the sealing time can be freely defined.
- the transport units 5a and 5b are each circulating systems with several stations. Specifically, this means that while the first station 5a is transporting the articles A out of the sealing station 4, another station 5b is already being transported back to position 3 in order to be able to pick up the article A.
- all articles A of a group G are positioned under the sealing stamp S which is present for each individual article A. Then the sealing stamp S is vertically on the Article A positioned under the sealing stamp S is delivered, so that there is contact between the packaging material surrounding the article A and the sealing stamp S. During sealing, there is no relative movement between article A and sealing stamp S.
- the individual sealing stamps S are each spring-mounted in order to compensate for height tolerances and to achieve uniform sealing pressures for all products.
- Each individual sealing stamp S has a heater and its own temperature sensor, which enables individual control.
- all sealing stamps S lift off at the same time in order to relieve and protect article A (cf. Figure 2e ). When the packaging machine 1 is at a standstill (for example in the event of a malfunction), all the sealing stamps S lift off so that no product damage occurs.
- Fig. 2 illustrates the previously described sequence of the method according to the invention using the device 1 according to the invention, once again simplified in summary in schematic representations:
- the first transport unit 5a is loaded with a group G of four packaged articles A which have been discharged from the packaging device 2, and is ready to be channeled into the sealing device 4.
- the second transport unit 5b loaded with a group G of four packaged and sealed articles A is ready to be ejected from the sealing device 4 in order to transfer the group G to a delivery station (not shown).
- the second transport unit 5b after unloading the group G, returns empty to the receiving station or grouping device 3 to receive a further group G of packaged articles A. Meanwhile, the first transport unit 5a transports the previously loaded group G of packaged articles A for subsequent sealing in the sealing device 4.
- the sealing stamp S provided for each article A of group G is sealed with the respective article A of group G to be sealed Brought into contact and individually regulated as a function of the temperature measured at the sealing die S. In order to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, each sealing stamp S is resiliently mounted.
- Fig. 2 (c) and (d) show further states in which the articles A of the group G arranged in the sealing device 4 are simultaneously kept in contact with the respective sealing stamp S and are sealed within a sealing time.
- the second transport unit 5b loads individually packaged articles A one after the other from the packaging device 2.
- Figure 2 (f) essentially corresponds to Figure 2 (a) , the first and second transport units 5a, 5b being interchanged, and shows the second transport unit 5b fully loaded with a group G of four packaged articles A before transfer to the sealing device 4.
- the articles A packaged and sealed with a group G of four A fully loaded first transport unit 5a is discharged from the sealing device 4 after the sealing process has been completed.
- the first transport unit 5a returns to the grouping device 3, where it is loaded one after the other by four further, individually packed articles A. to form another group G of packaged articles.
- the group G of packaged articles A arranged on the second transport unit 5b is - while further packaged articles A are grouped on the first transport unit 5a in the grouping device 3 - sealed in the sealing device 4 and discharged together from the sealing device 4 after the sealing process has been completed.
- the core idea of the invention consists in the implementation of a sealing process which is decoupled from the speed-dependent packaging process so that constant sealing times, sealing pressures and sealing temperatures are made possible regardless of the speed of the packaging machine 2.
- the aim is a reproducible seal without damaging article A.
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Abstract
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung (1) zum Verpacken und Versiegeln kleinstückiger Artikel (A) wie Schokoladenstücke oder -riegel auf einer oder mehreren Artikelbahnen (P1). Um unabhängig von der Geschwindigkeit des Verpackungsprozesses konstante Siegelzeiten, Siegeldrücke und Siegeltemperaturen zu ermöglichen, um so eine reproduzierbare Siegelung zu erzielen, ohne die Artikel (A) zu beschädigen, umfasst das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren die Schritte:Schritt A: Verpacken der kleinstückigen Artikel (A) durch Zuordnung eines Packmittels zu jedem Artikel (A) und Falten des Packmittels um diesen Artikel (A).Schritt B: Gruppieren von jeweils wenigstens zwei der einzeln verpackten Artikel (A) zu einer Gruppe (G) von verpackten Artikeln (A).Schritt C: Gleichzeitiges Siegeln der Packmittel aller einzeln verpackten Artikel (A) der Gruppe (G) von verpackten Artikeln (A).The present invention relates to a method and a device (1) for packaging and sealing small articles (A) such as chocolate pieces or bars on one or more article webs (P1). In order to enable constant sealing times, sealing pressures and sealing temperatures independent of the speed of the packaging process in order to achieve a reproducible seal without damaging the articles (A), the method according to the invention comprises the steps: Step A: Packing the small-sized articles (A) by assigning a packaging material to each article (A) and folding the packaging material around this article (A). Step B: Grouping at least two of the individually packed articles (A) into a group (G) of packed articles (A). Step C: Simultaneous sealing of the packaging of all individually packed articles (A) of the group (G) of packed articles (A).
Description
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Verpacken und Versiegeln kleinstückiger Artikel wie Schokoladenstücke oder -riegel auf einer oder mehreren Artikelbahnen.The present invention relates to a method and a device for packaging and sealing small articles such as chocolate pieces or bars on one or more article webs.
Das Siegeln in intermittierend arbeitenden Verpackungsmaschinen erfolgt im Allgemeinen taktweise, wie auch alle anderen Verarbeitungsschritte. Das bedeutet, dass die Verarbeitung, hier im Speziellen das Siegeln, während eines Stillstandes des Produktes an einer Station ausgeführt wird. Nach Abschluss des Verarbeitungsvorganges wird das jeweilige Produkt an die nachfolgende Position weiter transportiert, wo der nächste Verarbeitungsschritt ausgeführt wird. Für den Fall, dass die Verarbeitungszeit z.B. beim Siegeln an einer Verarbeitungsstation nicht ausreichend ist, werden weitere nachfolgende Stationen mit einer Siegeleinrichtung ausgestattet, um auf die erforderliche Siegelzeit zu kommen.Sealing in intermittent packaging machines is generally carried out in cycles, as are all other processing steps. This means that the processing, in particular the sealing, is carried out at a station while the product is at a standstill. After completion of the processing process, the respective product is transported to the following position, where the next processing step is carried out. In the event that the processing time, e.g. when sealing at one processing station, is not sufficient, further downstream stations are equipped with a sealing device in order to achieve the required sealing time.
Weiterhin besteht auch die Möglichkeit, die einzelnen Produkte nach Abschluss eines taktweise durchgeführten Einschlagprozesses in eine kontinuierliche Bewegung zu überführen, um auf diese Weise durch Mitbewegen der Siegelelemente (z.B. in Form von Siegelbändern) die Siegelzeit deutlich zu verlängern.Furthermore, there is also the possibility of converting the individual products into continuous movement after a cyclical wrapping process has been completed, in order to significantly extend the sealing time by moving the sealing elements (e.g. in the form of sealing strips).
Wesentliche Einflussfaktoren für ein erfolgreiches Siegeln von Packmittel sind die Parameter Siegeltemperatur, Siegeldruck und Siegeldauer, welche im unmittelbaren Zusammenhang mit den Eigenschaften des zu siegelnden Packmittels stehen (z.B. Art und Dicke des Packmittels, Siegelbeschichtung). Die Art des Packmittels bestimmt dessen Wärmeleiteigenschaften, die Schmelztemperatur sowie das Schrumpfverhalten durch Temperatureintrag. Die Dicke des Packmittels bestimmt die Dauer für den Wärmedurchgang bis zur Siegelschicht, das Isolationsverhalten zwischen unterster Schicht und Artikel, das Kompressionsverhalten bei Druck. Die Siegelbeschichtung ist bedeutend im Hinblick auf den Schmelzpunkt der Beschichtung. Hinzu kommen weitere Randbedingungen, die die Wahl der Siegelparameter einschränken. Dies ist insbesondere bei druck- und temperaturempfindlichen Produkten (z.B. Schokolade) von Bedeutung.The main influencing factors for the successful sealing of packaging are the parameters of sealing temperature, sealing pressure and sealing duration, which are directly related to the properties of the packaging to be sealed (e.g. type and thickness of the packaging, seal coating). The type of packaging determines its thermal conductivity, the melting temperature and the shrinkage behavior due to temperature input. The thickness of the packaging determines the time it takes for heat to pass through to the sealing layer, the insulation behavior between the bottom layer and the article, and the compression behavior under pressure. The seal coating is important in terms of the melting point of the coating. In addition, there are other boundary conditions that limit the choice of sealing parameters. This is particularly important for products that are sensitive to pressure and temperature (e.g. chocolate).
Beim Verpacken von Schokoladenstücken oder Schokoladenriegeln im Falteinschlag wird die Faltung durch Ansiegeln fixiert, indem ein Siegelelement von außen nach Herstellung des Falteinschlages mit dem Packmittel in Kontakt gebracht wird, um die Packmittellagen bevorzugt am Produktboden miteinander zu verbinden. Auf der Innenseite des Packmittels ist das Produkt angeordnet, welches den entsprechenden Gegendruck aufbringt. Hierdurch ergibt sich einerseits eine Beschränkung des möglichen Siegeldruckes, da sonst die Produkte zerdrückt werden. Andererseits wird von außen einseitig Wärme durch das Siegelelement in das Packmittel eingebracht, um den Siegelvorgang zu ermöglichen. Hierbei dringt aber eine bestimmte Wärmemenge auch weiter als nur in das Packmittel ein und erwärmt ggf. auch das Produkt. Schokoladenprodukte setzen hier aber sehr enge Grenzen, bis es zu einer Zerstörung kommt. Insofern sind die Parameter Siegeldruck, Siegeltemperatur und Siegelzeit sehr eingeschränkt wählbar.When packing chocolate pieces or chocolate bars in the fold wrapper, the fold is fixed by sealing by bringing a sealing element into contact with the packaging material from the outside after the fold wrapper has been produced, in order to connect the packaging material layers together, preferably at the product base. The product, which applies the corresponding counter pressure, is arranged on the inside of the packaging. On the one hand, this results in a Restriction of the possible sealing pressure, otherwise the products will be crushed. On the other hand, heat is introduced into the packaging from the outside on one side through the sealing element in order to enable the sealing process. In this case, however, a certain amount of heat penetrates further than just into the packaging and, if necessary, also heats the product. However, chocolate products set very narrow limits here until they are destroyed. In this respect, the parameters sealing pressure, sealing temperature and sealing time can be selected to a very limited extent.
Andererseits wird eine gewisse Siegelzeit benötigt um sicher zu stellen, dass der Wärmeeintrag in der Siegelschicht ausreichend groß ist um die Verpackung sicher zu verschließen. Diese schränkt aber u.U. die Taktzeit einer Maschine deutlich ein, es sei denn, man verlagert das Siegeln auf mehrere nacheinander folgende Arbeitstakte, womit die Siegelzeit deutlich verlängert werden kann. Hierbei entstehen jedoch neue Nachteile: Einerseits gibt es durch das wiederholte Aufsetzen der Siegelorgane auf das Produkt wiederholt Stöße auf das Produkt, die in Summe zu deutlich höheren Produktbelastungen führen. Insbesondere ist dies kritisch, wenn z.B. das zu verschließende Schokoladenprodukt beim zweiten oder dritten Impuls schon vorgewärmt ist, damit an Festigkeit verloren hat und schneller Abdrücke bekommt. Andererseits erfolgt die Temperatureinbringung in die Siegelstelle schrittweise. Mit jedem Weiterfördern wird der Wärmeeintrag reduziert bzw. unterbrochen. Ggf. kühlt sich sogar unterdessen die Siegelstelle wieder geringfügig ab. Durch diesen zyklischen Energieeintrag wird die eingebrachte Wärmemenge sehr schwer steuerbar und hängt von weiteren z.T. schwer beeinflussbaren Parametern (wie z.B. Bauteiltoleranzen) ab. Bei temperaturunempfindlichen Produkten spielt das keine wesentliche Rolle, da man deutlich mehr Wärme in die Siegelstelle einbringt, als es für die Siegelung notwendig ist, wodurch man Toleranzen in der übertragenen Wärmemenge ausgleicht. Bei temperaturempfindlichen Produkten kann z.B. auch ein zusätzlicher Inneneinschlag als Wärmebarriere dienen.On the other hand, a certain sealing time is required to ensure that the heat input in the sealing layer is sufficiently large to securely close the packaging. However, under certain circumstances this significantly limits the cycle time of a machine, unless the sealing is shifted to several successive working cycles, which can significantly extend the sealing time. However, this creates new disadvantages: On the one hand, the repeated placement of the sealing elements on the product results in repeated impacts on the product, which in total lead to significantly higher product loads. This is particularly critical if, for example, the chocolate product to be sealed has already been preheated by the second or third impulse, so that it has lost its firmness and prints impressions more quickly. On the other hand, the temperature is introduced into the sealing point gradually. With each further conveyance, the heat input is reduced or interrupted. In the meantime, the sealing point may even cool down slightly again. Due to this cyclical energy input, the amount of heat introduced is very difficult to control and depends on other parameters, some of which are difficult to influence (such as component tolerances). In the case of temperature-insensitive products, this does not play a major role, since significantly more heat is introduced into the sealing point than is necessary for sealing, which compensates for tolerances in the amount of heat transferred. For temperature-sensitive products, for example, an additional inner wrap can also serve as a thermal barrier.
Bei kontinuierlich arbeitenden Siegelstrecken z.B. mittels mitlaufenden Siegelbändern im Anschluss an einen getaktet oder kontinuierlich ausgeführten Faltprozess hält man hingegen die zu siegelnden Produkte in stetigem Kontakt mit dem Siegelorgan, was aus dieser Sicht zu einem konstanteren Aufheizverhalten führt.In the case of continuously working sealing sections, e.g. by means of moving sealing belts following a clocked or continuous folding process, the products to be sealed are kept in constant contact with the sealing element, which from this point of view leads to a more constant heating behavior.
Es werden jedoch bei den bekannten Lösungen jeweils die Produkte über eine festgelegte Strecke an entsprechenden Heizelementen (Anzahl von Siegelstationen bzw. Siegelbandlänge) vorbeigeführt. Die Siegelzeit ergibt sich somit unmittelbar in Abhängigkeit von der Maschinengeschwindigkeit und der daraus resultierenden Verweilzeit in der Siegelstrecke. Eine Änderung der Maschinengeschwindigkeit verändert somit auch die Siegelzeit. Ferner kann bei derartigen Lösungen kein exakter Toleranzausgleich für das einzelne Produkt erfolgen. Damit wird bspw. ein flaches Produkt das zwischen zwei höheren Produkten liegt ggf. nur unzureichend gesiegelt da der Siegeldruck geringer (nicht für jedes Produkt gleich) ist.In the known solutions, however, the products are in each case guided past corresponding heating elements (number of sealing stations or sealing tape length) over a defined distance. The sealing time is thus directly dependent on the machine speed and the resulting dwell time in the sealing section. A change in the machine speed therefore also changes the sealing time. Furthermore, in such solutions, no exact tolerance compensation can take place for the individual product. This becomes a flat one, for example Product that lies between two higher products may not be adequately sealed because the sealing pressure is lower (not the same for every product).
Aktuelle Marktentwicklungen erfordern, nachhaltige recyclebare Packmittel (z.B. Monofolie) für die Verpackung von Süßwaren zu verwenden. Auch wird man zunehmend auf einen Inneneinschlag, der auch als Wärmebarriere dienen kann, verzichten. Hierdurch ergeben sich für den Siegelprozess steigende Anforderungen. Künftige Lösungen erfordern, den Siegelungsprozess unter Einhaltung von engen Toleranzen hinsichtlich der Siegelparameter auszuführen.Current market developments require the use of sustainable, recyclable packaging (e.g. mono film) for the packaging of confectionery. An inner wrap, which can also serve as a thermal barrier, will also increasingly be dispensed with. This results in increasing requirements for the sealing process. Future solutions require the sealing process to be carried out in compliance with tight tolerances with regard to the sealing parameters.
Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, unabhängig von der Geschwindigkeit des Verpackungsprozesses konstante Siegelzeiten, Siegeldrücke und Siegeltemperaturen zu ermöglichen, um so eine reproduzierbare Siegelung zu erzielen, ohne die Artikel zu beschädigen.The object of the present invention is to enable constant sealing times, sealing pressures and sealing temperatures, independently of the speed of the packaging process, in order to achieve a reproducible seal without damaging the article.
Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe stellt die vorliegende Erfindung das Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 und die Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 9 bereit.To achieve this object, the present invention provides the method according to
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren dient zum Verpacken und Versiegeln kleinstückiger Artikel wie Schokoladenstücke oder -riegel auf einer oder mehreren Artikelbahnen und umfasst die Schritte:
- Schritt A: Verpacken der kleinstückigen Artikel durch Zuordnung eines Packmittels zu jedem Artikel und Falten des Packmittels um diesen Artikel.
- Schritt B: Gruppieren von jeweils wenigstens zwei der einzeln verpackten Artikel zu einer Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln.
- Schritt C: Gleichzeitiges Siegeln der Packmittel aller einzeln verpackten Artikel der Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln.
- Step A: Pack the small-piece articles by assigning a packaging material to each article and folding the packaging material around this article.
- Step B: Grouping of at least two of the individually packaged articles to form a group of packaged articles.
- Step C: Simultaneous sealing of the packaging of all individually packaged articles in the group of packaged articles.
Die Verfahrensschritte können mit weiteren Artikeln nach dem Prinzip der Fließbandherstellung beliebig oft wiederholt werden.The process steps can be repeated as often as required with further articles according to the principle of assembly line production.
Das wesentliche Merkmal der Erfindung ist die Entkopplung des Siegelprozesses von einem geschwindigkeitsabhängigen Verpackungsprozess. Dazu werden aus einzelnen, z.B. taktsynchron in Packmittel eingeschlagenen Produkten bzw. Artikeln eines Vorprozesses Gruppen gebildet und diese einem zeitgesteuerten Nachfolgeprozess übergeben, in dem die Siegelung erfolgt.The essential feature of the invention is the decoupling of the sealing process from a speed-dependent packaging process. For this purpose, groups are formed from individual products or articles of a pre-process, e.g., synchronously wrapped in packaging, and these are transferred to a time-controlled follow-up process in which the sealing takes place.
Über die Gruppenbildung ist es möglich, eine Vielzahl von eingeschlagenen Produkten gleichzeitig mittels Siegelung zu verschließen. Hierbei kann je nach Größe der Gruppen die Siegelzeit maßgeblich entsprechend den Erfordernissen angepasst werden. Man erreicht somit trotz kurzer Taktraten die notwendige Siegelzeit.By forming groups, it is possible to seal a large number of wrapped products at the same time. The sealing time can vary depending on the size of the groups can be significantly adapted according to the requirements. The necessary sealing time is thus achieved despite the short cycle rates.
Die Dimensionierung erfolgt so, dass bei maximaler Verpackungsgeschwindigkeit die notwendige Siegelzeit für die einzelnen Produkte in der Gruppe zur Verfügung steht. Dadurch, dass der Siegelprozess zeitlich und antriebsseitig von dem Vorprozess entkoppelt abläuft, werden die Siegelstempel nach einer konstanten Siegelzeit vom Produkt abgehoben, auch wenn der vorangelagerte Einschlagprozess verlangsamt und somit über eine längere Taktzeit stattfindet. Dies gewährleistet eine konstante Siegeldauer.The dimensioning is done in such a way that the necessary sealing time for the individual products in the group is available at maximum packaging speed. Because the sealing process is decoupled from the pre-process in terms of time and drive, the sealing stamps are lifted from the product after a constant sealing time, even if the pre-wrapping process is slowed down and therefore takes place over a longer cycle time. This ensures a constant sealing time.
Vorzugsweise kommt jedes einzelne Produkt innerhalb der Gruppe mit einem eigenen Siegelstempel einmalig in Kontakt. Dieser Siegelstempel verweilt bevorzugt mit einer konstanten festzulegenden Dauer auf dem Produkt, um die Siegelung herbeizuführen. Durch einen optionalen Toleranzausgleich (z.B. mittels Federwirkung) können Höhentoleranzen ausgeglichen werden, wodurch sich für alle Produkte gleiche Siegeldrücke ergeben.Each individual product within the group preferably comes into contact with its own seal stamp once. This sealing stamp preferably lingers on the product for a constant period to be specified in order to bring about the seal. With an optional tolerance compensation (e.g. by means of spring action), height tolerances can be compensated, which results in the same sealing pressure for all products.
Beim Siegeln werden vorzugsweise überlappende Abschnitte des um jeden Artikel der jeweiligen Gruppe einzeln gefalteten Packmittels verbunden, indem ein Siegelelement von der Außenseite gegen das Packmittel gedrückt wird, während der an der Innenseite des Packmittels angeordnete Artikel den Gegendruck aufbringt.When sealing, preferably overlapping sections of the packaging material, which is individually folded around each article of the respective group, are connected by pressing a sealing element from the outside against the packaging material, while the article arranged on the inside of the packaging material applies the counterpressure.
Es kann sinnvoll sein, wenn in Schritt A vereinzelte und reihenförmig angeordnete Artikel entlang der jeweiligen Artikelbahn transportiert werden, vorzugsweise nacheinander über wenigstens einen Rotationskopf hinweg. Dadurch können die Artikel nacheinander verschiedene Arbeitsstationen anlaufen und an jeder dieser Arbeitsstationen eine Bearbeitung erfahren.It can be useful if, in step A, individual articles arranged in rows are transported along the respective article path, preferably one after the other over at least one rotary head. As a result, the articles can go to different workstations one after the other and be processed at each of these workstations.
Es kann sich als nützlich erweisen, wenn jeder Artikel in Schritt A nacheinander wenigstens zwei verschiedene Arbeitsstationen durchläuft, wobei das dem Artikel zugeordnete Packmittel in jeder dieser Arbeitsstationen nacheinander durch unterschiedliche Faltmittel gefaltet wird. Dadurch ist es möglich, unterschiedliche Faltschritte nacheinander auszuführen, um den Artikel am Ende des Verpackungsvorgangs fertig zu verpacken. Idealerweise sind alle Seiten des fertig verpackten Artikels mit Packmittel bedeckt.It can prove to be useful if each article in step A passes through at least two different work stations in succession, the packaging means assigned to the article being folded in each of these work stations one after the other by different folding means. This makes it possible to carry out different folding steps one after the other in order to finish packing the article at the end of the packaging process. Ideally, all sides of the fully packaged article are covered with packaging material.
Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn jeder Artikel in Schritt A in einem intermittierenden Prozess einzeln verpackt wird und dabei in jeder dieser Arbeitsstationen für eine einheitliche Verweilzeit verweilt. Dadurch kann jeder Faltschritt des Packmittels stationär erfolgen, sodass der Aufbau einer Verpackungseinrichtung im Vergleich zu einer kontinuierlich arbeitenden Verpackungsmaschine, bei der die Faltschritte während der Bewegung der Artikel ausgeführt werden und entsprechende Faltmittel bereitzustellen sind, deutlich vereinfacht werden kann.It can be advantageous if each article is individually packaged in step A in an intermittent process and remains in each of these workstations for a uniform dwell time. As a result, each folding step of the packaging material can be carried out in a stationary manner, so that the construction of a packaging device in comparison to a continuously operating packaging machine that the folding steps are carried out during the movement of the articles and corresponding folding means are to be provided, can be significantly simplified.
Es kann sich als praktisch erweisen, wenn eine Siegelzeit, in welcher das Packmittel jedes Artikels der jeweiligen Gruppe in Schritt C gesiegelt wird, größer ist als die Verweilzeit in Schritt A. Dadurch können druck- und temperaturempfindliche Artikel wie Schokoladenstücke oder-riegel besonders schonend verpackt und versiegelt werden.It can prove to be practical if a sealing time in which the packaging of each article in the respective group is sealed in step C is longer than the dwell time in step A. This allows pressure and temperature-sensitive articles such as chocolate pieces or bars to be packaged particularly gently and be sealed.
Es kann nützlich sein, wenn jeder Artikel der jeweiligen Gruppe in Schritt C während einer Siegelzeit, in welcher das Packmittel jedes Artikels der jeweiligen Gruppe gesiegelt wird, vorzugsweise stationär in einer Siegeleinrichtung verweilt und/oder in Kontakt mit einem jeweiligen Siegelelement gehalten wird, wobei vorzugsweise die Siegelzeit für jeden Artikel der Gruppe zum gleichen Zeitpunkt beginnt und/oder zum gleichen Zeitpunkt endet. Um einen dauerhaften Betrieb einer entsprechenden Vorrichtung zum Verpacken und Versiegeln kleinstückiger Artikel zu bewerkstelligen, ist es vorteilhaft, wenn die Anzahl der in Schritt A verpackten Artikel pro Zeiteinheit (= Artikelausbringung in Schritt A) und die Anzahl der in Schritt C versiegelten Artikel pro Zeiteinheit (= Artikelausbringung in Schritt C) exakt gleich ist. Durch Variation der Siegelzeit sowie der Gruppenstärke bzw. Anzahl der zu siegelnden Artikel pro Gruppe kann die Artikelausbringung in Schritt C an die Artikelausbringung in Schritt A angepasst werden.It can be useful if each article of the respective group in step C during a sealing time in which the packaging of each article of the respective group is sealed, preferably remains stationary in a sealing device and / or is kept in contact with a respective sealing element, preferably the sealing time for each article in the group begins and / or ends at the same time. In order to achieve permanent operation of a corresponding device for packaging and sealing small-sized articles, it is advantageous if the number of articles packed in step A per unit of time (= article output in step A) and the number of articles sealed in step C per unit of time ( = Article output in step C) is exactly the same. By varying the sealing time and the group size or the number of articles to be sealed per group, the article output in step C can be adapted to the article output in step A.
Es kann sich als sinnvoll erweisen, wenn die Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln im Anschluss an Schritt C gemeinsam abtransportiert wird. Dadurch erleichtert sich die Handhabung der Artikel im erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren. Im Bedarfsfall kann die Abgabe der Artikel aber auch synchron zum Einzeltakt der Maschine erfolgen, falls dies für den Nachfolgeprozess günstiger ist (z.B. wenn im Nachfolgeprozess Gruppen gebildet werden müssen, die nicht gleich der Gruppengröße im Siegelprozess sind).It can prove to be useful if the group of packaged articles is transported away together after step C. This facilitates the handling of the article in the method according to the invention. If necessary, the articles can also be delivered synchronously to the individual cycle of the machine, if this is more favorable for the subsequent process (e.g. if groups have to be formed in the subsequent process that are not the same as the group size in the sealing process).
Es kann von Vorteil sein, wenn die Artikel in Schritt B zur Bildung der jeweiligen Gruppe einer Gruppierungseinrichtung nacheinander zugeführt werden, vorzugsweise einzeln, wobei die Gruppierungseinrichtung bevorzugt ausgebildet ist, um die Artikel der jeweiligen Gruppe zur anschließenden Siegelung in Schritt C gruppenweise zu transportieren, wobei die Gruppierungseinrichtung besonders bevorzugt unabhängig von einer die Artikel verpackenden Verpackungseinrichtung bewegbar ist. Die Artikel können z.B. in Schritt B zur Bildung einer Gruppe auf der jeweiligen Artikelbahn gestaut oder von einer Mehrzahl von Artikelbahnen einer gemeinsamen Artikelbahn zugeführt werden. Dabei werden in Schritt B zur Bildung der jeweiligen Gruppe die Geschwindigkeiten und/oder die Abstände der die Gruppe bildenden Artikel im Vergleich zu Schritt A verändert, vorzugsweise verringert.It can be advantageous if the articles in step B are fed to a grouping device one after the other to form the respective group, preferably individually, the grouping device preferably being designed to transport the articles of the respective group in groups for subsequent sealing in step C, whereby the grouping device is particularly preferably movable independently of a packaging device packing the articles. The articles can, for example, be stowed in step B to form a group on the respective article path or can be fed from a plurality of article paths to a common article path. In step B, the speeds and / or the distances between the articles forming the group are changed, preferably reduced, in comparison to step A in order to form the respective group.
Es kann zweckdienlich sein, wenn in Schritt C jedem Artikel der jeweiligen Gruppe wenigstens ein eigenes Siegelelement zugeordnet ist, wobei vorzugsweise jedes Siegelelement individuell geregelt wird, bevorzugt in Abhängigkeit wenigstens eines am Siegelelement gemessenen Parameters, wie z.B. einer Siegeldauer und/oder einer Siegeltemperatur und/oder eines Siegeldrucks. Dadurch können auch bei unvermeidlichen Fertigungstoleranzen besonders konstante Siegelergebnisse ermöglicht werden.It can be useful if in step C each article of the respective group is assigned at least one sealing element of its own, whereby each sealing element is preferably regulated individually, preferably as a function of at least one parameter measured on the sealing element, such as a sealing duration and / or a sealing temperature and / or a seal print. As a result, particularly constant sealing results can be made possible even with unavoidable manufacturing tolerances.
Es kann sich als nützlich erweisen, wenn die Artikel in Schritt A durch wenigstens einen kreisbahnförmigen Artikelbahnabschnitt gefördert werden. Dies erfolgt z.B. in einer Verpackungsmaschine mit wenigstens einem Rotationskopf, welchen jeder Artikel im Verpackungsprozess nacheinander durchläuft.It can prove to be useful if the articles are conveyed in step A through at least one circular article path section. This takes place, for example, in a packaging machine with at least one rotating head, which each article passes through one after the other in the packaging process.
Es kann hilfreich sein, wenn die Artikel in Schritt B und/oder Schritt C auf einem linearen Artikelbahnabschnitt angeordnet sind und/oder transportiert werden. Dadurch vereinfacht sich das Bilden der Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln sowie der gruppenweise Transport in die bzw. aus der Siegeleinrichtung.It can be helpful if the articles in step B and / or step C are arranged and / or transported on a linear article path section. This simplifies the formation of the group of packaged articles and the group-wise transport into and out of the sealing device.
Es kann sich als praktisch erweisen, wenn in Schritt C die Ausrichtungen und/oder die Geschwindigkeiten und/oder die gegenseitigen Abstände der Artikel einer jeweiligen Gruppe konstant und/oder einheitlich sind. Wenn die Ausrichtungen und/oder die Geschwindigkeiten und/oder die gegenseitigen Abstände der Artikel konstant sind, ändert der jeweilige Artikel seine Ausrichtung und/oder seine Geschwindigkeit und/oder seinen Abstand zu einem benachbarten Artikel zumindest während der Siegelung in Schritt C nicht. Wenn die Ausrichtungen und/oder die Geschwindigkeiten und/oder die gegenseitigen Abstände der Artikel einheitlich sind, weisen alle Artikel zumindest während der Siegelung in Schritt C dieselben Ausrichtungen und/oder dieselben Geschwindigkeiten und/oder dieselben gegenseitigen Abstände auf. Vorzugsweise werden die Artikel in der Siegeleinrichtung stationär gesiegelt, d.h. die Artikel bewegen sich während der Siegelung nicht. Es ist aber auch möglich, dass die Artikel in Schritt C gruppenweise mit konstanter Geschwindigkeit transportiert werden, wobei die Siegelung z.B. in einer mobilen Siegeleinrichtung auf dem Weg zu einer Abgabestation erfolgt.It can prove to be practical if in step C the orientations and / or the speeds and / or the mutual spacings of the articles of a respective group are constant and / or uniform. If the orientations and / or the speeds and / or the mutual distances of the articles are constant, the respective article does not change its orientation and / or its speed and / or its distance to an adjacent article, at least during the sealing in step C. If the orientations and / or the speeds and / or the mutual distances of the articles are uniform, all articles will have the same orientations and / or the same speeds and / or the same mutual distances at least during the sealing in step C. Preferably, the articles are sealed in a stationary manner in the sealing device, i.e. the articles do not move during the sealing. However, it is also possible for the articles to be transported in groups at a constant speed in step C, with the sealing taking place, for example, in a mobile sealing device on the way to a delivery station.
Ein weiterer Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum Verpacken und Versiegeln kleinstückiger Artikel wie Schokoladenstücke oder -riegel auf einer oder mehreren Artikelbahnen, vorzugsweise nach dem Verfahren gemäß einer der vorangehenden Ausführungen, umfassend:
Eine Verpackungseinrichtung zum Verpacken der kleinstückigen Artikel durch Zuordnung eines Packmittels zu jedem Artikel und Falten des Packmittels um diesen Artikel.Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for packaging and sealing small articles such as chocolate pieces or bars on one or more article webs, preferably according to the method according to one of the preceding statements, comprising:
A packaging device for packaging the small-piece articles by assigning a packaging material to each article and folding the packaging material around this article.
Eine Gruppierungseinrichtung zum Gruppieren von jeweils wenigstens zwei der einzeln verpackten Artikel zu einer Gruppe von einzeln verpackten Artikeln.A grouping device for grouping at least two of the individually packaged articles to form a group of individually packaged articles.
Eine Siegeleinrichtung zum gleichzeitigen Siegeln der Packmittel aller einzeln verpackten Artikel der Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln.A sealing device for the simultaneous sealing of the packaging of all individually packaged articles of the group of packaged articles.
Es ergeben sich die oben genannten Vorteile. Diese Vorrichtung kann die Verfahrensschritte A, B und C beliebig oft und vorzugsweise gleichzeitig.The advantages mentioned above result. This device can process steps A, B and C as often as desired and preferably simultaneously.
Es kann von Nutzen sein, wenn der Druck und/oder die Temperatur und/oder die Zeitdauer der Siegelung mit der Siegeleinrichtung unabhängig von der Geschwindigkeit der Verpackungseinrichtung einstellbar ist/sind.It can be useful if the pressure and / or the temperature and / or the duration of the sealing with the sealing device can be adjusted independently of the speed of the packaging device.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der Erfindung umfasst die Vorrichtung wenigstens zwei Transporteinheiten, die ausgebildet sind, um sich zwischen der Verpackungseinrichtung/ Gruppierungseinrichtung und der Siegeleinrichtung hin und her zu bewegen, wobei vorzugsweise die Transporteinheiten so ausgebildet sind, sodass immer im gegenseitigen Wechsel eine der Transporteinheiten verpackte Artikel von der Verpackungseinrichtung aufnimmt, während die andere Transporteinheit die Gruppe von Artikeln zur Siegelung in der Siegeleinrichtung bereitstellt.In an advantageous development of the invention, the device comprises at least two transport units, which are designed to move back and forth between the packaging device / grouping device and the sealing device, the transport units preferably being designed so that one of the transport units is always packaged alternately Receives articles from the packaging device, while the other transport unit provides the group of articles for sealing in the sealing device.
Es kann auch sinnvoll sein, wenn die Siegeleinrichtung für jeden Artikel der Gruppe einen eigenen Siegelstempel aufweist, wobei vorzugsweise der Siegelstempel zum Toleranzausgleich bezüglich des zu siegelnden Artikels federnd gelagert ist, wobei bevorzugt der Siegelstempel beim Anhalten der Verpackungseinrichtung in eine Nichtgebrauchsstellung überführt wird. So können auch besonders druck- und temperaturempfindliche Artikel trotz unvermeidlicher Fertigungstoleranzen mit besonders einheitlichen Ergebnissen versiegelt werden. Genauer gesagt weisen die Siegelstempel vorzugsweise wenigstens eine der folgenden Eigenschaften auf: 1) Jeder Siegelstempel ist zum Toleranzausgleich für den einzelnen Artikel gefedert. 2) Alle Siegelstempel heben nach dem Siegelvorgang zum Abtransport der gesiegelten Artikel und zur Zuführung der nachfolgenden zu siegelnden Produkte gleichzeitig ab. 3) Alle Siegelstempel heben bei Maschinenstopp gleichzeitig ab, damit es nicht zu geschmolzen Artikeln/ verbrannter Folie unter der Siegeleinrichtung kommt.It can also be useful if the sealing device has its own sealing stamp for each article of the group, the sealing stamp preferably being resiliently mounted to compensate for tolerances with respect to the article to be sealed, the sealing stamp preferably being transferred to a non-use position when the packaging device is stopped. In this way, even articles that are particularly sensitive to pressure and temperature can be sealed with particularly uniform results despite unavoidable manufacturing tolerances. More precisely, the sealing stamps preferably have at least one of the following properties: 1) Each sealing stamp is spring-loaded to compensate for tolerances for the individual article. 2) After the sealing process, all sealing stamps lift off at the same time for the removal of the sealed articles and for the supply of the subsequent products to be sealed. 3) All sealing stamps lift off at the same time when the machine stops, so that there are no melted articles / burned film under the sealing device.
Artikel bzw. Produkte: Als kleinstückige Artikel bzw. Produkte werden im Rahmen der Erfindung insbesondere Schokoladenstücke oder -riegel verstanden. Die Erfindung ist aber ausdrücklich nicht auf die Verpackung von Schokoladenstücken oder -riegeln beschränkt. Weitere kleinstückige Artikel sind beispielsweise Süßwaren wie Hartkaramellen, Weichkaramellen, Lollipops, aber auch Brühwürfel oder Brühtabletten oder kleinstückige Verbrauchsgüter wie Spülmaschinentabs. Alle Artikel haben vorzugsweise die gleiche Form, beispielsweise eine Quaderform oder Würfelform, wenngleich auch andere Artikelformen möglich sind.Articles or products: In the context of the invention, small-piece articles or products are understood in particular to be chocolate pieces or bars. However, the invention is expressly not limited to the packaging of chocolate pieces or bars. Other small-piece items are, for example, confectionery such as hard caramels, soft caramels, lollipops, but also bouillon cubes or brewing tablets or small consumer goods such as dishwasher tablets. All articles preferably have the same shape, for example a parallelepiped or cube shape, although other article shapes are also possible.
Die Begriffe Artikel und Produkte werden im Rahmen der Erfindungsbeschreibung synonym verwendet.The terms articles and products are used synonymously in the context of the description of the invention.
-
Fig. 1 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht eines Teils einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Verpackung und Versiegelung kleinstückiger Artikel wie Schokoladenstücke oder -riegel zur Erläuterung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective view of part of a device according to the invention for packaging and sealing small articles such as chocolate pieces or bars to explain the method according to the invention. -
Fig. 2 eine schematische Ansicht des Ablaufs des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, wobei in Ansicht (a) dargestellt ist, wie eine mit einer Gruppe von fertig verpackten und fertig versiegelten Artikeln beladene Transporteinheit aus der Siegeleinrichtung abtransportiert wird, während eine weitere mit einer Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln beladene Transporteinheit bereitsteht, um in die Siegeleinrichtung eingeschleust zu werden, wobei in den Ansichten (b) bis (e) dargestellt ist, wie eine zunächst leere, bereitgestellte Transporteinheit taktweise mit einzelnen verpackten Artikeln aus der Verpackungseinrichtung beladen wird, um eine Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln zu bilden, während zur selben Zeit eine Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln in der Siegeleinrichtung versiegelt wird; wobei in Ansicht (f) wieder den Zustand gemäß Ansicht (a) zeigt.Fig. 2 a schematic view of the sequence of the method according to the invention, with view (a) showing how a transport unit loaded with a group of fully packaged and fully sealed articles is transported away from the sealing device, while a further transport unit loaded with a group of packaged articles is available , in order to be channeled into the sealing device, whereby in the views (b) to (e) it is shown how an initially empty, provided transport unit is cyclically loaded with individual packaged articles from the packaging device in order to form a group of packaged articles, while at the same time sealing a group of packaged articles in the sealing device; where in view (f) again shows the state according to view (a).
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren gemäß dem vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel dient zum Verpacken und Versiegeln von beispielsweise quaderförmigen Schokoladenstücken oder -riegeln und wird auf einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung 1 zum Verpacken und Versiegeln von Schokoladenstücken oder-riegeln durchgeführt.The method according to the invention according to the present embodiment is used for packaging and sealing, for example, cuboid chocolate pieces or bars and is carried out on a
Im vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel erfolgt das Verpacken und Versiegeln der Artikel A auf lediglich einer Artikelbahn P1. Um die Ausbringung der Vorrichtung 1 zu erhöhen, kann das Verpacken und Versiegeln der Artikel A abweichend vom vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel auch auf mehreren parallelen Artikelbahnen P1 gleichzeitig erfolgen. Eine entsprechende Vorrichtung zur Verpackung von Artikeln auf A parallelen Produktbahnen ist aus der
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren umfasst insbesondere zur Realisierung einer vom Verpackungsprozess entkoppelten Siegelung folgende Schritte:
- Schritt A: Verpacken der kleinstückigen Artikel durch Zuordnung eines Packmittels zu jedem Artikel A und Falten des Packmittels um diesen Artikel.
- Schritt B: Gruppieren von jeweils wenigstens zwei der einzeln verpackten Artikel zu einer Gruppe von verpackten Artikeln.
- Schritt C: Gleichzeitiges Siegeln der Packmittel aller einzeln verpackten Artikel der Gruppe von verpackten Artikel.
- Schritt D (optional): Abtransport der Artikel nach dem Siegeln und vorzugsweise Übergabe der Artikel als Gruppe oder einzeln an einen weiterführenden Prozess.
- Step A: Pack the small items by assigning a packaging to each item A and folding the packaging around this item.
- Step B: Grouping of at least two of the individually packaged articles to form a group of packaged articles.
- Step C: Simultaneous sealing of the packaging of all individually packed articles in the group of packed articles.
- Step D (optional): Removal of the articles after sealing and preferably handover of the articles as a group or individually to a further process.
Schritt A ist vorzugsweise ein Einschlagprozess (taktsynchron) und erfolgt z.B. auf einer intermittierend arbeitenden Verpackungseinrichtung 2. Dabei werden die Artikel A in der Verpackungseinrichtung 2 mit vorgegebenen Abständen in einer Reihe hintereinander als Artikel- bzw. Produktstrom vorzugsweise über wenigstens einen Rotationskopf hinweg (vgl.
Wie dargelegt, erfolgt der Verpackungs- bzw. Einschlagprozess in Schritt A nach dem beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiel vorzugsweise taktsynchron in der Verpackungseinrichtung 2. Es wird aber ausdrücklich betont, dass der Verpackungs- bzw. Einschlagprozess intermittierend oder kontinuierlich sein kann. Beim intermittierenden Verpackungsverfahren bzw. -einrichtungen 2 verweilt jeder Artikel A mit gleicher Dauer am Verarbeitungsort, d.h. an einer von mehreren Arbeitsstationen. Die Verweilzeit ändert sich in Abhängigkeit der Maschinengeschwindigkeit. Bei höherer Ausbringung ist die Verweilzeit in jeder Arbeitsstation entsprechend kurz. Beim kontinuierlichen Verpackungsprozess ist der Artikel durchgehend in Bewegung und das dem Artikel zugeordnete Packmittel wird z.B. durch mitwandernde Faltmittel gefaltet.As explained, the packaging or wrapping process in step A takes place according to the described embodiment, preferably synchronously in the
In Schritt B werden die einzeln eingeschlagenen bzw. verpackten Artikel A z.B. in einer Gruppierungseinrichtung 3 zu Gruppen G zusammengeführt und gruppiert. Bei intermittierenden Verpackungsverfahren bzw. -einrichtungen 2 wird je Arbeitstakt ein Artikel A durch eine bereitstehende Transporteinheit 5a, 5b aufgenommen (vgl.
Der Artikeltransport zwischen der Gruppierungseinrichtung 3 und der in Transportrichtung nachgelagerten Siegeleinrichtung 4 erfolgt durch ein 2-Zug- oder Mehrzugsystem mit wenigstens zwei Transporteinheiten 5a, 5b, welche abwechselnd Artikel A vom Vorprozess bzw. der Verpackungseinrichtung 2 übernehmen und an den Nachfolgeprozess bzw. die Siegeleinrichtung 4 übergeben. Sobald die Anzahl der eine Gruppe G bildenden Artikeln A erreicht und auf der ersten Transporteinheit 5a aufgeladen ist (vgl.
Die Siegelung in Schritt C erfolgt in der Siegeleinrichtung 4 beispielsweise zeitgesteuert. In
Zum Siegeln werden alle Artikel A einer Gruppe G unter dem für jeden einzelnen Artikel A vorhandenen Siegelstempel S positioniert. Anschließend wird der Siegelstempel S vertikal auf den unter dem Siegelstempel S positionierten Artikel A zugestellt, sodass es zum Kontakt zwischen dem den Artikel A umgebenden Packmittel und dem Siegelstempel S kommt. Während der Siegelung kommt es zu keiner Relativbewegung zwischen Artikel A und Siegelstempel S. Die einzelnen Siegelstempel S sind jeweils federnd gelagert, um Höhentoleranzen auszugleichen und gleichmäßige Siegeldrücke für alle Produkte zu erreichen. Jeder einzelne Siegelstempel S hat eine Heizung und einen eigenen Temperatursensor, wodurch eine individuelle Regelung ermöglicht wird. Zum Transport der Gruppe G heben alle Siegelstempel S gleichzeitig ab, um die Artikel A zu entlasten und zu schonen (vgl.
In
In
Wie in
In dem in
Anschließend beginnt der Vorgang mit neuen Artikeln A von neuem im Zustand gemäß
Abweichend von der Darstellung in
Zusammengefasst besteht der Kerngedanke der Erfindung in der Realisierung eines Siegelprozesses, welcher vom geschwindigkeitsabhängigen Verpackungsprozess entkoppelt ist, damit unabhängig von der Geschwindigkeit der Verpackungsmaschine 2 konstante Siegelzeiten, Siegeldrücke und Siegeltemperaturen ermöglicht werden. Ziel ist eine reproduzierbare Siegelung, ohne die Artikel A zu beschädigen.In summary, the core idea of the invention consists in the implementation of a sealing process which is decoupled from the speed-dependent packaging process so that constant sealing times, sealing pressures and sealing temperatures are made possible regardless of the speed of the
- 11
- Vorrichtung zum Verpacken und VersiegelnDevice for packaging and sealing
- 22
- VerpackungseinrichtungPackaging facility
- 33
- GruppierungseinrichtungGrouping facility
- 44th
- SiegeleinrichtungSealing device
- 5a5a
- Erste TransporteinheitFirst transport unit
- 5b5b
- Zweite TransporteinheitSecond transport unit
- AA.
- Artikelitems
- GG
- Gruppegroup
- P1P1
- ArtikelbahnArticle track
Claims (12)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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DE102020202207.0A DE102020202207B4 (en) | 2020-02-20 | 2020-02-20 | Method and device for individually packaging and group-wise sealing of small articles such as chocolate pieces or bars |
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EP3868674A1 true EP3868674A1 (en) | 2021-08-25 |
EP3868674B1 EP3868674B1 (en) | 2023-10-18 |
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EP (1) | EP3868674B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102020202207B4 (en) |
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DE102011075439A1 (en) * | 2011-05-06 | 2012-11-08 | Loesch Verpackungstechnik Gmbh | Method and device for packaging strip-shaped objects, in particular chewing gum sticks |
EP2906473A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2015-08-19 | Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg | High-performance packaging method for packaging, in particular small-sized, products, and high-performance packaging device, in particular for performing the method |
DE102015003049A1 (en) * | 2015-03-11 | 2016-09-15 | Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) | Method for converting a device for producing packages |
US20180118389A1 (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2018-05-03 | Ross Industries, Inc. | Dual purpose seal head assembly, tray sealing system, and method therefor |
EP3578468A1 (en) * | 2018-06-08 | 2019-12-11 | Theegarten-Pactec GmbH & Co. KG | Method and device for packaging small articles in thermoweldable packaging material with a heatable retaining element |
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DE102016202814A1 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2017-08-24 | Chocal Aluminiumverpackungen Gmbh | Method and machine for packaging a food product |
DE102016115635A1 (en) | 2016-08-23 | 2018-03-01 | Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg | Method and device for packaging, in particular small-sized, products |
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2020
- 2020-02-20 DE DE102020202207.0A patent/DE102020202207B4/en active Active
- 2020-12-09 EP EP20212831.0A patent/EP3868674B1/en active Active
- 2020-12-09 ES ES20212831T patent/ES2964683T3/en active Active
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US4909019A (en) * | 1987-05-12 | 1990-03-20 | Sapal Societe Anonyme Des Plieuses Automatiques | Process and apparatus for packaging an article |
EP0822142A1 (en) * | 1996-07-23 | 1998-02-04 | Tokyo Automatic Machinery Works, Ltd | Flap folding apparatus in packaging machine |
CN1891450A (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2007-01-10 | 吉第联合股份公司 | Device and method for stabilizing a package |
DE102011075439A1 (en) * | 2011-05-06 | 2012-11-08 | Loesch Verpackungstechnik Gmbh | Method and device for packaging strip-shaped objects, in particular chewing gum sticks |
EP2906473A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2015-08-19 | Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg | High-performance packaging method for packaging, in particular small-sized, products, and high-performance packaging device, in particular for performing the method |
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US20180118389A1 (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2018-05-03 | Ross Industries, Inc. | Dual purpose seal head assembly, tray sealing system, and method therefor |
EP3578468A1 (en) * | 2018-06-08 | 2019-12-11 | Theegarten-Pactec GmbH & Co. KG | Method and device for packaging small articles in thermoweldable packaging material with a heatable retaining element |
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ES2964683T3 (en) | 2024-04-09 |
DE102020202207A1 (en) | 2021-08-26 |
EP3868674B1 (en) | 2023-10-18 |
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