EP1175341B1 - Packaging machine and method for producing, filling and sealing narrow tubular bags - Google Patents

Description

1. Field of the invention

The invention relates to a packaging machine and a method for manufacturing, filling and sealing in particular narrow or slim tubular bags.

2. Description of the prior art

Such a method with an associated machine is known, for example, from German patent application DE 44 29 148 A1. This involves the manufacture, filling and sealing of packaging in the form of tubes, although it is not assumed that the tube bodies are prefabricated, but that they are formed in a known manner from a correspondingly wide packaging material web on a shaped tube, the bottom first being formed by a Cross seal seam produced, the separated piece of tubing filled and finally the tube head is inserted and sealed.
The disadvantage here is that the packaging length is cut off directly under the still hot cross seal or bottom seam, which can lead to sticking in the cutting area and thus to difficulties in the subsequent filling and insertion of the tube head or the tube shoulder. The endless conveyor arranged under the molded tube for the removal and further transport of the separated hose pieces must also be equipped with relatively complex gripper mechanisms in order to be able to grasp the bottom sealed seams of the hose pieces. The application of the bottom sealed seam as the first step after the tube shaping also affects the shape of the tube piece that continues upwards, that is to say the top end of which remains open tends to orientate itself in the direction of extension of the bottom seam, which results in the insertion of the filling nozzle the packaging machine and also the tube head piece difficult.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has for its object a packaging machine and to provide a method for closing or Cross-seal the piece of packaging hose immediately after Make the drain from the shaped pipe unnecessary, a "cold" cut allow on the hose running off the molded pipe and the the attachment of the head-side closure on the separated Piece of hose before filling the separated piece of hose enable.

Regarding the manufacturing, filling and sealing method of particularly narrow tubular bags according to claim 1, is first in the course of producing the one-sided still open Tubular bag from a packaging material web, clocked continuously a longitudinally sealed tube is formed and continues from it a piece of tubing cut into bag length, after which the tubular bag is filled and then closed.

According to the invention, the procedure is such that using a sufficiently rigid and largely Resettable film for the packaging material web at a feed of the longitudinally sealed hose by one bag length lower, open end on a cross-sectional mandrel put on and the hose piece cold from that longitudinally sealed tube is separated, after which in at least the upper end of the hose section at a cycle step distance closed, the tube piece turned upside down, from Hose plug-in mandrel removed and in the appropriate cycle step distance after at least one filling by cross sealing is closed.

In this process design according to the invention the hose formed immediately after its formation and Longitudinal sealing on the molded pipe is not cross-sealed, but it the hose is only pushed back and put on on the respective mandrel, with Consideration of this pushing and touching down in so far Use of sufficiently "push-resistant" film material is essential. Bezgl. provided that the film used should also be largely "resettable", so is below a film or a film material to understand that the hose pushed off the molded tube or onto the arbors Slipped on piece of hose after the crushing load when cutting off the hose piece at least as far as possible again the cross-sectional shape specified by the shaped tube occupies. This is especially with regard to the following Filling process important, because with the center on the open Hose section cross section of directed filling nozzle, this radial the same distance to the hose section wall on all sides and therefore wetting with the filling material does not occur can, otherwise a perfect sealing of the bottom sealed seam could affect. A clean, precise contour Cut off the piece of hose placed on the mandrel is guaranteed in the present case that here not directly under the hot sealing seam of the subsequent hose piece as in the subject of aforementioned German patent application DE 44 29 148 A1 with its geometrically imprecise transition from the sealed seam in the actual tube body is cut off, i.e. the Section takes place on the geometrically precisely specified through the shaped tube Cross section of the hose. In contrast to the introduction mentioned method according to the aforementioned German patent application the hose piece is first closed not at the bottom end of the packaging, but on the other end, and that away from the molded tube and the there with Actuating mechanism and a certain amount of time associated deduction requirement, which means that locking elements are stationary can be assigned to the conveyor line and this only yours have to perform the respective closing movement. Also done this closure, which alternatively also by means of a tube head piece can be considered at not yet filled tube piece, what with such tube head closures, since they are usually round or oval, always per se is something problematic.

The use of one also according to the above German patent application known per se endless conveyor receives a special one in this context Meaning than with this, to a certain extent automatically Overhead application of the and attached to the arbors Hose sections already closed on one side and the take-over by means of gripping elements only takes so much time / distance required than it corresponds to the mandrel height, which, however only a small fraction of the length of the hose pieces is. The method according to the invention consequently enables also a clock increase for the implementation of the method provided packaging machine. The usual one so far Deduction of the packaging tube formed by means of immediately cross sealing jaws arranged under the shaped tube, who have to go back all the way to Attach the hose again and pull it off again can therefore be dispensed with.

According to the invention, a packaging machine according to claim 7 is also provided, it consists of a tube forming station with a supply of packaging material and with an endless conveyor underneath, the further processing stations for filling and Close are assigned. Under the tube forming station or under their at least one shaped tube is a cutting device arranged and under this the endless conveyor, the is provided with hose mandrels at cycle increments. In at least one clock step distance is also behind the Hose forming station above the endless conveyor a closing station and behind the turning area of the endless conveyor is one Transfer station arranged, the one filling station and one further locking stations are connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig.1

zeigt schematisch und perspektivisch die notwendigen Elemente zur Ausformung einer Packstoffbahn zu einem Schlauch;

Fig.2

zeigt die erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsmaschine in Seitenansicht;

Fig.3

zeigt die Verpackungsmaschine gemäß Fig.1 in Draufsicht;

Fig.4

zeigt in Draufsicht zwei als "Taktgruppe" auf dem Endlosförderer angeordnete Schlauchaufsteckdorne;

Fig.5

zeigt einen Schlauchaufsteckdorn im Schnitt mit dem aufgesetztem Schlauchstück und dem darüber befindlichen Formrohrende;

Fig.6

zeigt gegenüber Fig.1 vergrößert den kreisförmigen Teil der Förderstrecke in Draufsicht;

Fig.7

zeigt die Förderstrecke gemäß Fig.5 in Seitenansicht;

Fig.8

zeigt in Seitenansicht eine andere Ausführungsform der Verpackungsmaschine und

Fig.9A,

Bzeigt schematisch und in Seitenansicht zwei Ausführungsformen der Verpackung nach Passage einer ersten Schließstation.

The packaging machine according to the invention and the associated method, including advantageous advantageous embodiments, can be better understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with drawings, in which

Fig.1

shows schematically and in perspective the necessary elements for forming a packaging material web into a tube;

Fig.2

shows the packaging machine according to the invention in side view;

Figure 3

shows the packaging machine according to Figure 1 in plan view;

Figure 4

shows in plan view two as "cycle group" arranged on the endless conveyor hose mandrels;

Figure 5

shows a hose mandrel in section with the attached piece of hose and the pipe end located above;

Figure 6

shows compared to Figure 1 enlarged the circular part of the conveyor line in plan view;

Figure 7

shows the conveyor line according to Figure 5 in side view;

Figure 8

shows a side view of another embodiment of the packaging machine and

9A,

Shows schematically and in side view two embodiments of the packaging after passing a first closing station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The packaging machine consists of a tube forming station 1 with packaging material feed 2 and with one arranged underneath Endless conveyor 3, the further processing stations are assigned to fill and close. Regarding the Tube forming station is referred to Fig.1, the insofar represents a special embodiment than the Packing material web PB by schematically represented slitting knife 100 is cut into three strips 1o1 that over a deflecting shaft 102 fed to three shaped tubes 103 and on these are formed into three tubes 104. For the Longitudinal sealing is a longitudinal sealing jaw for each shaped tube 103 105 assigned, in Fig.1 for the sake of simplicity only a shaped tube 103 is shown. Also only once and an element 106 for the deduction of the formed hose 104 from the molded tube 103. With 4 is the Cutting device called, in which (only dashed indicated) is a cross-cutting knife 107. Under this The end release conveyor 3 extends to the tube forming station 1 that in clock step distance TD corresponding to the number of Shaped tubes 103 in this embodiment, three each Hose mandrels 5 are arranged.

Based on this and also with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, it is essential for the packaging machine according to the invention in combination that a cutting device 4 is arranged under the tube forming station 1 described according to FIG. 1 and below this the endless conveyor 3, which, as mentioned above , is provided in step increment TD with hose mandrels 5. In at least one cycle step distance TD, a first closing station 6 is arranged behind the tube forming station 1 above the endless conveyor 3 and behind or under the turning area 7 of the endless conveyor 3 a takeover station 8, which is followed by a filling station 9 and a second closing station 6 '. In the exemplary embodiment of the packaging machine according to FIG. 2, it is otherwise only equipped with two shaped tubes 103 in order to make it clear that the machine can also be equipped with fewer than three and ultimately also with more than three shaped tubes 103.
The conveyor section 3 'adjoining the endless conveyor 3 with its associated transfer, filling and closing stations 8, 9, 6' is preferably circular and the conveyor element 10 provided with gripping elements 11 is designed as a circular disk or turnstile 12 in this conveying area (see FIG .3). Gripping elements 11 (see FIG. 7) are arranged on the turnstile 12 so as to be adjustable up and down. These elements 11 are thus functionally and positionally controllable on the transfer position to the endless conveyor 3, the filling position to the filling elements of the filling station 9 and the closing position of transverse sealing elements of the closing station 6 '. The position US on the conveying element 10 which results from FIG. 3 and is still unoccupied to the left then serves for ejecting and conveying away the finished and filled packs, as indicated by arrows there.

The procedure that can be carried out with it, regardless of gegf. special constructive designs, runs according to the invention such that using sufficient slide-resistant film for the packaging material web PB from this clocked, a longitudinally sealed tube 104 is continuously formed, the lower of which, when deducted by one bag length, open end 109 on the cross-section fitting mandrel 5 put on and the bag length cold using of the cross-cutting knife 107 is separated, after which in at least a clock step distance TD the top of the cut Hose piece 108 closed and the hose piece 108 turned overhead, by the grippers 11 on the closed End detected, deducted from the arbor 5 and in the corresponding Clock step distance TD closed by cross sealing becomes.

Regarding the "cold separation" mentioned by means of the Cutting device 4 should be noted that this is so far is more important than when there are no bonds or Adhesion of the cut edges may occur, i.e. The open cross section 109 of the hose piece 108 must remain in place to safely put the detached Hose piece 108 on the respective hose mandrel 5 to ensure. Incidentally, this is also in consideration important if instead of a simple cross seal in the first closing station 6 in the other open cross section 109 ' of tube piece 108, a tube closure shoulder 110 is inserted and should be sealed, like one in Fig.9A is shown for example.

Except for the feed by means of the elements 106 by the length of a piece of hose 108 on the molded tube 103, and also without Provision of trigger elements requiring time (Cross sealing jaws), result subsequently perpendicular to Conveyor line level in the following processing stations 8, 9, 6 'advantageously only short adjustment paths for the gripping elements 11 on the conveyor element 10 in order to be taken over by the endless conveyor 3 Hose pieces 108 on the one hand and on the other hand to the filling position and closing position to the Bring stations 9, 6 '.

A detailed explanation of the required drive and adjusting mechanisms on the entire packaging machine including the design of the gripper and also the controls is unnecessary because construction elements common in packaging machine construction and measures.

With regard to the configuration of the hose mandrels 5 refer to Figures 4 and 5, with Figure 5 also the plug-on situation on the mandrel 5 under the molded tube end shown with clarified. As can also be seen from FIG spreadable, resilient elements 13 so at least on free end of conical mandrels 5 arranged, that on the one hand the hose end to be pushed open can be easily pushed onto the mandrel, but then with a certain radial tension on the mandrel 5 from the elements 13 is held securely by their slight spread. For this spreading is sufficient to slightly lower the mandrel pull to submerge the elements 13 and so to spread slightly.

Around the mandrels 5 and thus the attached hose pieces 108 before transfer to the circular conveyor section 3 'by 90 ° to be able to turn, if a vertical position of the second Cross seal seam to the previously created in the course of the endless conveyor 3 Cross sealing seam 111 is desired, these are the mandrels 5 rotatably mounted and provided with raster discs 5 'with which and a suitable pin drive that causes a 90 ° swivel can be. The mandrels 5 by a spring-loaded catch 14, as shown, for example, held. The above-mentioned pen drive exists simply from a stationary next to the endless conveyor 3 am Machine frame G arranged pin 5 ", when driving past the grid disc 5 'engages in the grooves 5' '' thereof, the grid disc 5 'and thus the mandrel 5 rotates by 90 ° and exits the relevant groove 5 '' 'after passage.

The circular conveyor section 3 ', as mentioned above, consists of a step-controlled rotating disc or turnstile 12, on which the gripper elements 11, controlled accordingly and are arranged to be movable.

In the transfer station 8, in which the hose pieces with their arrive with the closed ends pointing down, they drive in the already waiting and open grippers 11, the then after accessing the tube pieces from the thorns 5 pull off, bring the hose pieces 5 under the filling station 9, this with its open end against one of a dose 15 Lift the supplied hopper T and after filling and lowering again by turning under the second locking station 6 'transport and against that in preparation Lift the cross seal jaws. In this whole range of rotation, i.e. at least up to the second closing station 6 ' are corresponding arcuate side guides 16 for the The transported packs must be kept vertical. If the hose pieces 108 in the first closing station 6 are closed with tube heads 110, the grippers 11 adapted to their shape accordingly. Side guides 16 for the tube pieces 108, as shown in Figure 6, are in not absolutely necessary in this case.

Instead of forming the second conveyor section 3 'in shape one turnstile 12, can also be a second, straight extending endless conveyor 30, as schematically in Fig. 8 shown, are subordinated to the first conveyor line. The Transfer station 8 results from the overlap of the endless conveyor 3 via the endless conveyor 30, the also with grippers arranged in the cycle step distance TD 11 is equipped. Since this gripper 11 after the Cross sealing seams 111 or the tube heads 110 of the tube pieces 108 have detected something to be lowered in order to To remove pieces of hose 108 from the mandrels 5, these are Gripper 11 either with a suitable adjusting mechanism in Regarding their normal running level E or the endless conveyor 30 movable up and down in the area of the transfer station 8, or it can also, as dashed and with arrow P in Fig.8 indicated, the carrier disc 31 of the endless conveyor 30 in Machine cycle can be moved up and down by a required amount be trained and arranged.

Claims (12)

1. A process for manufacturing, loading and closing, in particular, of slim-sized tubular bags, characterized by the following steps to be executed at a distance of at least one timed sequence

   (a) transforming a web of packing material (PB) consisting of an adequately push-stabilized foil continuously advanced in timed sequence, into a longitudinally sealed tube (104);

   (b) mounting the bottom open end of the tube (104) to a tube plug-on stub (1) of conforming cross-section;

   (c) cold-separating a tubular section (108) of bag length as left on stub (1) from tube (104);

   (d) re-transporting the cut-off tubular section (108) by a distance (TD) of at least one timed sequence to a closing station for closing the upper open end (109') of the tube section (108);

   (e) turning the tubular section (109) closed at the top in overhead position by means of the plug-on stub (1);

   (f) seizing the closed end and withdrawing the tubular section (108) from stub (1);

   (g) filling the tubular section (109) open at the top at another distance (TD) of a timed sequence; and

   (h) transverse-sealing of the loaded tubular section (108) at the distance of a timed sequence.
2. A process according to claim 1,
   characterized in that a shape-restorable foil material is used as the push-stabilized foil.
3. A process according to claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the web of packing material (PB) is longitudinally cut into at least two strips (101) of equal width, and that, at the same time, corresponding longitudinally sealed tubes (104) are formed from each strip (101), and that the said tubes, simultaneously, are mounted to a corresponding number of tube plug-on stubs (1) moved thereunder.
4. A process according to any one of claims 1 through 3,
   characterized in that the upper open end (109') of each tubular section (108) is closed by inserting a tubular head section (110) which is rigidly connected to the opening edge of the tubular section (108).
5. A process according to any one of claims 1 through 3,
   characterized in that a transverse sealing seam is provided in the first closing station (6) for closing the upper open end (109') of the tubular sections (108).
6. A process according to claim 5,
   characterized in that closing of the upper open ends (109') of the tubular sections (108) is effected through a transverse seal extending cross-wise toward the bottom sealing seam.
7. A packing machine for carrying out the process of claim 1, comprising a tube forming station (1) having a means (2) for suppling the web of packing material, a cutter (4) located underneath the forming station and an endless conveyor (3) disposed therebelow to which are associated additional processing stations,
   characterized in that the endless conveyor (3) a the distance of a timed sequence is provided with tube plug-on stubs (5), that disposed at a distance of at least one timed sequence, behind the tube forming station (1) and above the endless conveyor (3), is a first closing station (6) and disposed behind the reversing area (7) of the endless conveyor (3) is a take-over station (8), with the filling station (9) and another closing station (6') being disposed therebehind within another conveying track (3').
8. A packing machine according to claim 7,
   characterized in that the tube plug-on stubs (5) are disposed on the endless conveyor (3) in groups of at least two stubs (5) each, and that the tube-forming station (1) is furnished accordingly with at least two forming tubes (103).
9. A packing machine according to claims 8 or 9,
   characterized in that the conveying track (3') following the endless conveyor (3), along with its associated take-over, loading and closing stations (8, 9, 6') is of a circular configuration, and that a conveying element (10) furnished with gripper elements (11) within the said conveying track (3') is in the form of a circular disc or capstan (12) on which the gripping elements (11) are adjustably formed for up and down movement, thereby being steerably adjustable, as to function and position, to the take-over position of the endless conveyor (3), the loading position of filling elements and the closing position of transverse sealing elements.
10. A packing machine according to any one of claims 7 through 9,
    characterized in that the tube plug-on stubs (5) cone-shaped at least on the free end thereof, circumferentially are uniformly furnished with expandable flexible elements (13).
11. A packing machine according to claim 10,
    characterized in that the gripping elements (11) are arranged on conveying element (10) to be pivotable by 90°.
12. A packing machine according to any one of claims 9 through 11,
    characterized in that the conveying track (3') following the endless conveyor (3), along with its associated take-over, loading and closing stations (8, 9, 6') is in the form of an endless conveyor (30) oriented in the same direction and provided with gripping elements (11) movable up and down relative to the plug-on stubs (5) located in the take-over station (8), with the said endless conveyor (30), in the first take-over station (8), undercutting the first endless conveyor (3) in an overlapping way.

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