WO2015035970A1 - Method for producing a product by means of a thermoforming or joining system, and a thermoforming or joining system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a thermoforming or joining system (5) for embedding an embedding element (14) in a product. The use of in-mould labelling technology in thermoforming systems has become known more recently. The present invention proposes embedding elements in the products (14) to be produced in thermoforming or joining systems (5). This has advantages, for example, when particular mechanical protection is desired for the elements to be embedded, which can be desired especially in the case of intelligent components such as RFID transponders or other chips. Injection-moulded parts can also be mechanically connected to thermoformed or joined parts.

Description

 METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PRODUCT THROUGH A THERMOFORMING OR FURNISHING SYSTEM, AND A THERMOFORMING OR FURNISHING SYSTEM

[01] The invention relates to a method for producing a product by means of a thermoforming or joining installation, as well as a thermoforming or joining installation. [02] Thermoforming of products is a common technology for forming thermoplastics. It used to be called thermoforming, deep drawing or vacuum forming. Articles made from films that are produced during thermoforming are, for example, yoghurt or margarine cups or various other blisters. In addition, a technology that actually comes from the injection-molded, namely the IML (in-mold labeling), has now also established in thermoforming. Thus, EP 1 588 827 A2 describes a method for operating a thermoforming machine, in which a multitude of products are produced in one use of a film strip, for example yoghurt pots, by means of a steel strip cut. The steel strip stops between cut lines, so that the products remain in a residual foil grid. The lower tool, which carries the products thus produced, but still connected, is then lowered and tilted. In the individual cavities of the lower tool, labels are inserted which, on account of the heat of the preheated film, connect to the products on their surface.

[10] DE 10 2008 033 799 A1 also describes a method and a device for in-mold labeling of plastic containers.

CONFIRMATION COPY [10] DE 10 2012 005 915 B4 describes various ways of treating labels.

[0001] WO 2004/066197 A1 describes a method in which a label with an electronic assembly is inserted into a cavity and the plastic product is subsequently melted thereon.

[07] DE 10 2006 030 913 A1 describes an in-mold surface element with a base support and an identification element.

DE 10 2006 047 714 A1 describes an in-mold label having a base with a front side and a rear side, wherein an antenna made of wire is applied on the rear side, which is electrically conductively connected to an RFID chip. Such an element can be used, for example, in injection molding.

[09] DE 10 2008 058 353 A1 describes a method for producing an extrusion blow-molded hollow body with an identifiable label, wherein the label is applied by a band to the still hot blown film tube. [10] EP 2 054 846 B1 discloses a method for producing a container with a flexible label and an integrated RFID transponder.

[1 1] EP 1 604 803 A1 discloses a device for producing a tape with labeled containers, wherein two insertion stations are provided for the labels. The present invention has for its object to provide the prior art, an alternative or an improvement to the side.

[13] According to a first aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a method for producing a product from a thermoplastic-containing film by means of a thermoforming or joining installation, with a processing Tool in the form of a thermoforming or welding tool, comprising the steps of: a. Inserting the film into a processing station with the open movable processing tool; b. Inserting an embedding element for preparing embedding of the embedding element, in a cavity of the machining tool and / or in a gap between two film layers; c. Closing the processing tool while thermoforming the film to form the product and / or joining the film to produce the product, each embedding the embedding element in the plastic; as well as d. Opening the machining tool and, if necessary, removing the product. [14] In this context, it should be explained conceptually that an "embedding" is to be understood as a type of incorporation in which the film at least partially covers the embedding element towards the original surface of the film Instead, at least at one point, a mechanical fastening extending beyond this should be present.

[15] Preference is given to full embedding, in which accordingly the embedding element no longer has a free surface, but is completely covered by the film.

[16] An overlap is to be established when a perpendicular to the surface of the film provided with the embedding element first passes through the film at least at one point and only then strikes the embedding element.

[17] Constructively, such an embedding, that is an at least partial overlap, can be achieved in various ways:

[18] For example, it is conceivable for the embedding element to produce an undercut in the film by being larger with the area initially pressed onto the film and pressed in, than with the area following it. In the simplest case be to a cone or a pyramid or truncated cone or a truncated pyramid. If such is pressed into a heated film, initially displaces the vorseilende, large area of the embedding a relatively large amount of the thermoplastic film. Due to the pressure of the film, however, it follows the tapered body beyond the leading, large peripheral edge and at least partially encloses the large leading surface of the embedding element.

[19] Alternatively or cumulatively, it is intended to heat the embedding elements, either prior to introduction into the cavities, but preferably after introduction into the cavities. For this purpose, the cavities can have an active heating means for the embedding elements, or a heat radiator can be brought over the cavities or into the cavities in order to heat the embedding elements on the side of the film to be applied later.

[20] In particular, heating of the embedding element on its surface by at least 20 K above that temperature is intended, with which the embedding element is inserted into the cavities.

[21] The proposed method is particularly suitable for thermoforming and joining processes, in joining processes especially in those using a welding tool. It can also be provided a system that performs both methods. [22] In the case of a thermoforming method, there is proposed a method of embedding the embedding member in a thermoforming product, comprising the steps of: inserting the sheet into a forming station with an opened movable die; Inserting the embedding element for preparing the embedding, in a cavity of the mold or in a gap between two film layers; Closing the mold, while thermoforming the film to form the thermoformed product while embedding the embedding element in the plastic; and opening the mold and removing the thermoformed product. [23] In the case of a joining method, a method is proposed for embedding the embedding element in a joining product, comprising the steps of: introducing the film into a joining station with an open movable joining tool, especially a welding tool, especially a combined welding-cutting tool; Inserting the embedding element for preparing the embedding, in a cavity of the joining tool and / or in a gap between two film layers; Closing the joining tool, thereby joining the film to produce the product while embedding the embedding element in the plastic; as well as opening the joining tool and, if necessary, demoulding the product. [24] It is proposed that the embedding element be or is a jacket-sheathed information component such that embedding of the sheathed information component results from (i) either joining the sheath to the plastic of the molded thermoformed product at the surface thereof the cladding on the finished thermoformed product encases the informational component toward the new surface of the thermoformed product thereby created, thereby embedding the informational component, (ii) or the cladding with the informational component contained therein is completely embedded in the plastic of the thermoformed product so that the informational component protected twice and thus embedded, namely sheathed by the coat and additionally surrounded by the plastic of the film. [25] The information component may, above all, have a radio module, an RFID transponder and / or a resonant circuit.

[26] It should be expressly understood that in the context of the present patent application some optional variants of the method with regard to the wording are described only with reference to a thermoforming process. However, the variant of the joining method is always understood as having been disclosed.

[27] It is particularly advantageous if the embedding element has or is an injection-molded component. [28] In this way, it is possible to produce injection molded parts with thermoforming or joining parts to a common product.

[29] An injection molded part can also be embedded in the product with only one embedding part, leaving a protruding part outside the product. For example, in the thermoforming of plastic sheets, it is intended to produce injection-molded table legs, to provide them with an expansion at their end facing the table, and then to embed them in a thermoforming process in the thermoformed thermoformed plastic sheet.

[30] Of course, smaller applications and applications with foil instead of plastic plates are possible.

[31] The movable mold is preferably tilted for insertion of the embedding element.

[32] The mold is usually multi-part, consisting of an upper tool and a lower tool. [33] In this context, it should be noted that in the context of the present patent application indefinite articles and indefinite quantities are to be understood as at least information, so that the indefinite articles "a" two ... "and so on each as" at least one "at least two ..." and so on should be understood, if it does not result from the respective context, that only "exactly one ...", "exactly two ..." etc. should be meant.

Concretely, the tool may also have more than two parts in a proposed system.

However, the constellation usually encountered in practice consists of an upper tool and a lower tool, wherein at least the lower tool is usually movable, namely movable in height and preferably tiltable. [36] If the steel strip cut considered to be advantageous here is used, a benefit can be taken with a large number of products produced by thermoforming with embedded embedding elements in one piece, whereupon in a follow-up station the products are first removed from the residual film grid.

[37] The demolding preferably takes place at a stacking station.

[38] During a process run, several embedding elements are preferably embedded simultaneously in a plurality of thermoforming or joining products, namely preferably in the plurality of cavities of the movable tool. [39] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the stated object solves a thermoforming and / or joining plant for embedding an embedding element in a product, the plant comprising: a film feed for a thermoplastic film having; and a processing station with an insertion device, wherein the processing station has a driven openable and closable machining tool, and an insertion device, wherein the insertion device is adapted to an embedding element for preparing the embedding in a cavity of the machining tool and / or in a gap between two Inserting film layers, so that when closing the machining tool, the product produced and the embedding is embedded in the plastic, the system comprises means for performing a method according to one of claims 1 to 12, in particular a tilting device for the machining tool, a band steel cutting device for separating the Product from the film leaving retaining notches, a separator for separating the product from a residual foil grid, a welding tool, a combined welding-cutting tool and / or a stacking device.

[40] A particularly advantageous embodiment from the point of view of the inventors is a combination of a tilting machine with an in-mold-labeling method a strip steel section and with intelligent components and / or with injection-molded embedding elements.

[41] Above all, a tilting machine can tilt the lower tool in such a way that two toggle-lever drives, which are driven independently of one another, engage the lower tool, these preferably engaging the lower-tool table.

[42] During the further transport of the manufactured products in the remaining film grid, the tool can be filled with new embedding elements, and the time will even be enough to heat them.

[43] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to two exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. Show there

1 is a schematic side view of a thermoforming plant for producing a plurality of cup-shaped products from a film web in the band steel section, with a preheating station, a processing station with a top and a bottom tool, and with a continuation to a following station, Fig. 2 Plant of Figure 1 with a pivoted lower tool and three einzulegenden Einbettelementen,

3 shows the system from FIGS. 1 and 2 with inserted embedding elements and lower tool pivoted back into the vertical,

4 shows the plant from FIGS. 1 to 3 with thermoformed foil and embedding elements embedded in it, FIG.

5 shows the systems from FIGS. 1 to 4 with lowered lower tool, FIG. 6 shows the plant from FIGS. 1 to 5 with further transported foil strip,

7 is a schematic side view of an assembly line for a mating manufacturing method for producing medical bags by circumferential and port welding. ßen two film layers, in which additionally an embedding element between the two film layers is introduced, and

Fig. 8 shows the plant of Fig. 7 in plan view and with manufactured medical bags. [44] The thermoforming unit 1 in FIGS. 1 to 6 has a substantially conventional construction. The individual stations of such a system therefore need not be explained in detail here.

[45] Of particular interest is the thermoforming station 3 arranged after the preheating station 2 with its upper tool 4 and its lower tool 5. [46] The upper tool 4 carries a band-shaped steel (not shown). The strip-forming steel is adapted to cut through a film web 6 along the contours of cup-shaped products 7 (numbered as an example), for example, to cut or punch through, while retaining notches 8 (numbered example), so that the thermoformed products are not already in the Thermoforming station 3 are separated, but still remain in the film web 6, together with an exhibiting between the products 7 Restfoliengitter. 9

[47] Both the upper tool 4 and the lower tool 5 are each vertically movable relative to each other, so that the tool can be opened and closed at the thermoforming station 3. [48] The lower tool 5 has a multiplicity of cavities 10 arranged in a grid (numbered as an example), which correspond in their inner contour to the outer contour of the products 7 to be ultimately produced.

[49] The thermoforming unit 1 works in cycles. In the state shown in FIG. 1, one cycle has just been reintroduced, ie a utility 11 with finished products 7 has just been moved out of the thermoforming station 3, and a new one Benefit 12 from previously heated only in the preheating 2 plastic is retracted into the thermoforming station 3.

[50] Simultaneously or subsequently, or else before, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower tool can be inclined by an angle α, so that three embedding elements 14 (numbered as an example) are inserted into the cavities 10 on the lower tool 5 from one side 13 can. After pivoting back of the lower tool 5 results in the state shown in Fig. 3, in which the lower tool 5 has arrived in a working position.

In FIG. 4, the lower tool 5 is raised, so that its surface lies at a height with the film web 6. In this situation, by thermoforming, for example vacuum forming, the plurality of products 7 are formed from the heated film web 6. By suitable mechanical design and / or temperature and / or force application, the embedding elements 14 are applied not only to the surface of the products 7, as would be the case in the classical in-mold-labeling process, but at least partially in the plastic of the film web 6 embedded.

[52] After the lower tool 5 (see FIG. 5) has been lowered, the finished products 7 are produced with the embedding elements 14 embedded therein, but are still carried in the residual film grid 9.

In a concluding step (FIG. 6), the finished products 7 are moved in a machine direction 15 to a following station, for example a stacking station and / or an ejection station, and the lower tool 5 can again be swiveled by the angle .alpha new machine cycle embedding (not shown) record.

[54] In the system 16 for producing pouches 17 (designated by way of example) for medical purposes from two foil layers 18, 19, not only embedding elements 14 ', as described above, are extruded into the plastic of an exemplary embodiment. This is optional and, for example, normal labels can be applied, but above all embedding elements 20 are introduced in the feed to a processing station 21, especially a combined welding-separating tool, between the two film layers 18, 19 and thereby completely embedded in the product.

For example, the medical bags 17 can only be produced from two layers of plastic film, with the result that the embedding element 20 is located inside the bag 17. Rather, more than two layers of film web can be used, for example, both the top and the bottom of the bag each consist of a multilayer film. Especially in such cases, it may be useful if embedding is inserted between the different layers of a film in the final product of the bag as a film layer.

[56] Above all, if only one plastic film is used at the top and bottom for the bag, but is not limited to this case, it makes sense to make the embedding element different from the top and the bottom, for example on one side provided with an adhesive, such as a thermally activated adhesive, or asymmetrically preheat, so that it comes to a pliable attachment of the embedding element either to the upper film layer or to the lower film layer.

[57] It is understood that the embodiment shown is in no way conclusive. The invention is of a general nature and can be formed in virtually infinite design possibilities. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 thermoforming system

 2 preheating station

 3 thermoforming station

 4 upper tool

 5 lower tool

 6 film web

 7 products

 8 retaining notches

 9 residual foil grid

 10 cavities

 1 1 benefit

 12 new benefits

 13 page

 14 embedding element

 14 'embedding element

 15 machine direction

 16 Plant for manufacturing medical bags

17 medical bag

 18, 19 film layers

 20 embedding element

 21 processing station

Claims

Patent claims: 1. Process for producing a product from a film containing thermoplastic material by means of a thermoforming or joining system, with a processing tool in the form of a thermoforming or welding tool, with the steps: a. Introducing the film into a processing station with the opened movable processing tool; b. Inserting an embedding element to prepare for embedding the embedding element, namely in a cavity of the processing tool and/or in a space between two film layers; c. Closing the processing tool, thereby thermoforming the film to shape the product and / or joining the film to produce the product, in each case embedding the embedding element in the plastic; as well as d. Opening the processing tool and, if necessary, demoulding the product. 2. Method according to claim 1 for embedding the embedding element in a thermoformed product, with the steps: a. introducing the film into a forming station with an open movable forming tool; b. Inserting the embedding element to prepare for embedding, namely in a cavity of the mold or in a space between two layers of film; c. Closing the mold, thereby thermoforming the film to form the thermoformed product while embedding the embedding element in the plastic; as well as d. Opening the mold and demoulding the thermoformed product. Method according to claim 1 or according to claim 1 in addition to a method according to claim 2 on the same system, for embedding the embedding element in a joining product, with the steps: a. Introducing the film into a joining station with an open movable joining tool, especially a welding tool, especially a combined welding-separating tool; b. Inserting the embedding element to prepare for embedding, namely in a cavity of the joining tool and/or in a space between two film layers; c. Closing the joining tool, thereby joining the film to produce the product while embedding the embedding element into the plastic; as well as d. Opening the joining tool and, if necessary, demoulding the product. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the embedding element has or is an information component covered with a jacket. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the embedding of the encased information component results from i. either the jacket is connected to the plastic of the molded product on its surface and the jacket on the finished product forms the information component to the resulting information component new surface of the product, whereby the information component is embedded, ii. or the jacket with the information component contained therein is embedded all around in the plastic of the product, so that the information component is protected twice and thereby embedded, namely encased by the jacket and additionally surrounded by the plastic of the film. 6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the information component has a radio module, an RFID transponder and / or a resonant circuit. 7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the embedding element has or is an injection molded component. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the injection molded part is embedded in the product with an embedding part, with a protruding part being left outside the product. 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable forming or joining tool is tilted for inserting the embedding element (step b of claim 1). 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product is separated from the film web in two stages, first by means of a strip steel cut leaving retaining notches between the product and a residual film grid, then by separating the product from the residual film grid in a subsequent station . 1 1. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the demoulding takes place at a stacking station. 12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several embedding elements are embedded in several products at the same time in one process run. 13. Thermoforming and/or joining system for embedding an embedding element in a product, the system having a. a film feed for a film containing thermoplastic material; and b. a processing station with an insertion device, the processing station having a power-openable and closable processing tool, and an insertion device, the insertion device being set up to insert an embedding element for preparing the embedding in a cavity of the processing tool and / or in a space between two film layers, so that when the processing tool is closed, the product is produced and the embedding element is embedded in the plastic, the system having means for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 12, in particular a tilting device for the processing tool, a strip steel cutting device for separating the product from the Film leaving holding notches, a separating device for separating the product from a residual film grid, a welding tool, a combined welding-separating tool and / or a stacking device.