EP1772384A1 - Machine and method for manufacturing packages with several foil layers. - Google Patents

Abstract

The packing machine (2) has an extended machine frame with atleast two supporting zones present in it to support the goods to be wrapped (17) on the films (5,6,10), which are led into the machine frame. The machine frame has a sealing station (1), to which foil-wrapped goods are supplied and has a sealing plate (8) and a sealing rim (35) to cyclically bring all foils around the goods for sealing. The machine frame also has a puncturing station on the machine inlet, for the inlet of the upper film (5) and also for the inlet of the first intermediate film (10), in order to stamp in more holes in the lower film. The sealing station has a number of vacuum or gassing injectors (11) which align with the punched holes of the lower foil, and the inert gas is supplied through the vacuum or gassing injectors to immerse the goods in inert gas.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging machine for the continuous production of multi-layer film packaging using a plurality of film webs comprising an elongate machine frame with at least two support zones for the support of packaged goods, a supply for a top film, a bottom film and at least one intermediate film, each in the form of film webs.

Packaging often consists of two merged foils. Such films are processed on packaging machines usually in the form of film webs. For this purpose, the film webs are guided in funding and divided by cutting tools in defined sections of film. Conventional packaging often consists of a bottom sheet formed in troughs and a top sheet sealed thereon.

Packaging from a lower film formed in troughs, packaged goods introduced into the trough and a top film sealed on the trough have long been known. These are created on thermoforming packaging machines.

In such packaging machines, the lower film is withdrawn from a roll and cyclically transported with a film transport chain, also referred to as a clip chain or staple chain transported. In the possibly existing forming station, depressions are formed from the flat lower film. Packaging products are inserted manually or automatically into these hollows. After the packing with the packaging products, the top film is added, which is sealed in a sealing station on the lower film, so as to create closed containers. The upper film for closing the packages is brought from above to the lower film and is subsequently parallel to the lower film, to be guided to the sealing tool. The sealing takes place on the substantially flat edges that surround the shaped hollows of the lower film.

Similarly, multilayer film packaging are known. The company SAM Kuchler (Kuchler Electronics GmbH), for example, manufactures and sells slicing and packaging systems that can produce such multilayer film packaging and are marketed under the brand name SamPaks®.

These are multi-layer packaging for perishable foods, such as sliced sausage and meat products and sliced cheese, consisting of a bottom foil, one or two intermediate films and a top film. The transparent films can be peeled off film by film, so that after removal of the top film, the first layer of food is released, while the further enclosed food in the still closed chambers longer protected from environmental influences kept.

Such packages are i.d.R. with appropriate machines. directly in grocery stores, e.g. produced at the counter, wherein the food-cut goods are stored by the slicing machine on previously created individual film sections and then at least partially closed without the use of vacuum or inert gases. The application of a vacuum or inert gas is not provided and also not readily possible. The machines include a slicing machine that processes fresh barware, e.g. Sausage, cuts, on a film section hangs up (one layer, for example, four staggered slices), an intermediate film section hangs up, the second Verpackungsgutlage offset deposited on the intermediate film, a further intermediate film section hangs and the third and last layer offset on the intermediate film two stored. Now, the last film section is placed and the shingled unit passes into the welding station to be welded at the edges to the four corners through the four foils.

From the DE 3687987 T2 Multi-layer packaging and a method for their production are known, but no packaging under vacuum or exchange of ambient air is made possible against a protective gas. The special embodiment of the films according to the present invention can not be suggested by this.

There is now a need to machine multilayer film packages at higher cycle rates, with evacuation and / or gassing. It is also interesting if the packaging form is not defined by the shape of the film sections, but can be changed as needed.

The stated object is achieved by a packaging machine according to claim 1 and a method according to further independent claims. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims or described below.

The packaging machines used for the process according to the invention are machines derived from conventional thermoforming packaging machines. They have an elongate machine frame, in or on which there are support zones for the support of the preferably flat packaged goods in or on the guided in the context of the packaging machine films.

The lower film is pulled off a roll and held on both sides on the outer film edge of the film web in each case a film transport chain and transported intermittently.

In general, the packaged product is placed flat on the lower film in the first edition zone. Cuttings may, for example, be in the form of one or more partially overlapping shingles consisting e.g. from 2 to 10 slices, to be hung up. According to this embodiment, the lower film is not cup-shaped and substantially flat.

The packaging machine may alternatively also have a processing station for forming troughs (forming station or thermoforming station) before the first support zone. In this case, the packaged goods are not placed on the flat bottom film but inserted into the pronounced trough.

Preferably, the packaged goods per cycle in two or three tracks on the lower film is placed to form two or three multi-layer packaging per between the edges of the film forming portion of the film web.

The application of the packaging material can be done manually or mechanically by means of a slicer (disc cutter) with storage device and / or conveyor belt directly on the film web. Underneath the film (s) there is advantageously, in the region of the support zone (s), an insertion template designed according to the cycle and the tracks.

After the first support zone, the supply of the first intermediate foil follows from a roller either deflected from above or led from the side over a deflection triangle. After feeding the intermediate film, this is aligned parallel to the lower film.

The intermediate film web (s) is narrower than the lower film guided in the film transport chain, in particular by at least 20 mm, in particular by at least 30 mm. In particular, the intermediate film webs are respectively guided so that the marginal edges of the intermediate films are guided on both sides by at least 10 mm, more preferably offset by at least 15 mm inwardly from the two marginal edges of the lower film.

To form the second product layer, the packaged product is placed flat on the first flat intermediate film in the second support zone. Cuttings may, for example, be in the form of shingles consisting of e.g. 2 to 10 discs are placed, preferably slightly offset parallel to the / the previous shingled position (s) to allow from above at least partially the view of the underlying (n) layer (s).

Thereafter, if necessary, the supply of a further intermediate foil from a roll is either deflected from above or from the side via a deflection triangle. After feeding the other intermediate foil, this is also aligned parallel to the lower foil.

To form the third product layer, the packaged product is then placed flat on the intermediate film in the third (further) support zone. Cuttings can be placed in shingles as described above.

The above process (further intermediate foil, further contact zone) can be repeated in order to place further product layers on intermediate foils, so that e.g. a package with 3, 4, 5 or even 6 product layers each separated by intermediate films forms.

Finally, the upper film is supplied laterally or from above, preferably from above, from another roll, aligned parallel to the lower film and further guided into the sealing station. The sealing station consists of a top and bottom part and opens and closes cyclically in the machine cycle. Advantageously, the base lowers cyclically when feeding the product layers in the sealing station and then rises again.

The upper film web has the same width or is narrower than the lower film guided in the film transport chain, in particular by a maximum of 5 mm narrower. In particular, the upper film web is guided in each case so that it covers the marginal edges of the intermediate films securely, preferably on both sides by at least 10 mm, preferably by at least 15 mm.

The intermediate foil (s) and top foil are transported in a cyclic manner with the bottom foil to the sealing station by means of a bottom foil guided in the foil transport chain, on which they are fixed or sealed. Before carrying the intermediate film (s) or upper film on the lower film, the respective beginning of the film unwound from a roll must be fixed on the respectively underlying film for transport.

This happens e.g. in that the film beginning unwound from a roll is fixed with an adhesive strip on the lower film. Intermediate film and lower film can also be partially sealed with a separate device.

After the packaging product has been sealed, the lower film and the intermediate and upper film sealed with the latter are separated by cutting tools.

As a rule, the sealing station consists of a sealing upper part and a sealing lower part, which is movable via a lifting system and opens and closes cyclically in the machine cycle.

In the sealing station, a sealing ring corresponding to the shape of the packaging is used, which is part of the sealing lower part and is moved up or down. As far as cavities were deep-drawn, they are enclosed by the milled pockets of the seal goggles. For flat-formed sub-films of multilayer film packaging, the milled out pockets of the sealing goggles surround the product layers.

The heated sealing plate in the sealing upper part of the sealing station moves downwards and seals the upper film and the intermediate films on the lower film in the area of the sealing seam that completely surrounds the packaging.

Before sealing, the packs in the sealing station are evacuated or purged with protective gas or evacuated and additionally gassed with inert gas, such as nitrogen / carbon dioxide.

For this purpose, the lower film was provided at the machine inlet prior to feeding the upper film, but preferably also before feeding the first intermediate film, in one or preferably both edge zones of the lower film with openings or holes.

In the sealing station vacuum and gassing nozzles are arranged so that they are aligned with the punched or punched openings and in particular immersed in these. The intermediate film (s) do not overlap the apertures of the lower film. The intermediate film (s) therefore has / have a width that corresponds at most to the spacing of the apertures, relative to the inner edge of the apertures. The top film completely overlaps the apertures, is always wider than the intermediate films and may have the width of the bottom film or bottom film web.

After closing the sealing station, the atmospheric air between the films and also in the sealing station is at least sucked off by the vacuum nozzles, e.g. to a pressure of less than 10 mbar. Upon completion of the evacuation, the vacuum valves in the supply close to the vacuum nozzles. Now the protective gas supply opens and via the gassing nozzles, protective gas is blown between the upper and lower films and between the narrower intermediate films enclosed by them into the product space, e.g. For example, the recirculation pressure is set to values of e.g. 100 to 900 mbar and e.g. 500 mbar set. Now, the heated sealing plate and sealing goggles are brought together to seal the multilayer foil packaging by means of a sealing edge.

According to another embodiment, the multilayer film packaging can also be rinsed only with inert gas. For this purpose, the sealing station and the vacuum and gassing nozzles are operated in a similar manner, except that simultaneously the gassing takes place via the gassing nozzles and the evacuation via the vacuum nozzles. Appropriately gassed on one side of the film and applied to the other side of the film light vacuum.

The films are preferably flexible and independent thereof (almost) gas-tight and possibly provided with a UV protection. The films may e.g. be made of PP or polyester and are preferably coated so that they seal under heat but can also be opened by hand, without the films tear. The foil layer can be opened for foil layer, whereby the foils in the sealing seams separate cleanly. As an opening aid peel corners or unsealed packing zones may be provided outside the product area. The upper film, intermediate film (s) and lower film preferably have film thicknesses of up to 40 .mu.m.

• Fig. 1 einen Teil der Verpackungsmaschine in seitlicher Aufsicht auf die Siegelstation, d.h. in Richtung der Folienlaufbahn,
• Fig. 2 einen weiteren Ausschnitt aus der Verpackungsmaschine mit Unterfolien-Zufuhr, erster Auflagezone und Zufuhr der ersten Zwischenfolie über ein Umlenkdreieck.
• Fig. 3 zeigt die Verpackungsmaschine in seitlicher Ansicht.
• Fig. 4 zeigt die Verpackungsmaschine von oben. Der Pfeil bezeichnet die Laufrichtung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings without being limited to these. Show it:

• 1 shows a part of the packaging machine in a lateral view of the sealing station, ie in the direction of the film career,
• Fig. 2 shows a further section of the packaging machine with lower film supply, first support zone and supply of the first intermediate film via a Umlenkdreieck.
• Fig. 3 shows the packaging machine in a side view.
• Fig. 4 shows the packaging machine from above. The arrow indicates the direction of travel.

On the packaging machine (2) packaging (17) are produced, which consist of at least one top (5) and a bottom foil (6) and one or more intermediate films (10) which are sealed by means of a sealing edge (19).

The sealing station (1) has a sealing upper part (3) and a lower sealing part (4), which are moved together for the duration of a sealing process. The seal top (3) is firmly attached to the machine frame or to the fastening bolt of a lifting system. The seal base (4) is e.g. by means of a toggle device or a pneumatic device in a lowered position or in a closed position (Fig. 1) movable relative to the seal top (3).

In the housing of the sealing shell (3) one or more sealing plates (8) are provided. The sealing plate (8) is contoured according to the product packaging. The sealing plate (8) comprises a base plate (15) which receives the electric heating elements (24), a cover plate (25) and a top sealing plate (26) which is contoured and reflects the edge structure (19) of the packages (17) a seal takes place where a connection of upper (5), intermediate (10) and lower film (6) is desired. The top plate (26) may further be partially configured with Produktisolier- / cold plates.

The lower seal part (4) has a seal upper part (3) facing upwardly substantially open interior. Below the lower edge of the sealing upper part and above the upper edge of the lower sealing part, the upper foil (5) is guided. On the upper edge of the lower sealing part (4) a seal is guided, preferably made of silicone. The seal base (4) has an upper frame, which is called sealing glasses (35).

The sealing upper part (3), facing the lower sealing part (4), has a smooth edge, while the lower sealing part (4) has circumferential elastic sealing surfaces on its side facing the sealing upper part (3). In addition, the longitudinal and / or transverse webs, which serve as an abutment for the sealing plates and at which the sealing zones are created by sealing, are equipped with sealing surfaces. The seals or sealing surfaces are preferably made of silicone rubber.

The interior of the sealing upper part (3) is connected via a bore with a Evakuierzuleitung, not shown. The seal lower part (4) is, after the corresponding film section is retracted in the sealing station (1), raised and pressed in the presence of a corresponding pressure against the seal upper part (3),
that forms inside a seal chamber, which is hermetically sealed to the outside and so the upper film (5), the intermediate films (10) and the lower film (6) in the frame between seal upper part (3) and lower seal part (4) clamped, but transversely to direction. In the direction of travel, only the upper film (5) and the lower film (6) are clamped in the frame between the sealing upper part (3) and lower sealing part (4), the intermediate films (10) are exposed. Thus, the upper (5), intermediate (10) and lower film (6) are clamped flat and wrinkle-free. At the same time allow the above dimensions and arrangement of the film webs that the vacuum and protective gas supply in the edge zones between the upper and lower film each beyond the intermediate film (s) takes place, and so at the same time next to the spaces between the lower and first intermediate foil and top and last intermediate foil Also, the spaces between the intermediate films safely evacuated and possibly protected.

In the next step, the evacuation device, i.d.R. an evacuation of the chamber and the pack. The lower film (6) has lateral openings for chamber vacuum to allow evacuation of the packs. For this purpose, the longitudinal webs are outside the area where the sealing plate touches, e.g. in the edge area of the packaging, provided with vacuum nozzles (11). The nozzles then correspond to the lateral openings of the lower film.

If desired, the evacuation and gassing device is subsequently switched by supplying a protective gas into the space through the vacuum nozzles (11), which then serve as gassing nozzles (11).

In Fig. 2 it is shown that the lower film (6) is unwound from a roll at the machine entrance. The lower film (6) is threaded at the two outer edges in the opening film clips, the brackets automatically close when moving, so that the rotating film transport chain (36), the lower film (6) transported away. The film transport chain (36) is held on both sides in the machine frame (20).

At the machine entrance in front of the first support zone (39), a perforation station (39) is furthermore provided, which is provided with perforated knives (40) in the form of a frame which can be raised and lowered on respective outer edges. After passing through the perforation station (39), the lower film (6) reaches the first support zone (37) for placing products. After the product has been applied, an intermediate film (10) is unrolled laterally from a roll and centered over the deflection triangle (38) of the lower film and fed in parallel.

The skilled worker is clear that in the same way a plurality of support zones (37) in conjunction with an intermediate film supply, guided via a respective Umlenkdreieck (38) or otherwise from above anlog of the upper film (5) can take place. The use of several intermediate films (10) extends the machine frame (20) accordingly.

3 and 4 show the packaging machine in a side view and in plan view. The detail of the machine shown in FIG. 2 is also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, the second support zone (37a) and the top film (5) drawn off from a top-mounted film roll, which is fed in the center aligned parallel to the bottom (6) and intermediate film (10), are visible. The further illustrated sealing station (1) has already been explained in detail in connection with FIG. 1.

Behind the sealing station, the assembled foils with enclosed product are fed to the cutting station, wherein initially a cross cutting device (41) crosses the packing webs and subsequently the longitudinal cutting device (42) separates the packs.

Claims (13)

Packaging machine (2) comprising an elongate machine frame (20) in or on which at least two support zones (37, 37a) for supporting packaged goods (17) in or on the films (6, 10, 10) guided in the machine frame (20) of the packaging machine 5), wherein • A lower film (6) in the form of a film web withdrawn from a roll and held on both sides of the outer film edge of the film web in each case a film transport chain (36) and the film transport chain (36) in the machine frame (20) is guided and cyclically rotatable about a drive system . • after the first contact zone (37) an intermediate film (10) in the form of a film web of a roll is aligned aligned parallel to the lower film (6) and is placed on the lower film (6) and the packaged goods (17) on the lower film (6) . Optionally follow additional contact zones (37a) with appropriate pre-alignment, alignment, and placing the intermediate film (10) in the form of a film web on the packaged product and the previous intermediate film (10) along the elongated machine frame (20), • after the last contact zone (37 or 37a) an upper film (5) in the form of a film web of a roll parallel to the lower film (6) is brought aligned and on the last intermediate film (10) and on the packaged goods (17) on the last Intermediate film (10) is placed, The intermediate film web (s) (10) is narrower than the upper film (5), The intermediate film web (s) (10) is narrower than the lower film (6) guided in the film transport chain (36), • the machine frame (20) has a sealing station (1) to which the films with enclosed packaged goods (17) are fed, which has at least one sealing plate (8) and at least one sealing eyeglass (35) in order to intermittently pass through all the films Packaged goods (17) to bring in circumferential closed sealed seam, • The sealing station (1) has a vacuum and a protective gas supply to evacuate the films (6,5,10) with enclosed packaged goods (17) in the sealing station (1) and additionally to treat with inert gas and • The machine frame (20) further comprises a cutting or perforating device (41,42) for separating the sealed film webs with enclosed packaged goods (17) for the production of individual packs. The packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that in the support zones (37, 37a) packaged goods as cut material in the form of one or more substantially flat shingles, in particular of different types, is launched. The packaging machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the support zones packaged goods in the form of parallel aligned partially overlapping shingles is placed. The packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaged goods per cycle in two, three or four tracks is launched. The packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate film web (s) (10) are fed by a roll from the side via a deflection triangle (38). The packaging machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the intermediate film web (s) (10) is deflected by a roller from above. The packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing station (1) consists of a sealing upper part (3) and a movable sealing system via a lifting lower part (4), which opens and closes cyclically in the machine cycle. The packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vacuum and protective gas supply (11) between lower (6) and upper film (5) in the region of the film edges on the other side of the narrower intermediate film (s) (10). The packaging machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the machine frame (20) has a perforation station (39) at the machine inlet prior to feeding the top film (5), preferably also before feeding the first intermediate film (10), in order to introduce a plurality of apertures into the lower film (6), preferably in one or both edge zones of the lower film (6), and the sealing station (1) has a multiplicity of vacuum and / or gassing nozzles (11) which communicate with the apertures of the lower film ( 6) are aligned, in particular immersed in them, and the vacuum and / or the protective gas is supplied via the vacuum and / or gassing nozzles (11). The packaging machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the gassing via the gassing nozzles (11) and the evacuation via the vacuum nozzles (11) takes place, wherein in the operating form Schutzgasspülen preferably fumigated on one side of the film and applied to the other side of the film negative pressure. The packaging machine according to at least one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the intermediate film (s) (10) is dimensioned and / or guided such that the openings in the lower film (6) are not overlapped and in particular have a width, the maximum corresponds to the distance of the openings, based on the inner edge of the openings. The packaging machine according to at least one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the upper film (5) is dimensioned such that it completely overlaps the apertures of the lower film (6). Method using the packaging machine (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 12.

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