WO2011134094A1 - Closing device for forming sausage-shaped packages - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to form sausage-shaped package units, clipping devices (4, 5) are used to shirr a tubular stuffed sausage casing or packaging strand and displace the stuffed material from an end at which closure clips for the individual package units are placed. The linear movement of the displacement shears is caused by a servo motor drive (24) or a stepping motor, for which the required distance between the clipping devices is set by a controller (25). This allows fully stuffed or less stuffed package units to be stuffed in a simple and compact manner using the same drive.

Description

 Closing device for forming sausage-shaped packaging

Technical area

The invention relates to a closure device for forming sausage-shaped packaging units from a packaging strand, which passes through the closure device in a direction of passage, comprising two consecutive scissors in the direction of passage with a common pivot axis for the scissor blades, which scissors for shirring the packaging strand and for partial displacement of the Fillings are designed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for forming sausage-shaped packaging units according to claim 7.

State of the art

Closing devices for closing sausages with clips, so-called clip machines, are known, for example from DE-A-40 13 033. A known closing device and the procedure for closing are also explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Such devices have a pair of shirring and displacing tools, which are referred to as scissors, although of course no cutting of the packaging casing or sausage casing is done by these tools, but just a violation of the same when shirring and displacing is to be avoided. The scissors lace the tube-shaped packaging strand introduced into the scissors in the open scissors position by closing the scissors, the two scissors lying directly next to each other (Raff process). After constriction, or shirring, the scissors, as Displacement shears, on the other hand, fixed scissors in the longitudinal direction of the packaging strand displaced, whereby the product contained in the packaging is displaced from the region between the scissors predetermined length and thus a product-free braid between two sausages is created in the following by the closing device the closure clips are set. The closing movement and the opening movement of the scissors and the open and close movement of the punch and die for closing the clips can be known to be effected by cams with groove curves and by levers. The offset in the direction of passage or the displacer movement and the return movement of a pair of scissors also takes place via a cam disc and a displacement cam engaging in the displacement lever and an additional lever which deflects the movement of the displacement lever in a movement in the direction of passage. The curves or cams are driven by a motor, which results in the illustrated movement of the scissors and the punch and die. From DE 10 2007 011 422 B3 it is known to determine the length of the displacement movement and thus the length of the braid by a pivotable drive lever whose pivot point is adjustable in its position. The drive with a cam plate is used both for the filling of bulging sausages as well as for the filling of slack filled sausages, in which the braid is formed longer than necessary for the setting of the clips. The adjustment for the length of the displacer movement shown in this document is very complicated mechanically.

The invention is based on the object to provide an improved closure device in which the optional formation of the braid for bulging Packaging units and for fluffy packaging units done in a simple manner.

 This is achieved in the closing device of the type mentioned above in that the

Displacement shears by a servo drive or a

Stepper motor is displaceable by a distance, which is the servo drive or the stepping motor predetermined by a controller of the closing device and adjustable at this on a control unit.

 The fact that the displacement movement is carried out by a servo drive or a stepper motor, results in a very simple mechanical solution, which can also be made very compact.

 Preferably, the control is executed such that directly predetermined different preset distance values can be selected via the operating unit and furthermore a continuously adjustable variable distance value can be entered. A preferred embodiment shifts the scissors by means of a rack in which meshes a driven by the servo drive or the stepper motor gear. This results in a largely play and maintenance-free drive for the sliding scissors. The use of a gear and the preferred use of two (or possibly even more gears) between the servo drive or the stepper motor and the rack allows a particularly compact design of the closing device. Preferably, the controller has a touch-sensitive screen for input.

 The object is further achieved by the method according to claim 7, wherein set the same advantages that have been mentioned in the device.

Short illustration of the drawings

In the following, a device and the procedure according to the prior art and will be described Examples of the invention with reference to the drawings explained in more detail. It shows

 Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a known device for the production of sausage-shaped packaging units;

 Figure 2 to Figure 4 shows schematically the known steps in the production of sausage-shaped packaging units;

 Figure 5 shows a part of a device with the pair of scissors according to an embodiment of the invention;

 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the scissors in the embodiment of Figure 5;

 Figure 7 is a perspective view in which the servo drive is visible; and

 Figure 8 is a representation for explaining the

Selection of the shearing distance by means of the control of the closing device.

Ways to carry out the invention

The prior art will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIGS. 5 to 8 show a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 1 shows schematically a closure device 100 according to the prior art for sausage-shaped packaging 104. Such a closure device is known to be provided with a pair of scissors, of which only one pair of scissors 5 (displacement shears) with the scissor arms 6, 7 can be seen in FIG in the other figures, the other pair of scissors 4 with the scissor arms 2 and 3 is partially visible. The pair of scissors 4, 5 is arranged in a first position with closely adjacent scissors, which receive the sausage-shaped package 104 in the open position, as shown in Figure 1 and shown schematically in Figure 2. Figure 2 also shows schematically how the on the Filling tube 8 a Wurstfüllmaschine raised folded intestine 10 with the product (sausage meat) is filled. The intestine is braked by a casing brake 12. The result is a tubular packing strand or a sausage, which must be separated into portions or individual sausages.

 FIG. 2 shows correspondingly how the closures 14, 15 (clips) already shown in FIG. 2 have already been closed by a previous necking and closing process, as already described, as an end clip of the previous sausage 104 ', which is shown only partially, and as an initial clip have been set in filling sausage 104. If the sausage emerging as a continuous strand from the sausage filling machine has reached a predetermined length or a predetermined weight, the shears 4, 5 are closed, resulting in the necking of the packaging strand, which is referred to as shirring. The two scissors are at a small distance next to each other, as shown in Figure 3. It remains after closing the scissors in both scissors 4, 5, a small residual opening for the gathered intestine. The scissors 5 should thereby seal the plump, now completely filled sausage 104 as well as possible and thus tighten the intestine tightly or have as small a residual opening as possible of the scissors. After that, this will be

Scissors 5 (or the scissors farther away from the filling tube) are displaced in the longitudinal direction of the tubular packaging strand or in the forward direction, which is shown by the arrow A, whereby the product contained in the packaging strands is displaced in the region lying between the two scissors is formed, so that there is a product-free zone (the braid 16) is formed, as shown in Figure 4 schematically. In this case, by the remaining opening of the other scissors 4, which remains stationary, intestine of the started, not yet completely filled sausage 104 '' followed. For this purpose, the residual opening of the scissors 4 must be large enough to be sure damage of the intestine to avoid when tightening. In the plait 16 thus formed closure clips are now set in a known manner, which is indicated in Figure 4 only by the direction of the braid 16 arrows, but why in Figure 1, a clip wire 112 is shown by a feed lever 113 in a die 108 is promoted. The die arranged on the lower arm 106 of the device 100 and the punch 107 arranged on the upper arm 105 cut off a clip from the clip wire 112 during the closing movement and close it. In this way, two clips are usually placed in the product-free region or in the braid, namely the end clip of a sausage and the starting clip for the subsequent sausage, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively. It is known to cause the described movements of the scissors and the forearm and upper arm of the device by means of cams, which are indicated in the figure 1 only generally 110. These cams are driven in rotation by means of a motor. The cams for upper and lower arm have grooves in their flanks whose side wall surfaces form the control cams for corresponding cam levers which engage in the grooves. The displacement movement and the return movement of the scissors 5 also takes place via a cam and an engaging in the control cam displacement lever 120 and an additional lever which deflects the movement of the displacement lever in a movement in the direction of passage. This will not be explained further here, but it is known. The shirring movement of the scissors is also controlled by a corresponding groove curve in the flank of a cam, which is indicated in the figure in that the cam lever 115, which is pivotable about the pivot axis 116 with a roller in a groove curve of the associated cam intervenes. This causes via the lever 115 and the adjoining lever 117 closing or opening the scissors 4 and 5 or the shirring. The scissors are articulated scissors whose scissor blades are placed on a common axis are stored. The actuating side or to the levers 115, 117 facing scissor arms are connected by means of spacers 18 and 19 with the free end of the lever 115. The remaining openings of the two ren Scheme 4 and 5 can be adjusted together with a set screw 119 in the connecting member of the two levers 115 and 117 for these to adjust the remaining openings at various ^¬ dene sausage sizes and thicknesses intestine.

 FIGS. 5 to 8 show an embodiment according to the invention. Same reference numerals as used herein designate like components. The two scissors 4 (stationary scissors-side scissors) and 5 scissors (which can be moved back and forth along an axis 20) can be seen. The axis 20 also forms the joint axis for the two articulated scissors 4 and 5.

The shirring movement of the scissors about the hinge axis 20 and the opposite opening movement is effected here on the explained known manner on the cam 36 and lever and spacers and transmitted via rod-shaped actuating means 38 and 38 'on the sliding scissors 5. According to the invention, the linear displacement of the scissors 5 via a servo drive 24, which includes a servomotor (an electric motor in particular as a DC motor or asynchronous motor or as a synchronous motor) and a servo controller (also called servo amplifier). The servomotor is operated in a known manner in a closed loop and can be torque-controlled or speed-controlled or position-controlled. For exact detection of the rotor position, each servomotor is provided with a measuring device which determines the current position (eg the angle of rotation traveled) relative to an initial position (of the motor). The electronic control compares the signal of this encoder with a predetermined position setpoint. Such servo drives are known in the art and commercially available and need not be explained in detail here. The default for the server In accordance with the invention, voantrieb is derived from the control 25 of the closing device, which also means a possibly existing superordinate control, which acts on the closing device and its control 25. The default for the servo drive is dependent on the input values on an input device or control unit 45 of the controller, which will be explained. In place of a servo drive could also be a

Stepping motor, which is controlled by the controller 25 accordingly by specifying the number of steps.

 The scissors 5 is linearly displaceable along the axis 20, which in the example shown is effected via the servo drive such that a linearly displaceable rack 21 is arranged on a linear guide 28. This rack 21 engages on the one hand with a molding 22 on an actuating element 23 of the scissors 5, so that a linear displacement of the rack 21 causes a corresponding linear displacement of the scissors 5. The servo drive 24 drives via a gear drive 27 with the gears 37 and 39, the rack on for linear reciprocation, so that the distance specification for the shearing distance from the controller as a drive input for the servo drive 24 in the corresponding linear movement of the scissors 5 implemented becomes.

This is done on the one hand to perform the normal lateral displacement of the scissors 5 for forming the fry-free braid to form a bulging sausage in which a corresponding end clip is set in the braid formed. This corresponds to the function according to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Correspondingly, on the operating unit 45 of the controller 25, which is shown in FIG. 8, the inserted clip size can be selected by tapping on the respective control panel 46, 47 or 48. In this case, the operating unit preferably has a touch-sensitive screen, so that the selection is made directly by tapping the screen can. The closing device then performs the normal operation with filling, shirring, displacement and closing, which leads to bulging sausages and are set in the clip with the selected clip size with the appropriate distance. The linear displacement of the scissors 5 to displace the contents from the braid and to return is effected accordingly by the servo drive 24 (or the stepping motor). A choice of the clip size 44 corresponds to eg a linear displacement of 52 millimeters, so that this distance of the scissors is effected by the servo drive and after setting the clips, the scissors 5 is moved by the servo drive back to the scissors 4 out in the close together ,

 But it can be effected with the same drive a greater spread or distance of the two scissors, as for example. shown in Figure 5 and in comparison with the die 108 can be seen. This is shown on the operating unit 45 on a control panel part 40 in such a way that a symbol for a sausage which is to be shaped in a box is shown, which means that the sausage is caused to become limp by the closing means, so that its transformation from cylindrical to guan-shaped is possible. In the number field above the symbol, the additional length of the plait-free plait (the over-displacement or by the scissors ago understood the over-spread) in millimeters and this size can with the arrow keys

gradually, eg in steps of one millimeter, be enlarged or reduced. The resulting total distance of the shears in the linear displacement (resulting from the choice of the clip size distance plus the selected with the arrow keys over-displacement) is then given by the controller 25 to the servo drive 24 and this performs the linear motion. In this way, both the plump filling and mechanically very easily with the same drive the floppy filling of the packaging units are effected depending on the input to the controller. The servo drive or the stepper motor constantly performs the reciprocating motion of the pair of scissors 5 in accordance with the specification from the controller.

 The effective total distance of the scissors 4 and 5 from each other (the total spread of the scissors) can be represented in a further number field 49. Furthermore, the setting of the shearing distance can be carried out alternatively to the arrow keys 41 or in addition such that by touching the screen at the location of the scissors 5 shown there, this shear representation can be shifted, whereupon in the number field 42 the resulting value (the over-displacement or over-spreading) is apparent and, if necessary, in the number field 49, the total spread is displayed.

Figures 6 and 7 show a representation of such an embodiment in perspective Darstel ^¬ ment. The same reference numerals designate again the same elements. The drive for closing and opening the scissors via the cam 36 and lever is known, as is known. The one gear 37 of the two gears 37, 39 is driven directly by a shaft 29 from the servo drive 24 and in turn drives the gear 39, which engages in the toothed rack further illustrated the linear displacement of the linearly adjustable scissors by means of the servo drive. This embodiment with two gears he ^¬ allows a narrow design of the closing device. The servo drive can also be arranged so that the gear directly connected to him in the

Rack engages. Instead of the operation of the scissors on a rack this could also be moved linearly by the servo drive via a chain drive or a toothed belt drive, wherein the scissors is connected to a revolving chain or a rotating toothed belt. For the formation of sausage-shaped packaging units, scissors 4, 5 are used for shirring a tubular filled sausage casing and for displacing the contents from a braid on which closure clips for the individual packaging units are placed. The linear movement of the displacement shears is effected by a servomotor drive or a stepping motor, to which the respectively necessary distance between the shears is predetermined by a control of the device. So that the filling can be caused by bulging or limp-filled packaging units ^¬ a very simple and space-saving way with the same drive.

Claims

claims 1. Closing device for forming sausage-shaped 5. individual packaging units (104, 104 ',  104 '') from a filled packing strand running in a direction of passage through the closing device, comprising two scissors (4, 5) successively following in the direction of passage, with a common pivot axis (20) for the scissor blades (2, 3; 7), which scissors are designed and driven for shirring the packaging strand and for partial displacement of the filling material, wherein the one scissors (5) as displacement shears relative to the other scissors along a linear guide in the direction 5 back and forth, characterized in that the displacement shears (5) by a servo drive (24) or a stepper motor is displaceable by a distance which the servo drive or the stepping motor by a controller (25) of the Ver-0 closing device can be predetermined and at this on an operating unit (45) is adjustable.  2. Closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the control unit directly different fixed predetermined distance values are selectable 5 and additionally a stepwise adjustable variable distance value can be entered.  3. Closing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the linear displacement of the displacement shears via a linear guided 0 rack takes place, in which a driven by the servo drive gear (39) engages and which on the scissors (5) engages, so that the scissors of the rack is entrained. 4. Closing device according to claim 3.5, characterized in that the gear engaging in the rack (39) by a further gear (37) can be driven, which in turn is connected via a drive shaft (29) to the servo drive.  5. Closing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating unit for selecting a clip size and for setting an additional positive displacement is configured.  6. Closing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the operating unit (45) has a touch-sensitive screen, on which the Überverdrängung by means of key symbols and additionally by moving a scissors symbol (5 ') is adjustable and in particular that a number field (42) is provided , which indicates the overexpression and in particular a number field (49) is provided, which indicates the total scissors spread.  7. A process for forming sausage-shaped, filled packaging units from a packaging strand, which extends in a direction of passage through a closing device, in which a pair of scissors (4, 5) causes the shirring of the packaging strand and the partial displacement of the filling material, the scissors as Verdrängerschere compared to other scissors in the direction of passage is shifted back and forth, characterized in that the displacement shears (5) by a servo drive (24) or a stepper motor is moved back and forth by a distance which the servo drive or the stepping motor of a controller ( 25) pretend the closing device and has been set at this on an operating unit (45).  8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that on the control unit directly different fixed predetermined distance values are selectable and additionally a stepwise adjustable variable additional distance value can be entered and for the filling of bulging packaging units one of the predetermined Distance values is selected and for the filling of slack packaging units additionally a distance value is adjusted by means of the variably adjustable distance values.  9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the operating unit is configured to select a clip size and for setting an additional positive displacement.  10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the overexpression is adjusted by means of key symbols and additionally by moving a scissor symbol (5 ') on a touch-sensitive screen, and in particular that the overexpression is represented on a number field (42), and in particular, that the entire scissors spread on a number field (49) is displayed.