EP2233401B1 - Method for producing a packaging and packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a packaging and a packaging machine.

For the marketing of goods such as Foods are often packaged in packaging that allows a hygienic and visually appealing presentation.

From the DE 10 2006 017 258 A1 For example, there is known a method of producing a package in which a container is formed in a web of a first sheet material, then a lid is sealed within an outer contour of the package to be produced on the container produced and the container along the outer contour of the packaging to be produced and is separated from the first sheet-like material outside the sealed lid.

The DE 195 24 427 A1 describes a method and an apparatus for producing a beverage container. Compared to the plane of a film web, the container is deep-drawn down before a lid is placed on the container and locked with it.

The US 4,741,452 describes a package, for example, for cakes with a high, dome-like lid.

There are, for example, from the EP 1 939 098 A1 or the DE 699 16 275 T2 Packaging known which have a so-called rolled edge and are usually sealed after filling on a tray sealing machine. So it already filled finished trays are filled and then sealed. In addition, such packages are often provided with a slip lid also produced outside the tray sealing machine, which is intended to ensure the reclosability of the packages after opening the sealed film. However, conventional slip lid have only a very loose seat, so that it often already during transport of the package for detaching the slip lid from the package comes. Even for the consumer, the loose fit of the slip lid when handling the package is unfavorable and disturbing.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for producing a packaging as well as an improved packaging machine, which make it possible to produce packages that meet both the highest demands on the handling and the appearance, as well as can be produced in a cost effective manner ,

The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a packaging machine according to claim 7. Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

With the method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention packaging can be generated, which are easily handled by the tight fit of the slip lid on the containers and have a visually appealing shape. Advantageously, the slip lid is connected by a plurality of sealing points or strips with the lower film, ie with the previously deep-drawn container, to prevent detachment of the slip lid during transport. These relatively small sealing surfaces can be easily detached or broken up by the consumer. The nubs according to the invention, which are provided both on the slip lid and on the container, also ensure safe and accurate reclosability of the packaging.

Another advantage of the method and the packaging machine according to the invention is that the slip lid is produced and placed cost-effectively directly by means of the packaging machine. There is thus no further machine required that produces the slip lid and touches down. The interface and handover problems of produced packages and / or lids on other packaging machines occurring in the conventional method are also omitted here.

Furthermore, there is an advantage that over devices and methods in which lids are sealed on prefabricated packaging troughs or containers, a precise positioning and grouping of the container does not have to be done, since the position of the container is controlled over the entire processing path. As a result, the packaging can be produced inexpensively and in a small space.

The separation of the packaging takes place only at the end of the packaging process and a reliable transport during the packaging process is ensured. The removal of the packaging from the sheet-like material can be done exactly and tightly on a predetermined individually shaped outer contour, whereby visually appealing and mechanically stable packaging can be produced.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Verpackungsmaschine;

Fig. 2a

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines nach dem erfindungs- gemäßen Verfahren erzeugten Behälters;

Fig. 2b

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht des Behälters mit einem ers- ten Deckel;

Fig. 2c

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht des Behälters mit dem ersten Deckel und einem zweiten Deckel;

Fig. 3a

eine schematische Teilansicht des Randbereichs des Behälters und des ersten und zweiten Deckels in einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3b

eine schematische Teilansicht des Randbereichs des Behälters und des ersten und zweiten Deckels in einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Draufsicht einer Schneidstation.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. From the figures show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a packaging machine;

Fig. 2a

a schematic perspective view of a container produced by the inventive method;

Fig. 2b

a schematic perspective view of the container with a first lid;

Fig. 2c

a schematic perspective view of the container with the first lid and a second lid;

Fig. 3a

a schematic partial view of the edge region of the container and the first and second lid in a first embodiment;

Fig. 3b

a schematic partial view of the edge region of the container and the first and second lid in a second embodiment;

Fig. 4

a schematic plan view of a cutting station.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described first with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the schematic side view of a packaging machine 100. The packaging machine 100 has a first forming station 1, a first sealing station 2, a second forming station 1 ', a second sealing station 2', a cross-cutting device 3 and a longitudinal cutting device 4, in this order in a transport direction R are arranged on a machine frame 5. On the input side is located on the machine frame 5, a first feed roller 6, from which a first web-shaped material 7 and a first film is unrolled. A second feed roller 8 is provided, from which a second web-shaped material 9 or a second film is unrolled. Furthermore, a third feed roller 8 'is provided, from which a third web-shaped material 9' or a third film is unrolled. After the first sealing station 2, a first discharge device 10 in the form of a roll is provided, on which a remaining foil grid 90 of the second sheet material 9 remaining after the first sealing station 2 is rolled up.

In the area of the first sealing station 2, a first transport device 11 is further provided, with which the second web-shaped material 9 is transported in a main working cycle in the first sealing station 2, cut there and the Restfoliengitter 90 is transported out of the first sealing station 2 out. In the region of the second sealing station 2 ', a second transport device 11' is provided, with which the third web-shaped material 9 'is transported in a main working cycle into the second sealing station 2'. Both transport devices 11, 11 'can be realized for example by laterally arranged chains or grippers or by friction rollers. On the output side of the packaging machine 100, a second discharge device 12 is provided in the form of a conveyor belt, are transported with the finished, isolated packaging. Further, the packaging machine 100 has a feed device, not shown, which engages the first sheet-like material 7 side and transported in the main working cycle in cycles in the transport direction R. The feed device (not shown) can be realized for example by laterally arranged transport chains, lateral grippers or functional rollers.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first forming station 1 and the second forming station 1 'are formed as thermoforming stations, in which in the first web-shaped material 7 by deep drawing in the first forming station 1 container 13 are formed or in the third web-shaped material 9' by deep drawing in the second forming station 1 'second lid 14' are formed. The edge of the container 13 is in this case formed as a so-called rolled edge, ie in an upwardly or above the film plane of the first web-shaped material 7 angled or bent shape. In the present case, the rolled edge is bent outwards and in the direction of the container bottom. In this case, the first forming station 1 or the second forming station 1 'can be designed such that in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction R, ie in Fig. 1 in the drawing plane in and out of her, a plurality of containers 13 are formed side by side. In the transport direction R behind the first forming station 1, a filling station, not shown, is provided, in which the container 13 formed in the first sheet-like material 7, for example, with fruit or vegetables, are filled.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first sealing station 2 is designed as a combined sealing and lid cutting stations. The first sealing station 2 is designed such that first lid 14 are cut out of the second sheet-like material 9 and sealed onto a peripheral upper edge of the container 13. It is also conceivable that already shaped and / or cut first cover 14 are supplied. The second sealing station 2 'is designed in such a way that second lids 14' are placed on the containers 13 together with the surrounding third sheet material 9 'by means of an integrated placing station (not shown). The first, the second and the third sheet-like material 7, 9, 9 'are each formed in the present embodiment by plastic films. The sealing stations 2, 2 'are further formed in a known manner as closed chambers, in which the atmosphere in the containers 13 is replaced by a replacement gas prior to sealing, such as CO ₂ as inert gas.

The cross cutting device 3 is formed as a punch, which divides the first sheet material 7 together with the third sheet material 9 'in a direction transverse to the transport direction R between adjacent containers 13. In this case, the cross-cutting device 3 operates such that the first web-shaped material 7 is not cut over the entire web width, but is not severed at least in an edge region. In addition, in the in Fig. 4 shown embodiment, a region in the transport direction R between the packs not severed. This allows a controlled onward transport by the feed device (not shown).

The longitudinal cutting device 4 is designed, for example, as a knife arrangement, with which the first web-shaped material 7 is severed together with the third web-shaped material 9 'between adjacent containers 13 and at the lateral edge of the first web-shaped material 7 so that there are individual packages behind the longitudinal cutting device 4 , which are separated from the first sheet-like material 7 and the third sheet-like material 9 '(see also Fig. 4 ). Alternatively, the cutting device in the first sealing station 2 can also be dispensed with, so that the first web-shaped material 7, the second web-shaped material 9 and the third web-shaped material 9 'are severed simultaneously in the cross-cutting device 3 and the longitudinal cutting device 4. In addition, instead of the transverse and longitudinal cutting also a complete cutting done.

Fig. 2a ) shows the container 13 in a schematic perspective view. The first forming station 1 is designed in such a way that corrugations and beads or unevenness in the bottom of the container 13 can be formed in the walls of the container 13 in order to increase the stability of the container 13. The corrugations extend here on each of the four side walls of the container 13 from the container bottom to the container edge. The beads are formed by individual quadrangular substantially pie-shaped recesses which are formed in the container bottom and form an oval shape in their entirety. The upper edge of the container 13 essentially forms a circumferential horizontal first edge portion 20, a second edge portion 21, which also adjoins it substantially vertically, and a substantially horizontal, likewise peripheral, one third edge portion 22. These three edge portions 20, 21, 22 form a rolled edge of the container 13. In the second edge portion 21 first projections 16 and first knobs 16 are formed.

Fig. 2b ) shows, in addition to the container 13, the first lid 14, which is sealed after filling the container 13. It is also conceivable that the packaging or the product is fumigated before sealing in order to increase its durability.

Fig. 2c ) shows the container 13, the first lid 14 and the second lid 14 '. The edge of the second lid 14 'is shaped according to the edge contour of the container 13. An essentially horizontal first edge section 20 'is initially provided, to which a substantially vertical second edge section 21' adjoins and in turn is adjoined by a substantially horizontal third edge section 22 'which is located in the plane of the originally sheet-like material 9'. of the second lid 14 'extends. In the second edge portion 21 'second projections 17 and second knobs 17 are formed. It is also conceivable that in the second cover 14 ', a further outwardly open recess is formed, in which then, for example, a fork or a salad dressing can be inserted. These would be fixed eg by sticking on a label.

The first nubs 16 and the second nubs 17 cooperate when placing the second lid 14 'on the container 13 and clamp the second lid 14' on the container 13. In this way, a secure and accurate reclosability of the container 13 is ensured.

Fig. 3a ) shows the connection of the slip lid 14 'with the container 13. The first and the second knobs 16, 17 are engaged. Due to the plastic material of the container 13 and the second lid 14 ', the second lid 14' is also easily removable. The first nubs 16 and the second nubs 17 are directed inwards.

Fig. 3b ) shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The first nubs 16 and the second nubs 17 are directed outward. This is through a turn in Fig. 3b ) upwardly extending projection of the container 13 and the second lid 14 'realized. The film plane of the sheet-like materials 7, 9, 9 'run in Fig. 3a ), 3b) below the knobs 16, 17 horizontally to the left outside.

Fig. 4 shows the cross cutting device 3 and the longitudinal cutting device 4. The arrow indicates the transport direction R of the packages. Furthermore, the sealing strips are shown, with which the second lid 14 'or slip lid 14' on the container 13 (see Fig. 1-2c )) is partially sealed. They serve in addition to securing the second cover 14 'during transport to the end user and the originality proof.

The operation of the above-described packaging machine 100 will be described below.

The first web-shaped material 7 is unrolled from the feed roller 6 and transported by the feed device (not shown) into the first forming station 1. In the first forming station 1, the containers 13 are formed in the first sheet-like material 7 by deep drawing. The containers 13 are doing, as in Fig. 2a ) - c), shaped so that they have in their peripheral edge region, the horizontal first edge portion 20, in the circumferential direction outside the opposite to the film plane of the first sheet material 7 upwardly angled or bent second edge portion 21 connects, in the Essentially vertical, as in Fig. 2a ) -c) is shown. The third vertical edge section 21 is adjoined in turn by the third edge section 22 extending substantially horizontally in the film plane of the first web-shaped material 7. All three edge portions 20, 21, 22 are each formed around the entire container 13 around.

The containers 13 formed are transported together with the surrounding material of the first sheet material 7 in a main working cycle to the (not shown) filling station in which they are filled with the goods to be packaged.

Subsequently, the filled containers 13 together with the surrounding material of the first sheet material 7 in the main working cycle through the (not shown) feed device in the first sealing station 2 on. Synchronized with the feed of the filled container 13, the second web-shaped material 9 is through the transport device 11 is actively transported to the first sealing station 2 in the main working cycle. There, while the lid 14 are cut with a punch from the second sheet-like material 9 and sealed by heat between a sealing top and a seal bottom with the material of the container 13. The first covers 14 are cut out of the second sheet-like material 9 in such a way that their outer contours within the second edge section 21 and the horizontal section 22 (see FIG Fig. 2a )) defined outer contour of the container 13 extends. The residual grid 90 of the second sheet-like material 9 remaining after the first cover 14 has been cut out is wound on the output side of the first sealing station 2 onto the discharge roller 10, so that it can be disposed of or recycled.

The now sealed or filled and fumigated container 13 are transported with the (not shown) feed device of the first web-shaped material 7 in the second sealing device 2 'on.

The third web-shaped material 9 'is unrolled from the third feed roller 8' and transported by a further feed device (not shown) into the second forming station 1 '. In the forming station 1 'are formed by deep drawing second cover 14' in the third sheet material 9 '. The second lid 14 'are in the in Fig. 2c ) formed such that its edge portions 20 ', 21', 22 'correspond to the edge portions 20, 21, 22 of the container 13. The edge of the second lid 14 'is angled or bent relative to the film plane of the sheet material 9' upwards.

The formed second cover 14 'are transported together with the surrounding material of the third sheet material 9' in a main working cycle by means of the second transport device 11 'in the second sealing station 2' in which they are placed by the Aufsetzvorrichtung on the container 13. In addition, the second cover 14 'before, during or after placement with a punch from the third sheet material 9' cut and by heat between a seal top and a seal bottom in the form of sealing strips (see Fig. 4 ) partially sealed with the second sheet material 9. The slip lid 14 'remains hereby also at a safe transport on the container 13. A consumer can easily break the non-continuous sealing strips.

After the second sealing station 2 ', the sealed containers 13 provided with the second lids 14' and the surrounding third sheet material 9 'are further transported to the cross-cutting device 3 by the feed device (not shown) of the first sheet material 7, in which the first one web-shaped material 7 in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction R between the containers is severed (see also Fig. 4 ).

After the crosscut has been made and any rounded corners have formed, the containers 13, which have not yet been cut in the transport direction R, are transported to the longitudinal cutting device 4 with the first web-shaped material 7 together with the third web-shaped material 9 '. In the longitudinal cutting device 4, the first web-shaped material 7 is cut along the outer contour of the container 13 together with the third web-shaped material 9 'in the transport direction R, ie in the longitudinal direction. The containers 13 and the second cover 14 'are now completely separated from the first web-shaped material 7 and the third web-shaped material 9' and are transported away as isolated packaging by means of the third discharge device 12.

With the described packaging machine 100 and the described method, the in Fig. 2a) to Fig. 3a ) are produced. As in Fig. 2a) to 2c ), the package produced has a visually appealing, downwardly angled or rounded second edge portion 21.

With the described packaging machine 100, it is possible to produce visually appealing packages with angled or bent edges on a thermoforming machine, in which both the containers 13, the first lid 14 and the second lid 14 'are manufactured within a short working distance and sealed together can. Furthermore, the control over the containers 13 is not abandoned during the entire process, since these are up to the last process step with the first web-shaped material 7 are carried. It can thus be produced on a cost-saving thermoformer efficient packaging with shapes that could previously be produced only with more expensive and expensive procedures.

The transport of the second and third web-like material 9, 9 'by means of the transport devices 11, 11' has the advantage that the feeding of the second and third web-like material 9, 9 'can take place exactly over the containers 13 and the remaining film grid 90 reliably the first sealing station 2, can be removed.

Modifications of the described embodiment are possible. For example, the cross cutting device 3 and the slitting device 4 can be combined to form a single cutting station, in which the containers 13 together with the second covers 14 ', e.g. with a punch around along its outer contour of the first sheet-like material 7 or from the third sheet-like material 9 'are cut out.

It can be processed side by side and one behind the other in the transport direction R in a single operation and a plurality of packages.

It is also conceivable that the second sheet-like material is a so-called skin film, which is not cut in the first sealing station, but is further transported with the first sheet-like material. The cutting can also take place outside the pack or at the edge of the pack. The so-called skin film is made thin and adheres to the product to be packaged and also to the slip lid or the Wiederverschließnoppen.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the second sheet-like material is not present and the slip lid is stapled not only by a point seal to the container, but is sealed circumferentially to close the package. The slip lid can serve as Wiederverschließdeckel.

Claims (9)

1. Method for manufacturing a package, comprising the steps of:

   forming a container (13) in a web of a first web-like material (7) by deep-drawing,

   cutting a first lid (14) from a web of a second web-like material (9);

   sealing the first lid (14) onto the container (13);

   forming a second lid (14') in a web of a third web-like material (9') by deep-drawing;

   placing the second lid (14') onto the container (13); and

   subsequently separating the container (13) from the first web-like material (7),

   wherein the edge (20,21,22) of the container (13) and the edge (20',21',22') of the second lid (14') are formed in a shape angled or bent upwards with respect to the foil plane of the respective web-like material,

   wherein the first lid (14) is cut from the second web-like material (9) so that its outer contour stays within the outer contour of the container (13),

   and wherein the second lid (14') is partially sealed onto the container (13) by non-continuous sealing strips.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer contour of the container (13) is defined by an edge section (21) which is upwardly angled or bent with respect to the foil plane of the first web-like material (7), and by an edge section (22) which is contiguous to the edge section (21) and extends in the foil plane of the first web-like material (7).
3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge (20,21,22) of the container (13) is formed such that it corresponds to the edge (20', 21', 22') of the lid (14') and can receive the lid (14').
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the reclosability of the container (13), first projections (16) are formed into the container (13), and second projections (17) are formed into the second lid (14'), wherein the first and second projections (16,17) are preferably both formed to be directed inwards and/or both formed to be directed outwards with respect to the container (13).
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second lid (14') already cut to size is placed on.
6. Packaging machine having
   a first forming station (1) for forming containers (13) in a first web-like material (7) by deep-drawing,
   a first sealing station (2) for sealing a first lid (14) from a second web-like material (9) onto the container (13);
   a second forming station (1') for forming second lids (14') in a third web-like material (9') by deep-drawing,
   a placing-on station for placing the second lids (14') onto the container (13),
   a cutting station (3,4) which is designed such that the containers (13) can be separated from the first web-like material (7) along the outer contour of the package to be produced, wherein the edge (20,21,22) of the container (13) and the edge (20',21',22') of the lid (14') can be formed in a shape angled or bent upwards with respect to the foil plane of the respective web-like material,
   wherein a lid cutting station is provided and configured so that the cutting out of the first lids (14) from the second web-like material (9) is accomplished before the sealing and within an outer contour of the containers (13),
   and wherein further a first sealing station (2) and a second sealing station (2') are provided and the second sealing station (2') is configured to seal the second lids (14') partially onto the containers (13) by means of non-continuous sealing strips.
7. Packaging machined according to claim 6, characterized in that projections (16,17) are formed in the container (13) and in the second lid bracket (14') for the reclosability of the container (13), the projections (16,17) being preferably both directed inwards and/or outwards.
8. Packaging machine according to any of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the placing-on station is configured such that the cutting out of the second lid (14') is accomplished before it is placed on.
9. Packaging machine according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a discharge means (10) for receiving a remaining residual skeleton (90) of the second and/or third web-like material (9,9') is provided downstream of the first sealing station (2).

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