EP2484594B1 - Packaging machine for producing multi-layer packaging - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a thermoforming packaging machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for producing a multi-layer package according to claims 6 and 7.

Thermoforming packaging machines type R535 from the house of the applicant are known. These can be equipped for the production of a multi-layer package with two product layers with separate workstations for cutting evacuation and gassing openings and for sealing evacuation and gassing openings in order to separately evacuate and / or treat both product layers. The thermoforming packaging machine is expandable around a workstation for applying a corner cut.

Another thermoforming packaging machine for producing a multi-layer package comes from the DE 20 2005 015 901 U1 out. Here, a first product layer is placed on a first film web, fed to a second film web on the first product layer and a second product layer placed on the second film web. Together with another film web, all three films with the two product layers in between are fed to a sealing station. Both product layers are evacuated and / or fumigated together and then all three film webs all around circumferentially sealed together to form a package with two separate product layers and separated in a subsequent cutting station. The second (central) film web is narrower than the first and third film web, so as not to cover the evacuation and gassing nozzles. The disadvantage here is that the different product layers can not be specifically or differently evacuated and / or gassed.

A multi-layer pack with opening aids is in the DE 20 2010 009 454 U1 disclosed. All films are peelable sealed together and the packaging has at different corners opening aids to make the different product layers easily accessible. In this case, the films have a different peelability, so that it is easier to peel off the film for the upper product layer than the middle film for the lower product layer. There is no evidence for a packaging machine or to a manufacturing method of such a multi-layer package by means of a thermoforming packaging machine.

The object of the present invention is to improve a thermoforming packaging machine and a method for producing opening aids of a multi-layer package with different products with regard to the possibility of opening the various product layers.

This object is achieved by a thermoforming packaging machine with the features of claim 1, or by a method for producing a multi-layer packing with the features of claim 6 or 7. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The thermoforming packaging machine according to the invention comprises a plurality of workstations for producing a multi-layer package. A multi-layer package has the same or different layers of products. For example, a layer of a shingled sausage of a first variety and a further layer of a shingled sausage of a further variety are packaged in such a multi-layer package. One or more layers of cheese slices may also be packaged as a product layer. In this case, a first workstation is a forming station for deep-drawing of troughs in a lower film web. The sub-web is often a hard film, so that the deformation remains as a package in their form and the packaging provides a desired stability. The bottom foil can also be a soft foil if the bottom foil web is to be applied to the product after evacuation. The forming station is also suitable for cutting evacuation and / or gassing openings.

Furthermore, the thermoforming packaging machine comprises a sealing station as a work station for evacuating and / or gassing and for sealing the lower film web and all other supplied upper film webs of the packaging together. The thermoforming packaging machine according to the invention is characterized in that at least one intermediate work station, which is arranged in the production direction after the forming station and before the sealing station and provided for a format (ie is traversed by the packaging film webs in a single working cycle), both a Cutting device for at least one evacuation and / or gassing, as well as a Umsiegeleinrichtung for partially sealing at least one evacuation and / or gassing provides. This combination of functions of a single work station within a cycle has the advantage that a station is saved compared to a separate sealing station and a separate cutting station. A cycle is defined as a work cycle in which a format (number of troughs transported per feed) is processed. After each cycle, during which the format is at a standstill, the format is forwarded by one feed rate to feed the format to the next following workstation. In thermoforming packaging machines, the workstations usually have the dimensions of the formats that are transported at a feed, ie a length of up to 1200 mm. In the case of a format of, for example, two wells or packs, a plurality of functions or working steps, such as resealing and / or cutting of evacuation and gassing openings as well as possibly even corner cuts or corner seals, are carried out in an intermediate workstation according to the invention. Thus, the overall length of a thermoforming packaging machine according to the invention can be greatly reduced. Especially in the production of a multi-layer package with three or more product layers at least two intermediate work stations, each with a cutting device for evacuation and gassing and each one sealing device are provided. The thermoforming packaging machine is shorter than a known thermoforming packaging machine by at least the length of two feeds or formats.

Preferably, the intermediate workstation has a cutter for a corner of the multi-layer package. The intermediate workstation advantageously has a corner seal for sealing foil webs at a corner of the packaging. This forms opening aids on the packaging, wherein in each case a corner is provided for withdrawing a film from another film in order to make a product layer accessible. The consumer can grasp a corner with two fingers, which is sealed together with all film webs as Eckensiegelung. This saves the consumer a fanning out of the films at a corner in order to deduct the desired film from the underlying.

Preferably, for a number n of product layers separated by film webs, the deep draw packaging machine has a number n-1 of intermediate work stations to reduce the machine length to the minimum.

The sealing station preferably has a tool upper part and a tool lower part in order to clamp all the film webs together on all sides airtight. This allows a separate and different evacuation and / or gassing each product layer. In this case, the evacuation and / or gassing nozzles are arranged within the clamping area in order to evacuate and / or aerate a space between two film webs, the evacuation and / or gassing nozzles protruding at least through the lower film web to below the film web of the space to be evacuated.

The inventive method for producing a multi-layer package with three product layers which are separated by film webs, provides the following steps:

In a forming station, troughs are formed into a sub-film web and evacuation and / or gassing openings are cut at the edge of the sub-film web.

Following in the direction of production, a corner is cut in a cutting station.

Subsequently, a first product layer is inserted into the molded trough.

The lower film web with the first product layer is subsequently fed with a first upper film web into a first intermediate work station for punching an evacuation and / or gassing opening, for sealing off an evacuation and / or gassing opening and for cutting a corner through both film webs.

Analogous to the two previous steps, the insertion or placement of a second product layer on the first Oberfolienbahn done.

The lower film web with the first product layer and the first upper film web with the second product layer are subsequently fed with a second upper film web into a second intermediate work station for punching an evacuation and / or gassing opening, for resealing of an evacuation and / or gassing opening and for sealing a corner and / or for cutting a corner through all three film webs.

This is followed by insertion of a third product layer onto the second upper film web.

The lower film web, the first upper film web with the first product layer, the second upper film web with the second product layer and a third upper film web are fed into a sealing station for evacuating and / or fumigating all product layers and for sealing the multi-layer package and for sealing at least one corner.

After the sealing station, the packaging is separated from the film webs.

Between the individual steps there is a film feed, or the film feed transports the films along the workstations. This includes the insertion stations for inserting the product layers.

This method is characterized in that in the intermediate work stations several functions such as cutting corners, cutting evacuation and / or gassing, sealing corners and / or resealing evacuation and / or gassing are performed. Thus, several workstations, the only one of the o.g. Perform functions, saved and reduced the machine length and the total cost of such a thermoforming packaging machine.

The inventive method for producing a package with four product layers which are separated by film webs, analogously provides at least the steps which are provided in a multi-layer package with three product layers and additionally a further insertion path to insert a fourth product layer on the third upper film web. In a further intermediate station, a corner seal and a corner cut as well as a resealing of an evacuation and / or gassing opening are carried out.

In the forming station or a cutting station four evacuation and / or gassing are cut according to the number of product layers.

In the sealing station, the evacuation and / or gassing of all product layers and the sealing of the packaging and at least two corners, preferably three corners takes place.

In both methods, all film webs, which are located in an intermediate work station, clamped on all sides by a tool upper part and lower tool part. This already allows a pre-sealing of the product layers located in the intermediate station.

In a multilayer package with three product layers produced according to the invention, a specific corner is provided in each case for removing a specific film from an adjacent film. Thus, the operator can access the desired product position in a simple and unambiguous manner.

Preferably, at least two corners are sealed together over all films, so that the operator does not have to fan out any film tabs, but only with two fingers grasp the desired corner and can separate the film webs.

It is advantageous to provide a corner cut at at least two corners in order to ensure the clear removal of a film from an adjacent film and thus to provide a product layer.

In a multilayer package with four product layers produced according to the invention, a specific corner is provided in each case for removing a specific film from an adjacent film. Thus, the operator can access the desired product position in a simple and unambiguous manner.

Preferably, at least three corners are sealed together over all films, so that the operator does not have to fan out any film tabs, but only with two fingers grasp the desired corner and can separate the film webs.

It is advantageous to provide a corner cut at at least three corners in order to ensure the clear removal of a film from an adjacent film and thus to provide a product layer.

Other variants with more than four product layers are conceivable, such as a packaging with six product layers and six corners in the form of a hexagon.

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in detail with reference to a drawing.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Tiefziehverpackungsmaschine,

Figur 2

eine schematische Funktionsdarstellung der Arbeitsstationen,

Figur 3

eine Explosionsdarstellung einer Mehrlagenpackung mit drei Produktlagen.

In detail show:

FIG. 1

a schematic side view of a thermoforming packaging machine according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a schematic functional representation of the workstations,

FIG. 3

an exploded view of a multi-layer package with three product layers.

The same components are provided throughout the figures with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a packaging machine in the form of a thermoforming packaging machine 1. This thermoforming packaging machine 1 has a forming station 2, a sealing station 3, a cross-cutting device 4 and a longitudinal cutting device 5, which are arranged in this order in a direction R on a machine frame 6.

On the input side is located on the machine frame 6, a feed roller 7, from which a lower film web 8 is withdrawn. In the area of the sealing station 3, a material storage 9 is provided, from which an upper film web 10 is removed as a cover film. On the output side, a discharge device 13 in the form of a conveyor belt is provided on the packaging machine, are transported with the finished, isolated packaging. Furthermore, the packaging machine 1, a feed device, not shown, which engages the first web-shaped material 8 and transported in a main working cycle in cycles in the direction of R. The feed device can be realized for example by laterally arranged transport chains.

In the illustrated embodiment, the forming station 2 is formed as a thermoforming station, in which cavities 14 are formed in the first web-shaped material 8 by deep-drawing. In this case, the forming station 2 may be designed such that in the direction perpendicular to the working direction R a plurality of containers are formed side by side. The forming station 2 also intersects evacuation and / or gassing openings in both lateral edge areas. Directly following, a corner cut in the cutting station 21 is introduced into the lower film web 8.

In the working direction R behind the cutting station 21, an insertion path 15 is provided, in which the depressions 14 formed in the lower film web 8 are filled with a first product layer 16.

This is followed by a first intermediate working station 22, into which the lower film web 8 with the first product layer 16 and a first upper film web 23 are transported. The first intermediate working station 22 cuts on both sides in the edge region of the lower film web 8 evacuation and / or gassing openings and corners in the region of the wells 14 in both film webs 8 and 23. The evacuation and / or gassing openings are at least partially sealed.

This is followed by a second Einlestrecke 24, in which a second product layer 25 is placed on the first upper film web 23 on the troughs 14.

This is followed by a second intermediate work station 26 into which the lower film web 8 with the first product layer 16, the first upper film web 23 with the second product layer 25 and a second upper film web 27 are transported. The second intermediate work station 26 cuts both sides in the edge region of the lower film web 8 evacuation and / or gassing in the three film webs 8, 23 and 27. The evacuation and / or gassing are at least partially sealed. A corner that has not been cut in the cutting station 21 and not in the first intermediate work station 22 is sealed, i. in this corner region, the three film webs 8, 23 and 27 are sealed together.

This is followed by a third Einlestrecke 28, in which a third product layer 29 is placed on the second Oberfolienbahn 27 on the troughs 14.

This is followed by the sealing station 3, into which the lower film web 8 with the first product layer 16, the first upper film web 23 with the second product layer 25, the second upper film web 27 with the third product layer 29 and a third upper film web 10 are transported. The sealing station 3 has a closable chamber 17, in which the atmospheres of the three product layers 16, 25, 29 are replaced before or after sealing, for example by a targeted backgassing or gas purging with a replacement gas or with an exchange gas mixture for each product layer can. The re-sealing of evacuation and / or gassing openings 30a, 30b, 30c on a different number of film webs 8, 23, 27, 10 leads to each evacuation and / or gassing opening 30a, 30b, 30c, a space between two specific film webs or a certain product layer 16, 25, 29 assigned and is separated from the openings to the other rooms.

The cross-cutting device 4 is formed as a punch, which divides the lower film web 8 and the three upper film webs 23, 27 and 10 in a direction transverse to the working direction R between adjacent troughs 14. In this case, the cross-cutting device 4 operates such that the lower film web 8 is not divided over the entire width, but at least in an edge region is not severed. This allows a controlled onward transport by the feed device.

In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal cutting device 5 is designed as a knife arrangement with which the lower film web 8 and the upper film webs 23, 27 and 10 are severed between adjacent depressions 14 and at the lateral edge of the lower film web 8, so that there are individual multirow packs 50 behind the longitudinal cutting device 5 ,

It has the task of controlling and monitoring the processes taking place in the thermoforming packaging machine 1. A display device 19 with operating elements 20 serves to visualize or influence the process sequences in the thermoforming packaging machine 1 for or by an operator.

The FIG. 2 shows above a schematic vertical section through a multi-layer packing and below in a schematic plan view the work stations such as forming station 2 (in combination with the cutting station 21), first intermediate workstation 22, second intermediate workstation 26 and sealing station 3.

In the forming station 2, two troughs 14 are formed in the lower film web 8 and three evacuation and gassing openings 30a, 30b, 30c are cut on both sides in the edge region. In the cutting station 21, two corner cuts 31 are made in the lower film web 8.

After the first insertion path 15 and the feeding of the first upper film web 23, evacuation and gassing openings 32 are cut on both sides in the first intermediate work station 22 in the edge region of the lower film web 8 and a partial sealing 33 is produced therearound. If the evacuation and gassing opening 30c has already been introduced into the forming station 2, then only the first upper film web 23 is cut congruently at the evacuation and gassing opening 30c. But it is also conceivable, the entire evacuation and gassing opening 30c through all existing Cut films only in the intermediate station 22, 26, in which the appropriate number of film webs to be cut 8, 23, 27, 10 is present. In addition, two corner cuts 34 are introduced through both foils 8, 23 in the region near the troughs 14; these are not identical with the position of the corner cut 31 or congruent.

After the second insertion path 24 and the feeding of the second upper film web 27, evacuation and gassing openings 35 are cut on both sides in the second intermediate work station 26 in the edge region of the lower film web 8 and a seal 36 is produced therearound. In addition, two Eckensiegelungen 37, which connects the three films 8, 23 and 27 at each corner.

After the third insertion path 28 and the feeding of the third upper film web 10, the individual product layers 16, 25 and 29 are evacuated and / or gassed via the three evacuation and gassing openings 30a, 30b, 30c in the sealing station 3. In this case, the lowermost product layer 16 is evacuated via the evacuation opening 30a, the middle product layer 25 via the evacuation opening 30c and the upper product layer 29 via the evacuation opening 30b and / or subsequently gassed. The Umsiegelungen 33, 36 of the evacuation openings 32, 35 or 30c, 30b generated in the intermediate work stations 22, 26 lead to a clear assignment of the evacuation openings 30a, 30b, 30c to the product layers 16, 25, 29. In the sealing station 3 clamps the Chamber 17 all slides 8, 23, 25, 10 airtight on all sides together. In the sealing station 3, the frame sealing 40 of the package 50 (s. Fig. 2 ), wherein the evacuation and gassing openings 30a, 30b, 30c outside the frame seal 40 in the lateral edge region of the film webs 8, 23, 27, 10 are arranged. Also, the corners 38 and 39 cut in the cutting station 21 and the first intermediate work station 22 are sealed together over all four sheets 8, 23, 25, 10.

Alternatively, a multi-layer package with four product layers can be produced analogously. For this purpose, an additional insertion path, a further Oberfolienbahn and another intermediate workstation are provided. In this variant, a corner cut is provided in the intermediate work station 26 and in the sealing station 3, a further corner is additionally sealed.

FIG. 3 shows a multi-layer package 50 with three product layers not shown in an exploded view with the lower film web 8, in which the trough 14 is formed and in the lateral Edge region evacuation and gassing openings 30a, 30b, 30c are introduced. Above the lower film web 8, the three upper film webs 23, 27, 10 are shown. These are sealed together at the three corners 37, 38, 39, as well as at the frame seal 40 (see Fig. 2 ) to the in FIG. 3 not shown product layers 16, 25, 29 airtight to the atmosphere to close. The corner cuts 31 and 34 are shown.

A multi-layer package with four product layers is sealed at the fourth not yet sealed corner and has a corner cut of the lower film web 8 and the upper film webs 23 and 27. Thus every corner of a product layer is uniquely assigned.

Claims (8)

1. A thermoform packaging machine (1) comprising a plurality of work stations (2, 21, 22, 26, 3, 4, 5) for manufacturing a multilayer package (50), a first work station (2) being a forming station for thermoforming troughs (14) into a lower web (8) and for cutting evacuation and/or gas flushing openings (30a, 30b, 30c), and a second work station being a sealing station (3) for evacuating and/or gas flushing and for sealing the lower web (8) and all additionally supplied top webs (23, 27, 10) of the multilayer package (50) onto one another, characterized in that at least one intermediate work station (22, 26) is provided, which is arranged downstream of the forming station (2) and upstream of the sealing station (3), when seen in the direction of production, and which comprises a cutting unit for at least one evacuation and/or gas flushing opening (32, 35) as well as a sealing unit for applying a circumferential seal (33, 36) at least sectionwise to at least one evacuation and/or gas flushing opening (32, 35).
2. A thermoform packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate work station (22, 26) comprises a cutting unit for a corner (34) of the multilayer package (50).
3. A thermoform packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate work station (22, 26) comprises a corner sealing unit for sealing the webs (8, 23, 27) on a corner (37) of the multilayer package (50).
4. A thermoform packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for a number n of product layers (16, 25, 29) separated by webs (8, 23, 27,10), the thermoform packaging machine (1) comprises a number n-1 of intermediate work stations (22, 26).
5. A thermoform packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing station (3) comprises an upper tool component and a lower tool component defining together a chamber (17) so as to hermetically clamp all webs (8, 23, 27,10) on all sides thereof.
6. A method of manufacturing a multilayer package (50) comprising three product layers (16, 25, 29), which are separated by webs (8, 23, 27, 10), said method comprising:

   - forming of troughs (14) and cutting of evacuation and/or gas flushing openings (30a, 30b, 30) in a bottom web (8) in a forming station (2),

   - cutting a corner (31),

   - feeding a first product layer (15) into the formed troughs (14),

   - supplying a bottom web (8) with a first top web (23) into a first intermediate work station (22) for cutting and circumferentially sealing an evacuation and/or gas flushing opening (30c) and for cutting a corner (34) through both webs (8, 23),

   - feeding a second product layer (25) onto the first top web (23),

   - supplying the bottom web (8), the first top web (23) and a second top web (27) into a second intermediate work station (26) for cutting and circumferentially sealing evacuation and/or gas flushing openings (30b) and for sealing a corner (37) and/or for cutting a corner through said three webs (8, 23, 27),

   - feeding a third product layer (29) onto the second top web (27),

   - supplying the bottom web (8), the first and second top webs (23, 27) and a third top web (10) into a sealing station (3) for evacuating and/or gas flushing all the product layers (16, 25, 29), for applying a frame seal (40) and for sealing at least two corners (38, 39),

   - separating the individual multilayer packages (50) from the webs (8, 23, 27, 10).
7. A method of manufacturing a multilayer package (50) comprising four product layers, which are separated by webs, said method comprising:

   - forming of troughs (14) and cutting of evacuation and/or gas flushing openings in a bottom web (8) in a forming station (2),

   - cutting a corner (31),

   - feeding a first product layer (16) into the formed troughs (14),

   - supplying a bottom web (8) with a first top web (23) into a first intermediate work station (22) for cutting and circumferentially sealing an evacuation and/or gas flushing opening (30c) and for cutting a corner (34) through both webs (8, 23),

   - feeding a second product layer (25) onto the first top web (23),

   - supplying the bottom web (8), the first top web (23) and a second top web (27) into a second intermediate work station (26) for cutting and circumferentially sealing evacuation and/or gas flushing openings (30b) and for sealing a corner (37) and/or for cutting a corner through said three webs (8, 23, 27),

   - feeding a third product layer (29) onto the second top web (27),

   - supplying the bottom web (8), the first top web (23), the second top web (27) and a third top web into a third intermediate work station for cutting and circumferentially sealing evacuation and/or gas flushing openings and for sealing a corner and/or for cutting a corner through all four webs,

   - feeding a fourth product layer onto the third top web,

   - supplying the lower web (8), the first, second and third top webs as well as a fourth top web into a sealing station (3) for evacuating and/or gas flushing all the product layers, for applying a frame seal (40) and for sealing at least three corners,

   - separating the individual multilayer packages (50) from the webs.
8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that all the webs (8, 26, 27) which are present in an intermediate work station (22, 26) are clamped together by an upper tool component and a lower tool component on all sides thereof.

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