Thermo-forming packaging machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermo-forming packaging machine comprising a forming station, a loading station, a sealing station, a cutting station, and a film transport device with at least one clamp chain for transporting a lower film web in a direction of production. Unformed portions of the lower film web are movable in a horizontal film plane along the stations. A first chain guide device of an upper chain run of the clamp chain is provided in an upper chain guide plane in the region of the forming station, the sealing station, and the cutting station. A second chain guide device of the upper chain run of the clamp chain is provided in a lower chain guide plane in the region of the loading station. The lower chain guide plane is disposed lower than the upper chain guide plane.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Application claims priority to European Patent Application Number 15179067.2 filed Jul. 30, 2015, to Elmar Ehrmann and Christian Lau, currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a thermo-forming packaging machine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]DE 10 2006 006 523 A1 discloses a thermo-forming packaging machine with several transport devices in the form of transport chains, also referred to as clamp chains. A lower film web is transported in a front portion by a first clamp chain up to a transfer region and there received by a second clamp chain and transported along a rear portion of the thermo-forming packaging machine up to a cutting station. The disadvantage of such a thermo-forming packaging machine is that the clamp chain in the loading region or in a loading station, respectively, can be fouled by products and expensive cleaning can ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved thermo-forming packaging machine that minimizes fouling of clamp chains and reduces the risk of contamination of products by dirty clamp chains. This is achieved by providing a second chain guide device of the upper chain run of the clamp chain in a lower chain guide plane in the region of the loading station. This results in a loading area without a clamp chain at the edge of the lower film web, preventing fouling of the clamp chain when filling or loading, for example, liquid or pasty products or marinated pieces of meat. The lower chain guide plane can be lower than the underside of trays formed into the lower film web to produce the greatest possible distance between the lower film web and the clamp chain. The upper chain run, which may be oriented parallel to the film transport plane within the loading station, may be protected by a cover from above or enclosed by a tunnel in order to prevent fouling of the upper chain run of the clamp chain in the region of the loading station by product residues falling or dripping down at the side of the lower film web.

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage of such a thermo-forming packaging machine is that the clamp chain in the loading region or in a loading station, respectively, can be fouled by products and expensive cleaning can possibly result.

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