Covering system and packaging machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to a covering system (15), which is used for being fixedly arranged at a packaging machine (100, 200) and comprises at least one protective covering part (16), and the protective covering part serving as an interference protection part can be at least partially positioned on a conveying area of packaging materials formed along the packaging machine (100, 200). Wherein the distance (a) between opposite outer edges (17, 18) of the protective cover (16) over the longitudinal extension of the protective cover (16) can be reduced. The utility model further relates to a packaging machine comprising the covering system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a covering system which is used for being fixed on a packaging machine. Background Art

[0002] DE 10 2017 106 898 A1 discloses stackable, stable protective covers which can be stacked on top of one another as a tower on the body of a stretch packaging machine, so that they do not have to be placed on the plant floor next to the stretch packaging machine for cleaning purposes or maintenance intervals. These protective covers have a stable, inherently stable box-shaped structure so that the tower can be reliably constructed on the body of the stretch packaging machine. In actual production operation of the stretch packaging machine, the stackable protective covers are positioned successively in the production direction, in particular at the inlet and outlet of a cutting station of the stretch packaging machine, as interference protection above the film web being transported thereunder in the production direction.

[0003] A disadvantage of using the above-mentioned stackable protective covers is that during operation, film web jams that occur in the film web beneath these protective covers are difficult to detect accurately, primarily not immediately at the time of their formation. As a result, long waste sections can be generated due to untimely detection of film web jams, which leads to higher production costs. Furthermore, in some cases, undesired manipulation of the protective covers by the operator during ongoing operation, such as the flipping of the protective covers, cannot be detected reliably or only with a time delay. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the utility model is to eliminate the disadvantages described above in conjunction with the prior art.

[0005] This object is achieved by means of the following covering system.

[0006] Advantageous developments of the invention are provided by corresponding subjects of the other solutions.

[0007] The utility model relates to a covering system for fixing at a packaging machine, for example, for fixing at a stretch film packaging machine or a shelling machine. The covering system according to the utility model comprises at least one protective covering part, which can be positioned at least partially as an interference protection part on a conveying area of ​​the packaging material formed along the packaging machine.

[0008] In the case of a packaging machine designed as a stretch wrapper, the protective cover can, for example, be positioned at least partially over a film web that can be transported in the production direction along the stretch wrapper. In the case of a packaging machine designed as a caser, the protective cover can, for example, be positioned at least partially over unsealed or sealed housing parts that can be transported in the production direction along the caser.

[0009] The invention provides that the distance between the opposite outer edges of the protective cover in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover can be reduced. This distance reduction, i.e. the deformability of the protective cover, can be used to detect undesirable conditions that are causally related thereto in a rapid manner, for example to detect undesirable interference with the protective cover by an operator and / or uncontrolled conveying of packaging material. Therefore, the protective cover according to the invention can be used in addition to its actual function as an interference protection part, and also as a detection measure that reacts rapidly to this according to the distance reduction or as a component of a detection device that reacts rapidly to this, for detecting undesirable conditions that cause the distance reduction, for example to detect a jam of film webs occurring under the protective cover and / or to detect undesirable manipulation of the protective cover by an operator while the packaging machine is running, for example to flip open or lift the protective cover, so as to obtain the possibility of intervening in the danger zone when necessary.

[0010] The protective cover according to the invention can detect undesirable situations, such as jamming of film webs and / or lifting of the protective cover, by the change in its geometry caused thereby without time delay, i.e. in real time, i.e. a reduction in the distance of its outer edges relative to one another. Such a change in geometry caused by an undesirable situation and measurable synchronously at the protective cover can be detected reliably and quickly, so that an advantageous, in particular more rapid, reaction to an undesirable situation causally related thereto can be achieved.

[0011] In the present invention, the protective cover can mainly be used to detect unwanted interference and / or detect film web jams in real time, because the outer edges opposite to each other provide a trigger mechanism that reacts quickly, by means of which, for example, unwanted lifting of the protective cover and / or film web jams when the film web jams squeeze the protective cover from below can be detected without delay.

[0012] It is also advantageous that, by using the protective cover in the manner according to the invention as a deformable interference protection measure for detecting undesirable situations, separate measures for this purpose can be dispensed with, ie, an overall cost-effective design.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the utility model, the deformation of the protective cover caused by the film web pile and / or by the operator reduces the distance between the outer edges of the protective cover spaced apart in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover. Here, the film web pile that presses the protective cover from below is at least partially visible in the protective cover due to the deformation of the protective cover, so that the operator of the stretch film packaging machine immediately notices the film web pile. By designing the protective cover so that its deformation caused by the film web pile causes a reduction in the distance between the outer edges of the protective cover spaced apart, a detection system for detecting film web piles that is reliably based on the interaction between the film web pile and the protective cover, and in particular a detection system that is compact and can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner, is generally provided. Even if the operator attempts to lift the protective cover in the lateral direction to observe the conveying area of ​​the packaging material, it can be reliably detected by the deformation of the protective cover caused by this, so as to prevent safety risks.

[0014] Preferably, the protective cover has at least one hinged belt chain with a plurality of parallel articulation axes extending in the transverse extension of the protective cover. Such an hinged belt chain can establish an articulated connection between the outer edges of the protective cover that are opposite in the production direction, so that the edges can be moved towards each other when the hinged belt chain is locally lifted, for example due to a stack of film webs. The hinged belt chain also enables the protective cover to be rolled up, folded up and / or pushed together, for example during a conversion process at a packaging machine, in particular during a format change and / or a film change at a stretch film packaging machine, so that the protective cover can be concealed in a compact manner. Such a reduced protective cover can be easily stacked at a predetermined position in a narrow structural space. In the rolled up, folded or pushed together state, the protective cover is also easier to transport. The hinged belt chain integrated in the protective cover is particularly designed to be easily bent upwards. When the packaging machine is running, the already small forces acting on the bottom side of the hinged belt chain from below due to the stack of film webs or the operator lifting the hinged belt chain in an undesirable manner can lead to the following situation: the hinged belt chain is thus arched upwards and the edges opposite in the production direction move towards each other due to the bulging of the hinged belt chain.

[0015] It is conceivable that opposite edges in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover can be fastened to one another, for example by means of magnetic locks, in order to fix the protective cover, for example in a rolled-up state, so that it can be handled more easily.

[0016] The articulated chain can be designed in a relatively stable form against forces from above. For this purpose, the articulated chain has no articulation axis extending in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover, i.e., in the production direction. As a result, despite its articulated structure against forces from above, the articulated chain still provides a stable interference protection. Furthermore, the articulated chain can have a very flat structure, which allows it to be better positioned in close proximity above the packaging material, for example a film web, and thus react quickly to a formed film web jam.

[0017] In particular, when the articulated belt chain is assembled from a plurality of plastic chain links that are articulated to one another, the protective cover can be easily manipulated by the operator to achieve the desired purpose, such as alignment. This makes it possible to provide a protective cover of lightweight construction, so that it also responds reliably to small film web stacking forces acting on it from below. For hygienic operation, the plastic chain links can be made predominantly of antibacterial or antimicrobial plastic.

[0018] An advantageous variant provides that the slats arranged at the protective cover form the opposite outer edges of the protective cover. Such slats, which are preferably oriented transversely to the production direction, can provide the protective cover with stability in transverse extension when forces act on the protective cover from above, in order to detect a jam of the film web, despite the flexible structure of the protective cover or its ability to respond to forces acting from below. Furthermore, the slats can serve well as guide elements, since the slats can be easily moved towards each other when the distance between them decreases, for example due to a jam of the film web. Furthermore, the slats form the following measures at the protective cover, which can be well detected by means of suitable sensor means, in order to accurately measure the reduction in the distance between the two slats.

[0019] According to a variant of the invention, the covering system has at least one holder that can be fastened to a packaging machine, for example a machine frame, and has at least one sensor integrated therein for detecting a strip of the protective covering that is assigned to the holder.

[0020] In order to detect the position of the strip precisely by means of a sensor integrated in the holder, the strip can have at least one magnet detectable by the sensor. In this variant, the sensor and the strip act together as a magnetic switch so that a reduction in the distance between the outer edges or between the strips can be detected. Since the outer edges of the protective cover can be moved towards each other, for example in the case of a film web jam, i.e. the distance between them is reduced, the magnetic switch can be easily activated and a corresponding signal is sent from it to a control device of the packaging machine functionally connected thereto, which stops the machine based on this.

[0021] A variant for achieving a reduction in the number of sensors as a whole provides that the covering system is provided with a locking section for another slat to lock its position. Thus, even if the protective covering reacts to a jam of the film web or to an undesired operator intervention, the slat itself remains fixed. In this embodiment, it is sufficient for the slat detected by the sensor of the holding section to reduce its distance to the fixed slat to generate a signal for detecting a jam of the film web or a signal for detecting an undesired operator intervention. In other words, this means that only one sensor unit is sufficient for each protective covering to detect a reduction in the distance between the outer edges.

[0022] A structure of the covering system which is advantageous in many respects is obtained by providing the covering system with lateral guides for supporting the protective covering. The guides can extend in the production direction at opposite sides of the frame. The protective covering can be supported on the lateral guides in such a way that it does not sag between the guides due to its own weight. Furthermore, the slats can be easily moved towards each other thereon.

[0023] Preferably, the guide rail is configured with gussets so that the protective cover cannot fall out of the guide in response to the film web pile. The protective cover can be placed between the gussets in such a way that it is fixed transversely to the production direction, while it can be deformed in the production direction in order to be able to reveal the film web pile configured underneath. The height of the gussets can be configured in different ways depending on the machine type.

[0024] In particular, the guide rail is detachably fastened in the production direction at the opposite side of the frame of the packaging machine, in particular the stretch packaging machine. In particular, the guide rail can be detachably inserted into the holder of the covering system. As a result, no further fixing units need to be provided at the frame for assembling the covering system.

[0025] The present invention can also relate to a packaging machine, such as a stretch film packaging machine or a shelling machine, having at least one covering system according to the present invention. The covering system according to the present invention can be used in particular as a covering system between a sealing station of a stretch film packaging machine and a cutting device positioned downstream in the production direction. Along this production path, the covering system can reliably prevent operators from intruding into the working area of ​​the stretch film packaging machine, in particular in the area of ​​the cutting device. In addition, the covering system can be reliably used to detect the film web pile card of the film web sealed thereunder along this production path, i.e. between the sealing station and the cutting device positioned downstream. However, the covering system can also be used at other locations along the frame of the stretch film packaging machine, for example at the entrance and / or exit of the sealing station and / or at the entrance or exit of the forming station. At the shelling machine, the covering system can be used in particular at the entrance and / or exit of the sealing station of the shelling machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention will be explained in more detail according to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 A packaging machine in the form of a stretch wrapper is shown in a perspective view,

[0028] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a stretch film packaging machine with a protective cover installed therein,

[0029] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a stretch packaging machine with a protective cover at the moment of the film web being jammed is shown,

[0030] Figure 4 The covering system is shown in an isolated perspective view.

[0031] Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 Cross-sectional view of the covering system located on the frame of the stretch wrapping machine,

[0032] Figure 6 Shows Figure 4 Details of the covering system,

[0033] Figure 7 Shows Figure 4 For further details of the coverage system,

[0034] Figure 8 Shows Figure 4 Further details of the coverage system, and

[0035] Fig. 9 A packaging machine in the form of a case sealing machine is shown.

[0036] Identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols in the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 A packaging machine 100 is shown in a schematic side view, which is designed as an intermittently operating stretch film packaging machine 1. The stretch film packaging machine 1 has a forming station 2, a sealing station 3, a transverse cutting device 4 and a longitudinal cutting device 5, which are arranged in this order on a machine frame 6 in the production direction R. A supply roller is located on the machine frame 6 on the input side, from which a film web 8 is drawn as a base film. The stretch film packaging machine 1 also has a conveyor chain 9, which grasps the film web 8 and conveys it further in the production direction R in each main working cycle.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the forming station 2 is designed as a stretching station, in which the grooves M are formed into the film web 8 by stretching, for example by means of compressed air and / or vacuum. In this case, the forming station 2 can be designed so that a plurality of grooves M are formed side by side in a direction perpendicular to the production direction R. A filling section or insertion area 10 is provided downstream of the forming station 2 in the production direction R, in which the grooves M formed into the film web 8 are filled with the product. The grooves M can be filled manually by an operator.

[0039] The sealing station 3 has a tightly closable chamber 3a in which the atmosphere in the recess M can be replaced, for example by evacuating and / or by gas purging with an exchange gas or a gas mixture, before sealing with the film web 12 discharged from the upper film receiving part 11.

[0040] The transverse cutting device 4 can be designed as a punch which cuts the sealed film web 8, 12 between adjacent grooves M in a direction transverse to the production direction R. The transverse cutting device 4 operates in such a way that the film web 8 is not cut across the entire width, but at least not cut in the edge region. This enables controlled further transport by the conveyor chain 9.

[0041] The longitudinal cutting device 5 can be constructed as a knife device, which can cut the sealed film webs 8, 12 along the production direction R between adjacent grooves M and at the lateral edges of the film web 8 formed as the base film, so that separated packages V are left behind the longitudinal cutting device 5.

[0042] The stretch packaging machine 1 also has a control device 13. The task of this control device is to control and monitor the process taking place in the stretch packaging machine 1. A display device 14 is used to visualize the process sequence in the stretch packaging machine 1 for the operator or to allow the operator to influence it.

[0043] Figure 2 A region of a stretch film packaging machine 1 is shown schematically, namely the region between the sealing station 3 and the transverse cutting device 4 positioned further downstream in the production direction R. A covering system 15 is positioned on the machine frame 6. The covering system 15 has a protective cover 16 which is positioned over the sealed film webs 8, 12 transported in the production direction R as an interference protection.

[0044] Figure 2 It is also shown that the protective cover 16 has outer edges 17 , 18 which are opposite in the production direction R and are separated from each other by a distance a.

[0045] Figure 3It is shown how the protective cover 16 behaves when a force F caused by the film web stack S presses the bottom side U of the protective cover 16 from below.

[0046] Figure 3 In particular, it is shown that when the protective cover 16 forms the deformation V caused by the film web stack S, the distance a between the outer edges 17, 18 of the protective cover 16 opposite in the longitudinal extension is reduced. As a result, the outer edges 17, 18 are moved toward each other, or at least one outer edge 17, 18 is moved toward the other edge 17, 18, thereby Figure 2 The distance a shown is reduced to Figure 3 The distance b is shown as an example.

[0047] This means that the deformation V of the protective cover 16 caused by the film web stack S reduces the distance a between the outer edges 17, 18 of the protective cover 16 spaced apart in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover 16. There is thus only a reduced distance b between the outer edges 17, 18.

[0048] This kind of reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The reduction in the distance between the opposite outer edges 17, 18 of the protective cover 16 caused by the jam S of the film web indicates that a jam S of the film web has been created under the protective cover 16. Under this premise, the control device 13 can immediately stop the operation of the stretch film packaging machine 1. The reduction in the distance between the opposite outer edges 17, 18 of the protective cover 16 can also be caused by an attempt by the operator to lift the protective cover 16. The force F acting on the protective cover 16 during such an undesired interference will also likewise cause a deformation V of the protective cover 16, i.e. a reduction in the distance between the opposite outer edges 17, 18 of the protective cover 16.

[0049] Figure 4 The cover system 15 is shown in an isolated view. Opposite outer edges 17, 18 are formed by the slats 19, 20. The protective cover 16 has an articulated belt chain 21 between the two slats 19, 20, which is designed to comply with the force F acting on it from below caused by the film web stack S so that it bulges upwards and thereby pulls the two slats 19, 20 towards each other, i.e. the distance a between them is reduced.

[0050] When the hinged belt chain is designed to be flat, the two strips 19, 20 are kept at a distance a by the hinged belt chain 21 arranged therebetween, and the distance a is reduced to a distance b when the hinged belt chain 21 is at least partially pressed upward by a force F caused from below by the film web stack S or by an undesired manipulation by an operator, i.e., a distance is formed according to Figure 3 The deformation V. This reduces the distance a between the strips 19, 20 to Figure 3 The distance b is shown.

[0051] Figure 4 It is further shown that the protective cover 16 with the opposite outer edges 27, 28 is placed on the guide rail 22. The guide rail 22 thus forms a support for the opposite outer edges 27, 28 of the articulated belt chain 21 transversely to the production direction R, so that the articulated belt chain 21 does not sag downwards due to its own weight. In addition, the guide rail 22 facilitates the targeted movement of the slats 19, 20 towards each other in the production direction R or counter to the production direction R in order to detect film web pile jams S and / or undesired operator interference.

[0052] Figure 4 Also shown is a holder 23 , by means of which the covering system 15 can be fastened to the machine frame 6 of the stretch-wrapping machine 1 .

[0053] Figure 5 The cover system 15 is shown in a sectional view in the assembled state on the machine frame 6. The protective cover 16 is located as a flat cover over the film webs 8, 12 conveyed by means of the conveyor chain 9. Figure 5 It is shown that the covering system 15 as a whole provides a very flat overall structure and can therefore be installed in a confined installation space on the stretch wrapping machine 1 .

[0054] Figure 5 It is further shown that the hinged belt chain 21 is positioned above the film webs 8, 12 at a distance d. The distance d can be a few centimeters, for example 3 cm. Thus, the hinged belt chain 21 can be raised upwards by a slight film web pile S, so that the protective cover 16 can reveal the film web pile S.

[0055] Figure 6 It is shown that the holder 23 has a sensor 24. The sensor 24 acts together with a magnet 25 integrated in the strip 20 as a magnetic switch. Figure 6 It is also shown that the hinged belt chain 21 is fastened to the slat 20 by means of an element 26 which is screwed to the slat 20 in an articulated manner.

[0056] The outer edges 27, 28 of the hinged belt chain 21, which are opposite to the production direction R, are placed on the guide rail 22. Figure 4. The articulated belt chain 21 can therefore not sag downwards between the guide rails 22, but rather forms a protective module which is flat in itself, structurally resistant to forces from above, and which is essentially flexible only in the production direction R. For this purpose, the articulated belt chain 21 has a plurality of parallel articulation axes G extending transversely to the production direction R. The articulation axes G enable the articulated belt chain 21 to bulge when the forces F caused by the film web pile S press against its bottom side U. As a result, the magnet 25 moves away from the sensor 24, so that the result of the film web pile S can be displayed.

[0057] Figure 6 The hinged belt chain 21 in the embodiment has a plurality of plastic chain links K meshing with each other. The plastic chain links K are connected to each other in an articulated manner around an articulation axis G extending transversely to the production direction R.

[0058] Figure 6 The strip 20 shown lies freely on the holder 23 so that in the case of the film web stack S it is oriented counter to the production direction R due to the deformation V of the hinged belt chain 21. Figure 6 Another slat 19, not shown, moves.

[0059] Figure 7 It is shown that the strip 19 has a locking part 28. By means of the locking part 28 on the fence 30 fixed to the guide rail 22, the strip 19 can be prevented from moving in the case of a film web stack S, i.e., another freely placed strip 20 is forced to move toward the fixed strip 19. Therefore, the sensor means, i.e., a single magnetic switch, which is built into the holder 23 is sufficient to detect the film web stack S.

[0060] Figure 8 It is shown that a bracket 29 for the hinged belt chain 21 is configured inside the guide rail 22. The fence 30 of the guide rail 22 can be expanded upwards as desired to prevent the hinged belt chain 21 from falling out of the guide rail 22 when a stack S of film webs is stuck.

[0061] Fig. 9 A packaging machine 200 is shown, which is designed in the form of a shell sealing machine 31. Such a shell sealing machine 31 is also referred to in the industry as a tray sealer. The shell sealing machine 31 comprises a feed belt 32 for shell parts T. The shell parts T can be picked up from the feed belt 32 by means of a gripper device 33 and fed to a sealing station 34 arranged downstream in the production direction R, where the shell parts T are sealed with a film 36 by means of a sealing tool 35. The sealed shell parts T are picked up by means of the gripper device 33 and transferred to a discharge belt 37.

[0062] The covering system 15 described above in conjunction with the stretch film packaging machine 1 can also be advantageously used for Fig. 9In particular, such a covering system 15 can be designed such that it ensures that the conveying area of ​​the gripping device 33 is free from interference.

Claims

1. A covering system (15) for attachment to a packaging machine (100, 200), comprising at least one protective covering (16) which can be positioned at least partially as an interference protection over a conveying area of ​​packaging material formed along the packaging machine (100, 200), characterized in that: The distance (a) between opposite outer edges (17, 18) of the protective cover (16) in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover (16) can be reduced.

2. The covering system according to claim 1, characterized in that The deformation (V) of the protective cover (16) caused by the film web stack (S) and / or by the operator reduces the distance (a) between the outer edges (17, 18) of the protective cover (16) spaced apart in the longitudinal extension of the protective cover (16).

3. The covering system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The protective cover (16) has at least one hinged belt chain (21) having a plurality of parallel articulation axes (G) extending in the transverse extension of the protective cover (16).

4. The covering system according to claim 3, characterized in that The hinged belt chain (21) is assembled from a plurality of plastic chain links (K) which are hingedly connected to each other.

5. The covering system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Strips (19, 20) arranged on the protective cover (16) form the opposite outer edges (17, 18) of the protective cover (16).

6. The covering system according to claim 5, characterized in that The covering system (15) has at least one retaining portion (23) that can be fastened to the packaging machine (100, 200), the retaining portion having at least one sensor (24) integrated therein for detecting the strip (20) of the protective covering (16) that fits into the retaining portion (23).

7. The covering system according to claim 6, characterized in that The covering system (15) is provided with a locking portion (28) for another of the slats (19) to lock its position.

8. The covering system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The covering system (15) has lateral guide rails (22) for supporting the protective cover (16).

9. The covering system according to claim 8, characterized in that The guide rail (22) is detachably fastened at opposite sides of a frame (6) of the packaging machine (100, 200) along a production direction (R).

10. A packaging machine (100, 200), which is designed in the form of a stretch film packaging machine (1) or a shelling machine (31), characterized in that: The packaging machine comprises at least one covering system (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images