Apparatus for the manufacture of food packaging and method for the manufacture of packaging components of food packaging

Abstract

Device for manufacturing a food packaging unit, comprising a feeding unit (2) for feeding film material (1), a forming device (3) for forming the film material (1) in order to create a plurality of cavities (10) in the film material (1), in each of which a food product can be at least partially received, and a control device (5) by means of which the forming device (3) can be controlled to form the cavities (10), characterized in that the control device (5) has means for selecting between a state for operation in which a metal film material can be formed in the forming device (3) and an operation in which a film material different from a metal film material can be formed in the forming device (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for producing a food packaging with the preamble features of claim 1.

[0002] A generic device is known, for example, from DE 23 44 620. In the device known from DE 23 44 620, a metal foil material and a plastic foil material are deformed in a deformation device between two mold halves to form a shell with an inner surface made of the metal foil material and an outer surface made of the plastic material. For this purpose, the two foils are fed to the deformation device at a distance from one another, and a forming punch of the upper mold half is pressed into a cavity of the lower mold half. The metal foil material closer to the forming punch is deep-drawn after it has been trimmed, and during the deep-drawing of this metal foil material, the plastic foil material, previously heated by a heating device, is thermoformed. This produces a shell made of a two-layer material.

[0003] In addition, the prior art includes methods and devices for so-called thermoforming, i.e. deep drawing of a heated plastic material, or devices and methods for deep drawing of metal foils or sheets.

[0004] To deep-draw the corresponding foils, a program precisely tailored to the respective materials must be run. For example, the contact pressure between the two mold halves and the material of the mold halves vary considerably depending on the respective forming process.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 102 14 714 A1 discloses a device for forming a film to produce packaging. In this device, a film is held between a die and a lid element provided with holes. A die fluid presses the film against the cavity of the die, thus producing a packaging tray. In an alternative embodiment described in this document, the die fluid is enclosed by a membrane, which deforms and thus also deforms the film.

[0006] WO 2015 / 019 226 A2 also discloses a tray with a number of cavities onto which a film is placed. For example, a baking dough is placed on this film, and the heat causes the film and dough to conform to the respective cavity.

[0007] After baking, the baked food in the cavity is sealed on top with a film. US Pat. No. 3,894,896 A discloses a method for forming a multilayer film material.

[0008] Thus, the known devices are often very complex.

[0009] In light of this problem, it is the object of the present invention to provide a device for producing a food packaging and a corresponding method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging, in which the expenditure on equipment is reduced.

[0010] To solve this problem, the present invention proposes a device for producing food packaging with the features of claim 1. This device is characterized in particular in that the control device has means for selecting between a state for an operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the forming device and an operation in which a foil material other than a metal foil material can be formed in the forming device. The inventors have found that by storing different control programs in the control device, the device can be used for deforming metal foil material, and if a corresponding program stored in the control device is selected, a foil material other than a metal foil material can also be formed in a simple manner.Such a selection between the different programs in the control device can be a simple switch that is operated manually, or a software interface on a screen or an app, through which a user, for example, simply selects one program for forming metal foil material or another program for forming foil material different from a metal foil material via a keyboard. By switching the device in this way, the corresponding packaging material can be formed essentially without major modifications to the device for producing the food packaging, without having to replace the entire device.For example, the same line can produce packaging trays made of metal foil material or metal foil composite material, as well as packaging trays made of a foil material other than the metal foil material. Essentially, all processes, from the provision of the foil material to the finished packaged food product, can be retained without requiring major changes to the equipment.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, the control device can have means for selecting at least between two of the operating states, operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the forming device, operation in which a thermoformable plastic foil material can be formed in the forming device, operation in which a paper material can be formed in the forming device.

[0012] For each of the corresponding materials, for example, a corresponding program is stored in the control device, which can be switched between. For example, if packaging shells are to be produced from a metal foil material, so that this metal foil is deformed, in particular deep-drawn, in the deformation device between an upper mold half and a lower mold half, the correspondingly stored program can be selected. However, if a thermoformable plastic material is to be formed between the upper and lower mold halves in order to produce a packaging shell, the program selected for this thermoformable plastic material is selected accordingly. If a paper material is to be formed, the corresponding special program is selected. In each of the aforementioned forming processes, the foil material is fed to the deformation device.When the film material is in the position in which it is to be formed, a punch moves from an upper mold half to a cavity in a lower mold half, or vice versa, and the film material is deformed in the cavity, for example, by deep drawing or thermoforming. The upper mold half is often referred to as the punch in packaging production, and the lower mold half, which has the cavities, is also often referred to as the die. However, the punch can also be formed by the lower mold half and the die by the upper mold half. This accordingly creates a film material with one or more cavities in which a food product can later be stored. In particular, the food product can be a chocolate body, in particular a hollow chocolate body, or another food body, in particular a hollow food body.This food product is surrounded in particular by the packaging and the corresponding partial shells, so that the packaging half-shells can have a three-dimensional surface structure, or the cavity a three-dimensional design with raised and recessed areas that later lie against the surface of the food. The different operating states for forming metal foil material and forming thermoformable plastic material and forming paper material require, for example, different pressure profiles or pressures and / or other operating conditions. During forming, for example, the so-called forming force and / or the so-called hold-down force can influence the different pressure conditions. The forming force is the force by means of which the mold halves are pressed against each other for forming.The hold-down force is the force by which the film material is held down during forming, for example, in its edge areas that lie outside the mold cavity, to ensure reliable forming of the material. The hold-down force is exerted, for example, by a hold-down element that presses film areas around the deformation region of the film against the lower mold half, for example. During the deformation of a metal foil material, it tends to flow into the mold cavity, whereas during the deformation of a plastic film material, it is more likely to be deep-drawn.

[0013] With this described further development of the device, it was possible for the first time to produce at least three different types of packaging trays on the same line.

[0014] Even if the above reference was made to a metal foil material and a material different from a metal foil material, it is sufficient for the invention that at least two different types of material (metal, plastic, paper) can be formed.

[0015] According to a further development, a heating device can be provided by means of which a thermoformable plastic film material and / or another film material can be heated, wherein the heating device is provided in the deformation device and / or is arranged upstream of it. If a thermoformable plastic material is formed in the deformation device, it is advantageous to heat this plastic material beforehand in order to enable such forming. The heating can be carried out using radiant heaters such as infrared radiators and / or a heating plate or a heating stamp. It is also possible to provide a radiant heater as the heating device. Other heating devices known in the thermoforming of plastic materials can also be used.This heating device can either be located upstream of the forming device, meaning the plastic film material is heated before it is introduced into the forming device, or alternatively or additionally, it can be provided in the forming device so that the material is heated there. If such a heating device is provided, it is also preferably controlled via the control device, and the corresponding operating program contains the instructions for operating the heating device and its corresponding settings if a thermoformable plastic material is to be formed. Thus, as soon as the program is selected in the control device and a thermoformable plastic material is to be formed, such a heating device can, for example, be automatically moved into the correct position and / or put into operation.In the case where it is not required, this heating device can be provided, for example, in a rest position in which it is not located near the fed film material.

[0016] According to a further development of the invention, the control device can be configured to control the heating device when the operating state changes depending on the film material to be formed.

[0017] It has been shown that it is often sufficient to control the heating device in the various operating states. Control includes switching the heating device on and off as well as controlling the temperature or temperature profile. As long as the material to be formed is a thermoformable plastic, the heating device can be operated. Thermoformable paper and cardboard materials are also known, which are easier to form when heated. While a metal foil material is being formed, the heating device can be switched off. However, there are also process conditions in which heating the metal foil material is advantageous.

[0018] The aforementioned means for switching between the individual operating states can, for example, be a program that controls the heating device. Some film materials, such as paper or cardboard, are easier to form when moistened. If a moistening agent is provided in the device to moisten the film material, such as a spray device, this can also be controlled by the control device in the various operating states, or switched on or off.

[0019] There are also film materials, such as plastics, that can be formed more effectively when exposed to light of a specific wavelength. If a light source with the wavelength specified for a film material is provided in the device to irradiate the film material, this light source can also be controlled by the control unit in the various operating states, or switched on or off. At least the adjustment of a single parameter in the various operating states is sufficient for the present invention.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the control device can be configured to adapt a pressure and / or a pressure profile between a male die of a first mold half of the forming device and a mold cavity of a second mold half of the forming device depending on the web material to be formed. To the extent that pressure and / or a pressure profile is relied upon, this can relate to the forming force and / or the holding-down force described above. It has been shown that different pressure ranges are necessary when forming different materials such as metal web material, thermoformable plastic material, and paper material. Information about these pressure ranges or pressures is also stored in the control device, for example.In particular, it is advantageous not only to store different pressure ranges or similar in the control unit for the different material types, but also to store different possible film thicknesses or types (chemical compositions, configurations) for each type. For example, a different pressure may be required for so-called chromo board (in which cellulose is in the middle layer) than for forming fully bleached cellulose board. The same applies to thermoformable plastic materials such as PVC or PP. This allows the pressure built up between the forming die and the cavity during deep drawing to be chosen very selectively in order to prevent tearing or damage to the material and to produce a high-quality packaging tray.In particular, it may be possible, for example, to select from a variety of materials that can be formed in the device using a drop-down menu. When the user selects the appropriate material, the corresponding program is called up in the control unit. It may also be possible for this change to occur automatically, for example, because a material detection device is provided, which is mounted, for example, at the inlet to the forming device, so that the material to be formed is automatically detected.

[0021] According to a further development of the invention, the control device can be configured to exchange a first forming punch of a first mold half of the deformation device for a second forming punch of a second mold half of the deformation device when switching from the operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device to the operation in which a foil material different from a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device; and / or to exchange a first mold cavity of a third mold half of the deformation device for a second mold cavity of a fourth mold half of the deformation device.

[0022] The deformation device usually contains one or more first forming punches on a first mold half and one or more first forming punches on a second mold half. Additionally or alternatively, the deformation device usually contains one or more first forming cavities on a third mold half and one or more first forming cavities on a fourth mold half. The film material is formed between the upper and a lower mold half. The designations “upper” and “lower” mold halves are chosen merely for the sake of easier identification; the forming punch(s) can also be provided on the lower mold half and the mold half(s) on the upper mold half. The first and second mold halves can be provided on a common upper part of the deformation device. The third and fourth mold halves can be provided on a common lower part of the deformation device.If, for example, no thermoformable plastic material is to be formed, the upper part can be rotated about an axis using the control device, for example, so that the other upper mold half, which is better suited to forming metal foil material, is aligned in line with the production line, and vice versa. If three or more different materials can be formed, three or more upper mold halves can be arranged accordingly. For example, if three materials are to be formed, these are aligned triangularly at a 120° angle to one another and can be pivoted about a central axis. This configuration can be selected both for the upper mold halves on an upper part and additionally or alternatively for the lower mold halves, which are then provided together on a lower part of the forming device.

[0023] The previously described change of individual or all mold halves does not have to be automated; it can also be done manually by the user manually replacing the corresponding mold half for the respective operating state. Alternatively, the change can also be automated.

[0024] For example, when selecting different programs, the corresponding mold halves can be swapped automatically. It is particularly advantageous that this occurs by simply pivoting the mold, so that the second forming punch provided on the forming device is positioned for use in forming. For example, when selecting the respective program, the upper or lower mold halves can be swapped automatically. This eliminates the need for manually swapping the respective mold halves in a time-consuming process when forming different materials.

[0025] According to a further development of the invention, a forming punch of a first mold half of the forming device and / or a mold cavity of a second mold half of the forming device can have a suction device by means of which the formed film material can be brought onto the forming device and fed to a further processing station. For this removal, suction holes can be provided, for example, on the forming punches themselves or on further forming punches that are not used for forming but merely for lifting. The finished cut packaging half-shells can thus be sucked in and fed to a further processing station. In the further processing station, for example, a food product can then be placed into the respective packaging half-shell and closed using another packaging half-shell.Thus, regardless of the extent to which the deformed film material is present in film material sections or whether the film material is still formed as a continuous section, the deformed material can be removed from the deformation device for further processing by means of such suction and can be fed, for example, to a final cutting station or a food insertion station.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, a cutting device can be provided which divides the film material into film material sections, so that a plurality of adjacent film sections can be deformed in the deformation device. Insofar as the present description also addresses the formation of a plurality of cavities in the film material section, the view applies that a plurality of cavities are formed in the deformation device simultaneously, for example in a regular arrangement, in which a forming punch moves into one of the mold halves into a mold cavity of another mold half of the deformation device. Accordingly, the deformation device preferably has a plurality of forming punches on a first mold half and a plurality of mold cavities corresponding to these on a second mold half.Although the invention prefers producing multiple cavities simultaneously, it is also possible to form only a single cavity at a time. To form the corresponding packaging shells, it is advantageous to divide the film material into a plurality of adjacent film sections, so that a plurality of adjacent film sections, for example in a regular arrangement, is then formed in the forming device. Cutting prior to the individual film material sections being formed is preferred because, during the deformation of the film, tensile stress is transferred to the adjacent film material regions, which is problematic for deformation of the material in the adjacent dies and mold cavities.After the corresponding film material sections have been provided with cavities, or even if the film is not pre-cut, a final cutting can also take place using a final cutting device, so that the unformed film material sections are converted into the finished packaging part shells or packaging half shells, into which the food product is later inserted.

[0027] If pre-cutting is provided before forming, this can be done in the manner and / or in a device as described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 738.2, the disclosure content of which in this respect is incorporated into the present application by this reference.

[0028] According to a further development of the invention, at least two deformation devices can be provided next to one another, which control the control device in such a way that a different type of film material can be deformed in each of the at least two deformation devices. If, for example, at least two, in particular exactly two, deformation devices are provided next to one another in the same device, wherein in one a first film material is deformed and in the other a second film material which is different from the first film material is deformed, both packaging sub-shells, between which the food product will later be packaged, can be produced simultaneously. If these packaging sub-shells lying next to one another are then folded onto one another after the food product has been inserted and, for example, fastened to one another in sections, the packaged food product is formed in a simple manner.

[0029] Instead of the means for switching in the control device of claim 1, this development can also constitute an invention in itself, so that two different deformation devices, which are arranged next to one another, are controlled via one control device. Each of the two deformation devices, which are arranged next to one another, is then operated with a different program stored in the control device, but is controlled by the common control device.

[0030] In the case where the two finished partial trays, for example made of different materials, come out of the device arranged next to each other, the food products can then be placed into one half-tray, the other half-trays can be folded over them and connected to each other at their surrounding flange areas to produce the packaging.

[0031] This embodiment can constitute an invention in itself, without the control device having means for selecting between a state for an operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device and an operation in which a foil material other than a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device, in the case where only a single deformation device is provided. Each of these adjacent deformation devices can also additionally or alternatively have such a previously described means for switching in the control device of claim 1.

[0032] The method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging explained below is preferably carried out using the devices described above.

[0033] This includes a feeding step in which a foil material is fed to a forming device, and a forming step in which a plurality of cavities are formed in the foil material in the forming device. This method replicates the method known from DE 23 44 620 in that a metal foil material and a foil material different from a metal foil material are successively formed in the same forming device. In particular, the successive forming of metal foil material and a foil material different from the metal foil material can be carried out via the previously described selection of the different programs in the control device.

[0034] “Successively” does not imply any time restriction, for example, that a metal foil material and a material different from a metal foil material should be formed immediately one after the other.

[0035] As an alternative to forming the different film materials one after the other in the same forming device, a different film material can also be formed in two forming devices arranged side by side, preferably simultaneously, each of which can be formed separately. This development can also constitute an invention in itself. In this case, too, both forming devices are preferably connected to one another via the same control device.

[0036] To the extent that the method according to the invention focuses solely on deformation, it should preferably be carried out on a single line from the provision of the film to the finished packaged food product. The further steps are not explained in detail here.

[0037] To provide the film, a device or method described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 735.8 can be used.

[0038] After production of packaging trays, these can be used in the manner described in EP 2 366 631 A1 and / or in Fig. 1 of German patent application No. 10 2015 108 840.1 and the associated description and / or PCT application PCT / EP2016 / 051971 and / or German patent application No. 10 2015 101 417.3 are combined to form a package.

[0039] The aforementioned disclosures of the various applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present application.

[0040] According to a further development of the invention, settings in a control unit with which the deformation device is controlled can be changed depending on the type of foil material supplied. While the foregoing refers to the deformation device being able to deform a metal foil material and a foil material different from a metal foil material, it may alternatively also be an invention in itself that two different types of foil material are deformed, with the foil material type being based, for example, on the types metal foil, thermoformable plastic material, or paper material. The individual specific materials within the type are also preferably selectable.

[0041] According to an advantageous development of the method, the changed settings can be at least one selected from the following group: adjusting the pressure and / or pressure profile applied between a forming punch of a first mold half of the forming device and a mold cavity of a second mold half of the forming device during the forming process; exchanging a first forming punch on a first mold half of the forming device for a second forming punch on a second mold half of the forming device; exchanging a first mold cavity in a third mold half of the forming device for a second mold cavity on a third mold half of the forming device. What has already been said for the device applies accordingly to the settings described above.

[0042] According to a further development of the invention, the method allows three different types of film material to be formed in the forming device, at least one after the other, in a random sequence. Thus, at least three different programs, program modules, or program sequences are stored in the control device, allowing a wide variety of material types, such as metal foil, thermoformable plastic film, or paper film, to be formed. "In a random sequence" here means that it is not necessarily the case that one material is formed first, then the second, then the third, but rather that each of these materials is formed one after the other without any corresponding constraint.

[0043] According to a further development of the invention, a heating step can be provided in which a thermoformable plastic film material or a paper or cardboard material is heated before it is formed in the forming device to form the cavities. If the material to be formed is a thermoformable plastic material, it is advantageous to heat it. Regarding the type of heating device, reference is made to the above-mentioned description of the device.

[0044] According to a further development of the invention, the heating step can be carried out before the film material is fed to the deformation device and / or when the film material is fed to the deformation device.

[0045] According to a further development of the invention, the heating device can be controlled depending on the different operating states. Control includes switching the heating device on or off as well as controlling the temperature or temperature profile. For further details, please refer to the description above regarding the device.

[0046] According to a further development of the invention, a light source with the wavelength specified for a film material and / or a humidification device by means of which the film material is humidified can be controlled depending on the different operating states. For further details, reference is made to the description above regarding the device.

[0047] According to a further development of the invention, individual sheets of film material can be fed in the feeding step, or the film material can be unrolled and fed from a roll. These alternatives also apply to the device described above.

[0048] One approach is to provide a roll of film material, from which a film is unwound, optionally pre-cut into individual film sections, and fed to the forming device. Alternatively, however, individual sheets of film material can also be used, which are, for example, separated from a stack of sheets and then fed. Such a sheet can be pre-cut individually into film material sections or fed to the forming device as a whole. Each different method of providing sheets of film material or providing film material on a roll has different advantages with regard to the process.For example, when sheets are involved, a stack of sheets can be provided with a corresponding predetermined sequence of material type (metal foil, thermoplastic material, and / or paper) in the same stack. If, for example, the sheet type is recognized by a detection device, the setting can be automatically adjusted to the next sheet to be formed. This allows food packaging trays to be produced particularly quickly, without, for example, having to change the roll each time.

[0049] The unrolling can take place in the device described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 735.8, which is incorporated into the disclosure of the present application by this reference.

[0050] According to a further development of the invention, the film material can be pre-cut before the cavities are formed by the deformation device, so that a plurality of adjacent film sections are provided, in which a cavity is formed. Here, too, the above-described device applies accordingly. Even if the present invention does not exclude such a simple tray for a food product, it is preferable to produce tight-fitting, thin-walled packaging trays that tightly surround a food product, contour-matching it.

[0051] According to a further development of the method, the film material can be transferred from a transfer device to the forming device. Whether the film material is used from a roll or individual sheets of film material are provided, the film material is preferably fed to the forming device as a whole or divided into individual film material sections by means of a transfer device and preferably deposited there.

[0052] According to a further development of the invention, different types of film material can be deformed simultaneously in at least two deforming devices, and the deformed different types of film material can be converted into corresponding partial shells, which are joined together to provide a food packaging with at least two partial film shells made of different materials. To the extent that this method is effective, it can also constitute an invention in itself, without the need for one type of film material to be deformed successively in each of the deforming devices. The method corresponds to what was previously stated for the device.

[0053] Preferably, two different packaging sub-shells are formed, in particular with a circumferential flange, which are transported side by side along the line. After the food product has been inserted into one of the two packaging sub-shells, the other is folded onto the inserted food product and connected to each other at the two circumferential flanges of the corresponding packaging sub-shells, for example, by flanging and / or welding. This process is preferably also controlled via a common control device by means of which the entire packaging line is operated.

[0054] According to a further development, a film material can be deformed in the deformation device in a first step, and a preformed packaging section made of a second film material can be inserted into the deformed film material located in the respective mold cavity in a further step, or a second film material can be deformed in a further step so that it bonds at least partially to the deformed film material located in the respective cavity. In this way, a single partial shell comprising segments made of different material types can be produced.

[0055] This fact will be illustrated using the example of a hollow chocolate figure of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. A lower part of the half-shell, which later forms the belly of Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, is made of printed metal foil material, for example, and an upper head section is made of a thermoformed transparent plastic material.

[0056] The thermoformed plastic material can be preformed in a further forming device and inserted into the deep-drawn film segment in the mold cavity and, if necessary, the two segments can be joined by welding and / or gluing.

[0057] According to a further development, a thermoplastic film material lying adjacent to and at least partially overlapping the metal foil material can be formed simultaneously during the forming of the metal foil material, with the two materials bonding together in the overlapping region. Alternatively, one of the two film materials can be preformed in the cavity, with only a portion of the mold cavity being covered by the material. Another film material, such as a thermoformable plastic material, can be formed in the remaining free portion of the mold cavity, so that during the forming process, the two material sections bond together in the overlapping region to produce a packaging part shell.

[0058] In one version of a multi-part half-shell, a cutout in the form of a window can be formed in the film material, for example, into which a transparent material is then inserted, for example a thermoformable plastic material, and which is connected to the film material.

[0059] According to a further development of the invention, at least one window made of a thermoplastic material can be provided in the metal foil material.

[0060] The segment-like design by means of the device or the corresponding method can also constitute an invention in itself, without the control device having means, in the case where only a single deformation device is provided, to select between a state for an operation in which a metal foil material can be deformed in the deformation device and an operation in which a foil material different from a metal foil material can be deformed in the deformation device.

[0061] According to a preferred development, the metal foil material can be a multilayer material with at least one plastic and / or paper foil layer, and the foil material that differs from a metal foil material in any case does not contain a metal foil layer. Insofar as the present invention is directed to a metal foil material, the view applies that a metal foil is contained in at least one foil layer. Alternatively, only a single-layer metal foil without further foil layers can be provided. For the material that differs from a metal foil material, this view applies that this can also be a multilayer material that contains several layers, but does not contain a metal foil layer.

[0062] According to a preferred development of the invention, a metal foil material selected from the following foil materials can be used: aluminum foil, stainless steel foil, copper foil, wherein this has a thickness of 8 to 100 µm.

[0063] According to a preferred development of the invention, a film material different from a metal film material can be used, selected from the following film materials: polylactide (PLA), polycarbonate (APEC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), chromo cardboard, fully bleached pulp, pulp paper, sugar cane paper, thermoformable fiber material, which has a thickness of 10 µm to 1.8 mm.

[0064] Examples of thermoformable plastic film materials are polylactide (PLA), polycarbonate (APEC), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). These film materials preferably have the following thicknesses: 10 µm, 20 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm, 150 µm, 200 µm, 350 µm, 500 µm, 800 µm, and 1 mm. The aforementioned thicknesses, in all combinations, can each form the lower or upper limits of a preferred thickness range. A range of 20 to 350 µm is particularly preferred.

[0065] The recovery rate of plastic materials is often insufficient. To address this problem, new compostable materials with similar barrier properties can be used. Examples of such films, the raw materials from which they are made, and their base material are shown below: Material: PHB / PHV; Raw material: starch, sugar; Base material: starch, sugar. Material: Polylactide (PLA); Raw material: Corn starch; Base material: Lactic acid. Material: thermoplastic starch or starch blends; raw material: potato, Wheat, corn; raw material: starch. Material: Cellophane; Raw material: Wood; Base material: Cellulose. Material: degradable polyester.

[0066] Examples of paper materials include chromo board, fully bleached pulp, cellulose paper, sugarcane paper, and thermoformable fiber material (active polyvalent packaging based on environmentally friendly fiber material with thermoformable properties). These film materials preferably have the following thicknesses: 20 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm, 150 µm, 200 µm, 350 µm, 500 µm, 800 µm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 1.8 mm. The aforementioned thicknesses, in all combinations, can each form the lower or upper limits of a preferred thickness range. A range of 50 to 500 µm is particularly preferred. The paper materials are sometimes thicker than the plastic film materials.

[0067] Examples of metal foil materials are aluminum foil, stainless steel foil, copper foil.

[0068] These foil materials preferably have the following thicknesses: 8 µm, 12 µm, 20 µm, 30 µm, 50 µm, 70 µm, and 100 µm. The aforementioned thicknesses, in all combinations, can each form the lower or upper limits of a preferred thickness range. A range of 13 to 30 µm is particularly preferred. The metal foil materials are sometimes preferably thinner than the plastic foil materials.

[0069] Different multilayer materials can also be used. However, if the invention is based on a foil material, it should contain one layer of foil material. If the invention is based on a foil material other than a metal foil material, no metal foil components should be included.

[0070] Since during further processing of the packaging trays produced according to the invention, these are connected to one another at their flange areas, particularly after a food product has been inserted, it is advantageous to use coated metal foil materials that have a plastic coating. This is later sealed and contributes to a tight connection of the packaging trays. A film with a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) coating can be provided as the sealable metal foil. The other plastic materials mentioned above can also be provided alternatively or in addition to the LDPE coating. The thickness of the individual layers can be selected from the thicknesses of the individual materials mentioned above. A so-called "hotmelt" coating can also be used as the sealable coating. This involves hotmelt adhesives with a composition that varies depending on the application.Hotmelt can be applied either over the entire surface of the film or partially, before the packaging trays are closed.

[0071] The types of seals and the materials as described in the German utility model application No. 20 2016 102 156.1 are hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present application.

[0072] Insofar as the invention relates to a metal foil material and a foil material different from a metal foil material, different types of material can generally also be used, which also constitutes an invention in itself.

[0073] Further preferred developments of the invention will be explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment explained below in conjunction with the drawing.

[0074] In this show: Fig. 1a to 1c show a schematic sequence of method steps of an embodiment of an apparatus for producing a food packaging; Fig. 2 an embodiment of a deformation device for the device in Fig. 1, in which two forming die arrangements are rotatable about a central axis; Fig. 3 a schematic detailed view of the forming punch, which is connected to a mold cavity from the embodiment in Fig. 1a interacts in cross-sectional view (left) and in top view (right); Fig. 4 an example of a packaging half-shell in cross-sectional view (left), in plan view (middle) and an assembled packaging with a food product contained therein in its cross-sectional view (right); Fig. 5 an example of a packaging half-shell with two sections made of different film materials.

[0075] In Fig. 1a shows only a section of a line of a device for producing food packaging. This device can, for example, be part of a packaging line in which the corresponding steps from the provision of the film to the finished packaged food product are carried out in individual, successive stations. It is also possible to use only individual stations with the Fig. 1a shown section.

[0076] To provide the film, a device or method described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 735.8 can be used.

[0077] After production of packaging trays, these can be used in the manner described in EP 2 366 631 A1 and / or in Fig. 1 of German patent application No. 10 2015 108 840.1 and the associated description and / or PCT application PCT / EP2016 / 051971 and / or German patent application No. 10 2015 101 417.3 are combined to form a package.

[0078] The aforementioned disclosures of the various applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present application.

[0079] On the Fig. 1a left side, a film is schematically designated by reference numeral 1, which is sucked at its front end by a feed device 2 and, as in Fig. 1b, is transferred into a deformation device 3 by translation of this feed device 2. The feed device 2, the deformation device 3 and a heating device 4 shown schematically in the figures are controlled by a control device 5. The deformation device 3 has an upper mold half 6 and a lower mold half 7. In the present case, the upper mold half 6 has a regular arrangement of forming punches 8 which are positioned such that when the upper mold half 6 moves towards the lower mold half 7, they are moved into corresponding mold cavities 9 of the lower mold half 7 in order to deform the film material therein and thus to create cavities 10 in the film material (cf. Fig. 1d) to form.

[0080] In Fig. 1a shows a coordinate system on the right side, which is also valid for all other Fig. 1b and Fig. 1c applies. Accordingly, the height direction in the following corresponds to the Z-axis. The translation direction of the film 1, in which it is fed into the forming device 3 by means of the feed device, is referred to as the X-axis, and the direction perpendicular to the Z and X axes, i.e. the direction into or out of the plane of the paper, is referred to as the Y-axis. Each of the upper and lower mold halves 6, 7, as well as for an embodiment explained later, is Fig. 2, essentially a rectangular mold half with mold punches 8 or mold cavities 9 arranged in a regular arrangement.

[0081] If the foil, as in Fig. 1b, has been transferred to the deformation device 3, it is deposited there and, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1c, in the present case the upper mold half 6 is pressed against the lower mold half 7, whereby cavities 10 are formed in the film material.

[0082] In the present embodiment, the film 1 is deposited in the deforming device 3 without first being divided into individual film sections. However, if pre-cutting is provided before deforming, this can be done in the manner and / or in a device as described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 738.2, the disclosure content of which is incorporated into the present application by this reference.

[0083] After the film has been deformed between the forming dies 8 and the mold cavities 9 in the present example, so that individual cavities 10 have been formed, it is finished by means of the cutting device 11 and shaped to produce a plurality of finished packaging shells, which in this case form packaging half-shells. A detailed view for easier understanding of the function of the cutting device 11 for finish cutting is shown in Fig. 3 shown schematically in a cross-sectional view on the left and in plan view on the right.

[0084] After the forming punch 8 has been pressed into the forming cavity 9 and the film 1 has been deformed, the cutting device 11 suspended on a spring element 12 is used to cut around the cavity 10 of the film formed between the forming punch 8 and the forming cavity 9 (cf. Fig. 1c) is cut around so that a packaging half-shell 13 with a circumferential flange 14 is generated (cf. Fig. 4 left and middle illustration). The spring-loaded suspension of the cutting device 11 is chosen so that the film material is formed between the forming punch 8 and the mold cavity 9 in a first cut, and only then is it cut into its final shape once the film material has been completely formed. This is because the final cutting should take place after the forming process is complete, or at least in the final stage of the forming process. When the material is deformed, it can still warp in the edge areas, and the final packaging half-shell often has an inaccurate flange contour.

[0085] In Fig. 3 on the right is a top view of the cutout in Fig. 3 on the left side. As can be seen, the cutting device 11 is designed as a knife running around the forming die 8, the cutting edges of which are directed towards the film 1.

[0086] Both the forming punch 8 and the cutting device 11 can also be suspended differently from the upper mold half, so that each can be adjusted individually by means of an actuator controlled by the control device 5.

[0087] A control of the entire Fig. 1a to c, preferably even the entire packaging line or subsections of the packaging line, as well as control of the forming and, in this case, also the final cutting, is ensured via a program code or program stored in the control device 5. The control device can be a conventional PC and / or an FPGA and / or an alternative device in which program codes can be stored and executed. This control device 5 optionally controls the actuators via which, for example, the individual elements such as the upper mold half 6, the lower mold half 7, the mold punch(s) 8, the mold cavity(ies) 8, and the heating device 4 are moved, and also controls the further settings of individual or all of the aforementioned elements.

[0088] In Fig. 4 on the left is a cross-sectional view of the finished cut packaging half-shell 13 and in Fig. 4 shows a top view of this packaging half-shell 13 in the middle, wherein the cavity 10 is arranged essentially centrally and is surrounded by a flange 14. Via this flange, for example, as in Fig. 4 on the right side, a first packaging half-shell 13 is connected to a second packaging half-shell 13' after, for example, a hollow chocolate figure or another food product has been inserted into the cavity 10.

[0089] After production of packaging trays, these can be used in the manner described in EP 2 366 631 A1 and / or in Fig. 1 of German patent application No. 10 2015 108 840.1 and the associated description and / or PCT application PCT / EP2016 / 051971 and / or German patent application No. 10 2015 101 417.3 are combined to form a package. The aforementioned disclosures of the various applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present application.

[0090] For example, after the cavities 10 have been formed in the film material by the forming device 3 and this has been finished cut into individual, finished packaging half-shells, these half-shells or the formed film material (if it has not been finished cut) can be removed from the forming cavity 9 and processed further.

[0091] For this removal, suction holes can be provided, for example, on the forming dies 8 themselves or on additional forming dies that are not used for forming but merely for lifting. The finished, cut packaging half-shells 13 can thus be suctioned up and fed to a further processing station, which is not shown in the figures. In the further processing station, for example, a food product can then be inserted into the respective packaging half-shell and closed using another packaging half-shell.

[0092] In the Fig. In the device shown in Figures 1a to c, a program is stored in the control device which controls the interaction of the corresponding devices, heating device and deformation device.

[0093] The program has specific predefined values ​​for processing one metal foil material and for processing a material other than metal foil. This allows different types of foil materials to be processed on a single packaging line, especially with the same packaging device.

[0094] In the present example from the Fig. 1a to c, switching is carried out between the program for the operation of deforming metal foil material and the program for the operation of deforming non-metal foil only via a switching device (means for switching), insofar as a corresponding material is to be deformed in the deformation device 3.

[0095] This switching between programs can be done with a simple switch or controlled by a user via a user interface (e.g., an app or application on a PC). For example, a drop-down menu is displayed on a screen where the user can select the material type to be deformed in the deformation device.

[0096] This can even go so far as to allow the specific composition to be selected for each material type. This means that, for example, if the material is paper, a choice can be made between different paper / cardboard types (e.g., differing in terms of their composition, structure, and thickness). If the material is thermoformable plastic, a choice can be made between different types (e.g., differing in terms of their composition, structure, and thickness). The same applies to the selection of different types of metal foil.

[0097] Examples of thermoformable plastic film materials are polylactide (PLA), polycarbonate (APEC), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). These film materials preferably have the following thicknesses: 10 µm, 20 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm, 150 µm, 200 µm, 350 µm, 500 µm, 800 µm, and 1 mm. The aforementioned thicknesses, in all combinations, can each form the lower or upper limits of a preferred thickness range. A range of 20 to 350 µm is particularly preferred.

[0098] The recovery rate of plastic materials is often insufficient. To address this problem, new compostable materials with similar barrier properties can be used. Examples of such films, the raw materials from which they are made, and their base material are shown below: Material: PHB / PHV; Raw material: starch, sugar; Base material: starch, sugar. Material: Polylactide (PLA); Raw material: Corn starch; Base material: Lactic acid. Material: thermoplastic starch or starch blends; raw material: potato, Wheat, corn; raw material: starch. Material: Cellophane; Raw material: Wood; Base material: Cellulose. Material: degradable polyester.

[0099] Examples of paper materials include chromo board, fully bleached pulp, cellulose paper, sugarcane paper, and thermoformable fiber material (active polyvalent packaging based on environmentally friendly fiber material with thermoformable properties). These film materials preferably have the following thicknesses: 20 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm, 150 µm, 200 µm, 350 µm, 500 µm, 800 µm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm, and 1.8 mm. The aforementioned thicknesses, in all combinations, can each form the lower or upper limits of a preferred thickness range. A range of 50 to 500 µm is particularly preferred. The paper materials are sometimes thicker than the plastic film materials.

[0100] Examples of metal foil materials are aluminum foil, stainless steel foil, copper foil.

[0101] These foil materials preferably have the following thicknesses: 8 µm, 12 µm, 20 µm, 30 µm, 50 µm, 70 µm, and 100 µm. The aforementioned thicknesses, in all combinations, can each form the lower or upper limits of a preferred thickness range. A range of 13 to 30 µm is particularly preferred. The metal foil materials are sometimes preferably thinner than the plastic foil materials.

[0102] Different multilayer materials can also be used. However, if the invention is based on a foil material, it should contain one layer of foil material. If the invention is based on a foil material other than a metal foil material, no metal foil components should be included.

[0103] Since during further processing of the packaging trays produced according to the invention, these are joined together at their flange areas, particularly after a food product has been inserted, it is advantageous to use coated metal foil materials that have a plastic coating. This is later sealed and contributes to a tight connection of the packaging trays. A film with a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) coating can be provided as the sealable metal foil. The other plastic materials mentioned above can also be provided alternatively or in addition to the LDPE coating. The thickness of the individual layers can be selected from the thicknesses of the individual materials mentioned above. A so-called "hotmelt" coating can also be used as the sealable coating. This involves hotmelt adhesives with a composition that varies depending on the application.Hotmelt can be applied either over the entire surface of the film or partially, before the packaging trays are closed.

[0104] The types of seals and the materials as described in the German utility model application No. 20 2016 102 156.1 are hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure content of the present application.

[0105] In the present example from the Fig. 1a to c, the heating device 4 is switched on or off or its heating power is changed via the control device depending on the material to be formed.

[0106] Additionally or alternatively, the pressure profile can be adapted to the respective material during deformation and, if necessary, if required due to the material (for example, when forming thermoformable plastic), the heating device 4 can be switched on or its temperature controlled in order to preheat the material as soon as this is helpful for deformation. During forming, for example, the so-called forming force and / or the so-called hold-down force can be incorporated into the different pressure conditions. The forming force is the force by means of which the mold halves are pressed against one another for forming. The hold-down force is the force by means of which the film material is held down during forming, for example in its edge regions that lie outside the mold cavity, in order to ensure reliable forming of the material.The hold-down force is exerted, for example, by a hold-down element, which presses film areas around the deformation region of the film against the lower mold half, for example. Preferably, the pressure profile (the hold-down force and the forming force) remains unchanged in the different operating states. A corresponding hold-down device, as well as the upper or lower mold half, can be suspended from mechanical spring elements. Alternatively or additionally, one or more actuators assigned to these elements can be provided, via which the pressure profile is adjusted using the control unit.

[0107] For example, since the forming properties of metal foil differ from those of plastic foil, a customized forming program is used for each of these processes. The same applies to the forming of paper materials, whose forming properties also differ from those of the other materials mentioned above.

[0108] Even if in the present case the heating device is located upstream of the forming device 3, it can alternatively or additionally be integrated into the forming device 3, for example by providing infrared lamps on the upper or lower mold half. Any heating device known in thermoforming can be used here. In the present case, the heating device 4 is formed by two heating plates 15, 15'. The film 1 is passed between the two heating plates 15, 15' and, if it is a film made of thermoformable plastic, is heated during this process. The film is transferred, while still warm and thus formable, into the forming device 3 by means of the feed device 2.

[0109] In the present case, the film material is transferred directly from a roll into the forming unit 3, without pre-cutting it into film material sections. Unrolling can be carried out in the device described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 735.8, which is incorporated into the disclosure of the present application by this reference.

[0110] Before heating in the heating device 4, or after heating, or even during heating, the film material can be formed into individual film material sections, for example, square film sections, which are then deposited individually or all together simultaneously by a transfer device in the forming device. Pre-cutting can be performed in the device described in German patent application No. 10 2015 220 738.2 or by means of the method described therein, which is incorporated into the disclosure of the present application by this reference.

[0111] If the film material is pre-cut into individual film material sections, the deformation of adjacent film sections between the forming dies 8 and the mold cavities 9 is facilitated, since only one film section is formed at a time, and therefore no tensile forces are exerted on the corresponding adjacent film section during its deformation. This pre-cutting can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the final cutting, since the final cutting only determines the final shape of the packaging half-shell.

[0112] Alternatively or in addition to the embodiment from Fig. 1a to 1c, where the heating device is controlled by the control unit 5, can be controlled by the control unit 5, as for example in Fig. 2, two upper mold halves 6, 6', which are attached to a common upper part of the deformation device 3 (not shown in the figure), can be provided so as to be rotatable about their axial symmetry center Z, or can be provided so as to be rotatable in another way.

[0113] In the example in Fig. 2 is the Fig. 2 The upper mold half 6' shown below is an upper mold half made of such a material, with which a thermoformable plastic material can be better formed and which in Fig. 2 The upper mold half 6 shown above is made of a material that can be used to more easily form metal foil material. In particular, the forming dies 8 of the corresponding mold halves 6, 6' are designed to better form a thermoformable plastic material or, better, metal foil material.

[0114] In the Fig. In the orientation shown in Figure 2, the upper mold half 6', which is more suitable for forming thermoformable plastic material, is arranged in the line such that it is now the working mold half (used for forming) in the forming device 3. Therefore, the heating device 4 is also shown schematically in the figure as an extension of this mold half 6'. If no thermoformable plastic material is to be formed, the upper part can be rotated by 180° in plan view, i.e., around the Z-axis, using the control device 5, so that the other upper mold half 6, which is more suitable for forming metal foil material, is aligned in the extension of the production line.

[0115] If three or more different materials can be formed, three or more upper mold halves can be arranged accordingly. For three materials, these are, for example, aligned at a 120° angle to each other in a triangular shape and pivotable about a central axis. This configuration can be selected both for the upper mold halves on an upper part and additionally or alternatively for the lower mold halves 7, which are then provided together on a lower part of the forming device 3.

[0116] Alternatively, if the upper or lower mold halves are mounted together on an upper part or lower part, an upper or lower mold half mounted next to the forming device 3 can be easily exchanged in an automated manner for the specific forming conditions by means of the control device 5.

[0117] Alternatively, instead of the automatic exchange of individual mold halves, manual exchange by the operating personnel can also be provided.

[0118] Ultimately, however, the control system contains different specifications for forming different materials. These instructions may include, as an alternative to or in addition to the pressure adjustment described, instructions for exchanging the mold halves and / or rotating the upper or lower part.

[0119] In the present exemplary embodiment, it has only been described that a single film web / film sheet is formed in a packaging line, thus forming packaging half-shells 13. In the case, for example, that a packaged food product is to be provided in which one of the film half-shells (partial shells) consists of a first material and another film half-shell (partial shell) consists of a further material, which is a different material than the first half-shell, two film webs and / or film sheets can also be fed side by side.

[0120] Accordingly, at least two of the Fig. 1 are arranged side by side in the device, whereby, for example, the feed device 2 and the heating device 3 can also form a common unit of the two lines. In this case, for example, a forming device with upper and lower mold halves arranged side by side can also be provided, each with a corresponding number of forming punches 8 and mold cavities 9.

[0121] In this case, the two deformation devices 3 or the upper and lower mold halves arranged next to one another are controlled via the control device 5, so that in one deformation device or the one upper and lower mold halves is / are operated with the program that the first material is deformed and the other deformation device or the other upper and lower mold halves is / are operated with the program that the second material is deformed.

[0122] Subsequently, in the case where the two finished half-shells, for example made of different materials, come out of the device arranged next to each other, the food products can then be placed into one half-shell and the other half-shells can be folded over it and connected to each other at their circumferential flange areas in order to produce the packaging.

[0123] This embodiment can constitute an invention in itself, without the control device having means for selecting between a state for an operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device and an operation in which a foil material different from a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device, in the case where only a single deformation device is provided.

[0124] Alternatively or additionally, composite packaging half-shells 13 can also be produced in the respective forming device 3. Such a situation is shown schematically, for example, in Fig. 5. The Fig. 5 on the right side is made, for example, of a transparent thermoformable plastic and the first section 17 of the packaging half-shell 13 Fig. The left second section 16 of the packaging half-shell 13 shown in Figure 5 is made of an opaque metal foil material or paper material. The hatched area is an area where the two materials overlap.

[0125] The second section 17 of the packaging half-shell 13, which is made of metal foil, is produced, for example, as previously described, by means of the forming device 3. For this purpose, however, the foil or a foil section is only placed over the corresponding mold cavity 9 in such a way that it is only half or partially covered, thus forming this second section 17.

[0126] After a possible final cutting, the flange 14 and the cavity are then formed accordingly.

[0127] After the second section 17 of the packaging half-shell 13 has been formed, the section 16 of the packaging half-shell 13, which has already been preformed, for example, in a corresponding device, is placed into the mold cavity. These sections are then joined in the overlapping area. Such a connection can be achieved by any type of welding and / or gluing.

[0128] Alternatively, however, a non-preformed film section of a second material can be partially placed over the mold cavity 9 in a corresponding manner and then formed using the converted program to deform the other material. If this is a thermoformable material, the two sections bond instantly at the overlapping area during forming, resulting in a packaging half-shell made from segments of different materials. Such a segmented half-shell can be connected to a corresponding half-shell of the same type or to other half-shells via their flange areas after the food has been placed in the cavity.

[0129] This can be done, for example, as follows: If the chocolate figure is a hollow figure, such as a Santa Claus or an Easter Bunny, a lower part of the packaging half-shells in which it is wrapped can be made opaque (e.g., on metal foil) and an upper part can be made transparent.

[0130] The segment-like design by means of the device can also constitute an invention in itself, without the control device having means for selecting between a state for an operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device and an operation in which a foil material different from a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device, in the case where only a single deformation device is provided.

[0131] It is also possible to store only a single program in the control unit, in which it is controlled that the film segments, after they have been partially laid over the mold cavity, are deformed simultaneously or are deformed one after the other as described above or only one of the partial segments is deformed in order to generate this correspondingly segment-like packaging half-shell.

[0132] In a similar manner, for example, a packaging half-shell / partial shell made of an opaque material with a window can be provided, the window being closed by a transparent material, such as a thermoformable plastic material.

[0133] For this purpose, for example, a film section in which a window cutout is prepared is inserted into the forming device 3. After or before the forming process, a film element made of a transparent film material is inserted, for example, as described above, and then connected to it simultaneously or subsequently.

[0134] A single packaging half-shell produced using the method or device according to the invention can also be closed on the back with a planar lidding material after a product has been inserted. It is not necessary to use identical half-shells to package the food product. List of reference symbols 1 slide 2 Feeding device 3 Deformation device 4 Heating device 5 Control device 6, 6' upper mold half 7 lower mold half 8 form stamps 9 Mold cavity 10 Cavity 11 Cutting device 12 spring element 13, 13' packaging half-shell 14 Flange 15, 15' heating plate 16, 17 Section

Claims

[1] Device for producing a food packaging unit, comprising a feed unit (2) for feeding film material (1), a deformation device (3) for deforming the film material (1) in order to form a plurality of cavities (10) in the film material (1), in each of which a food product can be at least partially accommodated, and a control device (5) by means of which the deformation device (3) can be controlled in order to form the cavities (10), characterized by that the control device (5) has means for selecting between a state for an operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device (3) and an operation in which a foil material different from a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device (3). [2] Apparatus for producing a food packaging unit according to claim 1, characterized bythat the control device (5) has means for selecting at least between two of the operating states: operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device (3), operation in which a thermoformable plastic foil material can be formed in the deformation device (3), operation in which a paper material can be formed in the deformation device (3). [3] Device for producing a food packaging unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a heating device (4) is provided, by means of which a thermoformable plastic film material or a thermoformable paper material can be heated, wherein the heating device (4) is provided in the deformation device (3) and / or is arranged upstream thereof. [4] Device for producing a food packaging unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the control device (5) is configured to control the heating device when the operating state changes depending on the film material to be formed. [5] Device for producing a food packaging unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the control device (5) is configured to adapt a pressure and / or a pressure profile between a forming die (8) of a first mold half (6, 6') of the deformation device and a mold cavity (9) of a second mold half (7, 7') of the deformation device depending on the film material to be deformed. [6] Device for producing a food packaging unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the control device (5) is configured, when switching from the operation in which a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device (3), to the operation in which a foil material different from a metal foil material can be formed in the deformation device (3), to exchange a first forming punch (8) of a first mold half (6) of the deformation device (3) for a second forming punch (8) of a second mold half (6') of the deformation device (3); and / or to exchange a first mold cavity (9) of a third mold half (7) of the deformation device for a second mold cavity (9) of a fourth mold half (7) of the deformation device (3). [7] Device for producing a food packaging unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a forming stamp (8) of a first mold half (6, 6') of the deformation device (3) and / or a mold cavity (9) of a second mold half (7) of the deformation device (3) has a suction device by means of which the deformed film material (19) can be brought onto the deformation device (3) and fed to a further processing station. [8] Device for producing a food packaging unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a cutting device is provided which divides the film material into film material sections, so that a plurality of adjacent film sections can be deformed in the deformation device. [9] Device for producing a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least two deformation devices (3) are provided next to one another, which control the control device (5) in such a way that a different type of film material can be deformed in each of the at least two deformation devices (3). [10] Method for producing packaging part shells (13, 13') of a food packaging with a feeding step in which a film material (1) is fed to a forming device (3) and a forming step in which a plurality of cavities are formed in the film material in the forming device (3), characterized by that in the same forming device (3) a metal foil material and a foil material different from a metal foil material are successively formed. [11] Method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat settings in a control device (5) with which the deformation device is controlled are changed depending on the type of film material fed in. [12] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the changed settings are at least one selected from the following group: adjusting the pressure and / or pressure profile applied between a forming punch (8) of a first mold half (6, 6') of the deformation device (3) and a mold cavity (9) of a second mold half (7) of the deformation device (3) during the deformation; exchanging a first forming punch (8) on a first mold half (6) of the deformation device (3) for a second forming punch (8) on a second mold half (6') of the deformation device (3); exchanging a first mold cavity (9) in a third mold half (7) of the deformation device (3) for a second mold cavity (9) on a third mold half (7) of the deformation device (3). [13] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat in the forming device three different types of film material are formed at least one after the other in a random order. [14] Method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a heating step in which a thermoformable plastic film material or a paper or cardboard material is heated before it is deformed in the deformation device to form the cavities (10). [15] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heating step is carried out before the film material (1) is fed to the deformation device (3) and / or when the film material (1) is fed to the deformation device (3). [16] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a heating device is controlled depending on the different operating conditions. [17] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that, depending on the different operating conditions, a light source with a wavelength predetermined for a film material is controlled, and / or a humidification device is controlled, by means of which the film material is humidified. [18] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in the feeding step individual sheets of the film material are fed or the film material is unrolled from a roll and fed. [19] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the film material (1) is pre-cut before the cavities (10) are formed by means of the deformation device (3), so that a plurality of adjacent film sections are provided in which a cavity is formed. [20] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the film material (1) is transferred from a transfer device (2) into the deformation device. [21] Method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat different types of film material are deformed simultaneously in at least two deformation devices (3), and the deformed different types of film material are converted into corresponding partial shells which are connected to one another, so that a food packaging with at least two partial film shells made of different material is provided. [22] Method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that in a first step a film material is deformed in the deformation device (3), and in a further step a pre-formed packaging section made of a second film material is inserted into the deformed film material (1) lying in the respective mold cavity (10), or in a further step a second film material is deformed so that it connects at least in sections to the deformed film material lying in the respective cavity. [23] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at the same time as the metal foil material is being formed, a foil material made of thermoplastic material lying next to it and at least partially overlapping it is formed, the two materials bonding together in the overlapping area. [24] Method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one window made of a thermoplastic material is provided in the metal foil material. [25] Method for producing packaging part trays of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the metal foil material is a multi-layer material with at least one plastic and / or paper foil layer, and the foil material different from a metal foil material in any case does not contain a metal foil layer. [26] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat metal foil material is a metal foil material selected from the following foil materials: aluminum foil, stainless steel foil, copper foil, which has a thickness of 8 to 100 µm. [27] Method for producing packaging part shells of a food packaging according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the film material different from a metal foil material is selected from the following film materials: polylactide (PLA), polycarbonate (APEC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), chromo cardboard, fully bleached pulp, pulp paper, sugar cane paper, thermoformable fiber material, PHB / PHV, polylactide (PLA), thermoplastic starch, cellophane, degradable polyester, whereby this has a thickness of 10 µm to 1.8 mm.

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