Thermoforming device and packaging machine with a thermoforming device

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a deep-drawing device having the features according to the preamble of claim 1 and a packaging machine for producing filled bags with such a deep-drawing device.

[0002] DE 2 046 328 A discloses a continuously operating molding machine for producing objects from plastically deformable material sheets. Two endless belts each carry female dies or matching male dies. They are moved in a rotating manner such that the female and male dies run parallel in pairs over a limited distance, intermeshing. This intermeshing process deforms an intermediate thermoplastic material sheet according to the contour of the female and male die pair.

[0003] In a common design, packaging units are often produced by first deep-drawing film. A product is filled into the resulting film recesses, which are then sealed with a cover film. This creates a double-layer film strip in which individual portions of the product are separated from each other. These portions are then separated in a cutting station.

[0004] Particularly in the household sector, individual doses of detergent or dishwashing liquid are packaged in the aforementioned manner using two webs of water-soluble film. For industrial mass production, packaging machines are used in continuous, non-cyclical operation. Here, a conveyor, for example in the form of a chain, continuously rotates around a stationary machine frame, with the conveyor on the upper processing side covering a straight, horizontal path. Together with the conveyor, plate elements with so-called format or matrix plates are continuously moved in rotation. Synchronized with the movement of the format plates, a first film web is continuously fed and placed on top of the format plates. Several mold cavities are formed in the format plates, which play a central role in the deep drawing and filling processes.

[0005] In a previously known design, a deep-drawing device with a forming station is used, which moves synchronously with the respective format plate only over a partial distance from a start position to an end position and then is cyclically moved back to the start position. At the same time, the transport of the format plates and the film web is continuously maintained. While moving from the start position to the end position, the film web is first heated to a temperature such that it can be plastically deformed. The film, which can be deformed in this way, is then deep-drawn into the forming cavities by means of an applied forming vacuum. After deep-drawing, the forming station moves back to its starting position to heat the next section of the film web and deep-draw it into the forming cavities of a subsequent format plate.

[0006] After the thermoforming process is complete, it is important to ensure that the film remains in the mold cavities to accommodate sufficient quantities of the product to be added later. During the subsequent sealing process, it is also important that the lower film web and the added portions of the product remain in place to achieve a clean and tight seal. Therefore, following the thermoforming process, the mold cavities are typically subjected to a vacuum to hold the film web in its thermoformed shape.

[0007] To achieve this, two-part devices for providing a vacuum are known in the prior art. A first part, namely a stationary mold vacuum device, is located where the deep-drawing process takes place. Following in the direction of movement, the second part, in the form of a holding vacuum device, is also stationary. In their continuous movement, the format plates slide over both parts and are sequentially connected via corresponding channel connections, first to the mold vacuum device and then to the holding vacuum device. This makes it possible to first apply a mold vacuum to the mold cavities and then, independently, to a lower, yet still sufficiently high, holding vacuum.

[0008] In practical operation, several difficulties must be overcome. Due to the sliding relative movement of the format plates relative to the stationary vacuum channel, appropriate sealing agents must be provided. Despite the considerable technical effort, considerable flow losses at the sealing points cannot be avoided. Setting and maintaining a desired vacuum level is difficult. The transfer from the forming vacuum device to the holding vacuum device with a continuous vacuum flow is also challenging.

[0009] The relative movement of the format plate elements relative to the stationary vacuum channel generates high frictional forces. These have a detrimental impact on the drive and the required drive power, as well as on the positioning accuracy of the individual processing stations, for example, due to stretching of the conveyor chain. The service life of the conveyor chain is also reduced by the high loads resulting from the frictional forces that must be overcome.

[0010] On the other hand, users are increasingly demanding ever higher vacuum levels.

[0011] The invention is based on the object of further developing a thermoforming device of the type in question in such a way that improved vacuum control is achieved. This object is achieved by a thermoforming device having the features of claim 1.

[0012] The invention is further based on the object of improving the cost-effectiveness of a packaging machine for producing filled bags. This object is achieved by a packaging machine having the features of claim 8.

[0013] According to the invention, the plate elements are permanently connected to one another via connecting lines, one plate element is designed as a connecting element with at least one vacuum connection, and the vacuum connection is connected to a vacuum source. During operation, the plate elements are permanently pressurized with vacuum via the connecting lines and the vacuum connection. Each plate element has a switching valve for applying the vacuum permanently present in the plate element to the associated mold cavities as needed.

[0014] The inventive design creates a circulating, closed vacuum supply system for the holding vacuum and / or for the molding vacuum. Due to its closed design, it is virtually leak-free. Furthermore, virtually no friction generated by the vacuum system needs to be overcome during movement processes. Due to the absence of contact forces for creating a seal, mechanical stresses, particularly on the drive train, are low. Deformation under operating load is reduced to a minimum. The required drive power is low. The self-contained vacuum system allows for the provision of increased vacuum values, so that even difficult process configurations can be implemented.

[0015] Various options are possible for connecting the rotating plate element, designed as a connecting element, to the vacuum source. Preferably, a vacuum device is provided that comprises the vacuum source, a carrier guided along the machine frame with at least one rotary feedthrough, and a flexible vacuum bypass between the vacuum source and the carrier. The vacuum connection of the plate element, designed as a connecting element, is connected to the rotary feedthrough of the vacuum device via a connecting line in a vacuum-transmitting manner.

[0016] No separate drive is required for the movement of the individual components within the vacuum system. Instead, the rotating plate element pulls the driver along its guide in a back-and-forth motion. The rotary union allows the corresponding plate element to follow its linear movement paths in the process direction and in the opposite direction. The rotary union also permits cyclical rotary motion of the plate element as it rotates cyclically around the machine frame. This means that sealing of moving, vacuum-carrying parts is only necessary in the area of the rotary union. Since only a pure rotary motion occurs here, such sealing can be implemented without major difficulties. The smooth running of the assembly is virtually unaffected by such sealing.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the mold cavities can be sequentially subjected to a mold vacuum and a holding vacuum, wherein the vacuum connection is a holding vacuum connection, the vacuum source is a holding vacuum source, and the plate elements are permanently subjected to the holding vacuum during operation. In the embodiment according to the invention, the vacuum provided as a holding vacuum is provided along the entire usable movement path of the plate elements. The holding vacuum can be used at any desired location or at any processing station without additional effort.

[0018] The switching valve in each platen element allows the permanently available vacuum to be activated at any desired time. Individual die plates can be easily switched on or switched from a forming vacuum to a holding vacuum and vice versa.

[0019] It may be expedient to provide different, separately operable switching valves for the mold vacuum and the holding vacuum. In a preferred embodiment, the switching valve in the respective plate element is designed as a switching valve for alternately applying the mold vacuum and the holding vacuum to the mold cavities. This ensures, in particular, the transition from the initial mold vacuum to the subsequent holding vacuum with a simple design and high functional reliability.

[0020] It may be expedient to also supply the mold vacuum with the aforementioned arrangement. However, unlike the holding vacuum, the mold vacuum does not need to be available over a longer distance along several processing stations. Rather, its availability solely in the working area of the deep-drawing device is sufficient. Therefore, the deep-drawing arrangement preferably has its own mold vacuum device, which comprises a mold vacuum source and a connecting device connected to the mold vacuum source, wherein the connecting device is part of the cyclically moved deep-drawing device. The plate elements each have a mold vacuum connection. Correspondingly, the connecting device has at least one vacuum connector designed for cyclical connection to the mold vacuum connection.

[0021] This creates an arrangement in which the connecting device moves cyclically with the other parts of the deep-drawing device back and forth between a start position and an end position. During movement in the working direction, the connecting device is connected via its vacuum connector to the associated mold vacuum connection of the respective plate element, ensuring loss-free and friction-free provision of the mold vacuum. During the cyclical return movement, the connecting device is separated from the mold vacuum connection, so that the further movement of the plate elements is unhindered. In particular, the connecting device has several and advantageously four vacuum connectors for cyclically connecting a corresponding number of plate elements, so that these can be subjected to the mold vacuum for simultaneous deep drawing in a single work cycle.

[0022] In an advantageous development, the connecting device with its at least one vacuum connector is designed to execute a release movement that releases the vacuum connection and a closing movement that establishes the vacuum connection, each with a directional component perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plate elements. The corresponding release movement moves the connecting device away from the moving plate elements so that mechanical contact no longer exists. The movement of the plate elements is unhindered in the released state. In particular, no friction can develop between the connecting device and the moving plate elements. The connecting closing movement eliminates this distance. The connecting device docks onto one or more plate elements in a vacuum-transmitting manner and is then moved synchronously with them.Here, too, no frictional forces occur in connection with the vacuum transmission, so that overall free movement of the plate elements is ensured while at the same time the vacuum guide is highly tight.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the plate elements each comprise a carrier plate connected to the rotating conveyor and a die plate detachably connected to the carrier plate. The mold cavities are formed in the die plate, while the carrier plates are connected to one another via the connecting lines and also each accommodate the aforementioned at least one switching valve. By replacing the die plate, the mold cavities and thus the product geometry can be changed with little effort, while the vacuum guidance and control according to the invention remain unaffected. The effort required for machine conversion is thereby reduced to a minimum.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 in a side view of a packaging machine designed according to the invention with a continuously rotating conveyor and with cyclically moving forming, filling and sealing stations, Fig. 2 in an enlarged sectional view of part of the forming station according to Fig. 1 with a connecting device connected to several plate elements for applying a deep-drawing vacuum, Fig. 3 in a perspective schematic representation of the conveyor according to Fig. 1 with plate elements connected to one another in a vacuum-transmitting manner and with a rotary feedthrough of a holding vacuum device connected to a connecting element, Fig. 4 in a partially sectioned perspective view of one of the plate elements with die plate, with carrier plate and with a changeover valve integrated into the carrier plate.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a section of a packaging machine according to the invention for producing filled bags. For this purpose, the packaging machine comprises a machine frame 3, a forming station 4 with a deep-drawing device 5, a filling station 6 with a filling device 7 and a sealing station 8 with a sealing device 9. A film web 1 is fed to the packaging machine and deep-drawn in the forming station 4 by means of the deep-drawing device 5, so that troughs are formed in the film web 1. These troughs are filled with a product in the filling station 6. Subsequently, a cover film 2 is fed and sealed onto the film web 1 in the sealing station 8, whereby the filled troughs are closed. In a cutting station (not shown), the film unit thus formed is separated into film bags.In the exemplary embodiment, film web 1 and cover film 2 are water-soluble films, specifically PVOH films, between which a detergent or cleaning agent is packaged. Filled film bags produced in this way are placed in a dishwasher, for example. There, the film material dissolves upon contact with water, releasing the detergent contained within. The same applies analogously to the use of such a film bag in a washing machine.

[0026] The packaging machine comprises a stationary machine frame 3 and a continuously driven conveyor 10. The conveyor 10 can be a conveyor belt or the like and, in the illustrated embodiment, is formed by plate elements 14 that are connected to one another by link chains. Mold cavities 15 (described in more detail below) are provided on the plate elements 14. Fig. 3, 4 ) for deep-drawing the film web 1 and for holding the troughs formed in the film web 1 by the deep-drawing. The plate elements 14 are driven continuously and in rotation around the machine frame 3 together with the conveyor 10, wherein they move on an upper horizontal track in a direction of movement 11 indicated by an arrow for the actual production process of the bags. After the actual production process and after appropriate deflection, they are then returned in the lower area of the machine frame 2 in the opposite direction according to an arrow 12. The endless film web 1 is also fed continuously and placed from above onto the plate elements 14 with the forming cavities 15. Later, the cover film 2 is continuously fed between the filling station 6 and the sealing station 8 and placed from above onto the upper side of the film web 1.The film web 1 and the cover film 2 are moved synchronously and continuously with the conveyor 10 in the direction of movement 11 when applied.

[0027] The station for feeding the film web 1 and the station for feeding the cover film 2 are fixedly mounted on the machine frame 3, as are stations (not shown) for water application to support the sealing process and for perforating or lateral trimming of the films. The processes carried out here, as well as the movement of the conveyor 10, operate continuously. This is different for the forming station 4, the filling station 6, and the sealing station 8. Their thermoforming device 5, filling device 7, and sealing device 9 are not fixedly positioned relative to the machine frame 3, but are moved in sections synchronously with the conveyor 10 in the direction of movement 11 over a specific distance.Meanwhile, in the forming station 4, the film web 1 is deep-drawn by means of the moving deep-drawing device 5. In the filling station 6, the product to be packaged is filled into the deep-drawn cavities by means of the moving filling device 7. And in the sealing station 8, the cover film 2 is sealed onto the lower film web 1 by means of the moving sealing device 9. After each process is completed, the deep-drawing device 5, the filling device 7, and the sealing device 9 are cyclically moved back to their starting positions, where a new cycle of the respective process begins. At least the forming station 4 can also be stationary, for example, with a heating roller for heating the film web to deep-drawing temperature.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged longitudinal section of a section of the deep-drawing device 5 according to Fig. 1 The deep-drawing device 5 can be designed to receive only a single plate element 14 and to deep-draw the film web 1 therein in one cycle. In the illustrated embodiment, the deep-drawing device 5 is designed to simultaneously receive several, here four consecutive plate elements 14. The four consecutive plate elements 14 together form a plate set 13, with the deep-drawing device 5 always cyclically receiving a complete plate set 13. This does not necessarily have to apply to the subsequent filling and sealing stations 6, 8 ( Fig. 1 ) apply. In the example shown according to Fig. 1 However, the filling station 6 and the sealing station 8 are also designed to accommodate and cyclically process a complete set of plates 13.

[0029] The information related to Fig. 1 The deep-drawing arrangement already described and only partially illustrated here has a mold vacuum device 25. This comprises a mold vacuum source 26 and a connecting device 27. The connecting device 27 is permanently connected to the mold vacuum source 26, so that a switchable mold vacuum is permanently available in the connecting device 27 during operation. The connecting device 27 is provided with at least one vacuum connector 29 on its upper side. In the preferred embodiment shown, several, here a total of four, such vacuum connectors 29 are positioned on the upper side of the connecting device 27.

[0030] On their respective undersides, the plate elements 14 each have a mold vacuum connection 28. The mold vacuum connections 28 and the vacuum connectors 29 are designed for cyclical establishment and cyclical release of the vacuum connection. In the illustration according to Fig. 2 The connecting device 27, with its vacuum connectors 29, is connected in a vacuum-transmitting manner to the mold vacuum connections 28 of an entire plate set 13, i.e., to the mold vacuum connections 28 of a total of four plate elements 14. In this connected state, the connecting device 27, with its vacuum connectors 29, is pressed sealingly from below against the mold vacuum connections 28 of the plate elements 14. However, a mechanical coupling, for example, with a positive connection or with a locking mechanism, may also be expedient. In any case, in the connected state, a pressure-tight, vacuum-transmitting connection exists between the connecting device 27 and the connected plate elements 14.

[0031] The connecting device 27 is part of the Fig. 1 described in more detail, and is moved cyclically back and forth between the start and end positions mentioned above. In the connected state according to Fig. 2 The connecting device 27 runs in the direction of movement 11 synchronously with the plate elements 14 from the start position to the end position. During this time, the Fig. 4 shown mold cavities 15 are subjected to the applied mold vacuum via switching valves 19 also shown there, so that the heated, plastically deformable film web 1 is deep-drawn into the mold cavities 15 by means of the mold vacuum.

[0032] After the deep-drawing process has been completed and the final position has been reached, the connecting device 27 with its vacuum connectors 29 is separated from the mold vacuum connections 28 of the connected plate elements 14 and withdrawn therefrom. The mold vacuum connections 28 on the plate elements 14 in use, as well as the associated vacuum connectors 29, are individually closed automatically or automatically by valves located therein (not shown in detail) before separation. The aforementioned withdrawal occurs vertically downwards. A release movement 30 is thus performed, separating the vacuum connection, with a directional component perpendicular to the direction of movement, so that the connecting device 27 is brought to a vertical distance from the plate elements 14.The connection device 27, thus released and lowered, now moves back together with the remaining deep-drawing device 5 in a return movement 31 to such an extent that, in a subsequent, lifting closing movement 32 with a directional component also perpendicular to the direction of movement 11, it is connected to the subsequent plate set 13' and moves with it again in the direction of movement 11. During connection or joining, the aforementioned valves in the mold vacuum connections 28 and in the vacuum connectors 29 are automatically opened again, thus restoring a vacuum-transmitting connection.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows in a perspective principle diagram the conveyor 10 after Fig. 1 with details on the guidance of the holding vacuum. For simplification, the conveyor 10 is shorter here than in the actual packaging machine according to Fig. 1 and only shown in the area of the deep-drawing device 5 in order to better highlight the technical details.

[0034] It can be seen here that a matrix of mold cavities 15 is incorporated on the upper sides of the plate elements 14, whereby for the sake of clarity only one plate element 14 with such mold cavities 15 is shown here. As already mentioned in connection with Fig. 1 explained, the film web 1 is placed on the upper side of the plate element 14 moved in the direction of movement 11 and is drawn into the mold cavities 15 in the deep-drawing device 5, which is only indicated here, by means of the device described above in connection with Fig. 2 deep-drawn in the form vacuum device 25 described above. After completion of the deep-drawing process, the plate elements 14 continue to run in the direction of movement 11 through the subsequent processing stations not shown here, namely through the filling station 6 and the sealing station 8 ( Fig. 1 ). The mold vacuum no longer acts on the film web 1, but is replaced by a holding vacuum described in more detail below. The holding vacuum holds the deep-drawn film web 1 in the mold cavities 15, at least during passage through the filling station 6 and the sealing station 8 ( Fig. 1 ).

[0035] To apply the holding vacuum to the mold cavities 15, a plate element, designated 14' here, is designed as a connecting element and is provided with at least one, here two, vacuum connections 17. Via these vacuum connections 17, the plate element 14' is connected to a vacuum source 18 in a vacuum-transmitting manner, as described in more detail below. Furthermore, the plate element 14' designed as a connecting element corresponds to the other plate elements 14 in its other features and reference numerals. All plate elements 14, 14' are permanently connected to the vacuum-transmitting via connecting lines 16. The connecting lines 16 are formed here by flexible hoses. However, they can also be fixed joint channels or the like.In any case, during operation, the vacuum level supplied by the vacuum source 18 via the connecting line 24 is available in all plate elements 14, 14' at every position along their circumference via the connecting lines 16. In practical operation, a holding vacuum is supplied, which may be lower than the mold vacuum already mentioned above, but which preferably has the same, or at least a similar, vacuum level as the mold vacuum.

[0036] For the specific design of the holding vacuum supply, the Fig. 3 shown deep-drawing arrangement has a vacuum device 20, which, in addition to the already mentioned vacuum source 18, also has a longitudinally of the machine frame 3 ( Fig. 1 ) guided driver 21 with a rotary feedthrough 22 and a flexible vacuum line 23 between the vacuum source 18 and the driver 21. The driver 21 is positioned here laterally next to the circulating chain of plate elements 14, but can be arranged within the orbit of the plate elements 14 or between the pairs of deflection wheels 35, 36 mentioned below. The same applies to the connecting lines 16. The vacuum source 18 is mounted in a stationary manner. The flexible vacuum line 23 connected to it is held in a drag chain 38 so that its opposite end, connected to the driver 21, can follow the movement of the driver 21. For the longitudinal movement of the driver 21, a guide rail 38 is mounted laterally next to the conveyor 10 parallel to the direction of movement 11, on which guide rail a carriage in the form of a recirculating ball slide runs.The driver 21 with the rotary union 22 attached to it is mounted on the recirculating ball slide 39. A rotatable output part of the rotary union 22 is firmly connected to the plate element 14', which is designed as a connecting element, via a connecting piece 46.

[0037] The conveyor 10 has pairs of deflection wheels 35, 36 at both ends, at which the rotating plate elements 14, 14' are deflected from the upper movement path with the direction of movement 11 into the lower, oppositely moving return path according to the arrow 12 and back again. The rotary union 22 has an axis of rotation parallel to the axes of rotation of the deflection wheels 35, 36. The guide rail 38 is dimensioned such that the driver 21 can move back and forth from one deflection wheel 35 to the other deflection wheel 36 and back again. Furthermore, the guide rail 38 is positioned such that the rotary union 22 attached to the driver 21 lies coaxially to one deflection wheel 35 or the other deflection wheel 36 at its end points of linear movement.

[0038] The plate element 14', designed as a connecting element, is connected to the rotary feedthrough 22 of the vacuum device 20 via at least one, here two, connecting lines 24 at its vacuum connections 17. The vacuum provided by the vacuum source 18 is thus fed into the plate element 14' via the vacuum line 23, the driver 21, the rotary feedthrough 22, and the connecting lines 24. From there, it is distributed via the connecting lines 16 to all plate elements 14, where it is permanently available regardless of their current rotational positions.

[0039] In the illustration according to Fig. 3 the plate element 14', designed as a connecting element, is located in its extreme right-hand position on the associated deflection wheel 35, so that the driver 21 with the rotary union 22 is also located there. During its 180° rotation, the plate element 14' rotates around the axis of rotation of the deflection wheel 35 by the same amount of 180°. Since the rotary union 22 is located on the same axis, no compensating linear movement is required. The rotary union 22 only has the task of allowing the relative rotational movement of the connecting lines 24 relative to the non-rotatable driver 21. The rotation of the rotatable output part of the rotary union 22 is brought about by the connecting piece 46. If necessary, the connection via the connecting lines 24 may also be sufficient for this purpose, provided these are sufficiently rigid.

[0040] Following the aforementioned rotary movement, the plate element 14' performs a linear working movement according to arrow 11, driving the driver 21 along the guide rail 38 via the connecting piece 46 until it reaches the opposite deflection wheel 36. There, a 180° rotary movement takes place again in a similar manner. This is followed by a linear movement in the return direction 12, with the plate element 14' then driving the driver 21 back to the other deflection wheel 36 via the connecting piece 46 until a complete revolution is achieved. Such a revolution can be repeated as often as desired, with all plate elements 14, 14' being permanently supplied with the holding vacuum in the manner described above.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows a partially sectioned perspective view of one of the plate elements 14, representative of all other plate elements 14, 14', which are identical in the features shown here. Accordingly, the plate element 14 is constructed in several parts with a lower support plate 33 and a die plate 34 detachably connected to the support plate 33. The mold cavities 15 are formed in the die plate 34. The lower support plate 33 is connected to the conveyor 10 ( Fig. 3 ) so that the die plate 34 can be exchanged, for example, for a format change with differently shaped mold cavities 15, without having to detach the carrier plate 33 from the conveyor 10.

[0042] The carrier plate 33 contains the above-mentioned at least one switching valve 19. In addition, the combination with Fig. 3 that the connecting lines 16, in the case of the plate element 14' also the connecting lines 24 are connected to the support plates 33 of the plate elements 14, 14', so that the plate elements 14, 14' are connected to one another via their support plates 33 and the connecting lines 16.

[0043] The switching valve 19 can be an on / off switching valve, although several such on / off switching valves can also be provided, for example for the independent application of a mold vacuum and a holding vacuum. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the switching valve is designed as a switching valve for the alternating application of the mold vacuum and the holding vacuum to the mold cavities 15. For this purpose, the switching valve 19 comprises a valve body 40 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis and which lies in a corresponding recess in the carrier plate 33. The valve body 40 is provided with a valve opening 41 at one end and with a further valve opening 42 at the opposite end. In the switching position shown, the further valve opening 42 overlaps the mold vacuum connection 28, while a holding vacuum supply 43 connected to the holding vacuum connection 17 is covered by the valve body 40.Accordingly, in the switching position shown, the mold vacuum is guided via the mold vacuum connection 28, the valve opening 42 in the valve body 40 and via a vacuum channel 44 to the various mold cavities 15, where it unfolds through suction openings 45 in the bottom of the mold cavities 15 and is applied to the film web 1 (. Fig. 3 ) for the deep drawing process.

[0044] After deep-drawing is complete, the switching valve 19 is switched, whereby the valve opening 41 is brought into alignment with the holding vacuum supply 43, while at the same time the mold vacuum connection 28 is covered by the valve body 40. Instead of the mold vacuum, the holding vacuum from the holding vacuum supply 43 is now fed through the valve opening 41 and the vacuum channel 44 via the suction openings 45 into the mold cavities 15. There, the holding vacuum holds the deep-drawn film recesses in the mold cavities 15.

[0045] The switching between mold vacuum and holding vacuum can be carried out individually for each plate element 14, 14'. A simple control of the switching valve 19 can be achieved, for example, by switching cams at certain selected positions of the machine frame 3 ( Fig. 1 ) can be carried out mechanically. However, other actuations of the switching valves 19 are also conceivable, for example, electrically.

[0046] In particular, if the deep-drawing vacuum and the holding vacuum are to have the same level, a restriction of the vacuum arrangement to the design according to the Fig. 3 und 4 while the deep drawing vacuum concept according to Fig. 2 The decision concerning the order according to the Fig. 3 und 4 The vacuum provided can be used both as a deep-drawing vacuum and as a holding vacuum.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, however, a separate supply of deep-drawing vacuum and holding vacuum is provided. Fig. 3, 4 The vacuum connection 17 is a holding vacuum connection, the vacuum source 18 is a holding vacuum source, and the vacuum device 20 is a holding vacuum device. During operation, the plate elements 14, 14' are permanently subjected to the vacuum created by the holding vacuum. Separately, the deep-drawing vacuum is supplied to Fig. 2 Alternatively, a separate supply of deep-drawing vacuum can be provided according to the same concept as the supply of holding vacuum according to the Fig. 3, 4 be provided.

Claims

1. Deep-drawing arrangement for deep-drawing a continuously supplied film strip (1), comprising a transporter (10) which revolves continuously around a fixed machine frame (3) and which has plate elements (14, 14') and mold cavities (15) which are located in the plate elements (14, 14'), further comprising a cyclically timed, deep-drawing apparatus (5) which runs from a start position to an end position with the transporter (10) and from there back to the start position, wherein the mold cavities (15) can be acted on with a pressure reduction, characterized in that the plate elements (14, 14') are permanently connected to each other via connection lines (16), in that a plate element (14') is in the form of a connection element having at least one pressure reduction connection (17), in that the pressure reduction connection (17) is connected to a pressure reduction source (18), in that the plate elements (14, 14') are permanently acted on with the pressure reduction during operation via the connection lines (16) and the pressure reduction connection (17), and in that each plate element (14, 14') has at least one switching valve (19) for connecting the pressure reduction which is permanently applied in the plate element (14, 14') to the associated mold cavities (15) as required.

2. Deep-drawing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the deep-drawing arrangement has a pressure reduction device (20) which comprises the pressure reduction source (18), a carrier (21) which is guided along the machine frame (3) and which has at least one rotary transmission leadthrough (22), and a flexible pressure reduction line (23) between the pressure reduction source (18) and the carrier (21), wherein the pressure reduction connection (17) of the plate element (14') which is in the form of a connection element is connected via a connection line (24) to the rotary transmission leadthrough (22) of the pressure reduction device (20) so as to transmit a pressure reduction.

3. Deep-drawing arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mold cavities (15) can be acted on sequentially with a mold pressure reduction and with a retention pressure reduction, wherein the pressure reduction connection (17) is a retention pressure reduction connection, wherein the pressure reduction source (18) is a retention pressure reduction source, and wherein the plate elements (14, 14') are permanently acted on with the retention pressure reduction during operation.

4. Deep-drawing arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the switching valve (19) is in the form of a changeover valve for mutually acting on the mold cavities (15) with the molding pressure reduction and with the retention pressure reduction.

5. Deep-drawing arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the deep-drawing arrangement has a molding pressure reduction device (25) which comprises a molding pressure reduction source (26) and a connection apparatus (27) which is connected to the molding pressure reduction source (26), wherein the connection apparatus (27) is part of the cyclically moving deep-drawing apparatus (5), wherein the plate elements (14) each have a molding pressure reduction connection (28), and wherein the connection apparatus (27) has at least one pressure reduction connector (29) which is configured for cyclical connection to the molding pressure reduction connection (28).

6. Deep-drawing arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the connection apparatus (27) has a plurality of, and in particular four, pressure reduction connectors (29) for cyclical connection to a corresponding number of plate elements (14).

7. Deep-drawing arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the plate elements (14) are moved in the region of the molding station (8) in a movement direction (11), wherein the connection apparatus (27) having the at least one pressure reduction connector (29) thereof is configured to carry out a release movement (30) which releases the pressure reduction connection and a closure movement (32) which produces the pressure reduction connection in each case with a direction component perpendicular to the movement direction (11).

8. Deep-drawing arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the plate elements (14) each have a carrier plate (33) which is connected to the revolving transporter (10) and a die plate (34) which is releasably connected to the carrier plate (33), wherein the mold cavities (15) are formed in the die plate (34), wherein the carrier plates (33) are connected to each other via the connection lines (16) and wherein the carrier plates (33) receive the switching valve (19).

9. Packaging machine for producing filled bags, comprising a deep-drawing arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising subsequent processing stations, in particular a filling station (6) and a sealing station (8).