DEVICE FOR SEPARING A SURFACE ELEMENT, IN PARTICULAR A PLASTIC FILM, INTO INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for separating at least one conveyed surface element, in particular a plastic film or a plastic film composite material, into individual components, with at least one punching tool which has at least one punching bar working against an anvil which is held by a support structure, see for example EP 3 109 017 A1.

[0002] Plastic films or plastic composite materials are used to produce, for example, packaging for food, everyday goods, tools, and the like. A rolled plastic film, for example, is separated into individual components after forming containers, for example, by deep drawing, filling, and sealing the containers. The aforementioned separation devices are used for this separation work. They comprise at least one punching tool, which allows the separation of individual components of the plastic film even at high cycle times. Punching tools operate with high forces; these forces are necessary to achieve reliable separation during the crush separation process performed by punching.

[0003] The problem is that forces are regularly applied to punching tools at specific points, for example, at a central point or at two points, such as at the free ends of a punching tool. Due to the different force inputs, high forces occur when high forces are applied and when the punching beam and anvil are pressed together, which can lead to slight bending of the tools involved in the punching process. This bending results in gaps between the punching tools, resulting in insufficient punching. Frequent adjustments are necessary, and the additional force exerted during punching leads to premature wear of the punching tools.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device of the type mentioned at the outset which enables a clean separation of the plastic film or the plastic film composite material.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the punching beam and the framework are connected to one another via a pendulum joint, wherein the pendulum axis of the pendulum joint runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the punching beam.

[0006] In the device according to the invention, the punching beam is not mounted in a rotationally fixed manner within a framework. Rather, the punching beam is mounted via a pendulum joint, which allows the punching beam to pivot relative to the framework in which it is mounted.

[0007] The pendulum mechanism allows the punching beam to align itself precisely against the anvil as the counter-part during punching. Furthermore, the pendulum joint provides central suspension for the punching beam, allowing it to deflect at its free ends when higher forces occur. If corresponding counterforces are applied to the outer sides of the anvil, the anvil deflects in exactly the opposite direction. A depression forms there because the forces are applied at the outer sides. The punching beam and anvil can be positioned closely together, resulting in the desired clean separation.

[0008] The pendulum axis is aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the punching beam and thus parallel to a conveying direction of the plastic film or the plastic film composite material.

[0009] The punching beam is preferably suspended on the pendulum joint; for this purpose, the framework preferably has a holder for the pendulum joint.

[0010] According to a further development of the invention, the receptacle is a cross member arranged above the surface element, transverse to a conveying direction of the surface element. The cross member is designed like a yoke beam and is arranged above the plastic film or plastic film composite material to be separated. For this purpose, it is held by the support structure; the cross member can rest on corresponding supports at its free ends. These supports are then arranged on both sides of the conveyed surface element.

[0011] A further development of the invention provides that the cross member is formed from at least three shell elements, with the outer shell elements being connected to the framework, and the middle shell element supporting the punching beam and suspended from the pendulum joint. According to this design, the cross member is compact. Three identically designed shell elements can lie congruently on top of one another; the two outer shell elements are fixedly connected to the framework, holding the middle shell element between them via the pendulum joint. The middle shell element can thus swing freely between the two outer shell elements, with the middle shell element supporting the punching beam.

[0012] A further development of the invention provides that the middle shell element is accommodated in the framework in a height-adjustable manner. This allows adaptation to various punching tasks with different surface elements. The height adjustability is preferably ensured by an eccentrically designed section of the pendulum joint, which supports the middle shell element. The pendulum joint is arranged in the outer shell elements and its rotational position can be adjusted from the outside, for example by knurling their outer edge. A fixing element for setting the height of the shell element is also assigned to the eccentric section in order to fix the pendulum joint's height for punching tasks.

[0013] With regard to the height-adjustable mounting of the pendulum joint in the framework, an alternative of the invention provides for the pendulum joint to be mounted in a wedge-shaped frame. The pendulum joint can be moved within such a wedge-shaped frame; by changing the horizontal orientation of the wedge-shaped frame and moving the wedge-shaped frame, a change in the height of the pendulum joint can be achieved.

[0014] A spindle drive is preferably associated with the wedge-shaped frame. The spindle drive is attached to the wedge-shaped frame in such a way that operation of the spindle drive causes a change in the position of the wedge-shaped frame. In this respect, the change in the position of the wedge-shaped frame can be effected externally by a suitably designed spindle drive. A locking device is preferably associated with the spindle drive to establish a specific position of the spindle drive and the wedge-shaped frame.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing. It shows: Figure 1: a schematic side view of a device for conveying a surface element and for forming containers, sealing the containers, and separating the containers from one another; Figure 2: a perspective partial view of the containers to be separated; Figure 3: a perspective view of the device according to the invention for punching the surface element during a punching process; Figure 4: a perspective partial sectional view of a component of the device according to the invention; Figure 5: a side view of the component according to Figure 4 ; Figure 6: a perspective partial sectional view of the component according to Figures 4 and 5 ; and Figures 7 to 9: perspective partial sectional and side views of an alternative embodiment of a component of the device according to the invention.

[0016] The device in Figure 1has a machine frame 1 that supports several workstations. Reference numeral 2 designates a deep-drawing station. In this station, containers 5 are formed into a flat element 4, in particular a film strip, unrolled from a roll 3. After the containers 5 have been formed, the flat element 4 is transported further along arrow 6, for example, filled with objects, and guided to a sealing station 26. The containers 5 are sealed in this sealing station 26 with a sealing film 7.

[0017] The containers 5 are then transported to a cutting station 8. In this cutting station 8, the containers 5 are cut with a rotating knife 9 parallel to the conveying direction of the surface element 4. Cutting transverse to the conveying direction of the surface element 4 is performed with a punching device 10.

[0018] Figure 2shows a component of the punching device 10, namely the punching beam 11 of the punching tool. This extends across the entire width of the surface element 4, which is held by chains 12 at its longitudinal edges for transport. Figure 2 The containers 5 shown are to be separated from each other transversely to the conveying direction (arrow 6) of the surface element 4 using the punching device 10. Punching takes place along a line 13.

[0019] Figure 3 shows the punching device 10 during a punching process. A surface element 4 is punched, which is fed to the punching device 10 along the conveying direction indicated by arrow 6. The Figure 2 The punching beam 11 shown is housed in a frame 14. A punching lower tool 15 is also housed in the frame 14.

[0020] The framework 14 comprises a cross member 16, which rests on posts 17. The cross member 16 is formed from three shell elements 18, 18', and 19.

[0021] Figures 4 and 5 show that the shell element 19 is connected to the shell elements 18 and 18' via a pendulum joint 20. The shell element 19 can swing within the two outer shell elements 18, 18', as indicated by the double arrow 25 in Figure 5 The shell element 19 carries the punching beam 11.

[0022] Figures 4 and 6show that the pendulum joint 20 has an eccentric section, which allows a change in the height of the shell element 19 relative to the shell elements 18, 18'. A disc 21 is arranged on the eccentric section of the pendulum joint 20. This disc is received in the central shell element 19. Height adjustments can be made via knurled sections 22; a locking element 23 corresponds to a row of holes 24. The locking element 23 can be used to fix the rotational position of the pendulum joint 20.

[0023] Figures 7 and 8show an alternative embodiment of the shell element 19. The shell element 19 is again connected to the shell elements 18 and 18' via the pendulum joint 20, but an alternative mechanism for adjusting the height of the shell element 19 is provided. This alternative mechanism comprises a wedge-shaped frame 26a arranged obliquely to the horizontal. A spindle drive 27 is associated with the frame 26a and is attached to the frame 26a. Figure 8 directly shows the shell element 19.

[0024] Figure 9 shows that the spindle drive 27 is guided outward within the shell element 19 to a handle 28. A further handle 29 is also provided, which serves to clamp the spindle drive 27.

[0025] Figure 8shows that the wedge-shaped frame 26a has its wedge shape within a frame cutout, i.e., on the inside of the frame 26a. Moving this frame 26a causes a change in the height of the arrangement of the shell element 19.

Claims

1. A device for separating at least one in particular conveyed surface element, in particular a plastic film or a plastic film composite material, into individual components, having at least one punching tool, which has at least one punching beam that operates against an anvil and is held in place by a framework, characterized in that the punching beam (11) and the framework (14) are connected to one another via a pendulum joint (20), wherein the pendulum axis of the pendulum joint (20) runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the punching beam (11).

2. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the punching beam (11) is suspended from the pendulum joint (20).

3. The device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the framework (14) has a receptacle for the pendulum joint (20).

4. The device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the receptacle is a transverse support (16), which is arranged transversely to a conveying direction of the surface element (4) above the surface element (4).

5. The device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the transverse support (16) is formed from at least three shell elements (18, 18', 19), wherein the outer shell elements (18, 18') are connected to the framework (14) and wherein the central shell element (19) supports the punching beam (11) and is suspended from the pendulum joint (20).

6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell element (19) is accommodated in the framework (14) such that its height can be varied.

7. The device according to Claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the shell element (19) is accommodated in the pendulum joint (20), wherein the pendulum joint (20) is rotatably accommodated in the outer shell elements (18, 18') and wherein the pendulum joint (20) has an eccentrically formed section in its extension.

8. The device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the eccentric section is associated with at least one fixing element (23) for fixing a height position of the shell element (19).

9. The device according to Claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the pendulum joint (20) is accommodated in at least one wedge-shaped frame (26a).

10. The device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the wedge-shaped frame (26a) is associated with at least one spindle drive (27).