Device for cutting food packagings along a longitudinal axis and method for operating such a device

Abstract

The application relates to a device for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction, comprising a base, a support structure arranged on the base, and at least one cutting tool coupled to the support structure, wherein the cutting tool, or at least one of the cutting tools, is adjustable between a cutting position and a passive position when the support structure is arranged on the base. The application also relates to a method for cutting packaging along a longitudinal direction using a device, wherein the device comprises a base, a support structure arranged on the base, and at least one cutting tool coupled to the support structure. According to the method, the cutting tool is adjusted between a cutting position and a passive position to set the width of the packaging to be cut, while the support structure is arranged on the base.The packaging is then cut using at least one cutting tool that is in its cutting position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction. Such devices can be part of a packaging machine and serve to cut the packages, which are still connected after sealing, lengthwise, i.e., to cut them apart into individual packages. This process is also referred to as "singling".

[0002] Document WO 2017 / 009178 A1 concerns a device for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction. The device has a longitudinal cutter cassette with a cutter shaft on which at least one longitudinal cutting blade is arranged. The cutter shaft can be reversibly moved from a transport position to a working position by lowering it relative to a housing.

[0003] Document US 3,759,122 A discloses a device for longitudinal and transverse singulation of packages. The tool used for transverse singulation is mounted to be movable relative to a base, but the cutting tool for longitudinal singulation is not.

[0004] Documents EP 3 715 267 A1 and DE 10 2018 128110 A1 represent further state of the art.

[0005] Until now, if the width of the food packaging to be cut needed to be changed, for example if a different food product with different packaging dimensions was to be processed, it was necessary to remove a shaft holding the cutting tools, arrange the cutting tools at different distances from each other on the shaft and then reinstall the shaft.

[0006] Such a conversion of known devices to a new packaging width is tedious and time-consuming.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction, by means of which a quick and easy changeover from one packaging size to another is possible. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method by means of which a quick and easy changeover from one packaging size to another is possible.

[0008] The problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 14.

[0009] The underlying idea of ​​the invention is to attach at least one of the cutting tools to the support structure, for example a shaft, in such a way that it can be adjusted from a cutting position without having to remove the cutting tool from the support structure or the support structure from a base, for example a machine frame. This avoids time-consuming modifications, such as removing a shaft.

[0010] In this context, a passive position is understood to be an inactive position, i.e., a position in which the cutting tool is still part of the device but cannot be used for cutting.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the device is part of a packaging machine for food products. Such a packaging machine typically has conveying means for transporting a film web, which constitutes at least part of the packaging produced. Preferably, the at least one cutting tool of the device according to the invention is arranged in its cutting position during operation such that it cuts through the packaging produced by the packaging machine in a longitudinal direction. Preferably, each of the cutting tools defines a cutting plane that is aligned parallel to each other and, in particular, parallel to a conveying direction of the film web and / or the packaging.

[0013] According to the invention, a plurality of cutting tools are arranged transversely spaced apart from one another on the support structure. One of the cutting tools is adjustable relative to another of the cutting tools, in particular between a cutting position and a passive position. According to the invention, at least one and / or at least one further cutting tool is adjustable relative to another of the cutting tools. Preferably, at least one and / or at least the further cutting tool is adjustable relative to the film web. Furthermore, at least one and / or at least one further cutting tool can be adjustable relative to another of the cutting tools and / or the film web between a cutting position and a passive position.

[0014] To enable the device to be adjusted to as many different packaging widths as possible, it is advantageous if several or all cutting tools are adjustable between a respective cutting position and a respective passive position. By adjusting the individual cutting tools, different distances between cutting tools in their respective cutting positions can be created in the transverse direction, thus allowing for the setting of different cutting width increments.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the at least one cutting tool is adjustable in its cutting plane between the cutting position and the passive position. In other words, the cutting tool is preferably adjustable such that the orientation of its cutting plane does not change during adjustment.

[0016] Preferably, an adjustment mechanism is provided to move the at least one cutting tool between the cutting position and the passive position. The adjustment mechanism is advantageously designed such that the cutting tool can be moved from the cutting position to the passive position and / or from the passive position to the cutting position. According to one embodiment, each cutting tool can have a separate adjustment mechanism. Alternatively, several cutting tools, i.e., a group of cutting tools, can have a common adjustment mechanism, so that the several cutting tools can be easily and synchronously adjusted between the cutting position and the passive position.For this purpose, the device, especially the adjustment mechanism, can have coupling means to couple the group of cutting tools together in such a way that the cutting tools can be adjusted together from the cutting position to the passive position and / or from the passive position to the cutting position.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is designed to pivot the at least one cutting tool about a pivot axis. To enable particularly simple adjustment of the at least one cutting tool between the cutting position and the passive position, the adjustment mechanism can include at least one pivot arm. The pivot arm can be coupled to the cutting tool in such a way that the cutting tool can be moved about the pivot axis by means of the pivot arm. Preferably, the cutting tool is fixedly mounted on the pivot arm and therefore moves with a pivoting movement of the pivot arm. However, the cutting tool is preferably rotatably mounted on the pivot arm.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment drive. The adjustment drive can be designed and configured to pivot a pivot arm of the adjustment mechanism. For example, the adjustment drive can actuate a lever that is coupled to the pivot arm such that the lever's movement causes the pivot arm to pivot. Advantageously, each cutting tool or group of synchronously moving cutting tools can be assigned a separate adjustment drive. The adjustment drive can be designed as a pneumatic cylinder. Alternatively, the adjustment drive can be designed as an electric motor. Preferably, an adjustment force of the adjustment drive acts at a distal end region of the pivot arm, i.e., at an end of the pivot arm opposite the pivot axis.

[0019] The at least one adjustment drive can be coupled to a control unit of the device. The control unit can control the at least one adjustment drive, and in particular the multiple adjustment drives, to set the device to different operating positions, for example, predefined cutting width increments. The different operating positions generally correspond to different predetermined packaging widths. For example, for a predetermined packaging width, the control unit can control a first group of adjustment drives to a position corresponding to the cutting position and a second group of adjustment drives to a position corresponding to the passive position.

[0020] According to one embodiment, at least one cutting tool is designed as a knife, in particular a circular knife. Preferably, all cutting tools are designed as knives, in particular circular knives. Circular knives are particularly well suited for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction.

[0021] To achieve consistently good cutting results, it is advantageous to provide a counter blade or counter-cutting edge for the knife. Preferably, a counter blade or counter-cutting edge is provided for each knife. During operation, the counter blade or counter-cutting edge is preferably located below the film web or the film conveying plane. According to one embodiment, at least one counter blade or at least one counter-cutting edge, particularly of an adjustable knife, is adjustable between a cutting position or active position and a passive position. Preferably, at least each counter blade or counter-cutting edge associated with an adjustable knife is adjustable between a cutting position or active position and a passive position.This has the advantage that the counter-knife or the element forming the counter-cutting edge can free up an area through which packages of a new format are to be conveyed. This is particularly advantageous if, in operation, the counter-knife or counter-cutting edge extends beyond the underside of the packaging into a conveying area of ​​the food packaging, e.g., into an area between two trays.

[0022] According to one embodiment, a cover with at least one recess is provided. The cover serves to spatially separate an upper part of the device, which may include the cutting tools and / or the adjustment mechanism, from the packaging. The at least one recess can be arranged such that the cutting tool, in particular the knife, extends section by section through the recess in its cutting position. In the passive position, the cutting tool can be located entirely on one side of the cover, in particular entirely above the cover.

[0023] According to one embodiment, at least one blade is arranged on a shaft, in particular a rotatable drive shaft. Preferably, several blades or all blades of the device can be arranged on the shaft, in particular the rotatable drive shaft. The at least one counter blade can be arranged on a second shaft, in particular a second rotatable drive shaft. The first shaft and the second shaft can be driven in opposite directions.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the blade and the counter-blade can form a rotary shear cutting unit. This means that the at least one blade is designed in the form of a circular blade, i.e., a circular knife, and is arranged on a first shaft, which in the operating position is preferably located at the top. The at least one blade is associated with at least one circular counter-blade, which is arranged on a second shaft, which in the operating position is preferably located below the first shaft. The distance between a central axis of the first shaft and a central axis of the second shaft is preferably less than the sum of the radii of one of the blades and its corresponding counter-blade. In other words, the at least one blade rests with its side surface, i.e., its end face, against its corresponding counter-blade.By rotating the shafts in opposite directions, the packages are separated from each other by a rotary shear cut caused by the rotary shear cutting units.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the at least one blade is arranged to be radially movable on the shaft, in particular the drive shaft. For this purpose, the blade can be connected to the shaft via a cross-disc coupling. Preferably, the radial movement of the blade on the shaft serves to adjust the at least one blade between the cutting position and the passive position relative to the shaft, which is usually fixed to the support structure. The at least one blade is preferably axially fixable on the shaft.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the at least one knife, in particular a cutting edge of the at least one knife, is formed by at least two separate knife parts. Preferably, the cutting edge is formed by at least two separate parts, in particular circular segments. Preferably, the circular segments extend over a maximum of 180°. This has the advantage that the knives can be more easily fixed to and / or removed from the shaft.

[0027] According to one embodiment, a drive is provided to generate a cutting motion of the cutting tool. The drive can be coupled to the drive shaft to drive the drive shaft. When the cutting tool is in the passive position, it can be driven further or disengaged. If a counter blade is provided, the drive can also be coupled to the second shaft to drive the counter blade. Alternatively, a separate, and in particular synchronized, drive can be provided for the second shaft.

[0028] According to one embodiment, at least one of the cutting tools is adjustable transversely, and in particular perpendicularly, to the cutting planes. This allows the device to be adapted even more flexibly to different packaging widths. If several cutting tools are provided, they can be individually adjustable, i.e., relative to each other, or jointly adjustable transversely to the cutting planes. It is also conceivable that a first group of cutting tools is adjustable transversely to the cutting planes relative to a second group of cutting tools. The respective adjustment mechanism and / or adjustment drive can also be adjustable transversely, and in particular perpendicularly, to the cutting planes.

[0029] The invention further relates to a packaging machine, in particular a thermoforming packaging machine, with a device according to the invention. The packaging machine can, for example, comprise a conveying device for a film web, e.g. in the form of two transversely spaced, synchronously driven transport chains that laterally hold the film web, a forming and / or sealing station, a transverse cutting station and a labeling station.

[0030] The invention further relates to a method for cutting packaging, in particular food packaging, along a longitudinal direction by means of a device, wherein the device comprises a base, a support structure arranged at the base, and at least one cutting tool coupled to the support structure, wherein the cutting tool is adjusted between a cutting position and a passive position in order to set a width of the packaging to be cut, while the support structure is arranged at the base, and the packaging is cut by means of the at least one cutting tool in its cutting position.

[0031] The invention is based on the idea of ​​adjusting the width of packaging to be cut without having to remove cutting tools from the device or dismantle any parts of the device. This allows the adjustment of the device to be automated, for example. Adjustment of at least one cutting tool occurs when the width of the packaging format needs to be changed, which is typically the case when switching products.

[0032] Preferably, a plurality of cutting tools are arranged transversely spaced from one another on the support structure. In this case, at least one of the cutting tools can be adjusted relative to another of the cutting tools. It is advantageous if the at least one cutting tool can be adjusted relative to another of the cutting tools between the cutting position and the passive position in order to set a specific width for the packaging to be cut.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the device is adjusted to different packaging widths by moving a first set of cutting tools into their respective cutting position and a second set of cutting tools into their respective inactive position. If the device needs to be readjusted to a different packaging width, another set of cutting tools can be moved into their respective cutting position and the remaining cutting tools into their respective inactive positions. A set of cutting tools is understood to mean at least one cutting tool, and in particular a plurality of cutting tools.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the at least one cutting tool is adjusted in its cutting plane between the cutting position and the passive position. In other words, the cutting tool can be adjusted without changing its cutting plane. This has the advantage that a relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism can be used to adjust the cutting tool.

[0035] Preferably, the at least one cutting tool is adjusted between the cutting position and the passive position by means of an adjustment mechanism. The at least one cutting tool can be pivoted about a pivot axis by means of the adjustment mechanism to adjust the cutting tool between the cutting position and the passive position. A pivot arm that can be pivoted about the pivot axis can be used for this purpose.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the cutting tool is driven, in particular rotaryally. The cutting tool can be designed as a knife, in particular a circular knife, and be driven about a central axis of the circular knife.

[0037] The method described above and below can be carried out using any of the described embodiments of the device. Furthermore, the device described above and below can be configured to perform one or more of the described method steps.

[0038] The invention is described below with reference to purely exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a side view of a packaging machine; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a device according to the invention for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction in a first operating position; Fig. 3 the device ofFig. 1 in a second operating position; Fig. 4 the device of Fig. 1 in a third operating position; Fig. 5A a side view of a cutting unit of the device of Fig. 2 in a passive position; Fig. 5B the cutting unit of Fig. 5A in a cutting position; Fig. 6A a perspective view of the cutting unit of Fig. 5A Fig. 6 Exploded view of a cross-disc coupling mounted on a swivel arm; Fig. 7 A side view of the cutting unit of Fig. 5A in the cutting position with the cover and counter-cutting edge shown; Fig. 7 Legs Sectional view of the cutting unit of Fig. 7A along a cutting plane; Fig. 8A a schematic representation of a first operating position of the device of Fig. 2 in transport direction; Fig. 8 Legs schematic representation of a second operating position of the device of Fig. 2 in the direction of transport; Fig. 9A a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction; Fig. 9B a possible arrangement of two cutting tools on a common counter-cutting edge; and Fig. 10 a flowchart of a method according to the invention.

[0039] The in Fig. 1 The packaging machine 12, operating in one transport direction T, comprises a machine frame 47. A transport chain 27, shown here only schematically at the upstream end of the machine, is guided on each of the left and right side frames of the machine frame 47. The two transport chains 27 together form conveying means for a bottom film 23 unwound from a supply roll 23a.

[0040] The packaging machine 12 comprises a plurality of workstations arranged successively in the transport direction T, namely a forming station 11, also referred to as a thermoformer or deep-drawer, a feeding station 13 for products 10 to be packaged, a feed station 14 for a top film 25 pulled from a supply roll 25a, a sealing station 15 for joining the bottom film 23 with the top film 25, a labeling station 16, a transverse cutting station 17 and a longitudinal cutting station 19, i.e. a device 19 for cutting packaging 21 along a longitudinal direction.

[0041] The products to be packaged, for example, are food products, here in the form of so-called portions, each comprising several slices that have previously been separated from a loaf- or bar-shaped food such as sausage, cheese, ham or meat using a food slicer (not shown).

[0042] The operation of the packaging machine 12, including the aforementioned workstations, is controlled by a central control unit 41. In addition, the packaging machine 12 is equipped with an operating unit 45, which includes, for example, a touchscreen on which all necessary information can be displayed to the operator and on which the operator can make all necessary settings before and during the operation of the machine.

[0043] At the forming station 11, which comprises an upper tool 11a and a lower tool 11b, recesses 29, also referred to as troughs, are formed in the lower film 23 in a deep-drawing process. The aforementioned products or portions 10 are placed into these recesses 29 at the loading station 13. Here, the loading station 13 includes a so-called inserter, of which two endless conveyor belts 13a and 13b are shown. Alternatively or additionally, the loading station 13 can include a robot 50, also shown schematically here, e.g., in the form of a so-called "picker," which can be designed as a delta robot with a gripper 52 comprising two scoops, each holding a portion 10. Such robots and their use in handling food, especially in placing portions into recesses of packaging, are generally known to those skilled in the art, which is why further explanation is not necessary here.

[0044] The bottom film 23, which has filled depressions 29, and the top film 25 are then fed to the sealing station 15, which comprises an upper tool 15a and a lower tool 15b. These tools 15a and 15b seal the top film 25 and the bottom film 23 together. This seals the depressions 29 and thus the packages 21 formed by the top film 25 and the bottom film 23. Fig. 1 Sealing points 43, which run perpendicular to the transport direction T and are also referred to as sealing seams, are schematically indicated.

[0045] Following the sealing station 15, the packages 21 are still connected by the top film 25 and the bottom film 23, and therefore must be separated. The cross-cutting station 17 and the longitudinal cutting station 19 are used for this purpose.

[0046] In the Fig. 2 bis 4 A longitudinal cutting station 19 according to the invention is shown, which is also referred to as a "device for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction" and can be used in a packaging machine as previously described. The device 19 comprises a support structure 31, which is connected to the machine frame 47 of the packaging machine. A drive shaft 33 extending perpendicular to the transport direction is rotatably mounted on this support structure 31. The drive shaft 33 serves to transmit a torque generated by a drive motor 34 to several circular knives 35. The circular knives 35 are arranged on the drive shaft 33 such that their respective cutting planes are oriented essentially perpendicular to the film surfaces to be cut apart longitudinally.A group of circular knives 35a arranged in a central area of ​​the drive shaft 33 is each coupled to an adjusting mechanism 36 to move the circular knives 35a between a passive position (see . Fig. 5A ) and a cutting position ( Fig. 5B ) to adjust back and forth. Each adjustment mechanism 36 shown in the figures comprises a pivot arm 37 which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis S. In addition, the adjustment mechanism 36 comprises an adjustment drive 38, which in this case is designed as a pneumatic cylinder. To adjust the respective circular knife 35a from the passive position ( Fig. 5A ) into the cutting position ( Fig. 5B The pneumatic cylinder 38 is retracted. This pivots an L-shaped lever 39, connected to a cylinder piston 38a, about its pivot axis 39a. The pivoting of the L-shaped lever 39 causes the pivot arm 37, coupled to the L-shaped lever 39 at a distal end 37a, and the circular blade 35 coupled to the pivot arm 37 to pivot from the passive position to the cutting position. To pivot the circular blade 35 back to the passive position, the cylinder piston 38a of the pneumatic cylinder 38 is extended again, which pivots the L-shaped lever 39 back, and thus also pivots the pivot arm 37 and the circular blade 35 coupled to the pivot arm 37 back.

[0047] In order to allow the swivel arm 37 and the circular blade 35 coupled to the swivel arm 37 to move radially relative to the stationary drive shaft 33, the swivel arm 37 and the circular blade 35 are connected via a cross-disc coupling 40 ( Fig. 6A und 6B ) connected to the drive shaft 33.

[0048] As in the Fig. 2 bis 4 As can be seen, the device 19 can be operated in different operating positions due to the adjustability of the individual cutting units described above. Fig. 2 For example, the two outer circular blades 35a are in the cutting position, while the middle circular blade 35a is in the passive position. In contrast, in Fig. 3 The middle circular blade 35a is brought into cutting position while the two outer circular blades 35a are brought into passive position. Fig. 4 Again, all three circular blades 35a are in the cutting position. Naturally, depending on the number of packages to be cut apart, the device 19 can also have fewer or more adjustable cutting units.

[0049] In the Fig. 7A und 7B A packaging support 53 is visible, which serves to support the packaging 21 during the cutting process and to form a counter-cutting edge 53b. In this case, the packaging support 53 is formed by carriers 53, which in operation, as in Fig. 8A und 8B shown, extending along the spaces 54 between the recesses 29 of the packages 21, and the sections of the packages 21 to be cut rest on their upper surfaces 53a. As shown in Fig. 7B As can be seen, recesses 55 are formed in the upper surfaces 53a of the carriers 53, into which the circular knives 35 engage in the cutting position. Above the carriers 53 and spaced apart from them, a cover 56 with several recesses 56a, each assigned to a circular knife 35, is arranged. The cover 56 limits a conveying area 57 for the packages 21 at the top.

[0050] In the Fig. 8A und 8B It is shown why the carriers 53 - like their associated cutting units 35 - can be switched between an active position or a cutting position ( Fig. 8A ) and a passive position ( Fig. 8B ) are adjustable. This is because the middle support is 53, as in Fig. 8B As shown, the carrier 53 can be brought into a passive position, thus releasing a conveying area 57, so that a larger package 21 can be conveyed through the conveying area 57 without the recess 29 of the larger package 21 colliding with the carrier 53.

[0051] In Fig. 9A Another embodiment of the device 19 is shown. Instead of a common pivot axis S for the pivot arms 37, this embodiment provides two groups of pivot arms 37, wherein a first group of pivot arms 37 is pivotable about a first pivot axis S1 and a second group of pivot arms 37 is pivotable about a second pivot axis S2. The first pivot axis S1 is located in the transport direction T in front of the respective circular blade 35 to be adjusted, and the second pivot axis S2 is located in the transport direction T behind the respective circular blade 35 to be adjusted. A pivoting movement of the first group of pivot arms 37 into the cutting position therefore proceeds in the opposite direction to a pivoting movement into the cutting position of the second group of pivot arms 37. This allows the two circular blades 35 to be arranged compactly next to each other in the axial direction, making it possible, as shown in Fig. 9B shown to group two circular knives 35 with a single packaging support 53 and to use the two circular knives 35 optionally with counter-cutting edges 53b, 53c of the packaging support 53.

[0052] Fig. 10 Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a process for cutting food packaging along a longitudinal direction using a plurality of cutting tools coupled to a support structure. The process can be carried out with one of the devices 19 described above. In a first step A, the device 19 is brought into a first operating position, i.e., set to a first set of desired packaging widths. For this purpose, a corresponding signal is sent from the control unit 41 to the respective adjustment drives to move the cutting tools 35 either into the cutting position or into the passive position. Subsequently, in a second step B, the device is operated to cut connected packages apart according to their desired widths. For this purpose, a corresponding signal is sent from the control unit 41 to the drive motor 34 to drive the cutting tools 35.Furthermore, the control unit 41 sends a corresponding signal to the conveying means 27 to activate them. If packages of a different width are to be produced, the device is moved to a second operating position in a third step C. In this step, at least one of the cutting tools 35 is moved from a cutting position to a passive position or vice versa. For this purpose, a corresponding signal is again sent from the control unit 41 to the respective adjustment drives. Subsequently, in a fourth step D, the device is operated in the second operating position to separate packages of a different width, i.e., to cut them apart.

[0053] This can be done in steps A and C, as in the comparison between the Figuren 2 and 3As can be seen, one of the cutting tools 35 can be adjusted relative to another of the cutting tools 35 in its cutting plane between the cutting position and the passive position. The adjustment mechanism 36 described above can be used to adjust the cutting tools 35. In this case, each of the adjustable cutting tools 35a can be pivoted about a pivot axis S by means of its respective pivot arm 37 in order to adjust the respective cutting tool 35a. In steps B and D, the cutting tools 35 can be set into rotation by the drive motor 34 in order to cut the packages apart. Reference symbol list

[0054] 10 Product 11 Forming station 11a Upper die 11b Lower die 12 Packaging machine 13 Feeding station 13a Endless conveyor belt 13b Endless conveyor belt 14 Feeding station 15 Sealing station 15a Upper die 15b Lower die 16 Labeling station 17 Transverse cutting station 19 Longitudinal cutting station 21 Packaging 23 Bottom film 23a Supply roll 25 Top film 25a Supply roll 27 Transport chain 29 Recess 31 Support structure 33 Drive shaft 34 Drive motor 35 Circular knife 36 Adjustment mechanism 37 Swivel arm 37 Adistal end section 38 Adjustment drive 38a Cylindrical piston 39 Lever 39a Swivel axis 40 Cross disc coupling 41 Control unit 43 Sealing point 45 Operating unit 47 Machine frame 50 Robot 52 Gripper 53 Packaging support 53a Top 53b Counter-cutting edge 53c Counter-cutting edge 54 Gap 55 Recess 56 Cover 56a Recess 57 Conveyor area First step Second step Third step Fourth step Transport direction Swivel axis

Claims

1. An apparatus (19) for cutting food packages (21) to size along a longitudinal direction, said apparatus (19) comprising a base (47), a support structure (31) arranged at the base (47), and a plurality of cutting tools (35) arranged spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction at the support structure (31) and coupled to the support structure (31), wherein at least one of the cutting tools (35) is adjustable between a cutting position and a passive position when the support structure (31) is arranged at the base (47), characterized in that the at least one cutting tool (35) and / or at least a further one of the cutting tools (35) is / are adjustable relative to another one of the cutting tools (35).

2. An apparatus (19) according to claim 1, wherein the further one of the cutting tools (35) is adjustable relative to the other one of the cutting tools (35) between a cutting position and a passive position.

3. An apparatus (19) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one cutting tool (35) is adjustable in its cutting plane between the cutting position and the passive position.

4. An apparatus (19) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein an adjustment mechanism (36) is provided to adjust the at least one cutting tool (35) between the cutting position and the passive position.

5. An apparatus (19) according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism (36) is configured to pivot the at least one cutting tool (35) about a pivot axis (S; S1, S2), in particular wherein the adjustment mechanism (36) comprises at least one pivot arm (37).

6. An apparatus (19) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the adjustment mechanism (36) comprises an adjustment drive (38), in particular to pivot a pivot arm (37) of the adjustment mechanism (36).

7. An apparatus (19) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one cutting tool (35) is configured as a blade, in particular a circular blade, in particular wherein a counter-blade or a counter-cutting edge (53b) is provided for the blade (35).

8. An apparatus (19) according to claim 7, wherein a cover (56) comprising at least one recess (56a) is provided, and wherein the blade (35) sectionally engages through the recess (56a) in its cutting position.

9. An apparatus (19) according to at least one of the claims 7 or 8, wherein the blade (35) is arranged on a shaft (33), in particular a rotatable drive shaft.

10. An apparatus (19) according to claim 9, wherein the blade (35) is radially movably arranged on the shaft (33), in particular the drive shaft.

11. An apparatus (19) according to at least one of the claims 7 to 10, wherein the blade (35), in particular a blade edge, is formed by at least two separate blade parts.

12. An apparatus (19) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a drive (34) is provided for producing a cutting movement of the cutting tool (35) and / or wherein at least one of the cutting tools (35) is adjustable transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the cutting planes.

13. A packaging machine (12), in particular a deep-draw packaging machine, comprising a molding station (11), an insertion station (13), a feeding station (14), a sealing station (15), a labeling station (16) and / or a transverse separation station (17) and an apparatus (19) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

14. A method for cutting packages (21), in particular food packages, to size along a longitudinal direction by means of an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a base (47), a support structure (31) arranged at the base (47), and a plurality of cutting tools (35) arranged spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction at the support structure (31), wherein one of the cutting tools (35) is adjusted relative to another one of the cutting tools (35) between its cutting position and its passive position in order to adjust a width of the packages (21) to be cut to size while the support structure (31) is arranged at the base (47), and cutting the packages (21) to size by means of the at least one cutting tool (35) located in its cutting position.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is set to different package widths by adjusting a first set of cutting tools (35) into its respective cutting position and adjusting a second set of cutting tools into its respective passive position.

Images