Material web advance by means of a threaded spindle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a material web conveyance means (20) having a plurality of material web clamping means (21). The present invention further relates to a packaging machine (1).

Description

[0001] Material web advance using threaded spindle

[0002] The present invention relates to a material web transport means having a plurality of material web clamping means. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a packaging machine.

[0003] Such material transport means or packaging machines are known from the prior art, for example from WO 2004041650 A1, WO 2007090678 A1, DE 102006006523 A1, DE 102006020368 A1, WO 2010043345 A1, WO 2016193026 A1, JP 2014065574, and US Pat. No. 7,934,362 B2. The material transport means are designed as chains in which the material web clamping means are connected to one another by chain links. These material transport means have the disadvantage that they wear out relatively quickly, require lubrication, elongate, must be completely removed when changing stations in the packaging machine, and are difficult to clean.

[0004] It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a material transport means, a packaging machine and a method which do not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0005] The problem is solved by a material web transport means with a plurality of material web clamping means, wherein a spindle drives and / or spaces the material web clamping means.

[0006] The statements made regarding this subject matter of the present invention apply equally to the other subject matters of the present invention, and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter of the present invention can be combined with the other subject matters, and vice versa.

[0007] The present invention relates to a material web transport means, which is used in particular for transporting material webs from which packaging, in particular food packaging, is produced. Such material webs can be plastic film, paper, and / or cardboard webs. The material web transport means consists of a plurality of material web clamping means, which are moved along a transport direction and each reversibly clamp the edge of the material web, thereby transporting the material web. Preferably, one material web transport means is provided to the right and one to the left of the material web in the transport direction.

[0008] According to the invention, these material web clamping means are driven and / or spaced apart by a threaded spindle. "Spaced apart" in the sense of the invention means that the spindle maintains a certain distance between two adjacent material web clamping means.

[0009] The threaded spindle has a longitudinal direction of extension that preferably extends parallel to the transport direction of a material web being transported along a packaging machine. The spindle is preferably arranged below the material web clamping means and / or below the material web transport plane, relative to gravity.

[0010] The spindle is rotatably mounted on the packaging machine and rotates when the material web is transported. The spindle can be driven or not. If the material web clamping means are only to be spaced apart by a certain amount, it is sufficient for the spindle to rotate during the transport of the material web. If the spindle is to drive the material web clamping means, it must itself be driven to rotate. The spindle can extend essentially over the entire length of the packaging machine, from its inlet to its outlet area. However, the spindle can also be segmented and extend, for example, only between two work stations. Several spindles can be provided one behind the other, preferably in alignment with the transport direction of the material web.

[0011] Preferably, each material web clamping means has a means for engaging a recess, for example, a groove or a thread, of the spindle. This means is, for example, a pin arranged at one end of the material web clamping means and / or protruding therefrom. The pin can be part of an upper part of the material web clamping means, which protrudes from the lower part.

[0012] The material web clamping means can be provided at a certain distance on a chain. This chain is preferably an endless chain. The endless chain can be driven or not. If it is not driven, it is driven by the material web clamping means. Preferably, the movement of the material web clamping means, which is driven by the spindle, is transmitted to the chain.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, each material web clamping means can be guided in a slotted guide of the packaging machine. Preferably, each material web clamping means has a lower part and an upper part with which the material web is reversibly clamped. Preferably, one part is provided so as to be rotatable or pivotable on the other part and / or preferably the two parts are preloaded into their clamped position, for example by means of a spring, in particular a torsion spring. Preferably, one part, in particular the upper part, has a surface onto which a force and / or torque can act, with which the parts can be moved relative to one another from a clamped to an open position. Preferably, the means for engaging the spindle is located opposite the upper part.

[0014] Preferably, each material web clamping means comprises a sliding piece that is reversibly or irreversibly connected to the material web clamping means. The sliding piece can be made of the same or a different material than the material web clamping means.

[0015] The object is also achieved with a packaging machine for producing a packaging, in which a material web is transported along the packaging machine, with a sealing station which seals a further material web to the material web, wherein, if appropriate, a packaging trough has been deep-drawn into the material web, wherein two material web transport means (39) according to the invention transport the material web (8).

[0016] The statements made regarding this subject matter of the present invention apply equally to the other subject matters of the present invention, and vice versa. Features disclosed regarding this subject matter of the present invention can be combined with the other subject matters, and vice versa.

[0017] The subject matter of the present invention relates to a packaging machine. Such a packaging machine can, for example, be a so-called thermoformer, on which plastic and / or paper material webs are generally processed. In the thermoformer, for example, a base material web is unrolled from a supply roll and intermittently transported along the packaging machine. In a forming station, a packaging tray can first be formed into the base material web, which is then filled with a packaged product, in particular a food product. Subsequently, one or more top material webs are sealed to the base material web in a sealing station, for example to close the packaging tray. The top material web is also unrolled from a supply roll.The transport of the material web(s) can be achieved with the material web transport means according to the invention, which is arranged to the right and left of the respective material web. Each material web transport means has a plurality of material web clamping means that clamp the underlying material web in the inlet area and transfer the movement of the material web transport means to the underlying material web. In the outlet area of ​​the packaging machine, the clamping connection between the material web transport means and the respective material web is released again.

[0018] The packaging machine according to the invention has the advantage that the distance between the material web clamping means through the spindle always remains the same, thereby avoiding wrinkles in the material web.

[0019] The packaging machine preferably has a guide rail in which the material web transport members are guided, at least during the material web transport. The guide rail preferably has a contamination protection device that at least reduces, and in particular prevents, contamination of the guide rail and / or the material web transport members with packaged goods, for example, foodstuffs.

[0020] The packaging machine preferably comprises a cleaning and / or drying system for the material web transport elements. Cleaning is used to remove, in particular, food residues that get onto or into the material web transport elements during packaging. Typically, a cleaning agent is used for this purpose, which is preferably water-based, temperature-controlled, and may contain a cleaning additive. This cleaning agent is preferably applied to the material web transport elements under pressure, in particular using a nozzle. Cleaning can be assisted by a mechanical cleaning agent, such as a brush. The cleaning agent is preferably collected after use and reused if necessary. For this purpose, a filter must be present in the circuit. Cleaning preferably takes place in the return flow of the material web transport elements.Preferably, the distance between two adjacent material web transport elements is increased for cleaning and then reduced again.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the packaging machine comprises a drying unit that dries the material web transport elements, for example, after cleaning them. Drying is preferably carried out using compressed air, optionally heated compressed air, which preferably exits from one or more nozzles. During drying, the distance between two adjacent material web transport elements is also preferably increased. The packaging machine preferably comprises a plurality of stations, for example, a forming station, a sealing station, an inserting station, and / or a separating station.

[0022] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the packaging machine according to the invention has a chain lubrication system which, for example, applies an oil or a grease to the chain.

[0023] The inventions are explained below with reference to the figures. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. The explanations apply equally to all subject matter of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 1 shows the packaging machine according to the invention.

[0025] Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the drive according to the invention

[0026] Figure 1 shows the packaging machine 1 according to the invention, in this case a so-called thermoformer, which here has a deep-drawing station 2, a filling station 7, and a sealing station 15. A base material web 8, here a plastic material web 8, is drawn from a supply roll and transported intermittently along the packaging machine according to the invention from right to left in the feed direction. The material web roll is generally mounted on a shaft. In each cycle, the base material web 8 is transported one pass further, whereby several passes are required to produce a finished package. For this purpose, the packaging machine has two material web transport means 20, which are arranged to the right and left of the base material web and which are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.Each material web transport means 20 has a plurality of clamping means 21 that clamp the lower material web 8 in the inlet area 19 and transfer the movement of the material web transport means 20 to the lower material web 8. In the outlet area of ​​the packaging machine, the clamped connection between the material web transport means 20 and the lower material web 8 is released again. Downstream of the inlet area 19, a heating means can be provided that heats the material web 8, particularly when it is stationary. In the thermoforming station 2, which here has an upper tool 3 and a lower tool 4 that has the shape of the packaging tray to be produced, packaging trays 6 are formed into the heated material web 8. The lower tool 4 is arranged on a lifting table 5, which, as symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable by a lifting device.Before each material web feed, the lower tool 4 is lowered and then raised again. As the packaging machine continues, the packaging troughs are then filled with the packaging material 16 in the filling station 7. In the subsequent sealing station 15, which here also consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 11, an upper material web 14 is firmly attached, for example by sealing, to the lower material web 8. In the sealing station, the upper tool and / or the lower tool are also lowered or raised before and after each material web transport. The upper material web 14 is also unwound from a material web reel mounted on a shaft and can be guided in transport means or transported by transport chains, whereby these transport means then extend only from the sealing station and, if necessary, downstream.Preferably, this transport means is also designed according to the invention. Otherwise, the statements made regarding the transport means for the lower material web apply. The upper material web can also be heated and deep-drawn using a heating medium. For sealing, a heatable sealing frame, for example, is provided as the lower tool 11. This frame has an opening for each packaging cavity into which the packaging cavity dips during sealing, i.e. during the upward movement of the lower sealing tool. For sealing, the upper and lower material webs are pressed together between the upper and lower tools 12, 11 and bond under the influence of heat and pressure. After sealing, the tools 11, 12 are moved apart vertically again.A dancer can preferably be provided between the respective supply roll and the sealing tool, which compensates for the intermittent advance of the lower material web 8 and thus the intermittent withdrawal of the upper material web 14. The dancer can serve as a material web accumulator and / or to generate a specific material web tension. The person skilled in the art understands that several upper material webs can be present, for example in the case of a multi-layer pack or a pack with several upper material webs. Preferably, a dancer is then provided along the length of each upper material web. The person skilled in the art further understands that a dancer can also be provided in the region of the lower material web 8, preferably downstream of its supply roll. Further along the packaging machine, the finished packages are separated, which in the present case is done by the cross cutter 18 and the longitudinal cutter 17.In the present case, the cross cutter 18 can also be raised or lowered using a lifting device 9.

[0027] Figure 2 shows details of the material web transport means 20, which has a plurality of material web clamping means 21. Each material web clamping means 21 has a lower part 26 and an upper part 25, which are provided so as to be movable relative to one another, so that a distance can be reversibly created between the circular clamping surface 30 of the upper part 25 and the lower part 26, into which a lateral end of the material web is inserted. The distance is then reduced again, so that the material web is clamped between the clamping surface 30 of the upper part 25 and the lower part 26. The spring 27 preloads the clamping surface 30 against the lower part 26. Furthermore, each material web clamping means 21 has a means 28 for engaging the spindle 23. In the present case, this engagement means 28 is a pin, cylinder, or the like that protrudes from the lower part.Preferably, the engagement means 28 is part of the upper part 25 of the material web clamping means 21, for example a pin or cylinder which is arranged on the clamping means 30 and which is guided in the lower part 26.

[0028] In the present case, the material web clamping means 21 are arranged at a certain distance from the material web transport links 24, for example, a chain, in particular an endless chain. This chain can be driven or not. The engagement means 28 on each material web clamping means 21 engages a recess in a spindle 23 that extends spirally around its central axis. The spindle is rotatably mounted on the packaging machine and can be driven or not.

[0029] If the spindle 23 is driven by a motor, it moves the material web clamping means 21 along the transport direction of the material web in the packaging machine. The material web clamping means 21 can also transmit their movement to the chain 24 without the chain having an additional drive. The chain 24 then essentially serves to guide the material web clamping means. However, it is also possible for the chain 24 to be driven as well. If only the chain 24 is driven, the spindle achieves a constant, consistent distance between two adjacent material web clamping means 21.

[0030] List of reference symbols:

[0031] 1 packaging machine

[0032] 2 forming station, deep-drawing station

[0033] 3 Upper tool of the deep drawing station

[0034] 4 Lower tool of the deep drawing station

[0035] 5 Lifting table, carrier of a tool of the sealing, deep-drawing station and / or the cutting device

[0036] 6 packaging tray

[0037] 7 filling station

[0038] 8 Material web, sub-material web

[0039] 9 Lifting device

[0040] 10 Material web transport link

[0041] 11 Lower tool of the sealing station

[0042] 12 Upper tool of the sealing station

[0043] 13 Lower part of the material web clamping device

[0044] 14 Upper material web, cover material web

[0045] 15 Sealing station

[0046] 16 Packaging goods

[0047] 17 longitudinal cutters

[0048] 18 cross cutters

[0049] 19 Inlet area

[0050] 20 material web transport equipment

[0051] 21 Material web clamping devices

[0052] 22 chain

[0053] 23 spindle

[0054] 24 material web transport links, chain

[0055] 25 Upper part of the material web clamping device

[0056] 26 Lower part of the material web clamping device

[0057] 27 spring

[0058] 28 interventional device, pin

[0059] 29 Recess, thread, groove

[0060] 30 clamping surface

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Material web transport means (20) with a plurality of material web clamping means (21), characterized in that a spindle (23) drives and / or spaces the material web clamping means (21).

2. Material web transport means (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material web clamping means (21) are provided on material web transport members (24).

3. Material web transport means (20) according to claim 2, characterized in that the material web transport links (24) are parts of a chain (22).

4. Material web transport means (20) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the chain (22) is driven.

5. Material web transport means (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material web clamping means (21) are guided in a guide.

6. Material web transport means (39) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle is driven in rotation.

7. Packaging machine (1) for producing a packaging, in which a material web (8) is transported along the packaging machine, with a sealing station (15) which seals a further material web (14) to the material web (8), wherein, if appropriate, a packaging trough (6) has been deep-drawn into the material web (8), characterized in that two material web transport means (20) according to one of the preceding claims transport the material web (8).

8. Packaging machine (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it has a link (36) in which the material web clamping means (21) are guided at least during the material web transport.

9. Packaging machine according to one of claims 7 or 8 or the preamble of claim 7, characterized in that it has at least one, preferably two chains (22) with material web clamping means (21), wherein the material web clamping means drives the chain

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