Method and deforming processing device for producing packaging element

Abstract

To provide a method for producing a packaging element.SOLUTION: A method comprises: a) providing a preform that consists at least partially of a fiber-based packaging material in a deforming processing device; b) holding down the preform using a pressing holder with a holding force in a drawing gap of the deforming processing device; c) performing deforming processing of the preform into a packaging element using the deforming processing device; and d) after the step c), calibrating a sealing edge of the packaging element using the pressing holder with a calibration force greater than the holding force. A deforming processing device for producing a packaging element is also proposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a deformation device for producing a packaging element, which can in particular be used as a package for packages or for producing such a package.

[0002] The packaging element may be configured, for example, as a bowl, a bowl or a cup. The packaging element may have a receiving cavity for the product to be packaged. The receiving cavity can be filled with the product to be packaged, for example a liquid or a powder, such as coffee powder. After the receiving cavity has been filled with the product to be packaged, the receiving cavity can be closed, in particular by a peelable seal. The seal can close the product in the receiving cavity in a particularly air-tight manner. The seal can be, for example, a film. The packaging element may have a sealing edge to which the seal can be attached. The attachment of the seal can take place, for example, by welding or adhesive bonding.

[0003] During the production of the packaging element, a preform, for example in the form of a semi-finished product or a circular blank, can be transformed into a packaging element by a transformation device. During transformation, the preform is clamped or placed in a drawing gap between a pressure holder and a die. The preform is then drawn into the die by a punch in the region that will be the bottom of the packaging element or the bottom of the receiving cavity, in which case the material of the preform can flow from the drawing gap into the die. During transformation, a receiving cavity is created in the drawing section of the packaging element and an annularly extending sealing edge is created at the upper end of the packaging element. The annularly extending sealing edge can have an indeterminate and / or indeterminate shape, in particular due to the indeterminate flow of the material of the preform from the drawing gap and / or due to wrinkle formation. An indeterminate sealing edge can make it difficult to fit a seal tightly at the sealing edge.

[0004] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing packaging elements which at least partially solves the problems described in relation to the prior art and in particular makes it possible to at least reduce the non-uniformity in the sealing edge, and also to provide a deformation device for producing packaging elements which makes it possible to at least reduce the non-uniformity in the sealing edge.

[0005] These problems are solved by the devices and methods described in the characterizing parts of the independent claims. Further advantageous configurations are also described in the dependent claims and in the description and in particular in the description of the drawings. It should be further noted that the skilled person is capable of combining the individual features with one another in a technically meaningful manner and thus achieving further configurations of the invention.

[0006] For this purpose, a method for producing a packaging element comprises at least a) providing a preform consisting at least in part of a fiber-based packaging material in a deformation device; b) pressing the preform with a pressing force in a pressing gap of a deformation processing device using a pressing holder; c) deforming the preform into a packaging element using a deforming device; d) calibrating the sealing edge of the packaging element after step c) with a pressure holder with an adjustment force greater than the pressure force; The method contributes to the present invention.

[0007] The packaging element can in particular be used as a package for a package and / or for producing a package for a package. The packaging element can be, for example, a deep dish, a bowl or a container or a cup.

[0008] In step a), a preform consisting at least partially of a fiber-based packaging material is prepared in a deformation device. This can be done, for example, by a feed device, which is in particular automatic. The preform can be a semi-finished product and / or a circular blank. The preform can be flat and / or have a material thickness, for example, between 0.1 mm (millimeter) and 2 mm. The preform can have a circular cross section. The preform can have a diameter, for example, between 20 mm and 300 mm or a side length, for example, between 20 mm and 300 mm. The fiber-based packaging material can contain fibers and / or cellulose of plant origin. The fiber-based packaging material can be, for example, paper, cardboard or cardboard. Fiber-based packaging materials have advantages, in particular with regard to recyclability. The preform can have a coating consisting of at least one further material and / or can be impregnated with at least one further material. The coating can be formed, for example, on the inner and / or outer surface of the preform. This coating can form a barrier layer.

[0009] The deformation device may be a deep-drawing press. The deformation device may have a punch, a die and / or a pressure holder. The pressure holder is adjustable along a pressure travel path, in particular between a pressure position and a release position. The pressure travel path may extend in a straight and / or vertical direction. The pressure holder may be at least partially made of metal. The pressure holder may be at least partially designed in the form of a plate or a ring. The pressure holder has in particular a punch opening for the punch, via which the punch is at least partially adjustable into the deformation cavity of the die. The pressure holder may have a pressure surface. The pressure surface is in particular designed at least partially flat. The pressure holder or the pressure surface of the pressure holder at least partially defines a drawing gap. The drawing gap extends in particular around at least one deformation cavity. The drawing gap may be at least partially formed between the pressure holder and the die. The pressure holder may at least partially consist of metal and / or may surround the punch. The pressure holder may have a punch opening for the punch. The pressure holder may be electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically adjustable between a pressure position and a release position. The pressure holder is in particular adjustable relative to the die and / or independent of the punch. The die may have at least one deformation cavity. The die may in particular consist at least partially of metal. The die or the at least one deformation cavity may at least partially form a negative of the shape or the outer shape of the packaging element (to be produced and / or deformed). The at least one deformation cavity may be formed in the form of an opening, a drawing opening and / or a recess. The at least one deformation cavity may be formed in the upper outer surface of the die. The upper outer surface of the die may be formed flat.

[0010] After step a), in step b), the preform is clamped with a clamping force in the drawing gap of the deformation device by means of a clamping holder. For this, the clamping holder is adjusted to a clamping position. In the clamping position, the preform is clamped in the drawing gap, in particular between the clamping holder and the die. In the clamping position, the drawing gap (in particular in the vertical direction) may have a gap width which corresponds (substantially) to the material thickness of the preform. The gap width may be, for example, 0.1 mm to 2 mm. The clamping holder is pressed against the preform with a clamping force which allows a following flow and / or sliding of the preform from the drawing gap in the direction of the deformation cavity of the die. The clamping force may be, for example, 1 N [Newton] to 200 N. The clamping force can be generated by a pressing device of the deformation device.

[0011] In step c), the preform is deformed into a packaging element by a deformation device. The deformation is carried out while the preform is held in the drawing gap with a pressure force by means of a pressure holder. The pressure force can be varied during deformation of the preform, for example depending on the position of the punch. This allows the flow and / or slip during deformation of the preform to be (precisely) variable or controllable. To deform the preform, the punch can be adjusted into a deformation position, in particular into at least one deformation cavity of the die. During deformation, the punch squeezes the preform, in particular partially, into at least one deformation cavity of the die. The deformation produces a receiving cavity of the packaging element, in particular for the package. During deformation, the preform can be deformed into the packaging element by plastic deformation or deep-drawn. The punch can be configured, for example, as a male die, a deep-drawing punch or an embossing die. The punch shape of the punch can be at least partially adapted to the shape of the at least one deformation cavity. The punch may be electrically, hydraulically and / or pneumatically drivable or adjustable, for example by a punch drive. The punch is in particular adjustable relative to the die, in particular along the punch travel path and / or between the start position and the deformation position. The punch travel path may run straight and / or vertically. During deformation, in the drawing gap, a sealing edge, in particular extending annularly, of the packaging element is generated, in particular from the edge of the preform. The sealing edge may have a sealing edge width, for example, of 0.5 mm (millimeter) to 10 mm. The sealing edge width may in particular be (substantially) constant along the sealing edge. A seal for closing the receiving cavity of the packaging element can be applied to the sealing edge, for example by adhesive bonding and / or welding bonding. The seal may be formed, for example, as a film. The receiving cavity can be closed in a particularly fluid-tight, gas-tight and / or air-tight manner by the seal.

[0012] In step d), the sealing edge of the packaging element is adjusted after step c) with the pressure holder with an adjustment force that is greater than the pressure force. Step d) is in particular carried out only after the preform has been completely deformed in step c) and / or after the punch has been completely adjusted to the deforming position in step c). During the adjustment, the pressure holder is pressed with an adjustment force onto the sealing edge of the packaging element in the drawing gap and / or the sealing edge of the packaging element is pinched with an adjustment force, in particular in the drawing gap, in particular between the pressure holder and the die. The adjustment force is in particular greater than the maximum pressure force during step c). The adjustment in step d) can be carried out with an adjustment force that is (in particular significantly) greater than the pressure force that still allows sufficient follow-up flow and / or sufficient follow-up sliding of the preform from the drawing gap in step c). In other words, the adjustment in step d) can be carried out with an adjustment force that is (in particular significantly) greater than the maximum permissible hold-down force in step c). The maximum permissible holding force in step c) is the holding force which, if exceeded during the deformation of the preform into the packaging element, would result in cracks in the packaging element. The adjusting force can be generated by a pressing device of the deformation device.

[0013] By adjusting the sealing edge with the adjusting force, wrinkles that occur at the sealing edge of the packaging element during the deformation in step c) can be at least partially or completely smoothed out, thereby making it possible to avoid non-tightness during installation of the seal at the sealing edge.

[0014] The adjusting force may be at least twice as large as the maximum holding force in (step c). The adjusting force may preferably be at least 10 times, at least 100 times, or at least 1000 times larger than the maximum holding force in (step c).

[0015] The adjusting force may be at least 0.5 kN (kilonewtons). The adjusting force may preferably be at least 1 kN, at least 5 kN, at least 10 kN, at least 50 kN, or at least 100 kN. The adjusting force may in particular be up to 120 kN. The adjusting force may be, for example, 0.5 kN to 120 kN, 1 kN to 120 kN, 5 kN to 120 kN, 10 kN to 120 kN, 50 kN to 120 kN, or 100 kN to 120 kN.

[0016] This adjustment can be performed over an adjustment period of 1 to 10 seconds.

[0017] In another aspect below, a deformation device for producing a packaging element is also proposed, which comprises at least a punch for transforming the preform into a packaging element; a pressure holder for holding the preform in the drawing gap with a pressure force during deformation; a pressing device for the presser holder; a control device for controlling the pressing device, the control device being configured and provided for adjusting the sealing edge of the packaging element by means of the pressing holder after the deformation of the preform into the packaging element with an adjustment force that is greater than the pressing force; It has.

[0018] The deformation apparatus and / or control apparatus may be useful for or configured and / or provided for carrying out the methods described herein.

[0019] The pressing device can be an electric, hydraulic and / or pneumatic pressing device. By means of the pressing device the presser holder can be adjusted in particular along the presser travel path between a release position and a pressing position. By means of the pressing device a pressing force and / or an adjustment force of the presser holder can in particular be generated.

[0020] The deformation device may have a mechanism for variably configuring (spacing) the drawing gap during deformation. The deformation device may have a mechanism for adjusting the gap width of the drawing gap during deformation. The gap width may be defined in particular vertically and / or parallel to the punch travel path.

[0021] The control device is in particular an electronic control device. The control device may include at least one microprocessor. The control device can control in particular the adjustment of the presser holder along the presser travel path, the strength of the presser force and / or the strength of the adjustment force. The control device can be configured and / or provided for controlling the deformation device. In particular, steps a), b), c) and / or d) of the method can be at least partially controllable or executable (in particular automatically) by the control device. The control device can be connected in data communication with the presser device and / or the punch drive.

[0022] The pressing device may have a shaft with at least one eccentric section. The shaft may at least partly consist of metal. The shaft may be rotatable about a rotation axis by means of a drive, for example an electric motor. The shaft may be coupled to a rotor of the drive, for example at its end in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The coupling between the shaft and the rotor may take place via a clutch. The drive may be controllable by a control device of the forming device. The shaft may have an axial length (particularly parallel to the rotation axis) of, for example, 100 mm to 1000 mm. The shaft may have at least one bearing section. The at least one bearing section may have a bearing section diameter (particularly perpendicular to the rotation axis) of, for example, 10 mm to 100 mm. The shaft may be rotatably supported with the at least one bearing section in at least one rotation support bearing of the forming device or of a machine frame of the forming device. The at least one rotation support bearing may, for example, be a roller bearing. The shaft and / or the at least one rotary support bearing may be fixedly mounted on a machine frame of the deformation device.

[0023] The at least one eccentric section may have a circular cross section (especially in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis), the center point of which is located outside the rotation axis of the shaft. The at least one eccentric section may have an eccentric section diameter of, for example, 15 mm to 150 mm. By means of the at least one eccentric section, a rotational movement of the shaft about the rotation axis can be converted into a translational movement of the pressure holder along the pressure travel path. The more the at least one eccentric section of the shaft is rotated in the direction of the die, in particular by the control device and / or the drive device, the more the pressure holder can be moved in the direction of the die and / or into the pressure position. The more the at least one eccentric section of the shaft is rotated in the direction of the die, in particular by the control device and / or the drive device, the greater the pressure force pressing the pressure holder against the preform and / or the greater the adjustment force pressing the pressure holder against the sealing edge of the packaging element. In particular, particularly strong adjustment forces can be generated by means of the shaft.

[0024] The shaft may be rotatable about a rotation axis that extends perpendicular to the pressure path of the pressure holder. The rotation axis may extend horizontally and / or the pressure path may extend vertically. This allows the required construction space of the deformation device to be reduced.

[0025] The at least one eccentric section may be arranged in a rolling bearing of the hold-down holder, which may be, for example, a cam bearing or a roller cam bearing.

[0026] The shaft may extend through the punch. In particular, the shaft may extend through an opening formed in the punch. The opening is in particular formed such that the shaft extends through the opening of the punch while the punch is adjustable along the punch travel path by the punch drive. The opening may be formed, for example, as a slot.

[0027] Additionally, advantages and features described in relation to the method are also applicable and transferable to the deformation apparatus, and advantages and features described in relation to the deformation apparatus are also applicable and transferable to the method.

[0028] In the following, the invention and the technical field of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show one preferred embodiment, to which the invention is not limited. In particular, it should be noted that the drawings and in particular the size ratios shown in the drawings are merely schematic. The drawings are exemplary and schematic. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the deformation device with the presser holder in the release position and the punch in the starting position; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the deformation device with the presser holder in the presser position and the punch in the starting position; [Diagram 3] 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a deformation device with a pressure holder in a pressure position and a punch in a deformation position; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through a deformation device with a pressure holder in the pressure position and a punch in the starting position; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a deformation processing device. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a shaft of a pressing device of the deformation processing device.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the deformation device 3 in a longitudinal section. The deformation device 3 comprises a punch 7, a pressure holder 4 and a die 18 with a deformation cavity 19. The punch 7 extends through a punch opening 20 of the pressure holder 4 and is located in a start position 21 in FIG. 1. The punch 7 is adjustable along a vertical punch travel path 23 by a punch drive 27 shown in FIG. 5 between the start position 21 and a deformation position 22 shown in FIG. 3. The pressure holder 4 is located in a release position 24 in FIG. 1. The pressure holder 4 is adjustable along a vertical pressure travel path 26 by a pressing device 8 shown in FIG. 5 between the release position 24 and a pressing position 25 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. When the punch 7 is located in the start position 21 and the pressure holder 4 is located in the release position 24, the preform 2 can be prepared in the deformation device 3 in step a). The preform 2 is here a circular blank. The preform 2 can be prepared by a feed device, not shown here. The preform 2 is placed on the upper outer surface 28 of the die 18 in FIG.

[0031] 2 shows the deformation device 3 after the pressure holder 4 has been adjusted in step b) from the release position 24 shown in FIG. 1 to the pressure position 25, in which the pressure holder 4 can press the preform 2 with a pressure force 29 in the drawing gap 5, which is formed between the pressure holder 4 and the upper outer surface 28 of the die 18. The punch 7 is still in the starting position 21 in FIG. 2.

[0032] 3 shows the forming device 3 after the punch 7 has been adjusted in step c) from the starting position 21 shown in FIG. 2 along the punch travel path 23 to the forming position 22. The punch 7 now squeezes the preform 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 into the forming cavity 19 of the die 18, whereby the preform 2 is transformed into the cup-shaped packaging element 1. During the transformation of the preform 2 into the packaging element 1, the pressure holder 4 presses the preform 2 in the drawing gap 5 with a pressing force 29, whereby the edge 14 of the preform 2, shown in FIG. 2, can be partially squeezed out of the drawing gap 5 into the forming cavity 19 of the die 18. The edge 14 remaining after the transformation of the preform 2 into the packaging element 1 in the drawing gap 5 forms the sealing edge 6 of the packaging element 1.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the deformation device 3 when adjusting the sealing edge 6 of the packaging element 1 in step d) after step c). During the adjustment of the sealing edge 6, the pressure holder 4 presses the sealing edge 6 in the drawing gap 5 against the upper outer surface 28 of the die 18 with an adjustment force 30 that is greater than the pressure force 29 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This at least partially smooths and / or removes wrinkles in the sealing edge 6 that occur during the deformation in step c). After the adjustment of the sealing edge 6, the punch 7 returns to the start position 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the pressure holder 4 is adjusted from the pressure position 25 back to the release position 24 shown in FIG. 1. The packaging element 1 can now be removed from the deformation device 3.

[0034] In FIG. 5 the deformation device 3 is shown in a longitudinal section with a higher degree of detail. The pressure holder 4 is adjustable by means of a pressure device 8 along a pressure path 26. The pressure device 8 comprises a shaft 10 which can be rotated about a rotation axis 13 by means of an electric motor 17. The shaft 10 is connected to a rotor 37 of the electric motor 17 via a clutch 36. The electric motor 17 can be controlled by a control device 9 of the deformation device 3. The shaft 10 has a first bearing section 31 as shown in FIG. 6 and a second bearing section 32 as shown in FIG. 6. With the first bearing section 31 the shaft 10 is rotatably supported in a first rotation support bearing 33 of the deformation device 3 and with the second bearing section 32 the shaft 10 is rotatably supported in a second rotation support bearing 34 of the deformation device 3. The rotation support bearings 33, 34 can be roller bearings, for example. The rotary support bearings 33, 34 are fixedly mounted on a machine frame 35 of the deformation device 3, which is only partially shown here. The shaft 10 has a first eccentric section 11, which is shown in FIG. 6, and a second eccentric section 12, which is shown in FIG. 6. The eccentric sections 11, 12 each have a circular cross section (perpendicular to the axis of rotation 13), the center point of which lies outside the axis of rotation 13. The first eccentric section 11 is arranged in a first rotary bearing 15 of the pressure holder 4, and the second eccentric section 12 is arranged in a second rotary bearing 16 of the pressure holder 4, so that a rotational movement of the shaft 10 about the axis of rotation 13 can be converted into a translational movement of the pressure holder 4 along the pressure holder travel path 26. The rotary bearings 15, 16 can be, for example, cam bearings or roller cam bearings. The more the eccentric sections 11, 12 of the shaft 10 are rotated towards the die 18, in particular by the control device 9 and / or the electric motor 17, the further the pressure holder 4 is moved towards the die 18 and / or the greater the force pressing the pressure holder 4 in the drawing gap 5 against the preform 2 or packaging element 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0035] The shaft 10 extends through an opening 39 formed in the punch 7 at a connecting section 38 shown in FIG. 6. The connecting section 38 connects the eccentric sections 11, 12 of the shaft 10 shown in FIG. 6. The opening 39 is formed in such a way that the punch 7 is adjustable along the punch travel path 23 by the punch drive 27. The opening 39 is formed here as an elongated hole. The punch travel path 23 of the punch 7 extends in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 13 of the shaft 10. The punch travel path 23 of the punch 7 extends in a vertical direction, whereas the rotation axis 13 of the shaft 10 extends in a horizontal direction.

[0036] 6 shows a perspective view of shaft 10. Shaft 10 has an axial length 40 (parallel to axis of rotation 13). Bearing sections 31, 32 each have a bearing section diameter 41, and eccentric sections 11, 12 each have an eccentric section diameter 42.

[0037] By means of the invention, the non-uniformity at the sealing edge 6 can at least be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Packaging elements 2 Preform 3. Deformation processing equipment 4 Presser holder 5. Aperture Gap 6 Sealing edge 7. Punch 8 Pressing device 9. Control Device 10 Axis 11 First eccentric section 12 Second eccentric section 13 Rotation axis 14 Edge 15 First Rotary Bearing 16 Second rotating bearing 17 Electric motor 18 Dice 19 Deformation Cavity 20 Punch opening 21 Starting position 22 Deformation processing position 23 Punch travel path 24 Release position 25 Pressing position 26 Pressing path 27 Punch drive unit 28 Upper outer surface 29 Pressing force 30 Adjustment power 31 First bearing section 32 Second bearing section 33 First rotation support bearing 34 Second Rotational Support Bearing 35 Machine Frame 36 Clutch 37 Rotor 38 Join category 39 Aperture 40 Shaft length 41 Bearing division diameter 42 Eccentric segment diameter

Claims

1. A method for producing a packaging element (1) comprising at least a) providing a preform (2) consisting at least in part of a fiber-based packaging material in a deformation device (3); b) pressing the preform (2) with a pressing force (29) in a drawing gap (5) of the deformation device (3) using a pressing holder (4); c) deforming said preform (2) into said packaging element (1) using said deforming device (3); d) adjusting the sealing edge (6) of the packaging element (1) after step c) with the presser holder (4) with an adjustment force (30) greater than the presser force (29); The method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment force (30) is at least twice as great as the hold-down force (29).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjusting force (30) is at least 0.5 kN.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment is performed with an adjustment period of between 1 second and 10 seconds.

5. A deformation device (3) for producing a packaging element (1) at least partially made of a textile-based packaging material, the device comprising at least - a punch (7) for deforming the preform (2) into said packaging element (1); a pressure holder (4) for holding the preform (2) in a drawing gap (5) with a pressure force (29) during the deformation process; - a pressing device (8) for said press holder (4), a control device (9) for controlling the pressing device (8), the control device (9) being configured and arranged for adjusting the sealing edge (6) of the packaging element (1) by means of the pressing holder (4) with an adjustment force (30) which is greater than the pressing force (29), after the deformation of the preform (2) into the packaging element (1); A deformation processing device (3).

6. 6. The deformation device (3) according to claim 5, wherein the pressing device (8) comprises a shaft (10) with at least one eccentric section (11, 12).

7. 7. The deformation processing device (3) according to claim 6, wherein the shaft (10) is rotatable about a rotation axis (13) extending in a direction perpendicular to the pressing path (26) of the pressing holder (4).

8. 8. The deformation processing device (3) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the at least one eccentric section (11, 12) is arranged in at least one rotation bearing (15, 16) of the pressure holder (4).

9. 9. The deformation device (3) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the shaft (10) extends through the punch (7).

10. 10. The deformation processing device (3) according to claim 5, wherein the pressing device (8) comprises an electric motor (17).

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