PNEUMATIC DEVICE FOR PACKAGING

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for forming geometrically shaped open food trays by pressing. A pneumatic packaging device comprising a pneumatic system consisting of a compressor connected to a compressed air supply and exhaust unit via distributors, a pneumatic cylinder rigidly mounted on a support, within which a rod and a frame are located. Throttles with a check valve are located in the pneumatic system downstream of the distributors, and position sensors are mounted on the ends of the pneumatic cylinder. A rectangular punch with openings around the entire perimeter spaced 10-15 mm apart relative to each other is rigidly fixed inside the pneumatic cylinder at the end of the rod. Removable, height-adjustable flat rods are attached to the punch, and the punch's width and length are dimensioned with gaps smaller than the size of a removable die mounted in the frame with the ability to insert the punch, to which a support on four pins is rigidly attached.The technical result of the utility model is the expansion of the material and the possibility of diversifying the geometric shapes of the tray due to the punch and removable matrix, while simultaneously increasing productivity by automating the operation of the device.

Description

[0001] This utility model relates to a device for forming geometrically shaped open food trays by pressing. The tray can be made from materials such as cardboard (GOST 32096-2013), mono-cardboard, corrugated cardboard (GOST R 52901-2007), micro-corrugated cardboard, or plastic, to ensure the safety and integrity of the tray. The tray is formed from a flat blank by folding its parts along the fold lines.

[0002] A known analogue of the "Device for forming tray-shaped packaging" (patent RU 191228, application: 2019112980, July 30, 2019, IPC B31B 50 / 26). The device is designed to form (fold) tray-shaped packaging in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with or without round cells and with corner protrusions for stacking, from a cardboard blank intended for group storage or transportation of cups. The device for forming tray-shaped packaging comprises a clamping system, a gluing station, a control panel with a control panel, and an electrical cabinet. The clamping system is formed by two forming units, where each forming unit contains an upper clamp, a lower clamp, at least two longitudinal clamps, and two transverse clamps. The following advantages can be highlighted: optimization of the arrangement of both working units and mechanisms of the device, ensuring the autonomous operation of the device, the possibility of assembling it with other filling and packaging machines.

[0003] A prototype of the "Pneumatic device for packaging cotton candy" is known (patent RU 154982 U1, application: 2015122769 / 13, 11.06.2015, IPC B65B 9 / 00). The utility model relates to devices for packaging products in thermoplastic film and can be used as a device for packaging cotton candy in thermoplastic film. The pneumatic device for packaging cotton candy, comprising a frame on which a fixed platform with an annular opening for placing the packaging shells, a movable platform with an annular opening, a heating element are located, characterized in that it contains a pneumatic cylinder, a compressed air supply and discharge system and a temperature controller, and the movable platform is fixed on the rod of the pneumatic cylinder.

[0004] The device operates as follows.

[0005] The compressor supplies compressed air to the electropneumatic valve, and the timer signals the pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder's piston rod is driven by a moving platform. The timer sets the time during which air is supplied to the pneumatic cylinder. After the set time has elapsed, compressed air is supplied, which drives the moving platform and returns the pneumatic cylinder piston rod to its original position. The temperature controller sets the temperature at which the packaging casings are sealed. When the moving platform descends, the film casings melt along a contour following the heating element and fuse together, forming an open joint several millimeters wide. The seam remains open for subsequent insertion of a needle into the remaining hole, through which a preservative gas will be injected into the package.

[0006] The advantage of this device is increased productivity and partial automation, which significantly reduces the production cycle time. Its disadvantage is the limited range of packaging shapes and materials, as well as the limited automation of the device.

[0007] The technical result of the utility model is the elimination of the indicated disadvantages, namely, the expansion of the material and the possibility of diversifying the geometric shapes of the tray due to the punch and removable matrix, while simultaneously increasing productivity by automating the operation of the device.

[0008] The stated task is achieved in that in a device for forming food trays, including a pneumatic system from a compressor connected to a supply and discharge unit of compressed air through distributors into a pneumatic cylinder rigidly fixed on a support, inside which a rod and a frame are located, characterized in that in the pneumatic system after the distributors there are throttles with a check valve, and on the ends of the pneumatic cylinder there are position sensors installed, on the end of the pneumatic cylinder rod there is a punch rigidly fixed, made in the form of a rectangular plate with holes located relative to each other by 10-15 mm, removable rods with a flat end are fixed on the punch, made with the possibility of adjusting the height, and the size of the punch in width and in length is made smaller than the size of a removable matrix installed in the frame with the possibility of entering the punch, wherein the support is rigidly fixed to the frame on four pins.

[0009] Drawings are provided to help understand the essence of the utility model.

[0010] Fig. 1 - a device for forming food trays,

[0011] consisting of a pneumatic cylinder 1, a support 2, a punch 3, a frame 4, a matrix 5.

[0012] in Fig. 2 - pneumatic system,

[0013] including: pneumatic cylinder 1, on which position sensors are located at the ends (not shown in the figure), throttles with a check valve 6, pneumatic distributors 7, air preparation unit 8.

[0014] The food tray forming device (Fig. 1) consists of a removable forming matrix 5, secured to a frame 4 with an opening, the opening being shaped to accommodate the maximum tray scan format, onto which the tray, having passed the first processing stage, lands. To create the tray shape, the mold must first be trimmed and creased using a die-cutting machine according to the tray layout, and adhesive must be applied to the scan flaps. A punch 3 is located on top, performing a reciprocating motion due to the stroke of the piston of a pneumatic cylinder 1, which is secured to a support 2. The height of the support 2 is calculated based on the height of the punch, as well as the gap between the punch and the surface, so that the tray passes freely onto the matrix without contacting the rods. The tray is fed to the device either by a conveyor or manually.

[0015] The pneumatic system in Fig. 2 allows you to regulate the supply of compressed air using pneumatic distributors and throttles with a check valve with the ability to influence the speed of movement of the pneumatic cylinder rod.

[0016] Punch 3 is a steel plate with a thickness of 5 to 10 mm with holes located relative to each other in the range of 10-15 mm.

[0017] Rods of the same length and diameter are inserted into the holes with the ability to adjust the height of the rod.

[0018] The end of the rod is flat and non-pointed to prevent piercing the material surface. Part of the rod is threaded, while the other part is flat. When inserted into the punch, the rod is tightened with a nut, thereby connecting it to the punch. The position of the rods in the holes can be adjusted depending on the tray design. The rods are positioned above the fold lines of the tray pattern, thus pressing and bending the sides of the material. The number of rods depends on the complexity of the packaging shape. The advantages of the punch include: adaptability to any tray design, lightweight construction due to the holes, and cost-effective manufacturing.

[0019] Die 5 is a removable steel part. The top of the die is designed so that the cardboard flaps containing the adhesive fold over first before contacting the side. The edges of the die are rounded to prevent damage to the material. The scanned material then passes through the narrower part of the die—its base—where it is folded and takes its final shape. Holes are located along the edges of the die for mounting to the frame. The die shape is determined by the width and length of the trays, as well as their geometric shapes, such as a rectangle or polyhedron, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows the device operation process in a simplified form.

[0021] The future tray with adhesive on the flaps goes to the matrix 5, where the punch 3 is fed from above, the tray, passing through the matrix, bends the sides, gluing together, and thus is assembled into the final form 9.

[0022] The tray of Fig. 4 consists of the following structural elements:

[0023] Bottom 10, side walls 11, end walls 12, flaps 13, protrusions 14, creasing lines 15, scalloping line 16.

[0024] Fig. 5 shows design options for trays for which a matrix and punch can be created.

[0025] Trays are available in both standard and custom sizes, with complex and simple shapes. When using a material such as plastic, the device can be additionally equipped with a heating unit.

[0026] Fig. 6 shows variants of the shapes of the matrix and punch depending on the geometric shape of the package, for example, a rectangle or a polyhedron.

Claims

A device for forming food trays, including a pneumatic system from a compressor connected to a unit for supplying and discharging compressed air through distributors into a pneumatic cylinder rigidly fixed to a support, inside which a rod and a frame are located, characterized in that in the pneumatic system after the distributors there are throttles with a check valve, and on the ends of the pneumatic cylinder there are position sensors installed, on the end of the pneumatic cylinder rod there is a punch rigidly fixed, made in the form of a rectangular plate with holes located relative to each other by 10-15 mm, removable rods with a flat end are fixed to the punch, made with the possibility of adjusting the height, and the size of the punch in width and in length is made smaller than the size of a removable matrix installed in the frame with the possibility of entering the punch, wherein the support is rigidly fixed to the frame on four pins.

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