Packaging machine and method for inline bag production

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging machine (100) which comprises a bag-creating station (130, 300, 500). The bag-creating station (130, 300, 500) has a product feed (144) and one or more feeds (132, 138) for one or more film webs (136, 142). The bag-creating station (130, 300, 500) is designed to create a tubular film strand from the one or more film webs (136, 142), to form bags (155) that are open on one side from the film strand by sealing the film strand transversely to a feed direction of the bag-creating station (130, 300, 500), and to place at least one fed product (115) into each bag (155). The film strand is open on one longitudinal side and the individual bags (155) that are open on one side each have a longitudinal opening (235), wherein the respective longitudinal openings (235) of the individual bags (155) are produced from the open longitudinal side of the film strand when the film strand is sealed. The open longitudinal side and the respective longitudinal openings (235) of the individual bags (155) extend parallel to the feed direction of the bag-creating station (130, 300, 500). The invention also relates to a method for automatic bag creation.

Description

[0001] Packaging machine and process for inline bag production

[0002] The present invention relates to a packaging machine according to claim 1 and a method for producing bags according to claim 17.

[0003] Belt machines are common components of packaging lines. They are designed to evacuate bags containing products, such as meat or other perishable goods, meaning they significantly reduce the internal pressure of the bag. This process is also known as "vacuum sealing." After the evacuation step, the belt machine then seals the evacuated bags airtight to insulate the product inside from the harmful external atmosphere. This evacuation process can significantly increase the shelf life of perishable products.

[0004] A typical packaging process on a conveyor belt machine often requires several manual steps. For example, a product must be filled into a bag, and the filled bags may then need to be repositioned or rearranged several times before they can be processed by the machine. This requires repeatedly handling, rotating, moving, and positioning the bag or product. Such a packaging process demands the continuous involvement of machine operators, increasing the costs and organizational effort of operating the machine. The work of human operators in the food packaging sector is further complicated by stringent hygiene requirements. Moreover, every interaction between an operator and a machine carries an increased risk of injury.The risk of injury is further increased by the fact that processing and packaging lines are often complex and the available space between the individual elements of the line is limited. If the operation of a conveyor belt machine requires the assistance of one or more operators, the necessary space requirements and the resulting safety requirements must be incorporated into the planning of the packaging line, which both complicates the planning process and increases the space required for the packaging line.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a packaging machine that requires fewer or no manual steps. Such a packaging machine leads to a more efficient, reliable, and hygienic packaging process. Furthermore, the safety of the packaging process is increased because operator contact with the packaging machine or parts thereof is reduced. Additionally, planning is simplified and the space requirement of a packaging system is reduced when the space and safety requirements associated with the machine operators are eliminated. This object is achieved by a packaging machine according to claim 1 or by a method according to claim 17.

[0006] Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention relates to a packaging machine comprising a bag forming station. The bag forming station has a product feed and one or more feeds for one or more film webs. The bag forming station is configured to produce a film strand from the one or more film webs, to form bags open on one side from the film strand by sealing the film strand transversely to the feed direction of the bag forming station, and to produce the bags such that at least one fed product (115) is placed in each formed bag (155). The film strand is tubular and open on one longitudinal side. Each individual bag has a longitudinal opening that is created from the open longitudinal side of the film strand when the film strand is sealed.The open longitudinal side and the respective longitudinal openings of the individual bags extend parallel to the feed direction of the bag production station.

[0008] The present invention further relates to a method for the automatic production of pouches from one or more film webs. According to the present method, the one or more film webs are transported in a feed direction. A tubular film strand is produced from the one or more film webs, wherein the produced film strand is open on one longitudinal side extending parallel to the feed direction. Furthermore, pouches open at one end are formed from the film strand by sealing the film strand transversely to the feed direction, wherein the individual pouches open at one end each have a longitudinal opening, and the respective longitudinal openings of the individual pouches are created from the open longitudinal side of the film strand during the sealing process.The respective longitudinal openings of the individual bags extend parallel to the feed direction, and each bag, open on one side, is either formed around at least one product or filled with the at least one product, so that the corresponding at least one product is placed in each bag open on one side. The method can be carried out, for example, by the packaging machine according to the invention.

[0009] The packaging machine and the method according to the invention produce bags filled with one or more products, which are open on one longitudinal side parallel to the feed direction of the bag-making station and are designed to be evacuated (also called vacuum-sealed) in a downstream evacuation station. Due to the arrangement of the bag opening on a longitudinal side of the bag that extends parallel to the feed direction, the produced bag can be inserted directly into a subsequent evacuation station without complex repositioning. In particular, the bag does not need to be manually repositioned or rotated relative to the feed direction using appropriate mechanical devices in order to be processed in a subsequent evacuation station.

[0010] In addition to the bag forming station, the packaging machine can include an evacuation station. This evacuation station is designed to evacuate the bags formed by the bag forming station at their respective longitudinal openings and to seal each evacuated bag gas-tight (or airtight). The evacuation station can be, for example, a belt machine. The evacuation station can be positioned relative to the bag forming station such that the bags produced by the bag forming station are fed into the evacuation station at the same angle relative to the feed direction as they are discharged from the bag forming station. This means that the produced bags are not rotated relative to the feed direction between the bag forming station and the evacuation station.

[0011] In the evacuation station, a vacuum pump creates a negative pressure, i.e., a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure outside the evacuation station. The resulting pressure gradient between the pressure inside the bag and the negative pressure in the evacuation station removes the gas mixture from the bag until the pressure inside the bag equals the negative pressure created in the evacuation station. When the pressure inside the bag reaches a predetermined negative pressure, the evacuation station can seal the bag gas-tight (or airtight), thus permanently maintaining the created negative pressure. This seal can be created by fusing the upper and lower layers of plastic film that form the bag together using heat and / or force. Other methods for gas-tight (or airtight) sealing are also available.Airtight connections between the two plastic layers, for example adhesive bonds, are also conceivable.

[0012] With the evacuation station open, one or more bags can be inserted simultaneously, with the open end of the bag being guided over an evacuation and sealing rail. This rail can be located on one or both sides of the station, parallel to the feed direction. Evacuation stations with more than two rails parallel to the feed direction are also possible. After the bag(s) are positioned with their openings over the evacuation and sealing rail, the station is closed to initiate the evacuation and sealing process. This process begins by creating a vacuum, which is maintained either for a predetermined time or until a predetermined pressure is reached inside the bag.The bag is then sealed at the open side to create a completely closed, evacuated bag containing the product.

[0013] The packaging machine can further include a transfer station designed to receive the formed pouches, each containing at least one product, from the pouch-making station and automatically transfer them to the evacuation station. In the simplest case, the transfer station can be a conveyor belt; however, other transfer technologies are also conceivable, such as linear motor-driven runners or robotic transfer devices.

[0014] The transfer station can include a displacement unit designed to adjust the lateral positioning of a received bag relative to the evacuation station to the length of the bag's empty neck. If the transfer station is a conveyor belt, this displacement unit can be achieved, for example, by mounting the conveyor belt, or a portion thereof, on a motor-driven, transverse mounting to allow it to move laterally to the feed direction. For instance, a section of the conveyor belt can be mounted on one or more rails transverse to the feed direction and moved laterally to the feed direction by a rotary or linear electric motor, controlled by a program. The displacement can be individually adjusted to the specific bag being processed.The displacement unit can be used to adjust the position of the open side of the bag relative to the evacuation and sealing rail of the packaging machine, so that evacuation and sealing are possible and an empty bag neck can be created that is adapted to the product placed in the bag. For example, the bag neck can be kept to a minimum.

[0015] The shifting unit can be used to selectively align bags during feeding to a two- or multi-rail evacuation station, ensuring that the open side of each bag is positioned on one of the selected evacuation and sealing rails. For example, the open side of the generated bags can be alternately positioned to the left or right of the feed direction. The shifting unit can then adjust the lateral positioning of each bag so that the open side of bags opening on the left is positioned over a left-hand evacuation and sealing rail of the evacuation station, and the open side of bags opening on the right is positioned over a right-hand evacuation and sealing rail of the evacuation station.The bag-making station can be designed to have exactly one film web feed for only one film web. In this case, the bag-making station can be configured to produce the film strand from the single film web by folding the film web over at least one product positioned on the film. In this case, the bag-making station can be configured to first position the at least one product for a specific bag on the portion of the film web intended for that bag before folding over this portion of the film web.

[0016] The packaging machine can have a cutting device configured to cut off the portion of the unfolded film web intended for the designated bag by a cut perpendicular to the feed direction, thereby producing a detached piece of film on which the at least one product is arranged. The folding of the film web occurs after the portion intended for the designated bag has been cut off and comprises folding the detached portion of the film web around the at least one product positioned thereon, perpendicular to the feed direction. Viewed in the feed direction, the detached portion of the film web has a left side edge and a right side edge.The cut-off portion of the film web can be folded so that its left edge is lifted and guided around the product placed on it, so that the left edge of the cut-off portion lies on the right edge of the cut-off portion. Alternatively, the process can be reversed so that the right edge of the cut-off portion is lifted and guided around the product placed on it, so that the right edge of the cut-off portion lies on the left side of the cut-off portion.

[0017] For example, one of the two processes can be performed alternately or in any other rhythm, followed by the mirror image, so that strands of film folded to the left or right are produced alternately or in any other rhythm, each containing one or more products. The described folding process can be carried out by a folding unit on the bag-making station. Such a folding unit can be implemented using standard gripping and guiding technologies. For example, the folding unit can include a gripping unit configured to grasp the respective side edge of the cut portion of the film web and fold it over to the other side. Alternatively or additionally, a passive guiding structure can be used to achieve or assist the folding of the cut portion of the film web around the product placed on it.After the folding process, at least one product is placed between an upper and a lower film layer. The final bag size can be influenced by the adjustable overhang or underhang of one side edge relative to the other side edge in the folded state. For example, the left side of the cut-off portion of the film web can be lifted and guided over the at least one product placed on the cut-off portion in such a way that the final position of the folded-over left side edge relative to the right side edge is variably adjustable. For example, the left side edge can be positioned exactly on the right side edge. Alternatively, the left side edge can be shifted outwards beyond the right side edge by an adjustable distance, so that the upper film layer extends beyond the lower film layer.This reduces the area where the lower film layer and the upper film layer overlap, resulting in a smaller final bag size.

[0018] Alternatively, the cutting device can be configured to separate the portion of the film web intended for the specific bag by a cut transverse to the feed direction after the film web has already been folded over. In this case, the bag-making station is configured to fold over the film web before the portion intended for the bag is separated by the cut, the folding of the film web including folding the film web around the at least one product positioned on it transversely to the feed direction. Again, in this case, the bag-making station can be configured to adapt the folding of the film web to the transverse dimension of the at least one product positioned on it.

[0019] The bag forming station can be configured to seal the folded film web at a first and second point transverse to the feed direction to form a specific bag, creating two sealed gas-tight (or airtight) transverse seams between which the at least one product of the specific bag is positioned. If the film web is folded such that the left side edge is folded to the right, a seamless closed edge is created on the left side of the folded film web. Due to the two additional sealed transverse seams in front of and behind the at least one product placed in the folded film web, the bag is closed on three sides, leaving only an opening on the right longitudinal side of the specific bag, extending parallel to the feed direction of the bag forming station.In the mirror-image process, the only remaining open side of the bag is created on the left side, parallel to the feed direction of the bag production station.

[0020] The bag-making station can include one or more film transport devices for conveying the one or more film webs, each film transport device comprising a continuous feed unit, preferably unheated drive rollers or a clamping chain. The bag-making station can include more than one feeder for more than one film web. In particular, the one or more feeders can include a first feeder for a lower film web and a second feeder for an upper film web. The bag-making station can include a longitudinal sealing device configured to create a seal between the lower and upper film webs in the feed direction along a longitudinal edge of the superimposed film webs to produce the film strand.The packaging machine can be configured to automatically place the fed products onto the lower film web. The longitudinal sealing by the sealing device is achieved such that, for example, a left side edge of the upper film web is gas-tight (or airtight) joined to a left side edge of the lower film web by the application of heat and / or force, while the right side edges of the upper and lower film webs (in the feed direction) remain unattached. This results in a tubular film strand with a joined left long side and an open right long side. The film strand can also be a mirror image, closed on the right and open on the left. As throughout this description, the terms "right" and "left" refer to the feed direction.The placement of the supplied products can take place before the sealing connection is created or after the sealing connection has already been created.

[0021] The bag-making station may include a film transport device configured to transport the lower film web through the bag-making station in the feed direction. The film transport device may have a clamping chain configured to grip the lower film web with a first chain strand at a first longitudinal edge and with a second chain strand at a second longitudinal edge of the lower film web opposite the first longitudinal edge, such that the lower film web is suspended between the first and second chain strands.

[0022] The bag-making station can include an additional film transport device configured to transport the upper film web through the bag-making station in the feed direction. Similar to the film transport device for the lower film web, the film transport device for the upper film web can have a clamping chain with chain strands that grip the longitudinal edges of the upper film web. Alternatively, the upper film web can also be transported through the bag-making station parallel to the lower film web in the feed direction via other known transport mechanisms.

[0023] To better adapt the bag-making station to different product sizes, it can be configured to adjust the sag of the lower film web in the clamping chain to the size of the product to be placed in each bag. This can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the distance between the chain strands. A larger distance between the chain strands results in less sag, while a smaller distance results in greater sag. Alternatively or additionally, the position of the attachment points of one or both chain strands relative to the longitudinal edges of the lower film web can be adjusted. Moving the attachment points inwards relative to the longitudinal edges of the lower film web results in less sag, while moving the attachment points towards the longitudinal edges results in greater sag.The two approaches can be combined to achieve a greater variance in the adjustable sag.

[0024] The first longitudinal edge of the upper and / or lower film web can be located on the open side of the film strand. The second longitudinal edge of the upper and / or lower film web is opposite the first longitudinal edge and is located on the side of the film strand that is sealed by the longitudinal sealing device. The clamping chain can be configured to guide the first longitudinal edge of the lower film web at a higher feed height than the second longitudinal edge of the lower film web in a section of the bag-making station. Product placement can be provided in this section of the bag-making machine. Adjusting the feed height of the first longitudinal edge of the lower film web on one side simplifies the lateral filling of the product on the open side of the film strand.In this case, the corresponding longitudinal edge of the upper film web is guided separately and spaced apart from the first longitudinal edge of the lower film web, so that lateral filling of the product(s) on the open longitudinal side of the film strand is possible in this section of the bag-making machine.

[0025] Alternatively, the relevant section of the bag-making machine can be located after product placement in the feed direction. In this case, the unilateral adjustment of the feed height of the first longitudinal edge can be used to adjust the positioning of the product already placed on the lower film web. For positioning adjustment, the first longitudinal edge can also be guided at a lower feed height than the second longitudinal edge to allow for a change in product position in the opposite direction.These two approaches can also be combined by guiding the first longitudinal edge of the lower film web at a higher feed height than the second longitudinal edge in a first section, in order to place one or more products onto the lower film web by lateral filling. In a second section, the feed height of the first longitudinal edge is variably adjusted relative to the second longitudinal edge, i.e., guided at either a higher or lower feed height, to adjust the position of the placed product on the lower film web. The packaging machine can include a cutting device configured to cut the film strand perpendicular to the feed direction to separate the bags formed from the film strand.

[0026] The packaging machine can have a transverse sealing device configured to seal the film strand perpendicular to the feed direction at a gas-tight (or airtight) seal seam in order to form bags open on one side. Alternatively, the transverse sealing device can be configured to seal the already separated bags perpendicular to the feed direction in order to seal the individual bags gas-tight (or airtight) before and after the product. In both cases, a gas-tight (or airtight) seal seam is created in the feed direction before and after the product by permanently bonding the upper and lower film webs together, for example, by applying heat and / or force.

[0027] The cutting and cross-sealing devices can be designed as separate units, so that a separate cutting step and a separate cross-sealing cut are performed sequentially. The sealing step can be performed before the cutting step, or vice versa. Alternatively, the bag-making machine can have a cross-sealing and cutting unit that includes the cutting device and the cross-sealing device and is configured to perform the sealing of the film strand transversely to the feed direction and the cutting of the film strand transversely to the feed direction in a single operation.

[0028] The cross-sealing device can include a cross-sealing bar configured to seal the film strand perpendicular to the feed direction, with the height of the cross-sealing bar being adjustable at each cycle. The height of the cross-sealing bar can be adjusted to the product size, for example, so that the bar is positioned higher to allow a thicker product to pass through and lower when processing a thinner product. Alternatively, the height of the bar can be fixed to a maximum product thickness that can be processed. The cross-sealing device can also alternatively include a sealing roller that creates the seal by rolling along the desired seam.In any case, a cutting operation can be carried out at the location of the sealing process and simultaneously with the sealing process or essentially simultaneously with the sealing process in order to separate the formed bags.

[0029] The features and combinations of features disclosed in connection with the packaging machine described herein are also to be understood as possible features or combinations of features of the method according to the invention. In particular, process steps and process features disclosed for the packaging machine are to be understood, irrespective of the respective executing part of the packaging machine, as possible process steps or process features of the method according to the invention.

[0030] The following figures illustrate embodiments of the invention. These figures show:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a packaging machine according to the invention.

[0032] Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of a packaging machine according to the invention,

[0033] Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of a bag production station according to the invention,

[0034] Fig. 4A is a schematic frontal view of a bag production station according to the invention.

[0035] Fig. 4B is a schematic frontal view of an optional aspect of the bag-making station from Fig. 4A.

[0036] Fig. 5A shows a schematic frontal view of a further embodiment of a bag-making station according to the invention, and

[0037] Fig. 5B is a schematic frontal view of an optional aspect of the bag-making station from Fig. 5A.

[0038] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a packaging machine 100 according to the invention. The packaging machine 100 comprises a product feed unit 110, a bag forming station 130, a transfer station 150, an evacuation (or vacuuming) station 170, and a discharge unit 190. The product feed unit 110 can, for example, be designed as a variable-speed conveyor belt on which identical or different products 115 are transported linearly in a feed direction of the product feed unit. In the embodiment shown, all components of the packaging machine 100 form a linear arrangement with a common feed direction, which is represented by the long arrow above the drawing. Each individual unit or station has its own feed direction, which is represented by a smaller arrow in the respective unit or station.The products fed in can be any type of product suitable for vacuum packaging, such as food or other perishable goods. The product feeding unit 110 transfers the products to a receiving unit 144 of the bag making station 130.

[0039] The bag-making station 130 has a first film feed 132, which includes a first film roll 134, from which a film web 136 is fed via the receiving device 144 into the interior of the bag-making station 130. When the product is transferred from the product feed unit 110 to the receiving device 144, the product is placed on the film web 136. The bag-making station 130 is configured such that the products 115 are transported through the bag-making station 130 in one feed direction. Optionally, the bag-making station 130 can also have a second film feed 138, which includes a second film roll 140, from which a second film web 142 is fed into the bag-making station.

[0040] If two film webs 136 and 142 are used in the bag-making station 130, the two film webs 136 and 142 are transported parallel to each other, for example as the upper film web 142 and the lower film web 136, through the bag-making station 130 in order to place at least one product 115 between the film webs 136 and 142 and to produce individual bags from the film webs 136 and 142. If the bag-making station comprises only one film web 136, as is the case, for example, with a flow packer packaging machine, the bag is produced from this single film web 136. This can be a lower film web on which the product is placed and which is folded from below around the product 115 to form the bag.Alternatively, the single web 136 can also be an upper film web, which is then folded over the product from above to create a bag containing product 115. After bag formation and singulation, the individual bags 155 are transferred from the output unit 146 of the bag formation station 130 to a transfer station 150. The transfer station 150 transports the open-ended film bags 155 to an evacuation station. The open-ended film bags 155 comprise a lower film layer 165 on which one or more products 115 are placed, and an upper film layer 160 that extends over these one or more products 115. The bag is gas-tight (or airtight) on all sides except one, allowing an evacuation process to be carried out on the bag.

[0041] The open side of the individual film bags 155 produced by the bag-making station 130 extends parallel to the feed direction of the bag-making station 130, which is identical to the feed direction of the transfer station. The film bags 155, open on one side, are transferred by the transfer unit 150 to the evacuation station 170, where they are further processed. The open side of the film bags 155 is aligned parallel to the feed direction of the evacuation station 170. The evacuation station 170 is designed to reduce the pressure in each of the fed, open-on-one film bags 155 to a predetermined pressure value that is below the ambient atmospheric pressure. This can be achieved by inserting the film bags 155 into the open evacuation station 170 and subsequently closing the evacuation station 170, so that a gas-tight (or, more precisely, a gas-tight seal) is created.An airtight evacuation chamber is created in the evacuation station 170, in which one or more bags are arranged. The gas-tight (or airtight) closed evacuation station 170 is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump to reduce the pressure in the evacuation chamber of the evacuation station 170, and thus also in the individual foil bags 155, to the desired value. Alternatively, a suction device can be attached to the open end of the individual foil bags 155, which in turn reduces the pressure in the foil bags 155 via a vacuum pump without having to reduce the ambient pressure of the bags. After the pressure in the foil bags 155 located in the evacuation station 170 has dropped to the desired value, the last remaining open end of the foil bags 155 is sealed gas-tight (or airtight) by means of a sealing device.The bags 155 are sealed airtight by permanently bonding the upper film layer 160 and the lower film layer 165 together at the still open side, for example, by applying heat and fusing the two film layers 160 and 165. Alternatively or additionally, fusing the film layers 160 and 165 can be achieved by applying sufficient force. After the evacuation and sealing process is complete, the now evacuated and fully sealed bags 180 containing the products 115 are transferred from the evacuation station 170 to a transport unit 190.

[0042] As can be seen in Fig. 1, by producing laterally open film bags 155, which have one open side parallel to the feed direction of the bag-making station 130, a direct transfer by means of a simple transfer unit, for example in the form of a conveyor belt, from the bag-making station 130 to the evacuation station 170 can take place without the need to reposition the filled film bag 155, open on one side, between the bag-making station 130 and the evacuation station 170. In particular, the packaging machine 100 can thus be implemented as a simple linear arrangement in which no manual intervention or the use of a complex repositioning device is required to reposition the bags 155 produced by the bag-making station 130 relative to the feed direction for introduction into the evacuation station 170.

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a top view of the packaging machine 100 according to the invention. The packaging machine 100 comprises a product feeding unit 110, a bag forming station 130, a transfer station 150, an evacuation station 170, and a discharge unit 190. The product feeding unit 110 transports products 115 to be packaged in a feed direction to the bag forming unit. The feed direction of each individual station or unit of the packaging machine 100 corresponds to a common feed direction, which is shown as an arrow to the side of Fig. 2.

[0044] The bag-making unit 130 comprises a film feeder 132 that introduces a film web 136 into the bag-making station 130. In the example shown, this is a lower film web 136 on which the products 115 supplied by the product feeder 110 are placed. Not shown is the possibility that the bag-making station 130 may also include a second film feeder that introduces an upper film web into the bag-making station 130. The bag-making station 130 produces individual film bags 155, each containing one or more products 115. The individual film bags 155 have a lower film layer 165 and an upper film layer 160. The lower film layer 165 and the upper film layer 160 are produced, for example, by a film web 136 which is wrapped or folded around the products 115 placed on the film web 136.Alternatively, the upper and lower film layers 160 and 165 of the individual film bags 155 are formed by an upper and lower film web 142 and 136, between which the respective products to be placed in the film bags 155 are positioned.

[0045] To produce the film bags 155, a film strand is produced from one film web 136 or from the two film webs 136 and 142. This strand is tubular and has one closed end and an opposite open end, with both ends oriented parallel to the feed direction. The closed end, parallel to the feed direction, can be created by folding the film around the product transversely to the feed direction or by a sealing seam that gas-tight (or airtight) joins the upper and lower film webs 142 and 136 along one longitudinal side parallel to the feed direction.

[0046] The open-ended bag 155 is produced in the bag-making station by means of two transverse seals, between which the product is placed. Both the longitudinal and transverse seals are created by a permanent bond between the upper and lower film layers 160 and 165 or film webs 142 and 136, for example, by fusing the film webs 142 and 136 or film layers 160 and 165, by applying heat and / or sufficient force. In addition, the bag-making station 130 separates the individual bags 155 by means of a transverse cutting device, which is configured to cut either one film web 136 or both film webs 136 and 142 in a direction transverse to the feed direction. The bags 155 produced by the bag-making station 130 have one open side 235 and are otherwise hermetically sealed on all sides.They consist of a lower film layer 165 and an upper film layer 160, between which one or more products 115 are positioned. The open side 235 is produced parallel to the feed direction of the bag-making station 130. The open side 235 can be produced on either the right or left side of the bag in the feed direction. In some embodiments, the bag-making station 130 can alternately produce bags 155 with open left sides and with open right sides. Any other production rhythm of bags 155 with open left and right sides is also possible. In addition to the open side 235, the individual film bags 155 have a closed side 220 opposite the open side and sides 225 and 230 each closed by transverse sealing seams.

[0047] The transfer unit 150 transfers the single-sided open bags 155, containing at least one product 115, produced by the bag-making station 130, from the bag-making station 130 to the evacuation station 170 without repositioning the bags 155 relative to the feed direction. To adapt the bag size to a product size or to a desired size of an empty bag neck, the transfer station 150 can include a displacement unit 210 that adjusts the transverse positioning of a received bag 155 relative to the evacuation station 170. For example, the transfer unit 150 can be laterally adjustable on one or more rails by a linear or rotary electric motor transverse to the feed direction of the transfer unit 150. The transfer station 150 then transfers the single-sided open bags 155 to the evacuation station 170.

[0048] The evacuation station 170 has an evacuation and sealing rail 240, which is arranged parallel to the feed direction and can be located on either the right or left side of the evacuation station. In multi-lane versions of evacuation stations, the evacuation station can have either a left- or a right-hand evacuation and sealing rail. A right-hand evacuation and sealing rail 240 is suitable for evacuating and sealing a bag 155 with an open right side 235, and a left-hand evacuation and sealing rail 240 is suitable for evacuating and sealing a bag 155 with a left-hand open side 235. The bag 155, open on one side, is inserted into the evacuation station 170 such that the open side 235 of the bag lies above the evacuation and sealing rail 240.Once the bag 155 is inserted into the evacuation station 170, the evacuation station 170 can be closed to perform the evacuation and sealing process. As described above, a pressure is generated inside the bag 155 that is a predetermined amount lower than the ambient pressure outside the evacuation station 170. After the pressure in the bag 155 has decreased, the remaining open end 235 of the bag 155 is sealed gas-tight (or airtight) by means of the evacuation and sealing bar, so that the low pressure in the evacuated bag 155 is maintained permanently. The seal can be achieved by permanently bonding the upper and lower film layers together, for example, by applying heat and / or force.

[0049] The evacuation station 170 can also include an additional cutting device to remove the protruding portion of the bag after sealing. The evacuated and completely sealed bag 180 now has a gas-tight (or airtight) sealed side 250 instead of the open side 235 and is then transferred from the evacuation station 170 to a transport unit 190.

[0050] Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of a bag-making station 300 according to the invention, which represents an embodiment of the bag-making station 130. The bag-making station 300 comprises a single film feeder 132, which introduces a film web 136 into the bag-making station 300. Products 115 to be packaged are placed on the film web 136 and are transported through the bag-making station 300 with the film web 136. In a first processing step, individual film pieces 320 are cut from the lower film web 136 by a cross-cutting device. Each cut film piece 320 contains one or more products 115. The cut film piece 320 has a width that is at least twice the width of the products 115 placed on it.The products 115 are positioned on the detached piece of film 320 such that their extent does not exceed half the width of the film web 136, the width of which is measured perpendicular to the feed direction. The feed direction is indicated by an arrow in the figure. The detached piece of film has a left side edge 324 and a right side edge 322.

[0051] In a next step, the half of the film on which one or more products 115 are not placed is folded around the products 115 placed on the other half of the detached film section 320 by means of a gripping and / or guiding device. That is, the detached film section 320 is folded so that the products are placed on a lower film layer 326, which corresponds to one half of the detached film section 320, and that an upper film layer 328, which corresponds to the second half of the detached film section 320, is folded over the products. For example, the left side edge 324 can be grasped by a gripping device and moved around the product 115 located on the detached film section 320 so that it comes to rest on the right film edge 322.The placed products 115 are located after the turning step between the lower film layer 326 and the upper film layer 328 with two open sides perpendicular to the feed direction, one open side 235 parallel to the feed direction, and one closed side 220 parallel to the feed direction. The closed side 220 parallel to the feed direction is created by turning the separated film web perpendicular to the feed direction.

[0052] In a final step, the open sides extending transversely to the feed direction are sealed gas-tight (or airtight) by a transverse sealing device 330. This can be achieved by a sealing bar arranged transversely to the feed direction, which permanently seals the lower film layer 326 to the upper film layer 328 gas-tight (or airtight), for example, by applying heat and / or force. Sealing the two open sides transversely to the feed direction results in sealed sides 230 and 225 in front of and behind the product 115 in the feed direction, thus creating a bag 155 open on one side, with only one open side 235 remaining. The bag 155 open on one side contains the at least one product 115 and is gas-tight (or airtight) except for the remaining open side 235.(airtight) closed, so that it is suitable for being evacuated from an evacuation station 170 and for permanently maintaining the lower internal bag pressure resulting from the evacuation against the higher ambient pressure after sealing the last open side 235.

[0053] Figures 4A and 4B show a schematic frontal view of the embodiment of the bag-making station 300 according to the invention as described in Figure 3. In particular, Figures 4A and 4B show two variants of an intermediate work result of the bag-making station 300 after the film web has been folded over transversely to the feed direction. Figure 4A shows a schematic frontal view of the bag-making station 300, with the feed direction directed into the plane of the drawing, which is indicated by the circled cross to the side of the sketch. The figure shows the state after the folded-over of the cut-off film piece 320. The film web can be folded over the product in such a way that the left film edge 324 and the right film edge 322 of the cut-off film piece 320 essentially lie on top of each other. This creates a maximum overlap area between the upper film layer 328 and the lower film layer 326.The product 115 is placed between the film layers 326 and 328. The folding action creates an open longitudinal side 235, formed by the side edges 324 and 322 of the detached piece of film, and a closed longitudinal side 220.

[0054] Figure 4B also shows a schematic frontal view of a bag forming station 300, with the feed direction again directed into the plane of the drawing. Figure 4B shows the state after the cut-off film piece 320 has been folded over. The cut-off film piece 320 is folded over here such that the folded-over left film edge 324 of the cut-off film piece 320 is pushed beyond the underlying right film edge 322 of the cut-off film piece 320, so that an end piece of the upper film layer 328 does not overlap with the lower film layer 326. The overlap area of ​​the upper film layer 328 with the lower film layer 326 is thereby reduced, resulting in a smaller final bag size and changing the positioning of the product within the final bag. In particular, the closed longitudinal side of the bag created by folding over the cut-off film piece 320 is shifted to the right.By shifting the folded left edge of the film 324 relative to the right edge of the film 322, the final size of the bag and the positioning of the product 115 within the bag can be adjusted. For example, the bag width can be adjusted to the size of the product placed inside.

[0055] Figures 5A and 5B show schematic frontal views of a bag-making station 500 according to the invention, which represents an embodiment of the bag-making station 130. In each of these embodiments, an upper film web 142 and a lower film web 136 are used. Figure 5A shows a frontal view of a bag-making station 500 in which the product 115 is placed on the lower film web 136. The feed direction is assumed here to be into the plane of the illustration, again characterized by a circle with a cross inside it to the side of the sketch. The two film webs 136 and 142 are moved through the bag-making station 500 by means of a common feed device. The feed device comprises a clamp chain 410, which includes a clamp strand 412 on the left in the feed direction and a clamp strand 414 on the right in the feed direction.The left clamping strand 412 grips the left edge of the lower film web 136 and the left edge of the upper film web 142. The right clamping strand 414 grips the right edge of the lower film web 136 and the right edge of the upper film web 142. On the left side of the bag-making station 500, next to the left clamping strand, is a sealing device 430 with sealing elements 432 and 434. The sealing device can create a seal between the lower film web 136 and the upper film web 142 either continuously or intermittently. In the first case, the sealing elements 432 and 434 can comprise sealing rollers; in the second case, the sealing elements 432 and 434 can comprise sealing bars.

[0056] In this illustration, the right-hand edges of the upper film web 142 and the lower film web 136 are held together in the clamping strand 414, but are not joined together by a sealing seam on the right side. This results in a film strand with an upper and a lower film layer, which are joined together by a sealing seam on the left side, creating a closed longitudinal edge on the left. The film strand has an open longitudinal edge on the right. Individual bags, open on one side, are formed from the film strand by creating sealing connections between the upper film layer 136 and the lower film layer 142 transversely to the feed direction using a transverse sealing device. Each individual bag has one sealed transverse seam in the feed direction before the product 115 and a second sealed transverse seam in the feed direction after the product 115.The bags can be separated by a cutting device that divides them from each other by cross-sections. The cutting device and the sealing device can be combined or designed as separate units. The bags can be separated first and then sealed, or sealed first and then separated.

[0057] Fig. 5B shows an embodiment of the bag-making station 500, in which the product 115 is inserted laterally into the film strand via the open longitudinal side. On the left longitudinal side of the film strand, the left edges of the upper film web 142 and the lower film web 136 are gripped by a common chain strand 412, as shown in Fig. 5A. On the right side, a first right chain strand 416 grips the right edge of the upper film web 142, and a second right clamp strand 414 grips the right edge of the lower film web 136. The chain strands 412, 414, and 416 are part of a clamp chain 410, which forms a feed device that transports the lower film web 136 and the upper film web 142 through the bag-making station 500. The two clamp strands 414 and 416 can be spaced apart from each other, creating a gap through which at least one product 115 can be introduced.The height of the clamping strand 414, which grips the right side of the lower film web 136, can be adjusted to the product 115 being inserted. In particular, the clamping strand 414 can be guided at a higher feed height than the clamping strand 410 to facilitate the insertion of the product 115 into the film web, which is open on one side. As shown in Fig. 5A, the lower film web 136 and the upper film web 142 are permanently joined together on the left side by means of a sealing device 430 with sealing elements 432 and 434. The sealing elements can be sealing rollers that produce a continuous seal. Alternatively, the sealing elements 432 and 434 can be sealing bars that produce a seal intermittently. In both cases, the seal can be created by applying heat and / or force.Adjusting the height of the right-hand staple strand 414 relative to the left-hand staple strand 412 can also be useful if the product is already placed on the lower film layer. This is the case, for example, when precise positioning of the product 115 within the bag needs to be adjusted.

[0058] In this description, the terms left and right are always to be understood in the feed direction. The arrangement for each of Figures 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B can be mirrored to the described arrangements, so that the left and right sides of the device exchange their roles, and, for example, the sealing or folding takes place on the right side, and the open edge is formed on the left side.

Claims

Claims 1. Packaging machine (100) comprising: a bag forming station (130, 300, 500) having a product feed (144) and one or more feeds (132, 138) for one or more film webs (136, 142), wherein the bag forming station (130, 300, 500) is configured to produce a tubular film strand from the one or more film webs (136, 142), to form bags (155) open at one end from the film strand by sealing the film strand transversely to a feed direction of the bag forming station (130, 300, 500), and to produce the bags such that at least one fed product (115) is placed in each formed bag (155), wherein the film strand is open on one longitudinal side and the individual bags (155) open at one end each have a longitudinal opening (235) exhibit, wherein the respective longitudinal openings (235) of the individual bags are formed from the open longitudinal side of the film strand when the film strand is sealed,and wherein the open longitudinal side and the respective longitudinal openings (235) of the individual bags (155) extend parallel to the feed direction of the bag-making station (130, 300, 500).

2. Packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the packaging machine further comprises an evacuation station which is configured to evacuate the formed bags at their respective longitudinal opening and to seal the longitudinal opening of each evacuated bag airtight by sealing.

3. Packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein the packaging machine further comprises a transfer station which is configured to receive the formed bags with the at least one product placed therein from the bag production station and to automatically transfer them to the evacuation station.

4. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer station comprises a displacement unit which is configured to adapt the transverse positioning of a received bag relative to the evacuation station to a length of an empty bag neck of the bag.

5. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag-making station has exactly one feed for only one film web and is configured to produce the film strand from the one film web by folding the film web around at least one product positioned on the film.

6. Packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein the bag forming station is configured to position the at least one product for a specific bag on the part of the film web intended for that bag, before that part of the film web is turned over.

7. Packaging machine according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the packaging machine further comprises a cutting device configured to cut off the portion of the unfolded film web intended for the specific bag by a cut transverse to the feed direction, and wherein the folding of the film web comprises folding the cut portion of the film web around the at least one product positioned thereon transversely to the feed direction, wherein the bag forming station is optionally configured to adapt the folding of the cut portion of the film web to the transverse dimension of the at least one product positioned thereon.

8. Packaging machine according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the packaging machine further comprises a cutting device configured to cut off the portion of the film web intended for the bag by a cut transverse to the feed direction, wherein the bag-making station is configured to fold the film web over before the portion of the film web intended for the bag is cut off, wherein the folding of the film web comprises folding the film web around the at least one product positioned thereon transversely to the feed direction, wherein the bag-making station is optionally configured to adapt the folding of the film web to the transverse dimension of the at least one product positioned thereon.

9. Packaging machine according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the bag forming station is further configured to seal the folded film web for forming the specific bag at a first and a second point transverse to the feed direction, so that two sealed transverse seams are created, between which the at least one product of the specific bag is positioned.

10. Packaging machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more feeders comprise a first feeder for a lower film web and a second feeder for an upper film web, wherein the bag forming station comprises a longitudinal sealing device configured to form a sealing connection between the lower and the upper film web in the feed direction along a longitudinal edge of the to produce film webs positioned one above the other in order to create the film strand, wherein the packaging machine is set up to automatically place the supplied products on the lower film web.

11. Packaging machine according to claim 10, wherein the bag-making station further comprises a film transport device which is configured to transport the lower film web through the bag-making station in the feed direction of the bag-making station, wherein the film transport device has a clamp chain which is configured to grip the lower film web with a first chain strand at a first longitudinal edge and with a second chain strand at a second longitudinal edge of the lower film web opposite the first longitudinal edge, so that the lower film web is suspended between the first and second chain strands.

12. Packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the bag-making station is configured to adjust the sag of the lower film in the clamp chain to the size of the at least one product to be placed in a respective bag.

13. Packaging machine according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first longitudinal edge is located on the open longitudinal side of the film strand and the clamp chain is configured to guide the first longitudinal edge in a section of the bag-making station at a higher feed height than the second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge in that section, wherein the product placement is provided in the section of the bag-making machine, or wherein the section of the bag-making machine is located downstream of the product placement in the feed direction.

14. Packaging machine according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the packaging machine further comprises a cutting device which is configured to cut the film strand transversely to the feed direction in order to separate the bags formed from the film strand.

15. Packaging machine according to one of claim 14, wherein the bag-making machine has a transverse sealing and cutting unit comprising the cutting device and configured to perform the sealing of the film strand transverse to the feed direction and the cutting of the film strand transverse to the feed direction in a common operation.

16. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag-making machine has a transverse sealing device comprising a transverse sealing bar configured to seal the film strand transversely to the feed direction. to be executed, whereby the height positioning of the cross-seal bar can be adjusted to vary the cycle time.

17. Method for automatic bag production from one or more film webs, comprising: transporting the one or more film webs (136, 142) in a feed direction; Producing a tubular film strand from one or more film webs (136, 142), wherein the produced film strand is open on one longitudinal side extending parallel to the feed direction; forming one-sided open bags (155) from the film strand by sealing the film strand transversely to the feed direction, wherein the individual one-sided open bags (155) each have a longitudinal opening (235) and the respective longitudinal openings (235) of the individual bags are formed from the open longitudinal side of the film strand when the film strand is sealed, and wherein the respective longitudinal openings (235) of the individual bags (155) extend parallel to the feed direction, wherein each one-sided open bag (155) is either formed around at least one product (115) or is filled with at least one product (115).

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