Adjustment module for optional insertion into a tool belonging to a workstation of a packaging machine

Abstract

An adjustment module for optional insertion into a tool belonging to a workstation of a packaging machine is disclosed. An insert part is provided here and, in the form of a negative of a base of a hollow or chamber to be formed in a material web, can be introduced into a recess of the tool. The adjustment module can be optionally inserted into the recess and has a contact portion, by means of which the adjustment module comes into contact with a base portion of the recess, and also has a supporting and / or holding portion for supporting and / or holding the insert part. Also provided is an adjustment mechanism, by means of which the supporting and / or holding portion of the inserted adjustment module can be optionally raised and / or lowered relative to the contact portion.

Description

[0001] Weber Food Technology SE & Co. KG W29080PWO - Dm

[0002] Adjustment module for optional insertion into a tool of a workstation of a packaging machine

[0003] The invention relates to an adjustment module for selective insertion into a tool of a workstation, in particular into a lower or upper tool of a forming or sealing station, of a packaging machine, especially a thermoforming packaging machine. The tool into which the adjustment module can be selectively inserted has at least one recess for forming a trough or chamber in a material web movable by the packaging machine, and an insert is provided which can be placed into the recess as a negative mold of a base of the trough or chamber.

[0004] Packaging machines that form troughs or chambers in a web of material, such as film, can be used, for example, to produce packaging for food products. For this purpose, a lower layer of material can be unwound from a roll and fed to a forming station, which uses suction to draw a trough into the web by creating a recess in a die. At a loading station, or in a so-called insertion area, the food products to be packaged, such as portions with slices of food separated from the product, can then be placed into the trough provided by the packaging machine. The trough, along with the product inside, can then be conveyed to a sealing station.At the sealing station, for example, an upper web of material fed from above can be sealed to the lower web of material to close the cavity containing the portion and thus create a sealed package. If necessary, a chamber can also be formed in the upper web of material during the sealing process to produce packages with domed lids. For this purpose, the upper web of material can be drawn into a recess of a corresponding upper tool at the sealing station. Subsequently, the filled and sealed packages can be fed to a singulation station, where the packages can be separated by appropriately cutting or slicing the webs of material.

[0005] Therefore, tools with recesses can be provided, particularly at a forming station and a sealing station, to create troughs or chambers in the respective material webs. Furthermore, insert parts, usually serving as negative molds for the base of the trough or chamber to be formed, are typically placed into these recesses, allowing the base to be shaped with a desired surface texture, for example.

[0006] In order to increase the throughput in the operation of such packaging machines, it is often planned to produce and, in particular, fill a format of packages during one machine cycle, so that the tools used to process the material web usually also have a format of recesses with respective inserted inserts, in order to be able to feed in a format of several recesses simultaneously or during one machine cycle, for example at a forming station.

[0007] However, when processing different food products, it may be necessary to retool a tool used on the packaging machine in order to adjust, for example, the depth of the tool's recesses and thus the shape of the trough or chamber to be formed.

[0008] This usually requires manually inserting or removing spacer plates from each of the tool's recesses in order to position the insert on the desired number of spacer plates and adjust the depth of the recesses. However, such tool adjustments are undesirably time-consuming and labor-intensive. Furthermore, the necessary manual interventions, as well as the storage and assembly of all parts, represent potential sources of error.

[0009] Another way to adjust the recesses of a packaging machine tool is to design the tool itself with an integrated height adjustment mechanism for the recesses. However, such tools are generally custom-made, resulting in significant engineering complexity and high costs.

[0010] In view of this, it is an object of the invention to provide a means for flexibly adapting the recesses of such a tool of a packaging machine, which is less time-consuming than manually inserting spacer plates and which can be implemented for various and common tools without requiring a special adaptation of the tool itself.

[0011] This problem is solved by an adjustment module with the features of claim 1. The adjustment module can be selectively inserted into the recess of the tool and has a contact section with which the adjustment module can be brought into contact with a bottom section of the recess. Furthermore, the adjustment module has a support and / or retaining section opposite the contact section for supporting and / or retaining the insert part, as well as an adjustment mechanism which is designed to selectively raise and / or lower the support and / or retaining section of the adjustment module inserted into the recess relative to the contact section.

[0012] By selectively inserting the adjustment module into the recess of the tool and designing it to support and / or hold the insert against the support and / or holding section, the insert can ultimately be raised and / or lowered relative to the bottom section of the recess by raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section, thus adjusting the insert's position within the recess. Since the insert, which acts as a negative mold of the bottom of the trough or chamber to be formed, ultimately determines the depth of the trough or chamber to be formed in the material web through its position in the recess, the depth of the respective trough or chamber can be influenced by appropriately moving the support and / or holding section.

[0013] Furthermore, the desired depth of the recess can be adjusted using the adjustment module integrated with the adjustment mechanism, without the need to manually insert or remove any spacer plates from the recess. Instead, by appropriately controlling or actuating the adjustment mechanism, particularly with the adjustment module inserted into the recess, the insert can be raised or lowered to flexibly and precisely adjust the depth of the recess. It is therefore unnecessary to remove or add components to the recess to adjust the position of the insert.

[0014] Furthermore, the option of inserting the adjustment module into the recess of the tool allows for simple and straightforward retrofitting of existing tools, regardless of the manufacturer, enabling convenient adaptation of the tool to changing operating conditions. Specifically, the adjustment module can be inserted into a recess of an existing tool to flexibly raise or lower the supported or held insert without requiring any structural modifications to the tool. The adjustment module can therefore be understood as a compact and versatile retrofit module, offering a convenient way to adjust the recesses or chambers formed by the tool in existing tools for packaging machine workstations.

[0015] In general, the support and / or holding section can be designed to support an insert after the adjustment module has been placed in a lower tool, in order to selectively raise and / or lower the insert. Furthermore, the support and / or holding section can be designed to hold an insert in an upper tool, thus ultimately preventing it from falling out due to gravity, in order to allow the insert to be moved within the recess of the upper tool relative to the bottom section of the recess.

[0016] In principle, the raising and lowering in connection with the present disclosure further refers to moving the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section of the adjustment module, wherein raising the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section increases the distance between the support and / or holding section and the contact section. When the adjustment module is inserted into an upper tool, the support and / or holding section can therefore ultimately be moved downwards in a reference frame of a production hall when raised relative to the contact section, since this downward movement of the support and / or holding section increases the distance between the support and / or holding section and the contact section, i.e., the support and / or holding section is raised relative to the contact section.When the adjustment module is inserted into a recess of a lower tool, the support and / or holding section can also be raised in a reference system of a production hall when raised relative to the contact section, since such a raising in the reference system of the production hall also entails an increase in the distance to the contact section.

[0017] Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism can be designed to receive commands from an external control device, such as a smartphone, in order to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section according to a command received from the external control device. This allows the adjustment module to be flexibly controlled after insertion into the recess, enabling the insert to be raised or lowered relative to the bottom section of the recess. The adjustment module can, for example, include a radio device for receiving commands via a wireless connection. In general, the support and / or holding section can also be raised from a contact surface of the contact section to the bottom section of the recess and thus to a tool base.In particular, the support and / or holding section and the contact section can, for example, lie next to each other at a minimum height of the adjustment module, whereby, starting from such a lowest position, the support and / or holding section can be raised relative to the contact section in order to selectively reduce the depth of the recess into which the adjustment module is inserted.

[0018] Further embodiments are explained in the dependent claims, the description and with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In some embodiments, the adjustment module can include the insert. In such embodiments, the insert can therefore be connected to the adjustment module and inserted directly into the recess together with the adjustment module, so that, with regard to the assembly of the lower tool, both the adjustment module and the insert can be inserted into the recess in a single step. In particular, in such embodiments, a surface of the support and / or holding section facing the material web during operation can also function as a negative mold for the trough or chamber to be formed and thus as an insert.

[0020] In some embodiments, however, the insert part can also be available as a separate component, which can optionally first be attached and / or fastened to the adjustment module in order to then be inserted into the recess together with the adjustment module, or which can be attached to the support and / or holding section of the adjustment module after the adjustment module has been inserted into the recess.

[0021] In some embodiments, the insert can also have a non-stick layer, in particular a Teflon coating. Therefore, in inserts encompassed by the adjustment module, a surface of the support and / or retaining section that contacts the material web can be coated with a non-stick agent.

[0022] The support and / or holding section can, for example, enclose an area of ​​120 x 120 mm, 80 x 100 mm, or 400 x 300 mm in one plane of the recess. In particular, the adjustment module can therefore be dimensioned such that it can be inserted into standard recesses of a tool in a workstation of a packaging machine.

[0023] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may be designed to withstand forces and / or pressures occurring during tool use in the packaging machine and to stabilize the support and / or holding section in a position relative to the contact section. The adjustment mechanism may therefore be optimized specifically for achieving the required forces, whereas the speed of movement of the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section may be of secondary importance in the design of the adjustment mechanism compared to force generation.

[0024] In some embodiments, the adjustment module may include a fastening device for attaching the insert to the support and / or retaining section. Alternatively or additionally, the adjustment module may also include a fixing device for fixing the contact section to the bottom section of the recess.

[0025] For example, the adjustment module may be designed with threaded holes to allow it to be screwed into the recess and / or the insert to be attached to the adjustment module by screwing in a screw. Furthermore, the support and / or retaining section of the adjustment module may have a rail onto which the insert can be slid, thus ensuring a stable attachment of the insert to the adjustment module and, in particular, to the support and / or retaining section. Other common fastening methods can also be used to secure the insert to the support and / or retaining section, such as a plug-in, clamp, or adhesive connection.

[0026] Furthermore, the design of the adjustment module with a fixing device can, in particular, enable the adjustment module to be fixed in the correct installation position within the recess. Moreover, especially when the adjustment module is inserted into an upper tool, such a fixing device, along with a fastening device, can prevent the adjustment module and / or the insert from falling out of the recess due to gravity. The fixing device can also provide, for example, a screw, clamp, plug, or adhesive connection for securing the adjustment module.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, a poka-yoke technique can be used in the design and / or assembly of the adjustment module in some embodiments. For this purpose, the adjustment module can be designed, for example, such that it can be inserted into the recess of the tool in a single orientation, in which it can also be immediately fixed in the recess. Furthermore, adjustment modules intended for use in a lower tool can be distinguished from those intended for use in an upper tool, for example, by means of a unique marking, in order to prevent any incorrect installation of adjustment modules in tools. This can be achieved, for example, by different colors and / or shapes and / or by patterns (or other markings) applied to the adjustment modules.

[0028] In general, the option of inserting adjustment modules into tool recesses can also facilitate the easy retrofitting of existing tools and / or packaging machines, particularly regardless of the manufacturer. Furthermore, multiple adjustment modules can be designed as identical parts, ensuring consistent insertion into the respective recesses and eliminating the need for adjustments regarding the use (or installation) and / or assembly of different adjustment modules. This also increases reliability in terms of the correct insertion or installation of one or more adjustment modules into one or more recesses of a tool.

[0029] Furthermore, it can also be provided that the adjustment module emits a signal when correctly inserted into the recess and / or correctly secured by a fixing device, so that correct installation can be verified. For example, the adjustment module can be designed to emit a visually and / or audibly perceptible signal to indicate correct installation, for example via an indicator light (e.g., LED) or a loudspeaker integrated into the adjustment module. In some embodiments, the adjustment module can also include a radio transmitter and be designed to send information about correct and / or incorrect installation via a radio connection to an external control unit, such as a smartphone. In such embodiments, it can therefore be checked whether the installation has been carried out correctly, for example, in an application (app) on the control unit.

[0030] Furthermore, some embodiments may include a locking mechanism designed to block movement of the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section if the adjustment module is not correctly inserted into the recess of the tool. This locking mechanism can be released by correctly inserting the module into the recess. This also increases reliability by ensuring that the adjustment of the recess depth can only be triggered if the adjustment module is correctly inserted. Therefore, attempting to adjust the support and / or holding section indirectly verifies whether the adjustment module has been correctly inserted.

[0031] Furthermore, correct installation of the adjustment module can be verified and / or ensured, for example, by providing a centering pin on the adjustment module and / or in the recess, which interacts with a corresponding centering recess.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, the adjustment module can, for example, have a shape that allows the adjustment module to be installed or inserted into the recess in a single orientation of the adjustment module.

[0033] In general, measures can therefore be taken in particular to achieve and / or ensure correct insertion of the adjustment module into the recess, and / or the adjustment module can be designed to be inserted into the recess in a single (in particular correct) installation position.

[0034] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may include an actuator, in particular an electric motor and / or a pump, for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section.

[0035] In particular, it can be provided that the support and / or holding section can be raised and / or lowered by electrical energy. For example, an electric motor can provide drive power for a mechanical drive of the adjustment mechanism to enable raising and / or lowering of the support and / or holding section. Similarly, a pump can be driven by an electric motor of the adjustment module to enable raising and / or lowering of the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section, for instance, by increasing or decreasing a volume enclosed by the adjustment module.

[0036] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism can be designed to fix the support and / or holding section at a predetermined height relative to the contact section and to secure it against movement relative to the contact section. In particular, the adjustment mechanism can therefore be designed to fix the support and / or holding section at the predetermined height relative to the contact section in such a way that forces acting on the support and / or holding section, and those expected during operation of the workstation in question, do not lead to a change in the distance to the contact section.

[0037] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may include a locking element for fixing the support and / or holding section and may be designed to release the support and / or holding section for raising and / or lowering relative to the contact section by releasing the locking element.

[0038] In particular, such a locking element can enable the support and / or holding section to be fixed at the aforementioned target height relative to the contact section, without the adjustment mechanism having to continuously exert a force or drive power to counteract any changes in distance in order to compensate for any opposing forces, especially those acting during tool operation. Instead, the locking element can directly fix the support and / or holding section at the target height, so that, for example, an actuator of the adjustment mechanism can then be switched off to avoid unnecessary energy consumption during workstation operation.

[0039] However, to allow subsequent adjustment of the insert's position, the adjustment mechanism can be designed to selectively release the locking element, thereby enabling movement of the support and / or retaining section relative to the contact section. For example, such a locking element could be a valve, a clamping element, or another mechanical or electromagnetic lock that blocks movement of the support and / or retaining section relative to the contact section. For example, the locking element could be designed to block a gear of the adjustment mechanism to prevent actuation of the adjustment mechanism to move the support and / or retaining section.Furthermore, a valve can, for example, prevent the flow of gas or fluid required to move the support and / or holding section in order to fix the support and / or holding section at the target height.

[0040] In some embodiments, the actuator can be configured to actively raise the support and / or holding section, while the support and / or holding section can be passively lowered when the actuator is not activated. In particular, such passive lowering can occur by releasing the aforementioned locking element, whereupon the released support and / or holding section can, in such embodiments, lower directly, provided the actuator does not counteract such movement and continue to raise or support the support and / or holding section.

[0041] Such an implementation can minimize the energy consumption of the adjustment module, as energy is only required to raise the support and / or holding section, while lowering it can occur without any further energy expenditure. For example, energy expended during the raising of the support and / or holding section can be stored in an energy storage device, which can then be released when the support and / or holding section is released, causing it to lower. This can be achieved, for example, by pre-tensioning the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section against lifting, as explained in more detail below.

[0042] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the actuator may also be designed to actively raise and lower the support and / or holding section.

[0043] In principle, some embodiments may also provide that the actuator is designed to actively lower the support and / or holding section, whereas the support and / or holding section can be passively raised when the actuator is not activated.

[0044] In some embodiments, raising the support and / or holding section may require an increase in pressure to a higher pressure, whereby the support and / or holding section may be lowered by releasing the increased pressure when the actuator is not activated.

[0045] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the lifting of the support and / or holding section can be carried out against a preload, in particular against a preload exerted by a preload spring, wherein the support and / or holding section is foreseeable due to the preload when the actuator is not activated.

[0046] In general, raising the support and / or holding section can also involve the application of force in some embodiments, whereby a portion of the force applied to raise the support and / or holding section can be stored in a force storage device, for example, a spring, a pressure accumulator, or by preventing gravity-induced lowering of the support and / or holding section. Furthermore, the support and / or holding section can be locked against lowering at a predetermined height, but the support and / or holding section can still be passively lowered by releasing the stored force when the locking mechanism is activated.

[0047] For example, the support and / or holding section can be raised relative to the contact section by increasing the volume in a pressure chamber. Upon reaching a target height, a valve can be closed to prevent the increased pressure in the pressure chamber from dissipating, thus fixing the support and / or holding section at the target height. When the valve is then opened, the increased pressure can dissipate, and gas or fluid can escape from the pressure chamber through the valve, allowing the support and / or holding section to be lowered relative to the contact section, also due to its own weight.Similarly, for example, by raising the support and / or holding section against a preload exerted by a preload spring and fixing the support and / or holding section when a target height is reached, it is possible to lower the support and / or holding section again relative to the contact section due to the preload of the preload spring, without requiring any further energy expenditure.

[0048] To achieve a pressure increase, the adjustment mechanism can, for example, be equipped with a pump to selectively pump air, another gas, or a fluid into an enclosed pressure chamber of the adjustment module, thereby increasing the volume of the pressure chamber and thus raising the support and / or holding section. Alternatively or additionally to a pump, the adjustment module can also include a heating element to heat the interior of a pressure chamber, causing an enclosed gas or fluid to expand and thus raising the support and / or holding section. It is also possible, for instance, to achieve such a volume increase by evaporating a liquid enclosed within the adjustment module.

[0049] Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism can generally be arranged within an enclosed interior space and / or outside such an interior space of the adjustment module. For example, the adjustment module can be designed with foldable or flexible side walls, which can be optionally tensioned or released to allow movement of the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section. Such side walls, particularly when tensioned, can be oriented essentially perpendicular to the respective extension surfaces of the support and / or holding section and the contact section, connecting the support and / or holding section to the contact section.Alternatively, the adjustment mechanism can also have elements formed outside such an interior space, which can, for example, form the contact section of the adjustment module as respective adjusting feet, whereby, for example, by extending such adjusting feet - similar to adjusting a computer keyboard, but possibly automatically - the support and / or holding section can be raised or lowered.

[0050] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may include an expandable pressure chamber and a pump designed to expand the pressure chamber by pumping in a fluid or gas and to raise the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section.

[0051] In some embodiments, the fluid and / or gas can be circulated in a closed loop, which can therefore be considered part of the adjustment mechanism. For example, the adjustment mechanism can include a fluid and / or gas reservoir located outside the pressure chamber, into which the fluid and / or gas can be filled when the support and / or holding section is lowered.

[0052] In addition, in some designs the pump can be operated by an electric motor.

[0053] In some embodiments, the support and / or holding section can be raised by activating the pump, while it can be passively lowered when the pump is not activated. In particular, the injection of the fluid or gas can be accompanied by a pressure increase in the pressure chamber, and the support and / or holding section can be locked to prevent this pressure increase from dissipating once a target height is reached. However, if the support and / or holding section is released for lowering by allowing a pressure release, this lowering can occur passively and without activating the pump, as the previously occurring pressure increase dissipates.

[0054] In some embodiments, a valve can be arranged at an inlet and / or outlet of the pressure chamber, wherein the support and / or holding section can be locked against lowering by closing the valve after the fluid and / or gas has been pumped in, and the support and / or holding section can be lowered by opening the valve.

[0055] In particular, the valve can thus act as a locking element, fixing the support and / or holding section at a predetermined height relative to the contact section. In some embodiments, the pressure chamber can be designed to function as a thermal bridge for cooling the tool. For this purpose, the support and / or holding section can, for example, be made of a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum, to dissipate heat generated during the processing of a material web on a packaging machine.

[0056] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may include an expandable pressure chamber and a heating element, whereby by heating the heating element a volume enclosed by the pressure chamber can be increased and the support and / or holding section can be raised.

[0057] Even in such embodiments, the adjustment mechanism can also, for example, include a valve to fix the support and / or holding section at a target height after the heating element has been heated, but to allow passive lowering of the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section by opening the valve.

[0058] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may include a spindle drive for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the adjustment mechanism may include an eccentric driven by an electric motor for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section.

[0060] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the adjustment mechanism may include a deflection mechanism for redirecting a translational movement directed perpendicular or inclined to the raising and / or lowering into the raising and / or lowering of the support and / or holding section, in particular a wedge element.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments the contact section and the support and / or holding section can be connected to each other by a toggle joint.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the contact section and the support and / or holding section can be connected by a scissor mechanism. In other words, in such embodiments, the support and / or holding section can be movable relative to the contact section, similar to the principle of a car jack. The scissor mechanism can be set in motion, for example, by an electric motor and / or a pump.

[0063] A spindle drive for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section can, for example, be designed to be self-locking.

[0064] Therefore, it may be provided that, as an alternative or additional measure to raising the support and / or holding section by increasing the pressure in a pressure chamber, the adjustment mechanism is designed as a mechanical adjustment mechanism to enable raising and / or lowering of the support and / or holding section. However, even with such mechanical solutions, a locking element may be provided, for example, to block the adjustment mechanism when the support and / or holding section reaches a target height. Such a locking element may be movable, for example, mechanically, electrically, and / or by utilizing magnetic force. Similarly, a preload spring may be used, for example, to ensure that the support and / or holding section can be passively raised or lowered by lowering or raising it against the preload of the spring.

[0065] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism can be designed to raise the support and / or holding section from a lowest position relative to the contact section by up to 50 mm or up to 70 mm.

[0066] In particular, the adjustment mechanism can be designed to continuously raise the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section from the low position.

[0067] In some embodiments, the adjustment module may include at least one height sensor for detecting a set height of the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section and / or relative to the bottom section of the tool recess. Alternatively or additionally, the adjustment module may also include at least one tilt sensor for detecting an inclination of the adjustment module relative to the bottom section of the recess.

[0068] In some embodiments, the height sensor can also be connected to a control unit of the adjustment module. This control unit can be configured to activate the adjustment mechanism to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section to the target height when the height deviates from a setpoint. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can be configured to output a signal indicating an incorrect installation position and / or positioning of the adjustment module in the event of a tilt relative to the floor section, particularly via a radio transmitter connected to the control unit. For this purpose, the adjustment module can, for example, include a gravity sensor that can detect a tilt of the support and / or holding section or the contact section.

[0069] As explained above, in some embodiments, Poka-Yoke techniques can be used alternatively or additionally to achieve and / or ensure correct installation of the adjustment module in the recess.

[0070] In some embodiments, the support and / or retaining section can be configured to support and / or retain a further adjustment module on a further contact section of the further adjustment module. The further adjustment module can have a further support and / or retaining section for supporting and / or retaining the insert in the recess and a further adjustment mechanism configured to selectively raise and / or lower the further support and / or retaining section of the further adjustment module relative to the further contact section. Furthermore, the adjustment mechanism of the adjustment module can be configured to raise and / or lower the support and / or retaining section relative to the contact section when the further adjustment module is supported or retained.

[0071] In such embodiments, the adjustment modules can therefore be stackable, particularly to accommodate larger changes in the distance between the bottom section of the recess and the additional support and / or retaining section that supports the insert. For this purpose, the additional adjustment module can be raised and / or lowered by the adjustment mechanism of the module whose contact section engages the bottom section of the recess. Furthermore, the additional support and / or retaining section of the additional adjustment module can be moved relative to the additional contact section, and thus relative to the support and / or retaining section of the adjustment module directly supported on the bottom section of the recess, by means of the additional adjustment mechanism of the additional adjustment module. This ultimately allows the insert to be moved to a desired target height relative to the bottom section of the recess.

[0072] The additional adjustment module may also have one or more of the features mentioned above or below in connection with the adjustment module. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the adjustment module may be coupled to another adjustment module such that the support and / or holding sections of the adjustment module and the other adjustment module are arranged in a common plane. The support and / or holding sections of the coupled adjustment modules may also be synchronously raised and / or lowered relative to the respective contact sections. For this purpose, each of the adjustment modules may have its own adjustment mechanism, which can be controlled synchronously, or only one of the adjustment modules may have an adjustment mechanism that is active in the coupled state, with the other adjustment module being able to be coupled to its adjustment mechanism by coupling it to the adjustment module.This makes it possible to equip even larger recesses, into which correspondingly larger insert parts are to be placed, with several adjustment modules arranged next to each other and coupled, in order to enable the insert part to be raised and / or lowered in the recess.

[0073] To couple the adjustment modules, for example, mechanical coupling, signal coupling, or magnetic connection of the adjustment modules can be used. In embodiments where the adjustment mechanism of the adjustment module includes a pump, the pressure chambers of the adjustment modules can also be coupled, for example, by a gas or fluid line or connection, so that the volume in a pressure chamber of the other, coupled adjustment module can be directly adjusted by a pump in one of the adjustment modules. In this respect, the coupled adjustment module can, for example, be passively designed so that, in the case of coupling with an active adjustment module, it can be adjusted by the adjustment mechanism of the latter.

[0074] In some embodiments, the adjustment module may include a control unit for controlling the adjustment mechanism. In particular, the control unit may be configured to control the adjustment mechanism to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section to a specific target height. The control unit may, for example, include a microprocessor.

[0075] In some embodiments, the control device can be connected to a radio receiver and configured to control the adjustment mechanism to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section depending on an adjustment command received at the radio receiver.

[0076] In particular, the radio receiver can be configured to receive the adjustment command from an external control device, especially a smartphone, thus enabling simple control of the adjustment module after insertion into the recess of the tool. For example, a smartphone application (app) can be provided to facilitate easy control of the adjustment module, allowing existing packaging machine tools to be retrofitted by inserting the adjustment module and installing the application on a smartphone, without requiring complex modifications to the packaging machine tools and / or their control system.

[0077] In some embodiments, the radio receiver can be configured to receive the adjustment command via a Bluetooth connection, a WLAN / WiFi connection and / or a mobile network connection.

[0078] In some embodiments, the adjustment module can be networked with another adjustment module arranged in the recess next to the adjustment module, wherein the radio receivers of the networked adjustment modules can be configured to transmit an adjustment command received at one of the radio receivers to the control devices of the networked adjustment modules.

[0079] In particular, such a network enables the adjacent adjustment modules to be controlled with a single adjustment command, thus ensuring the uniform lifting of the support and / or holding sections of both adjustment modules for the joint positioning of the insert in the recess. This can be achieved, for example, by both radio receivers receiving the adjustment command, or by effectively deactivating one of the radio receivers in a network, allowing the other receiver to receive and implement the adjustment commands on the adjustment mechanisms of the modules.

[0080] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, a mechanical coupling of the support and / or holding sections of the networked adjustment modules may be provided to achieve a common movement of the support and / or holding sections. As explained above, this can be achieved, for example, by mechanically coupling, such as by plugging in, the two adjustment modules.

[0081] Furthermore, in some embodiments, it may be possible to link the radio receivers of the networked adjustment modules together. For this purpose, the adjustment modules may also have radio devices with a respective radio transmitter and a respective radio receiver, whereby, for example, the radio transmitter of one adjustment module can transmit a received adjustment command to the radio receiver of the other adjustment module in order to enable synchronous movement of the support and / or holding sections.

[0082] In some embodiments, the adjustment modules can be configured for automatic networking if the adjustment modules are arranged adjacent to each other in the recess, whereby the automatic networking can be achieved in particular by mechanical contacting of the adjustment modules, by a signal connection of the adjustment modules (for example Bluetooth pairing or cable connection) and / or by an exchanged radio signal.

[0083] In such embodiments, it can be provided in particular that, after arranging the adjustment modules in the recess, no further measures are required to achieve a network of adjustment modules arranged side by side in a recess of a tool.

[0084] In some embodiments, the adjustment module may include an electrical energy source to supply energy to the adjustment mechanism, in particular a battery and / or an accumulator.

[0085] In particular, the adjustment module in such embodiments can therefore be an energy-autonomous module, so that no connection to an external power supply is required to control the adjustment mechanism. This also allows for simple and straightforward retrofitting of existing tools, as the adjustment module simply needs to be inserted into the recess of the tool to adjust the depth of the recess by appropriately positioning the supported or held insert, without the need for any further installation measures to connect the adjustment module to a power supply.

[0086] In some embodiments, the electrical energy source can be rechargeable, particularly contactlessly, inductively, and / or via sliding contacts. This can also make it possible to recharge the energy source without having to remove the adjustment module from the recess of the tool. For example, recharging via electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a smartphone can be provided. In particular, the aforementioned possibilities for implementing the adjustment mechanism and / or adjustment module with low energy consumption can promote such an energy-autonomous design, since, due to the low energy consumption, charging processes only need to be carried out relatively infrequently, and only comparatively small amounts of energy need to be fed into and stored in the energy source to subsequently enable the adjustment module to be actuated for a reasonable period of time.

[0087] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the adjustment module can be assigned a charging module that does not need to be inserted into the recess, onto which the adjustment module can be placed to charge the electrical energy source.

[0088] In such embodiments, the adjustment module can therefore be easily placed onto an associated charging module after being removed from the recess, in order to charge the adjustment module's internal power source. The invention therefore also relates, in principle, to a system comprising an adjustment module according to the present disclosure with an electrical power source for supplying energy to the adjustment mechanism and with a charging module that is not inserted into the recess and onto which the adjustment module can be plugged to charge the electrical power source.

[0089] Furthermore, in some embodiments, charging cycles for the electrical energy source can be coordinated with the operation of the packaging machine. For example, times when a material web or components of the packaging machine, or of a processing line in which the packaging machine is used, are being changed, can also be used to charge the adjustment module or several adjustment modules arranged in respective recesses of a tool, for example, contactlessly or after removing the adjustment modules and attaching or inserting them or their energy sources onto or into an associated charging module. This avoids undesirable interruptions of operation due to charging the electrical energy source.

[0090] In some embodiments, the adjustment module may include a radio transmitter configured to transmit information about the current state of charge and / or a nearly depleted state of the energy source to a mobile control unit, particularly a smartphone. Specifically, the mobile control unit may be the aforementioned mobile or external control unit, through which adjustment commands can be transmitted to a radio receiver of the adjustment module. Furthermore, the radio transmitter may be part of a radio device that includes the aforementioned radio receiver. For example, the radio transmitter may be used to send a corresponding signal to indicate a nearly depleted energy source when the remaining charge of the energy source falls below approximately 10% or 20%.Alternatively or additionally, it may also be possible to enable the mobile control unit to continuously query and / or display the charge status of the energy source by transmitting appropriate information, for example via an application (app) on a smartphone.

[0091] In some embodiments, the adjustment module may have a power connection for an external electrical power supply and / or a compressed air connection for an external compressed air source.

[0092] In particular, the electrical connection or the compressed air connection can be designed to be connected to corresponding contact points on the tool when the adjustment module is inserted into the recess of a tool, in order to be able to use, for example, the compressed air and / or electrical connections that are already available to selectively raise and / or lower the holding and / or support section.

[0093] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the adjustment module can be designed to seal the recess on a side facing away from the support and / or holding section. In particular, the adjustment module can therefore be designed to prevent any contamination from entering the recess of the tool. Sealing can be achieved, for example, with special associated sealing elements and / or by utilizing the energy stored in the adjustment module. For example, in some embodiments, the contact section can be surrounded by a sealing ring to achieve a seal.

[0094] In general, it can also be provided that the volume remaining free in the recess of the tool can be reduced by raising the holding and / or support section. This can be achieved, for example, if the adjustment module, as mentioned above, is designed with flexible or foldable side walls, whereby the volume of a pressure chamber enclosed by the adjustment module can be increased to raise the support and / or holding section. In particular, by increasing the volume of the adjustment module when raising the support and / or holding section, the volume remaining free in the recess, into which the material web can be drawn to form a trough or chamber, can be reduced in order to minimize the volume of air that needs to be drawn in to form the trough or chamber.This can have a particularly positive effect on the cycle times of the packaging machine, as the trough or chamber can be formed faster in this way due to the smaller volume of air that needs to be removed.

[0095] The invention further relates to a tool for a workstation of a packaging machine, in particular a lower or upper tool of a forming station or a sealing station of a thermoforming packaging machine, which has at least one recess, an insert as a negative mold of a trough or chamber to be formed, and an adjustment module that can be selectively inserted into or removed from the recess according to the present disclosure. The support and / or holding section of the adjustment module is configured to support and / or hold the insert, wherein the adjustment mechanism of the adjustment module is configured to selectively raise and / or lower the insert supported and / or held in the recess relative to the contact section of the adjustment module.

[0096] The tool can therefore be designed in particular to form a trough or chamber in a material web that can be moved by the packaging machine, whereby the depth of the recess of the tool can be adjusted flexibly and conveniently by moving the support and / or holding section accordingly and thus positioning the insert part.

[0097] In some embodiments, the tool can have a format of several recesses, for each of the recesses a respective adjustment module according to the present disclosure, as well as a respective insert part.

[0098] In such embodiments, the respective adjustment modules can also be controlled synchronously to achieve synchronous positioning of the respective insert parts in the multiple recesses and to ensure uniform format adjustment. For this purpose, a common adjustment command can be transmitted to all or some of the adjustment modules used.

[0099] In some embodiments, the tool can have several adjustment modules arranged side by side in the recess according to the present disclosure, wherein the support and / or retaining sections can jointly support and / or retain the insert part. In particular, even relatively large recesses can thus be flexibly adapted by incorporating several adjustment modules, without the need to provide adjustment modules specifically adapted to each recess or its dimensions.

[0100] In some embodiments, the multiple adjustment modules can be networked and / or coupled together and controlled by a common adjustment command to raise and / or lower the respective insert part, in particular by an adjustment command received via a radio connection.

[0101] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the tool can have several adjustment modules arranged one above the other in the recess, as described in the present disclosure. As already mentioned, such stacking of the adjustment modules can, in particular, increase the overall achievable adjustment range of the insert.

[0102] The invention also relates to a packaging machine with a tool of the type described above.

[0103] Furthermore, the invention relates to an adjustment system comprising an adjustment module according to the present disclosure, wherein the adjustment module has a radio receiver for receiving adjustment commands via a radio link and a control unit configured to control the adjustment mechanism, depending on a received adjustment command, to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section. The adjustment system also includes a computer program product comprising commands which, when the computer program product is executed by a mobile control device, in particular a smartphone, cause the control device to establish a connection with the radio receiver of the adjustment module and to transmit an adjustment command entered at a user interface of the control device to the radio receiver.

[0104] This adjustment system therefore ultimately comprises a combination of an adjustment module of the type disclosed herein and a smartphone application (app) to enable control of the adjustment system. Such an adjustment system can thus facilitate the retrofitting of existing tools in a simple and straightforward manner, as the adjustment module can be inserted into the recess of the existing tool and controlled directly by a smartphone on which the computer program is installed as an application or app. For example, the user interface can be a touchscreen on the control unit or smartphone to allow the input of corresponding commands. However, voice control is also conceivable.

[0105] Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of an adjustment module of the type disclosed herein for adjusting the position or height of an insert part placed in a recess of a tool of a packaging machine, which forms a negative mold of a bottom of a trough or chamber to be formed in a material web movable by the packaging machine, relative to a bottom section of the recess by

[0106] Insert the adjustment module into the recess in such a way that the contact section of the adjustment module contacts the bottom section of the recess.

[0107] Arranging the insert part on the support and / or holding section of the adjustment module, and

[0108] Controlling the adjustment mechanism of the adjustment module inserted into the recess to raise or lower the support and / or holding section relative to the contact section.

[0109] As already explained, the placement of the insert part on the support and / or holding section of the adjustment module can take place in particular before or after the adjustment module is inserted into the recess, or the adjustment module can directly encompass the insert part.

[0110] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0111] They show:

[0112] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a processing line for processing food products with a packaging machine designed as a thermoforming packaging machine.

[0113] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a tool from the forming station.

[0114] Figs. 3A and 3B show a schematic representation of an adjustment system with an adjustment module that can be inserted into a recess of the tool, with the support and / or holding section arranged at a target height or with the support and / or holding section arranged in a lowest position; Figs. 4A to 4C show a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the adjustment module and a schematic representation of a loading module for the adjustment module.

[0115] Figs. 5A and 5B show a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the adjustment module,

[0116] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of stacked adjustment modules,

[0117] Figs. 7A and 7B show a schematic representation of adjustment modules positioned side by side and coupled together with support and / or holding sections positioned at different heights, and

[0118] Fig. 8 shows another schematic representation of an embodiment of the adjustment module.

[0119] Fig. 1 illustrates a processing line 15 for processing food products 13, which includes a slicing device 21 by means of which slices 19 are cut from a food product 13 in order to form portions 17 from the cut slices 19, each portion comprising at least one slice 19 and, by way of example, three slices 19. The slicing device 21 has a product feed 89, which is configured to guide the food product 13 into a cutting plane S in which a knife 87, for example a circular or sickle knife, rotates and cuts off the slices 19. The product feed 89 includes a gripper 91, which grips the food product 13 at a rear end and is guided on a guide 93 to advance the food product 13 into the cutting plane S.Furthermore, the gripper 91 can be configured to selectively stop the food product 13, allowing the knife 87 to perform so-called blank cuts and rotations without separating a slice 19 from the product 13. This can make it possible to transport a complete portion 17 before the next portion 17 is formed.

[0120] In order to further process the portions 17, the processing line 15 also includes a portion guide 101, which is designed to transport the finished portions 17 to a packaging machine 11. The packaging machine 11 is designed to package the supplied portions 17 and produce complete, sealed packages 103, so that the processing line 15 can process the food products 13 into fully saleable packages 103 containing portions 17.

[0121] To package the supplied portions 17, the packaging machine 11 first has a unwinding device 23 into which a web of material 27 wound into a roll 25 is inserted. The packaging machine 11 also includes a transport device 29, which is designed to take the web of material 27 from the roll 25 and guide it along a transport direction T to various workstations 31, where the web of material 27 is processed to create the packages 103. For this purpose, the transport device 29 includes a first web guide 35 and a second web guide 37, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the transport direction T and are designed to hold the web of material 27 at the sides and move it along the transport direction T.

[0122] The packaging machine 11 shown in Fig. 1 is designed as a thermoforming packaging machine. The removed material web 27 is first fed to a forming station 30, which forms the first work station 31 and is designed to draw in cavities 95 into the material web 27. After the cavities 95 have been moved into the area of ​​an inserter 107 of the portion guide 101, the portions 17 can be placed into these cavities. In order to form the cavities 95, the forming station 30 has a lower tool 75 with a recess 81 and a bottom section 39. The material web 27 is drawn into this recess by creating a vacuum and is then inserted through an upper tool 73.

[0123] The previously mentioned inserter 107 can, in particular, be an endlessly circulating conveyor belt from which the portions 17 are transferred to the packaging machine 11 and placed into provided trays 95. Alternatively, the product guide 101 can, for example, include a so-called picker robot, which is designed to grasp the supplied portions 17 and place them into provided trays 95.

[0124] After a portion 17 has been placed into a trough 95, the respective trough 95 is fed to a sealing station 32 as a further work station 31, where the trough 95 is closed by an upper material web 28, also taken from a roll 26, to produce a sealed package 103. In particular, the material web 27 and the upper material web 28 can be joined together at the sealing station 32 by thermal processes, whereby a so-called sealing seam can be formed along an edge of the processed trough 95. By way of example, in the packaging machine 11 shown, it is provided that a chamber 37 is formed as a domed lid in the upper material web 28 at the sealing station 32, for which purpose the sealing station 32 has an upper tool 73 with a recess 81 and a bottom section 39 into which the upper material web 28 is drawn.In addition, the sealing station 32 also has a lower tool 75 in which the trough 95 is supported.

[0125] The sealed package 103 can then be fed to a singulation station 34 of the packaging machine 11, which forms a further workstation 31 and is designed to separate the individual packages 103 from one another. The packaging machine 11 can, in particular, be designed to produce and provide several transversely adjacent troughs 95, so that several packages 103 offset from one another perpendicular to the transport direction T can also be formed. To separate these packages 103 from one another, the singulation device 34 can have a knife 36 rotating in the transport direction T. Furthermore, the singulation device 34 can have another knife 38, which can be designed to separate successive packages 103 from one another in the transport direction T and to make a cut between successive packages 103 oriented perpendicular to the transport direction T.

[0126] Fig. 2 shows a representation of a tool 51, which can be used in particular at the forming station 30. The tool 51 has the aforementioned upper tool 73 and the aforementioned lower tool 75, wherein the upper tool 73 interacts with the lower tool 75.

[0127] The lower tool 75 has a form 85 with several recesses 81 to draw a format of troughs 95 into the material web 27, as already explained with reference to Fig. 1. A corresponding insert 83 is placed in each of the recesses 81, forming a negative mold 84 for a base 79 of the pack 103 to be formed (see also Fig. 1). The position of each insert 83 ultimately determines the depth H of the recesses 81 of the form 85 and thus also the depth of the troughs 95 or packs 103 to be formed. Furthermore, suction openings 98 are provided on the lower tool 75 to draw the material web 27 into the recesses 81.

[0128] Similarly, the upper tool 75 of the sealing station 32 can also be provided with a format 85 with recesses 81 and corresponding inserts 83 to define the volume of the chamber 63 of the package 103 to be formed in the upper material web 28. However, in some applications, for example, when processing different food products 13 on the same processing line 15, it may be necessary to adjust the depth H of the recesses 81 to form different types of packages 103. Traditionally, this is done by removing or adding spacer plates below the inserts 83 in the recesses 81 to change the position of the inserts 83 and thus the depth H of the recess 81. However, such manual adjustments are undesirably time-consuming.Alternatively, tools 51 can also be designed with integrated possibilities for adjusting the depth H of the recesses 81, although this can only be achieved through expensive and complex special designs.

[0129] In contrast, the present disclosure provides a possibility for the flexible adjustment of the depth H of the recesses 81 of a tool 51 of a workstation 31 of a packaging machine 1 1 by inserting a height-adjustable adjustment module 33 into the recesses 81 in order to selectively raise or lower the insert part 83.

[0130] Fig. 3A illustrates an adjustment system 143 with such an adjustment module 33 and an external control unit 117, in particular a smartphone, on which a computer program is installed to generate adjustment commands V for the adjustment module 33 and transmit them to the adjustment module 33. For this purpose, the smartphone 117 has, in particular, a user interface 147 on which an adjustment command V can be entered, which can then be sent via a radio connection to a radio receiver of a radio device 127 of the adjustment module 33.

[0131] The adjustment module 33 further comprises a contact section 41, by which the adjustment module 33 can be inserted into the recess 81 of the tool 51 – generally into a recess of a tool in a workstation of a packaging machine – and brought into contact with a base section 39 of the recess 81, so that the adjustment module 33 can be supported on a tool base body of the tool 51. In addition, a fixing device 49 is provided on the contact section 41 to fix the adjustment module 33 to the base section 39, for example by creating a plug connection.

[0132] Opposite the contact section 41, the adjustment module 33 has a support and / or retaining section 43 with a fastening device 47, which is designed to support and / or retain the insert part 83, which is to be inserted into a respective recess 81. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the fastening device 47 has two rails on which the insert part 83 can be slid in order to position the insert part 83 stably on the support and / or retaining section 43. In particular, when the adjustment module 33 is inserted into an upper tool 73, for example the upper tool 33 of the sealing station 32, it can therefore be ensured that the adjustment module 33 is securely held in the recess 81 by the fixing device 49 and that the insert part 83 can also be securely attached to the adjustment module 33 by the fastening device 47 without falling out of the recess.

[0133] Furthermore, the adjustment module 33 has an adjustment mechanism 45, which is shown schematically in the figures and not to scale, especially not in the case of different configurations or height settings of the respective adjustment module 33, since only the basic mechanism is to be illustrated.

[0134] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the adjustment mechanism 45 has a heating element 71 arranged in a closed pressure chamber 63 of the adjustment module 33, acting as an actuator 53 for moving the support and / or holding section 43. The heating element 71 is connected to a control unit 115 and an electrical power source 129. The control unit 115 is configured to heat the heating element 71 in response to an adjustment command V received from the control device 117 at the radio device 127, thereby increasing the volume of the pressure chamber 63 and raising the support and / or holding section 43 relative to the contact section 41 to a target height H1.Furthermore, the control device 115 is connected to a locking element 59, designed as a valve 61 and arranged at an outlet 67, whereby the discharge of a pressure increase resulting from the expansion of the pressure chamber 63 through the outlet 67 can be blocked by closing the valve 61. In addition, the side walls of the pressure chamber 63 can be designed to be flexible or foldable, in particular, to allow movement of the support and / or holding section 43 relative to the contact section 41.

[0135] By heating the heating element 71 and closing the valve 61, the support and / or holding section 43 and the insert part 83 arranged thereon (not shown in Figs. 3A and 3B) can be raised relative to the contact section 41 to a target height H1, so that ultimately the insert part 83 can be moved flexibly to different heights relative to the bottom section 39 of the recess 81, in which the adjustment module 33 and the insert part 83 are inserted, and positioned stably there.

[0136] However, as illustrated in Fig. 3B, upon receiving a corresponding adjustment command V, the valve 61 can be opened, whereupon the pressure increased in the pressure chamber 63 by the heating of the heating element 71 can be discharged, and the support and / or retaining section 43 can be passively lowered to a lowest position H2 in order to also lower the insert part 83 and increase the depth H of the recess 81 into which the adjustment module 33 and the insert part 83 are inserted. Starting from this lowest position H2, the support and / or retaining section 43 can then be raised relative to the contact section 41 by heating the heating element 71 again with the valve 61 closed, if the depth H of the recess 81 is to be reduced.

[0137] The person skilled in the art understands that such an adjustment module 33 basically enables stepless adjustment of the support and / or holding section 43 between the lowest position H2 and a maximum raised position, whereby the figures only illustrate the lowest position H2 and a possible target height H1 by way of example.

[0138] Furthermore, the radio device 127 can, for example, have a radio transmitter which can be designed to transmit information about a current state of charge of the energy source 129 and / or information about a nearly exhausted state of the energy source 129 to the control unit 117.

[0139] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a further embodiment in which an electric motor 55, connected to the control unit 115 and the electrical power source 129, is provided as the actuator 53. This motor drives a spindle 78 in order to move the respective toggle joints 77. Figure 4A again shows the support and / or holding section 43 at a target height H1 raised relative to the contact section 41.

[0140] Furthermore, in the embodiment according to Figures 4A and 4B, the lifting of the support and / or holding section 43 is provided against a preload of preload springs 62. The preload springs 62 can therefore act as an energy storage device or force storage device in which the force applied to lift the support and / or holding section 43 can be stored. In addition, a locking element 59 is provided, which is designed to block the support and / or holding section 43 at the target height H1 against lowering. By releasing the adjustment mechanism 45 for lowering the support and / or holding section 43, a passive lowering of the support and / or holding section 43 to the lowest position H2 shown in Figure 4B can again occur due to the preload of the preload springs 62, without the need to activate the actuator 53.The locking element 49 can also be configured, in particular, to block the support and / or holding section 43 against lowering and / or raising at heights between H1 and H2. The combined view of Figures 4B and 4C further illustrates that, in the embodiment illustrated by Figures 4A to 4C, the adjustment module 33 is associated with a charging module 133, wherein the adjustment module 33 and the charging module 133 have interacting connections 135, so that the energy source 129 can be charged directly by plugging the adjustment module 43 onto the charging module 133.

[0141] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a further embodiment, in which a pump 57, driven by an electric motor 55, is arranged in the closed pressure chamber 63 formed by the adjustment module 33. The pump 57 is designed to pump a gas or fluid stored in a reservoir 70 into the pressure chamber 63 through an inlet 65 in response to an adjustment command V received at the radio device 127, thereby increasing its volume and raising the support and / or holding section 43 to the target height H1 relative to the contact section 41, as illustrated in Figure 5A. Again, locking elements 59 in the form of valves 61 are provided at both the inlet 65 and an outlet 67, whereby the support and / or holding section 43 can be fixed at the target height H1 by closing the valves 61.

[0142] In response to a further adjustment command V to increase the depth of the recess 81, into which the adjustment module 33 is inserted, the control device can, however, open the valve 61 at the outlet 67, allowing gas or fluid from the pressure chamber 63 to escape back into the reservoir 70, thereby allowing the support and / or holding section 43 to lower. In this embodiment, the gas or fluid is thus guided in a closed circuit 69. Alternatively, however, the pump 57 can also be configured to selectively pump ambient air into the pressure chamber 63, which can then be released back into the environment by opening the valve 61. Furthermore, the lowering of the support and / or holding section 43 can also occur passively in this configuration.

[0143] Another embodiment of the adjustment module 33 is illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism 45 in this embodiment has adjustable feet 145 to adjust the distance between the support and / or holding section 43 and the contact section 41, with which the adjustment module 33 contacts the bottom section 39 of the recess 81. In this embodiment, the contact section 41 is thus formed by contact points of the feet 145 on the bottom section 39 of the recess 81. Fig. 6 also shows that the adjustment module 33 can also be configured to support or hold a further adjustment module 123 on the support and / or holding section 43 by receiving the contact section 41 of the further adjustment module 123 on the support and / or holding section 43 of the adjustment module 33.An insert part 83 can then be arranged, for example, on the support and / or holding section 43 of the further adjustment module 123, so that the insert part 83 can be raised or lowered by appropriately controlling the adjustment mechanisms 45 of the adjustment modules 33 and 123, relative to the contact section 41 of the adjustment module 33, which contacts the bottom section 39 of the recess 81. In particular, larger adjustment ranges for the insert part 83 can be achieved by such a stacking of adjustment modules 33 and 123 – similar to a series connection.

[0144] Fig. 6 further shows that the adjustment module 33 can have a power connection 141 to allow it to be directly connected to an external electrical power source when the adjustment module 33 is inserted into the recess 81 of a tool 51. This allows existing connections for transmitting electrical energy to the recess 81 to also be used for the adjustment module 33 and, in particular, its adjustment mechanism 45. Alternatively, the power connection 141 can also be connected to an associated energy storage module (not shown) to provide the desired energy supply for the adjustment module 33.

[0145] Figures 7A and 7B further illustrate that in some embodiments, the adjustment module 33 can also be coupled to another adjustment module 123 by means of a coupling device 125, whereby the adjustment modules 33 and 123 are thereby arranged side by side and their support and / or holding sections 43 can be synchronized with respect to movement relative to the respective contact sections 41. Similar to a parallel circuit, the adjustment modules 33 and 123 can therefore jointly support an insert part 83 and selectively raise or lower it synchronously. Consequently, it is not necessary to provide adjustment modules 33 or 123 precisely matched to a particular recess 81, but rather several adjustment modules 33 and 123 can be coupled together in order to fill a larger recess 81 as completely as possible and to securely support a correspondingly larger insert part 83.

[0146] Furthermore, Figures 7A and 7B illustrate that a compressed air connection 137 can be provided on the adjustment module 33 in order to connect the adjustment module 33, for example, to a compressed air line already present in the recess 81. This can, for example, make it possible to supply the adjustment module 33 with compressed air via an external compressed air device or pump in order to selectively increase or decrease the volume of a pressure chamber 63 enclosed by the adjustment module 33 and to raise or lower the support and / or holding section 43 accordingly.Furthermore, the adjustment module 33 is coupled to the other adjustment module 123 via a gas or fluid line 139, so that compressed air received from the compressed air connection 137 can be transferred directly to the other adjustment module 123 or its pressure chamber 63 in order to achieve the desired synchronization between the holding and / or support sections 43 of the adjustment modules 33 and 123. Such a coupling can also be provided, for example, in embodiments in which only one of the adjustment modules 33 or 123 has a pump 57, whereby the coupling of the adjustment modules 33 and 123 allows for the coupling of the respective pressure chambers 63, so that the pump 57 can achieve a synchronized raising or lowering of the support and / or holding sections 43.Furthermore, a signal-technical coupling of the adjustment mechanisms 45 of adjacent adjustment modules 33 and 123 can be provided in order to achieve synchronous movement of the support and / or holding sections 43 of the coupled adjustment modules 33 and 123.

[0147] Furthermore, the adjustment module 33 illustrated in Fig. 7A is provided with a height sensor 111 and a tilt sensor 113, whereby the height sensor 111 can, in particular, verify whether the support and / or holding section 43 is actually arranged at a desired target height H1 relative to the contact section 41. Should a deviation between the actual height of the support and / or holding section 43 relative to the contact section 41 and the target height H2 be detected, the control device 115 can, in response to the corresponding signal from the height sensor 111, be configured to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section 43 to the target height H1.

[0148] The tilt sensor 113 can be configured, in particular, to detect any tilt of the adjustment module 33 relative to the base section 39 of the recess 81 and thus an incorrect installation position or positioning of the adjustment module 33. The control unit 115 can be configured, in response to a detected tilt of the adjustment module 33 relative to the base section 39 of the recess 81, to transmit corresponding information to the control unit 117 via a radio transmitter of the radio device 127, so that the installation position or positioning of the adjustment module 33 in the recess 81 can be checked.Adjustment modules 33 of the type disclosed herein thus make it possible to easily adapt the depth H of a recess 81 of a tool 51 in the workstation 30 of a packaging machine 1 and the position of an insert 83 as a negative mold 84 of a base 79 of a trough 95 or chamber 37 to be formed of a package 103, without requiring manual intervention or specially designed tools 51. Rather, the adjustment modules 33 can also be used, in particular, for retrofitting existing tools 51 and are therefore also manufacturer-independent, in order to enable the desired adaptation to, for example, different food products 13 to be packaged. The adjustment module 33 according to the present disclosure can thus, in particular, lead to maximum flexibility in a processing line during package production depending on the...

[0149] The height of the products to be inserted is controlled. Among other things, this allows for the economical production of small batches and greatly simplifies batch changes. Furthermore, quality improvements can be achieved, and the simplified monitoring and handling of the adjustment modules 33 reduces the workload for operating personnel.

[0150]

[0151] 11 Packaging machine

[0152] 13 Food product

[0153] 15 processing lines

[0154] 17 food portions

[0155] 19 discs

[0156] 21 Cutting device

[0157] 23 Roll-off device

[0158] 25 rolls

[0159] 26 rolls

[0160] 27 Material track

[0161] 28 upper material web

[0162] 29 Transport equipment

[0163] 30 forming stations

[0164] 31 workstations

[0165] 32 Sealing Station

[0166] 33 Adjustment module

[0167] 34 isolation station

[0168] 35 first material web guidance

[0169] 36 knives

[0170] 37th chamber of the pack

[0171] 38 knives

[0172] 39 Ground section

[0173] 41 Contact section

[0174] 43 Support and / or holding section

[0175] 45 Adjustment mechanism

[0176] 47 Fastening device

[0177] 49 Fixing device

[0178] 51 tools

[0179] 53 Actuator

[0180] 55 Electric motor

[0181] 57 Pump

[0182] 59 Locking element

[0183] 61 Valve

[0184] 62 Preload spring

[0185] 63 Pressure chamber of the adjustment module

[0186] 65 admission

[0187] 67 Outlet

[0188] 69 closed circuit

[0189] 70 storage

[0190] 71 Heating element

[0191] 73 Upper tool

[0192] 75 Lower tool

[0193] 77 Knee lever joint

[0194] 78 Spindle

[0195] 79 Floor

[0196] 81 In-depth study

[0197] 83 Insert part

[0198] 84 negative form

[0199] 85 format

[0200] 87 knives

[0201] 89 Product feed

[0202] 91 grippers

[0203] 93 Leadership

[0204] 95 Recess 98 Suction opening

[0205] 99 Packing station

[0206] 101 Portion Management

[0207] 103 pack

[0208] 107 inserts

[0209] 111 Altitude sensor

[0210] 113 Tilt sensor

[0211] 115 Control unit

[0212] 117 Control unit

[0213] 123 additional adjustment module

[0214] 125 coupling device

[0215] 127 Radio equipment with radio receiver and radio transmitter

[0216] 129 electrical energy source

[0217] 133 Charging module

[0218] 135 connection

[0219] 137 Compressed air connection

[0220] 139 Fluid line

[0221] 141 Power connection

[0222] 143 Adjustment system

[0223] 145 leveling feet

[0224] 147 User interface

[0225] H Depth

[0226] H1 Target height

[0227] H2 lowest position

[0228] S cutting plane

[0229] T Transport direction

[0230] V Adjustment command

Claims

Claims 1. Adjustment module (33) for selective insertion into a tool (51) of a workstation (31), in particular lower tool (75) or upper tool (73) of a forming station (30) or sealing station (32), of a packaging machine (11), in particular a thermoforming packaging machine, wherein the tool (51) has at least one recess (81) for forming a trough (95) or chamber (37) in a material web (27, 28) movable by the packaging machine (11), and wherein an insert part (83) is provided which can be inserted into the recess (81) as a negative mold (84) of a bottom (79) of the trough (95) or chamber (63), wherein the adjustment module (33) can be selectively inserted into the recess (81) of the tool (51) and has a contact section (41) with which the adjustment module (33) comes into contact with a bottom section (39) the deepening (81) can be brought,wherein the adjustment module (33) further comprises a support and / or retaining section (43) opposite the contact section (41) for supporting and / or retaining the insert part (83), and wherein the adjustment module (33) comprises an adjustment mechanism (45) which is configured to selectively raise and / or lower the support and / or retaining section (43) of the adjustment module (33) inserted into the recess (81) relative to the contact section (41).

2. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment module (33) has a fastening device (47) for fastening the insert part (83) to the support and / or retaining section (43), and / or wherein the adjustment module (33) has a fixing device (49) for fixing the contact section (41) to the bottom section (39) of the recess (81).

3. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) is configured to fix the support and / or holding section (43) at a target height (H1) relative to the contact section (41) and to secure it against movement relative to the contact section (41).

4. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) has a locking element (59) for fixing the support and / or retaining section (43) and is configured to secure the support and / or The holding section (43) is released by releasing the locking element (59) for raising and / or lowering relative to the contact section (41).

5. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) comprises an actuator (53), in particular an electric motor (55) and / or a pump (57), for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section (43).

6. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 5, wherein the actuator (53) is configured to actively raise the support and / or holding section (43), wherein the support and / or holding section (43) can be passively lowered when the actuator (53) is not activated; or wherein the actuator (53) is configured to actively raise and lower the support and / or holding section (43).

7. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein raising the support and / or holding section (43) requires an increase in pressure to a higher pressure, wherein the support and / or holding section (43) can be lowered by releasing the higher pressure when the actuator (53) is not activated; and / or wherein raising the support and / or holding section (43) occurs against a preload, in particular against a preload exerted by a preload spring (62), wherein the support and / or holding section (43) can be lowered by the preload when the actuator (53) is not activated.

8. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) comprises an expandable pressure chamber (63) and a pump (57) which is configured to expand the pressure chamber (63) by pumping in a fluid or gas and to raise the support and / or holding section (43) relative to the contact section (41).

9. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 8, wherein the support and / or holding section (43) can be raised by activating the pump (57), wherein the support and / or holding section (43) can be passively lowered when the pump (57) is not activated.

10. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a valve (61) is arranged at an inlet (65) and / or outlet (67) of the pressure chamber (63), wherein the support and / or retaining section (43) according to the The pumping of the fluid and / or gas can be blocked against lowering by closing the valve (61), and the support and / or holding section (43) can be lowered by opening the valve (61).

11. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) has an expandable pressure chamber (63) and a heating element (71), wherein by heating the heating element (71) a volume enclosed by the pressure chamber (63) can be increased and the support and / or holding section (43) can be raised.

12. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) comprises a spindle drive for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section (43); and / or wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) comprises a driveable eccentric for raising and / or lowering the support and / or holding section (43); and / or wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) comprises a deflection mechanism for deflecting a translational movement oriented perpendicular to the raising and / or lowering into the raising and / or lowering of the support and / or holding section (43); and / or wherein the contact section (41) and the support and / or holding section (43) are connected to each other by a toggle joint (77).

13. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) is configured to raise the support and / or holding section (43) from a lowest position (H2) relative to the contact section (41) by up to 50 mm or up to 70 mm.

14. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) has at least one height sensor (1 11 ) for detecting a set height of the support and / or holding section (43) relative to the contact section (41 ) and / or relative to the bottom section (39) of the recess (81 ) of the tool (51 ), and / or wherein the adjustment module (33) has at least one tilt sensor (113) for detecting a tilt of the adjustment module (33) relative to the bottom section (39) of the recess (81 ).

15. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support and / or retaining section (43) is configured to support and / or retain a further adjustment module (123) on a further contact section (41) of the further adjustment module (123), wherein the further adjustment module (123) has a further support and / or retaining section (43) for supporting and / or retaining the insert part (83) in the recess (81) and a further adjustment mechanism (45) which is configured to selectively raise and / or lower the further support and / or retaining section (43) of the further adjustment module (123) relative to the further contact section (41), wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) of the adjustment module (33) is configured to raise and / or lower the support and / or retaining section (43) relative to the contact section (41) when the further adjustment module (33) is supported or retained. ) to raise and / or lower.

16. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment module (33) has a control device (1 15) for controlling the adjustment mechanism (45).

17. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 16, wherein the control device (1 15) is connected to a radio receiver (127) and is configured to control the adjustment mechanism (45) depending on an adjustment command (V) received at the radio receiver (127) to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section (43).

18. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 17, wherein the adjustment module (33) can be networked with a further adjustment module (123) according to claim 17 arranged in the recess (81) next to the adjustment module (33), wherein the radio receivers (127) of the networked adjustment modules (33, 123) are configured to transmit an adjustment command (V) received at one of the radio receivers (127) to the control devices (115) of the networked adjustment modules (33, 123).

19. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment module (33) is mechanically coupleable with a further adjustment module (123) arranged in the recess (81) next to the adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) of the adjustment module (33) is configured to move the support and / or holding sections (43) of the two adjustment modules (33, 123) synchronously to each other.

20. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment module (33) comprises an electrical energy source (129) for supplying energy to the adjustment mechanism (45), in particular a battery and / or an accumulator.

21. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 20, wherein the electrical energy source (129) is rechargeable, in particular contactless, inductive and / or via sliding contacts.

22. Adjustment module (33) according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the adjustment module (33) has a radio transmitter (127) which is configured to transmit information about a current state of charge and / or about a nearly exhausted state of the electrical energy source (129) to a mobile control unit (117), in particular a smartphone.

23. Adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment module (33) has a power connection (141) for an external electrical power supply and / or a compressed air connection (137) for an external compressed air source.

24. Tool (51) for a workstation (31) of a packaging machine (11), in particular lower tool (75) or upper tool (73) of a forming station (30) or a sealing station (32) of a thermoforming packaging machine, which has at least one recess (81), an insert part (83) as a negative mold (84) of a trough (95) or chamber (63) to be formed, and an adjustment module (33) according to one of the preceding claims that can be selectively inserted into or removed from the recess (81), wherein the support and / or holding section (43) of the adjustment module (33) is configured to support and / or hold the insert part (83), and wherein the adjustment mechanism (45) of the adjustment module (33) is configured to selectively adjust the insert part (83) supported and / or held in the recess (81) relative to the contact section (41 ) of the adjustment module (33) to raise and / or lower.

25. Tool (51) according to claim 24, wherein the tool (51) has a format (85) of several recesses (81) and for each of the recesses (81) a respective adjustment module (33) according to one of claims 1 to 23 and a respective insert part (83).

26. Tool (51) according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the tool (51) has several adjustment modules (33, 123) that can be arranged side by side in the recess (81) according to one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the support and / or retaining sections (43) jointly support and / or retain the insert part (83).

27. Tool (51) according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the multiple adjustment modules (33, 123) can be networked and / or coupled together and wherein the multiple adjustment modules (33, 123) can be controlled by a common adjustment command (V) for synchronous raising and / or lowering of the respective insert part (83), in particular by an adjustment command (V) received via a radio connection.

28. Tool (51) according to one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the tool (51) has several adjustment modules (33, 123) that can be arranged one above the other in the recess (81) according to one of claims 1 to 23.

29. Packaging machine (11) with a tool (51) according to one of claims 24 to 28.

30. Adjustment system (143), comprising an adjustment module (33) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the adjustment module (33) has a radio receiver (127) for receiving adjustment commands (V) via a radio link and a control unit (115) configured to control the adjustment mechanism (45) depending on a received adjustment command (V) to raise and / or lower the support and / or holding section (43), and comprising a computer program product comprising commands which, when the program is executed by a mobile control unit (1 17), in particular a smartphone, cause the control unit (1 17) to establish a connection with the radio receiver of the adjustment module (33), and - to transmit an adjustment command (V) entered at a user interface (147) of the control unit (117) to the radio receiver (127).

31. Use of an adjustment module (33) according to one of claims 1 to 23 for adjusting the position of an insert part (83) inserted into a recess (81) of a tool (51) of a packaging machine (11), which is a negative form (84) of a base (79) of a packaging machine movable by the packaging machine (11). material web (27, 28) to form trough (95) and / or chamber (63), relative to a bottom section (39) of the depression (81) by Inserting the adjustment module (33) into the recess (81) such that the contact section (41) contacts the bottom section (39) of the recess (81), - Arranging the insert part (83) on the support and / or retaining section (43) of the Adjustment module (33) and Controlling the adjustment mechanism (45) of the adjustment module (33) inserted into the recess (81) to raise or lower the support and / or holding section (43) relative to the contact section (41).

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