Workstation for a packaging machine, heating assembly for a workstation of a packaging machine, and packaging machine

Abstract

A workstation for a packaging machine is designed to process a material web provided by the packaging machine in order to be processed and comprises a heating assembly, which has a heating plate and an electrical heating element for heating the heating plate. The heating plate has a material web contacting surface for contacting the material web during processing, the contacting surface being equipped with a plurality of vacuum openings for suctioning the material web during processing. Each of the vacuum openings is in the form of an inlet of a respective vacuum channel, which extends in a straight line through the heating plate and opens into a vacuum chamber opposite the material web contacting surface, the vacuum chamber having a vacuum connection for connecting a vacuum source.

Description

[0001] Weber Food Technology GmbH W29086PWO - Dm / Week

[0002] Workstation for a packaging machine, heating arrangement for a workstation of a packaging machine and packaging machine

[0003] The invention relates to a workstation, in particular a forming station, sealing station, preheating station or labeling station, for a packaging machine, wherein the packaging machine may in particular be designed as a thermoforming packaging machine. The workstation is designed to process a material web provided by the packaging machine in a material web plane for processing and comprises a heating arrangement with a heating plate and with an electric heating element for heating the heating plate, wherein the heating plate has a material web contact surface extending in or parallel to the material web plane for contacting the material web during processing.

[0004] For example, packaging machines can be used in processing lines for food products to package supplied food or food portions formed from those products. Such a processing line might include, for instance, a slicing device to cut slices from supplied food products and form portions from the slices, each portion containing at least one of the slices. Subsequently, a transport system can be provided to feed these portions to a packaging machine, which then packages them to produce retail-ready packages.

[0005] To package portions of food products and produce the packages, a packaging machine can have various workstations that process a web of material moved by the machine. For example, the packaging machine can have a forming station that draws cavities into the web of material supplied by the machine. The portions are then placed into these cavities at a feeding station. The portion-filled cavities can then be fed to a sealing station, where the cavities are sealed by an upper web of material fed from above, sealing the edges of the cavities.Furthermore, at the sealing station, for example, domed lids or compartments can be formed in the upper web of material. For this purpose, the upper web of material can also be drawn in and reshaped at the sealing station. The packaging machine can also include, for example, a labeling station where the filled and sealed compartments can be labeled with information about the respective packaged product. At a singulation station of the packaging machine, the individual portions connected to the web of material can be separated, so that ultimately individual packages containing the respective packaged portions can be formed and offered for sale.

[0006] As an alternative to packaging food products in provided trays, it is also possible, for example, to simply place the food products or portions onto predefined packaging positions within a material web, without first creating trays in the web. However, such packaging positions can also be covered at a subsequent sealing station, for example, by an upper material web fed from above and sealed to the material web carrying the portions, in order to obtain sealed packages.

[0007] Since the material web can be subjected to various forming or joining processes during the packaging manufacturing process, heating the web may be necessary or helpful in several of the processing steps performed on a packaging machine. For example, at a forming station for creating indentations in a supplied material web, the web can be heated to allow it to be drawn into a forming tool and thus shaped through a thermoforming process. Similarly, at the sealing station, the material web carrying the food products and / or the upper material web fed from above can be heated to fuse the two webs together and close the packaging or form the aforementioned lid.At a labeling station, for example, the material web can be heated to improve the adhesion of a label to the material web and / or to melt an adhesive material.

[0008] Therefore, various workstations in a packaging machine require the equipment of a heating system to heat the web and perform the processing step. This involves bringing the web into contact with a heat-transferring surface on a heated heating plate within the system. Additionally, preheating stations with such heating systems can be provided to heat the web before it is fed to a subsequent workstation, preparing it for the processing step.

[0009] However, the difficulty lies in ensuring that the heating element or its material web contact surface is reliably brought into contact with the material web to achieve the desired, and for example, uniform, heat transfer. Furthermore, efforts are made to design heating elements to be as space-saving as possible, so that the heating of the material web—which can be considered an additional function of the workstation—can be integrated into the workstation in the most compact way possible.

[0010] Therefore, one object of the invention is to create a workstation for a packaging machine with a heating arrangement that enables precise and reliable contact of the material web with the material web contact surface while also providing a compact design for the heating arrangement.

[0011] This problem is solved (according to a first aspect of the present disclosure) by a workstation having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the problem is solved (according to a second aspect of the present disclosure) by a workstation having the features of claim 28.

[0012] In the heating arrangement of the workstation according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, several vacuum openings for suctioning the material web during processing are arranged on the material web contact surface of the heating plate, each of the vacuum openings being designed as the inlet of a respective vacuum channel which extends straight through the heating plate perpendicular or inclined to the material web plane and opens into a vacuum chamber opposite the material web contact surface, the vacuum chamber having a vacuum connection for connecting a vacuum source.

[0013] In particular, the vacuum channels can extend completely through the heating plate to open into a vacuum chamber formed outside the heating plate.

[0014] By providing multiple vacuum openings on the material contact surface, the material web can be drawn onto the surface at several points, and therefore over a larger area, thus achieving reliable and, in particular, uniform heat transfer to the material web. Alternatively, instead of a surface-wide suction, an irregular distribution of the vacuum openings can also result in locally enhanced or even purely localized suction of the material web to the contact surface, in order to bring the material web into contact with the contact surface according to the specific requirements of the processing taking place at the respective workstation.

[0015] In particular, the vacuum openings can be designed with a relatively small diameter to prevent the material web from being sucked in or from becoming locally deformed. This prevents sucked-in sections of the material web from leaving behind as bulge-like deformations on the packaging. Furthermore, the vacuum openings can generally have corresponding diameters, or their diameters can vary to achieve, for example, stronger suction of the material web at the edges of the heating plate by using larger vacuum openings at the edges.

[0016] Due to the particularly direct routing of the vacuum channels through the heating plate into the vacuum chamber, the vacuum can be distributed to the multiple vacuum openings without the need for separate distribution channels through which a vacuum source could communicate with the vacuum channels. Instead, a vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber can be distributed directly to the multiple vacuum channels, which then lead to their respective vacuum openings, for example, via a vacuum distribution surface formed by a boundary of the vacuum chamber facing the heating plate. Furthermore, the vacuum channels can be designed as relatively thin bores, the diameter of which can correspond to the diameter of the respective vacuum opening.

[0017] Heating arrangements for packaging machine workstations are already known in which a vacuum is generated at a material web contact surface to enable suction of the material web. However, in known heating arrangements, the vacuum channels typically extend only partially through the heating plate and are connected to distribution channels oriented parallel to the material web contact surface. These distribution channels can, for example, be designed as lateral bores in the heating plate. Therefore, in known heating arrangements, vacuum channels arranged in a line can be connected to a lateral bore running along this line to distribute a laterally introduced vacuum to the vacuum channels arranged in the line.In such designs, several lateral bores can therefore be provided as distribution channels, which communicate with vacuum channels arranged along the respective distribution channel.

[0018] However, such methods for suctioning the material web are undesirably complex, and corresponding heating arrangements require a relatively large installation space, as the heating plate must be sufficiently thick to accommodate lateral bores for the distribution channels. Furthermore, at least for each line of vacuum channels, lateral bores must be designed as distribution channels and connected to a vacuum source, which increases the complexity of manufacturing the heating plate and, consequently, the heating arrangement.It is particularly important to note that, in such known designs, drilling in different directions is required to form the distribution channels and the vacuum channels leading to the material web contact surface, in order to form the lateral distribution channels on the one hand and the vacuum channels leading into the distribution channels on the other, which requires several work steps.

[0019] In contrast, in the workstation according to the present disclosure or its heating arrangement, a vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber can be distributed directly to the vacuum channels and thus to the various vacuum openings on the material web contact surface, without the need to form distribution channels on the heating arrangement and / or the heating plate, in particular parallel to the material web contact surface. Rather, it is only necessary to drill the vacuum channels through the heating plate (and optionally other plates of the heating arrangement), whereby the vacuum channels thus produced can lead directly into the vacuum chamber and a distribution of a vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber to the vacuum openings can be achieved.In particular, when manufacturing the heating arrangement, it is no longer necessary to form mutually perpendicular bores (lateral distribution channels and actual vacuum channels) to distribute a vacuum; instead, for example, only straight vacuum channels can be formed from the material web contact surface to the vacuum chamber by drilling through the heating plate (and possibly other plates of the heating arrangement) perpendicularly to the material web contact surface.

[0020] Therefore, such a design of the vacuum channels allows for a flat and thus compact heating arrangement, as the heating plate (or any other element of the heating arrangement) does not necessarily need to be thick enough to allow for the creation of stable lateral bores (especially those aligned parallel to the material web contact surface) for forming distribution channels. Such bores, which would require a very large drilling depth for distributing a vacuum, are no longer necessary. Instead, the heating plate and the entire heating arrangement can be limited to the thickness required to achieve the desired heating function, without having to provide additional thickness for lateral bores or having to consider the possibility of creating lateral bores as a condition for selecting the thickness of the heating plate.

[0021] Further embodiments are explained in the dependent claims, the description and with reference to the drawings.

[0022] In some embodiments, the vacuum channels can extend completely in a straight line from the vacuum chamber to the vacuum openings.

[0023] In such embodiments, the vacuum channels can therefore be formed, in particular, without a kink and / or without a curve, and thus can be created, for example, in a simple manner by straight and, in particular, comparatively short bores (especially compared to the lateral bores conventionally required to form distribution channels for the vacuum), wherein these bores, and thus the vacuum channels, can be oriented, in particular, perpendicular to the material web contact surface. Furthermore, in such embodiments, in particular, no transition of a vacuum channel into a distribution channel or channel section oriented parallel to the material web contact surface may be provided; instead, the vacuum channels can lead completely straight from the vacuum openings into the vacuum chamber in order to draw the material web onto the material web contact surface of the heating arrangement.In particular, this can also enable improved flow when sucking in the material web, so that the required vacuum can be generated more efficiently.

[0024] In some embodiments, the vacuum channels can open opposite the vacuum openings into a common vacuum distribution surface, which delimits the vacuum chamber towards the heating plate. Furthermore, a vacuum generated via the vacuum connection can be distributed to the vacuum channels via the vacuum distribution surface.

[0025] In particular, the outlets of all vacuum channels of the heating arrangement can lead into a single common vacuum distribution surface and / or a single vacuum chamber, so that the vacuum can be distributed to all vacuum channels of the heating arrangement via a single common vacuum distribution surface. In such embodiments, it can therefore be provided that the vacuum is not distributed to the vacuum channels via individual distribution channels, but rather that the vacuum channels lead into a common vacuum distribution surface where the distribution of the vacuum takes place. While it is possible, in particular, for all vacuum channels to lead into a common vacuum distribution surface or vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber can also be subdivided in some embodiments, with a selection of vacuum channels leading into a specific sub-chamber of the vacuum chamber.In particular, individual vacuum connections can be provided for individual sub-chambers of the vacuum chamber in order to, for example, selectively generate a vacuum on an assigned sub-area of ​​the material web contact surface of the heating plate, or to vary the strength of the vacuum along the material web contact surface or the distribution of the strength of the vacuum over the material web contact surface.

[0026] Furthermore, it can also be provided that the vacuum chamber is bounded by a structural plate, on the outer surface of which vacuum distribution channels leading to the vacuum connection can be formed, in particular milled, and the outlets of the vacuum channels can open into a respective vacuum distribution channel. Even if, in such embodiments, a lateral distribution of the vacuum generated at the vacuum connection thus occurs, lateral bores, in particular in the heating plate, can be dispensed with, since the lateral distribution of the vacuum can be achieved directly in the vacuum chamber by means of, in particular, milled recesses in the structural plate.

[0027] In such embodiments, the aforementioned vacuum distribution surface can therefore be formed by a boundary of the vacuum chamber that closes off the vacuum distribution channels in the direction of the material web contact surface, into which the vacuum channels can lead. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the vacuum chamber can be understood as being formed by the vacuum distribution channels created on the structural plate, since the vacuum generated at the vacuum connection can be distributed to the vacuum channels via the vacuum distribution channels, creating a structured vacuum chamber. In addition, the vacuum distribution channels can also be understood as individual sub-chambers of the vacuum chamber, into which a selection of vacuum channels leads, with these sub-chambers potentially leading to the common vacuum connection.

[0028] In some embodiments, the vacuum distribution surface can be a surface of the heating plate opposite the material web contact surface. Alternatively, the heating arrangement can have at least one further plate whose surface opposite the heating plate can form the vacuum distribution surface. In such embodiments, the vacuum channels can also extend, in particular in a straight line, through both the heating plate and the further plate in order to connect the openings into the vacuum chamber with the vacuum ports.

[0029] In some embodiments, the workstation may have only one (single) vacuum port for drawing the material web to the heating plate, with all vacuum channels being connected to this vacuum port via the vacuum chamber. Alternatively or additionally, all vacuum channels may lead into the same vacuum chamber.

[0030] Alternatively, as explained above, the heating arrangement can also be provided for in several vacuum chambers and / or the vacuum chamber can be divided into several sub-chambers, with a respective plurality of vacuum channels opening into a respective vacuum chamber or sub-chamber and with each of the several vacuum chambers or each sub-chamber having a respective vacuum connection which can be connected to a common or a respective vacuum source.

[0031] In some embodiments, the material web contact surface can extend along two mutually perpendicular directions, wherein at least a first vacuum channel, a second vacuum channel, and a third vacuum channel can open into the vacuum chamber. The second vacuum channel can further be offset from the first vacuum channel along the first direction of extension, but not along the second direction, and the third vacuum channel can be offset from both the first and second vacuum channels along the second direction of extension.

[0032] In such embodiments, it is therefore possible that not only vacuum channels offset from one another along one direction of extension or arranged in a line open into a common vacuum chamber, but also vacuum channels offset from one another in two directions of extension can open into a common vacuum chamber. Consequently, in such embodiments, it is not intended to simply lead vacuum channels arranged in a line to a common distribution channel in order, for example, to distribute a vacuum generated on one side of the heating arrangement to vacuum channels arranged along the distribution channel, but rather vacuum channels offset from one another in two directions of extension can open into a common vacuum chamber. In some embodiments, the vacuum connection can be oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface.In particular, such embodiments cannot provide for the lateral connection of a vacuum source to generate a vacuum through laterally oriented distribution channels.

[0033] In some embodiments, the workstation may include the vacuum source, whereas in other embodiments, the vacuum source may be optionally connected to the workstation. Generally, the vacuum source may therefore, for example, form part of a packaging machine in which the workstation is used or is used, or an external vacuum source available at a location within the packaging machine may be provided for connection to the vacuum port. It is also possible, in principle, for the heating arrangement to include the vacuum source.

[0034] In some embodiments, the vacuum channels (particularly from the vacuum openings to the outlets into the vacuum chamber) can be designed as straight bores. Furthermore, the bores can be oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface. As already explained, this allows the necessary vacuum channels for drawing the material web to the material web contact surface to be easily formed by drilling through the heating plate (and, if applicable, other plates of the heating arrangement) so that they can be led directly into the vacuum chamber.

[0035] In some embodiments, at least one cover plate may be provided, which can be selectively inserted into the heating arrangement. The cover plate inserted into the heating arrangement may be designed to cover a selection of the vacuum channels and thereby decouple the associated vacuum openings, at least substantially, from the vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber.

[0036] In particular, such a cover plate can be designed as a perforated plate, wherein the holes provided in the cover plate can align with the respective vacuum channels when the cover plate is inserted into the heating arrangement, whereas the selection of vacuum channels can be concealed by closed sections of the cover plate in order to prevent the vacuum from being transmitted to the vacuum openings associated with the selection of vacuum channels. With such a cover plate, the vacuum generated at the material web contact surface can therefore be adjusted, in particular its strength and / or distribution across the material web contact surface, in order to, for example, adapt to different material webs, such as different material compositions or thicknesses, and / or to different packaging to be manufactured.

[0037] Furthermore, in some embodiments, a selection of different cover plates can be optionally inserted into the heating arrangement, which are designed to cover a respective (and in particular, differing) selection of vacuum channels. In particular, the vacuum generated at the material web contact surface can thus be easily adjusted by inserting a respective cover plate, in that, starting from a maximally distributed vacuum without a cover plate, a customized vacuum can be achieved by inserting a respective cover plate.

[0038] In particular, in some embodiments a cover plate may be provided which is designed to cover vacuum channels leading into a central section of the material web contact surface, while leaving vacuum channels leading into an edge section of the material web contact surface free, in order to selectively achieve suction of the material web exclusively in the edge section.

[0039] In some embodiments, the cover plate(s) can be inserted or removed without tools. For example, the cover plate can optionally be clamped in the vacuum chamber to conceal a selection of vacuum channels on a boundary of the vacuum chamber facing the material web contact surface. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the cover plate can be slid onto a mounting rail, particularly also within the vacuum chamber, to allow for tool-free insertion and / or removal.

[0040] In principle, however, it may also be possible to insert or remove the cover plate by using tools, for example by making the cover plate optionally screwable into the vacuum chamber, in particular on a boundary of the vacuum chamber facing the material web contact surface.

[0041] In particular, the cover plate can therefore optionally be attached in the vacuum chamber in some embodiments.

[0042] In some embodiments, the heating element can be designed as a wire or a flat ribbon conductor. In particular, the heating element can thus have a flat cross-section to allow for a flat overall design of the heating arrangement.

[0043] These designs also differ from conventional heating arrangements in packaging machine workstations, which often use individual heating cartridges to heat a heating plate. However, compared to a wire or a flat ribbon conductor, such heating cartridges can have a larger cross-section and thus require more installation space, which in turn can result in a larger and, in particular, thicker heating arrangement.

[0044] In contrast, embodiments according to the present disclosure, in which the heating element is provided as a wire or flat ribbon conductor, can be designed with minimal space requirements, particularly perpendicular to the material web contact surface, in order to enable a flatter design of the heating arrangement. Furthermore, a wire or flat ribbon conductor can, for example, be arranged and / or laid out parallel to the material web contact surface in a heating surface of the heating arrangement, in order to achieve a uniform and even transfer of heat to the heating plate, for example by laying out a heatable wire over a flat area.Alternatively, by appropriately arranging or laying out a wire or flat ribbon conductor, for example, a desired local heat input can be achieved, whereby by laying out or arranging a wire or flat ribbon conductor only in an edge area of ​​the heating arrangement, heat generation can be specifically achieved in this edge area, in order to be able to specifically heat an edge section of the material web to be sealed at a sealing station.

[0045] In some embodiments, the wire or flat ribbon conductor can be laid out in a heating surface aligned parallel to the material web contact surface. In particular, this allows for the area-wide generation of heat and the area-wide transfer of heat to the heating plate.

[0046] In some embodiments, the heating element can be guided in a helical path along a heating surface of the heating arrangement that is aligned parallel to the material web contact area, with the vacuum channels extending in an intermediate region between the respective web sections of the helical path. By guiding the heating element in a helical path, it can be designed, in particular, to generate heat at specific locations on the heating surface. For example, the heating element can be arranged in a serpentine, spiral, meandering, and / or circumferential pattern around the heating surface, whereby covering the heating surface as much as possible allows for a uniform and even heating of the heating plate.

[0047] In addition to achieving the desired, and especially even, heating of the heating plate, guiding the heating element in a curved path—particularly in contrast to completely flat or plate-shaped heating elements—also offers the possibility of utilizing existing gaps between individual path sections to create straight vacuum channels. This eliminates the need for these channels to penetrate the heating element or for the heating element to pass through a previously formed vacuum channel, which can lead to unwanted heat loss. This, too, can make it possible to dispense with lateral distribution channels passing through the heating plate.

[0048] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the heating element can be guided along a predetermined or definable helical path. In such embodiments, the path described by the heating element can thus be defined and known during the manufacture of the heating arrangement, so that suitable locations for the placement of the vacuum channels in the form of free spaces outside the path can also be determined, where the vacuum channels can be formed, for example, by drilling. A tool for forming or drilling the vacuum channels can therefore be set up particularly easily, whereby the vacuum channels can be formed, for example, before or after the heating element is attached.

[0049] In particular, arranging the vacuum channels in the spaces between the heating element's track sections allows the vacuum channels to be created, and especially drilled, only after the heating element has been attached, thus simplifying the manufacturing of the heating assembly. The heating assembly can therefore be pre-assembled, in particular by first arranging the heating plate and the heating element, so that the vacuum channels can then be produced in a single manufacturing step, especially by drilling.

[0050] In some embodiments, the coiled path can be preformed by a coiled, in particular milled, recess on the heating surface, into which the heating element can be inserted, in particular placed. Alternatively, the heating element can simply be laid in the coiled path along the heating surface and / or placed on the heating surface.

[0051] In particular, by predefining a recessed structure, the coiled path can be predefined before the heating element is attached, allowing the heating element to be positioned clearly and systematically on the heating surface. This also prevents the heating element from protruding perpendicular to the material web contact surface beyond the heating area, thus enabling, for example, the flush stacking of different panels within the heating arrangement. Alternatively, the heating element can simply be laid in the coiled path along the heating surface without a pre-formed recessed structure.

[0052] In some embodiments, the heating element can be bonded to the heating surface, particularly within the aforementioned recessed structure. This can, in particular, enable a stable arrangement of the heating element on the heating surface, for example, to prevent slippage during subsequent assembly steps.

[0053] As an alternative to laying out a heating element in this way, it may also be possible, for example, to apply the heating element as a heating lacquer to the heating surface and then, for example, to form a winding path and / or spaces for attaching the vacuum channels by structuring the heating lacquer.

[0054] In some embodiments, the heating element can be arranged on a heating plate which is located between the heating plate and the vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum channels can pass straight through the heating plate.

[0055] In particular, the vacuum channels can extend completely straight through all the plates of the heating arrangement from the inlets or vacuum openings, and in particular, in corresponding embodiments, straight through the heating plate and the aforementioned heating plate.

[0056] By arranging the heating element on a heating plate, a modular design of the heating arrangement can be achieved, in which different plates (heating plate, at least one heating plate) can be stacked on top of each other, each performing different functions. For example, the heating plate with the material web contact surface can be manufactured separately from the heating plate. By arranging the heating plate on a side of the heating plate facing away from the material web contact surface, the heating arrangement can be created or assembled as a stacked arrangement. The heating plate and the heating plate can then be attached to each other, for example, by screwing, gluing, and / or clamping. The vacuum channels can then be formed, particularly in a single manufacturing step, by drilling through both the heating plate and the heating plate.Alternatively, it is also possible to preform the vacuum channels on the respective plates in order to then be able to guide the vacuum channels from the vacuum openings on the material web contact surface to the vacuum chamber by stacking the plates on top of each other.

[0057] Furthermore, the aforementioned modular design also allows, for example, the provision of multiple heating plates with their respective heating elements. This enables, for instance, achieving a desired and / or sufficiently high heat input into the heating plate for the respective processing step by providing a corresponding number of heating elements. Heating elements from different heating plates can be arranged in corresponding or distinct paths, for example, to selectively amplify heat generated locally by a heating element or to achieve a more even and uniform heat transfer to the heating plate through differing paths.

[0058] As an alternative to arranging the heating element on a heating plate, it is also possible for the heating surface to be formed by a surface of the heating plate opposite the material web contact area. This can particularly enable a compact design of the heating arrangement, as the surface of the heating plate opposite the material web contact area can be used directly for arranging the heating element. However, even in such embodiments, it may be provided that the surface of the heating plate facing away from the material web contact area is covered by another plate, in order to prevent, in particular, the direct radiation of heat generated by the heating element into the vacuum chamber and / or to protect the heating element from mechanical stress.

[0059] In some embodiments, the heating plate can be glued and / or screwed to the heating plate. This can, in particular, ensure a reliable connection between the two plates and prevent them from slipping relative to each other. Furthermore, such gluing of the heating plate to the heating plate can (at least largely) prevent gaps from forming between them. These gaps could communicate with individual vacuum channels, allowing a vacuum drawn in through the channels to be distributed. Thus, the gluing also seals the vacuum channels.However, a completely vacuum-tight connection between the heating plate and the heating plate is not absolutely necessary, since even with a slight leakage of vacuum in a gap between the plates, a sufficiently reliable suction effect of the material web against the material web contact surface can be achieved.

[0060] In general, the heating plate can be connected to the heating plate in some embodiments, in particular by a joining connection.

[0061] In some embodiments, the heating element can be arranged on a heating surface of the heating plate facing the heating plate.

[0062] In such embodiments, the heating element can be positioned facing the heating plate to transfer the heat generated by the heating element to the heating plate as directly as possible. Furthermore, in such an arrangement, the heating element is protected and shielded from mechanical stress by the heating plate, so that the heating plate and the heating plate together form a layered structure in which the heating element is enclosed by two layers. This can eliminate the need for clamping plates required in known heating arrangements, which are positioned opposite the heating plate and enclose or cover the heating elements. This, in turn, allows for a flatter overall design of the heating arrangement.

[0063] In some embodiments, the heating plate can form a boundary of the vacuum chamber in the direction of the material web contact surface. Alternatively or additionally, the heating plate can be covered by a boundary plate, which also forms a boundary of the vacuum chamber in the direction of the material web contact surface, with the vacuum channels extending straight through the boundary plate. In particular, in such embodiments, the vacuum channels can therefore be designed as bores that pass through the boundary plate, the heating plate, and the heating plate. A boundary plate can also function as a further heating plate and incorporate another heating element, or it can serve to define the vacuum chamber without having a heating element to generate heat. A boundary plate can also provide thermal insulation for the vacuum chamber.In some embodiments, the heating plate can be connected to the heating plate by a screw connection. In particular, such a screw connection can enable reliable fastening and / or pressing of the heating plate and the heating plate together to achieve the most efficient possible heat transfer from the heating element to the heating plate.

[0064] In some embodiments, the heating arrangement may comprise at least a first heating element and a second heating element, wherein the first heating element is guided in a first helical path along a first heating surface of the heating arrangement aligned parallel to the material web contact surface, and wherein the second heating element is guided in a second helical path along a second heating surface of the heating arrangement aligned parallel to the material web contact surface and offset from the first heating surface.

[0065] In particular, such embodiments can thus achieve the aforementioned modular design by providing several, for example two, and in particular at least two, heating elements, which can be arranged on different plates, such as the heating plate and a heating plate, or respective heating plates. Both heating elements are guided in respective coiled paths to achieve the aforementioned planar and / or desired local transfer of the heat generated by the heating elements to the heating plate. Furthermore, the total heat achievable at the heating arrangement and transferable to the heating plate can be increased by arranging two heating elements, so that, for example, depending on the specific application or the type of workstation in which the heating arrangement is used or is to be used, a correspondingly adapted number of heating elements can be provided.

[0066] In some embodiments, the first coiled web may differ from the second coiled web. Alternatively or additionally, the first heating element and the second heating element may not be continuously aligned in a superposition viewed perpendicular to the material web contact surface.

[0067] Because the first and second coiled paths differ from each other, and / or because the two heating elements cannot lie completely on top of each other, different areas can be directly heated by the two heating elements when considered in their superposition. This ultimately results in a more even heat distribution across the entire heating surface and therefore more uniform heating of the heating plate. In particular, the differing paths of the heating elements in their superposition reduce the gaps not directly intersected by either heating element, where heat is not directly generated.

[0068] The first and second coiled webs can form a network with multiple intersection points when superimposed perpendicular to the material web's contact surface, with the vacuum channels extending through the meshes of this network. This allows the vacuum channels to be configured independently of the webs.

[0069] In such embodiments, arranging the first and second heating elements creates a network, enabling a network-like and thus planar heat generation and transfer to the heating plate. Because the network forms meshes and leaves gaps, even when the two tracks or heating elements are superimposed, these gaps remain uninterrupted. Since the vacuum channels can be formed within these gaps or meshes, they can be arranged in such a way that, even in embodiments with multiple heating elements, they do not intersect any of the heating elements and / or none of the heating elements need to pass through a vacuum channel.

[0070] In other words, in such embodiments, the vacuum channels can extend through an intermediate area left open by both the first and second coiled webs. This again makes it possible, in particular, to first prepare the heating arrangement for forming the vacuum channels by arranging the heating elements in the respective coiled webs and connecting all the necessary plates together. If the respective coiled webs are known, the positions of the open spaces and / or meshes can also be calculated and / or known, so that the vacuum channels can subsequently be formed by drilling holes through these meshes or spaces.As already mentioned, the bores can thus be carried out through all the plates of the heating arrangement in a single step in order to form the vacuum openings on the material web contact surface and to put them in communication with the vacuum chamber.

[0071] In some embodiments, the second coiled track can be rotated relative to the first coiled track, in particular by 90° with respect to an axis of rotation oriented perpendicular to the heating surfaces.

[0072] This makes it possible, in particular, to arrange the heating elements identically on the respective heating plates, but to obtain the desired, differing paths and form a network by simply rotating the heating plates during assembly of the heating arrangement. This allows the respective heating plates to be manufactured and designed as identical parts, so that the desired network of heating elements can be formed simply by rotating them during assembly.

[0073] The heating plates can therefore be rotationally symmetrical, particularly with respect to the rotation of the two tracks, and can, for example, be designed with square heating surfaces.

[0074] As an alternative to arranging the heating elements in distinct coiled paths, some embodiments may also provide that the first coiled path and the second coiled path are identical, with the two heating elements superimposed. This allows, for example, the heat input into the heating plate to be specifically increased along the paths described by the heating elements, such as in an edge region of the heating surface.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first heating element can be located on a first heating plate and the second heating element on a second heating plate, with the first and second heating plates being arranged between the heating plate and the vacuum chamber. Furthermore, the vacuum channels can extend straight through the heating plates.

[0076] Alternatively, the first heating element can, for example, be arranged on the heating plate and the second heating element on a heating plate. Furthermore, in both the first and second heating plates, the heating element can be configured to be located on a heating surface facing the respective heating plate. In some embodiments, the first and second heating plates can be identical and have identical guideways, particularly recessed structures, for the heating elements, along which the heating elements are guided in their respective coiled paths. Additionally, in some embodiments, the heating plates can be arranged rotated 90° relative to each other.

[0077] Such a design of the heating plates thus enables identical manufacturing of the heating plates, including the integrated heating element. For example, a network of heating elements can be created by simply arranging heating plates rotated relative to each other during the assembly of the heating system. For instance, the heating plates or their heating surfaces can be square to allow for this 90° rotated arrangement. Providing identical heating plates as standardized components can also simplify the overall manufacturing of the heating system.

[0078] However, it is also possible that the heating plates are designed differently from one another and / or have different pathways for the heating elements. Therefore, in some embodiments, it may also be possible to predefine a desired overlap of the heating elements by specifying different pathways on the respective heating plates.

[0079] In some embodiments, the first heating plate and the second heating plate can be glued and / or screwed together. Alternatively or additionally, the first heating plate can be glued and / or screwed to the heating plate.

[0080] As already mentioned, in principle all plates of the heating arrangement can be glued and / or screwed together to enable a precise arrangement of the plates on top of each other and also to achieve a certain sealing effect for the vacuum channels passing through the plates.

[0081] In some embodiments, the heating arrangement may include at least a third heating element guided in a third coiled track. This third coiled track may differ from the second coiled track and / or correspond to the first coiled track. Alternatively or additionally, the third coiled track may also differ from both the first and second coiled tracks. For example, in some embodiments, a layered arrangement with heating plates rotated 90° relative to each other may be provided, such that the third coiled track may be rotated, for instance, 180° relative to the first coiled track. In such embodiments, the third coiled track may therefore correspond to the first coiled track if the first coiled track is rotationally symmetrical with respect to 180° rotations, or it may differ from the first coiled track due to the 180° rotation.In such embodiments, the second coiled track can, for example, be rotated by 90° relative to both the first and second coiled tracks and therefore differ from the first and third coiled tracks. Alternatively, however, it can also be provided, for example, that the first, second, and third coiled tracks are not formed by rotating the respective heating plates, but rather by deliberate shaping on the respective heating plates, so that the respective coiled tracks can also be completely different from one another and / or identically shaped.

[0082] In some embodiments, the vacuum channels can extend through an intermediate area left free of all the coiled webs or through meshes of a network created by the superposition of the coiled webs.

[0083] Even in embodiments with three (or more) heating elements, the vacuum channels can therefore be guided in particular through respective spaces that remain free from the tracks and thus from the heating elements, so that no heating element has to extend through a vacuum channel and no heating element has to be interrupted by a vacuum channel.

[0084] In some embodiments, the second heating element can be arranged between the first heating element and the third heating element, particularly when viewed perpendicular to the material web contact surface.

[0085] In some embodiments, the heating element can be surrounded by an electrical insulator, which can electrically isolate a current-conducting section of the heating element.

[0086] Such an electrical insulator can, for example, be arranged along the entire surface of the heating element and / or a plate, in particular a heating plate, on which the heating element is mounted. In some embodiments, an insulating plate may be provided that covers the heating element. In other embodiments, and in particular in embodiments where the heating element is formed as a wire or flat ribbon conductor, it may also be provided, for example, that an electrically conductive core of the heating element is surrounded by an insulator, for example in the form of a wire sheath.In this respect, the insulator in such embodiments can, in a sense, form part of the heating element and cause a thickening of the heating element; however, such a heating element can, for example, be arranged in a suitable recess structure on a plate of the heating arrangement, in particular a heating plate, so that such insulation does not necessarily have to result in a thickening of the heating arrangement as a whole.

[0087] For example, the insulator can be made of ceramic and / or plastic.

[0088] In some embodiments, the heating element can generally be designed as an electrical resistance heating element.

[0089] In some embodiments, the vacuum chamber can be bounded on one side facing away from the material web contact surface by a housing, which may include the vacuum connection. For example, such a housing may be provided by the workstation into which the heating arrangement is inserted, or the heating arrangement itself may have such a housing, so that the housing can be inserted into the workstation.

[0090] In some embodiments, the housing can be bell-shaped and surround the heating arrangement in a bell-like manner, with the housing's side walls extending to the material web contact surface of the heating plate. Furthermore, in such embodiments, a vacuum gap can be formed between the housing's side walls and the heating arrangement, which can communicate with the vacuum chamber. In particular, the vacuum gap can surround the heating arrangement.

[0091] In particular, the housing can thus form a vacuum gap surrounding the heating plate (and / or locally interrupted), through which air can be drawn in towards the heating plate in order to attract the material web, especially at the edge, against the material web contact surface.

[0092] In some embodiments, the material web contact surface can be coated with a non-stick material, in particular Teflon. In particular, such embodiments prevent the material web, for example a film, from adhering to the material web contact surface of the heating plate and thus prevent damage to the material web, for example, after completion of a processing step at the workstation and during its movement away from the heating arrangement.

[0093] In some embodiments, the heating element can be designed and / or guided in such a way that it produces an increased heating effect in an edge region of the heating plate. For example, the heating element can be guided circumferentially along an edge region of a heating plate in order to selectively generate heat in this edge region and transfer it to the heating plate.

[0094] The invention further relates to a heating arrangement for a workstation, in particular a forming station, sealing station, preheating station or labeling station, of a packaging machine, especially a thermoforming packaging machine. The workstation for which the heating arrangement is provided is intended to process a material web that can be provided by the packaging machine in a material web plane for processing.

[0095] The heating arrangement comprises a heating plate, which has a material web contact surface extending in or parallel to the plane of the material web for contacting the material web during processing, and an electric heating element for heating the heating plate. In addition, several vacuum openings are arranged on the material web contact surface for suctioning the material web during processing, each vacuum opening serving as the inlet to a respective vacuum channel that extends straight through the heating plate perpendicular or inclined to the plane of the material web and opens into a vacuum chamber opposite the material web contact surface.

[0096] The vacuum chamber can have a vacuum port for connecting a vacuum source, and the heating arrangement can in particular be designed as a heating arrangement of a workstation according to the present disclosure.

[0097] As previously explained, such a heating arrangement enables a simple and reliable suction of a web of material against the material contact surface, particularly across its entire surface, thus achieving the most uniform and / or desired heating of the web. Furthermore, the heating arrangement can be manufactured simply and be designed to be flat and compact by eliminating the need for lateral bores to form distribution channels for the vacuum. Instead, the vacuum channels can be constructed as straight bores through one or more plates, or even all plates, of the heating arrangement to connect the vacuum openings to the vacuum chamber.

[0098] The heating arrangement may also incorporate one or more features of those already described above in connection with a workstation. Furthermore, the heating arrangement may, in particular, include a housing that delimits the vacuum chamber opposite the heating plate and / or the vacuum connection.

[0099] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a heating arrangement and / or workstation according to the present disclosure, in which a heating plate is connected to the heating plate, wherein the heating element is arranged on a heating surface of the heating plate facing the heating plate. In particular, the heating plate can be screwed and / or glued to the heating plate. Furthermore, after connecting the heating plate to the heating plate, the vacuum channels can be formed by drilling through the heating plate and the heating plate.

[0100] In particular, the vacuum channels can be drilled perpendicular to the material web contact surface.

[0101] Furthermore, in some embodiments, at least one additional heating plate can be connected to the heating plate before the vacuum channels are formed, in particular by screwing and / or gluing it to it, after which the vacuum channels can be formed by drilling through the two heating plates and the heating plate.

[0102] This process can also involve one or more of the manufacturing steps already described above in connection with the workstation and / or heating arrangement.

[0103] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the invention relates to a workstation, in particular a forming station, sealing station, preheating station or labeling station, for a packaging machine, which may in particular be designed as a thermoforming packaging machine. The workstation is designed to process a web of material provided by the packaging machine in a material web plane for processing and comprises a heating arrangement having a web contact surface extending in or parallel to the web plane for contacting the web of material during processing and an electric heating element for heating the web contact surface.Furthermore, the heating arrangement comprises at least one vacuum plate oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface, which has a vacuum channel on at least one outer surface oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface. This channel opens into a vacuum opening formed on the material web contact surface and leads opposite the material web contact surface into a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber has a vacuum connection for connecting a vacuum source.

[0104] The workstation described in this aspect of the present disclosure also includes a heating arrangement with a material web contact surface to heat the material web during and / or for processing at the workstation. The material web contact surface again incorporates a vacuum opening, which is connected via the vacuum channel to a vacuum chamber and the vacuum connection, so that the material web can be drawn through the vacuum opening to the material web contact surface, particularly during processing, when a vacuum is generated in the vacuum chamber.

[0105] By arranging the vacuum channel on an outer surface of a vacuum plate oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface, the vacuum required at the material web contact surface can be generated without the need for lateral bores in the heating arrangement to serve as distribution channels for a laterally generated and / or supplied vacuum. Furthermore, in embodiments according to this aspect of the present disclosure, the vacuum channel can be oriented, in particular (at least substantially), perpendicular to the material web contact surface to connect the vacuum opening to the vacuum chamber. A vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber can therefore be passed through the heating arrangement perpendicular to the material web contact surface without the need for lateral bores.According to this aspect of the present disclosure, the heating arrangement can therefore be designed to be particularly compact without the need to provide a heating plate or any other plate with a certain additional thickness that allows the creation of lateral bores as distribution channels.

[0106] Furthermore, by aligning the vacuum plate perpendicular to the material web contact surface and forming the vacuum channel on the outer surface of the vacuum plate, the need for bores to distribute the vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber to the material web contact surface can be eliminated, for example, by milling the vacuum channel on the outer surface. Such a milled vacuum channel—or, more generally, the vacuum channel formed on the outer surface of the vacuum plate—can also be covered, for example, by another plate of the heating arrangement, such as another vacuum plate or a heating plate, to form a closed vacuum channel.

[0107] In general, the vacuum channel can therefore be designed as a depression on the outer surface of the vacuum plate, which connects the vacuum chamber to the vacuum opening.

[0108] In some embodiments, the outer surface on which the at least one vacuum channel is formed can also be covered by a further plate of the heating arrangement, wherein the further plate can also be oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface. The further plate can, for example, provide a flat covering surface with which the vacuum channel can be covered.

[0109] In some embodiments, at least one vacuum channel can be milled into the outer surface of the vacuum plate. Furthermore, at least one vacuum channel can be curved, particularly perpendicular to the material web contact surface or at least at intervals. By forming the vacuum channel on the outer surface of the vacuum plate, its manufacture can be simplified compared to drilling, especially by milling. Moreover, this allows for a virtually arbitrary path for the vacuum channel, so that—unlike with drilled vacuum channels—a partially curved path is also possible.

[0110] In some embodiments, several vacuum channels can be formed on the outer surface of the vacuum plate, which open into a respective vacuum opening on the material web contact surface.

[0111] In particular, the multiple vacuum openings to which a respective vacuum channel of the vacuum plate leads can be offset from one another in the material web contact surface, so that the vacuum channels of the vacuum plate can lead to vacuum openings arranged in a series on the material web contact surface, in order to draw the material web against the series of vacuum openings. As explained in more detail below, several such vacuum plates can also be provided, which can be arranged parallel to one another, so that a surface-wide suction of the material web against the material web contact surface can also occur.

[0112] In some embodiments, the material web contact surface can be formed by a heating plate in which a hole aligned with the at least one vacuum channel can be provided to form the vacuum opening. In particular, such a heating plate can be made of a suitable material for heat transfer to the material web, and the material web contact surface can be formed, in particular, by an outer surface of the heating plate that faces the material web during processing. For example, the heating plate can be made of aluminum, and the material web contact surface can also be coated, in particular as an outer surface of the heating plate, with a non-stick material, for example, Teflon.

[0113] The heating plate can be aligned perpendicular to the vacuum plate.

[0114] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the heating plate can be formed as a perforated plate with multiple holes, which are aligned with vacuum channels formed on the vacuum plate (or optionally on several vacuum plates) in order to create multiple vacuum openings in the material web contact area. In particular, the holes or vacuum openings can be distributed over the entire surface of the heating plate to enable surface suction of the material web.

[0115] In some embodiments, the electric heating element can be arranged on a heating plate, which may be aligned parallel to the vacuum plate. Alternatively, the electric heating element can, for example, be arranged on the vacuum plate, in particular on a side of the vacuum plate facing away from the at least one vacuum channel.

[0116] For example, the heating element can be arranged on a heating plate which is positioned between two vacuum plates, with the heating plate and the two vacuum plates being oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface. The heating element can also be arranged on an outer surface of the heating plate, with the vacuum channels of the adjacent vacuum plates facing away from the heating element, so that the heating element is not in contact with any airflow guided in the vacuum channel.

[0117] The electric heating element can, for example, be arranged on the heating plate or the vacuum plate, as explained above in connection with a workstation according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, and may extend, for example, along a coiled path. However, since the heating element can extend, in particular, in a plane parallel to a plane of extension of the at least one vacuum channel, no intermediate area needs to be left in the arrangement of the electric heating element to allow the vacuum channel to pass through such an intermediate area. Rather, the heating element can, in particular, be arranged or coiled substantially over the entire surface of the heating plate or the vacuum plate in order to achieve the most uniform heat transfer possible.

[0118] In some embodiments, the electrical heating element can be designed as a wire or a flat ribbon conductor, and in particular the electrical heating element can be arranged in a recessed structure on the heating plate or the vacuum plate.

[0119] As previously explained, the electric heating element can thus be flat, and its arrangement within a recessed structure allows it to be positioned on the plate without increasing its thickness or creating a local protrusion on the plate's outer surface. This ensures that adjacent plates of the heating arrangement make full contact, enabling a stable, interconnected arrangement. The electric heating element can also be bonded within the recessed structure. Furthermore, the electric heating element can be designed, for example, as a surface-applied and / or textured heating lacquer.

[0120] Generally, the electrical heating element is designed as an electrical resistance heating element.

[0121] In some embodiments, the heating arrangement can have a layered structure with several vacuum plates, which are aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the material web contact surface, and on which at least one, and in particular several, vacuum channels are formed. The vacuum channels can open into respective vacuum openings on the material web contact surface and lead into the vacuum chamber. As already explained, such a layered structure with several vacuum channels allows, in particular, a planar arrangement of vacuum openings to communicate with the vacuum chamber in order to achieve a planar suction of the material web onto the material web contact surface. Furthermore, in particular, all vacuum channels of the several vacuum plates can open into a (single) vacuum chamber.Alternatively or additionally, various sub-chambers with their respective vacuum connections can be provided, into which a selection of vacuum channels leads, as explained above.

[0122] In some embodiments, the heating arrangement can be modular and the layer structure can optionally be assembled comprising a selection of vacuum plates and / or heating plates, wherein plates of the layer structure can in particular be screwed and / or clamped together.

[0123] In particular, such a modular design allows the extent of the material web contact area and / or the heating arrangement as a whole to be selectively increased or decreased in one stacking direction of the layered structure by adding or removing plates. The resulting layered structure can be easily fixed by screwing and / or clamping the individual plates together to provide a stable heating arrangement. Such a heating arrangement can therefore be easily adapted for different workstations and / or material webs to be processed and / or packaging to be produced.

[0124] In some embodiments, the electric heating element can be arranged between two vacuum plates and / or several electric heating elements can be provided, which can be arranged on a heating plate aligned parallel to the vacuum plates or on a respective vacuum plate.

[0125] Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating arrangement for a workstation, in particular a forming station, sealing station, preheating station or labeling station, of a packaging machine, in particular a thermoforming packaging machine, wherein the workstation is provided to process a material web which can be provided by the packaging machine in a material web plane for processing.The heating arrangement comprises a material web contact surface extending in or parallel to the plane of the material web for contacting the material web during processing and an electric heating element for heating the material web contact surface, and further comprises at least one vacuum plate oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface, which has a vacuum channel on at least one outer surface oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface, which opens into a vacuum opening formed on the material web contact surface and leads opposite to the material web contact surface into a vacuum chamber, wherein the heating arrangement can in particular be designed as a heating arrangement of a workstation of the type described above.

[0126] The heating arrangement may in particular include the vacuum chamber and the vacuum chamber may include a vacuum connection through which a vacuum can be generated in the vacuum chamber.

[0127] Furthermore, in the heating arrangement and / or workstation according to the aspect described above, with vacuum plates oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface, one or more of the features described above in connection with a heating arrangement and / or workstation in which at least one vacuum channel passing through the heating plate is provided may also be implemented. For example, in embodiments with vacuum plates oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface, a cover plate may also be provided in order to influence the vacuum generated at the material web contact surface.

[0128] Furthermore, the invention relates to a packaging machine, in particular a thermoforming packaging machine and / or in particular a packaging machine for producing packaging for food products, which comprises at least one workstation according to the present disclosure.

[0129] The invention is explained below purely by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0130] They show:

[0131] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a processing line for processing food products with a packaging machine designed as a thermoforming packaging machine.

[0132] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating arrangement of a workstation of the packaging machine,

[0133] Fig. 3 shows another schematic cross-sectional view of the heating arrangement, Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a material web contact surface of a heating plate of the heating arrangement, with which the heating plate contacts a material web provided by the packaging machine and in which several vacuum openings are formed,

[0134] Figures 5A to 5E show a schematic representation of a first heating plate of the heating arrangement, in which a first heating element is guided in a first coiled path; a schematic representation of a second heating plate of the heating arrangement, in which a second heating element is guided in a second coiled path; a superposition of the two heating elements perpendicular to the material web contact surface; a schematic view of a third heating plate of the heating arrangement, in which a third heating element is guided in a third coiled path; and a superposition of the three heating elements perpendicular to the material web contact surface.

[0135] Figs. 6A and 6B show a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating arrangement of a workstation of the packaging machine and a schematic view of a material web contact surface of a heating plate of the heating arrangement, with which the heating plate contacts a material web provided by the packaging machine and in which several vacuum openings are formed, and

[0136] Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a vacuum chamber in which a cover plate is arranged to influence a vacuum generated on the material web contact surface.

[0137] Fig. 1 shows 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.

[0138] 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.

[0139] 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 in a material web plane M 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 web guide 35, which can have chain guides opposite to each other with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the transport direction T and is designed to hold the web of material 27 at the sides and move it along the transport direction T.

[0140] 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 are moved into the area of ​​an inserter 107 of the portion guide 101, the portions 17 can be placed into these cavities. To form the cavities 95, the forming station 30 has a lower tool 75 with a recess 81 into which the material web 27 is drawn by creating a vacuum and inserted through an upper tool 73. Furthermore, a heating arrangement 33 is provided on the upper tool 73 of the forming station 30. This heating arrangement contacts and heats the material web 27 during processing with a material web contact surface 43, enabling the cavities 95 to be drawn in by a thermoforming process.A heating arrangement 33 of this kind can also be provided on the lower tool 75 (not shown). 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 the provided troughs 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 the provided troughs 95.

[0141] After a portion 17 has been placed into a trough 95, the respective trough 95 is fed to a sealing station 32, a further workstation 31 of the packaging machine 11, where the trough 95 is sealed by an upper material web 28, also taken from a roll 26. 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 one edge of the processed trough 95. In order to seal the upper material web 28 and the material web 27 together, a heating arrangement 33 with a material web contact surface 43 is therefore also provided on an upper tool 73 of the sealing station 32, which makes contact with the upper material web 28 during the sealing process.Furthermore, a preheating station 40 is connected upstream of the sealing station 32, which may be designed to heat the material web 27 before the sealing process. The preheating station 40 may also have a heating arrangement 33, and a heating arrangement 33 may also be provided on the lower tool 75 of the sealing station 32 (not shown).

[0142] As an example, the packaging machine 11 shown is also designed to form a chamber 37 as a domed lid in the upper material web 28 at the sealing station 32, for which purpose the aforementioned upper tool 73 of the sealing station 32 also has a recess 81 into which the upper material web 28 is drawn. The sealing station 32 also has a lower tool 75 in which the trough 95 is supported.

[0143] The sealed package 103 can then be fed to a labeling station 42, where labels can be applied to the package 103. To achieve better adhesion of the labels, the labeling station 42 can also be equipped with a heating arrangement 33 (not shown).

[0144] Finally, the sealed package 103 can 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.

[0145] In order to process the material web 27 or 28, and in particular to produce the troughs 95 at the forming station 30 and to close them at the sealing station 32, heating arrangements 33 are provided at these workstations 31 of the packaging machine 11. These arrangements heat the material web 27 or 28 and prepare it for the forming and / or sealing process. Furthermore, the tools 73 and 75 of the workstations 31 can be designed to draw in or suck in the respective material web 27 or 28 to be processed, thereby bringing it into contact with the tools 73 and 75, and in particular with the material web contact surface 43 of the respective heating arrangement 33.

[0146] To make this possible, the heating arrangements 33 of the workstations 31 in the packaging machine 11 shown can be designed in particular as shown below with reference to Figs. 2 to 5E and as already explained in general above.

[0147] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of such a heating arrangement 33, which in particular comprises a heating plate 39 on which the material web contact surface 43 is formed, extending substantially parallel to the material web plane M of the packaging machine 11. The heating plate 39 can further, in particular, have a non-stick coating 131, for example a Teflon coating, on the material web contact surface 43 to prevent the material web 27 or 28 from adhering to the heating plate 39 during processing.

[0148] On one side of the heating plate 39 facing away from the material web contact surface 43, three heating plates 109, 111 and 113 are arranged consecutively, each having a heating surface 99 on its respective side facing the heating plate 39. An electric (resistance) heating element 41, 41' or 41'' is arranged on each of these heating surfaces (see also Figs. 5A to 5E). This allows heat generated by the heating elements 41, 41' and 41'' to be transferred to the heating plate 39, thus heating the heating plate 39 and, in particular, the material web contact surface 43. This, in turn, heats the material web 27 or 28 during processing at the workstations 31 equipped with a heating arrangement 33.

[0149] Furthermore, Fig. 2 shows that the heating plates 109, 111, and 113 are connected to each other and to the heating plate 39 by a screw connection 117 and are held firmly together. Alternatively or additionally, the heating plates 109, 111, and 113 can be glued together, and the heating plate 109 can be glued to the heating plate 39, in order to create a reliable connection of the plates 39, 109, 111, and 113 of the heating arrangement 33 and, for example, to prevent the plates 39, 109, 111, and 113 from slipping relative to each other.

[0150] The heating plate 113 also functions as a boundary plate 115, which delimits a vacuum chamber 51 adjoining the heating plate 113 in the direction of the heating plate 39. On the opposite side from the heating plate 113, the vacuum chamber 51 is delimited by a housing 127, which surrounds the heating plate 39 and the heating plates 109, 111, and 113 in a bell-like manner. In particular, side walls 128 of the housing 127 extend to the material web contact surface 43 of the heating plate 39, with a vacuum gap 129 being formed between the side walls 128 and the heating plate 39 as well as the heating plates 109, 111, and 113.The vacuum chamber 51 also has a vacuum port 53 formed on the housing 127 and connected to a vacuum source 54, so that the material web 27 or 28 can be drawn against the heating arrangement 33 and its material web contact surface 43 by drawing in air through the vacuum port 53 and the vacuum gap 129. In particular, the vacuum gap 129 can be formed around the entire circumference of the heating arrangement 33 to ensure uniform suction of the material web 27 or 28.

[0151] As illustrated in particular by Figures 3 and 4, the vacuum chamber 51 does not merely communicate with the vacuum gap 129, but the heating arrangement 33 also has several vacuum channels 49 extending straight and, in particular, perpendicular to the web plane M from the vacuum chamber 51 through the heating plates 113, 111 and 109 and the heating plate 39, so that several vacuum openings 45 are formed on the web contact surface 43 of the heating plate 39 as inlets 47 of the vacuum channels 49. All vacuum channels 49 extending from the web contact surface 43 open into the vacuum chamber 51 with their respective outlets 55, so that a vacuum generated via the vacuum connection 53 can be distributed directly to all vacuum channels 49 and vacuum openings 45.

[0152] In particular, a surface of the heating plate 113 facing away from the heating plate 39 acts as a vacuum distribution surface 57, via which a vacuum generated at the vacuum connection 53 is distributed to the vacuum channels 49. As further illustrated in Fig. 4, the material web contact surface 43 in the illustrated embodiment extends along a first direction of extension E1 and a direction of extension E2 perpendicular thereto, wherein it can be provided, in particular, that a first vacuum channel 49', a second vacuum channel 49" and a third vacuum channel 49"' all open into the common vacuum chamber 51.Here, the second vacuum channel 49" is offset along the first extension direction E1, but not along the second extension direction E2, relative to the first vacuum channel 49', whereas the third vacuum channel 49" is offset both relative to the first vacuum channel 49' and relative to the second vacuum channel 49" along the second extension direction E2. In this respect, vacuum channels 49 arranged over a surface along two extension directions E1 and E2 can open into the same vacuum chamber 51, so that the vacuum distribution surface 57 can achieve a surface distribution of the vacuum to several vacuum channels 49 and vacuum openings 45 oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface 43.

[0153] In particular, such a straight design of the vacuum channels 49 opening into a common vacuum chamber 51 makes it possible to form the vacuum channels 49 in a simple manner by forming them as bores 59 passing through the heating plate 39 and the heating plates 109, 111 and 113. For this purpose, for example, the heating plate 39, the first heating plate 109, the second heating plate 111 and the third heating plate 113 can be pre-assembled and, for example, screwed and / or glued together so that the vacuum channels 49 can then be formed in a single manufacturing step by drilling through the plates 39, 109, 111 and 113.

[0154] The straight design of the vacuum channels 49, perpendicular to the material web plane M and the material web contact surface 43, allows – unlike in known heating arrangements – the distribution of a vacuum generated at the vacuum chamber 51 to the vacuum openings 45 without the need to drill lateral and / or parallel distribution channels into the heating plate 39. Therefore, the heating plate 39 does not necessarily need to be thick enough to allow for such lateral distribution channels; instead, the heating plate 39, and thus the entire heating arrangement 33, can be flat, enabling a more compact design of the heating arrangement 33.

[0155] Furthermore, Figures 5A, 5B, and 5E illustrate that the heating elements 41, 41', and 41" mentioned above can also be designed, in particular, as flat elements, such as wire 61 or flat ribbon conductor 63, in order to achieve the flattest possible design of the heating arrangement 33. Moreover, as will be explained below, a targeted and, in particular, a uniform heat distribution on the heating plate 39 can be achieved by appropriately guiding the heating elements 41, 41', and 41" above, while still retaining the aforementioned possibilities for the simple formation of the vacuum channels 49.

[0156] Fig. 5A shows, by way of example, the heating surface 99 of the first heating plate 109, in which a milled recess structure 97 is formed, for example, which defines a first coiled track 65 or a guide 123 for the heating element 41. A first heating element 41, which is designed as a wire 61, is inserted into the recess structure 97 such that the heating element 41 describes the first coiled track 65 starting from a connection 133 for connecting an electrical power source. In addition, the wire 61 is surrounded by an electrical insulator 125 to electrically insulate the heating plate 109 and the heating plate 39 from the heating element 41. To achieve reliable guidance of the heating element 41 in the recess structure 97, the heating element 41 can also be, for example, bonded in the recess structure 97.

[0157] Fig. 5B illustrates that the second heating plate 111 can be fundamentally identical to the first heating plate 109, except that the second heating plate 111 is rotated 90° relative to the first heating plate 109. Furthermore, by way of example, a connection 133 of the second heating element 41' on the second heating plate 111 is offset by a simple 90° rotation.

[0158] Due to the rotation of the second heating plate 111, the second heating element 41 ', which is arranged on the second heating plate 111 in a recess structure 97 and is designed, for example, as a wire 61, can be guided along a second coiled track 67, which is also rotated by 90° relative to the first coiled track 65 and therefore differs from the first coiled track 65.

[0159] Fig. 5C again shows the heating surface 99 of the first heating plate 109, and also illustrates a superposition 119 of the first heating element 41 attached to the first heating plate 109 (viewed perpendicular to the material web plane M) and the second heating element 41'. Those skilled in the art understand that this illustration is for illustrative purposes only, as the second heating element 41' is usually not visible through the first heating plate 109.

[0160] In the superposition 119, the twisted, coiled webs 65 and 67 or the heating elements 41 and 41' form a network 83, wherein the webs 65 and 67 or heating elements 41 and 41' intersect at their respective intersection points 121, while gaps 71 remain in the meshes 85 of the network 83 that are not covered by the heating elements 41 and 41'. The formation of such a network 83 in the superposition 119 of the heating elements 41 and 41' makes it possible, in particular, to achieve comprehensive coverage parallel to the material web plane M by the heating elements 41 and 41', so that the heat generated by the heating elements 41 and 41' can be transferred as evenly as possible to the heating plate 39 and the material web contact surface 43 can be heated uniformly.Furthermore, the heating plates 109 and 111 can be manufactured as identical parts, in particular by virtue of their identical and merely rotated design, and can simply be rotated relative to each other during the assembly of the heating arrangement 33 in order to achieve the desired uniform heating with simple manufacturing of the heating plates 109 and 111.

[0161] Furthermore, the design of the mesh 83 in the superposition 119 of the heating elements 41 and 41' makes it possible to guide the vacuum channels 49 through the existing gaps 71 and thus between the respective track sections 66 of the tracks 65 and 67, in particular by drilling them, so that the straight vacuum channels 49 do not pass through the heating elements 41 or 41'. This is also shown in Fig. 5C. Conversely, neither of the heating elements 41 and 41' needs to pass through a vacuum channel 49, which could lead to undesirable heating of the vacuum channel 49 and – especially with an airflow through the vacuum channel 49 – to undesirable heat loss. Furthermore, the positions of the spaces 71, especially with known pathways 123 of the coiled paths 65 and 67, may also be known, so that positions for drilling the vacuum channels 49 may also be predetermined or calculated on the basis of the pathways 123.Therefore, despite the differing tracks 65 and 67 of the heating elements 41, 41" and 41" (see also Fig. 5D and 5E), the heating plates 109, 111 and 113 can still be connected to each other and to the heating plate 39 in order to be able to form the vacuum channels 49 in particular in a single manufacturing step by drilling through the plates 39, 109, 111 and 113. Fig. 5D illustrates that a third heating element 41" can be arranged on the third heating plate 113 at the respective heating surface 99, this being, by way of example, designed as a flat ribbon conductor 63 which extends from a connection 133 in a third coiled path 69. The third coiled path 69 is, by way of example, guided exclusively in an edge region 135 of the heating plate 113, so that the third heating element 41" also extends exclusively in the edge region 135 and surrounds the heating surface 99.Therefore, the third heating element 41" can contribute in particular only or at least primarily to a heat development in a corresponding edge area on the heating plate 39.

[0162] Fig. 5E shows a superposition 119 of the three heating elements 41, 41' and 41'', again viewed from the heating surface 99 of the first heating plate 109 perpendicular to the material web plane M. It is again evident that the spaces 71 or meshes 85 of the network 83, which is also formed in the superposition 119 of the heating elements 41, 41' and 41'', remain free, so that the vacuum channels 49 can be formed by through bores 59 that pass through these spaces 71. Furthermore, the third heating element 41" can achieve increased heat development in the edge area 135, particularly on the material web contact surface 43, in order to, for example, fuse the material web 27 with the upper material web 28 at the sealing station 32 by additionally heating the edge area 135 and to form a stable sealing seam in the trough 95.

[0163] While the embodiment shown here includes three heating plates 109, 111, and 113 by way of example, such a modular design of the heating arrangement 33 generally allows any number of heating plates to be stacked on top of each other, thus providing any number of heating elements 41 to generate the heat required for a given application or workstation 31. Furthermore, the coiled tracks 65, 67, and 69 are shown only by way of example; other guides or tracks can also be provided in principle.Furthermore, although the identical design of the heating plates 109 and 111 may simplify the manufacture of the heating arrangement 33, it is alternatively possible to specify any tracks for the heating elements 41 and / or to form any recess structures 97 on the heating plates 109, 111 or 113 in which the respective heating elements 41, 41' or 41'' can be inserted or attached.

[0164] In principle, the path of the heating element 41, 41', or 41" can also be adapted to the specific application or workstation 31 in which the heating arrangement 33 is used. Furthermore, Figures 5A and 5B show, in particular, helical paths 65 and 67 for the heating elements 41 and 41', in which the heating element 41 or 41' is guided serpentinely or meanderingly over the heating surface 99 to achieve full coverage. The helical path 69 of the third heating element 41" is formed circumferentially around the heating surface 99. Moreover, the respective reversals of the heating elements 41, 41', and 41" are always, by way of example, U-shaped and with right angles. However, those skilled in the art understand that, in principle, other helical path configurations 123 can also be provided, and deflections can also be designed, for example, with rounded edges.

[0165] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of a heating arrangement 33, which can be used in one or more of the workstations 31 of the packaging machine 11 illustrated with reference to Figure 1.

[0166] In this heating arrangement 33, a heating plate 39 is provided, which, as shown in Fig. 6B, is designed as a perforated plate with several holes 141 forming vacuum openings 45 in a material web contact area 43 provided by the heating plate 39. Furthermore, the sectional view in Fig. 6A shows that the heating arrangement 33 has a modular layer structure 139 with several heating plates 109 and several vacuum plates 137, which are oriented perpendicular to a material web plane M along which the material web 27 or 28 is guided during processing by the packaging machine 11. By way of example, in the embodiment shown, the heating plates 109 and the vacuum plates 137 are arranged alternately, and a spacer plate 143, arranged on the right in the illustration of Fig. 6A, is also provided, which completes the layer structure 139.The plates 109, 137 and 143 of the layer structure 139 are also connected to each other by a screw connection 117.

[0167] The heating plates 109 each have heating elements 41, which are arranged in recessed structures 97 formed on the outer surfaces of the heating plates 109 and are covered by a respective adjacent vacuum plate 137 or the spacer plate 143. On the outer surfaces 149 of the vacuum plates 137 facing away from the heating elements 41, respective vacuum channels 49 are formed, which are aligned with the holes 141 or vacuum openings 45 formed on the heating plate 39 and thereby connect the vacuum openings 45 to a vacuum chamber 51 arranged facing away from the material web contact surface 43, on which a vacuum connection 53 is arranged for generating a vacuum.In particular, the vacuum channels 49 can be milled as recesses on the outer surface 149 of the respective vacuum plate 137 and covered by a respective adjacent heating plate 109, so that closed vacuum channels 49 can be formed without the need for bores on the heating arrangement 33.

[0168] The heating arrangement 33, illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, is further enclosed by a bell-shaped housing 127 with side walls 128 extending to the material web contact surface 43, the side walls 128 being arranged at a distance from the outer plates 109 and 143 of the layer structure 139. A vacuum gap 129 therefore exists between the outer plates 109 and 143 and the side walls 128, through which the vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber 51 can be drawn in to attract the material web 27 or 28.

[0169] In this embodiment, it is also possible to generate a vacuum covering as much of the surface as possible by means of several vacuum openings 45 arranged on the material web contact surface 43 of the heating plate 39, in order to draw in the material web 27 or 28 during processing and heat it by the heating arrangement 33 without the need for lateral bores in the heating arrangement 33. Furthermore, arranging the vacuum channels 49 on the outer surfaces 149 of the vacuum plates 137 makes it possible, in particular, to mill the vacuum channels 49, so that no bores are required at all. Such milling simplifies the design of the vacuum channels 49 and allows them to be formed with virtually any desired path, so that, for example, both straight vacuum channels 49 and vacuum channels 49 with curved sections can be provided or implemented.

[0170] Fig. 7 further illustrates that in both embodiments according to Figs. 2 to 5E and embodiments according to Figs. 6A and 6B, a cover plate 145 can also be provided, which can be optionally and, in particular, without tools, attached to the vacuum chamber 51. The cover plate 45 is designed as a perforated plate with holes 147 which are aligned with the respective vacuum channels 49, so that the vacuum can be distributed to the correspondingly unobstructed vacuum channels 49. In contrast, in the embodiment according to Fig. 7, the cover plate 145 is closed in a central area, so that vacuum channels 49 leading into the central area are covered and only vacuum channels 49 arranged in an edge section 135 remain unobstructed.By inserting the cover plate 145 into the vacuum chamber 51, the vacuum generated in the vacuum chamber 51 can be directed exclusively to the material web contact surface 43 at the edge sections 135, instead of applying suction to the entire surface of the material web 27 or 28. This allows the material web 27 or 28 to be drawn in only at the edge sections. By inserting the cover plate 145, the heating arrangement 33 can thus be easily reconfigured and the vacuum generated at the material web contact surface 43 adjusted.

[0171] Furthermore, in some embodiments, several differently designed cover plates 145 with differing hole patterns can be provided in order to easily and variably adjust the distribution and / or strength of the vacuum at the material web contact surface 43. (List of reference symbols)

[0172] 11 Packaging machine

[0173] 13 Food product

[0174] 15 processing lines

[0175] 17 food portions

[0176] 19 discs

[0177] 21 Cutting device

[0178] 23 Roll-off device

[0179] 25 rolls

[0180] 26 rolls

[0181] 27 Material track

[0182] 28 upper material web

[0183] 29 Transport equipment

[0184] 30 forming stations

[0185] 31 workstations

[0186] 32 Sealing Station

[0187] 33 Heating arrangement

[0188] 34 isolation station

[0189] 35 Material web guidance

[0190] 36 knives

[0191] 37th chamber of the pack

[0192] 38 knives

[0193] 39 Hotplate

[0194] 40 Preheating station

[0195] 41 first heating element

[0196] 41 ' second heating element

[0197] 41 “ third heating element

[0198] 42 Labeling stations

[0199] 43 Material web contact area 45 Vacuum opening

[0200] Entrance 47

[0201] 49 Vacuum channel

[0202] 49' first vacuum channel

[0203] 49" second vacuum channel

[0204] 49'“ third vacuum channel

[0205] 51 Vacuum chamber

[0206] 53 Vacuum connection

[0207] 54 Vacuum source

[0208] 55 Exit

[0209] 57 Vacuum distribution area

[0210] 59 bore

[0211] 61 wire

[0212] 63 flat ribbon conductors

[0213] 65 first winding path

[0214] 66 railway section

[0215] 67 second winding track

[0216] 69 third winding lane

[0217] 71 Intermediate area

[0218] 73 Upper tool

[0219] 75 Lower tool

[0220] 81 In-depth study

[0221] 83 network

[0222] 85 stitches

[0223] 87 knives

[0224] 89 Product feed 91 Gripper

[0225] 93 Leadership

[0226] 95 trough

[0227] 97 In-depth structure

[0228] 99 heating surface

[0229] 101 Portion Management

[0230] 103 pack

[0231] 107 inserts

[0232] 109 first heating plate

[0233] 111 second heating plate

[0234] 113 third heating plate

[0235] 115 Boundary plate

[0236] 117 Screw connection

[0237] 119 Overlay

[0238] 121 Intersection point

[0239] 123 Route guidance

[0240] 125 Insulator

[0241] 127 cases

[0242] 128 side wall

[0243] 129 Vacuum gap

[0244] 131 Non-stick coating

[0245] 133 connection

[0246] 135 marginal section

[0247] 137 Vacuum plate

[0248] 139 Layer structure

[0249] 141 holes

[0250] 143 Spacer plate

[0251] 145 Cover plate

[0252] 147 holes

[0253] 149 outdoor area

[0254] E1 first extension direction E2 second extension direction M material web plane

[0255] S cutting plane

[0256] T Transport direction

Claims

Weber Food Technology GmbH W29086PWO - Dm Claims 1. Workstation (31), in particular forming station (30), sealing station (32), preheating station or labeling station, for a packaging machine (11), in particular for a thermoforming packaging machine, which is intended to process a material web (27, 28) provided by the packaging machine (11) in a material web plane (M) for processing, and which comprises a heating arrangement (33) with a heating plate (39) and with an electric heating element (41 , 41 ', 41 ”) for heating the heating plate (39), wherein the heating plate (39) has a material web contact surface (43) extending in or parallel to the material web plane (M) for contacting the material web (27, 28) during processing, wherein several vacuum openings (45) for suction of the material web (27, 28) during processing are arranged on the material web contact surface (43), wherein each of the vacuum openings (45) is designed as an inlet (47) of a respective vacuum channel (49), which extends straight through the heating plate (39) perpendicular or inclined to the material web plane (M) and opens into a vacuum chamber (51) opposite the material web contact surface (43), wherein the vacuum chamber (51) has a vacuum connection (53) for connecting a vacuum source (54).

2. Workstation (31) according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum channels (49) extend completely straight from the vacuum chamber (51) to the vacuum openings (45).

3. Workstation (31) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein opposite the vacuum openings (45) outlets (55) of the vacuum channels (49) open into a common vacuum distribution surface (57) which limits the vacuum chamber (51) in the direction of the heating plate (39), wherein a vacuum generated via the vacuum connection (53) can be distributed via the vacuum distribution surface (57) to the vacuum channels (49).

4. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the workstation (31) has only one vacuum connection (53) for drawing the material web (27, 28) to the heating plate (39), wherein all vacuum channels (49) are connected to the vacuum connection (53) via the vacuum chamber (51); and / or wherein all vacuum channels (49) lead into the same vacuum chamber (51).

5. Workstation (31) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material web contact surface (43) extends along two mutually perpendicular extension directions (E1, E2), wherein at least a first vacuum channel (49'), a second vacuum channel (49") and a third vacuum channel (49'') open into the vacuum chamber (51), wherein the second vacuum channel (49") is offset from the first vacuum channel (49') along a first extension direction (E1) of the two extension directions (E1, E2), but not along a second extension direction (E2) of the two extension directions (E1, E2), and wherein the third vacuum channel (49“') is offset to the first vacuum channel (49') and the second vacuum channel (49“) along the second extension direction (E2).

6. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vacuum channels (49) are designed as straight bores (59).

7. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element (41, 41', 41”) is designed as a wire (61) or a flat ribbon conductor (63).

8. Workstation (31) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element (41 , 41 ', 41 ”) is guided in a coiled path (65, 67, 69) along a heating surface (99) of the heating arrangement (33) aligned parallel to the material web contact surface (43), wherein the vacuum channels (49) extend in an intermediate area (71) between respective web sections (66) of the coiled path (65, 67, 69).

9. Workstation (31) according to claim 8, wherein the coiled track (65, 67, 69) is preformed by a recessed structure (97), in particular milled, on the heating surface (99), into which the heating element (41 , 41', 41”) is inserted, in particular placed, or wherein the heating element (41 , 41 ', 41”) is placed in the coiled track (65, 67, 69) along the heating surface (99).

10. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element (41 , 41 41 ”) is arranged on a heating plate (109, 111, 113) which is arranged between the heating plate (39) and the vacuum chamber (51), wherein the vacuum channels (49) extend straight through the heating plate (109, 111, 113).

11. Workstation (31) according to claim 10, wherein the heating plate (109, 111, 113) is glued and / or screwed to the heating plate (39).

12. Workstation (31) according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the heating element (41, 41', 41”) is arranged on a heating surface (99) of the heating plate (109, 111, 113) facing the heating plate (39).

13. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the heating plate (109, 111, 113) forms a boundary of the vacuum chamber (51) in the direction of the material web contact surface (43); or wherein the heating plate (109, 111, 113) is covered by a boundary plate (115) which forms a boundary of the vacuum chamber (51) in the direction of the material web contact surface (43), wherein the vacuum channels (49) extend straight through the boundary plate (115).

14. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the heating plate (109, 111, 113) is connected to the heating plate (39) by a screw connection (117).

15. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating arrangement (33) comprises at least a first heating element (41) and a second heating element (41'), wherein the first heating element (41) is guided in a first coiled path (65) along a first heating surface (99) of the heating arrangement (33) aligned parallel to the material web contact surface (43) and wherein the second heating element (41') is guided in a second coiled path (65) along a second heating surface (99) of the heating arrangement (33) aligned parallel to the material web contact surface (43) and offset from the first heating surface (99).

16. Workstation (31) according to claim 15, wherein the first coiled web (65) differs from the second coiled web (67) and / or wherein the first heating element (41 , 41 41 ”) and the second heating element (41 , 41 41 ”) are not continuously superimposed in a superposition (119) considered perpendicular to the material web contact surface (43).

17. Workstation (31) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first coiled web (65) and the second coiled web (67) form a net (83) with several intersection nodes (121) in a superposition (119) considered perpendicular to the material web application surface (43), wherein the vacuum channels (49) extend through meshes (85) of the net (83).

18. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the second coiled track (67) is rotated relative to the first coiled track (65), in particular by 90 degrees with respect to an axis of rotation oriented perpendicular to the heating surfaces (99).

19. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first heating element (41) is formed on a first heating plate (109) and the second heating element (41') on a second heating plate (111), wherein the first heating plate (109) and the second heating plate (111) are arranged between the heating plate (39) and the vacuum chamber (51), wherein the vacuum channels (49) extend straight through the heating plates (109, 111).

20. Workstation (31) according to claim 19, wherein the first heating plate (109) and the second heating plate (111) are identical to each other and have identical guideways (123) for the heating elements (41 , 41 ') along which the heating elements (41 , 41 ') are guided in the respective coiled path (65, 67), wherein the heating plates (109, 111 ) are arranged rotated by 90 degrees relative to each other.

21. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the heating arrangement (33) has at least a third heating element (41”) which is guided in a third coiled track (69), wherein the third coiled track (69) differs from the second coiled track (67) and / or wherein the third coiled track (69) corresponds to the first coiled track (65) and / or the third coiled track (69) differs from the first coiled track (65) and from the second coiled track (67).

22. Workstation (31) according to claim 21 , wherein the second heating element (41') is arranged between the first heating element (41) and the third heating element (41”).

23. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element (41, 41', 41”) is surrounded by an electrical insulator (125) which electrically insulates a current-conducting section of the heating element (41, 41', 41”).

24. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vacuum chamber (51) is limited on one side facing away from the material web contact surface (43) by a housing (127) which has the vacuum connection (53).

25. Workstation (31) according to claim 24, wherein the housing (127) is bell-shaped and surrounds the heating arrangement (33) in a bell-shaped manner, wherein side walls (128) of the housing (127) extend to the material web contact surface (43) of the heating plate (39), and wherein a vacuum gap (129) is formed between the side walls (128) of the housing (127) and the heating arrangement (33), which communicates with the vacuum chamber (51), wherein the vacuum gap (129) is formed in particular surrounding the heating arrangement (33).

26. Workstation (31) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material web contact surface (43) is coated with a non-stick material, in particular Teflon.

27. Heating arrangement (33) for a workstation (31), in particular forming station (30), sealing station (32), preheating station or labeling station, of a packaging machine (11), in particular a thermoforming packaging machine, wherein the workstation (31) is designed to process a material web (27, 28) which can be provided by the packaging machine (11) in a material web plane (M) for processing; wherein the heating arrangement (33) comprises a heating plate (39) which has a material web contact surface (43) extending in or parallel to the material web plane (M) for contacting the material web (27, 28) during processing, and an electric heating element (41, 41', 41”) for heating the heating plate (39), wherein several vacuum openings (45) for suctioning the material web (27, 28) during processing are arranged on the material web contact surface (43), wherein each of the vacuum openings (45) is designed as an inlet (47) of a respective vacuum channel (49) which extends straight through the heating plate (39) perpendicular or inclined to the material web plane (M) and opens into a vacuum chamber (51) opposite the material web contact surface (43), wherein the heating arrangement (33) is particularly suitable as a heating arrangement (33) of a workstation (31) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

28. Workstation (31), in particular forming station (30), sealing station (32), preheating station or labeling station, for a packaging machine (11), in particular for a thermoforming packaging machine, which is intended to process a material web (27, 28) provided by the packaging machine (11) in a material web plane (M) for processing, and which comprises a heating arrangement (33) with a material web contact surface (43) extending in or parallel to the material web plane (M) for contacting the material web (27, 28) during processing and with an electric heating element (41) for heating the material web contact surface (43), wherein the heating arrangement (33) further comprises at least one vacuum plate (137) oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface (43), which has at least one vacuum channel (49) on an outer surface (149) oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface (43), which opens into a vacuum opening (45) formed on the material web contact surface (43) and leads opposite to the material web contact surface (43) into a vacuum chamber (51), wherein the vacuum chamber (51) has a vacuum port (53) for connecting a vacuum source (54).

29. Workstation (31) according to claim 28, wherein the at least one vacuum channel (49) is milled into the outer surface (149), wherein the at least one vacuum channel (49) is in particular perpendicular to the material web impact area (43) or is at least sectionally curved.

30. Workstation (31) according to claim 28 or 29, wherein several vacuum channels (49) are formed on the outer surface (149) of the vacuum plate (137) which open into a respective vacuum opening (45) on the material web contact surface (43).

31. Workstation (31 ) according to one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the material web contact surface (43) is formed by a heating plate (39) on which a hole (141) aligned with the at least one vacuum channel (49) is provided to form the vacuum opening (45).

32. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 28 to 31 , wherein the electrical heating element (41) is arranged on a heating plate (109) which is aligned parallel to the vacuum plate (137), or wherein the electrical heating element (41) is arranged on the vacuum plate (137), in particular on a side of the vacuum plate (137) facing away from the at least one vacuum channel (49).

33. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the electrical heating element (41) is designed as a wire (61) or a flat ribbon conductor (63), wherein the electrical heating element (41) is in particular arranged in a recess structure (97).

34. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the heating arrangement (33) has a layer structure (139) with several vacuum plates (137) which are aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the material web contact surface (43) and on which at least one respective vacuum channel (49), in particular several respective vacuum channels (49), is formed, in particular are 35. Workstation (31) according to claim 34, wherein the heating arrangement (33) is modular and the layer structure (139) can optionally be assembled comprising a selection of vacuum plates (137) and / or heating plates (109), wherein plates (109, 137, 143) of the layer structure (139) can in particular be screwed and / or clamped together.

36. Workstation (31) according to one of claims 28 to 35, wherein the electrical heating element (41) is arranged between two vacuum plates (137) and / or wherein several electrical heating elements (41) are provided, which are arranged on a respective heating plate (109) aligned parallel to the vacuum plates (137) or on a respective vacuum plate (137).

37. Heating arrangement (33) for a workstation (31), in particular forming station (30), sealing station (32), preheating station or labeling station, of a packaging machine (11), in particular a thermoforming packaging machine, wherein the workstation (31) is designed to process a material web (27, 28) which can be provided by the packaging machine (11) in a material web plane (M) for processing; wherein the heating arrangement (33) comprises a material web contact surface (43) extending in or parallel to the material web plane (M) for contacting the material web (27, 28) during processing and an electric heating element (41) for heating the material web contact surface (43), wherein the heating arrangement (33) further comprises at least one vacuum plate (137) oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface (43), which has at least one vacuum channel (49) on an outer surface (149) oriented perpendicular to the material web contact surface (43), which opens into a vacuum opening (45) formed on the material web contact surface (43) and leads opposite to the material web contact surface (43) into a vacuum chamber (51), wherein the heating arrangement (33) is in particular designed as a heating arrangement (33) of a workstation (31) according to one of claims 28 to 36.

38. Packaging machine (11), in particular thermoforming packaging machine and / or in particular packaging machine (11) for producing packaging for food products (13), comprising at least one workstation (31) according to one of claims 1 to 26 and / or at least one workstation (31) according to one of claims 28 to 36.

Images