Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B2210/00—Specific aspects of the packaging machine
  • B65B2210/06—Sterilising or cleaning machinery or conduits
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
  • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
  • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material

Definitions

• the invention relates to a packaging machine, in particular a roller or thermoforming machine, a tray sealing machine or the like according to the preamble of claim 1.
• Such packaging machines are often in the packaging of food in use and must therefore meet high hygienic requirements.
• such machines are regularly cleaned and disinfected to reliably prevent contamination of the packaged goods to be packaged by residues or germs from the packaging machine.
• the object of the invention in contrast, to propose a packaging machine in which the cleaning of the components to be cleaned is improved.
• This task is based on a packaging machine according to the preamble of claim 1 achieved in that a fluid supply unit is provided for cleaning the area of the packaging machine, which is formed below a transport plane for cup-shaped packaging containers and between side walls of the packaging machine.
• the transport plane is understood to mean the upper edge of the dish-shaped packaging containers passed through the packaging machine for packaging the packaged product to be packaged therewith.
• the shell-shaped packaging containers can be supplied as already prefabricated trays, so-called tray sealers, and passed through the packaging machine, or formed in a wrapping machine also passed through the packaging machine in the packaging machine by a forming station, e.g. by means of a film thermoforming process.
• the transport plane is thus at the same time that plane in which the film provided with the packaging troughs is transported through the packaging machine.
• lateral limitations of the packaging machine understood, such as corresponding sections of a housing of the packaging machine, which separate the thus described interior of the packaging machine from the outside environment, preferably at least predominantly fluid-tight. This cleaning of this interior of the packaging machine even under pressurization for the interior cleaning cleaning fluid without affecting the environment of the packaging machine is possible.
• Spray jets are used for detachment of possibly firmly adhering or trapped impurities, as is the case, for example, by drying on particularly strongly heated and / or at least temporarily acted upon with suction and / or clamping action components in which residues of the packaged goods to be packaged and / or Stick packaging material.
• a fluid supply unit according to a second embodiment of the invention, again starting from the preamble of claim 1, also achieves the object by the packaging machine comprising a fluid supply unit for providing a cleaning fluid.
• a configured packaging machine is capable of self-cleaning or at least partially cleaning components automatically during operation or during breaks in operation, e.g. to be cleaned in appropriate cleaning intervals.
• the fluid supply unit comprises a water connection to a water supply network.
• the fluid supply unit can produce a cleaning fluid based on water as needed, without a supply to the water supply is required.
• the rinsing of a cleaning and / or disinfecting agent is possible in this way.
• the fluid supply unit with a Connection provided for the inclusion of at least one liquid cleaner.
• liquid cleaners which are, for example, acidic and / or alkaline, can be obtained, for example, from a storage container or else from an internal supply network.
• the liquid cleaner can already be purchased in an operational form and / or as a concentrate for dilution.
• the fluid supply unit comprises a metering and / or mixing unit in order to meter and / or mix at least one cleaning fluid from at least one cleaner and the water available via the water connection.
• the fluid supply unit is additionally provided with a connection for at least one disinfectant, which in turn can be obtained from a storage container or from a supply network existing in-house.
• the fluid supply unit is not only able to provide one or more cleaning fluids of the desired quality, but also one or more disinfectants during or after cleaning.
• the disinfection can be carried out simultaneously with the fluid purification, for example by metered addition of disinfectant in a cleaning fluid through a corresponding metering unit of the fluid supply unit.
• a separate working step takes place, which serves exclusively for disinfection.
• the disinfectant or the disinfectant can be obtained via one or more ports of the fluid supply unit in ready state or by the fluid supply unit, for example by metering and / or admixture in Water, which is supplied to the fluid supply unit via the above-mentioned water connection, be provided by means of a metering and / or mixing unit.
• the fluid supply unit is provided with a magazine for at least one cleaner.
• a cleaner can be present, for example, in liquid or solid form.
• the cleaner can be provided as a concentrate and / or ready for operation.
• the magazine of the fluid supply unit can be designed as a refill magazine or as an exchange magazine.
• An exchange magazine offers advantages, especially in the handling of a cleaner, which has a certain chemical aggressiveness, since only a corresponding cleaning container without contact with the cleaner itself must be replaced.
• a solid cleaner can be used in different forms, for example in compressed form in metered units, such as detergent tablets, or else in powder form.
• the fluid supply unit is furthermore provided with a magazine for at least one disinfectant.
• a disinfectant may in turn be provided in liquid and / or solid form.
• the magazine for the disinfectant or can be formed as in the case of the cleaner either as a refill and / or as an exchange magazine.
• a disinfectant can be provided as a concentrate or as an operational disinfectant in the magazine.
• the fluid supply unit is further provided with a compressed gas connection, for example a compressed air connection.
• a compressed gas connection for example a compressed air connection.
• spray nozzles are provided in the region of the components to be cleaned.
• the cleaning fluid and / or the disinfecting fluid can be automatically applied to the machine components to be cleaned.
• the fluid unit is provided with one or more pumps in order to convey the cleaning fluid and / or the disinfecting fluid at the required pressure to the spray nozzles in the area of the machine components to be cleaned.
• the entire packaging machine with all assemblies in particular the forming station, the sealing station or the cutting station can be cleaned according to the invention.
• the lifting units or the tools of the forming, sealing and cutting station according to the invention can also be subjected to automatic cleaning.
• said spray nozzles are arranged at the required locations.
• the invention is particularly advantageous in the cleaning of transport chains, in particular transport chains for the film transport of a packaging machine.
• corresponding spray nozzles are advantageously arranged in the region of such a transport chain for a film transport.
• the aforementioned types of packaging machines usually have a transport chain, which is equipped with clamping units for the detection and transport of a film for packaging to be sealed. Because a chain Naturally equipped with many joints, such a chain of hygiene reasons must be cleaned and disinfected particularly regularly and particularly reliable in order to meet the high hygiene requirements in the field of food packaging.
• the cleaning of the transport chain is particularly well possible with machine-side cleaning components provided according to the invention, since the spray nozzles for wetting the chain with cleaning fluid and / or disinfecting fluid can be arranged so that the chain is wetted completely and with a good contact time.
• the spray nozzles are arranged for example in the region of the lower run and / or the deflection of the lower run. In this area, a cleaning of the transport chain is basically possible, which can then get clean and dry to the upper strand.
• the cleaning is carried out at certain cleaning intervals, during which the packaging machine is not used for packaging of packaged goods.
• the number and duration of such cleaning intervals can be specified by the operator or else determined by the nature of the packaged goods or by the degree of contamination, with sensors also being present in developments of the invention in order to indicate a required cleaning.
• the cleaning fluid spray nozzles can be arranged in the entire machine area and thus the entire machine including the machine frame and the forming, sealing and cutting station can be cleaned with the associated lifting units and tools.
• the Chain cleaning is preferably provided in such a case, an arrangement of the spray nozzles in the chain guide, so that not only the chain itself, but also their guide elements of an automatic cleaning and / or disinfection can be subjected.
• packaging machines as stated above in particular in the area of the machine frame, can also have cavities or other areas which are difficult to access from the outside by a cleaning staff, it is recommended in the case of an inventive system
• Packaging machine to arrange the spray nozzles especially in such areas of the machine, for example in hollow sections or the like to ensure fast and adequate wetting with cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid, especially in such machine areas.
• inventive spray nozzles advantageously at least partially a perforated tube is used.
• a perforated tube is used.
• the cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid nozzles are provided with different beam directions to the components to be cleaned. Different jet directions are to ensure that complete wetting of the machine components to be cleaned takes place and thus the cleaning result is improved.
• a control unit for controlling at least one cleaning and / or disinfection programmer provided.
• a machine controller can be designed as an independent, so-called “stand alone” controller, which is provided with an interface for machine control of the packaging machine or other input and / or display elements
• a packaging machine designed in this way is capable of automatically cleaning and / or disinfecting the machine or machine components to be cleaned depending on the program specification.
• a control unit as indicated above can also be provided with an external interface to allow a data exchange.
• a data exchange is advantageous, for example, for loading and / or changing cleaning and / or disinfection programs.
• the control unit of a packaging machine can be coordinated with other controls, for example, by other packaging machines or other machinery and equipment components in the product line, for example, to trigger a simultaneous automatic cleaning at standstill of a product line.
• Such a cleaning program can include different spraying times, waiting times and drying times. Furthermore, hand cleaning intervals, for example via pause circuits or the like can be integrated into such cleaning programs. Also a guide of cleaning persons with acoustic or visual indications or displays can be provided.
• a data storage is also provided for the documentation of performed cleaning operations.
• a data memory can be accommodated, for example, in the area of the control for one or more cleaning programs.
• the documentation of cleaning processes can contain detailed information, for example about the cleaning agents and / or disinfectants used, about time intervals and also information about the success of cleaning processes.
• corresponding sensors for example optical sensors, cameras or the like can be attached, whose measured data, for example in the form of images, can also be stored for documentation.
• Such documentation can be used for different purposes in retrospect advantageous, for example, for troubleshooting, especially in the contamination of packaged goods or the like. With the help of such documentation, it can be proven, for example, that any contamination of packaged goods has not been entered via the packaging machine.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a packaging machine according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a detail of a
• Fig. 3 is a perspective
• Fig. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of an interior of a packaging machine.
• the packaging machine 1 is a so-called roller or thermoforming machine, which forms from a withdrawn from a supply roll 2 film in a forming station 3 Packungsmulden 4.
• the packing troughs 4 are filled and subsequently sealed in a sealing station 5 with the aid of a cover film 7 drawn off from a further supply roll 6.
• a cutting station 8 the individual packages are cut out of the overall composite and then transferred to a discharge belt 9 for discharge from the packaging machine.
• a fluid supply unit 16 comprises a compressed air connection 17, a water connection 18 and a connection 19 for the supply of disinfectant and a connection 20 for the supply of a cleaner.
• Disinfection reservoir 21 and a cleaner container 22 are connected via connecting lines and the terminals 19, 20 with the fluid unit 16 in connection.
• a metering and / or mixing unit 51 it is possible to process the cleaning fluid supplied to the packaging device such that any desired concentration and / or mixture of one or more cleaning fluids are processed and made available via corresponding connecting lines and outlets in the area desired for cleaning can.
• a simple spraying of the relevant device areas with water for coarse cleaning can take place, optionally followed by a cleaning mixture for a so-called soaking process, a subsequent cleaning process by means of e.g. undiluted cleaning fluid applied and a final rinsing and / or drying process by supplying water and / or air.
• the fluid supply unit 16 further comprises an output line 23, which is connected to a spray unit 24 in the region of the lower deflection roller 14 of the transport chain. Furthermore, from the fluid supply unit 16 from an output line 25, which is inserted into a hollow longitudinal spar 26 of the packaging machine 1.
• the output line 25 branches in the longitudinal spar 26 in two spray lines 27, 28 (see Fig. 2) in the form of a perforated tube.
• the spray line 27 is disposed between the upper run 29 and the lower run 30 of the conveyor chain 11 and thus also at the level of the associated chain guides 31, 32, 33, 34.
• the spray line 27 is provided with upwardly directed spray nozzles 35 and with downwardly directed spray nozzles 36, from which a cleaning and / or rinsing liquid and / or a disinfectant can be sprayed out.
• the spray jets are fan-shaped, represented for example by the spray jet 37.
• the longitudinal beam 26 comprises a hollow profile 38, in which the spray line 28 is arranged.
• the spray line 28 also includes spray nozzles 39, from which spray jets 40 emerge.
• a cleaning of the corresponding machine components can be effected via the spray line 27, 28 or spray nozzle 35, 36, 39.
• the transport chain 11 can be completely wetted, cleaned and / or rinsed off both in the region of the upper run 29 and in the region of the lower run 30 together with the chain guide 31, 32, 33, 34.
• the interior of the otherwise difficult to access hollow profile 38 is wettable with a corresponding fluid and thus to clean, rinse, disinfect, and so on.
• FIG. 3 shows the spray unit 24, which comprises a collecting trough 41 with drain 42 and three spray nozzles 43, 44, 45.
• the spray nozzles 43, 44, 45 are directed to the conveyor chain 11, which rotates about the lower guide roller 14.
• the cleaning is carried out in particular in the area shown in Figure 2 during breaks in operation of the packaging machine 1, in which no packages are produced, filled, sealed and cut, so that no contact of the sprayed cleaning agent can take place with the packs.
• FIG. 1 a further output line 47, and branch 48, 49, 50 is shown with dashed lines.
• the branches 48, 49, 50 lead to the forming station 3, the sealing station 5 and the cutting station 8. This illustrates that these machine components and housed therein units such as lifting units, tools or the like as well as not shown manner, the machine frame or the entire packaging machine 1 according to the invention an automatic cleaning by the fluid supply unit 16 is accessible.
• the fluid supply unit 16 is able to select a cleaning fluid as desired, or to mix and supply via the output lines 23, 25 to the respective spray nozzles 35, 36, 39.
• the fluid supply unit 16 via a schematically illustrated control unit 46, which does not necessarily have to be physically connected to the fluid supply unit 16, but can also be accommodated in the machine control or in another location, capable of optionally different cleaning, disinfection and Rinse off program steps.
• the fluid supply unit 16 is equipped, for example, with one or more fluid pumps, a mixing unit and / or a metering unit with corresponding control valves.
• a cleaning fluid is either ready for operation from the detergent tank serving as a cleaner magazine 22 or can be obtained as a concentrate from this reservoir 22 and mixed with water from the water pipe 17 to a ready-cleaning liquid.
• Disinfectant that is obtained from serving as a disinfection magazine reservoir 21 may also be ready for use from the container 21 or as an additive for the cleaning liquid or for a disinfecting liquid, which is mixed with disinfectant and water used.
• cleaning liquid or possibly also of disinfecting liquid is possible via the water connection 18, but it is also possible to carry out a pure rinse to rinse off previously sprayed cleaners or disinfectants from the machine components to be cleaned.
• the compressed air connection 17 can also be used to blow off any solids from the machine components to be cleaned before cleaning with a cleaning fluid.
• the compressed air can be passed over the same lines and nozzles as the aforementioned fluids.
• FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of the area 55 of the packaging machine 1, which passes through the Fluid supply unit to be cleaned and below a transport plane 52 for cup-shaped
• Packaging containers here exemplified by the packing troughs 4, and lateral boundaries of the packaging machine 1, shown here by the two side walls 53 and 54, is formed.
• This area 55 thus represents the essential interior of the packaging machine 1, which, depending on the embodiment, can be equipped with different workstations 3, 5, 8.
• a thermoforming packaging machine for example, all three workstations, forming station 3, sealing station 5 and cutting station 8 may be provided.
• only one sealing station 5 and possibly a subsequent cutting station 8 could be provided for separating and / or trimming contiguous packages.
• the packaging machine it would also be possible for the packaging machine to have all the workstations 3, 5, 8 shown by way of example in FIG. 4 and additionally a feed for tray sealers is provided so that both already prefabricated, cup-shaped packagings with such a packaging machine can be processed, as well as molded for the particular application of a film 10 shown here in turn, sealed after filling with packaged and then cut in the cutting station 8 can be cut.
• the transport of the cup-shaped packaging containers 4 or the film 10 through the packaging machine 1 takes place along the transport direction according to the arrow 56.
• FIG. 4 For the sake of clarity, only a few symbolic and representative representations of some elements are shown, such as, for example, FIG Control unit 46, the metering and / or mixing unit 51 and representative of the various supply lines and connections, the terminals 23, 25 and 47 as a single connection between the fluid supply unit 16 and to be supplied by them with detergent area 55 below the transport plane 52 and the Side walls 53 and 54 of the packaging machine 1.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Package Closures (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=38327128

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

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• 2007
  • 2007-05-04 US US12/227,015 patent/US8728249B2/en active Active
  • 2007-05-04 DE DE102007021397A patent/DE102007021397A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-05-04 WO PCT/DE2007/000809 patent/WO2007128282A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2007-05-04 AT AT07722360T patent/ATE515442T1/de active
  • 2007-05-04 WO PCT/DE2007/000804 patent/WO2007128281A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2007-05-04 US US12/227,023 patent/US8046979B2/en active Active
  • 2007-05-04 EP EP07722360.0A patent/EP2015996B2/fr active Active
  • 2007-05-04 ES ES07722360T patent/ES2366214T5/es active Active
  • 2007-05-04 JP JP2009508117A patent/JP2009536133A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-05-04 EP EP07764323A patent/EP2024236B1/fr active Active
  • 2007-05-04 ES ES07764323T patent/ES2384035T3/es active Active

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