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
  • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
  • B65B41/18—Registering sheets, blanks, or webs
• • 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
  • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
  • B65B41/12—Feeding webs from rolls
• • 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
  • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
  • B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
  • B65B57/04—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages
• • 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 present invention relates to a method for controlling the position of a bottom and/or top web on a packaging machine, wherein the bottom web is unwound from a supply roll and transported intermittently or continuously along the packaging machine, optionally forming packaging recesses into the bottom web in a forming station and then covering the bottom web, preferably the packaging recesses, with a packaging item being placed on it, and subsequently sealing a top web to the bottom web in a sealing station, wherein the bottom and top webs are each unwound from a supply roll.
• the substrate web is typically transported along the packaging machine by two endless chains or toothed belts, each equipped with holders that grip the lateral edge of the substrate web.
• substrate webs have tolerances in their width and that they run approximately perpendicular to the transport direction, i.e., not parallel to it. In extreme cases, this can lead to the holders on the transport chains failing to grip the substrate web, or not gripping it sufficiently, resulting in a production stoppage.
• the object of the present invention was therefore to provide a method that does not have the disadvantage of the prior art.
• the problem is solved by a method for controlling the position of a bottom and/or top web on a packaging machine, wherein the bottom web is unwound from a supply roll and transported intermittently or continuously along the packaging machine, optionally forming packaging recesses into the bottom web in a forming station and then filling the bottom web, preferably the packaging recesses, with a packaging item, wherein a top web is subsequently joined to the bottom web in a sealing station, wherein the bottom and top webs are each unwound from a supply roll, wherein the position of a reference point on the bottom and/or top web relative to a, preferably stationary, component of the packaging machine is detected and, based on this detection, the position of the bottom and/or top web is optionally changed transversely to its transport direction.
• the present invention relates to a method carried out on a packaging machine in which a substrate web, in particular a plastic web, preferably having a width between 200 mm and 1 m or more, is unwound from a supply roll and preferably transported intermittently/in cycles along the packaging machine in a transport direction.
• a substrate web in particular a plastic web, preferably having a width between 200 mm and 1 m or more
• this substrate web is first heated, and packaging recesses are formed into the substrate web by means of a thermoforming tool.
• several packaging recesses, arranged in a so-called format are formed simultaneously and subsequently transported along the packaging machine simultaneously.
• the substrate web preferably each packaging recess
• a product preferably a format of products, in particular a foodstuff such as sausage, ham, or cheese
• a surface web in a sealing station, the surface web typically being sealed to the substrate web.
• the product can also be filled/placed into an unformed substrate web.
• the completed packaging is then separated.
• the top web is also unwound from a supply reel. Downstream of at least one supply reel, a dancer roller can be located in the direction of travel of the respective web, maintaining a largely constant tension.
• the web can be, for example, a paper, cardboard, and/or plastic film.
• the web can consist of several layers.
• the bottom and top webs typically differ in their structure. Each web can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. Each web can be printed.
• the bottom and/or top webs can be thermoformed.
• the packaging produced using the inventive method may include an interlayer.
• the entire disclosure given for the top and bottom films and the control of their position transverse to the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine and/or transverse to the position of the bottom and/or top web also applies to the interlayer web.
• At least one web of material has one or more reference points with which the transverse position of the respective web of material, i.e., perpendicular and/or horizontal to its transport direction and relative to a, preferably stationary, component of the packaging machine, can be detected.
• the reference points can be used to determine if the warp thread is aligned or if the transport direction is parallel, but, for example, the supply roll of the web shows a lateral offset from the reference point.
• the reference points can be used to determine whether the nominal width of the web is changing. Webs, especially low-quality webs, exhibit deviations from parallelism relative to the transport direction. This deviation can also be determined using the reference point(s).
• a possible reference point is, for example, at least one of the two edges of the web.
• preferred reference points are printed marks, preferably applied to the web at regular intervals.
• a print, such as a logo, on the web can serve as a reference point.
• a reference point according to the invention can have any shape and size.
• the reference points are repeated at, in particular, regular intervals.
• the position of the web is changed, particularly upstream of the reference point's detection location, perpendicular to the web's transport direction, if the determined reference point's position is outside a specified area.
• This change in the web's transverse position, relative to the web's transport direction preferably occurs upstream of the location where the reference point's position is determined.
• the supply roll is displaced along its axis of rotation. This can be achieved by providing the axis of rotation itself to be axially movable and/or by displacing the supply roll relative to the axis of rotation on which it is mounted. Normally, the axis of rotation is arranged horizontally and at a 90° angle to the transport direction of the web. However, to change the position of the web, the supply roll can be rotatably arranged about at least one axis, for example, a vertical and/or horizontal axis.
• the web of goods can, downstream of the supply reel, at least partially encircle one, preferably several, reels.
• These reel(s) are preferably located between the supply reel and the capture point of the Reference point.
• these roller(s) are designed to rotate around an axis, in particular a vertical one.
• the reference point is detected by a sensor.
• the sensor is an optical or ultrasonic sensor, or a touch sensor, which is preferably stationary, particularly with regard to its orientation transverse to the transport direction of the web.
• the sensor can, for example, be a sensor that emits waves towards the surface of the web, which are at least partially reflected by the web.
• the wave reflected by the web has a wavelength different from that of the emitted wave, and the degree of wavelength change is a measure of the change in the web's position (Doppler effect).
• the sensor preferably detects deviations of the reference point in two directions, for example, to the right and to the left transverse to the transport direction of the web.
• Its precise position transverse to the transport direction can preferably be entered into a control system.
• its distance to a reference point on the packaging machine for example, its central axis in the longitudinal direction, the frame of the packaging machine, and/or the position of one or both chain strands, can be entered.
• the sensor can also be calibrated to a specific position of the reference point and then detects deviations from this position in two directions, without its exact position having been specified.
• the sensor detects the reference point(s) after the respective web of material has been unwound.
• the sensor is located immediately adjacent to the film roll, particularly when it has reached its maximum diameter.
• the sensor is located in the entry area of the chain run, i.e., where the chain grippers clamp the edge of the web.
• the sensor is located between the supply roll and the entry area of the chain run.
• a combination of at least two sensors is preferably arranged at different positions between the supply roll and the entry area of the chain run, for example, to detect positional deviations at different locations and, for example, to identify trends in the course and/or effects of changes in position and subsequently correct the changes in position.
• a sensor is preferably provided upstream of the sealing station, preferably directly upstream of the sealing station, to detect the position of the top web relative to the position of the bottom web, so that the control system can intervene in the event of significant deviations, for example to align a printed image and/or a deep-drawn shape on the top web with the position of the packaged goods and/or the packaging recesses on/in to align the underlayer web in the transverse direction.
• the expert understands that the position of the surface web can also be recorded with more than one sensor, and possibly trends in its behavior.
• the sensor signal is transmitted to a control system, which evaluates the signal and, if necessary, changes the position of the lower and/or upper web perpendicular to its transport direction.
• the web edge one, in particular several print mark(s) and/or one, in particular several print image(s), in particular the edge of a print image and/or the surface of the web is used as a reference point.
• control system detects the distance between the reference point and the center of the packaging machine, the frame of the packaging machine, and/or the chain run. These values can then be used to control the position of the web of material perpendicular to its transport direction.
• the senor is height- and/or length-adjustable. This allows, for example, the decreasing diameter of the supply roll to be taken into account, especially if the sensor is located in the area of the supply roll.
• the inventive method is used to correct the course of the material web.
• the inventive method can preferably compensate for deviations in the nominal width of the web.
• deviations in the parallelism of the web relative to its transport direction can be compensated.
• the edges of the web are often not straight, but curved.
• the method according to the invention is also suitable for compensating for inhomogeneities in the web.
• inhomogeneities for example in the thickness and/or composition of the web, lead to web spreading, which can be compensated for with the method according to the invention.
• the lateral orientation of the web roll can also be detected and corrected if necessary. This function is particularly useful when changing rolls.
• the sensor detects the position, for example, one of the first reference points. Then, the lateral orientation of the The web roll is adjusted as needed. For example, the target position of the web roll and/or its actual position relative to a tolerance window is displayed, preferably after the web roll has been roughly positioned on its axis of rotation and the beginning of the web has been brought into its takeover position, for example by attaching it to the end of the previous web, and the new web has been placed under minimum longitudinal tension.
• the actual position of the web roll has been recorded, after which the position of the web roll is adjusted, preferably until the displayed target position is at least approximately reached or the actual position is sufficiently accurate within the tolerance window.
• the target position and/or actual position can be displayed, for example, by means of an optical display on or near the axis of rotation of the web roll and/or on the control panel and/or on a display.
• the axis of rotation is first brought into a position, preferably centered with respect to the adjustment paths of the actuators, based on the target position of the web roll, such that the usually limited adjustment paths of the actuators allow axial adjustment of the axis of rotation or the supply roll relative to the axis of rotation without exceeding the limits of the adjustment paths.
• a trend analysis is performed using the data acquired by the sensor.
• This analysis preferably determines whether there is a preferred direction in the trend. Based on this analysis, modifications to the packaging machine can then be made, for example.
• the analysis can also be used to investigate whether the trend is batch-dependent and, if so, to determine, in consultation with the respective manufacturer, what causes the trend and how this error can be corrected.
• a trend can be caused, for example, by inconsistent web thickness and/or uneven stretching of the web.
• the trend analysis can also indicate fluctuations in web width and/or that the web edges are not parallel to their transport direction, but rather curved, particularly sinusoidal or cosine-shaped.
• error messages are recorded and analyzed per unit of time.
• This analysis can be used to prevent errors and/or improve the quality of the web.
• the tolerance in the web can be reduced and/or its parallelism to the direction of transport improved.
• a sensor is positioned at both edges of the web. This allows, for example, the width of the web to be checked, particularly during unwinding, and repeatedly.
• the two sensors can also detect any lack of parallelism to the web's direction of travel. If possible, this defect is then corrected.
• Figure 1 shows the packaging machine 1 according to the invention, which here comprises a thermoforming station 2, a filling station 7, and a sealing station 15.
• a substrate web 8, here a plastic substrate web 8 is unwound from a supply roll 22 and transported intermittently along the packaging machine from right to left in its transport direction 40. With each cycle, the substrate web 8 is advanced by one format length/feed length.
• the packaging machine has two transport means 24 (in Figure 1 (not shown), in the present case two endless chains, two chain runs, each arranged to the right and left of the underlayer web 8. At least one gear is provided for each chain at both the beginning and the end of the packaging machine. provided around which the respective chain is deflected. At least one of these gears is driven.
• Each conveying means has a plurality of clamping means 42 (see Figure 3 ) which clamps the underlayer web 8 in the infeed area 19 and transfers the movement of the transport means to the underlayer web 8.
• clamping connection between the transport means and the underlayer web 8 is released again.
• a heating element 13 may be provided, which heats the web 8, particularly when it is stationary.
• the optional deep-drawing station 2 which has an upper die 3 and a lower die 4 having the shape of the packaging tray to be produced, the packaging trays 6 are formed in the optionally heated web 8.
• the lower die 4 is arranged on a lifting table 5, which, as symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable. Before each web feed, the lower die 4 is lowered and then raised again. In the next stage of the packaging machine, the packaging trays or a flat underlayer web are filled/loaded with the product 16 in the filling station 7. In the subsequent sealing station 15, which also consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 11, an overlayer web 14 is bonded to the underlayer web 8 by sealing. This transfers the movement of the underlayer web 8 to the overlayer web 14. In the sealing station, the upper tool and/or the lower tool are lowered and/or raised before and after each web transport.
• the top film 14 can also be guided in transport devices or transported by conveyor chains, whereby these transport devices then only extend in front of the sealing station and, if necessary, downstream. Otherwise, the descriptions given for the transport devices of the underlayer film apply.
• the top film can also be heated with a heating medium and deep-drawn.
• a heated sealing frame for example, is provided as the lower tool 11. This frame has an opening for each packaging cavity into which the packaging cavity is immersed during sealing, i.e., during the upward movement of the lower sealing tool.
• the upper and lower webs are pressed together between the upper and lower tools 12, 11 and bond under the influence of heat and pressure. After sealing, the tools 11, 12 are moved apart vertically again.
• a dancer 20, here a rotary dancer, can be provided between the supply roll 21 and the sealing tool to maintain the web 14 at a constant tension.
• a dancer is provided along each top film.
• a dancer may also preferably be provided in the area of the bottom film, preferably downstream of the supply roll 22.
• the dancer is a linear dancer.
• holes are made in the bottom film in the area of the transport chains in the area of each format, through which the air between the webs 8, 14 is extracted and the exchange gas is then blown in.
• the finished packages are separated, which in this case is done with the cross cutter 18 and the longitudinal cutter 17.
• the cross cutter 18 can also be raised or lowered by a lifting device 9.
• At least one supply roll 21, 22 is driven by a motor, in particular a torque motor, such that the required feed length of the respective web is unwound from the roll without the tensile force of the two transport means, the transport chains, and/or the tensile force of the underlayer web being significantly transferred to the overlayer web.
• a motor in particular a torque motor
• the inventive method can also be used to process comparatively thin webs of material and/or webs of material with low quality, particularly with regard to homogeneity in terms of shape and/or composition.
• the rotation of the motor driving the supply roll 21, 22 is controlled/regulated by a computer system, which may be part of the packaging machine or part of a line control system.
• the rotational speed of the supply roll is controlled such that the unwound web length corresponds to the feed rate and/or that the speed profiles of the web unwinding and/or the feed rate of the transport means, especially the transport chains, are at least substantially identical.
• the current diameter or weight of the supply roll is taken into account in this process.
• the dancer is equipped with a motion sensor, for example a rotary encoder or a linear encoder, which can be used to determine which stored The length of the fabric web corresponds to the movement of the dancer. This information can be used, for example, to determine the diameter of the supply roll.
• a motion sensor for example a rotary encoder or a linear encoder
• a dancer is provided in the area of the underside and the topside web.
• the supply reel of the underside and/or the topside web is driven by a motor such that the unwinding of the respective web is carried out by a motor drive in such a way that the respective web is only minimally tensioned.
• Figures 2 and 3 show a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, wherein in Figure 3 a detail from Figure 2
• a web of material 8, 14 is unwound from a reel 20, 22 and transported in a transport direction 40.
• the web of material may deviate 46 perpendicular to its transport direction 40, which is compensated for by the method according to the invention.
• the packaging machine has a sensor 39, which is preferably stationary and mounted on the machine frame, and which detects the position of one or more reference points. Based on this measurement, a control system can determine whether the web of material is deviating and/or whether the reference point is located within an acceptable range relative to a component of the packaging machine.
• the reference point is, for example, the web edge 38, a print mark, or a printed image.
• the distance 43 between the reference mark and the central axis 41 of the packaging machine is determined, and/or the distance 44 between the reference mark, here the edge of the web, and the chain run and/or its gripper 42 is determined.
• the distance of the reference mark to the machine frame 28 can also be determined.
• a control system Based on the signal from this sensor 39, a control system corrects the position of the film web 8, 14 perpendicular to its transport direction. This can be done, for example, using a device that, based on Figure 4 is described in more detail. Preferably, the correction takes place upstream of sensor 39.
• FIG 4 shows another embodiment of the packaging machine, essentially based on the designs according to Figure 1 Reference can be made to the following.
• the supply roll 21, 22 is mounted on a shaft 23, preferably non-rotatably and/or axially non-displaceably.
• the shaft 23 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow 40 as the under and/or over web 8, 14 unwinds.
• the shaft 23 is preferably rotatably and optionally also longitudinally displaceably mounted at both ends by means of a bearing 31.
• a bearing 31 can, for example, be mounted on the Housings for web unwinding or packaging machines are provided. For longitudinal displacement, the bearings 31 can be designed as sliding bearings.
• the shaft 23 is preferably driven by a motor 25.
• a coupling 26, for example a sliding coupling or a gearbox, preferably a sliding gearbox, can be provided between the motor 25 and the shaft 23.
• the shaft 23 alone and/or the frame 29 on which the shaft 23 of the web unwinding machine is mounted is provided to be longitudinally displaceable, as symbolized by the arrow 37, and/or transverse to the transport direction 40 of the web.
• the frame 29 on which the shaft 23 and the motor 25 are provided is provided to be longitudinally displaceable, for example along a guide 32.
• the movement 37 is effected, for example, by an adjustment drive 35, which moves at least the shaft 23 along its central axis, but preferably also the frame 29.
• the person skilled in the art understands that the drive motor 25 can also move during the longitudinal displacement, but this is not necessary.
• the bearing 32-34 is preferably arranged on a base frame 28, which is particularly stationary.
• the packaging machine has a sensor 39, which is preferably a web edge detection device.
• This web edge detection device 39 detects the position of the web edge, for example, relative to the frame of the packaging machine or another preferably stationary location. If the web edge is located beyond a desired limit, the adjustment drive 35 is preferably activated, which then moves the shaft 23 or the frame 29 in the direction symbolized by the arrows 37 until the web is again within the desired limit.
• the sensor signal can also be used to correct the axial position of the roller on the shaft 23.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
• Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
• Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Related Parent Applications (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=66752046

Family Applications (3)

Family Applications Before (1)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (52)

• 2019
  • 2019-05-20 EP EP25164393.8A patent/EP4566954A3/fr active Pending
  • 2019-05-20 EP EP25205837.5A patent/EP4650284A2/fr active Pending
  • 2019-05-20 CN CN201980033516.7A patent/CN112236366A/zh active Pending
  • 2019-05-20 EP EP19728328.6A patent/EP3793907B1/fr not_active Revoked
  • 2019-05-20 US US17/056,078 patent/US11767138B2/en active Active
  • 2019-05-20 WO PCT/EP2019/062938 patent/WO2019219967A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2019-05-20 ES ES19728328T patent/ES3032741T3/es active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-08-08 US US18/231,292 patent/US12600512B2/en active Active

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