U.S. patent application number 12/888578 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-31 for bag forming, filling and sealing machine for preparing and filling tube-like bags.
Invention is credited to Rainer Haus, Michael Ponkratz.
Application Number | 20110072766 12/888578 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43302651 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110072766 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haus; Rainer ; et
al. |
March 31, 2011 |
BAG FORMING, FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE FOR PREPARING AND FILLING
TUBE-LIKE BAGS
Abstract
A bag forming, filling and sealing machine is provided with a
pull-off device for the packaging material, with a forming tube for
forming and filling tube-like bags, with a longitudinal sealing
device and with a cross sealing device, wherein the longitudinal
sealing device is designed as an ultrasonic longitudinal sealing
device integrated into the forming tube in order to seal the first
and second longitudinal edges of the packaging material with one
another into an overlapping sealing seam. Provisions are made for
reliably guiding the mutually overlapping edges of a film forming
the tube for the ultrasonic longitudinal sealing device to have a
spring-loaded guide plate for guiding at least one edge of the
packaging material.
Inventors: |
Haus; Rainer;
(Biebertal-Fellingshausen, DE) ; Ponkratz; Michael;
(Wetzlar, DE) |
Family ID: |
43302651 |
Appl. No.: |
12/888578 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/562 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 51/225 20130101;
B29C 66/723 20130101; B29C 66/849 20130101; B29C 66/8167 20130101;
B65B 9/213 20130101; B29C 66/836 20130101; B29C 65/08 20130101;
B29L 2009/00 20130101; B29C 66/7352 20130101; B29C 66/80 20130101;
B29C 66/1122 20130101; B29C 66/8161 20130101; B65B 51/32 20130101;
B29C 53/50 20130101; B29C 65/7832 20130101; B29C 66/49 20130101;
B29C 66/4322 20130101; B29C 66/73921 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/562 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/00 20060101
B65B043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 25, 2009 |
DE |
20 2009 012907.1 |
Claims
1. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine comprising: a
pull-off means for pulling off packaging material; a forming tube
for forming and filling tube-like bags; a longitudinal sealing
means comprising an ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means
integrated into the forming tube in order to seal first and second
longitudinal edges of the packaging material with one another into
an overlapping sealing seam, the ultrasonic longitudinal sealing
means including a spring-loaded guide plate for guiding at least
one edge of the packaging material; and a cross sealing means.
2. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 1, wherein the spring-loaded guide plate presses the two
longitudinal edges of the tube to be formed, which said edges are
to be connected with one another directly above a sonotrode of the
ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means, against an opposing part of
a sonotrode anvil, said opposing part being located opposite said
sonotrode, for a reliable welding of the two longitudinal edges and
by the sonotrode.
3. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means includes
an anvil and a sonotrode.
4. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means is held
at a strap at the forming tube.
5. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 3, wherein the forming tube has an elongated, rectangular
opening, in which the anvil is integrated.
6. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 3, wherein the anvil has at least two vertical guide sections
in the form of guide slots, through which the edges of the
packaging material are led.
7. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 6, wherein a first, inner guide slot of the anvil is provided
with a slot between the sonotrode and an opposing part of the anvil
relative to the sonotrode, flush with the outer edge of the forming
tube, for guiding a first edge of the packaging material.
8. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 7, wherein the spring-loaded guide plate guides the second
edge of the film from a second guide slot into the plane of the
first guide slot onto the first edge.
9. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 7, wherein a second, outer guide slot of the anvil has a
bulge arching into the guide slot for guiding a second edge of the
packaging material.
10. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 1, wherein the spring-loaded guide plate is made of an
elongated, rectangular plate, wherein a lower third is bent into a
loop.
11. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 3, wherein the forming tube has a circular guide sleeve for
guiding the packaging material below the strap and above the
ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means.
12. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 11, wherein the guide sleeve extends directly below the strap
surrounding the forming tube downwardly up to at least the area of
the sonotrode.
13. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 3, wherein the spring-loaded guide plate extends from an
opening of the guide sleeve up to a point in front of the
sonotrode.
14. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 3, wherein the forming tube has an inner cover which covers
the anvil.
15. A bag forming, filling and sealing machine in accordance with
claim 15, wherein the inner cover has an essentially tubular
design, and one side has a bulge arching rectangularly inwardly for
protecting the anvil.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German Utility Model Application DE 20 2009
012907.1 filed Sep. 25, 20009, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a bag forming, filling and
sealing machine with a pull-off means for the packaging material,
with a forming tube for forming and filling tube-like bags, with a
longitudinal sealing means and with a cross sealing means, wherein
the longitudinal sealing means is designed as an ultrasonic
longitudinal sealing means integrated in the forming tube in order
to seal first and second longitudinal edges of the packaging
material into an overlapping sealing seam.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Such bag forming, filling and sealing machines are used to
produce and fill tube-like bags, which are used to package
products, especially to package foods. Tube-like bags as a
packaging have variable possibilities of use from economic and
ecological points of view as well, because economical use of
packaging material is guaranteed.
[0004] Various embodiments of bag forming, filling and sealing
machines are known from the state of the art. Bag forming, filling
and sealing machines are used, in general, to form a bag, which can
then be filled with contents, preferably food, e.g., grated cheese
or salad, especially with the use of a plastic film that can be
sealed by introducing heat. To do so, a film is pulled off from
rolls during the manufacture of such tube-like bags, led over a
forming shoulder around a forming tube and transformed into a tube
with overlapping longitudinal edges. The tube thus formed encloses
a filling tube adapted to its shape. The overlapping edges are
connected into a longitudinal seam by means of an ultrasonic
sealing means and the tube is thus closed on the long side, as this
is known from DE 10 2006 041 966 B3. An anvil is integrated in the
filling tube in this document, and the anvil has guide sections, in
which the longitudinal edges of the film, which are to be welded to
one another, are guided. The guide sections are designed as grooves
and are prepared in the anvil such that they overlap. The
longitudinal edges of the film are thus guided in front of the
welding site within the anvil such that they are sealed at the
welding site such that they overlap each other.
[0005] A bottom seam is subsequently prepared with a first cross
sealing means in such bag forming, filling and sealing machines.
When the tube-like bag is filled via the filling tube, the
tube-like bag is closed by a top seam prepared with a second cross
sealing means.
[0006] The drawback of such bag forming, filling and sealing
machines is that special films, especially with a predetermined
thickness, which may consist of a plurality of layers, are also
necessary for a sealed packing, and adaptation of the sealing means
and of the introduction of heat must also be performed in case of
different films or pieces. Depending on the nature of the films,
these may, however, crease or wrinkle in the guide sections or fail
to run in parallel already in front of the sealing means, so that
overlapping guiding of the edges of the film is no longer
guaranteed. The consequence of this is unsealed longitudinal seams.
In particular, the prior-art ultrasonic sealing means is unable to
produce sealed longitudinal seams as a result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a bag forming, filling and sealing machine, which has especially a
better longitudinal sealing and achieves reliable sealing at high
throughput.
[0008] This object is accomplished in a bag forming, filling and
sealing machine of the type described in the introduction by the
ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means having a spring-loaded guide
plate for guiding the edges of the packaging material.
[0009] Provisions are made in an especially preferred embodiment
for the ultrasonic or US longitudinal sealing means to have an
anvil or a sonotrode, wherein this is fastened to a strap at the
forming tube. The US longitudinal sealing means is integrated into
the forming tube such that the forming tube has an elongated
rectangular opening, in which the anvil is screwed in. Provisions
are made here in a preferred embodiment for the anvil to have at
least two vertical guide sections in the form of guide slots,
through which the edges of the packaging material are led, wherein
a first, especially inner guide slot of the anvil is provided with
a slot between the sonotrode and an opposing part of the anvil
relative to the sonotrode, especially flush with the outer edge of
the forming tube and for a second, outer guide slot of the anvil to
have a bulge arched into the guide section for guiding a second
edge of the packaging material.
[0010] Optimal guiding of the edges of the packaging material is
achieved by a spring-loaded guide plate being inserted in the outer
guide slot and screwed to a guide sleeve around the forming tube,
wherein the spring-loaded guide plate guides the second edge of the
film from a second guide slot into the plane of the first guide
slot onto the first edge. The spring-loaded guide plate is formed
from an elongated, rectangular plate, a lower third being bent into
a loop, so that a spring action develops under load. Depending on
the bending of the loop of the spring-loaded guide plate, another
spring force can be caused to be applied to the edge of the film.
Provisions are preferably made for the spring-loaded guide plate to
extend from an opening of the guide sleeve to a point in front of
the sonotrode.
[0011] Provisions are made in an especially preferred embodiment
for the pull-off means to have a forming shoulder, wherein a
packaging material is to be clamped into the pull-off means.
Furthermore, provisions are made for the forming tube to have a
circular guide sleeve for guiding the packaging material below the
strap and above the ultrasonic longitudinal sealing means, wherein
the packaging material is held by the guide sleeve and the
spring-loaded guide plate so close against the forming tube that
stable and constant width of the longitudinal sealing seam is
guaranteed and the edges of the packaging material are prevented
from running apart. Furthermore, provisions are made for the
longitudinal sealing means to have blowing nozzles for cooling the
sealing seam, whereby the sealing of the longitudinal sealing seam
can be additionally increased, because a cool seam has a higher
tear resistance and hence can be stressed more heavily. For
controlling the US longitudinal sealing means, provisions are
preferably made for an electronic control unit to be associated
with the US longitudinal sealing means.
[0012] Provisions are made in an especially preferred embodiment
for the forming tube to have an inner cover for protecting the
anvil protruding into the forming tube, the inner cover being
essentially of a tubular design, wherein one side has a bulge
arching rectangularly inwardly. It is thus guaranteed that contents
dropping through the forming tube can pass over the anvil
unhindered, without contents being able to be caught at same and to
accumulate. Furthermore, the inner cover may be designed such that
there is space to the side of the anvil for additional
functionalities, e.g., electric leads, means for admitting gas to
the product, dust removal means, etc.
[0013] Provisions are made in a preferred embodiment for an
electronic control unit to be associated with the cross sealing
means, which is likewise designed as an ultrasonic sealing means
and has a sonotrode and an anvil.
[0014] A simplified bag forming, filling and sealing machine with a
longitudinal sealing means with a flatly overlapping sealing seam
by means of a compact ultrasonic means is made available by the
present invention. Optimal guiding of the edges of the film web is
guaranteed by the combination of the guide slots of the anvil with
the spring-loaded guide plate and especially the guide sleeve
around the forming tube. The edges of the film are completely
prevented from running apart. Thus, not only does the bag forming,
filling and sealing machine according to the present invention
prepare reliable and tighter longitudinal seals, but also has a
reduced overall height due to the compact design of the US
longitudinal sealing means, which leads to faster packaging due to
a smaller drop height of the products to be filled.
[0015] Further advantages and features appear from the claims and
from the following description, in which an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention will be specifically explained with reference
to the drawings. The various features of novelty which characterize
the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and
specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred
embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag forming, filling and
sealing machine according to the present invention with a forming
tube, a longitudinal sealing means as well as a cross sealing
means;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the longitudinal
sealing means with a spring-loaded guide plate;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross section through the longitudinal sealing
means according to section A-A in FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a vertical side view of a longitudinal sealing
means with a cut-away part in the forming tube in the form of a
vertical longitudinal section in the area of the longitudinal
sealing means;
[0021] FIG. 5a is a side view of a spring-loaded guide plate
according to the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 5b is a front view of the spring-loaded guide plate
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to the drawings in particular, FIG. 1 shows a bag
forming, filling and sealing machine 1 according to the present
invention. It comprises a pull-off means 2 (shown only partially)
for web-like packaging material, preferably a film, a forming tube
3 with a circular cross section, and an ultrasonic or US
longitudinal sealing means 4 as well as a cross sealing means 5.
The direction of conveying is indicated by an arrow C from top to
bottom.
[0024] The pull-off means 2 has a film unit 2.1, which stores and
feeds the film, as well as a forming shoulder (not shown), which is
fixed at the forming tube and via which the film can be formed and
pulled into a tube around the forming tube 3. The forming shoulder
has, in a manner known per se, a shoulder blade facing the film fed
in with an essentially flat, horizontal intake area and encloses,
in the direction of delivery of the film with downwardly directed
legs, a filling tube of the machine for contents until it surrounds
this as a sleeve having a shoulder on one side. Furthermore, the
pull-off means 2 has a feed means (not shown) to feed the film
tube. The feed means can be driven by a motor for this purpose.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bag forming, filling
and sealing machine 1 according to the present invention in the
area of the longitudinal sealing means 4. The ultrasonic
longitudinal sealing means 4 (US longitudinal sealing means) is
fastened to a strap 3.1, which is indirectly connected to the
forming tube 3 and surrounds same at a radially spaced location.
Furthermore, a guide sleeve 3.2, which begins directly below the
strap 3.1 and extends downwardly to below a sonotrode 4.2, is
formed around the forming tube 3. The guide sleeve lays the film
tightly around the forming tube 3 and feeds same under a downstream
spring-loaded guide plate and, under said spring-loaded guide
plate, overlappingly to the sonotrode 4.2. The guide sleeve 3.2 is
of an essentially tubular design and has a lateral opening 3.3 on
the side facing the US longitudinal sealing means 4.
[0026] There is a tubular intermediate space 3.2.1 for the film
between the guide sleeve 3.2 and the forming tube 3. The US
longitudinal sealing means 4 is fastened to the strap 3.1, which
longitudinal sealing means has a sonotrode 4.2 next to an anvil
4.1. Starting from the fastening to the strap 3.1, anvil 4.1 is
made L-shaped in the direction of the forming tube 3, and an
opposing part 4.1.1 of the anvil 4.1 made elongated downwardly
towards the sonotrode 4.2 protrudes into the interior space of the
forming tube 3. Anvil 4.1 has a rectangular cross section, as it is
shown in FIG. 3. Anvil 4.1 has two vertical guide sections in the
form of guide slots, wherein a first, especially inner guide slot
4.3 of the anvil 4.1 is provided with a slot between the sonotrode
4.2 and an opposing part of the anvil 4.1 to the sonotrode, flush
with the outer edge of the forming tube 3. A second, especially
outer guide slot 4.4 is formed at a certain distance in a plane
parallel to the guide slot 4.3. The guide slots 4.3, 4.4 extend
approximately over two thirds of the width of the anvil, so that
they overlap each other over somewhat more than one third of the
width of the anvil 4.1. This means that the longitudinal edges of
the film laid around the forming tube 3 also overlap
correspondingly. The edges of the film can be led through these
guide slots 4.3, 4.4.
[0027] FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 show that the vertical longitudinal
section of the outer guide slot 4.4 does not have a straight shape
but a narrowing 4.5 arched towards the longitudinal sealing means
4. A spring-loaded guide plate 6 is introduced into this outer
guide slot 4.4.
[0028] FIG. 5a shows the spring-loaded guide plate in a side view
and FIG. 5b shows it in a front view. The spring-loaded guide plate
6 is made of an elongated, rectangular plate, a lower part having a
bend 6.2 of 180.degree. with a finite bending radius, so that the
lower third of the spring-loaded guide plate 6 forms a loop 6.3.
The spring-loaded guide plate 6 extends in its length from the top
of the opening 3.3 of the guide sleeve 3.2 to a point just a short
distance in front of the sealing area of the sonotrode 4.2, the
said loop 6.3 of the spring-loaded guide plate 6 pointing in the
direction of the sonotrode. The spring-loaded guide plate 6 thus
projects over the length of the outer guide slot 4.4 of anvil 4.1
vertically in both direction. Two screws 6.1 are provided at the
upper end of the spring-loaded guide plate 6 to fasten the
spring-loaded guide plate 6 to the guide sleeve 3.2. The
spring-loaded guide plate 6 is screwed flush to the edge of the
opening 3.3 of the guide sleeve 3.2 under the strap 3.1 by means of
the screws 6.1.
[0029] The outer edge of the film is pressed by the spring-loaded
guide plate against the inner edge of the film immediately after
both edges emerge from the slots 4.3, 4.4 and hence both are
pressed against the opposing anvil part 4.1.1 directly above the
sonotrode 4.2, so that the two edges lie directly one on top of
another at the level of the sonotrode 4.2 between this and the
opposing part 4.1. and are reliably welded by the sonotrode over
the said passing-through edge.
[0030] An inner cover 3.3, which covers the anvil 4.1 protruding
into the forming tube 3 (see FIG. 3), is arranged within the
forming tube 3. The inner cover 3.4 is essentially of a tubular
shape and the side facing the anvil 4.1 has a bulge 3.5 having a
rectangular cross section in the form of the opposing part 4.1.1 of
the anvil 4.1 within the forming tube 3. The bulge 3.5 is beveled
in the vertical extension in the upper area, the bevel extending
from the forming tube 3 to the width of the opposing part 4.1.1 of
the anvil 4.1. The bulge 3.5 then extends in parallel to the
opposing part 4.1.1 and ends under same at right angles. The length
of the inner cover 3.3 is selected to be at least such that
complete coverage of the opposing part 4.1.1 of the anvil 4.1 in
the interior of the forming tube 3 is ensured, so that no contents
can get caught at the anvil 4.1. The inner cover 3.4 with the bulge
3.5 may, furthermore, be designed such that space is provided for
additional functionalities, e.g., electric feed lines or other
measuring means, to the side of the anvil 4.1. Blowing nozzles (not
shown), which are used to cool the sealing seam, are associated
with the US longitudinal sealing means 4 in the lower area
thereof.
[0031] Furthermore, a cross sealing means 5 (see FIG. 1) is
arranged under the US longitudinal sealing means 4. This is also
designed as an ultrasonic sealing means with an anvil 4.1 and a
sonotrode 5.2. Furthermore, an electronic control unit (not shown)
is associated with the cross sealing means 5.
[0032] The bag forming, filling and sealing machine 1 consequently
carries out the following steps:
[0033] A packaging film is pulled off from a film unit 2.1, for
example, a film roll, and led over the forming shoulder around the
forming tube 3. The guide sleeve 3.2, whose shape is adapted over
the forming shoulder, guarantees a film laid tautly around the
forming tube 3, and the film lies within the intermediate space
3.2.1 between the guide sleeve 3.2 and the forming tube 3. The
edge-side inner sides of the film are sent further through the
guide slots 4.3, 4.4 of the anvil 4.1 into the area of the
longitudinal sealing means 4, with a first edge of the film being
led flush with the forming tube 3 through the inner guide slot 4.3.
A second edge of the film is led out of the intermediate space
3.2.1 into the outer guide slot 4.4. The second edge of the film is
meanwhile pulled between the narrowing 4.5 and the spring-loaded
guide plate 6 arranged in the outer guide slot 4.4. The
spring-loaded guide plate 6 arranged in the outer guide slot 4.4
presses the second edge of the film onto the side of the guide slot
4.4 facing the forming tube 3 and thus forces fixed guiding of the
second edge of the film. Depending on the bending of loop 6.3 of
the spring-loaded guide plate 6, a different spring force can be
applied to the edge of the film.
[0034] The edges of the film are consequently placed overlappingly
one on top of another and brought together into a so-called lap
seal seam. The film guide plate 6 arranged in the outer guide slot
4.4 prevents the edges of the film from running apart. The edges of
the film are sealed together by means of the sonotrode 4.2 and a
flat, compact sealing seam is formed. Reliable guiding of the edges
of the web is guaranteed by the guide slots 4.3, 4.4 of anvil 4.1
and of the spring-loaded guide plate 6. The film tube is delivered
farther downward by means of a feed means and closed to form a bag
by the cross sealing means by means of a cross sealing seam.
[0035] The tube-like bag thus prepared is then filled with the
contents dropping through the forming tube, preferably food, such
as salad or grated cheese, etc., the inner cover 3.4 protecting the
anvil 4.1 from contents dropping down. The filled tube-like bag is
delivered in a next step farther downward and sealed at the open
top end by a second cross sealing seam by the cross sealing means,
so that the tube-like bag packaging is finished.
[0036] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the application of the
principles of the invention, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such
principles.
LIST OF REFERENCE
[0037] 1 Numbers 6 Spring-loaded guide plate [0038] 1 Bag forming,
filling and 6.1 Screws sealing machine 6.2 Bend [0039] 2 Pull-off
means 6.3 Loop [0040] 2.1 Film unit [0041] 3 Forming tube [0042]
3.1 Strap [0043] 3.2 Guide sleeve [0044] 3.2.1 Intermediate space
[0045] 3.3 Opening [0046] 3.4 Inner cover [0047] 3.5 Bulge [0048] 4
US longitudinal sealing means [0049] 4.1 Anvil [0050] 4.1.1
Opposing part [0051] 4.2 Sonotrode [0052] 4.3 First, inner guide
slot [0053] 4.4 Second, outer guide slot [0054] 4.5 Narrowing
[0055] 5 US cross sealing means [0056] 5.1 Anvil [0057] 5.2
Sonotrode [0058] 6 Spring-loaded guide plate [0059] 6.1 Screws
[0060] 6.2 Bend [0061] 6.3 Loop
* * * * *