U.S. patent application number 13/559458 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-31 for multi-track tray sealer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Andreas MADER, Alireza Taghipour. Invention is credited to Andreas MADER, Alireza Taghipour.
Application Number | 20130025239 13/559458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46545218 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130025239 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MADER; Andreas ; et
al. |
January 31, 2013 |
MULTI-TRACK TRAY SEALER
Abstract
A multi-track tray sealer comprising a lateral tray-contact
element which includes a lateral contact surface oriented relative
to trays and which is configured such that it is movable in the
direction of transport so as to support transport of the trays from
a supply conveyor into a sealing tool.
Inventors: |
MADER; Andreas;
(Dietmannsried, DE) ; Taghipour; Alireza;
(Kempten, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MADER; Andreas
Taghipour; Alireza |
Dietmannsried
Kempten |
|
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH
& Co. KG
Wolfertschwenden
DE
|
Family ID: |
46545218 |
Appl. No.: |
13/559458 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/285 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/04 20130101; B65B
65/006 20130101; B65G 15/14 20130101; B65B 7/164 20130101; B65G
21/2054 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/285 |
International
Class: |
B65B 7/00 20060101
B65B007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 29, 2011 |
DE |
102011108919.9 |
Claims
1. A multi-track tray sealer comprising: a gripper system; a
sealing tool; and a tray-contact element including a lateral
contact surface oriented towards a tray, wherein the lateral
contact surface is configured such that at least certain areas
thereof are movable in a direction of transport.
2. The tray sealer of claim 1, wherein the lateral contact surface
comprises a plurality of rollers.
3. The tray sealer of claim 2, wherein the plurality of rollers are
provided approximately vertically or at a variably adjustable
angle.
4. The tray sealer of claim 1, wherein the lateral contact surface
includes two respective vertical conveyor belts configured to
cooperate with the gripper system so as to convey a tray.
5. The tray sealer of claim 4, wherein the gripper system includes
at least two gripper arms, and a speed of the conveyor belts can be
synchronized with a speed of the gripper arms.
6. The tray sealer of claim 4, wherein the conveyor belts are
driven by a drive wherein the drive is common to both of the
conveyor belts or is individual to each of the conveyor belts.
7. The tray sealer of claim 6, wherein the drive is a
servomotor.
8. The tray sealer of claim 4, wherein the conveyor belts have an
adherent surface for the tray edges abutting thereon.
9. The tray sealer of claim 8, wherein the adherent surface of the
conveyor belts is a silicone coating.
10. The tray sealer of claim 4, wherein the two conveyor belts of
the tray-contact element are configured to move in opposite
directions of rotation.
11. The tray sealer of claim 1, wherein a horizontal support
surface is provided along the tray-contact element on both sides
thereof in a direction of transport, the horizontal support surface
configured for receiving thereon a part of a tray bottom during
transport.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This Application claims priority to German Application
Number 102011108919.9 filed Jul. 29, 2011 to Andreas Mader and
Alireza Taghipour entitled "Multi-Track Tray Sealer," currently
pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a multi-track tray sealer.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Packaging machines of the above-mentioned type with a
dual-track layout often have a vertical tray-contact element
arranged centrally between the tracks and, on both sides thereof,
two externally arranged gripper aims. Trays filled with the product
in question are conveyed via two conveyor belts to a position
before the sealing device. Subsequently, the gripper arms approach
the centrally arranged tray-contact element. In the course of this
movement, the trays are seized in a form-fit manner by the gripper
arms and pressed against the vertical tray-contact element. The
gripper arms then push the trays into the open sealing device, the
tray edge located opposite the gripper arms sliding along the
tray-contact element. A tray-contact element is also provided in
the interior of the sealing device. Trays which have a length that
is smaller than the width of the tray in the direction of transport
tend to tilt or to slow down when the narrow tray edge slides along
the tray-contact element. This leads to twists or jolts in response
to which liquid products may spill over the edge.
[0004] EP 1 336 567 A1 discloses a gripper system that seizes the
lateral tray edge in a force-fit manner so as to prevent twisting
or a tendency to vibrate of the tray. The drawback of this
embodiment is an additional clamping unit per gripper arm and an
additional moved actuator that is required for this purpose.
[0005] It is therefore desirable for a packaging machine having a
multi- or dual-track layout to provide a tray-contact element that
provides trays whose length is smaller than its width in the
direction of transport to be conveyed in a manner that ensuring
reliable processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the object of the present invention to improve a
dual-track tray sealer with respect to the transport of trays from
the supply conveyors into the sealing device such that trays whose
length is smaller than their width can be conveyed in a manner
ensuring reliable processing.
[0007] The multi-track tray sealer according to the present
invention may comprise a gripper system, a sealing tool and a
tray-contact element including a lateral contact surface oriented
relative to the trays to be conveyed. The contact surface may be
configured such that at least certain areas thereof, preferably the
contact surface in its entirety, are movable in the direction of
transport so as to support the movement of the tray edge abutting
laterally on the contact surface.
[0008] The contact surface may comprise a plurality of rollers
which minimize the friction occurring between the tray edge and the
contact surface.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the sealer of the present
invention, the rollers may be provided approximately vertically or
at a variably adjustable angle relative to the horizontal, so as to
cause the tray to slide upwards on the rollers in the area of the
tray-contact element in order to minimize the friction between the
tray bottom and the supply conveyor and/or lift the tray bottom off
the supply conveyor.
[0010] According to another embodiment, the contact surface may be
configured such that two respective vertical conveyor belts
cooperate with the gripper system so as to convey the trays. The
tray may be movable in a force-fit manner between the gripper
system and a conveyor belt thus ensuring reliable processing.
Instead of a conveyor belt, a plurality of driven rollers may be
provided.
[0011] In this respect, one embodiment may include the speed of the
conveyor belts being synchronized with the speed of the gripper
system. This allows a synchronous movement of the conveyor belts
and of the gripper system in the direction of transport. The
gripper arms of the gripper system may cooperate synchronously, or
separately--but synchronously--with the respective conveyor
belt.
[0012] One embodiment includes the conveyor belts having a common
drive; alternatively, in another embodiment, the respective drive
can be provided for each of the conveyor belts.
[0013] According to one embodiment, a servomotor may be provided
for the drive so as to provide high dynamics in order to allow an
increase in the performance of the tray sealer.
[0014] One embodiment includes the conveyor belts having an
adherent surface, e.g. a silicone coating, for the tray edges
abutting thereon, so that the tray edge can easily be conveyed by
means of the conveyor belt.
[0015] In the case of a dual-track layout, the two conveyor belts
of the tray-contact element may move in opposite directions of
rotation, so that two rows of trays can be supplied to the sealing
tool by the gripper system.
[0016] Further, the tray sealer may be conceived that, in the
direction of transport, a horizontal support may be provided along
the tray-contact element on both sides thereof, for receiving
thereon part of a tray bottom during transport so as to lift the
tray bottom off the supply conveyor. In this embodiment, the
friction with respect to the supply conveyor may be minimized,
since, while trays moved by the gripper system are being conveyed,
the supply conveyor continues to convey new trays and the gripper
system and the conveyor belts may have different speeds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which
like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts
in the various views:
[0018] FIG. 1a is a schematic sectional view of a tray sealer in
the direction of transport in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention showing the gripper system occupying an open
position;
[0019] FIG. 1b is a schematic sectional view of the tray sealer of
FIG. 1a showing the gripper system occupying a closed position;
[0020] FIG. 2a is a schematic perspective view of a tray sealer in
the direction of transport in accordance with another embodiment of
the present invention in which the tray-contact element consists of
conveyor belts;
[0021] FIG. 2b is a schematic sectional view of the tray sealer of
FIG. 2a showing the gripper system occupying a closed position.
[0022] Identical components are designated by identical reference
numerals throughout the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The invention will now be described with reference to the
drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like
parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the
characteristics of the present invention, proportional
relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained
in the drawing figures.
[0024] The following detailed description of the invention
references specific embodiments in which the invention can be
practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the
invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art
to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and
changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims
and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such
claims are entitled.
[0025] FIG. 1a shows a dual-track tray sealer 1 according to the
present invention in a vertical sectional view in the direction of
transport R. Two parallel supply conveyors 2 have placed thereon
tray bottoms 3 of packaging trays 4 to be sealed. A tray-contact
element 5 between the supply conveyors 2 may comprise two contact
surfaces 5a, 5b with a plurality of rollers 15 which are inclined
relative to a vertical. Gripper arms 6a, 6b of a gripper system 6
may be externally arranged on either side of and next to the supply
conveyors, the gripper arms 6a, 6b being adapted to be moved in the
direction of transport R on the one hand and towards the
tray-contact element 5 on the other. Supports 7 are optionally
provided between the supply conveyors 2 and the tray-contact
element 5, the supports 7 having a horizontal support surface 7a
disposed above the conveying plane of the supply conveyors 2.
[0026] FIG. 1b shows a position after the gripper arms 6a, 6b have
moved the trays 4 into contact with the tray-contact element 5. The
right gripper arm 6a, for example, pushes the tray 4 onto the
horizontal support surface 7a of the support 7 thus lifting the
tray bottom 3 at least partially off the supply conveyor (cf. the
view on the right). The gripper arm 6a need not push the tray 4
fully into contact with the rollers 15.
[0027] The effect of lifting the tray 4 in the area of the
tray-contact element 5 can also be accomplished without the support
7 (cf. the view on the left). In the case of such an embodiment,
the gripper arm 6a applies a gentle force to the tray 4 thus
pushing it against the rollers 15 in a horizontal direction so that
the tray edge 8 abutting thereon can ascend on the inclined rollers
15, whereby the tray bottom 3 will also here raise, at least in a
certain area thereof, from the supply conveyor 2 so as to minimize
the friction between the tray 4 and the supply conveyor 2.
[0028] FIG. 2a shows a variant with two parallel supply conveyors 2
that move trays 4, which are not shown, in the direction of
transport R up to a position before the sealing tool 9. The central
tray-contact element 5 comprises here two vertical conveyor belts
11 driven by servomotors 10. In a downstream direction, two
discharge belts 12 are provided after the sealing tool 9, the
discharge belts 12 being used for receiving thereon the trays 4
that have been sealed with a cover film. The sealed trays 4 are
transferred by means of the gripper arms 6a, 6b from the sealing
tool 9 to the discharge belts 12.
[0029] The mode of operation of the embodiment according to FIG. 2a
is explained in more detail on the basis of FIG. 2b. The gripper
arms 6a, 6b move the trays 4 into contact with the conveyor belts
11 guided around vertical (or, alternatively, slightly inclined)
pulleys 13, so that the tray edge 8 of the trays 4 is pushed
against the conveyor belts 11 with a force establishing an adhesion
required for the purpose of transport. Alternatively, the trays 4
are only pushed to a position close to the conveyor belts 11.
During transport of the trays 4 in the direction of transport R,
the conveyor belts 11 and the gripper arms 6a, 6b move at a common
speed. Therefore, the friction of the tray bottom 3 on the supply
conveyor 2 and the discharge belt 12, respectively, does not have
any negative effect, although the supply conveyor 2 and the
discharge belt 12, respectively, may have a different speed and/or
an opposite direction of movement. The supply conveyor 2 and the
discharge belt 12 are provided with servo drives 13.
[0030] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is
one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set
forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which
are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain
features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed
without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is
contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many
possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing
from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all
matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are
to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.
[0031] The constructions and methods described above and
illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only
and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the
present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several
embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing
description, certain aspects of the present invention are not
limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated
herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications
and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those
skilled in the art. The terms "having" and "including" and similar
terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense
of "optional" or "may include" and not as "required". Many changes,
modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the
present construction will, however, become apparent to those
skilled in the art after considering the specification and the
accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations
and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the
invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
* * * * *