U.S. patent application number 13/623424 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-21 for tray sealing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Alexander Kult.
Application Number | 20130067859 13/623424 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46963365 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130067859 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kult; Alexander |
March 21, 2013 |
TRAY SEALING MACHINE
Abstract
A tray sealing machine comprising an upper tool which can be
laterally moved out of the tray sealing machine from a working
position into a second position for maintenance and cleaning
purposes, wherein the upper tool may be pivotable in the second
position so as to improve accessibility to a bottom of the tool for
maintenance and cleaning. The tray sealing machine may also include
a lower tool that can be laterally moved out of the tray sealing
machine from a working position into a second position for
maintenance and cleaning purposes, wherein the lower tool is
additionally pivotable in the second position so as to improve the
accessibility during cleaning.
Inventors: |
Kult; Alexander; (Kempten,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG; |
Wolfertschwenden |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH
& Co. KG
Wolfertschwenden
DE
|
Family ID: |
46963365 |
Appl. No.: |
13/623424 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/287 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 59/04 20130101;
B65B 9/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/287 |
International
Class: |
B65B 7/28 20060101
B65B007/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 21, 2011 |
DE |
102011113968.4 |
Claims
1. A tray sealing machine comprising: a sealing tool having an
upper tool and a lower tool configured to seal a conveyed tray with
a cover film, wherein the upper tool is moveable from an upper
working position into an upper second position, and wherein the
upper tool is pivotable while at the upper second position.
2. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper
second position is laterally outside of the tray sealing
machine.
3. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1 further comprising
at least two rails, the rails being operably connected to the tray
sealing machine, and wherein the upper tool is moveable to engage
at least two rails.
4. The tray sealing machine according to claim 3 wherein the rails
are laterally extendable to convey the upper tool from the upper
working position to the upper second position.
5. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1 wherein the upper
tool is pivotable in a range of at least forty five (45) degrees in
the upper second position.
6. The tray sealing machine according to claim 5 wherein the upper
tool is pivotable in a range of about ninety (90) degrees.
7. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1 further including
at least one pivot arm operably connected to the upper tool and the
tray sealing machine, wherein the upper tool pivots on the at least
one pivot arm from the upper working position to the upper second
position.
8. Tray sealing machine according claim 7 wherein the pivot arms
are operably connected to a machine frame of the tray sealing
machine.
9. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1 wherein the lower
tool is moveable from a lower working position into a lower second
position, wherein the lower second position of the lower tool is
located laterally outside of the tray sealing machine, and wherein
the lower tool is pivotable while at the lower second position.
10. The tray sealing machine according to claim 9 wherein the lower
tool is pivotable in a range of at least ninety (90) degrees in the
lower second position.
11. The tray sealing machine according to claim 10 wherein the
lower tool is pivotable in a range of about one hundred eighty
(180) degrees.
12. The tray sealing machine according to claim 9 further
comprising at least two rails, the rails being operably connected
to the tray sealing machine and wherein at least one of the upper
tool and the lower tool are moveable to engage the at least two
rails.
13. The tray sealing machine according to claim 12 wherein at the
least two rails are detachable from the tray sealing machine.
14. The tray sealing machine according to claim 12 wherein the
rails are laterally extendable outside of the tray sealing
machine.
15. Tray sealing machine according to claim 12 wherein the rails
include a clamping device at one end wherein the clamping device is
operable to lock the at least one of the upper tool and the lower
tool in a pivoted position.
16. The tray sealing machine according to claim 9 wherein the at
least one of the upper tool and the lower tool is pivotally
conveyed from the working position to the second position.
17. The tray sealing machine according to claim 16 further
including at least two pivot arms operably connected to the tray
sealing machine and operably connected to the at least one of the
upper tool and the lower tool.
18. The tray sealing machine according to claim 17 wherein the
pivot arms are operably connected to a machine frame of the tray
sealing machine
19. The tray sealing machine according to claim 9 wherein the at
least one of the upper tool and the lower tool can be removed in
the second position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority to German Application
Number 102011113968.4 filed Sep. 21, 2011 to Alexander Kult
entitled "Tray Sealing Machine," currently pending, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a tray sealing machine, comprising
an upper tool which can be laterally moved out of the tray sealing
machine from a working position into a second position for
maintenance and cleaning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A tool change carriage for a technical apparatus, e.g. a
tray sealing machine, is disclosed in DE 20 2006 010 803 U1. An
upper tool of the sealing station can be pushed out of the tray
sealing machine onto the tool change carriage on rails which are
provided in the tray sealing machine and on the tool change
carriage.
[0004] Existing tray sealing machines include upper and lower tools
that are usually moved apart to permit the operator, once the
corresponding protective hood is opened, access to the tools
outside of the machine to clean and service them. Product residues
on the upper tool fall down onto the lower tool or into other areas
of the machine then the upper tool is washed off or hosed down.
Similar problems exist when the lower tray is washed off or hosed
down, the residue falls into and onto other components or areas of
the machine or to the floor within the machine housing which is
usually not accessible for cleaning.
[0005] Thus, there is a need in the art for a tray sealing machine
that allows the upper and/or the lower trays to be laterally
removed from the tray sealing device to be cleaned. There is a
further need in the art for the upper and/or lower trays to be
pivotable so that access to the surface to be cleaned is more
readily provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the object of the present invention to improve the
effectiveness and ease in which a tool of a tray sealing machine is
cleaned or maintained.
[0007] This object is achieved by a tray sealing machine according
to the present invention. One embodiment of the present tray
sealing machine includes a sealing tool having an upper tool and a
lower tool to seal a tray being conveyed into the sealing tool in a
production direction with a cover film, wherein the upper tool can
be moved out of the tray sealing machine from a working position
into a second position, and wherein the upper tool can be pivoted
in the second position for maintenance and cleaning purposes. This
allows an ergonomic cleaning of the upper tool in an easy way,
without the utilization of a tool change carriage. The handling of
the machine is improved by maintaining the connection of the upper
tool to the machine even in the pivoted position.
[0008] Preferably, the second position is provided so far outside
the tray sealing machine that the upper tool is positioned
laterally, entirely outside of the tray sealing machine in this
position. The term "laterally" means "transversely to the direction
of production of the tray sealing machine". This allows product
residues washed off from the upper tool to drop onto the hall
floor, thereby missing the machine, e.g. the lower tool and other
machine components.
[0009] In one embodiment, the upper tool can be pivoted by at least
45 degrees in its second position, preferably by 90 degrees, in
particular about a horizontal axis. This allows an optimized
accessibility and improves the visual inspection by the cleaning
staff.
[0010] In another embodiment, the lower tool may be laterally moved
out of the tray sealing machine from a working position into a
second position, wherein the lower tool can be pivoted in its
second position to allow the cleaning of the lower tool, too, such
that the product residues do not fall into the machine, but can be
washed off onto the hall floor, and easily collected and
discarded.
[0011] In a related embodiment, it is advantageous if the lower
tool can be pivoted by at least 90 degrees, and preferably about
180 degrees, about a horizontal axis, so as to facilitate and
improve the access to the surfaces of the lower tool for cleaning
the upper side of the lower tool.
[0012] In another embodiment, the upper tool and/or the lower tool
can be set down on rails, thereby allowing the upper tool or the
lower tool to be automatically removed from the machine frame or a
lifting gear and set down onto the rails subsequently. The operator
or the cleaning staff can, subsequently, move the upper tool or the
lower tool manually.
[0013] The rails may be provided in the tray sealing machine in a
detachable manner with a fixed length, thereby allowing for a less
complicated production process.
[0014] According to another embodiment, the rails can be laterally
extended, e.g. telescopically, out of the tray sealing machine so
as to render the process easier for the operator as he/she need not
provide any additional machine elements for cleaning purposes.
[0015] According to another embodiment, the upper tool and/or the
lower tool can be pivoted from a working position into the second
position.
[0016] In addition, a clamping device may be provided at an end of
a rail so as to lock the upper tool or the lower tool in a pivoted
position, which facilitates the cleaning process.
[0017] Finally, the upper tool or the lower tool can be removed
from the second position for a change of the tool, wherein such
removal may be carried out after a cleaning process.
[0018] Other and further objects of the invention, together with
the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the
course of the following description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0019] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which
like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts
in the various views:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tray
sealing machine in accordance the teachings of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of one embodiment of a tray
sealing machine in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention showing an upper tool being in a working position;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the embodiment of the
tray sealing machine of FIG. 2,
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of one embodiment of a tray
sealing machine in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention with an upper tool being in a position in which it is set
down on rails;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the embodiment of the
tray sealing machine of FIG. 4, showing the upper tool being in a
second position,
[0025] FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of the embodiment of the
tray sealing machine of FIG. 4, showing the upper tool being in a
pivoted position, and
[0026] FIG. 7 is a front sectional view of one embodiment of a tray
sealing machine in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention showing a pivotally conveyed upper tool.
[0027] Like components are designated with like reference numbers
throughout the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] 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.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a tray sealing machine 1, comprising a sealing
station 2 in which non-illustrated trays are sealed with a cover
film 3 A gripper system 4 having two gripper arms 5 is provided to
convey trays in a direction of production P from a feeding conveyor
6 into the sealing station 2. After the sealing process in the
sealing station 2 the sealed trays are transported out of the
sealing station 2 by means of the gripper system 4, are placed down
on a withdrawal belt 7 and conveyed to further process steps.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a tray sealing machine 1
according to the invention, comprising a sealing station 2 which
includes an upper tool 10 and a lower tool 11. The upper tool 10 is
positioned on a support frame 12 in the working position. The lower
tool 11 is positioned on a lifting gear 13 in the working position.
Rails 14 are fixed to the machine frame 15 in a pluggable manner by
means of bolts 16.
[0031] The sectional side view of FIG. 3 shows that a telescopic
rail 14 is mounted on each machine frame 15 underneath the upper
tool 10 and the support frame 12, respectively. The rail 14 has a
shoulder 16, which is adapted to prevent the lower side 17 of the
upper tool 10 from pivoting or turning about a pivot pin 18,
thereby maintaining the horizontal position of the upper tool 10
during a movement along the rail 14.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment wherein the upper tool 10 has
been lowered from a working position by the lower tool 11 using the
lifting gear 13, the upper tool 10 being separated from the support
frame 12 subsequently and moved downwards such that the pivot pins
18 rests on the rails 14. The lifting gear 13 transfers the lower
tool 11 into its working position. A stop 19 is provided on the
rail 14 at a first end, preventing an unintended movement of upper
tool 10 backwards (to the left in the drawing). A stop 20 is
located at a second, outer end of the rail 14. The stop defines the
second position or pivot position S.
[0033] Also, a clamping device 21 is provided at this outer end of
the rail 14, which is pivotable so as to be capable of locking the
pivot pin 18 in the second position or pivot position S,
respectively, once it has been reached, as is shown in FIG. 5.
[0034] FIG. 6 shows the upper tool 10, which is pivoted about a
horizontal pivot axis counterclockwise so as to make the lower side
17 of the upper tool 10 accessible by the operator. The pivot axis
is here the axis of the pivot pin 18. This axis can run through the
center of mass of the upper tool 10. The upper tool 10 can be
locked in any desired position by the clamping device 21.
[0035] When the upper tool 10 is in the second position S and if
the clamping device 21 is pivoted outwardly as shown in FIG. 4 to
release the pivot pin 18, the upper tool 10 may lifted off the
rails 14 and transferred to a non-illustrated tool change carriage
from this position.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a modification of a tray sealing machine 1
according to the invention, in which the upper tool 10 can be
pivotally conveyed by pivot arms 22 from a working position on the
support frame 12, transversely to the direction of production P,
out of the tray sealing machine 1 to the second position. The pivot
arms 22 may be fixed to the machine frame 15. In one embodiment,
the pivot arm 22 is detachably connected to the pivot pin 18 of the
upper tool 10, so that a conventional tool change by means of a
tool change carriage is also possible.
[0037] Analogously to the illustrated movability of the upper tool
10 into a second position or pivot position S, at which the upper
tool 10 is pivotable, a person of skill in the art will appreciate
that the teachings above applied to the upper tool 10 may also be
applied similarly to the lower tool 11. To this end, telescopic
rails or pivot arms as described above, may also be provided to
allow the displacement of the lower tool 11 from its working
position into a second position at the side of, preferably outside
of, the tray sealing machine 1. The connection of the lower tool 11
to the tray sealing machine 1 in this second position is maintained
by the rails or the pivot arms, respectively, and the lower tool 11
can be pivoted into an easily accessible orientation, in particular
rotated about a horizontal axis, for maintenance and cleaning
purposes at the second position.
[0038] For both the upper tool 10 and the lower tool 11, the
maximum pivot angle may be limited to any maximum angle, for
example, to about forty five degrees (45.degree.)or to about ninety
degrees (90.degree.). However, a pivoting range of about a full
three hundred sixty degrees (360.degree.) is within the scope of
the present invention. A preferred embodiment includes the upper
and/or lower tools 10 and 11 having a pivoting range of about one
hundred eighty degrees (180.degree.).
[0039] 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.
* * * * *