U.S. patent application number 13/689295 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for multi-lane tray sealer.
This patent application is currently assigned to MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Multivac Sepp Haggenmuler GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Lars Ickert, Bernd Jokele, Alireza Taghipour.
Application Number | 20130133286 13/689295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47143492 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130133286 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taghipour; Alireza ; et
al. |
May 30, 2013 |
MULTI-LANE TRAY SEALER
Abstract
The invention concerns a four-lane tray sealer, which has two
double lanes for sealing trays with a cover film, wherein the
double lanes can be operated independently from one another.
Inventors: |
Taghipour; Alireza;
(Kempten, DE) ; Jokele; Bernd; (Kempten, DE)
; Ickert; Lars; (Kempten, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Multivac Sepp Haggenmuler GmbH & Co. KG; |
Wolfertschwenden |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH
& CO. KG
Wolfertschwenden
DE
|
Family ID: |
47143492 |
Appl. No.: |
13/689295 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/202 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 59/04 20130101;
B65B 7/164 20130101; B65B 43/46 20130101; B65B 65/006 20130101;
B65B 2210/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/202 |
International
Class: |
B65B 65/00 20060101
B65B065/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2011 |
DE |
102011119858.3 |
Claims
1. A tray sealer for sealing trays with a cover film in two double
lanes, said tray sealer comprising: a controller; first and a
second grippers; and first and a second workstations; wherein the
first workstation and the first gripper work together with a first
double lane, and the second workstation and the second gripper work
together with a second double lane, in such a manner that trays on
the first double lane can be processed independently from trays on
the second double lane.
2. The tray sealer of claim 1, wherein the controller is designed
to control the gripper, the workstation, and conveyor belts of one
double lane separately from the gripper, the workstation, and
conveyor belts of another double lane.
3. The tray sealer of claim 1 further comprising at least two
operating terminals for independently operating the grippers, the
workstations, and conveyor belts of the first and second double
lanes.
4. The tray sealer of claim 1 further comprising a film dispenser
and a film trim rewinder for each of the two double lanes.
5. The tray sealer of claim 1 further comprising a partition
provided between the first and second double lanes or between parts
of the tray sealer.
6. The tray sealer of claim 5, wherein the partition extends in a
direction of production from the start of a transport region of the
gripper arms along the workstation to the end of the transport
region of the gripper arms.
7. The tray sealer of claim 1, wherein an upper die part and a
lower die part of the first workstation and an upper die part and a
lower die part of the second workstation can be removed from the
tray sealer in opposite directions from one another with respect to
the double lanes and perpendicular to a direction of
production.
8. The tray sealer of claim 1 further comprising distribution boxes
for electrical and/or pneumatic components located below infeed
devices or outfeed devices, wherein the distribution boxes have
accessibility for maintenance purposes perpendicular to a direction
of production.
9. The tray sealer of claim 1, wherein a spacing between the first
double lane and the second double lane is smaller than a width of
the first or second double lane.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority to German Application
Number 102011119858.3 filed Nov. 30, 2011, to Alireza Taghipour,
Bernd Jokele and Lars Ickert entitled "Multi-Lane 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-lane tray sealer for
sealing trays with a cover film in two double lanes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] From DE 10 2008 030 510 A1 of the applicant, a tray sealer
is known in which the trays to be sealed are taken from an infeed
belt by a pair of grippers and transported to a sealing die. During
this process, the pair of grippers grips the trays by two gripper
arms approaching one another from the sides of the trays until the
trays are securely grasped and can be conveyed independently of the
motion of the infeed belt.
[0004] Furthermore, in unpublished DE 10 2011 108 919, also from
the applicant's firm, a two-lane tray sealer is described that
likewise has a pair of grippers to transport trays from an infeed
belt to a sealing die. In this design, a vertical arrangement is
provided between the two lanes. The pair of grippers grips the
trays on the infeed belt by means of one gripper arm provided on
each side of the trays by pressing each of the trays against the
vertical arrangement, and the gripper arms push the gripped trays
along the arrangement into the sealing station.
[0005] So as to provide high capacity (trays to be processed per
minute), two-lane tray sealers with sealing dies that are large in
the direction of production are frequently employed. The size of
these dies is limited, however, since the weight of the dies no
longer permits ergonomic handling or the capacity of the lifting
device is no longer sufficient in terms of closing force and speed
of motion.
[0006] From DE 199 12 491 A1 of the applicant, a multi-lane tray
sealer is known, for example with four lanes. The transport of
trays is accomplished neither by means of grippers nor by means of
conveyor belts. Tray carriers that are guided from the side by
means of a chain are provided for the transport of trays, wherein a
drive of the chain provides for the feed of the tray carriers. The
tray carrier can be provided with one row and for four lanes, for
example, with four trays located adjacent to one another being
transported as a group. Such tray sealers require a small amount of
installation space in a production facility, especially with regard
to width, and have high capacity on account of their multi-lane
design. Capacity is defined as the number of packages that can be
produced per unit time. Because of the large number of tray
carriers, which must match the shape of the trays in order to
accommodate the trays, when a batch change occurs during production
to a tray with a different dimension, a very time-consuming and
labor-intensive changeover is the adverse consequence. Complicated
and expensive production facilities and conveyor systems are placed
before and after such high-capacity, multi-lane tray sealers, and
the desire is to retain them unchanged when the tray sealer is
replaced. When replacing the tray sealer, it is important to take
the existing installation circumstances into account, since the
existing installation area does not permit a greatly increased
space requirement for a new tray sealer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is to be able to replace
a tray sealer, preferably a four-lane tray sealer, having tray
carriers for tray transport, with a tray sealer having gripper arms
and the identical number of lanes and equal capacity, with the
intended result of increasing flexibility and reducing down time
for changeover to different tray dimensions.
[0008] The tray sealer according to the invention for sealing trays
with a cover film in two double lanes comprises a controller, a
first and a second gripper, and a first and a second workstation,
wherein the first workstation and the first gripper work together
with a first double lane, and the second workstation and the second
gripper work together with a second double lane, in such a manner
that trays on the first double lane can be processed independently
from trays on the second double lane. Such a tray sealer with four
lanes not only has a capacity that is approximately twice as great
as that of a single two-lane tray sealer, but also has a space
requirement that is considerably smaller than that of two two-lane
tray sealers. A reduction in the space requirement of such a
high-capacity, four-lane tray sealer makes it possible to exchange
or replace an existing tray sealer that has tray carriers in an
existing production facility.
[0009] The user is provided with the advantage of processing trays
on one double lane while the other double lane, including the dies
of the workstation, is being cleaned, maintained, or changed over.
This may be the case during a film replacement of the cover film,
for example, in order to replace an empty roll with a new, full
roll.
[0010] The controller may be designed to separately control the
grippers, workstation, and conveyor belts of each double lane. This
makes it possible to process trays on one double lane while the
other double lane is stopped. In this way, it is also possible to
dimension a device such as a vacuum pump to be smaller and thus
more energy-efficient, since the controller can control the
processing of the two double lanes in a manner staggered in time
such that the vacuum pump is not needed for evacuation at both
workstations at the same time.
[0011] In one embodiment, at least two operating terminals are
provided for independently processing trays on the first and second
double lanes. This makes parallel operation possible for the two
double lanes, and also operation of both double lanes from one of
the two operating sides of the tray sealer.
[0012] Another advantage of the invention is achieved when a film
dispenser and a film trim rewinder are provided for each of the two
double lanes, for example in order to seal trays with different
cover films. The cover films here can have different designs, for
example for different customers.
[0013] A partition can be provided between the first and second
double lanes in order to ensure that work, for example a film
change or die change, can be carried out on a first double lane by
the operating personnel without danger even though the second
double lane remains in operation.
[0014] In this design, it is advantageous for the partition to
extend in the direction of production from the start of a transport
region of the gripper arms along the workstation to the end of the
transport region of the gripper arms in order to prevent operator
access to power-driven elements of the double lane on the other
side of the partition, and thus preclude injuries.
[0015] In one embodiment, an upper die part and a lower die part of
the first workstation and an upper die part and a lower die part of
the second workstation can be removed from the tray sealer in
opposite directions from one another with respect to the double
lanes and perpendicular to the direction of production. In this
way, it is possible to change dies, and analogously gripper arms,
without the need to provide space between the double lanes for the
operating personnel and in order to be able to keep the space
requirement of the tray sealer to a minimum despite maximum
performance.
[0016] The tray sealer may include distribution boxes for
electrical and/or pneumatic components located below infeed devices
or outfeed devices, wherein the distribution boxes have
accessibility perpendicular to the direction of production for an
operator or service technician for maintenance purposes. This makes
it possible to minimize the spacing between the first and second
workstations for each double lane, since accessibility between the
workstations is no longer necessary.
[0017] A spacing between the first double lane and the second
double lane can be smaller than a width of the first or second
double lane, in order to keep the space requirement of the tray
sealer to a minimum.
[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 drawing, which forms 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:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a tray sealer in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the tray sealer in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Identical components in the figures are labeled with
identical reference symbols through-out.
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. 1 shows a perspective view of a tray sealer 1 according
to the invention. Located on a frame 2 are a first workstation 3a
and a second workstation 3b, in the present case a gas flushing,
sealing and cutting station. The workstations may each have a lower
die part 20 and an upper die part 21. A first infeed conveyor 4a
and a second infeed conveyor 4b, implemented as conveyor belts, and
a subsequent first collecting conveyor 5a and second collecting
conveyor 5b (hidden in this view), implemented as conveyor belts,
transport filled trays 6 to the workstations 3a, 3b. A first
gripper 7a and a second gripper 7b, each with two gripper arms 8,
grip the trays 6 and convey them into the workstations 3a, 3b. A
first cover film 10a and a second cover film 10b can be drawn from
a first film dispenser 9a and a second film dispenser 9b and are
likewise guided into the workstations 3a, 3b. After evacuation
and/or gas flushing of the trays 6 with an exchange gas (MAP), the
trays 6 can be sealed airtight with the cover film 10a, 10b drawn
from the film dispensers 9a, 9b. Afterwards, simultaneously, or
beforehand, a cutting tool cuts the cover film 10a, 10b. The
residual film trim from the film 10a, 10b may be wound onto a first
film trim rewinder 11a and a second film trim rewinder 11b. The
sealed and singulated packages 12 are placed on a first outfeed
belt 13a or on a second outfeed belt 13b, implemented as conveyor
belts, and are thus transported out of the workstations 3a, 3b and
out of the tray sealer 1 in the direction of production P. Two
operating terminals 14a, 14b may be provided to visually display
the operation and the operational state of the tray sealer 1 and
make it possible for one operator to operate the tray sealer 1.
Control cabinets 30, for example for a service technician, can be
located below the infeed belts 4a, 4b and the outfeed belts 13a,
13b, which control cabinets can be opened, and are thus accessible,
perpendicular to the direction of production P and facing away from
the machine.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows that the tray sealer 1, which can process four
lanes S of trays 6, can be divided in the direction of production P
into a right part la and a left part 1b, which process a first
double lane DS1 and a second double lane DS2. A spacing B
perpendicular to the direction of production P between the first
double lane DS1 and the second double lane DS2 in the region of the
collecting conveyors 5a, 5b or in the region of the workstations
3a, 3b may be smaller than a width A of the first double lane DS1
or the second double lane DS2. The spacing A is defined by the
width of two trays placed one beside the other on a double lane
DS1, DS2 of an infeed belt 4a, 4b or outfeed belt 13a, 13b. The
right part la of the tray sealer 1 can be operated via the
operating terminal 14a and the left part 1b of the tray sealer 1
can be operated via the operating terminal 14b. It is also possible
for only one common operating terminal to be provided for both
parts 1a and 1b. In this design, this terminal can be attached to a
pivoting arm 15 so that the tray sealer 1 can be operated from both
sides. A common controller 16 can be provided in the control
cabinet, which can be located in or on the tray sealer 1. It is
likewise possible for two separate controllers to be provided for
the two parts 1a and 1b. The controller 16 may be connected to the
operating terminals 14a, 14b for data exchange.
[0027] The two parts 1a and 1b of the tray sealer 1 can each have a
workstation 3a, 3b, a collecting conveyor 5a, 5b, an outfeed
conveyor 13a, 13b, a gripper 7a, 7b with two gripper arms 8, a film
dispenser 9a, 9b, a cover film 10a, 10b, and a film trim rewinder
11a, 11b. A partition 17 between the two parts 1a and 1b provides
safety separation of the two parts 1a, 1b of the tray sealer 1. The
partition 17 ensures that no operator of the part 1a can reach into
the operating region of the part 1b, and vice versa, with parts of
his body. While the part 1a seals trays 6 with a cover film 10, the
part 1b can be cleaned or maintained. A die change at the
workstations 3a, 3b is also possible. Depending on the quantity of
trays 6 supplied, the two parts 1a and 1b can be operated with
different capacities.
[0028] For reasons of clarity, covers on the sides and top of the
workstations 3a, 3b and in the region of the collecting conveyor
5a, 5b and the outfeed belts 13a, 13b are not shown in the
drawings.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
* * * * *