U.S. patent application number 13/813975 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-06 for apparatus for producing a pack.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROBERT BOSCH GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is Peter Slenders. Invention is credited to Peter Slenders.
Application Number | 20130139480 13/813975 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44626934 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130139480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Slenders; Peter |
June 6, 2013 |
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A PACK
Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a pack (20)
from a packaging-material web, comprising a forming tube (2), a
filling tube (11), which runs, in part, through the forming tube, a
forming shoulder (3), which is arranged on the forming tube (2) and
is A intended for forming a flexible enveloping tube, a folding
means (7), which is arranged downstream of the forming shoulder
(3), as seen in the conveying direction (A) of the flexible
enveloping tube, and a sealing means (6) with a multiplicity of
sealing units (6a, 6b), which are arranged downstream of the
folding means (7), as seen in the conveying direction (A) of the
flexible enveloping tube, wherein the forming tube (2) has a first
diameter (D1) and in the filling tube (11) has a second diameter
(D2) wherein the first diameter (D1) is greater than the second
diameter (D2), wherein the folding means (7) is arranged at the end
has first of the forming tube (2) and wherein the folding means (7)
has a parabola-form folding element (8) in order to form folds in
the flexible, enveloping tube, the parabola-form folding element
(8) being arranged such that a vertex (9) of the parabola-form
folding element (8) is directed counter to the conveying direction
(A).
Inventors: |
Slenders; Peter; (Maarheeze,
NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Slenders; Peter |
Maarheeze |
|
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Stuttgart
DE
|
Family ID: |
44626934 |
Appl. No.: |
13/813975 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
June 1, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2011/059102 |
371 Date: |
February 4, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/575 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/213 20130101;
B65B 9/2028 20130101; B65B 9/22 20130101; B65B 9/20 20130101; B65B
2220/12 20130101; B65B 9/2042 20130101; B65B 51/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/575 |
International
Class: |
B65B 9/20 20060101
B65B009/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 2, 2010 |
DE |
10 2010 038 776.2 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for producing a pack (20) from a packaging-material
web, comprising: a forming tube (2), a filling tube (11), which
runs, in part, through the forming tube, a forming shoulder (3),
which is arranged on the forming tube (2) for forming a flexible
enveloping tube, a folding means (7), which is arranged downstream
of the forming shoulder (3), as seen in a conveying direction (A)
of the flexible enveloping tube, and a sealing means (6) with a
multiplicity of sealing units (6a, 6b), which are arranged
downstream of the folding means (7), as seen in the conveying
direction (A) of the flexible enveloping tube, wherein the forming
tube (2) has a first diameter (D1) and the filling tube (11) has a
second diameter (D2), wherein the first diameter (D1) is greater
than the second diameter (D2), wherein the folding means (7) is
arranged at an end of the forming tube (2) and wherein the folding
means (7) has a parabola-form folding element (8) in order to form
folds in the flexible enveloping tube, the parabola-form folding
element (8) being arranged such that a vertex (9) of the
parabola-form folding element (8) is directed counter to the
conveying direction (A).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a
parabola-form recess (10) is formed at the end of the forming tube
(2), wherein the parabola-form folding element (8) protrudes into
the parabola-form recess (10) such that a parabola-form gap (5)
develops, wherein the packaging-material web is displaced in order
to form the folds which are to be sealed.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising exactly four
folding means (7), which are arranged along a circumference of the
end of the forming tube (2).
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a
parabolic shape of the parabola-form folding element (8) is
different with respect to a parabolic shape of the parabola-form
recess (10).
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sealing units of the sealing means are drag sealing units.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a feed
device (13) for moving the flexible enveloping tube in the
conveying direction (A).
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the
feed device (13) is disposed between two sealing units of the
sealing means (6), as seen in a circumferential direction of the
filling tube (11).
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
retaining element (15) for holding the forming tube (2) to a table
top (12).
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sealing units (6a, 6b) of the sealing means have a length (L1) in
the conveying direction (A) of the flexible enveloping tube, which
is less than a length of edges (21, 22, 23, 24) on the pack (20)
which have been produced.
10. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a
vertex of the parabola-form folding element (8) and a vertex (10a)
of the parabola-form recess (10) lie in a straight line parallel to
the conveying direction (A).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing
a pack from a packaging-material web, which particularly produces
packs comprising a plurality of sealing edges in the longitudinal
direction of the pack.
[0002] Apparatuses for producing packs from a packaging-material
web are known from the prior art in different designs and are
frequently referred to as "form-fill-seal bagging machines". The
production of food packs, in which food is stored, is, for example,
an application of such an apparatus. The German patent publication
DE 101 59 053 A1 proposes, for example, to provide seal seams in
the packaging-material web prior to producing a flexible enveloping
tube, said seal seams then forming the corners of the pack after
the flexible enveloping tube has been produced. This apparatus has
basically proved to be successful. However, in order to produce the
seal seams, a corresponding machine part has to be disposed
upstream of the actual bag forms, which leads to very large design
space requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The apparatus according to the invention has, in contrast,
the advantage of being designed in a compact and space-saving
manner. In addition, different packs having different numbers of
seal seams in the longitudinal direction can be produced in a
simple way. This end is achieved according to the invention by
virtue of the fact that the apparatus for producing a pack from a
packaging-material web comprises a forming tube, a filling tube as
well as a forming shoulder for forming a plastic tube. Furthermore,
a folding means is provided which is disposed downstream of the
forming shoulder, as seen in the conveying direction of the
flexible enveloping tube. The forming tube thereby has a first
diameter in the region of the forming shoulder, and the filling
tube has a second diameter, which is smaller than the first
diameter, in the region of the folding means. In so doing, a
reduction in the diameter of the flexible enveloping tube is
achieved; and therefore outwardly directed folds in said flexible
enveloping tube can be folded by the folding means. Said folds can
then be sealed and form edge regions in the finished state of the
pack. In order to achieve a continuous folding via the folding
means, said folding means comprises at least one parabola-form
folding element, wherein the folding process begins at a vertex of
the parabola. That means that the parabola-form folding element is
arranged such that the vertex is oriented in the direction of the
forming shoulder, i.e. counter to the conveying direction of said
flexible enveloping tube. The excess material at the forming tube
resulting from the reduction in diameter can therefore be guided
along the parabola-form folding element and be folded into a fold,
which can subsequently be sealed by the sealing means.
[0004] In order to achieve an especially good folding result,
parabola-form recesses are likewise preferably formed on the
forming tube. A parabola-form gap is thus provided between the
parabola-form folding element and the parabola-form recesses in the
forming tube, through which gap the flexible enveloping tube can be
guided. The parabolic shapes are thereby preferably different;
wherein in a particularly preferred manner, the parabolic shape of
the parabola-form recess is more elongated than that of the
parabola-form folding element. According to a further preferred
embodiment of the invention, the parabolic shape of the
parabola-form folding element and/or of the parabola-form recesses
is asymmetrical.
[0005] In a particularly preferred manner, the folding means
comprises exactly four parabola-form folding elements as well as
preferably likewise exactly four parabola-form recesses. In this
way, packs can be produced having a maximum of four sealing
edges.
[0006] According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the sealing units are drag sealing units, which
facilitate a sealing process of the folds during a movement of the
flexible enveloping tube. It should be noted that even in the case
of a temporary stoppage in order to seal a transverse seam, the
drag sealing units can also still seal in order to obtain a better
sealing result.
[0007] The apparatus further preferably comprises a feed device for
moving the flexible enveloping tube in the conveying direction. The
feed device is preferably a rotating belt which engages on the
outside of said flexible enveloping tube. In a particularly
preferred manner, said feed device is disposed in the
circumferential direction between sealing units of the sealing
means in order to enable an overall axial length of said means
which is as short as possible.
[0008] The apparatus further preferably comprises a retaining
element in order to hold the forming tube to a table top or
something similar. A recess, through which the forming tube is
guided, is then to be formed in the table top or similar
object.
[0009] The sealing units further preferably have a length in the
conveying direction of the flexible enveloping tube which is less
than a length of the edges on the pack which have been produced.
This is possible because the sealing units are designed as drag
sealing units so that a sealing process can not only be performed
during a stoppage of the intermittently operating machine, if,
e.g., a transverse seal seam is being produced, but also during the
feed of the flexible enveloping tube.
[0010] The vertexes of the parabola-form folding element and the
parabola-form recess further preferably lie in a straight line
which is parallel to the conveying direction of the flexible
enveloping tube.
[0011] The packs produced with the apparatus according to the
invention are preferably used for food items. The packs can
thereby, for example, have five seal seams in the longitudinal
direction, namely four edge seal seams on the edges of the pack as
well as a median longitudinal seam. In one embodiment of the
inventive machine, only four seams can be required if the median
longitudinal seam coincides in fact with an edge sealing seam.
Furthermore, packs having only two lateral edge seal seams can also
be produced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of an apparatus
for producing a pack pursuant to one preferred exemplary embodiment
of the invention, as seen obliquely from below,
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a simplified, perspective view of the apparatus
of FIG. 1, as seen obliquely from above,
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1
and 2, which depicts a folding means according to the invention,
and
[0016] FIGS. 4a to 4d show different packs which can be produced
using the apparatus from FIGS. 1 to 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] An apparatus 1 for producing a pack from a
packaging-material web is described below in detail with reference
to FIGS. 1 to 3. Apparatuses 1 of this kind are also referred to as
form-fill-seal bagging machines, in which a plastic tube, from
which a pack can then be produced, is first formed from a
packaging-material web. In this example a vertical form-fill-seal
bagging machine is depicted.
[0018] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 comprises a
forming tube 2, on which a forming shoulder 3 is arranged. A
filling tube 11, which can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, furthermore
runs in the forming tube 2, said filling tube extending a greater
length than that of said forming tube 2.
[0019] The apparatus 1 further comprises a sealing means 6 having a
multiplicity of sealing units 6a, 6b as well as a folding means 7
for producing outwardly directed folds in a flexible enveloping
tube produced by means of the forming shoulder 3. The folds
produced in the folding means 7 are then sealed in the sealing
means 6, wherein the sealed folds serve as stiffened edges for the
pack to be produced.
[0020] The folding means 7 is depicted in detail in FIG. 3 while
leaving out obscuring components. Said folding means 7 comprises a
plurality of parabola-form folding elements 8, which have a vertex
9 that is oriented in the direction of the forming tube 2. The
shape of the parabola-form folding elements 8 is selected
corresponding to the desired edge form of the pack. Parabola-form
recesses are further provided in each case at corresponding
positions with respect to the parabola-form folding elements 8 on
the free end of the forming tube 2, which end is directed to the
folding means 7. The end of the forming tube 2 therefore comprises
a plurality of parabola-form recesses 10, which are arranged along
the circumference. The parabolic curves of the parabola-form
recesses 10 thereby intersect in a region 17, in which the folds
are formed from the flexible enveloping tube.
[0021] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the forming tube 2 has a diameter
Dl which is larger than a diameter D2 of the filling tube 11. After
being shaped by the forming shoulder, the flexible enveloping tube,
which is not depicted in FIG. 3, fits closely around the forming
tube 2 and is transported downwards. In so doing, said flexible
enveloping tube is drawn into a parabola-form gap 5 between the
parabola-form recess 10 and the parabola-form folding element 8. In
this exemplary embodiment, the sealing means comprises in total
four sealing units; and therefore four parabola-form recesses 10
are also correspondingly provided on the end of the forming tube 2.
As can likewise be seen in FIG. 3, the regions of the flexible
enveloping tube which overlap due to the reduction in diameter of
D1 to D2 are guided through the parabola-form folding elements 8 to
the region 17 where the folds are formed so that the desired folds
can be produced using the excess material resulting from the
reduction in diameter of D1 to D2. In this exemplary embodiment,
exactly four folds are produced, wherein a fold which closes the
flexible enveloping tube and, e.g., could also be provided as a
median longitudinal seam on the pack coincides with an edge
fold.
[0022] As can further be seen in FIG. 3, a sealing unit 6a, 6b is
arranged below each region 17 for forming folds at corresponding
positions as seen in the conveying direction of the flexible
enveloping tube. For the sake of clarity, a sealing unit lying
below the region 17 for forming folds is not depicted.
[0023] The flexible enveloping tube is conveyed by means of a feed
device 13 shown in FIG. 1, wherein the feed device 13 comprises two
rotating belts 14, which are motor-driven. The two belts 14 are
thereby arranged on the filling tube 11 at positions which are
opposed to each other by 180E.
[0024] It should be further noted that the sealing units 6a, 6b of
the sealing means 6 are provided as drag sealing means, with which
a sealing operation is possible during a stoppage of the flexible
enveloping tube as well as when said flexible enveloping tube is
being conveyed. Because the depicted form-fill-seal bagging machine
has an intermittent mode of operation in order to respectively
produce corresponding transverse seal seams, a sealing takes place
even during a stoppage of the machine. In this connection,
provision can be made for the sealing process to be interrupted
after a certain amount of stoppage time in order to avoid too large
of a heat generation at the fold to be sealed.
[0025] As can be especially seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
form-fill-seal bagging machine 1 further comprises a table 12,
whereat a protruding retaining element 15 for holding the forming
tube 2 is disposed. A through hole for the feedthrough of the
forming tube 2 and the filling tube 11 is provided in the table 12
itself. The sealing means 6 as well as the folding means 7 is
thereby disposed below the table 12, and the forming shoulder 3 is
disposed above said table 12. The fed packaging-material web is
therefore formed into a flexible enveloping tube at the forming
shoulder and guided along the exterior circumference of the forming
tube 2 through the table 12 to the folding means 7 and then to the
folding means 6.
[0026] It should be further noted that a length L1 of the sealing
units 6a, 6b is shorter than a length L2 of the produced pack. As
an alternative, a length L1 of the sealing units can also be longer
than a length L2 of the produced pack. Examples of the pack which
can be produced by means of the inventive form-fill-seal bagging
machine are shown in FIGS. 4a to 4d. FIG. 4a thereby shows a pack
comprising in total five longitudinal seal seams, namely a first
longitudinal sealing seam 21, a second longitudinal sealing seam
22, a third longitudinal sealing seam 23 and a fourth longitudinal
sealing seam 24. A median longitudinal seam is denoted with the
reference numeral 25. In order to produce such a pack, a median
longitudinal seam sealing unit 60 is additionally provided on the
form-fill-seal bagging machine depicted in FIG. 1. In addition, a
top seam 26 as well as a base seam, which is not shown, is
available on the pack 20. The pack shown in FIG. 4b has basically
the same design as the pack shown in FIG. 4a; however, the median
longitudinal seam coincides with one of the edge longitudinal
seams. In so doing, an additional sealing unit for the median
longitudinal seam can be eliminated. FIGS. 4c and 4d show packs,
which are self-standing, because said packs have at the base
thereof a stiff circumferential base seam 27 provided at the edge.
Such packs are also designated as "doypacks". These packs are
rotated about an angle of 90E so that the lateral seams are
actually the top and base seams when the pack stands upright. For
that reason, the pack length L2 is horizontally delineated in FIGS.
4c and 4d. Such packs can be produced having exactly three sealing
means. The pack shown in FIG. 4d is provided with an overlap 28 for
reclosing the pack. In this case, a top seam can be eliminated. The
overlap can, for example, be provided by means of adhesive bonding
on the body of the pack.
[0027] According to the invention, an intermittent form-fill-seal
bagging machine 1 having a very compact design, in particular as
seen in the conveying direction A of the flexible enveloping tube,
is provided. By making provision for the parabola-form folding
elements 8, a fast and reliable shaping of folds to be sealed can
be achieved, said folds being subsequently sealed by the sealing
means 6. The form-fill-seal bagging machine according to the
invention can thereby be quickly retrofitted for use with other
packs, for example by exchanging the complete forming system
(forming shoulder including filling pipe) and/or removing
parabola-form folding elements or removing sealing units of the
sealing means.
[0028] The parabolic shapes of the parabola-form folding element 8
and the parabola-form recess 10 are furthermore preferably
different. In particular, the formed parts on the front and back
are the same and likewise the formed parts on the left and right
side. The formed parts on the front and rear are however not the
same as the formed parts on the left and right side.
* * * * *