U.S. patent application number 15/443359 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for reception sleeve.
The applicant listed for this patent is MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmuller SE & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Albert Gabler.
Application Number | 20170253459 15/443359 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55484856 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170253459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gabler; Albert |
September 7, 2017 |
RECEPTION SLEEVE
Abstract
A reception sleeve that may be mounted on a mandrel of a
packaging machine for winding up a film used in the packaging
process on the reception sleeve. The reception sleeve may include a
plurality of hinges. Each hinge may have a hinge axis, wherein each
hinge axis may be oriented in a direction parallel to a central
axis of the reception sleeve. The reception sleeve may be mounted
on a reception mandrel of the packaging machine, preferably for
winding a residual film grid remaining after sealing trays in the
packaging machine. The mandrel may include a mechanism for
selectively tensioning the reception sleeve thereon to tension the
reception sleeve to allow the mandrel to transfer a winding torque
to the reception sleeve, and to reduce the tension so the reception
sleeve can easily be removed from the mandrel.
Inventors: |
Gabler; Albert;
(Lachen-Albishofen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmuller SE & Co. KG |
Wolfertschwenden |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
55484856 |
Appl. No.: |
15/443359 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/41446
20130101; B65H 18/08 20130101; B65H 2701/37 20130101; B65H 75/242
20130101; B65H 2701/1752 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 75/24 20060101
B65H075/24; B65H 18/08 20060101 B65H018/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 2, 2016 |
EP |
16 158 285.3 |
Claims
1. A reception sleeve for winding up a film at a packaging machine,
wherein the reception sleeve comprises: a plurality of hinges,
wherein said hinges are oriented parallel to a central axis of the
reception sleeve.
2. The reception sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the reception
sleeve comprises at least two adjacent link elements that define
one of said plurality of hinges.
3. The reception sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the at least
two link elements are configured to be folded inwards towards the
central axis of the reception sleeve.
4. The reception sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the reception
sleeve comprises at least five link elements.
5. The reception sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the link
elements each comprise an articulation axis, wherein all the
articulation axes are oriented parallel to one another.
6. The reception sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the reception
sleeve is configured to be tensioned into a substantially
cylindrical shape.
7. The reception sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the reception
sleeve is configured to be pushed onto a reception mandrel of a
residual film winder of said packaging machine.
8. A method of winding-up a film on a packaging machine said method
comprising the following steps: pushing a reception sleeve onto a
reception mandrel of a residual film winder of said packaging
machine, wherein said reception sleeve comprises a plurality of
hinges and said hinges are parallel to a central axis of the
reception sleeve; winding a film onto the reception sleeve to form
a roll of the film; pulling off the reception sleeve together with
the roll of the film from the reception mandrel after the winding
step; folding the reception sleeve inwards toward the central axis
on one of the plurality of hinges after the pulling off step; and
removing the reception sleeve from the roll after the folding
step.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step:
tensioning the reception sleeve on the reception mandrel using at
least one tensioner, so the reception mandrel is operable to
transmit a torque to the reception sleeve for winding up a
film.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of
relaxing the reception sleeve on the reception mandrel after the
tensioning step.
11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of
tensioning the reception sleeve such that it assumes a
substantially cylindrical shape.
12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the packaging machine
is a tray sealing machine and the film is a residual film grid,
wherein the residual film grid including the portion of the film
remaining after the trays have been sealed and the tray lids have
been cut from said film.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority to European Patent
Application Number 16158285.3 filed Mar. 2, 2016, to Albert Gabler,
currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a reception sleeve that can
be mounted on a mandrel of a packaging machine for winding a
film.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION'
[0003] FR 2 770 502 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,092; US 2007/0278342
A1; and DE 102008033349 A1 disclose embodiments of film winders.
The winders disclosed in these references may be provided with
mandrels comprising radially adjustable tensioning elements so
that, after the winding process, the roll with the wound-up film
material can be removed or pulled off from the mandrel. In
practice, all these devices often experience the problem that, in
the case of thin webs, the residual film grid is wound up under
high tensile stress and the diameter reduction through the radially
adjustable tensioning elements is incapable of compensating for the
constriction applied by the wound up, tensioned film, and it is
still difficult to easily remove the roll from the mandrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is the object of the present invention to improve the
removal of a wound-up residual film grid from a residual film
winder, in particular the residual film winder of tray sealers.
[0005] This object is achieved by a reception sleeve according to
the present invention used for winding up a film, preferably a
residual film grid, at a packaging machine, wherein the reception
sleeve comprises a plurality of hinges, said hinges being oriented
parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve. A residual film
grid is the remaining portion of a film after the packages have
been sealed with the film and the packages have been cut-out and/or
separated from the film during the production of a sealed package
in a packaging machine. The reception sleeve may fold into itself
for removing the reception sleeve from a film roll that has been
wound thereon, and allow re-use of the reception sleeve for a
subsequent winding operation.
[0006] Preferably, the reception sleeve may comprise at least two
respective neighboring or adjacent link elements, which define
respective hinges, so as to allow the formation of a hinge by means
of this simple structural design. All the link elements in common
substantially define in particular an annularly closed, hollow,
approximately cylindrical body.
[0007] The link elements may be configured to be folded inwards
towards the central axis of the reception sleeve.
[0008] Preferably, the reception sleeve may comprise at least five
link elements, so that, when the reception sleeve is folded up, the
outer diameter thereof can be reduced to a high degree.
[0009] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, all the
link elements may comprise articulation axes, and all of the
articulation axes may be configured to be oriented such that they
are parallel to one another, so as to allow easy handling when the
reception sleeve is applied to the tensioning mandrel and when it
is being removed from the roll.
[0010] The reception sleeve may be preferably adapted to be formed
into an approximately cylindrical shape, so that it can easily be
pushed onto the cylindrical tensioning mandrel.
[0011] The reception sleeve may preferably be composed of link
elements, which are articulated on one another.
[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the reception
sleeve may be configured such that it can be pushed onto a
reception mandrel of a residual film winder of a packaging machine,
preferably of a tray sealer. A method according to the present
invention may be used for winding-up a film using a reception
sleeve as described above, preferably winding-up a residual film
grid, at a packaging machine, wherein the reception sleeve
comprises a plurality of hinges and said hinges being oriented
parallel to a central axis of the reception sleeve, wherein the
method may comprise the following steps: (1)pushing the reception
sleeve onto a reception mandrel of a residual film winder, (2)
winding a film or a residual film grid onto the reception sleeve so
as to form a roll, (3) relaxing the reception sleeve, (4) pulling
the reception sleeve, together with the roll, off from the
reception mandrel, (5) folding the reception sleeve inwards, and
(6) removing the reception sleeve from the roll.
[0013] Preferably, the method may also comprise the following step:
tensioning the reception sleeve on the reception mandrel using a
tensioning unit, so as to allow the reception mandrel to transmit a
torque to the reception sleeve for winding up a film, and/or
un-tensioning or reducing the tension applied to the reception
sleeve to relax the reception sleeve for removal from the reception
mandrel.
[0014] It will be advantageous to form the reception sleeve such
that it assumes an approximately cylindrical shape during
tensioning on the reception mandrel.
[0015] It is also imaginable to provide an alternative embodiment,
wherein the reception sleeve is connected to the reception mandrel
using one or a plurality of follower members such that the torque
is transmitted from the tensioning mandrel to the reception sleeve
through the follower member(s). Likewise, the reception sleeve may
be tensioned on the reception mandrel using two conical bushings
serving as tensioners, optionally also using follower members, in
that the two bushings take hold of the reception sleeve through an
axially oriented movement towards one another, so that the torque
can be transmitted from the mandrel to the reception sleeve.
[0016] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0017] In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the present
invention will be explained in more detail making reference to the
following drawings, in which the individual figures show:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of
a tray sealer in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a residual
film winder, a reception mandrel, and a reception sleeve according
to the teachings of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
reception sleeve of FIG. 2 partially pushed onto the reception
mandrel;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view of the residual film winder of FIG.
2, wherein the reception sleeve is mounted on the reception mandrel
in a tensioned condition;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reception sleeve of FIG.
2 having a roll of a residual film grid wound thereon;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front view of the residual film winder of FIG.
2, wherein the reception sleeve is mounted on the reception mandrel
in a relaxed condition;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a reception
sleeve in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure,
wherein the reception sleeve is removed from the tensioning
mandrel, and the residual film grid is wound upon the reception
sleeve in a roll;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a front view of the reception sleeve of FIG. 7
having the residual film grid wound thereon, wherein the reception
sleeve is in a partially folded condition; and
[0026] FIG. 9 is a front view of one embodiment of a reception
sleeve in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure
illustrating the folded reception sleeve after the reception sleeve
is removed from the roll of the residual film grid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a packaging machine 1 in the form of a tray
sealing machine, also referred to as tray sealer. The packaging
machine 1 comprises a feed belt 2, one or a plurality of work
stations 3 (for example, an evacuating station, a sealing station
and a cutting station), a discharge belt 4, a machine frame 5, a
gripper system 6, a film tensioning device 7, an operating device
8, a film supply roll 9 and a residual film winder 10.
[0030] During operation, the feed belt 2 and the discharge belt 4
may be used for transporting tray-shaped packages into and out of
the work station 3 using the gripper system 6. In the work station
3, the packages may be evacuated, gas-flushed, sealed and cut. A
film 11 is supplied by the film supply roll 9 and passed through
the film tensioning device 7. In the work station 3, the package,
which is not shown in detail, is sealed with the film 11 and an
air-tight package is produced. The remaining cut-off residual film
is wound up in the form of what is known as a residual film grid
using the residual film winder 10 to form a roll 12 of the residual
film grid.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a reception mandrel 13 of
the residual film winder 10 and a reception sleeve 20 according to
the present invention. The reception sleeve 20 has a central axis
30 in a longitudinal direction. The reception mandrel 13 comprises
tensioning units (tensioners) 14 in the form of paddles, which can
be adjusted in radial expansion of the reception mandrel 13 so as
to allow tensioning of the reception sleeve 20 on the reception
mandrel to allow for transferring torque from the reception mandrel
13 to the reception sleeve 20 to wind the film. The reception
mandrel 13 has a push-on and centering device 15 at the front end
thereof for supporting pushing-on of the flexibly configured
reception sleeve 20, also shown in FIG. 3.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the residual film winder 10
with the reception sleeve 20, in its pushed-on condition, and four
tensioning units 14 at an outwardly tensioned position, at which
they apply pressure to the inner side of the reception sleeve 20
(cf. the direction of the arrows), so as to allow transfer of the
torque required for winding-up the film 11 from mandrel 13 to
reception sleeve 20. Also a different number of tensioning units or
a different variant of tensioning units are imaginable for
tensioning the reception sleeve 20 on the reception mandrel 13 and
are within the scope of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a wound-up roll 12 of a residual film grid on
reception sleeve 20. In order to allow the roll 12 to be pulled off
from the reception mandrel 13 together with the reception sleeve
20, as shown in FIG. 6, the tensioning units 14 are folded inwards
in advance, so as to eliminate the tension and allow an almost
friction-free removal of the reception sleeve 20 as shown in FIG.
7.
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the residual film winder 10
with the reception sleeve 20 positioned on the reception mandrel
13, the tensioning units 14 being here relaxed (see the direction
of the arrows) and the reception sleeve 20 being adapted to be
pulled off from the reception mandrel 13, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0035] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the reception sleeve 20
comprising nine link elements 21, wherein the link elements 21 are
each articulated on a respective neighboring or adjacent link
element 21 and rotatable or pivotable relative to one another about
an articulation axis A. Two respective neighboring or adjacent link
elements 21 define a hinge 40, and the link elements 21 are adapted
to be pivoted or folded about the articulation axis A, which also
defines the hinge axis. The articulation axes A and thus also the
hinges 40 are oriented parallel to the central axis 30. This
allows, in a first step, inward pivoting of at least two link
elements 21a, b, so as to reduce the compression applied to the
reception sleeve 20 that has been generated during the film winding
process due to the tensioned film being wound thereon.
[0036] FIG. 9 shows the reception sleeve 20 at a position, at
which, in a second step, a plurality of link elements 21 have been
folded inwards, thus allowing the reception sleeve 20 to be very
easily removed from the roll 12 and to be subsequently pushed again
onto the reception mandrel 13 in an unfolded state to be re-used to
wind another roll of cut-off residual film.
[0037] According to further imaginable variants of the reception
sleeve 20, a different number of link elements 21 is imaginable and
within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, link
elements 21 may be produced from a rigid or semi-flexible material.
Other link elements may be similar to link elements or link chains
known from EP 1270454 A1.
[0038] 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.
[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.
* * * * *