Work station for a packaging machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10315375-B2
Application number	US-201113328192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2011
Priority date	Dec 16, 2010
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A work station for a packaging machine comprises a tool structure and a tool movable relative to the tool structure by means of a drive. The drive comprises at least one countermagnet which is operatively connectable to an electromagnet and movable relative to the electromagnet. The drive further comprises a mechanism by means of which the movement of the tool is unidirectionally coupled to the relative movement of the countermagnet relative to the electromagnet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work station for a packaging machine, the work station comprising:
a tool structure comprising an upper part and a lower part, the upper part and the lower part defining a chamber and being disposed for movement relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, the chamber being hermetically sealed in the closed position;
a tool disposed within the chamber of the tool structure and the tool being disposed for movement relative to the tool structure;
a guide disposed for guiding movement of the tool relative to the tool structure; and
a drive for moving the tool relative to the tool structure, wherein the drive is operably connected to the tool with a transfer device, the drive comprising an electromagnet for selectively creating an electromagnetic force upon the application of an electrical current through the electromagnet, a countermagnet operably connected to the transfer device, wherein the countermagnet is disposed for linear movement between a position of rest and an operating position, and wherein the countermagnet is selectively moved between the position of rest and the operating position to move the tool by selectively applying an electrical current through the electromagnet to apply one of an attraction force or a repulsion force upon said countermagnet.

2. A work station according to claim 1 wherein the tool device is disposed for movement in an axial direction, and the electromagnet and the countermagnet are spaced apart in the axial direction by a gap of variable width.

3. A work station according to claim 2 wherein the drive is configured such that when an electrical current is selectively applied to the electromagnet to apply an attraction force to the countermagnet, the attraction force between the electromagnet and the countermagnet increases as the width of the gap between the electromagnet and the countermagnet decreases.

4. A work station according to claim 1 wherein the countermagnet is a flat magnet.

5. A work station according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnet is coupled to the tool structure or to the tool.

6. A work station according to claim 1 wherein the countermagnet is a second electromagnet or a permanent magnet.

7. A work station according to claim 1 wherein the countermagnet comprises a magnetizable material.

8. A work station according to claim 1 further comprising a docking magnet for docking thereto the countermagnet when or the countermagnet is at the position of rest.

9. A work station according to claim 8 wherein the docking magnet comprises a magnetic stainless steel plate.

10. A work station according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the docking magnet, the electromagnet or the countermagnet has a surface that is provided with a damping material.

11. A work station according to claim 1 further comprising at least one spring associated with the tool for biasing the tool.

12. A work station according to claim 1 wherein the electrical current selectively applied to the electromagnet is a pulse-wave-modified current.

13. A work station according to claim 12 , further comprising a docking magnet disposed to retain the countermagnet in the position of rest, wherein when the countermagnet moves toward the position of rest and the docking magnet, the electromagnet is adapted to have supplied thereto a predetermined sequence of current pulses having a varying pulse frequency for decelerating the countermagnet as the countermagnet approaches the position of rest.

14. A work station for a packaging machine, the work station comprising:
a tool structure comprising an upper part and a lower part, the upper part and the lower part defining a chamber, the upper part and the lower part being disposed for an opening and a closing movement, wherein the chamber is hermetically sealed upon completion of said closing movement of the upper part and the lower part;
a tool disposed within the chamber and the tool disposed for movement relative to the tool structure;
a guide device for guiding the movement of the tool in a pre-determined path; and
a drive operably connected to the tool by a transfer device, the drive moves the tool relative to the tool structure, the drive comprising an electromagnet for selectively creating an electromagnetic force upon the application of an electrical current through the electromagnet, a countermagnet operably connected to the transfer device, wherein the countermagnet is disposed for linear movement between a position of rest and an operating position, and wherein the countermagnet is selectively moved between the position of rest and the operating position to move the tool by selectively applying an electrical current through the electromagnet to apply one of an attraction force or a repulsion force upon said countermagnet;
wherein said guide device engages one of the tool or the transfer device to guide the movement of the tool relative to the tool structure.

15. A work station for a packaging machine, the work station comprising:
a tool structure, the tool structure comprising an upper part and a lower part, the upper part and the lower part of the tool structure are disposed for movement relative to each other in operation to be closed to form a hermetically sealed chamber around a tool;
the tool being disposed within the chamber and disposed for movement relative to the tool structure;
a drive for moving the tool relative to the tool structure within the chamber, wherein the drive is operably connected to the tool with a transfer device, the drive comprising an electromagnet for selectively creating an electromagnetic force upon the application of an electrical current through the electromagnet, a countermagnet operably connected to the transfer device, wherein the countermagnet is disposed for linear movement between a position of rest and an operating position, and wherein the countermagnet is selectively moved between the position of rest and the operating position to move the tool by selectively applying an electrical current through the electromagnet to apply one of an attraction force or a repulsion force upon said countermagnet; and
a docking magnet for retaining the countermagnet thereon in the position of rest of the countermagnet.

16. A work station according to claim 15 wherein the tool is operably connected to the transfer device in the position of rest and the operating position.

17. A work station according to claim 16 wherein the countermagnet has a first side and a second side, said docking magnet disposed on a first side of said countermagnet and said electromagnet disposed on a second side of said countermagnet.

Assignees

• Capriotti Luciano
• Ehrmann Elmar
• Multivac Haggenmueller Kg

Inventors

• Capriotti Luciano
• Ehrmann Elmar

Classifications

• B29C66/849

  Packaging machines · CPC title

• B29C66/81427

  comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth · CPC title

• B29C66/00145

  Vacuum, e.g. partial vacuum · CPC title

• B29C66/112

  Single lapped joints · CPC title

• B30B1/42 Primary

  by magnetic means, e.g. electromagnetic · CPC title