Packaging machine having a bus node assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11418359-B2
Application number	US-201716472474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

In a packaging machine, a work station has an interior, which is surrounded by a wall and which has arranged therein a tool with at least one heating element or actor. The invention is characterized by a bus node assembly that is attached to the outside of the wall facing away from the interior and which comprises a housing cap, a circuit board and an interface connected to the circuit board and used for connection to a communication bus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging machine comprising a work station having an interior, which is surrounded by a wall and which has arranged therein a tool having one of at least one heating element or at least one actor, wherein an outside of the wall facing away from the interior has attached thereto a bus node assembly comprising the following:
a housing cap;
at least one circuit board populated with electronic components; and
an interface connected to the at least one circuit board and used for connection to a communication bus;
wherein the bus node assembly is configured to at least one of provide one or more items of information on the tool or receive control data for the tool via the interface.

2. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the bus node assembly comprises a carrier for the circuit board.

3. The packaging machine according to claim 2 , wherein the carrier hermetically separates a first side of the carrier facing the circuit board from a second side of the carrier facing away from the circuit board.

4. The packaging machine according to claim 2 , wherein the carrier comprises aluminum.

5. The packaging machine according to claim 2 , wherein the bus node assembly is disposed on top of an opening in the wall such that the housing cap fully covers the opening.

6. The packaging machine according to claim 2 , wherein a seal is disposed between the carrier and the circuit board.

7. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the housing cap is releasably fastened to the wall.

8. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein an annular seal extends annularly around the housing cap thereby sealing the housing cap against the outside of the wall.

9. The packaging machine according to claim 8 , wherein the annular seal is transparent or translucent.

10. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the bus node assembly comprises at least one light source.

11. The packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one light source is arranged at one of inside the housing cap or on an edge of the housing cap facing an annular seal.

12. The packaging machine according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one light source is controllable for generating different colors, different illumination intensities and/or different temporal or spatial light patterns.

13. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more items of information on the tool comprise an identification of the tool, and the one or more items of information are providable via the interface.

14. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the interface is a bidirectional interface and a communication via the interface is encrypted.

15. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one circuit board has provided thereon one or more control elements for controlling one of the at least one heating element or the at least one actor.

16. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one circuit board includes one or more electronic components capable to at least one of receive and evaluate signals from one or more sensors provided in the work station.

17. The packaging machine according to claim 1 , wherein the bus node assembly is capable to have a hybrid cable connected thereto.

18. A packaging machine comprising a work station having an interior, which is surrounded by a wall and which has arranged therein a tool having one of at least one heating element or at least one actor, wherein an outside of the wall facing away from the interior has attached thereto a bus node assembly comprising:
a housing cap;
a transparent or translucent annular seal that extends annularly around the housing cap thereby sealing the housing cap against the outside of the wall;
a light source arranged inside of the housing cap, wherein the light source is operable to illuminate the annular seal;
at least one circuit board populated with electronic components; and
an interface connected to the at least one circuit board and used for connection to a communication bus;
wherein the bus node assembly is configured to 1) provide one or more items of information on the tool or 2) receive control data for the tool via the interface.

19. The packaging machine according to claim 18 , wherein the light source is operable to illuminate the annular seal to provide an indication of a status of the work station that is viewable outside of the annular seal.

20. The packaging machine according to claim 18 , wherein the one or more items of information on the tool comprise an identification of the tool, and the bus node assembly comprises a read head to read the identification.

Assignees

• Multivac Haggenmueller Kg

Inventors

• Ehrmann Elmar
• Lau Christian
• Pfalzer Thomas
• Felch Florian
• Botzenhardt Claus
• Kurz Andreas
• Rädler Michael
• Remmele Thorsten

Classifications

• B65B9/04

  one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material · CPC title

• B65B51/14

  by reciprocating or oscillating members (B65B51/148 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/91212

  involving measurement means being part of the welding jaws, e.g. integrated in the welding jaws · CPC title

• B29C65/30

  Electrical means {(B29C65/38 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B29C66/112

  Single lapped joints · CPC title