Packaging apparatus comprising actuator and method of operating packaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016251102-A1
Application number	US-201414907402-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2014
Priority date	Jul 23, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A packaging apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus are provided. The apparatus comprises a support frame, a packaging station having a first tool, a second tool, and one or more actuators, operably coupled to at least one of the first tool and the second tool, to modify a position of the second tool with respect to the first tool; and a control unit operably coupled to the one or more actuators, wherein the one or more actuators have a first configuration, in which the first tool and the second tool are spaced from one another by a first distance, a second configuration, in which the first tool and the second tool are spaced from one another by a second distance, and a third configuration, in which the first tool and the second tool are spaced from one another by a third distance, and wherein the control unit is configured to operate in a first modality, wherein the control unit is configured to move the one or more actuators from the first configuration into the second configuration, to maintain the one or more actuators in the second configuration for a first time interval, and to move the one or more actuators from the second configuration into the first configuration

First claim

1 .- 30 . (canceled)

31 . A packaging apparatus comprising:
a support frame; a packaging station having a first tool, a second tool, and one or more actuators, operably coupled to at least one of the first tool and the second tool, to modify a position of the second tool with respect to the first tool; and a control unit comprising at least one of a digital processor (CPU) with memory and an analogical type circuit, the control unit being operably coupled to the one or more actuators, wherein the one or more actuators operate in one of:
a first configuration, in which the first tool and the second tool are spaced from one another by a first distance,
a second configuration, in which the first tool and the second tool are spaced from one another by a second distance, and
a third configuration, in which the first tool and the second tool are spaced from one another by a third distance, and
wherein the control unit is configured to operate in a first modality wherein the control unit is configured to:
move the one or more actuators from the first configuration into the second configuration,
maintain the one or more actuators in the second configuration for a first time interval, and
move the one or more actuators from the second configuration into the first configuration.

32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured to form, in the first configuration, a substantially closed chamber, and wherein the control unit is further configured to operate in a second modality wherein the control unit is configured to:
move the one or more actuators from the first configuration into the third configuration, maintain the one or more actuators in the third configuration for a second time interval, and move the one or more actuators from the third configuration into the first configuration, further wherein the third configuration is distinct from the second configuration.

33 . The apparatus of claim 32 wherein in the first configuration the first tool and the second tool are spaced apart from one another by said first distance, in the second configuration the first tool and the second tool are spaced apart from one another by a second distance greater than the first distance, and in the third configuration the first tool and the second tool are spaced apart from one another by a third distance greater than the second distance.

34 . The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first tool is fixedly coupled to the support frame of the packaging apparatus and wherein the second tool is movably coupled to the support frame of the packaging apparatus at least by means of said one or more actuators, wherein the actuators each comprise a fixed portion and a movable portion, wherein the fixed portion or the movable portion of each of the one or more actuators is fixedly coupled to at least one of the first tool and the second tool.

35 . The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a conveyor configured for providing one or more products to the packaging station, and wherein the first distance is substantially zero, the second distance being greater than the first distance and allowing movement of the one or more products into a region between the first tool and the second tool, and the third distance being greater than the second distance.

36 . The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the first tool comprises a table and the second tool comprises a chamber movably coupled to the support frame, the chamber having an open side that is, in the first configuration, substantially closed by contacting the table.

37 . The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a fluid distribution system operably coupled to the one or more actuators to provide a supply of the fluid to the one or more actuators and the control unit is operably coupled to the fluid distribution system and configured to control the supply of the fluid to the one or more actuators and maintain the one or more actuators in any one of said first configuration, second configuration and third configuration.

38 . The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein each of the one or more actuators has a first fluid chamber and a first access port, a second fluid chamber and a second access port, and a third fluid chamber and a third access port, the first, second, and third fluid chambers each being in fluid communication respectively with the first, second, and third access ports.

39 . The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein the fluid distribution system is connected to said first, second and third access ports of each of the one or more actuators and wherein the control unit is configured to control the fluid distribution system such that the one or more actuators are moved into or maintained in the first configuration by:
applying a force to the movable portion of each of the one or more actuators in a direction of movement of the movable portion, and applying a fluid having a first pressure to the first access port, a fluid having a second pressure to the second access port, and a fluid having a third pressure to the third access port, wherein, in each of the one or more actuators:
a force exerted by the first pressure is higher than a force exerted by the second pressure, and
a force exerted by the third pressure is lower than a sum of a force exerted by the second pressure and the force applied to the movable portion.

40 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the fluid distribution system is connected to said first, second and third access ports of each of the one or more actuators and wherein the control unit is configured to control the fluid distribution system such that the one or more actuators are moved into or maintained in the second configuration by:
applying a force to the movable portion of each of the one or more actuators in a direction of movement of the movable portion, and
applying a fluid having a first pressure to the first access port, a fluid having a second pressure to the second access port, and a fluid having a third pressure to the third access port, wherein, in each of the one or more actuators:
a force exerted by the third pressure is greater than a sum of a force exerted by the second pressure and the force applied to the movable portion, and
a sum of a force exerted by the first pressure and the force applied to the movable portion is greater than a sum of a force exerted by the second pressure and a force exerted by the third pressure.

41 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the fluid distribution system is connected to said first, second and third access ports of each of the one or more actuators and wherein the control unit is configured to control the fluid distribution system such that the one or more actuators are moved into or maintained in the third configuration by:
applying a force to the movable portion of each of the one or more actuators in a direction of movement of the movable portion, and
applying a fluid having a first pressure to the first access port, a fluid having a second pressure to the second access port, and a fluid having a third pressure to the third access ports, wherein, in each of the one or more actuators:
a force exerted by the third pressure is greater than a sum of a force exerted by the first pressure, a force exerted by the second pressure, and the force applied to the movable portion, and
a force exerted by the first pressure is equal to or greater than the force exerted by the second pressure.

42 . The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein in the one or more actuators:
the fixed portion comprises a hollow body, the hollow body having a first end and a second end, the

Assignees

• Cryovac Inc

Inventors

• Landolt Stefan
• Schumacher Josef

Classifications

• B65B31/024 Primary

  specially adapted for wrappers or bags (B65B31/021, B65B31/022 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65B57/00

  Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices (registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18) · CPC title

• F15B11/123

  by means of actuators with fluid-operated stops · CPC title

• B65B35/10

  Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles · CPC title

• B65B65/02 Primary

  Driving gear · CPC title