Packaging machine and packaging method with generation of pressurized air

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446868-B2
Application number	US-201113100698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2011
Priority date	May 6, 2010
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

The present invention refers to a packaging machine ( 1 ) comprising at least one workstation ( 2, 3, 4 ) and a device ( 11 ) for generating compressed air. The invention is characterized in that the device ( 11 ) for generating compressed air is connected to a lifting gear ( 21 ) of the workstation ( 2, 3, 4 ), wherein the device ( 11 ) is drivable by the movement of the lifting gear ( 21 ) of the workstation ( 2, 3, 4 ). The invention also refers to a method for operating a corresponding packaging machine ( 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging machine comprising:
a forming station for forming one or more cavities in a packaging film by deep drawing, the forming station having a forming tool upper part, a forming tool lower part and a movable lifting gear, wherein the moveable lifting gear converts a movement of a motor drive into an upward and a downward movement of the forming tool lower part, wherein a closed chamber is formed by said forming tool upper part and said forming tool lower part upon the upward movement of the forming tool lower part;
a device for generating compressed air, the device disposed outside of said closed chamber and connected to the lifting gear of the forming station, wherein the lifting gear is drivingly engaged with the device such that the device generates compressed air during both the upward and the downward lifting movement of the lifting gear;
a compressed air store for storing a volume of the compressed air generated by said device for generating compressed air, said compressed air store in fluid communication with said device for generating compressed air and said forming tool upper part, wherein said compressed air store receives a volume of compressed air from said device for generating compressed air during both the upward and the downward lifting movement of the lifting gear; and
two valves for controlling a path of the fluid communication, said two valves disposed between said compressed air store and said device for generating compressed air for directing compressed air into the compressed air store during both the upward and the downward lifting movement of the lifting gear;
wherein said one or more cavities are at least partially formed in a portion of the packaging film disposed within said closed chamber by releasing some of said volume of compressed air in said compressed air store into said closed chamber through said forming tool upper part.

2. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lifting gear of the forming station is movable vertically.

3. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device for generating compressed air is connected to the lifting gear of the workstation via mechanical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic means.

4. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device for generating compressed air comprises a piston pump.

5. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device for generating compressed air comprises a controller and valves connected to the controller.

6. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a sealing station for sealing a product in said cavities of said packaging film, said sealing station downstream of said forming station in a working direction.

7. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 6 further comprising an insertion section for filling said cavities in said packaging film with said product, said insertion section being downstream of said forming station and upstream of said sealing station in said working direction.

8. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising said packaging film being transported through said packaging machine in a working direction.

9. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 8 further comprising an insertion section for filling said cavities in said packaging film with a product, a sealing station for sealing said product in said cavities of said packaging film, and wherein said packaging film being transported through said forming station, said insertion section, and said sealing station.

10. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a feed device for transporting the packaging film in a working direction.

11. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said feed device sequentially advances said packaging film after said downward movement of said forming tool lower part.

12. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:
an insertion section for filling said cavities in said packaging film with a product;
a sealing station for sealing said product in said cavities of said packaging film;
wherein said insertion section is disposed downstream of said forming station and said sealing station is disposed downstream of said insertion station; and
wherein at least a portion of said packaging film is continuous as said packaging film is transported through said forming station, said insertion section, and said sealing station.

13. The packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compressed air store temporarily stores said volume of the compressed air generated by said device for generating compressed air prior to delivery to said forming tool upper part.

Assignees

• Diehl Martin
• Multivac Haggenmueller Kg

Inventors

• Diehl Martin

Classifications

• B29C2793/009

  after shaping · CPC title

• B65B9/04 Primary

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

• B29C51/46

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title

• B29C51/082

  by shaping between complementary mould parts · CPC title

• B65B47/10

  by vacuum · CPC title