SEALING STATION WITH CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a sealing tool for a packaging machine which comprises a tool lower part with at least one centrifugal separator for separating a particle-laden gas flow. The disclosure further relates to a method for separating a particle-laden gas flow at a sealing tool of a packaging machine, where the particle-laden gas flow is separated by way of a centrifugal separator provided at a tool lower part of the sealing tool.

Claims

1. A sealing tool for a packaging machine, wherein the sealing tool comprises a tool lower part with at least one centrifugal separator for separating a particle-laden gas flow.

2. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal separator is configured as a tangential cyclone separator.

3. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal separator comprises an inlet cylinder and an inlet which tapers towards the inlet cylinder.

4. The sealing tool according to claim 3, wherein the inlet is associated with a tray receptacle of the tool lower part.

5. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool lower part comprises at least one extraction duct.

6. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool lower part comprises at least one gas flushing duct.

7. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool lower part comprises a particle collection container for the centrifugal separator.

8. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool lower part comprises several centrifugal separators.

9. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal separator at the tool lower part is configured to separate a particle-laden gas flow blown through the former and/or to separate a particle-laden gas flow sucked through the former.

10. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal separator can be connected to a pump that can be employed at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange.

11. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool lower part is assembled from several plates disposed one above the other in a stack-like manner, and wherein the centrifugal separator is formed to be integrated within at least two plates that are disposed one above the other.

12. The sealing tool according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal separator comprises a cylindrical insert built into the tool lower part and having a conical separation section for the particle-laden gas flow.

13. A packaging machine, formed as a tray sealer or a deep-drawing packaging machine, comprising the sealing tool according to claim 1.

14. A method for separating a particle-laden gas flow at a sealing tool of a packaging machine, wherein the particle-laden gas flow is separated by way of a centrifugal separator provided at a tool lower part of the sealing tool.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the centrifugal separator is operated with a pump that can be employed at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the centrifugal separator is operated with a pressure vessel that can be employed at the tool lower part for atmosphere exchange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The disclosure shall be explained in more detail according to the following figures by use of embodiments, where:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a deep-drawing packaging machine;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a tray sealer;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a sealing tool according to the disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the sealing tool according to the disclosure; and

[0032] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional illustration of two centrifugal separators formed adjacent to one another at the sealing tool.

[0033] Same components are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an intermittently operating deep-drawing packaging machine 1 in a perspective view. This thermoforming packaging machine 1 comprises a forming station 2, a sealing station 3, a transverse cutting device 4, and a longitudinal cutting device 5 which are arranged in a direction of transport R in this order on a machine frame 6. Disposed at the inlet side on machine frame 6 is a feed roller 7 from which a base film 8 is drawn off. Furthermore, deep-drawing packaging machine 1 comprises a transport chain 11, which grips base film 8 and transports it onward in direction of transport R with every main work cycle, in particular transport chains or clamp chains 11 arranged on both sides.

[0035] In the embodiment shown, forming station 2 is configured as a deep-drawing station in which depressions are formed into base film 8 by deep drawing, for example, by way of compressed air and/or vacuum. Forming station 2 can be configured such that several depressions are formed adjacent to one another in the direction perpendicular to direction of transport R. Provided in direction of transport R downstream of the forming station is a filling stretch 12 in which the depressions formed in base film 8 are filled with products.

[0036] Sealing station 3 comprises a hermetically sealable chamber 3a in which the atmosphere in the depressions can be evacuated and/or replaced by gas flushing with an exchange gas or with a gas mixture prior to the sealing process with top film 10 that is dispensed from a top film receptacle 9.

[0037] Transverse cutting device 4 can be configured as a punch which severs base film 8 and top film 10 in a direction transverse to direction of transport R between adjacent depressions. Transverse cutting device 4 operates in such a way that base film 8 is cut open not over the entire width, but is instead not severed at least in one edge region. This enables controlled onward transportation by transport chain 11.

[0038] Longitudinal cutting device 5 can be configured as a knife assembly with which base film 8 and top film 10 are severed between adjacent depressions and at the lateral edge of base film 8 in direction of transport R so that individual packages are present downstream of longitudinal cutting device 5.

[0039] Right and left transport chains 11 of deep-drawing packaging machine 1, which grip base film 8 on both sides, are each guided in a chain guide 13. These chain guides 13 are each protected towards the outside by a side panel 14 of deep-drawing packaging machine 1 and possibly attached to side panel 14. Side panel 14 can be a sheet metal part.

[0040] Deep-drawing packaging machine 1 also comprises a control device 19. Its task is to control and monitor the processes running in deep-drawing packaging machine 1. A display device 20a with control elements 20b is used to visualize or influence the process sequences in deep-drawing packaging machine 1 to or by an operator.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a tray sealing machine 15 which is also referred to as tray sealer among experts. Tray sealer 15 comprises a feed belt 16, a sealing station 17, and a discharge belt 18, which are arranged in direction of transport R in this order on a machine frame 21. Furthermore, tray sealer 15 comprises a gripper device 22 which is configured to transport trays S that are transported by way of feed belt 16 into sealing station 17 for a sealing process. Trays S transported into sealing station 17 are sealed with a top film 23 and thereafter transported by way of gripper device 22 onto discharge belt 18 for being transported away.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a sealing tool 24 (presently without the tool upper part). Sealing tool 24 comprises a tool lower part 25 which can be employed at a packaging machine, in particular at sealing station 3 of deep-drawing packaging machine 1 from FIG. 1 or at sealing station 17 of tray sealer 15 from FIG. 2.

[0043] Tool lower part 25 comprises a first and a second centrifugal separator 26a, 26b. However, just a single centrifugal separator 26a, 26b could just as well be formed at tool lower part 25.

[0044] A corner region has been cut out at tool lower part 25 in FIG. 3 for improved illustration of centrifugal separator 26a. First centrifugal separator 26a and second centrifugal separator 26b can have a substantially identical structure. That is explained in more detail hereafter with reference to first centrifugal separator 26a.

[0045] Centrifugal separator 26a is configured as a tangential cyclone separator 27 according to FIG. 3. Tool lower part 25 comprises a first plate 28, a second plate 29, and a third plate 30. Plates 28, 29, 30 are assembled in a stacked manner, where centrifugal separator 26a, just like centrifugal separator 26b, is configured to be integrated within plates 28, 29, 30.

[0046] Centrifugal separator 26a comprises a particle collection container 31 which is formed in first plate 28. Particle collection container 31 is produced as a milled recess in first plate 28. Furthermore, centrifugal separator 26a comprises an inlet cylinder 32 and an inlet 33 which tapers towards inlet cylinder 32. Both inlet cylinder 32 as well as inlet 33 are formed in third plate 30. An extraction pipe 34 is arranged within inlet cylinder 32.

[0047] FIG. 3 also shows that centrifugal separator 26a provides a cylindrical insert 35 that is built into second plate 29 and that has a conical separation section 36 for a particle-laden gas flow G. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows a pure gas flow G′ which no longer contains any particles P and which leaves the centrifugal separator 26a via extraction pipe 34.

[0048] Inlet 33 of centrifugal separator 26a is associated with a tray receptacle 37 of tool lower part 25. Tray receptacle 37 is configured to receive a deep-drawn depression or a prefabricated tray S therein. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that extraction openings 38 are provided in third plate 30 adjacent to two centrifugal separators 26a, 26b. When sealing tool 24 is closed, a vacuum can be generated therewithin via extraction openings 38.

[0049] For evacuating sealing tool 24, the latter could also do without extraction openings 38. This means that the air mass extracted to create a vacuum inside sealing tool 24 flows completely through both centrifugal separators 26a, 26b.

[0050] As furthermore shown in FIG. 3, formed on a side of tool lower part 25 disposed opposite to extraction openings 38 are gas flush openings 38′. Replacement gas can be blown into sealing tool 24 through the former. Extraction openings 38 shown in FIG. 3 can be used for an evacuation process and gas flush openings 38′ for a gas flushing process at sealing tool 24.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows tool lower part 25 in a top view. FIG. 4 shows that both centrifugal separators 26a, 26b are configured adjacent to one another as tangential cyclone separators 27, 27′. Inlet 33 of first centrifugal separator 26a and an inlet 33′ of second centrifugal separator 26b open towards tray receptacle 37 with an increasing cross section. A gas flow G laden with particles P can be extracted therewith via two inlets 33, 33′, be cleaned, i.e., separated, within respective conical separating sections 36, 36′, and can leave respective centrifugal separator 26a, 26b as a particle-free gas flow G′, possibly be blown back into tool lower part 25, or leave the latter directly through extraction openings 38.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows two centrifugal separators 26a, 26b in a sectional illustration. The two centrifugal separators 26a, 26b are connected by way of a common extraction duct 39. Respective extraction pipes 34, 34′ are connected to extraction ducts 39. Both centrifugal separators 26a, 26b are driven by way of a schematically illustrated pump 40, which can primarily also be used to carry out an evacuation process.