PACKAGING DEVICE

Abstract

The disclosure refers to a packaging device for manufacturing a packaging for a foodstuff. In particular, the packaging may include a trough-shaped lower packaging part and a top film which can be sealed together along their edges by means of a sealing tool of the packaging device. In order to improve a packaging device completely without evacuation or by evacuation in a simple and inexpensive manner with only a slight negative pressure in such a way that sufficient vapor purging is possible and at the same time cooling of the foodstuff before sealing or excessive degassing of the foodstuff does not take place, vapor can be introduced under pressure between the lower packaging part and the top film at at least one vapor entry point before sealing and can be released into the surrounding atmosphere at an outlet point from the packaging.

Claims

1. A packaging device for manufacturing a packaging for a foodstuff, the packaging comprising a trough-shaped lower packaging part and a top film, which can be sealed to one another along their respective edges by means of a sealing tool of the packaging device, wherein vapor can be introduced under pressure between the lower packaging part and the top film at least at a vapor inlet point before sealing and can be released from the packaging into surrounding atmosphere at an outlet point.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein a vapor source is associated with the packaging device and connected to the vapor inlet point via a vapor supply line.

3. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the lower packaging part is formed at least in places by an edge strip with an edge strip perforation, wherein at least a part of the edge strip perforation forms the vapor entry point.

4. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein a further edge strip perforation forms the outlet point.

5. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the edge strip perforation for the vapor entry point and the further edge strip perforation for the outlet point are opposite each other relative to the packaging.

6. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet point is connected to the surrounding atmosphere via a discharge line and a Venturi nozzle is arranged in the discharge line as a negative pressure means.

7. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing tool comprises a suction line for providing a negative pressure between the sealing tool and the top film for creating a space between the top film and a surface of the foodstuff in the lower packaging part.

8. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing tool comprises a suction line which connects a space between the sealing tool and the lower packaging part to the surrounding atmosphere.

9. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein a Venturi nozzle is arranged in the suction line and/or an extraction line.

10. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein a support device is formed at least in places in the sealing tool for supporting the lower packaging part.

11. The packaging device according to claim 2, wherein a switching valve comprising a three-way valve or two-way valve is arranged in the vapor supply line.

12. The packaging device according to claim 2, wherein the vapor source is a source of water vapor.

13. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the packaging device is configured to receive a plurality of packagings arranged one behind the other and/or side by side.

14. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the lower packaging part can be produced by deep-drawing a bottom film.

15. A packaging device for manufacturing a packaging for a foodstuff, wherein the packaging includes a trough-shaped lower packaging part and a top film, the packaging device comprising: a sealing tool for sealing the lower packaging part and the top film along their respective edges; a vapor supply line configured to introduce vapor under pressure between the lower packaging part and the top film at least at a vapor inlet point before sealing; and a discharge line configured to release vapor from the packaging into surrounding atmosphere at an outlet point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying FIGURE.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a packaging device according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a packaging device 1 according to the disclosure as part of a device with, for example, a forming station, a depositing section, a sealing station and a cutting station. The packaging device 1 according to the disclosure corresponds to the sealing station.

[0033] The packaging device 1 is shown in cross-section perpendicular to the transport direction of the packagings 2. The packaging device 1 may comprise an upper tool part 10 as a sealing tool 8 and a lower tool part 9 as a support device. The packaging device may alternatively comprise a sealing tool 8, and the sealing tool 8 may comprise an upper tool part 10 and/or a lower tool part 9.

[0034] A foodstuff 3 is already inserted in the packaging 2, which partially fills the packaging 2 to be sealed. Depending on the embodiment of the packaging device 1, a plurality of packagings 2 can be arranged next to/behind each other and sealed simultaneously. Each of the packagings 2 may comprise a trough-shaped lower packaging part 4, onto which a top film 5 is sealed. The sealing is carried out by means of edges 6, 7 of the lower packaging part 4 and the top film 5. In the representation according to FIG. 1, the edges 6, 7 are already fixed relative to one another by a clamping strip 11 and a counter-pressure strip 12, while an edge strip perforation 19 in the edge strip 18 of the edge 6 of the lower packaging part 4 is still open.

[0035] The edge strip perforation 19 is in communication with a vapor supply line 17, which may be slot-shaped in the edge strip direction so as to be associated with different holes of the edge strip perforation 19. On the opposite side of the packaging 2, the edges 6, 7 are arranged analogously to each other and also there an edge strip perforation 19 is formed in the edge strip 18. This edge strip perforation is in communication with a discharge line 20.

[0036] In the region of the edge strip perforation 19, a vapor entry point 13 is formed on the left side of FIG. 1, through which vapor supplied via the vapor supply line 17 enters the interior of the packaging 2. Similarly, on the opposite side, the edge strip perforation 19 forms an outlet point 14 for the vapor to be released into the surrounding atmosphere 15.

[0037] The lines—vapor supply line 17 and discharge line 20, respectively—extend partially inside the lower mold part 9, the vapor supply line 17 being connected to a vapor source 16. Via this, vapor, in particular in the form of water vapor, can be supplied to the interior of the packaging 2 in the vapor supply direction 31 accordingly. The discharge line 20 extends laterally away from the lower mold part 9, wherein a Venturi nozzle 21 is arranged in the discharge line 20. This Venturi nozzle 21 is operated in a manner known per se to create a negative pressure with respect to the discharge line 20 so as to provide a suction effect for air, vapor or suitably modified atmosphere within the packaging device 1. Discharge to the surrounding atmosphere 15 is effected via this Venturi nozzle 21.

[0038] Furthermore, support devices 28 are arranged within the lower tool part 9, which support the trough-shaped lower packaging part 4 from below. A flat and as complete as possible resting of the lower packaging part 4 on the support device 28 is effected, on the one hand, by a weight of the filled foodstuff 3 and, on the other hand, by a negative pressure formed between the lower side of the lower packaging part 4 and the surface of the lower tool part 9 in a corresponding intermediate space 25 between them. Openings are arranged in each case on both sides of the support device 28, which openings are connected to a discharge line 24. A Venturi nozzle 27 may also be arranged in the latter, in order to produce a negative pressure in the intermediate space 25. A web 32 is arranged between the two support devices 28, which separates two compartments of a packaging 2 or two packagings 2 arranged next to each other. A seal can also be made on the upper side of the web 32 between the lower packaging part and the top film.

[0039] The actual sealing of the edges of the lower packaging part 4 and the top film 5 is essentially carried out by means of the interaction of a sealing bar, which is not shown, and edge bars 33 of the lower tool part 9 or upper tool part 10.

[0040] The vapor source 16 shown laterally in FIG. 1 generates vapor which is forced into the interior of the packaging 2 with a certain excess pressure in the vapor supply direction 31 via the vapor supply line 17. This takes place via the aforementioned edge strip perforation 19 and the vapor entry point 13 formed thereby. After flowing through the packaging 2, the vapor enters with any remaining atmosphere from the packaging 2 via the further edge strip perforation and outlet point 14 into the discharge line 20 and exits via the latter into the surrounding atmosphere 15.

[0041] In particular, in order to be able to maintain a correspondingly large free space in the interior of the packaging 2 during the flow of vapor therethrough, the upper tool part 10 has an opening with a connected suction line 22. This may also be connected to the surrounding atmosphere 15 via a corresponding Venturi nozzle 26. Via the suction line 22, a negative pressure can be generated between the top film and the upper tool part 10, which creates a correspondingly large free space 23 between the lower side of the top film 5 and the upper side of the foodstuff 3. This results in an improved flow of vapor through the interior of the packaging 2.

[0042] The Venturi nozzles 21, 26, 27 may all be of substantially similar construction.

[0043] Furthermore, a switching valve 29, in particular in the form of a three-way valve or a two-way valve, is arranged in the vapor supply line 17. In the illustrated position of the switching valve 29, vapor is supplied in the vapor supply direction 31 to the interior of the packaging 2. In a further position, the switching valve 29 is in the blocking position, so that no vapor is transported from the vapor source 16 towards the packaging 2. In the last position, the vapor source 16 is disconnected from the vapor supply line 17, but the delivery of vapor takes place, for example, to a further packaging device 1 not shown, or possibly also in such a way that the vapor flows through the packaging 2 in the opposite direction, for example by connecting the vapor source 16 to the outlet point 14 and vapor exits via the vapor inlet point 13 into the surrounding atmosphere.

[0044] It is further possible that the trough-shaped lower packaging part 4 is formed from a bottom film 30, analogously to the top film 5. In this case, the lower packaging part is formed by deep-drawing the bottom film 30 before the foodstuff is inserted.