Tray sealing machine

Abstract

A tray sealing machine is provided with a frame on which a sealing tool is arranged. The sealing tool comprises a lower tool in which a tray to be sealed can be received and an upper tool including a hood, a sealing component arranged in the interior of the hood, and a sealing component carrier on which the sealing component is arranged. The hood is movable relative to the sealing component and has a gas connection configured for connection to a corresponding gas connection of the tray sealing machine. The lower tool and the hood are configured to form a sealing chamber in a closed state of the sealing tool. The sealing tool further comprises a line connecting the gas connection to the sealing chamber in the closed state. The hood is movable relative to the frame and the sealing component carrier is unmovable relative to the frame.

Claims

1. A tray sealing machine comprising: a frame; a sealing tool arranged on the frame, the sealing tool comprising: a lower tool in which a tray to be sealed can be received; an upper tool which comprises a hood and a sealing component arranged in an interior of the hood, wherein the hood is movable relative to the sealing component and has a first gas connection which is configured for a connection to an additional gas connection of the tray sealing machine, wherein the upper tool furthermore comprises a sealing component carrier on which the sealing component is arranged; wherein the lower tool and the hood are configured to form a sealing chamber in a closed state of the sealing tool; a first line, which, in the closed state of the sealing tool, connects the first gas connection to the sealing chamber, the first line including a first line section and a second line section, wherein the first line section runs through the lower tool and, only in the closed state of the sealing tool, is connected to the second line section, which leads to the first gas connection, at least partially runs through the hood, and is connected to the hood in an unmovable manner; wherein the hood is movable relative to the frame and the sealing component carrier is unmovable relative to the frame.

2. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sealing component is arranged on the sealing component carrier in a movable manner.

3. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein both the first line section and the second line section are connected to the sealing chamber.

4. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second line section runs entirely within a hood wall of the hood.

5. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hood is slidable relative to the frame by the lower tool in a closing direction.

6. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hood is slidable relative to the sealing component carrier by the lower tool in a closing direction.

7. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a second gas connection arranged on the hood and a second line, which, in the closed state of the sealing tool, connects the second gas connection to the sealing chamber, wherein a first line section of the second line runs through the lower tool and in the closed state of the sealing tool is connected to a second line section of the second line, which leads to the second gas connection, at least partially runs through the hood, and is connected to the hood in an unmovable manner.

8. The tray sealing machine according to claim 7, wherein the second line section of the second line runs entirely within a hood wall of the hood.

9. The tray sealing machine according to claim 8, wherein the first line is arranged on a first side of the sealing tool and the second line is arranged on a second, different side of the sealing tool.

10. The tray sealing machine according to claim 7, wherein the first line is arranged on a first side of the sealing tool and the second line is arranged on a second, different side of the sealing tool.

11. The tray sealing machine according to claim 10, wherein the first side is opposite the second side in relation to a direction of production.

12. The tray sealing machine according to claim 7, wherein the first line section of the second line is disconnected from the second line section of the second line when the sealing tool is in an open state.

13. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hood is produced in a generative process.

14. The tray sealing machine according to claim 1, wherein the additional gas connection is arranged on the frame.

15. A tray sealing machine comprising: a frame; a first gas connection arranged on the frame; and a sealing tool arranged on the frame, the sealing tool comprising: a lower tool in which a tray to be sealed can be received; an upper tool that comprises a hood, a sealing component arranged in an interior of the hood, and a sealing component carrier on which the sealing component is arranged, wherein the hood is movable relative to the sealing component and has a second gas connection and a third gas connection, wherein the second gas connection is configured for connection to the first gas connection arranged on the frame; wherein the lower tool and the hood are configured to form a sealing chamber in a closed state of the sealing tool; a first line, which, in the closed state of the sealing tool, connects the second gas connection to the sealing chamber, the first line including a first line section and a second line section, wherein the first line section runs through the lower tool and, in the closed state of the sealing tool, is connected to the second line section, which leads to the second gas connection, at least partially runs through the hood, and is connected to the hood in an unmovable manner; and a second line, which, in the closed state of the sealing tool, connects the third gas connection to the sealing chamber, wherein a first line section of the second line runs through the lower tool and in the closed state of the sealing tool is connected to a second line section of the second line, which leads to the third gas connection, at least partially runs through the hood, and is connected to the hood in an unmovable manner; wherein, in an open state of the sealing tool, the first line section of the first line is disconnected from the second line section of the first line, and the first line section of the second line is disconnected from the second line section of the second line; wherein the hood is movable relative to the frame, and the sealing component carrier is fixed with respect to the frame so that the sealing component carrier is unmovable relative to the frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure relates to a tray sealing machine of the kind described above. In the following, an embodiment of the disclosure is further described with reference to the appended drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a packaging machine;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a sealing tool in an open state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a sealing tool in a closed state;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a tray sealing machine with a sealing tool in an open state; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a tray sealing machine with a sealing tool in a closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows an example of a packaging machine 1 which, as in the present example, may be a tray sealing machine. It may comprise a frame 2. Packaging machine 1 may also have a feed belt 7. It may also have a sealing station 9. By use of feed belt 7, trays 8 that are filled but at this time not yet sealed may be transported to sealing station 9. Trays 8 may be relocated with a gripper device 11 in a production direction P into sealing station 9 and there they may be sealed with a top film 5 (film) supplied from above, for example, by sealing top film 5 thereunto. For this purpose, sealing station 9 may comprise a sealing tool 10 which shall be described later in more detail. The packagings thus completed may be relocated by gripper device 11 from sealing station 9 to a discharge belt 15.

(8) After sealing top film 5 thereonto, regions of top film 5 corresponding to the packagings or packaging assemblies may he cut out of the web of top film 5 in sealing station 9. There remains a film lattice of top film 5 which is wound by a device 3 for winding film 5.

(9) Sealing tool 10 can be seen in a perspective view in FIG. 2. As in the embodiment shown, sealing tool 10 may comprise an upper tool 12 and a lower tool 13. They may be moved towards each other in a closing direction S in order to close sealing tool 10. Lower tool 13 may contain a main body 14, as shown in the figure. It may be mounted, for example, on a lifting unit 6 (see FIG. 4), which may be configured to move lower tool 13 in closing direction S towards upper tool 12.

(10) A tray carrier 16, which is configured to receive the trays 8 may be arranged on the main body 14. Tray carrier 16 may be held on main body 14 by attachment devices 28 which may preferably be operable without tools. The person skilled in the art recognizes that FIG. 2 shows an open state of sealing tool 10. FIG. 3 shows sealing tool 10 in a closed state.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of tray sealing machine 1. The cutting plane runs perpendicular to production direction P. Components of upper tool 12 can now be seen in more detail. Upper tool 12 may comprise a hood 17. It may be formed at least partially by a hood wall 27. As in the present embodiment, hood wall 27 may comprise a cover wall 27a and several side walls 27b, 27c.

(12) Furthermore, upper tool 12 may comprise a sealing component carrier 18. A sealing component 19 may be arranged thereon. Sealing component carrier 18 may be provided unmovable relative to frame 2. Hood 17 may be movable relative to frame 2 and to sealing component carrier 18.

(13) Hood 17 may have a first gas connection 20. It may also have a second gas connection 21. First gas connection 20 may be connected to a corresponding first port or gas connection 22. The latter may be arranged on tray sealing machine 1, in particular on frame 2. Second gas connection 21 may be connected to a corresponding gas connection 23. The latter may be arranged on tray sealing machine 1, in particular on frame 2. The person skilled in the art recognizes that sealing tool 10 in FIG. 4 is shown in an open state.

(14) FIG. 5 shows the view from FIG. 4. However, sealing tool 10 is shown in a closed state. To achieve this state, lifting unit 6 may be configured to move lower tool 13 in closing direction S towards upper tool 12. By having hood 17 and lower tool 13 bear against each other, a sealing chamber 24 (see long dashed line) may be formed. Sealing chamber 24 may be sealed in a gas-tight manner against the environment of sealing tool 10. As in the present embodiment, hood 17 (FIG. 5) may be raised in the closed state as compared to the open state (FIG. 4). This may be done in that lower tool 13, which may be raised by lifting unit 6, slides hood 17 in closing direction S.

(15) Sealing tool 10 may comprise a first line 25. It may comprise a first line section 25a and a second line section 25b. First line section 25a may run through lower tool 13, in particular entirely within the lower tool 13, and is therefore indicated by a short dashed line. Second line section 25b may run partially or, as in the present embodiment, entirely within hood 17, in particular inside hood wall 27, and is therefore also indicated by a dashed line. It may also lead to first gas connection 20.

(16) In the closed state shown in FIG. 5, first line 25 may connect first gas connection 20 to sealing chamber 24. Both first line section 25a and second line section 25b may be connected to sealing chamber 24. In the embodiment described, first line 25 may be configured to enable an evacuation of sealing chamber 24. For this purpose, first port 22 of tray sealing machine 1 may be connected to a vacuum generator (not shown).

(17) Sealing tool 10 may comprise a second line 26 in addition to first line 25. The second line 26 may likewise comprise a first line section 26a and a second line section 26b. First line section 26a may run through lower tool 13, in particular entirely within lower tool 13, and is therefore indicated by a short dashed line. Second line section 26b may run partially or, as in the present embodiment, entirely within hood 17, in particular in the interior of hood wall 27, and is therefore likewise indicated by a dashed line. It may furthermore lead into second gas connection 21.

(18) In the closed state shown in FIG. 5, second line 26 may connect second gas connection 21 to sealing chamber 24. In the case of second line 16, it is conceivable that only first line section 26a, but not second line section 26b, is connected to sealing chamber 24. This may be the case in particular when, as in the present embodiment, second line 26 is configured to enable gas-flushing of tray 8 to be sealed. For this purpose, second port 23 of tray sealing machine 1 may be connected to a gas source (not shown).