METHOD FOR OPERATING A PACKAGING MACHINE

Abstract

A method for operating a packaging machine comprising a work station with an exchangeable tool. A control device may be integrated into the tool. When the tool is in a state of the tool installed into the work station, the control device may regulate a temperature of the tool based on an operating temperature target specification by suitably supplying a heating device integrated into the tool with electrical power. Further, when the tool is in a state removed from the work station, the tool may be connected to an external power supply, and the control device may regulate the temperature of the tool based on a preheating temperature target specification by suitably supplying the heating device with electrical power provided by the external power supply.

Claims

1. A method for operating a packaging machine comprising a work station with an exchangeable tool comprising the steps of: providing a control device integrated into said exchangeable tool, wherein said exchangeable tool is moveable between a state installed into said work station and a state removed from said work station; wherein: when said exchangeable tool is in the state installed into said work station, regulating a temperature of said exchangeable tool based on an operating temperature target specification using said control device by suitably supplying a heating device integrated into said exchangeable tool with electrical power; and when said exchangeable tool is in the state removed from said work station, connecting said exchangeable tool to an external power supply and regulating said temperature of said exchangeable tool based on a preheating temperature target specification using said control device by suitably supplying said heating device with electrical power provided by said external power supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said external power supply provides said exchangeable tool with electrical heating power, and wherein said external power supply does not provide control or regulating signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said preheating temperature target specification of said control device is specified by a machine control device of said packaging machine prior to positioning the exchangeable tool in the state removed from said work station.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said preheating temperature target specification of said control device is available as a preset specification.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises a memory and said preheating temperature target specification is stored in said memory.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said control device is put in a preheating mode by a machine control device of said packaging machine prior to moving said exchangeable tool from said work station into the state removed from the work station and wherein after connecting to said external power supply, said control device detects that it is in the preheating mode and starts regulating said temperature of said exchangeable tool based on said preheating temperature target specification.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein after connecting to said external power supply, said control device detects that there is no communication connection to a machine control device of said packaging machine, and then starts regulating said temperature of said exchangeable tool based on said preheating temperature target specification.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said operating temperature target specification of said control device is specified by a machine control device of said packaging machine.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said control device in said state of said exchangeable tool installed into said work station is in electronic communication with a machine control device of said packaging machine using a communication bus system.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said work station is a sealing station and said exchangeable tool is a heatable sealing tool for sealing a filled packaging by sealing on a top film.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said work station is a forming station and said exchangeable tool is a heatable forming tool for forming packaging trays into a lower film web by thermoforming.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said packaging machine is one of a thermoforming packaging machine or a tray sealer.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor is additionally integrated into said exchangeable tool, and said control device uses a measured value of a temperature provided by said temperature sensor for regulating said temperature of said exchangeable tool.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said temperature sensor and said control device are integrated into said exchangeable tool as a joint module.

15. A method for operating a packaging machine comprising a work station with an exchangeable tool comprising the steps of: providing a control device integrated into said exchangeable tool; positioning said exchangeable tool in a state installed into said work station; regulating a temperature of said exchangeable tool based on an operating temperature target specification using said control device by suitably supplying a heating device integrated into said exchangeable tool with electrical power when said exchangeable tool is in a state installed into said work station; moving said exchangeable tool from said work station in to a state removed from said work station; connecting said exchangeable tool to an external power supply when said exchangeable tool is in the state removed from said work station; and regulating said temperature of said exchangeable tool based on a preheating temperature target specification using said control device by suitably supplying said heating device with electrical power provided by said external power supply when said exchangeable tool is in a state removed from said work station.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail making reference to a drawing, in which the individual figures show:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a tray sealer for carrying out the method in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a thermoforming packaging machine for carrying out the method in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic section view of one embodiment of a work station with a heatable tool installed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, where the work station is a sealing station;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram representation of one embodiment of a tool that shows the tool in a state installed into a work station in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; and

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram representation of the tool according to FIG. 4 that shows the tool being in a state removed from the work station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

[0033] The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0034] The invention relates to a method for operating a packaging machine 1. According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, packaging machine 1 can be a tray sealer. Arranged consecutively on a machine frame 3 of packaging machine 1 along a production direction P are a destacking device 5, a loading track 7, and a sealing station 9. Destacking device 5 destacks packaging trays 13 to be filled with products 11 onto a conveying device not shown in FIG. 1. Packaging trays 13 are conveyed along production direction P over a loading track 7 to a sealing station 9. Packaging trays 13 are filled in loading track 7 with products 11 to be packaged. Filled packaging trays 13 are then closed in sealing station 9 by sealing on a top film 15. For this purpose, sealing station 9 comprises a sealing station upper part 9a and a sealing station lower part 9b which can be moved relative to each other along a vertical direction to seal top film 15 onto packaging trays 13 received between them. Packaging machine 1 comprises a central machine control device 17 with electronic components for controlling packaging machine 1. The machine control device 17 can also comprise a display and input unit 19, for example in the form of a touchscreen display, with which an operator can manage functions of the packaging machine 1 and via which information about the operating status of packaging machine 1 can be displayed to the user.

[0035] The invention is also applicable to packaging machines 1 of other types. Shown as an example of this in FIG. 2 is a packaging machine 1 configured as a thermoforming packaging machine. In the thermoforming packaging machine, no prefabricated packaging trays 13 are entered into the production process. Instead, a forming station 21 is provided which forms packaging trays 27 by thermoforming into a lower film web 25 that is drawn off a storage roller 23. For thermoforming packaging trays 27, forming station 21 comprises a forming station upper part 21a and a forming station lower part 21b which are movable relative to each other with respect to a vertical direction in order to form packaging trays 27 into lower film web 25 running between them. Lower film web 25 is conveyed by way of a transport device, not shown, along a production direction P of packaging machine 1. After leaving forming station 21, packaging trays 27 that are present as a composite are filled in a loading track 7 with products 11 to be packaged. Subsequently, filled packaging trays 27 are supplied to a sealing station 9 in which packing trays 27 are sealed by sealing on a top film 15, similarly to sealing filled packaging trays 13 in the tray sealer from FIG. 1. Sealing station 9 in turn comprises a sealing station upper part 9a and a sealing station lower part 9b which are movable relative to each other. After packaging trays 27 have been sealed in sealing station 9, the film composite is conveyed onward to a cutting station 29 in which the individual packaging is separated from the composite. The thermoforming packaging machine also comprises a machine control device 17 for controlling individual components of packaging machine 1. Like machine control device 17 of the tray sealer from FIG. 1, it can comprise a display and input device 19 for the interaction with an operator.

[0036] Sealing station 9 of the tray sealer or sealing station 9 or the forming station 21 of the thermoforming packaging machine, respectively, are examples of work stations that perform a specific function in the respective packaging process. FIG. 3 in schematic sectional view shows such a work station 9 in a configuration as a sealing station. However, the invention could also be applied to a forming station 21 as the work station. Work station 9, 21, as mentioned, comprises a work station upper part 9a, 21a and a work station lower part 9b, 21b which are movable relative to each other along a vertical direction for processing the packagings. Work station 9, 21 comprises a heatable tool 31 for processing the packagings. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, tool 31 is provided in work station upper part 9a. A mating tool 33 is provided in work station lower part 9b and interacts with tool 31 for processing the packagings. However, it would also be conceivable that heatable tool 31 is provided in work station lower part 9b and mating tool 33 is present in work station upper part 9a. In the embodiment shown, heatable tool 31 is a sealing tool, in particular a sealing frame. The mating tool can be formed as a backing element, so that the heatable sealing tool and the mating tool interact along a packaging edge for forming a sealing seam for sealing top film 15 onto the filled packagings.

[0037] Tool 31 can be heated in order to be able to process the packaging appropriately. For this purpose, a heating device 35 is integrated into tool 31. In the variant shown in FIG. 3, heating device 35 comprises several heating elements 37. The heating elements 37 can be formed in particular as electrical resistance heating elements or induction heating elements.

[0038] In addition, a bus node module 39 is integrated into tool 31 and in the state of tool 31 installed in the work station is in communication via a communication bus 41 of packaging machine 1 with machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1. In the installed state of tool 31, bus node module 39 is additionally supplied with electrical power by packaging machine 1 via an electrical connection 43.

[0039] FIG. 4 in a representation as a schematic block diagram shows the configuration of bus node module 39 integrated into tool 31 as well as its integration into the overall system of packaging machine 1, or into tool 31, respectively, in the installed state of tool 31. Bus node module 39 comprises a control device 45 for regulating a temperature of tool 31 by suitably supplying heating device 35 with electrical power. In the state of tool 31 installed into work station 9, 21, control device 45 is connected via a communication module 47 to communication bus 41 and is thereby in communication connection with machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1. Control device 45 comprises a processing unit 49 and a memory 51. Processing unit 49 is configured to control switching elements 53 which determine a supply of heating elements 37 of heating device 35 with electrical power. The electrical power for the operation of heating elements 37 as well as the electrical power for the operation of control device 45 is provided by electrical connection 43 of packaging machine 1. In addition, at least one temperature sensor 55 for measuring a temperature of tool 31 is integrated into tool 31. In the variant shown, temperature sensor 55 is also provided in bus node module 39. However, it would also be conceivable to integrate temperature sensor 55 elsewhere in tool 31. Measured values of temperature sensor 55 are provided to control device 45.

[0040] When installing tool 31 in work station 9, 21, or when starting up work station 9, 21 with tool 31 installed, control device 45 is put into a packaging operating mode by machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1, if it is not already in the packaging operating mode. In the packaging operating mode, control device 45 regulates a temperature of tool 31 based on an operating temperature target specification by suitably supplying heating device 35 with electrical power (by appropriately controlling switching elements 53). This ensures that the temperature of tool 31 is maintained in a range suitable for processing the packagings. The operating temperature target specification can specify a temperature target value or a temperature target range. The operating temperature target specification of control device 45 is preferably transmitted via communication bus 41 by machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1. The operating temperature target specification can be determined automatically by machine control device 17 based on stored values and/or operating parameters of packaging machine 1 or can be set by user input. The operating temperature target specification can be stored at least temporarily in memory 51 of control device 45.

[0041] In order to avoid or reduce delays caused by the initial heating up of tool 31 when starting up the packaging machine or upon resumption of the packaging operation after tool 31 has been exchanged (for example due to a change of format), tool 31 is preheated according to the invention already outside work station 9, 21. For this purpose, tool 31 in the state removed from work station 9, 21 is connected to an external power supply 57.

[0042] FIG. 5 in a representation as a schematic block diagram shows tool 31 in the state removed from the work station and connected to external power supply 57. External power supply 57 provides electrical heating power to supply heating device 35 in tool 31 and a supply voltage for control device 45. However, in one embodiment, no regulating or control signals are provided by external power supply 57. The external power supply can comprise, for example, a power cable, with or without a mains supply unit, that can be connected to tool 31 and to a power outlet.

[0043] Controlling the temperature of tool 31 during preheating is likewise effected by control device 45 integrated into tool 31. Control device 45 is put into a preheating mode by machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1 prior to the removal of tool 31 from work station 9, 21 or is in the preheating mode once the connection to machine control device 17 via the communication bus 41 is lost. Control device 45 can also be in the preheating mode ex factory. If tool 31 is connected to external power supply 57 while control device 45 is in the preheating mode, or without an active communication connection to machine control device 17, respectively, control device 45 recognizes that it is in preheating mode and regulates the temperature of tool 31 by suitably supplying heating device 35 with electrical power provided by external power supply 57 based on of a preheating temperature target specification. The preheating temperature target specification can be stored in memory 51 of control device 45. The preheating temperature target specification can be present in memory 51 in particular as a preset specification. However, it is also conceivable that the preheating temperature target specification of control device 45 was previously transmitted in the state of tool 31 installed into work station 9, 21 by machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1 and stored in memory 51. The preheating temperature target specification could be determined automatically by machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1 based on stored data and/or an operating condition of packaging machine 1 or be determined based on user input.

[0044] Tool 31 preferably comprises a signal device 59 which is controlled by control device 45 to output a signal that indicates a termination of the preheating process. For example, signal device 59 could be an LED that flashes during the preheating process and illuminates continuously once the preheating process has been completed.

[0045] After the preheating process has terminated, tool 31 is disconnected from external power supply 57 and installed into work station 9, 21. Tool 31 is then connected to power supply 43 and communication bus 41 of packaging machine 1 by way of connecting suitable plug-in devices. Machine control device 17 of packaging machine 1 then puts control device 45 via communication bus 41 from the preheating mode back into the packaging operating mode in which the temperature of tool 31 is regulated based on the operating temperature target specification.

[0046] Due to the fact that tool 31 was preheated before the installation into work station 9, 21, the operation of packaging machine 1 can ideally start immediately after tool 31 has been installed.

[0047] From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

[0048] The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention.

[0049] As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms having and including and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of optional or may include and not as required. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.