Abstract
Shown and described is a device for the drying of packaging, in particular composite packaging for foodstuffs, including: a conveyor belt with cells for receiving the packaging, and at least one drying facility for drying the packaging. In order to achieve particularly efficient drying of the packaging, it is envisaged that the drying facility has at least one contact element with at least one contact surface. Also shown and described are the use of such a device for the drying of packaging filled with foodstuffs, method for drying packaging, and a packaging for foodstuffs.
Claims
1. A device for the drying of packaging, comprising: a conveyor belt with cells for receiving the packaging, and at least one drying facility for the drying of the packaging, wherein the drying facility has at least one contact element with at least one contact surface, wherein the contact surface of the contact element is made from plastic, and wherein the contact surface of the contact element has a profile with at least one recess.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a facility for attaching protruding ears to the packaging.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drying facility has at least two contact elements.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the contact element has at least one channel for carrying a gaseous or liquid medium.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one contact surface comprises a lateral contact surface and/or a lower contact surface, and wherein at least one outlet of the at least one channel is arranged on the lateral contact surface and/or on the lower contact surface of the contact element.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the contact element has a curved inlet area or an inlet area inclined relative to the contact surface.
7. A method for drying packaging filled with foodstuffs comprising: using the device according to claim 1.
8. A method for the drying of packaging, comprising: a) providing the device for the drying of packaging according to claim 1, b) providing packaging, and c) drying the packaging, wherein the packaging is, in Step c), dried by means of a contact between the packaging and the contact element of the drying facility, wherein in Step c) the packaging is moved whilst the drying facility stays still.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein in Step a) the device comprises a conveyor belt with cells for receiving the packaging.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one contact surface comprises lateral contact surfaces and/or a lower contact surface, and wherein the packaging is, in Step c), dried by means of a contact between the packaging and the lower contact surface and/or the lateral contact surfaces of the contact element of the drying facility.
11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: d) attaching of protruding ears to the packaging.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic comprises an elastomer or a thermoplastic.
13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the plastic comprises an elastomer or a thermoplastic.
14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the packaging is formed from packaging sleeves.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Below, the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of a drawing that shows one preferred embodiment. The following are shown in the drawing:
(2) FIG. 1A: a first embodiment of a packaging with protruding ears known from the prior art,
(3) FIG. 1B: a second embodiment of a packaging with protruding ears known from the prior art,
(4) FIG. 1C: a packaging with protruding ears according to the invention,
(5) FIG. 1D: an embodiment of a packaging sleeve,
(6) FIG. 2A: a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, front view,
(7) FIG. 2B: the device from FIG. 2A, plan view,
(8) FIG. 2C: the device from FIG. 2A, side view,
(9) FIG. 3A: a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, front view,
(10) FIG. 3B: the device from FIG. 3A, plan view,
(11) FIG. 3C: the device from FIG. 3A, side view,
(12) FIG. 4A: the contact element of the drying facility, view from below, and
(13) FIG. 4B: the contact element from FIG. 4A in a side view along the section plane IVB-IVB from FIG. 4A.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(14) FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment of a packaging 1 known from the prior art with protruding ears 2. The packaging 1 is manufactured from a multi-layer composite material which comprises layers of different material for example paper, cardboard, plastic or metal, in particular aluminium. The packaging 1 has a first lateral surface 3, a second lateral surface 4 (hidden), a front surface 5 and a rear surface 6 (hidden). In addition, the packaging 1 has base surfaces 7 and gable surfaces 8. The lateral surfaces 3, 4, the front surface 5 and the rear surface 6 are equally large, so that the packaging 1 has a square cross sectional area. The base surfaces 7 are folded and sealed (e.g. heat-sealed), in such a way that a fin seal 9 is formed. When the base surfaces 7 are folded, protruding areas of excess material are formed which form the ears 2 and in a subsequent manufacturing stepfor example by means of a heat-sealing processare to be attached to the packaging 1. The ears 2 approximately protrude from the packaging 1 in such a way that they run approximately parallel to the lateral surfaces 3, 4 of the packaging 1.
(15) In the area of the gable surfaces 8, the packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1 is sealed by the gable surfaces 8 being folded slightly inwards and being connected to a pouring element 10 made from plastic. The pouring element 10 has a screw cap 11 which is likewise manufactured from plastic. When the gable surfaces 8 are folded, four ears 2 which protrude from the gable area of the packaging 1 are formed, which in the packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1 have already been attached to the gable surfaces 8. The manufacture of a packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1 is described for example in DE 10 2010 050 502 A1, to which reference is being made in this respect.
(16) FIG. 1B shows a second embodiment of a packaging 1 with protruding ears 2 known from the prior art. The areas of the packaging 1 already described in connection with FIG. 1A are given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 1B. The packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1B differs from the packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1A by having a different cross sectional area and a different shape to the gable area. The lateral surfaces 3 and the lateral surface 4 (hidden) are narrower than the front surface 5 and the (hidden) rear surface 6, so that the packaging 1 has a rectangular cross sectional area. In addition, the base area (i.e. the area of the base surfaces 7) and the gable area (i.e. the area of the gable surfaces 8) of the packaging 1 are sealed by identical means, namely without the use a pouring element 10 through direct connection of the base surfaces 7 or the gable surfaces 8. When the base surfaces 7 and the gable surfaces 8 are connected, fin seals 9, 9 are formed. The only difference between the base area and the gable area of the packaging 1 lies in the fact that the ears 2 in the gable area have already been attached to the gable surfaces 8, whilst the ears 2 in the base area have not yet been attached to the base surfaces 7 and therefore still protrude from the packaging 1. The ears 2 approximately protrude from the packaging 1 in such a way that they run approximately parallel to the lateral surfaces 3, 4 of the packaging 1.
(17) FIG. 1C shows a packaging 1 according to the invention with protruding ears 2. The areas of the packaging 1, 1 already described in connection with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 1C. The packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1C differs from the packaging 1 shown in FIG. 1B by having a different outer layer. The changed outer layer results in a particularly favourable contact angle . The contact angle refers to that angle which the outermost layer of the laminate of the packaging 1 forms with a water droplet. The contact angle in turn is to be determined according to the specifications of DIN 55660-2 and in particular according to the static methods described therein and in compliance with the recommendations given therein.
(18) FIG. 1D shows an embodiment of a packaging sleeve 1. Packaging can be manufactured using different methods and from a wide variety of materials. A popular option for its manufacture consists of producing, from the packaging material, a cut length from which, by means of folding and further steps, initially a packaging sleeve 1 and ultimately packaging is formed. This type of manufacture has, among other things, the advantage that the cut lengths are very flat and can therefore be stacked in a space-saving manner. By this means, the cut lengths or packaging sleeves 1 can be manufactured at a different location from where the folding and filling of the packaging sleeve 1 takes place. By way of materials, composites are frequently used, for example a composite of several thin layers of paper, cardboard, plastic or metal, particularly aluminum. Such packaging is particularly widespread in the food industry.
(19) FIG. 2A shows a first embodiment of a device 12 according to the invention for the drying of composite packaging for foodstuffs in a front view. The device 12 comprises firstly a conveyor belt 13 with cells 14 for receiving the packaging 1. In place of a conveyor belt 13 a transport chain, transport belt or other suitable means of transport may be provided. In addition, the device 12 comprises a drying facility 15 for drying the packaging 1. The drying facility 15 has a contact element 16 which shall be addressed in more detail below. The packaging units 1 that are already filled and sealed are located in the cells 14 and are led from the conveyor belt 13 in a transport direction T past the stationary contact element 16 in such a way that a partial area of the packaging 1in particular the fin seal 9touches the contact element 16, whereby the contact element 16 strips moisture from the packaging 1. This principle is comparable with a windscreen wiper on vehicles. FIG. 2A also shows a facility 17 for attaching protruding ears 2 to the packaging 1. Although the facility 17 is not a component of the device 12, it assists with the explanation of its operation. This is because the drying of the packaging 1 in particular serves the purpose of being able to reliably attach the ears 2 to the packaging 1. This mostly takes place by means of heat-sealing processes, which is why dry surfaces are required for a reliable connection. The conveyor belt 13 can for example be driven by an electric drive 18.
(20) FIG. 2B shows the device 12 from FIG. 2A in plan view. The areas of the device 12 already described in connection with FIG. 2A are given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 2B. In the plan view it can be clearly recognised that the conveyor belt 13 has four rows of cells 14. In order to enable the simultaneous processing of four packaging units 1 in the drying facility 15 and/or in the facility 17 for attachment of the protruding ears 2, both facilities 15, 17 extend across the entire width of the conveyor belt 13. In addition, both facilities have an appropriate number of tools; the drying facility 15 shown in FIG. 2B therefore has four contact elements 16. The configuration shown in FIG. 2B is only to be understood as an example; in particular, the number of rows of cells 14 can be varied. For example, only a single row of cells 14 may be provided. In this case, the cells 14 can be directly connected to the conveyor belt 13. Alternatively, two or more rows of cells 14 may be provided. In this case, the cells 14 may for example be connected via a collective cross member 19 to the conveyor belt 13.
(21) FIG. 2C shows the device 12 from FIG. 2A in a side view. The areas of the device 12 already described in connection with FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 2C. In the side view it is clearly discernible that four packaging units 1 with protruding ears 2 are simultaneously processed by the four contact elements 16 of the drying facility 16. The contact elements 16 come into contact with the packaging units 1 both in the area of their base surfaces 7 (and the fin seals 9 that run there) and also on the inner sides of the protruding ears 2 (and the fin seals 9 that likewise run there). In this way, drying of the base surfaces 7 as well as of the inner sides of the ears 2 and of the fin seals 9 is achieved. This has the advantage that all the surfaces affected by the attachment of the ears 2 to the packaging 1 are dried. The packaging units 1 shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C may for example be the packaging 1 described in connection with FIG. 1A.
(22) FIG. 3A shows a second embodiment of a device 12 according to the invention for the drying of composite packaging for foodstuffs in a front view. The areas of the device 12 already described in connection with FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C are given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 3A. A key difference between the second embodiment of the device 12 and the previously described first embodiment of the device 12 (FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C) lies in the fact that the conveyor belt 13 in the second embodiment of the device 12 runs not beneath but behind or next to the packaging units 1. A further difference lies in the fact that the packaging units 1 are, in the second embodiment of the device 12, held at the side (and not from underneath) by the cells 14. The lateral arrangement of the conveyor belt 13 has the advantage that the conveyor belt 13 can, throughout its entire loopi.e. also in the area of returnrun in the same horizontal plane and the cells 14 fixed to it and the packaging units 1 held by them are hence never upside down. This has the advantage that the whole length of the conveyor belt 13 can be used for processing the packaging units 1. A further advantage of the second embodiment of the device 12 and in particular the lateral arrangement of the cells 14 lies in the fact that the packaging units 1 are freely positioned and accessible both in the area of their base surfaces 7 and in the area of their gable surfaces 8 and hence the simultaneous processing of both ends of the packaging units 1 is possible. A disadvantage of this embodiment, however, lies in the fact that the lateral arrangement of the conveyor belt 13 makes the simultaneous processing of several rows of cells 14 more complex, from a design point of view.
(23) FIG. 3B shows the device 12 from FIG. 3A in a plan view. The areas of the device 12 that have already been described in connection with FIG. 2A to FIG. 3A are given the corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 3B. In the plan view it is clearly discernible that the conveyor belt 13 runs laterally next to the packaging units 1. Accordingly, the cells 14 also grasp the packaging units from the side.
(24) FIG. 3C shows the device 12 from FIG. 3A in a side view. The areas of the device 12 that have already been described in connection with FIG. 2A to FIG. 3B have been given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 3C. In the side view it is clearly discernible that the packaging units 1 are led past the contact elements 16 in such a way that the packaging units 1 are contacted both in the area of their base surfaces 7 and on the inner sides of the protruding ears 2 and are hence dried. The packaging units 1 shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C may for example be the packaging 1 described in connection with FIG. 1B.
(25) FIG. 4A shows the contact element 16 of the drying facility 15 in a view from below. The contact element 16 has several contact surfaces 20, for example one lower contact surface 20A and two lateral contact surfaces 20B. The contact surfaces 20 are preferably manufactured from plastic, in particular from PEEK (polyether ether ketone) and serve the purpose of wiping of moisture from the surface of the packaging units 1, 1. With the contact element 16 shown in FIG. 4A and in this respect the preferred contact element, the lower contact surface 20A has a profile with recesses 21. Preferably the recesses 21 run from the middle of the contact surface 20A, viewed in the direction of transport T, diagonally relative to the sides and outwards, in order to be able to drain of moisture well. The contact element 16 has several (not shown in FIG. 4A) channels 22 for carrying a gaseous medium. The outlets 23A of the channels 22 are arranged in the area of the recesses 21. Furthermore, the contact element 16 has a curved inlet area 24.
(26) Finally, FIG. 4B shows the contact element 16 from FIG. 4A in a side view along the section plane IVB-IVB from FIG. 4A. The areas of the contact element 16 already described in connection with FIG. 4A are given corresponding reference symbols in FIG. 4B. In the cutaway view, the course of the channels 22 in the interior of the contact element 16 is clearly recognisable. Through the channels 22 it is possible for example for moisture to be withdrawn by suction from the packaging units 1, 1 by means of the outlets 23A arranged in the lower contact surface 20A and discharged through the outlet 23B. By way of an alternative to this, dry air can be drawn by suction through the outlet 23B and the channels 22 and flow through the outlets 23A arranged in the lower contact surface 20A onto the packaging units 1, 1 that are to be dried.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
(27) 1 packaging sleeve 1, 1 packaging (unit) 2, 2 ear 3 first lateral surface 4 second lateral surface 5 front surface 6 rear surface 7 base surface 8 gable surface 9, 9 fin seal 10 pouring element 11 screw cap 12, 12 device 13, 13 conveyor belt 14, 14 cells 15 drying facility 16 contact element 17 facility for attaching ears 18 drive 19 cross member 20, 20A, 20B contact surface (of the contact element 16) 21 recess 22 channel 23A, 23B outlet (of channel 22) 24 inlet area T: transport direction (of packaging 1, 1) : contact angle
