Tray sealer

Abstract

The invention relates to a tray sealer comprising a gripper device with two gripper arms, a supply device for unsealed trays, a removal device for sealed trays and a sealing device. Each gripper arm can comprise a coupling device that is configured to hold a first tray gripper for supplying trays into the sealing device and a second tray gripper for removing trays from the sealing device.

Claims

1. Tray sealer comprising: a gripper device with two gripper arms; a supply device for unsealed trays; a removal device for sealed trays; and a sealing device for sealing the trays; wherein each said gripper arm comprises a coupling device that is configured to receive a first tray gripper for supplying said unsealed trays into said sealing device and a second tray gripper for removing said sealed trays from said sealing device; wherein said first tray gripper is attachable to said coupling device using at least a first holding element and said second tray gripper is attachable to said coupling device using at least a second holding element; and wherein said first holding element is removably attached to said coupling device at a first position, and said second holding element is removably attached to said coupling device at a second position.

2. Tray sealer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first or said second holding element is adjustable so that at least one of said first or said second tray gripper can be oriented relative to at least one of a first transport level, a second transport level, or a third transport level.

3. Tray sealer according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said first or said second holding element is adjustable in at least two directions allowing a position of at least one of said first or said second tray gripper to be adjusted in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.

4. Tray sealer according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second holding elements are configured such that a torque generated by forces acting upon said first and said second tray grippers are absorbed by said coupling device.

5. Tray sealer according to claim 1, wherein said first tray gripper is attachable to said coupling device using said first holding element and a third holding element forming a two-point attachment between the first tray gripper and said coupling device, and said second tray gripper is attachable to said coupling device using said second holding element and a fourth holding element forming a two-point attachment between the second tray gripper and said coupling device.

6. Tray sealer according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second tray grippers are each connectable to said coupling device in an independently detachable manner.

7. The tray sealer according to claim 1, wherein said first tray gripper cantilevers away from the respective gripper arm in a first direction, and wherein said second tray gripper cantilevers away from the respective gripper arm in a second direction, wherein said first direction is in a substantially opposite direction relative to the second direction.

8. The tray sealer according to claim 1, wherein said first holding element is adjustably mounted on said first tray gripper and said second holding element is adjustably mounted on said second tray gripper, wherein said first tray gripper is attached to the coupling device at a first location, and said second tray gripper is attached to the coupling device at a second location.

9. Tray sealer comprising: a gripper device with two gripper arms; a supply device for unsealed trays; a removal device for sealed trays; and a sealing device for sealing the trays; wherein each said gripper arm comprises a coupling device that is configured to receive a first tray gripper for supplying said unsealed trays into said sealing device and a second tray gripper for removing said sealed trays from said sealing device; wherein said first tray gripper is attachable to said coupling device using at least a first holding element and said second tray gripper is attachable to said coupling device using at least a second holding element; and wherein one of (a) a position of said first holding element is adjustable relative to said first tray gripper so that said first tray gripper is capable to be selectively positioned at a first transport level or a second transport level; or (b) a position of said second holding element is adjustable relative to said second tray gripper so that said second tray gripper is capable to be selectively positioned at the second transport level, or a third transport level.

10. The tray sealer according to claim 9, wherein the position of said first holding element is adjustable relative to said first tray gripper and the position of said second holding element is adjustable relative to said second tray gripper independently of each other.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is further illustrated using a drawing, where:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray sealer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gripper device according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coupling and a holding element according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(5) Same components are designated with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) 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.

(7) 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.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a tray sealer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention with a supply device in the form of a supply belt 2, a sealing device 3 and a removal device in the form of a removal belt 4, which are arranged consecutively in this order in a direction of production P. Furthermore, tray sealer 1 can comprise a machine frame 5, a film feeder 6 and a film trim winder 7. A gripper device 8 with two gripper arms 9 and respectively a first 10 and a second tray gripper 11 may be provided on both sides in the direction of production P for transporting trays 12. In one embodiment, an operator can influence all processes of tray sealer 1 via an operating device 13.

(9) During operation, trays 12 may be transported on the supply belt 2 and on the removal belt 4 into and out of the sealing device 3, respectively. In the sealing device, trays 12 are, for example, filled with a product, evacuated, flushed with gas, sealed with a top film 14 and cut. The trimmed film residue, also referred to as residual film lattice, may be wound onto film trim winder 7.

(10) As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper portion of supply belt 2 forms a first transport level E1, a sealing tool lower part 3a of sealing device 3 for depositing trays 12 forms a second transport level E2, and the upper portion of removal belt 4 forms a third transport level E3.

(11) Transfer of trays 12 between the supply belt 2, sealing device 3 and removal belt 4 can be performed by gripper device 8, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 in more detail.

(12) FIG. 2 shows the gripper device 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention with two gripper arms 9 movable in and opposite to the direction of production P and arranged laterally relative to trays 12 to be transported. The gripper arms 9 can each comprise a coupling device 15 in their lower region. The first tray gripper 10 and the second tray gripper 11 may be respectively provided at each coupling device 15 consecutively in the direction of production P.

(13) The two first tray grippers 10 may be configured such that they pick up between them a group of five trays 12 from supply belt 2 and transport the group to sealing device 3. The second tray grippers 11 may be at the same time be configured such that they supply the group of five trays 12, that were previously sealed with a top film 14 to a become a finished package, from the sealing device 3 to the removal belt 4.

(14) A pivoting motion of gripper arms 9 toward each other or away from each other about pivot axes 9a, respectively, allows for the gripping of trays 12 from the supply belt 2 or in the sealing device 3 or for depositing trays 12 in the sealing device 3 or onto the removal belt 4.

(15) Both first tray gripper 10, as well as second tray gripper 11, can each comprise a first 16 and a second holding element 17 by use of which tray grippers 10, 11 are attachable to and detachable from coupling device 15 without a wrench.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a detail of coupling device 15 in an enlarged view with a holding element 16 of first tray gripper 10 in a detached state. Holding element 16 can comprise two holding bolts 20a and 20b which are mounted at a fixed distance relative to each other on an adjustment plate 21. Adjustment plate 21 may be adjustably attached to tray gripper 10 by way of a bolt connection 22. Coupling device 15 can comprise a support 23 which has two U-shaped openings 24 for receiving holding bolts 20a, 20b. For this purpose, holding bolts 20a, 20b may have a reduced diameter D at their central portion which is provided for U-shaped opening 24 in a precise fit. After inserting holding bolt 20a, 20b into support 23, a spring plate 25 can ensure a reliable connection of tray gripper 10 to coupling device 15 in that spring plate 25 may enclose a holding bolt 20a in part and at the front end. For detaching, spring plate 25 merely has to be manually pushed away from holding bolt 20a so that tray gripper 10 can be removed.

(17) 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.

(18) 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. 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.