METHOD FOR OPERATING A PACKAGING MACHINE AND A PACKAGING MACHINE

Abstract

Method for operating a packaging machine, in particular a form, fill and seal machine, wherein in at least one method step the packaging machine processes a film material (14) for packing a product according to at least one processing instruction, wherein the at least one processing instruction is derived from a user input via an interface device (16) of the packaging machine and wherein the interface device (16) displays an image (18) of the film material. It is proposed that in at least one method step a modification (20) of the displayed image (18) by a user input via the interface device (16) is converted to the at least one processing instruction.

Claims

1. A method for operating a packaging machine, wherein in at least one method step the packaging machine processes a film material (14) for packing a product according to at least one processing instruction, wherein the at least one processing instruction is derived from a user input via an interface device (16) of the packaging machine and wherein the interface device (16) displays an image (18) of the film material, wherein in at least one method step a modification (20) of the displayed image (18) by a user input via the interface device (16) is converted to the at least one processing instruction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step the image (18) is taken by a sensor unit (22) of the packaging machine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step the image (18) is taken or generated by an external device and uploaded to the packaging machine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step the interface device (16) extracts a coordinate of the modification (20) of the image (18) with respect to a film spot (24) of the film material (14).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step the interface device (16) displays a preview of the film material (14) comprising the image (18) and the modification (20) as interpreted by the interface device (16).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step a cutting position (26) or a target length (28) added to the image (18) is extracted from the image (18) and forwarded as the processing instruction to a cutting station of the packaging machine.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step at least one label (30, 30), at least one punch hole (32, 32) and/or at least one printing (34, 34) added as modification (20) to the image (18) is added to the film material (14, 14) by the packaging machine.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step a picture of the at least partly processed film material (14, 14) is compared to the image (18).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein in at least one method step an identification feature (36) is read, in order to load the image (18) corresponding to the film material (14) from a database.

10. A packaging machine, comprising an interface device (16) to execute a method according to claim 1.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein in at least one method step the image (18) is taken or generated by an external device and uploaded to the packaging machine.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packaging machine is a form, fill, and seal machine.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the identification feature is a bar code of the film material (14).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Further advantages may be gathered from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings one exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. The drawing, the description and the claims comprise a plurality of features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and will bring them together in further purposeful combinations.

[0023] The drawings show:

[0024] In FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a packaging machine according to the invention,

[0025] In FIG. 2 a schematic flow diagram of an input stage of the method according to the invention and

[0026] In FIG. 3 a schematic flow diagram of a processing stage of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a packaging machine 12, in particular a form, fill and seal machine.

[0028] The packaging machine 12 comprises preferably one or more processing stations 38, 40 to process a film material 14. In particular, the packaging machine 12 comprises preferably at least one packing processing station 40 to pack a product with the film material 14. The at least one packing processing station 40 is in particular configured to cut-off a piece of the film material 14, to form a container out of said piece or several pieces of the film material 14, to fill said container with a product for packaging and to seal that filled container, wherein the packaging machine 12 can be configured to execute the cutting off of the piece(s) of film material 14 before or after any of the other steps. The packing processing station 40 is optionally subdivided into smaller stations dedicated to execute a subset, in particular one, of the above-mentioned function.

[0029] Preferably, the packing machine 12 comprises at least one pre-processing station 38 to modify the film material 14, in particular before processing the film material 14 with the packing processing station 40. In particular, the packaging machine 12 can comprise any, some or all of the following pre-processing stations 38: a splicing station to splice two batches of the film material 14, a labelling station to label the film material 14, a printing station to imprint the film material 14 and/or a punching station to punch a hole into the film material 14. The packaging machine 12 comprises at least one guiding unit 42 to transport the film material 14 along a transportation direction 44, in particular from one of the processing stations 38, 40 to another. For example, the guiding unit 42 comprises rollers to convey, divert and/or span the film material 14 along the transportation direction 44.

[0030] The packaging machine 12 comprises preferably a sensor unit 22 to monitor the film material 14 transported by the packaging machine 12 along the transportation direction 44. The sensor unit 22 comprises at least one imaging unit. The imaging unit is for example, as shown here, a line scan camera 46, 48. The sensor unit 22 can comprise one or both of the shown line scan cameras 46, 48. The imaging unit is preferably arranged to monitor the film material 14 before one of the pre-processing stations 38 or between the pre-processing station(s) 38 and the at least one packing processing station 40. The imaging unit is configured to capture at least two different features of the film material 14, for example a film edge of the film material 14, an identification feature 36 of the film material 14, a film spot 24 of the film material 14 or the like (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0031] A width of a measuring area of the imaging unit, in particular the line scanning camera 46, 48, of the senor unit 22 is at least essentially as wide as a width of the film material 14 and/or as a maximum transportation width 50 of the guiding unit 42 of the packaging machine 12 in a direction transverse to the transportation direction 44. Here the width of the film material 14 coincides with the maximum transportation width 50. Depending of a unit size of the product for packing the width of the film material 14 can also be smaller than the maximum transportation width 50. The maximum transportation width 50 is in particular defined by a maximum length of a supporting surface of the rollers perpendicular to the transportation direction 44, in particular reduced by a safety margin. Preferably, the width of the measuring area of the imaging unit extends across the complete maximum transportation width 50, in particular the width of the film material 14. Optionally the width of the measuring area is wider than the maximum transportation width 50, in particular to capture additionally to the film material 14 a physical reference element indicating a position of the film material 14 with respect to the guiding unit 42, in particular a film edge location of the film material 14 with respect to the guiding unit 42. Alternatively, the sensor unit comprises one or more sensor elements, in particular with a measurement area smaller than ? of the maximum transportation width 50, which are dedicated to capture a single specific feature of the film material.

[0032] The packaging machine 12 comprises an interface device 16. The interface device 16 is configured to execute a method 10, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the interface device 16 comprises an output interface, in particular a display, to present at least one image 18 of the film material 14. The image 18 of the film material 14 can be a picture taken by the sensor unit 22, in particular by one of the line-scan cameras 46, 48 or a drawing of the film material 14 uploaded to the interface device 16.

[0033] Preferably, the interface device 16 outputs, in particular additional to the image 18 of the film material 14, a picture of the film material 14 in an at least partly processed state. The picture of the at least partly processed film material 14 can be a single line scan or a composition of several line scans taken by the sensor unit 22, in particular by one of the linescan cameras 46, 48 arranged behind at least one of the pre-processing stations 38. The picture of the at least partly processed film material 14 can be a static set of line scans, in particular depicting one segment of the film material 14 that is going to be processed to contain one unit of the product for packing, or a video stream of the imaging unit, that is in particular updated after each line scan. Preferentially, the imaging unit is configured to take the picture of the at least partly processed film material 14 while the film material 14, 14 is transported by the guiding unit 42, in particular while the film material 14, 14 is moving with respect to the imaging unit and the guiding unit 42. The packaging machine 12 comprises preferably at least one control system 52. The control system 52 and the interface device 16 are here shown as separate devices, that communicate with each other via a data link. In particular, the control systems 52 forwards pictures of the film material 14, 14 taken by the sensor unit 22 to the interface device 16. Preferably, the interface device 16 sends the processing instruction on how the processing stations 38, 40, in particular the pre-processing stations 38 and/or a cutting station of the packing station 40, should handle the film material 14, 14. The control system 52 is in particular provided to synchronise the guiding unit 42 with the processing stations 38, 40. The control system 52 and/or the interface device 16 are/is configured to evaluate the picture of the at least partly processed film material 14, optionally regarding at least two different features of the film material 14, 14. Preferably the control system 52 and/or the interface device 16 evaluates the same picture, in particular the same line scan, for at least two of the different features of the film material 14, 14. Alternatively or additionally, the control system 52 and/or the interface device 16 evaluates at least two different pictures, in particular of the same segment of the film material 14, 14 for at least two of the different features of the film material 14, 14. The packaging machine 12 comprises at least one velocity sensor element, in particular an encoder 54, to measure a transportation velocity of the film material 14, 14 through the measuring area of the sensor unit 22. For example, the encoder 54 is arranged at one of the rollers of the guiding unit 42, to measure a rotation velocity of the roller. In particular, the control system 52 and/or the interface device 16 determines a velocity of the film material 14, 14 for rolling off of said roller as the transportation velocity.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of an input stage of the method 10. The at least one processing instruction is derived from a user input via the interface device 16 of the packaging machine 12. In at least one method step a modification 20 of the displayed image 18 by a user input via the interface device 16 is converted to the at least one processing instruction. The method 10 comprises in particular an input stage and a processing stage 72, shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, during the input stage of the method 10, the user modifies the image 18 of the film material 14 in order to generate the processing instruction for the processing stations 38, 40 of the packaging machine 12. Preferably, during the processing stage, the processing instruction generated during the input stage are executed by the packaging machine 12. The packaging machine 12 processes the film material 14 for packing a product according to at least one processing instruction. The input stage and the processing stage 72 of the method 10 can be separated in time or at least partly overlap with each other. For example, the image 18 and any modification 20 to the image can be prepared in advance and are uploaded to the interface device 16 or the modifications 20 to the image 18 are done on the fly, while the processing stage 72 already started, in particular to get a direct feedback, whether the modifications 20 to the image 18 are interpreted by the interface device 16 correctly and/or whether the packaging machine 12 executes the processing instruction as intended.

[0035] The method comprises in particular an image acquisition step 56. In the image acquisition step 56 the image 18 is taken by a sensor unit 22 of the packaging machine 12 and/or is taken or generated by an external device and uploaded to the packaging machine 12, in particular loaded from a database of film materials. In particular, the image represents a film section 58 of the film material 14. Preferentially, the image 18, i.e. the film section 58, extends across the whole maximum transportation width 50 perpendicular to the actual or intended transportation direction 44 of the film material 14. Preferentially, the image 18, i.e. the film section 58, extends across at least a piece of the film material that is, in a direction parallel to the actual or intended transportation direction 44 of the film material 14, big enough to pack one unit of the product.

[0036] The method 10 comprises in particular an image presentation step 60, in which the interface device 16 displays the image 18 of the film material 14. In particular, during the image presentation step 60 the interface device 16 queries, whether the user wants to modify the image 18. In this example the film material 14 already comprises a background colouring, a dot intended as film spot 24 and an identification feature 36, that are preferably added in a pre-print before the film material 14 is processed by the packaging machine 12. The method 10 comprises preferably a cutting definition step 62 for modifying the image 18. The method 10 comprises preferably a film spot definition step 64 for modifying the image 18. The method 10 comprises optionally a label definition step 66 for modifying the image 18. The method 10 comprises optionally a punch hole definition step 68 for modifying the image 18. The method 10 comprises optionally a printing definition step 70 for modifying the image 18. An order of the method steps 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 for modifying the image 18 can be fixed or chosen freely.

[0037] In the cutting definition step 62, the user can modify the image 18 by marking a position on the image 18, where the film material 18 should be cut, in order to form one container out of the cut-off piece of the film material. In particular, the interface device 16 draws a line or a rectangle or another graphical representation for cutting 74 at a cutting position 26, 27 into the image 18 in accordance with the user input. The user input may comprise marking a point or a line of the image with a pointer, drag and drop the graphical representation for cutting 74 onto the image 18, a numerical input, in particular a target length 28 of the cut-off piece of the film material or the like. The cutting position 26 or the target length 28 added to the image 18 is extracted from the image 18 by the interface device 16 and forwarded as the processing instruction to a cutting station of the packaging machine 12, in particular via the control system 52. The interface device 16 extracts a coordinate of the modification 20 of the image 18, in particular a coordinate of the cutting position 26, 27, with respect to the film spot 24 of the film material 14.

[0038] In the film spot definition step 64, the user can modify the image 18 by marking a region of the image 18, which should be interpreted as the film spot 24. In particular, the interface device 16 draws a circle, or a rectangle or another graphical representation for a film spot region 76 into the image 18 in accordance with the user input. The user input may comprise marking a point or a region of the image with a pointer, drag and drop the graphical representation for a film spot region 76 onto the image 18, a numerical input or the like. Preferably, the interface device 16 extracts the position of any other modification 20 of the image 18 with respect to, in particular a centre point of, the graphical representation of the film spot region 76. The position of film spot region is preferably extracted from the image 18 by the interface device 16 and forwarded as a trigger condition to the control system 52.

[0039] In the label definition step 66 the user can modify the image 18 by marking a position on the image 18, where a label 30 should be affixed to the film material 14. In particular, the interface device 16 draws a circle or a rectangle or another graphical representation for a label 78 into the image 18 in accordance with the user input. The user input may comprise marking a point or a region of the image with a pointer, drag and drop the graphical representation for a label 78 onto the image 18, a numerical input, in particular a distance of the label 30 to the film spot 24 or to the film edge of the film material 14 or the like. The position of the label 30 is extracted from the image 18 by the interface device 16 and forwarded as the processing instruction to a labelling station of the packaging machine 12, in particular via the control system 52. The interface device 16 extracts a coordinate of the modification 20 of the image 18, in particular a coordinate of the label 30, with respect to the film spot 24 of the film material 14.

[0040] In the punch hole definition step 68 the user can modify the image 18 by marking a position on the image 18, where a punch hole 30 should be affixed to the film material 14. In particular, the interface device 16 draws a circle or a rectangle or another graphical representation for a punch hole 80 into the image 18 in accordance with the user input. The user input may comprise marking a point or a region of the image 18 with a pointer, drag and drop the graphical representation for a punch hole 80 onto the image 18, a numerical input, in particular a desired distance of a punch hole 32 to the film spot 24 or to the film edge of the film material 14 or the like. The position of the graphical representation for a punch hole 80 is extracted from the image 18 by the interface device 16 and forwarded as the processing instruction to a punching station of the packaging machine 12, in particular via the control system 52. The interface device 16 extracts a coordinate of the modification 20 of the image 18, in particular a coordinate of the graphical representation for a punch hole 80, with respect to the film spot 24 of the film material 14.

[0041] In the printing definition step 70 the user can modify the image 18 by marking a position on the image 18, where a printing 34 should be imprinted to the film material 14. In particular, the interface device 16 draws a circle or a rectangle or another graphical representation for a printing 82 into the image 18 in accordance with the user input. The user input may comprise marking a point or a region of the image 18 with a pointer, drag and drop the graphical representation for a printing 82 onto the image 18, a numerical input, in particular a distance of the graphical representation for a printing 82 to the film spot 24 or to the film edge of the film material 14 or the like. The position of the graphical representation for a printing 82 is extracted from the image 18 by the interface device 16 and forwarded as the processing instruction to a printing station of the packaging machine 12, in particular via the control system 52. The interface device 16 extracts a coordinate of the modification 20 of the image 18, in particular a coordinate of the graphical representation for a printing 82, with respect to the film spot 24 of the film material 14. In at least one method step of the method 10 the interface device 16 displays a preview of the film material 14 comprising the image 18 and the modification 20 as interpreted by the interface device 16. If the user agrees to the preview, the interface device 16 stores the modification 20 in the memory of the interface device 16 and/or in the external database.

[0042] The interface device 16 preferably retrieves the stored modification 20 form the memory of the interface device 16 and/or the external database and generates the processing instruction based on the modification 20. Alternatively, the processing instruction is generated and stored beforehand in the memory of the interface device 16 and/or the external database, in particular instead or additionally to the modification 20. In the processing stage 72 the interface device 16 preferably forwards the processing instruction to the control systems 52. In the processing stage 72 at least one label 30, at least one punch hole 32 and/or at least one printing 34, that was added as modification 20 to the image 18, is added to the film material 14 by the packaging machine 12, in particular in accordance with the processing instruction generated from the modification 20. The apostrophe on the reference signs indicates, that the segment of the film material 14 shown in the image 18 is in general different from a segment of the film material 14 that is processed by the packaging machine 12. In particular, reference signs with the same number of apostrophes belong to the same segment of film material 14, 14, 14 (cf. FIG. 3). In some cases, in particular in a testing phase of the method 10 and/or the packaging machine 12, the packaging machine 12 processes exactly the segment of the film material 14 that is shown in the image 18.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows the processing stage 72 of the method 10. In the processing stage 72, the sensor unit 22 reads the identification feature 36 in particular a bar code, of the film material 14, in order to load the image 18 corresponding to the film material 14 from a database, in particular the memory of the interface device 16 and/or the external database. In particular, the control system 52 queries the interface device 16 for the processing instruction that are assigned to the identification feature 36. The interface device preferably searches the database for the identification features 36 and retrieves the according modification 20 and/or processing instruction and forwards the processing instruction to the control system 52.

[0044] The packaging machine 12 processes the film material 14 in particular according to the processing instruction. In at least one method step of the method 10 a picture 84 of the at least partly processed film material 14 is compared to the image 18. Preferably the sensor unit 22, in particular one of the line scan cameras 46, 48, takes the picture 84 of the at least partly processed film material 14. The sensor unit 22 and/or the control system 52 sends the picture 84 of the at least partly processed film material 14 preferably to the interface device 16. Optionally the interface device 16 displays the picture 84 in particular together with the image 18. If the picture 84 of the at least partly processed film material 14 deviates from the modified image 18, the interface device 16 preferably outputs a warning to the user and/or generates automatically a correction instruction to the control system 52. In particular, the method 10 comprises a correction step 86, in which the interface sends the manually input or automatically generated correction instruction to the control system 52. For example, the features added to the film material 14, in particular a label 30, punch holes 24 and a printing 34 are shifted in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction 44 in contrast to where the according modifications 20 made to the image 18 (cf. FIG. 2). Preferably, the correction instruction comprises an instruction to a processing station to relocate and/or reconfigure its processing tool and/or to the guiding unit to relocate the remaining film material 14 within the packaging machine 12. If a manual correction of the packaging machine 12 and or the remaining film material 14 within the packaging machine 12 is necessary, the interface device 16 preferably informs the user about the steps, that are necessary to correct the packaging machine 12 and or the remaining film material 14. Preferably, after the correction step 86 another processing step 72 is executed to process the remaining film material 14, in which the added features, e.g. a label 30, punch holes 24 and a printing 34, are at the positions indicated by the modification 20 of the image 18.