APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING OBJECTS

Abstract

A packaging apparatus for packaging objects, in particular for packaging food portions, having a conveying device (10) for transporting a continuous web of a first packaging material (12), in particular of a bottom film, in a transport direction (TR); and having a feed device (14) for feeding a continuous web of a second packaging material (16), in particular of a top film, in the transport direction (TR), wherein the conveying device (10) comprises a first reception shaft (18) for receiving a first supply roll (20) of the first packaging material (12) and the feed device (14) comprises a second reception shaft (22) for receiving a second supply roll (24) of the second packaging material (16); wherein the first reception shaft (18) can be driven by means of a first drive motor (26) to carry out a rotational movement; and/or wherein the second reception shaft (22) can be driven by means of a second drive motor (28) to carry out a rotational movement, with the first and/or second drive motor (26, 28) in particular being a servomotor or servomotors.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A packaging apparatus for packaging objects, the packaging apparatus comprising: a conveying device for transporting a continuous web of a first packaging material in a transport direction; and a feed device for feeding a continuous web of a second packaging material in the transport direction; wherein the conveying device comprises a first reception shaft for receiving a first supply roll of the first packaging material and the feed device comprises a second reception shaft for receiving a second supply roll of the second packaging material; wherein the first reception shaft can be driven by means of a first drive motor to carry out a rotational movement; and/or wherein the second reception shaft can be driven by means of a second drive motor to carry out a rotational movement.

21. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second drive motors is a servomotor.

22. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second drive motors directly drives the respective reception shaft.

23. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein at least one of the first and second drive motors is integrated into the respective reception shaft.

24. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a control device which is configured to detect and/or to control a movement of the first and/or second drive motor.

25. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein at least one sensor is provided by which a movement of the web of the first packaging material can be detected; and/or wherein at least one sensor is provided by which a movement of the web of the second packaging material can be detected; and/or wherein at least one sensor is provided by which a mechanical strain of the web of the first and/or second packaging material can be detected.

26. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein the control device is configured to control the second drive motor in dependence on a drive of a first conveying unit of the conveying device or on an operating parameter of the drive of the first conveying unit, in dependence on the movement of the first drive motor, on the movement of the web of the first and/or second packaging material and/or on the mechanical strain of the web of the first and/or second packaging material; and/or wherein at least one sensor is provided by which a movement of the web of the first packaging material can be detected; and/or wherein at least one sensor is provided by which a movement of the web of the second packaging material can be detected; and/or wherein at least one sensor is provided by which a mechanical strain of the web of the first and/or second packaging material can be detected.

27. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the packaging apparatus has a molding station for molding placement elements for the reception of objects in the web of the first packaging material.

28. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 20, wherein the packaging apparatus has a sealing station which is arranged in the transport direction behind a feed point at which the web of the second packaging material is fed to the web of the first packaging material by the feed device and the two webs are at least sectionally connectable to one another by means of said sealing station.

29. The packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein the control device is configured to control the first drive motor in dependence on the mechanical strain of the web of the first packaging material, and/or in dependence on a cycle of a molding station and/or of a sealing station, and/or in dependence on a movement of coupling means which can be brought into engagement with the web of the first packaging material and which are drive-effectively coupled or couplable to a conveying unit, and/or in dependence on an operating parameter of the conveying unit.

30. A method of operating a packaging apparatus the packaging apparatus comprising: a conveying device for transporting a continuous web of a first packaging material in a transport direction; and a feed device for feeding a continuous web of a second packaging material in the transport direction; wherein the conveying device comprises a first reception shaft for receiving a first supply roll of the first packaging material and the feed device comprises a second reception shaft for receiving a second supply roll of the second packaging material; wherein the first reception shaft can be driven by means of a first drive motor to carry out a rotational movement; and/or wherein the second reception shaft can be driven by means of a second drive motor to carry out a rotational movement, the method comprising the steps of: detecting a movement parameter of the web of the first packaging material and/or an operating parameter of the first drive motor, a movement parameter of the web of the second packaging material and/or a mechanical strain of the web of the first and/or second packaging material; and operating the second drive motor in dependence on the detected movement parameter and/or on the detected operating parameter and/or on the detected mechanical strain.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the mechanical strain of the web of the first packaging material and/or a movement parameter of coupling means which can be brought into engagement with the web of the first packaging material and which are drive-effectively coupled or couplable to a conveying unit of the conveying device and/or a movement parameter of the conveying unit is/are detected and the first drive motor is operated in dependence on the detected parameter and/or on the detected strain; and/or wherein the first drive motor is operated in dependence on apredetermined or detectedcycle of a molding station, of a filling station and/or of a sealing station.

32. The method in accordance with claim 30, wherein the first drive motor is operated such that a predetermined mechanical strainwhich is constant in time or variable in timeof the web of the first packaging material is produced; and/or wherein the second drive motor is operated such that a predetermined mechanical strainwhich is constant in time or variable in timeof the web of the second packaging material is produced, and/or wherein a transport of the web of the first packaging material takes place in a clocked manner; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a supply roll arranged at the first or second reception shaft: operating the first or second drive motor using at least one predetermined operating parameter to produce a rotational movement of the respective supply roll; detecting at least one movement parameter of the produced rotational movement of the respective supply roll; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a second supply roll arranged at the second reception shaft: coupling the webs of the first and second packaging materials; operating the conveying device and/or the first drive motor using a predefined operating parameter to produce a movement of the web of the first packaging material; detecting at least one movement parameter of a rotational movement of the second supply roll which is thereby produced; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the produced movement of the web of the first packaging material and/or on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter of the second supply roll; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a first supply roll arranged at the first reception shaft: operating the conveying device using a predefined operating parameter to produce a movement of the web of the first packaging material; detecting at least one movement parameter of a rotational movement of the first supply roll which is thereby produced; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the produced movement of the web of the first packaging material and/or on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter of the first supply roll; and/or wherein a rotational speed of the first and/or second supply roll is detected, with this detection taking place by means of at least one contacting and/or contactless sensor and/or a stretching of the web of the second packaging material is/are determined on the basis of the detected movement speed of the first and/or second web and/or on the basis of the detected rotational speed; and/or wherein a movement speed of the web of the first packaging material and/or a movement speed of the web of the second packaging material and/or a movement speed of both webs in a coupled state is/are detected, and/or wherein a stretching of the web of the first packaging material and/or a stretching of the web of the second packaging material is/are determined on the basis of the detected movement speed of the first and/or second web and/or on the basis of the detected rotational speed.

33. A method of operating a packaging apparatus, the packaging apparatus comprising: a conveying device for transporting a continuous web of a first packaging material in a transport direction; and a feed device for feeding a continuous web of a second packaging material in the transport direction; wherein the conveying device comprises a first reception shaft for receiving a first supply roll of the first packaging material and the feed device comprises a second reception shaft for receiving a second supply roll of the second packaging material; wherein the first reception shaft can be driven by means of a first drive motor to carry out a rotational movement; and/or wherein the second reception shaft can be driven by means of a second drive motor to carry out a rotational movement, wherein a mechanical strain of the web of the first packaging material and/or a movement parameter of coupling means which can be brought into engagement with the web of the first packaging material and which are drive-effectively coupled or couplable to a conveying unit of the conveying device and/or a movement parameter of the conveying unit is/are detected and the first drive motor is operated in dependence on the detected parameter and/or on the detected strain; and/or wherein the first drive motor is operated in dependence on apredetermined or detectedcycle of a molding station, of a filling station and/or of a sealing station.

34. The method in accordance with claim 33, wherein the first drive motor is operated such that a predetermined mechanical strainwhich is constant in time or variable in timeof the web of the first packaging material is produced; and/or wherein the second drive motor is operated such that a predetermined mechanical strainwhich is constant in time or variable in timeof the web of the second packaging material is produced, and/or wherein a transport of the web of the first packaging material takes place in a clocked manner; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a supply roll arranged at the first or second reception shaft: operating the first or second drive motor using at least one predetermined operating parameter to produce a rotational movement of the respective supply roll; detecting at least one movement parameter of the produced rotational movement of the respective supply roll; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a second supply roll arranged at the second reception shaft: coupling the webs of the first and second packaging materials; operating the conveying device and/or the first drive motor using a predefined operating parameter to produce a movement of the web of the first packaging material; detecting at least one movement parameter of a rotational movement of the second supply roll which is thereby produced; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the produced movement of the web of the first packaging material and/or on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter of the second supply roll; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a first supply roll arranged at the first reception shaft: operating the conveying device using a predefined operating parameter to produce a movement of the web of the first packaging material; detecting at least one movement parameter of a rotational movement of the first supply roll which is thereby produced; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the produced movement of the web of the first packaging material and/or on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter of the first supply roll; and/or wherein a rotational speed of the first and/or second supply roll is detected, with this detection taking place by means of at least one contacting and/or contactless sensor and/or a stretching of the web of the second packaging material is/are determined on the basis of the detected movement speed of the first and/or second web and/or on the basis of the detected rotational speed; and/or wherein a movement speed of the web of the first packaging material and/or a movement speed of the web of the second packaging material and/or a movement speed of both webs in a coupled state is/are detected, and/or wherein a stretching of the web of the first packaging material and/or a stretching of the web of the second packaging material is/are determined on the basis of the detected movement speed of the first and/or second web and/or on the basis of the detected rotational speed.

35. A method of operating a packaging apparatus, the packaging apparatus comprising: a conveying device for transporting a continuous web of a first packaging material in a transport direction; and a feed device for feeding a continuous web of a second packaging material in the transport direction; wherein the conveying device comprises a first reception shaft for receiving a first supply roll of the first packaging material and the feed device comprises a second reception shaft for receiving a second supply roll of the second packaging material; wherein the first reception shaft can be driven by means of a first drive motor to carry out a rotational movement; and/or wherein the second reception shaft can be driven by means of a second drive motor to carry out a rotational movement, wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a supply roll arranged at the first or second reception shaft: operating the first or second drive motor using at least one predetermined operating parameter to produce a rotational movement of the respective supply roll; detecting at least one movement parameter of the produced rotational movement of the respective supply roll; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a second supply roll arranged at the second reception shaft: coupling the webs of the first and second packaging materials; operating the conveying device and/or the first drive motor using a predefined operating parameter to produce a movement of the web of the first packaging material; detecting at least one movement parameter of a rotational movement of the second supply roll which is thereby produced; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the produced movement of the web of the first packaging material and/or on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter of the second supply roll; and/or wherein the following steps are carried out to determine a state parameter of a first supply roll arranged at the first reception shaft: operating the conveying device using a predefined operating parameter to produce a movement of the web of the first packaging material; detecting at least one movement parameter of a rotational movement of the first supply roll which is thereby produced; and determining the state parameter on the basis of the produced movement of the web of the first packaging material and/or on the basis of the operating parameter and of the movement parameter of the first supply roll.

36. The method in accordance with claim 35, wherein the operating parameter is an angular increment, a torque, a frequency, an operating current or an operating voltage of the first and/or second drive motor; and/or wherein the movement parameter is position data, angular increments, a torque, a frequency, an angular speed or an angular acceleration of the rotational movement of the first or second supply roll.

37. The method in accordance with claim 35, wherein a rotational speed of the first and/or second supply roll is detected, with this detection taking place by means of at least one contacting and/or contactless sensor.

38. The method in accordance with claim 35, wherein a movement speed of the web of the first packaging material and/or a movement speed of the web of the second packaging material and/or a movement speed of both webs in a coupled state is/are detected.

39. The method in accordance with claim 37, wherein a stretching of the web of the first packaging material and/or a stretching of the web of the second packaging material is/are determined on the basis of the detected movement speed of the first and/or second web and/or on the basis of the detected rotational speed; and/or wherein a movement speed of the web of the first packaging material and/or a movement speed of the web of the second packaging material and/or a movement speed of both webs in a coupled state is/are detected.

Description

[0055] The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment and to the only FIGURE.

[0056] The only FIGURE schematically shows a packaging apparatus in accordance with the invention.

[0057] The packaging apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a conveying device 10 for transporting a continuous web 12 of a bottom film of a packaging. This bottom film 12 is unwound from a first supply roll 20 which is supported at a first reception shaft 18. This reception shaft 18 is driven by a first drive motor 26 to set the supply roll 20 into a rotational movement. The motor 26 also enables an active braking of the web 12 in a generator operation.

[0058] The conveying device 10 comprises a conveying unit 46, in particular a chain drive, a band drive, a belt drive or a linear drive. The unit 46 is (selectively) coupled to coupling means 44 which are in turn (selectively) in engagement with the film web 12 of the first packaging material. The film web 12 is thus securely held by the means 44 and drawn to the left in the FIGURE by the unit 46 in the transport direction TR of the conveying device 10.

[0059] The film web 12 first passes through a deep-drawing station 38 in which placement elementstypically depressions or traysare molded in the film web 12 by a deep-drawing process. Subsequently, the film web 12 is transported further into a filling region (not shown) in which the food portions to be packaged are placed into the trays.

[0060] A feed point Z at which the second film web 16 is fed is present behind the filling region viewed in the transport direction TR. The second film web 16 is unwound from a supply roll 24 which is supported at a reception shaft 22. The reception shaft 22, like the reception shaft 18 of the first roll 20, is directly driven by a drive motor 28 and is set into a rotational movement.

[0061] A deflection roller, not shown here, can be provided at the feed point Z to deflect the second film web 16 in the transport direction TR. The two film webs 12, 16 are transported in parallel from here in the direction of a sealing station 42 where they are connected or sealed to one another.

[0062] A plurality of sensors 32, 34, 36 are provided so that the two film webs 12, 16 can be applied to one another with an exact fit. The sensor 32 is in this respect arranged in the region of the first film web 12. It is preferably an optical sensor by which the movement of the film web 12 can be detected, for example. The sensor 34 is arranged in the region of the second film web 16 to detect the movement of this film web 16, preferably using optical methods. The sensors 32, 34 can also be tensile stress sensors. The sensor 36 can, in contrast, be arranged in the region behind the feed point Z so that it can determine the movement and/or the mechanical strain of both film webs 12, 16.

[0063] The control device 30 can control and individually drive the two drive motors 26, 28 in dependence on these determined data. It can thereby be ensured that the film webs 12, 16 can be unwound from their supply rolls 20, 24 in a correspondingly controlled manner so that they can be sealed to one another with an exact fit. The motors 26, 28 also permit a braking of the films 12, 16. Mechanical braking systems and/or dancer systems for the setting of the tensile stress acting on the films 12, 16 can be omitted.