PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PACKAGES WITH AN L-BOARD

Abstract

The present invention relates to Packaging machine (1) having a deep-drawing-(2), filling-(7) and/or sealing station (19) to produce a package made from a lower-(8) and an upper (14) film web, wherein, in the filling station (7), a packaging item (16) is placed on the lower film web (8) on an L-board (5) comprising a base (5) and a flap (5) foldable connected to the base and folding means (10) to pivot the flap (5) from an initial flat to a folded position and hold-down means (17) which maintains the flap (5) in the folded position.

Claims

1) A packaging machine comprising: a deep-drawing, filling and/or sealing station to produce a package made from a lower film web and an upper film web, wherein, in the filling station, a packaging item is placed on the lower film web on an L-board comprising a base and a flap foldabley connected to the base, wherein the packaging machine comprises a folding means to pivot the flap from an initial flat position to a folded position, and wherein the packaging machine comprises a hold-down means which maintain the flap in the folded position, the hold-down means is a flexible band.

2) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the flexible band is a rubber band.

3) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the hold-down means extends until the sealing station.

4) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the hold-down means is height adjustable.

5) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the folding means is a lever with roller at its front end.

6) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein a position of the folding means is adjustable in a transport direction of the lower film web.

7) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein a position of the folding means is adjustable perpendicular to a transport direction of the lower film web.

8) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the folding means is not motor driven.

9) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the folding means is a lever with roller at its front end that engages an end of the flap and rotates the flap as the lower film web is advanced, and wherein during the rotation of the flap, the lever is lifted until the roller disengages the end of the flap, the roller then falls back to its initial position.

10) The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the packaging machine comprises multiple rows, wherein the folding means comprises a lever and a roller at an end of the lever, and wherein one folding means is provided for each row.

11) The packaging machine according to claim 9, wherein the packaging machine comprises multiple rows, and wherein one folding means is provided for each row.

12) The packing machine according to claim 11, wherein each of the levers are connected to a common shaft that extends between opposing pivots.

13) A packaging machine comprising: a deep-drawing, filling and/or sealing station to produce a package made from a lower film web and an upper film web; a folding means; and a holding means wherein, in the filling station, a packaging item is placed on the lower film web on an L-board comprising a base and a flap foldably connected to the base, wherein the folding means comprises a lever with a roller attached to an end of the lever, the roller engages an end of the flap and rotates the flap from an initial flat position to a folded position as the lower film web is advanced, wherein during the rotation of the flap, the lever is lifted until the roller disengages the end of the flap, the roller then falls back to its initial position, wherein the hold-down means is a flexible band that maintains the flap in the folded position, the hold-down means, wherein the packaging machine comprises multiple rows, and one folding means is provided for each row, each of the levers of the folding means are connected to a common shaft that extends between opposing pivots, and wherein the folding means is not motor driven.

14) The packaging machine according to claim 13, wherein a position of the folding means is adjustable in a transport direction of the lower film web.

15) The packaging machine according to claim 14, wherein a position of the folding means is adjustable perpendicular to a transport direction of the lower film web.

Description

[0013] The invention is elucidated below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. These elucidations are purely exemplary and do not restrict the general inventive concept. These elucidations apply to all subjects of the present invention equally.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an L-Board

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a packaging machine.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows the folding station of the packaging machine.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows the folding means.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an L-board 5 which can be placed on the lower film web 8. The L-board comprises a base 5 on which the packaging item, for example sliced bacon, cheese or the like is placed. Connected to the base 5, preferably as one part is a flap 5. The connection between the flap 5 and the base 5 is provided as a hinge around which the flap can be pivoted. The hinge can be, for example, be provided by removing material in this area and/or by forming this area under heat and/or pressure. FIG. 1a shows the L-board in its initial position, in which it is preferably flat. FIG. 1b shows the L-board in its folded state. The flap has been pivoted clockwise into. This takes preferably place by moving the lower film web, here from the right to the left. During this motion, the tip of the flap hits a folding means, which turns the flap. The hinge is thereby deformed partially plastically but also elastically, so the hold down means are needed to maintain the flap in its folded state.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows the inventive packaging machine 1, which has a deep-drawing station 2, a filling station 7 and a sealing station 19. A plastics film web 8, the so-called lower web, is drawn off from a supply roller and is transported from right to left along the inventive packaging machine, preferably in cycles. In a cycle, the film is transported onward by one format length. For this purpose, the packaging machine has two transport means (not depicted), in the present case respectively two endless chains, which are disposed respectively to the right and left of the film web. Each endless chain has holding means, which respectively cooperate with the edges of the film web. Both at the start and at the end of the packaging machine, a gearwheel is respectively provided for each chain, around which gearwheel the respective chain is diverted. At least one of these gearwheels is driven. The gearwheels in the inlet region and/or in the outlet region can be connected to each other, preferably by a rigid axle. Each transport means has a multiplicity of clamping means, which clampingly grip the lower film in the inlet region and transmit the movement of the transport means to the lower film. In the outlet region of the packaging machine, the clamping connection between the transport means and the lower film is released again. In the deep-drawing station 2, which possesses an upper tool 3 and a lower tool 4, which has the shape of the pack trough to be produced, the pack troughs 6 are shaped in the film web 8. The lower tool 4 is disposed on a lifting table 5, which, as is symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable. Prior to each film feed, the lower tool 4 is lowered and subsequently raised again. In the further course of the packaging machine, the pack troughs are then filled in the filling station 7 with the packaging item 16. In the filling station the L-board as depicted in FIG. 1a is also placed on the lower film web or into a pack trough 6. Subsequently, in a folding station 15, the flaps 15are turned from their initial- into their folded position. In the adjoining sealing station 19, which likewise consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 11, an upper film is sealed onto the pack trough. In the sealing station also, the upper tool and/or the lower tool are lowered and raised before and after each film transport. The upper film 14, too, can be guided in transport means or be transported by transport chains, in which case these transport means extend only from the sealing station and, if necessary, downstream. Otherwise, the statements made about the transport means of the lower film apply. In the further course of the packaging machine, the finished packs are also separated, which is realized with the cutting tool 18.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the folding station 15 which is provided between the filling- and the sealing station. The lower film web moves, here from the right to the left as depicted by arrow 20. As already mentioned above, the movement is preferably intermittend. The folding station comprises folding means 10, which turn the flap 5 of the L-board during movement of the lower film web 8. The folding means are described in more detail according to FIG. 4. As can be seen, one folding means 10 is provided per row of troughs. Also one hold down means 17 is provided per row of troughs. As can be particularly seen from the lower drawing of FIG. 1, the folding means engage with the front end of the flap and during the movement of the lower film web, the flap is then turned clockwise. Each folding means 10 is provided adjustable at a beam 21, so that the position at which the flap is turned, can be determined. In the depicted embodiment, the folding means 10 is provided at the outlet of the turning station, However, the folding means 10 can also be further moved to the right. The height, here the vertical distance between the plane in which the film web 8 moves and the hold down means, of the hold down means 17 can also be adjusted. Preferably, during turning of the flap, the hold down means are slightly lifted. According to the present invention, the hold down means is a flexible band, here a rubber band, which slightly stretches elastically, during folding of the flap.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the folding means, which are, in the present example, provided as a lever 22, which is connected to a horizontal axis which turns around a pivot 23. One lever is provided per row of troughs. The folding means has an opening 25 into which the beam 21 is inserted so that the position of the folding means can be adjusted. At the tip of each beam, a roller is provided, which engages with the tip of the flap, when the film web 8 advances. During the rotation of the flap, the lever is lifted, until the roller disengages with the tip of the flap an then, the lever falls back into its initial position by virtue of gravity.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0022] 1 packaging machine

[0023] 2 deep-drawing station

[0024] 3 upper tool of the deep-drawing station

[0025] 4 lower tool of the deep-drawing station

[0026] 5 L-board

[0027] 5 base of the L-board

[0028] 5 flap

[0029] 6 pack trough

[0030] 7 filling station

[0031] 8 lower film web

[0032] 9 lifting device

[0033] 10 folding means

[0034] 11 lower tool of the sealing station

[0035] 12 upper tool of the sealing station

[0036] 13 lifting table

[0037] 14 upper film

[0038] 15 folding station

[0039] 16 packaging item

[0040] 17 hold-down means

[0041] 18 cutting means

[0042] 19 sealing station

[0043] 20 direction of motion of the film

[0044] 21 beam

[0045] 22 lever

[0046] 23 pivot

[0047] 24 roller

[0048] 25 fixation adjustment means

[0049] 26 connecting means

[0050] 27 cutting device