CHAMBER MACHINE WITH CUTTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CUTTING OFF A BAG NECK

Abstract

A chamber machine for cutting to length a bag filled with a product comprises at least one cutting device for severing an unnecessary bag neck and mutually spaced clamping devices for clamping a bag portion. The cutting device is positioned between the clamping devices so that severing of the bag neck can be carried out by the cutting device within the bag section clamped by the spaced clamping devices. The chamber machine further has at least one tensioning device positioned between the clamping devices for exerting a clamping force on the bag section clamped by the spaced-apart clamping devices.

Claims

1. A chamber machine for cutting to length a bag filled with a product, the chamber machine comprising a cutting device for cutting off a superfluous bag neck and two mutually spaced-apart clamping devices for clamping a bag section, the cutting device is positioned between the clamping devices so that the cutting of the bag neck can be carried out by the cutting device within the bag section clamped by the spaced-apart clamping devices, wherein the chamber machine further comprises a tensioning device positioned between the clamping devices for exerting a tensioning force on the bag section clamped by the spaced-apart clamping devices.

2. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two clamping devices is formed by a sealing bar or both clamping devices are present as clamping devices formed separately from the sealing bar.

3. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein a recess is provided for the tensioning device, into which recess the tensioning device can be pressed per tensioning stroke, and/or a recess is provided for the cutting device, into which recess the cutting device can be pressed per cutting stroke.

4. The chamber machine according to claim 2, wherein the tensioning device is mounted so as to be vertically adjustable relative to the sealing bar by an actuator.

5. The chamber machine according to claim 2, wherein the tensioning device comprises a spring-loaded tensioning device preceding the sealing bar.

6. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device comprises at least one tensioning element that can be pressed into the clamped bag section to exert the tensioning force.

7. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device comprises a cutting wire that can be energized and/or that the cutting device comprises a cutting geometry that is formed directly on a sealing bar and can be heated to sever the bag neck.

8. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the clamping devices is spring-loaded, at least one of the clamping devices has an elastic counter-pressure profile and/or at least one of the clamping devices on a side used to clamp the bag comprises at least one pressing element made of plastic or is at least partly made of plastic.

9. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein the chamber machine comprises a discharge device for removing the cut bag neck.

10. The chamber machine according to claim 9, wherein the discharge device comprises a blowing device and/or a suction device.

11. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein the chamber machine is configured for evacuating and/or gassing the bag.

12. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein the clamping devices, the cutting device and/or the tensioning device are either present as integral components of a tool upper part or as integral components of a tool lower part.

13. The chamber machine according to claim 1, wherein the chamber machine is configured as a chamber belt machine.

14. A packaging line comprising the chamber machine according to claim 1 and a shrinking device and a drying device.

15. A method for severing an excess bag neck present on a bag filled with a product, the method comprising: clamping a bag section of the bag for the severing of the bag neck by two clamping devices spaced apart from one another; and exerting a tensioning force on the clamped bag section by a tensioning device positioned between the clamping devices in order to tension the clamped bag section for a cutting device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein one of the two clamping devices is formed by a sealing bar or both clamping devices are formed as clamping devices that are separate from the sealing bar, wherein the clamping of the bag section, the tensioning of the clamped bag section and the severing of the bag neck are carried out in temporally successive steps.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising sealing the bag with the sealing bar.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the tensioning device for exerting the tensioning force on the clamped bag section is pressed into a recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The disclosure is explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the figures.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a chamber machine,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows an isolated device of the chamber machine for cutting to length and sealing a bag transported into it in a first, open position,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the device from FIG. 2 in a second, closed position, and

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a packaging line.

[0039] Identical components are given the same reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a chamber machine 1 in a schematic perspective view. The chamber machine 1 comprises a tool upper part 2 and a tool lower part 3. The tool upper part 2 and the tool lower part 3 are designed so that they can be moved relative to each other. For example, the lower tool part 3 is in a fixed position and the upper tool part 2 is mounted so that it can move towards and away from the lower tool part 3. However, it may also be provided that the upper tool part 2 is fixed and the lower tool part 3 is mounted so as to be movable relative to the upper tool part 2. Alternatively, it is also possible that both the tool upper part 2 and the tool lower part 3 are arranged so that they can move towards and away from each other.

[0041] According to FIG. 1, the lower tool part 3 comprises a transport device 4 for transporting at least one package to be sealed in the form of a bag 5 with a product P inserted therein, e.g., inserted meat or inserted cheese. The transport device 4 can, for example, be designed as a conveyor belt for feeding open bags and discharging sealed bags. In particular, several bags 5 can be transported into and out of a sealable chamber K of the chamber machine 1 side by side and one behind the other in transport direction T by means of the transport device 4.

[0042] FIG. 1 also shows a sealing device 6, which is arranged on the tool upper part 2. According to FIG. 1, the tool upper part 2 is mounted in a height-adjustable manner, so that the sealing device 6 mounted thereon is designed to seal the bags 5 positioned inside the chamber K.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a part of the sealing device 6 in an isolated view. In FIG. 2, the sealing device 6 is in a first position, in which a bag 5 fed to the sealing device 6 is fixed by means of two spring-loaded clamping devices 7. A bag section 8 of the bag 5 is clamped between the two clamping devices 7, which press on the bag 5 at a distance from each other.

[0044] To cut off a superfluous bag neck 10 of the bag 5, the sealing device 6 has a cutting device 9. The cutting device 9 is positioned between the clamping devices 7 so that the bag neck 10 can be cut off by means of the cutting device 9 within the bag section 8 clamped by means of the spaced clamping devices 7.

[0045] As an aid for the cutting device 9, the sealing device 6 has a tensioning device 11, which is also positioned between the clamping devices 7. In FIG. 2, the tensioning device 11 is in the form of a vertically mounted sheet metal strip comprising a blunt abutting edge 12 facing the clamped bag section 8.

[0046] The lower part of the tool 3 has a counter-pressure bar 13 with a recess 14 into which the tensioning device 11 can be pressed per tensioning stroke in order to stretch the clamped bag section 8 (see FIG. 3). FIG. 2 also shows a sealing bar 15 between the two clamping devices 7. The sealing bar 15 is configured to produce a sealed seam on the bag 5.

[0047] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the clamping devices 7 are separate clamping devices 7 from the sealing bar 15. FIG. 2 further shows that the tensioning device 11 is designed as a tensioning device 11 preceding the cutting device 9 and the sealing bar 15. This allows the clamping or stretching of the bag section 8 clamped by the clamping devices 7 to be carried out before the excess bag neck 10 is cut off and also before the bag 5 is sealed, if the two clamping devices 7 are retracted further against the suspension, i.e., the sealing device 6 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3.

[0048] In the structure shown in FIG. 2, it would also be conceivable that the cutting device 9 is configured as a cutting device 9 preceding the sealing bar 15. This makes it possible, using the structure shown in FIG. 2, to carry out the tensioning of the clamped bag section 8, the severing of the bag neck 10 and the forming of the sealing seam by means of the sealing bar 15 in this sequence in successive steps, so that the severing of the bag neck 10 takes place when the clamped bag section 8 is tensioned, with the forming of the sealing seam by means of the sealing bar 15 being carried out at a subsequent time when the cut-to-length bag material is no longer under tension.

[0049] In view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, according to which the cutting device 9 and the sealing bar 15 are mounted at approximately the same height, simultaneous cutting of the bag neck 10 and production of the sealed seam would be conceivable.

[0050] In FIG. 2, the cutting device 9 has a cutting wire 16. The cutting wire 16 can be energized in order to be brought to a desired temperature level. The cutting wire 16 runs parallel to the sealing bar 15 and, in contrast to the illustration shown in FIG. 2, can also be positioned closer to the sealing bar 15 in order to produce a separation line on the bag 5 for separating the bag neck 10 directly next to a sealing seam to be produced by means of the sealing bar 15. Instead of the cutting wire 16, however, another cutting geometry, in particular a heatable blade, could also be considered.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the sealing device 6 in a second position, in which it is maximally brought together with the counter-pressure bar 13 of the lower tool part 3. As a result, the spring-loaded clamping devices 7 are retracted, whereby the bag section 8 can be clamped with sufficient clamping force. In FIG. 3, the tensioning device 11 is immersed in the recess 14, whereby the bag material clamped between the clamping devices 7 is pressed into the recess 14 and thus extended between the clamping devices 7. When a desired elongation is reached, the cutting wire 16 of the cutting device 9 is energized in order to cut off the excess bag neck 10. At the same time or with a time delay, the sealing seam is produced by means of the sealing bar 15.

[0052] After sealing, the sealing device 6 shown in FIG. 3 is moved upwards to release the bag neck 10, which is still clamped but has already been separated. The separated bag neck 10 can then be transported away by means of a discharge device 17, which is shown in FIG. 3 as a blow-out bar 18, e.g., blown into an outer shaft of the chamber machine 1. For this purpose, the blow-out bar 18 shown in FIG. 3 can be lifted under compressed air load from a receptacle 19 formed for it in the counter-pressure bar 13 up to the stop in order to blow the separated bag neck 10 away to the side.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a packaging line 20 comprising a chamber machine 1 in the form of a chamber belt machine and, behind it in the production direction T, a shrinking device 21 and a drying device 22. The shrinking device 21 can in particular be in the form of a shrink tunnel, through which sealed bags 5 can be transported from the chamber machine 1, in particular transported in a continuous run, the sealed bags 5 being sprayed with hot water in the shrink tunnel. The drying device 21 can be configured as a drying tunnel, in which the shrink-wrapped bags 5 coming from the shrink tunnel 21 can be dried in a continuous run by blowers with cold air.