Abstract:
The invention relates to a packaging facility and a method for operating a packaging facility to manufacture a folding package, where said folding package is folded using a folding device and is closed using a latching device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority to German Application Number 102013204160.8 filed Mar. 11, 2013, to Peter Imhof and Peter Bergler entitled “Packaging Facility with Latching Station and Method,” currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a packaging facility and to a method. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A package container is known from DE 28 27 645 A consisting of two halves foldably connected to each other. The two halves each comprise flexible closure elements that can engage with each other to press the flanges of the two halves tightly onto each other. 
         [0004]    A reclosable package is known from DE 10 2010 050 734 A comprising a package base member for receiving a product and a lid as a package top member which are sealed to each other in an air-tight manner The lid and the package base member receiving the product comprise a reclosure tongue and a tongue receiving structure for being able to manually re-close the package after it has been opened. 
         [0005]    DE 20 2011 103 391 U shows a multi-folding package with four compartments for receiving products and with mechanical closure elements for holding together the package after folding it. The folded package on the side disposed opposite to the closure elements comprises a section which serves as a support surface for the package, for example, on shelves in a store for particularly attractive product presentation. Manual folding and closing has proven to be disadvantageous. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2008 045 025 A shows a thermo-forming packaging machine with a folding device for manufacturing a reclosable double-fold package. The use of a label leads both to holding the package after folding as well as to re-closing after removal of a portion of the product. A drawback of this is that the package comprises only a receptacle for receiving products and a label is required. The labels often have the drawback that the adhesive force after opening and reclosing deteriorates, especially when stored in the refrigerator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One object of the present invention is to provide a packaging facility to be able to manufacture a folding package in an automatically folded and closed manner with several packaging containers and without the use of a label. 
         [0008]    The packaging facility according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a thermo-forming packaging machine which comprises a forming station, a loading stretch, a sealing station and a package separation device successively arranged in a direction of production. It is characterized in that a folding device may be provided in order to fold a folding package about a fold line, and in that a latching device (snap fit device) may be downstream of the folding device in the direction of production. The latching device can be configured such that a first closure element being provided on a first packaging half of the folding package interacts with a second closure element of a second packaging half of the folding package such that the folding package is held together in a folded state. The packaging facility according to one embodiment enables automated manufacturing of a folding package having a plurality of receptacles, for example, for different products, and which is folded and closed within the packaging facility after the receptacles are sealed with a top film. Due to the closure elements being part of the film in which the receptacles, also referred to as trays, are formed in the forming station, no additional label is necessary for the folding package to be kept closed in its folded state. 
         [0009]    The packaging facility can have an intermittent mode of operation which is defined by the thermo-forming packaging machine 
         [0010]    The latching device can be provided for simultaneous processing of multiple folding packages in order to exhibit at least the same performance or productivity as the thermo-forming packaging machine 
         [0011]    In this, the latching device in one embodiment comprises a latching unit for pressing ends of the first closure element of the first package half. This pressing operation can later again be performed manually by a person after an initial opening of the folding package in order to again close the folding package and to thus preserve the shelf life of the products when storing in the refrigerator for a longer time. 
         [0012]    The latching unit may comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder for performing a simple motion between two predeterminable positions in an inexpensive manner 
         [0013]    The latching unit in a particular embodiment comprises a latching pin for each end of the first closure element in order to enter one end of the first closure element of the first package half under an associated end of the second closure element of the second package half, such that a latching process of the ends with each other leads to reclosure of the folding package. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the latching device comprises a support for the first closure element to assist pressing the ends of the first closure element against the ends of the second closure element. 
         [0015]    The support can in a latching position be raised to the first closure element. 
         [0016]    The method according to one embodiment of the invention for operating a packaging facility for manufacturing a reclosable folding package comprises the following steps:
       forming trays in a film,   placing products into the trays,   producing a folding package by sealing a top film onto the trays along a sealing seam, where two adjacent trays form a first and a second packaging half and a fold line is provided between the two packing halves,   separating the folding package in a cutting station,   folding the folding package in a folding device, and   latching a first closure element of the first package half into a second closure element of the second package half in a latching device.       
 
         [0023]    One advantage of this method is that automated manufacturing of a folding package is enabled, where the package half comprises multiple receptacles, for example, for different products, and the package half is folded and closed within the packaging facility after the receptacles are sealed with a top film. 
         [0024]    In this, latching may be performed by pressing ends of the first closure element of the first package half against the ends of the second package half so that the ends of the first closure element bear against the opposite side of the ends of the second closure element to keep the folding package closed. This type of interaction and the respective design of the closure elements allow opening and reclosing without any aids, such as a label, being required. 
         [0025]    The ends of the first closure element can be pressed in the direction of a support using latching pins, where the support acts as a counter support against part of the first closure element between its ends. Pressing downwards and bending the ends is thereby enabled to bring them under the ends of the second closure element. The elasticity of the ends is given in that the film may be a plastic film and the film preferably has a thickness of more than 300 μm. This elasticity also provides for holding together the folding package after the latching process. 
         [0026]    During the latching process, the support preferably acts upon the first closure element simultaneously together with the latching pins. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the folding package is transferred by a robot from the cutting station to a separation belt. By use of a robot, multiple folding packages can also simultaneously be removed from the cutting station, which can be designed as a complete cutting device, and deposited on the separation belt for further transport to subsequent work stations. In this, adjacently disposed folding packages can in the thermo-forming packaging machine also be disposed in succession in the transport direction. This is advantageous especially with a downstream folding device, latching device, metal detector and/or weighing device. 
         [0028]    Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0029]    In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packaging facility in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2   a  is a top perspective view of a folding package in an open state with a top film sealed thereto in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2   b  is a top perspective view of the folding package of  FIG. 2   a  in a folded and closed state; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the folding package of  FIG. 2   a  with closure elements; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of the package separation device with a folding device and a latching device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing detail of the packaging facility with a folding device and latching device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5   a  is a side view of the latching device in an open parking position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the latching device of  FIG. 5   a  in a latching position. 
       
    
    
       [0038]    Same components are throughout the figures designated with the same reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    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. 
         [0040]    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. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  shows a packaging facility  1  with a direction of production R and a thermo-forming packaging machine  100  having successive stations. In the drawing, the following stations are illustrated starting from the right: a film roll-off device  2  for a film  22 , a film stretching station  3 , a forming station  4  for producing trays  19 , a product supply  5 , a loading stretch  6 , a top film feeder  7 , a sealing station  8 , a package separation device  9  with a robot  10 , a cutting station  11 , a separation belt  12 , a folding device  13  and a latching device  14 , which are not visibly shown in  FIG. 1 . The folded and closed folding packages  15  may be subsequently supplied to a metal detector  16  and a weighing device  17 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 2   a  shows a folding package  15  in the open and thus still unfolded state after a top film  18  being supplied from the top film feeder  7  into the sealing station  8  was sealed along a sealing seam  20  to the trays  19  filled with products and in the cutting station  11  cut along the outer contour and thereby separated. In the forming station  4 , the trays  19  can be formed into the film  22  by thermo-forming. The folding package  15  comprises a first package half  24  and a second package half  25 . A preferably perforated fold line  23  may be provided between the two package halves  24 ,  25  for folding the two package halves  24 ,  25  approximately congruently onto each other. The first package half  24  on its outer side oriented parallel to the fold line  23  may comprise a first closure element  26  and similarly, the second package half  25  a second closure element  27 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , the closure elements  26 ,  27  are part of the film  22  and are located in the plane of a flange formation of the film  22  onto which the top film  18  is sealed with the sealing seam  20 . The interior of the two trays  19  can be evacuated and/or gas-flushed in the sealing station  8  prior to sealing to produce a modified atmosphere, whereby, for example, a long shelf life of the food products can be created. As shown, the first closure element  26  comprises lateral ends  26   a,    26   b  and the second closure element  27  comprises lateral ends  27   a,    27   b.  The top film  18  may be attached with sealing points  40  onto the closure elements  26 ,  27 , in order to increase attractiveness of the folding package  15 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2   b  shows the folding package  15  after it has been folded in the folding device  13  and closed in the latching device  14  in that the lateral ends  26   a,    26   b  of the first closure element  26  interact with to the lateral ends  27   a,    27   b  of the second closure element  27  such that the end  26   a  of the first closure element  26  is disposed below the end  27   a  of the second closure element  27 , and that the second end  26   b  of the first closure element  26  is disposed beneath the end  27   b  of the second closure element  27 . Thereby, as shown in  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   c , the above-disposed first package half  24  is held to the below-disposed second packaging half  25 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2   c  in a side view shows how the ends  26   a,    26   b  of the first closure element  26  are disposed below the ends  27   a,    27   b  of the second closure element  27  after the latching process. Opening the folding package  15  is thereby possible using only a force exceeding the holding force with which bending of the ends  26   a,    26   b  and pulling the ends  27   a,    27   b  along can be performed. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic plan view of the packaging facility  1  from the sealing station  8  to the metal detector  16 . The packaging facility  1  may operate intermittently, and, for example, as presently shown, four folding packages  15  can be processed during one work cycle. A first folding package A is denoted by A′ and A″ and a second folding package B by B′ and B″. Both folding packages A and B can be processed together and simultaneously in each station or device up to the cutting station  11 . In the cutting station  11 , the two folding packages A and B may be cut out from the films  18  and  22  and transferred by the robot  10  onto the separation belt  12 . The robot  10  may be provided for sorting out faulty folding packages  15  in that it does not deposit these folding packages  15  onto the separation belt  12  during the transfer motion, but drops them into a container—not shown. During the transport motion of the separation belt  12  in the direction of production R, the folding packages A, B are by use of the folding device  13  folded such that a portion A″ of folding package A is folded 180° about the fold line  23  so that both parts A″ and A′ are superimposed. 
         [0046]    The closure elements  26 ,  27 —not further shown in FIG.  3 —are brought by use of the latching device  14  into a latching position (closing position) in which they keep closed the folding package  15 , and the folding package  15  is supplied via the separation belt  12  to the metal detector  16 . The latching device  14  may comprise two latching units  31 . 
         [0047]    It is conceivable that, in the region of the cutting station  11  or the thermo-forming packaging machine  100 , respectively, the four folding packages  15  are not aligned transversely in the direction of production R, but longitudinally The robot  10  would then during transfer from the cutting station  11  onto the separation belt  12  rotate the folding packages  15  respectively by 90°. 
         [0048]    The folding device  13  and the latching device  14  are explained in more detail in  FIG. 4 . As shown, the folding device  13  comprises a first guide element  28  with which part A″, B″ of the folding packages A, B is raised during transport in the direction of production R and folded over. A second guide member  29  may continue this folding process until part A″, B″ bears upon part A′, B′. Two hold-down devices  30  of the latching device  14  may be provided to ensure that the folding packages A, B continue to bear onto each other until the folding packages A, B are themselves closed with the closure elements  26 ,  27 . The latching device  14  can comprise two successively disposed latching units  31  to be able to simultaneously close both folding packages A, B. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5   a  shows a latching unit  31  of the latching device  14  as a detail in a side view. The latching unit  31  can comprise a support  32  which can be raised and lowered by a cylinder  33 . In addition, the latching unit  31  may comprise two latching pins  34  that are jointly attached to a carrier  35 . The carrier  36  can be raised and lowered by a cylinder  36 . The cylinders  33 ,  36  can; for example, be embodied as a pneumatic cylinder or an actuator with two adjustment positions. In this illustration, the support  32  and the latching pins  34  are in a parked position. This means that the support  32  is disposed spaced below the latching elements  26 ,  27  and the latching pins  34  are disposed spaced above the closure elements  26 ,  27 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 5   b  shows the latching unit  31  in a latching position which is assumed by raising the support  32  to the latching element  26  and lowering the latching pins  34  to the ends  26   a,    26   b  of the first closure element  26  of the upper package half  24 . In this, the flexible ends  26   a,    26   b  are bent downwardly so far that they are disposed below the ends  27   a,    27   b  of the second closure element  27  of the lower package half  25  after the latching pins  36  are raised and the ends  26   a,    26   b  there bear against the ends  27   a,    27   b.  The folding packages  15  thus closed and secured against accidental opening can be further transported thereafter without any further auxiliary devices to subsequent work stations such as the metal detector  16  or the weighing device  17 . 
         [0051]    In deviation from the illustrated embodiment, for example, the folding device  13  and the latching device  14  can also be disposed outside of the package separation  9 . 
         [0052]    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. 
         [0053]    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.