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JP-2026514327-A - Package forming apparatus for a packaging machine, packaging machine and package forming method for forming packages filled with dispenseable products

JP2026514327AJP 2026514327 AJP2026514327 AJP 2026514327AJP-2026514327-A

Abstract

A package forming apparatus (10) is described for manipulating a tube (4) extending along a central axis (A) to form a package (2). The package forming apparatus (10) comprises at least one actuator (20) configured to form the tube (4) at least partially, the actuator (20) comprising at least a first element (23) and a second element (24) configured to compress the tube (4) at least laterally along a cross section (25). The package forming apparatus (10) comprises a control unit configured to selectively control the first element (23) and the second element (24) between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The control unit is configured to move the first element (23) and the second element (24) along a direction of movement (D) perpendicular to the central axis (A) while they are in a closed configuration.

Inventors

  • ポッピ、マルコ
  • オルシーニ、イヴァン
  • ジャンピエーリ、アンドレア
  • ボルサーリ、ロベルト
  • マメーリ、アルベルト
  • フォルナサーリ、 ステファーノ

Assignees

  • テトラ ラバル ホールディングス アンド ファイナンス エス エイ

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20240418
Priority Date
20230426

Claims (15)

  1. A package forming device (10) for a packaging machine (1), wherein the package forming device (10) is configured to operate a tube (4) extending along a central axis (A) to form a package (2) from the tube (4), The package forming apparatus (10) comprises at least one actuator (20) configured to form the tube (4) at least partially, the at least one actuator (20) comprising a first element (23) and a second element (24) configured to compress the tube (4) at least laterally along its cross section (25), The first element (23) and the second element (24) are controllable between an open configuration in which the first element (23) and the second element (24) are spaced apart from each other, and a closed configuration in which the first element (23) and the second element (24) compress the tube (4) laterally along the cross section (25). The package forming apparatus (10) includes a control unit configured to selectively control the first element (23) and the second element (24) between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The control unit moves the first element (23) and the second element (24) independently and/or differently from each other between the open configuration and the closed configuration, and/or the control unit moves the first element (23) and the second element (24) independently and/or differently from each other linearly between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The control unit is configured to move the first element (23) and the second element (24) along a displacement direction (D) perpendicular to the central axis (A) while maintaining the first element (23) and the second element (24) in the closed configuration. Package forming apparatus.
  2. The first element (23) and the second element (24) are configured such that, after being controlled to the closed configuration, the cross section (25) moves laterally with respect to the central axis (A) or becomes coaxial with the central axis (A) before moving along the displacement direction (D), and/or The first element (23) and the second element (24) are configured such that, after being controlled to the closed configuration, they move along the displacement direction (D) and then maintain a state in which the cross section (25) is displaced laterally from the central axis (A), or maintain a state in which it is displaced laterally. The package forming apparatus according to claim 1.
  3. The first element (23) and the second element (24) are configured to cooperate with each other to seal the tube (4) laterally along the cross section (25). The package forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
  4. The operating device (20) includes a cutting assembly configured to cut the tube (4) laterally along the cross section (25), The control unit is configured to move the first element (23) and the second element (24) along the displacement direction (D) after being controlled to the closed configuration and before the cutting operation is performed by the cutting assembly. A package forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
  5. The actuation device (20) comprises a shell assembly (26) that is controllable between an actuation configuration configured to at least partially form the tube (4) and a standby configuration configured to be separated from the tube (4), The control unit is configured to control the shell assembly (26) between the operating configuration and the standby configuration. The control unit is configured to move the shell assembly (26), the first element (23), and the second element (24) along the displacement direction (D). A package forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
  6. The shell assembly (26) comprises a first half shell (27) and a second half shell (28) arranged to be close to and far apart from each other, and the shell assembly (26) is controlled to the operating configuration and the standby configuration. The first element (23) is connected to the first half shell (27), and the second element (24) is connected to the second half shell (28), The control unit is configured to move the first half shell (27) and the second half shell (28) along the displacement direction (D) in order to move the shell assembly (26) along the movement direction (D). A package forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
  7. The first element (23) and the second element (24) each have engaging surfaces (29) configured to engage with the tube (4) to form a lateral wall (7) of the package (2), At least one of the engagement surfaces (29) is inclined with respect to the central axis (A), The package forming apparatus according to claim 6.
  8. A packaging machine (1) for forming a package (2) from a web (3) of packaging material, which is a product that can be dispensed from a forward-moving tube (4) that is sealed in the longitudinal direction, The aforementioned packaging machine (1) A conveying device (11) is configured to advance the web (3) of the packaging material along the web advance path (P) and advance the tube (4) along the tube advance path (Q), A tube forming and sealing device (12) is configured to form the tube (4) from the web (3) of the packaging material and to seal the tube (4) in the longitudinal direction. A filling device (13) for filling the tube (4) with a product that can be dispensed, A package forming apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which forms the package (2) from the tube (4), A packaging machine (1) equipped with the following:
  9. A method for forming a package (2) from a tube (4) extending along a central axis (A), wherein at least, The steps include controlling the first element (23) and the second element (24) from an open configuration in which the first element (23) and the second element (24) are spaced apart from each other to a closed configuration in which the first element (23) and the second element (24) compress the tube (4) laterally along the cross section (25), The first element (23) and the second element (24) are moved in a direction perpendicular to the central axis (A) after controlling the first element (23) and the second element (24) to a closed configuration and while maintaining the first element (23) and the second element (24) in a closed configuration. A method that includes [a certain feature].
  10. After the control step and before the moving step, the cross section (25) is displaced laterally from the central axis (A), or becomes coaxial with the central axis (A), and/or After the control step and the movement step, the cross section (25) maintains a state of being displaced laterally from the central axis (A). The method according to claim 9.
  11. The first element (23) and the second element (24) cooperate to seal the cross section (25) in the lateral direction, The method according to claim 9 or 10.
  12. The step includes cutting the cross section (25) in the transverse direction, The moving step is performed before the cutting step. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.
  13. The process includes the step of configuring the shell assembly (26) to be operable so as to form at least partially the tube (4), In the moving step, the shell assembly (26) is moved along the direction of movement (D). The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12.
  14. The shell assembly (26) comprises a first half-shell (27) and a second half-shell (28) that are close to each other, and the shell assembly (26) is controlled by an operating configuration. The first element (23) is connected to the first half shell (27), and the second element (24) is connected to the second half shell (28). In the moving step, the first half shell (27) and the second half shell (28) are moved along the displacement direction (D) in order to move the shell assembly (26) along the displacement direction (D). The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13.
  15. The first element (23) and the second element (24) are provided with engaging surfaces (29) configured to engage with the tube (4) to form the lateral wall (7) of the package (2), At least one of the engagement surfaces (29) is inclined with respect to the central axis (A), The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14.

Description

This invention relates to a package forming apparatus for a packaging machine for forming packages filled with dispenseable products, particularly dispenseable food products. Advantageously, the present invention relates to a packaging machine for forming packages filled with dispensable products, particularly dispensable food products. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for forming a package filled with a pourable product, particularly a pourable food product. As is well known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juices, UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk, wine, and tomato sauce, are sold in packages made from sterilized packaging materials. A typical example is the parallelepiped packaging for liquids or dispensable foods known as Tetra Brik Aseptic®, which is formed by sealing and folding laminated strip-shaped packaging material. This packaging material has a multilayer structure, for example, with a paper base layer covered on both sides by heat-sealable plastic layers such as polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packaging for long-term storage products such as UHT milk, the packaging material includes a layer of oxygen barrier material (oxygen barrier layer), such as aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a heat-sealable plastic layer and ultimately covered by a further heat-sealable plastic layer defining the inner surface of the package that comes into contact with the food. Each package comprises a bottom wall positioned on a support surface, an upper wall axially offset from the bottom wall, and side walls connected between the bottom and upper walls and positioned between them. Packages with the bottom and upper walls approximately parallel to each other, and packages with the upper wall inclined relative to the bottom wall are known. Examples of the latter type of package include the well-known Tetra Brik® Edge package and the Tetra Brik® Aseptic Edge package. This type of packaging is typically manufactured using a fully automated packaging machine. This machine sterilizes the packaging material web through a sterilization station, where the sterilized web is maintained and advanced into an isolation chamber (a closed, sterile environment). While the packaging material web advances through the isolation chamber, it is folded longitudinally and sealed in a tube-forming station, forming a tube with a longitudinal seam. The tube is then further fed along the vertical advancement direction. To complete the forming process, the tubes are filled with a dispensable product, particularly a dispensable food, and sealed along equally spaced transverse sections while being transported vertically within the packaging forming device of the packaging machine, and then cut. In this way, a pillow package is obtained, each pillow package having a longitudinal sealing band, a transverse sealing band at the top, and a transverse sealing band at the bottom. In some packages, the bottom and top lateral sealing bands are aligned with each other and with respect to the package's longitudinal axis. However, in other packages, such as the Tetra Brik® Edge package and the Tetra Brik® Aseptic Edge package, this arrangement is not present. In these cases, the top lateral sealing bands are each offset laterally from their respective longitudinal axes. A typical packaging machine comprises a web conveying device that transports the web of packaging material along a web forward path and forms tubes from the web, transporting them along a tube forward path; a sterilizing device that sterilizes the web of packaging material before forming tubes; a tube forming and sealing device, at least partially located within an isolation chamber, that forms tubes from the transported web of packaging material and seals the tubes longitudinally; a filling device that fills the tubes with a dispenseable product; and a package forming device that forms individual packages from the packaging material of the tubes, seals them laterally, and cuts them. The package forming apparatus comprises at least one actuator, the actuator comprising at least a first actuator group and a second actuator group configured to at least partially form, laterally seal, and cut a forward-moving tube during use. Because the upper lateral sealing band is offset laterally from the longitudinal axis, the operating device needs to be tilted when manipulating the tube. Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described illustratively with reference to the accompanying drawings. This is a schematic diagram of a packaging machine equipped with a package forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity.Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the details of the package forming apparatus, with some parts removed for clarity.Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the detailed operation of the package forming apparatus, with parts removed for clarity.Figur