Packaging machine with induction heating

• US 20090152261A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Multivac SEPP Haggenmã¼Ller GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Multivac SEPP Haggenmã¼Ller GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Capriotti, Luciano
• Application Number:
  US12/314,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/635
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/023 Half-products, e.g. films, plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0816 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/007 Using fluid under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/009 after shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/04 Combined thermoforming and prestretching, e.g. biaxial stretching
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/428 of moulds or mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/32 Induction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/0242 Heating, or preheating, e.g. drying B29C66/3464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/131 Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/24244 forming a rectangle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53461 joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/80 General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81451 being adaptable to the surface of the joint B29C66/81453, B29C66/81455, B29C66/81457, B29C66/81459, B29C66/81461 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8181 characterised by the cooling constructional aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81821 of the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8351 Jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders, drums, bands, belts or chains; Flying jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/849 : Packaging machines
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0008 : Magnetic or paramagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 : Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/003 : comprising a metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7164 : Blister packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/227 : by induction welding
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/04 : one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging packages, preferably trough-shaped packages, to be filled with goods, wherein a heating system is provided. The packaging machine is characterized in that the heating system is designed as an induction heating unit which is associated with a processing tool, and wherein the induction heating unit is provided in such a way that inductively generated eddy currents may be produced in the processing tool by the induction heating unit in order to directly heat the processing tool.

Claims

1. Packaging machine for packaging packages, preferably trough-shaped packages, to be filled with goods, wherein a heating system is provided, characterized in that the heating system is designed as an induction heating unit which is associated with a processing tool, and wherein the induction heating unit is provided in such a way that inductively generated eddy currents may be produced in the processing tool by the induction heating unit in order to directly heat the processing tool.

2. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool may be heated by an induction heating unit.

3. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more processing tools may be heated by one or more induction heating units.

4. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool is designed as a heating plate.

5. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool is designed as a shaping tool.

6. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool is designed as a sealing tool.

7. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thermal insulating region is provided, at least in places, between the heating system and the processing tool.

8. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal insulating region is designed as an air gap.

9. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating system is connected to the processing tool by means of bolts, for example thermal insulating bolts.

10. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal insulating region is made of a thermal insulating material, for example a thermal insulating plastic.

11. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating system includes multiple induction coils.

12. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the induction coils are configured in a matrix.

13. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position and/or number of the induction coils may be varied.

14. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the induction coils are designed as exchangeable elements.

15. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position and/or orientation of the induction coils are selected in such a way that essentially only one or more specific regions of the preheating element and/or the shaping and/or sealing tool to be heated by same are heated.

16. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control parameters for operating the induction coils may be specified in such a way that essentially only a specific layer depth of the preheating element and/or the shaping and/or sealing tool to be heated is heated.

17. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control unit is provided for the individual and/or grouped actuation of the induction coils.

18. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit is designed to vary the control parameters for the induction coils.

19. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the induction coils are provided in and/or on the processing tool.

20. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the induction coils are provided in and/or on a tool which complements the processing tool.

21. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two heating plates are provided in the manner of a sandwich with respect to the material to be processed into packaging.

22. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating plate is designed as an elastically deformable plate.

23. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shaping tool has a stamp-shaped design.

24. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the region of the stamp-shaped shaping tool coming into contact with the material to be processed into packaging is composed essentially of a nonconductive material.

25. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the region of the stamp-shaped shaping tool coming into contact with the material to be processed into packaging contains inductively heatable materials in the regions in which comparatively small deformations of the material to be shaped into packaging come into contact.

26. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool contains, at least in places, a material which is electrically conductive and/or which has magnetic properties.

27. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing tool is coated at least in places.

28. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a shaping tool has a trough-shaped design.