JP2024541816A - Buffer unit for packaging device, packaging device, and method for manufacturing sealed package - Google Patents

Abstract

A buffer unit (5) for a packaging machine (1) is described that is configured to buffer the web of packaging material (3) and form pourable product filled packages (2) from a web of packaging material (3), the buffer unit (5) comprising an in-feed roller arrangement (20) configured to feed the web of packaging material (3) into the buffer unit (5), an out-feed roller arrangement (21) configured to feed the web of packaging material (3) out of the buffer unit (5), and an accumulation housing (22) having an accumulation space (23) configured to randomly receive the web of packaging material (3) when the buffer unit (5) is controlled in an accumulation configuration, in which the web of packaging material (3) is randomly accumulated in the buffer unit (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a buffer unit of a packaging machine for producing sealed packages from a web of packaging material and filling them with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.

Advantageously, the invention also relates to a packaging machine for producing sealed packages from a web of packaging material and filling them with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.

Advantageously, the invention also relates to a method for producing a sealed package from a web of packaging material and filling it with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.

As is well known, many liquid or pourable products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high temperature processed) milk, cream, water, wine, tomato sauce, salt, sugar, etc., are sold in packages made from sterilized multi-layer packaging materials.

A typical example is the parallelepiped package for liquids or pourable foods known as Tetra Brik Aseptic®, which is made by sealing and folding a multi-layer packaging material comprising a layer of fibrous material, e.g. paper or cardboard, and at least two layers of a heat-sealable plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, sandwiching the layer of fibrous material between them.

In the case of aseptic packaging for long-term storage products such as UHT milk, the multi-layer packaging material also comprises a layer of a gas and light barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil, or an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular arranged between one of the layers of heat-sealable plastic material and the layer of fibrous material.

Typically, the multi-layer packaging material includes a further layer of heat-sealable plastic material interposed between the layer of gas and light barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

Multi-layer packaging materials are often provided in the form of a web of packaging material, particularly having continuous repeating patterns, each pattern defining the pattern of each individual package obtained at the end of the packaging process.

This type of package is usually produced in a fully automatic packaging machine, which comprises a conveying device for advancing the web of packaging material along an advancing path, a sterilization unit for sterilizing the packaging material, a tube forming and sealing device arranged in the isolation chamber and configured to form a tube from the advancing packaging material and seal the tube longitudinally, a filling device for directing the pourable product into the tube, and a package forming unit configured to form, transversely seal and cut the tube to obtain single packages.

Typically, the web of packaging material is provided in the form of a reel, and at some point during operation of the packaging machine the reel becomes depleted. To avoid the need to interrupt production, a typical packaging machine includes a splice unit for splicing a new web of packaging material to the web of packaging material in use. However, this requires that the portion of the web of packaging material in use that is to be spliced together with the new web of packaging material be in a fixed and initially non-moving position.

Thus, a typical packaging apparatus also includes a buffer unit arranged upstream of the tube forming and sealing apparatus and configured to buffer the web of packaging material. Thus, prior to the need to splice a new web of packaging material to the web of packaging material in use, during operation of the splicing unit, the amount of the web of packaging material present in the buffer unit (e.g., measured in meters and/or seconds of the web of packaging material present in the buffer unit) is increased such that the portion of the web of packaging material located upstream of the buffer unit does not advance and the portion of the web of packaging material located downstream of the buffer unit advances as fed by the buffer unit.

The known buffer unit comprises an infeed roller device, an outfeed roller device, a first roller group and a second roller group, whereby the distance between the second roller group and the first roller group is variable to control the amount of the web of packaging material present in the buffer unit. When the amount of the web of packaging material needs to be increased, the infeed speed is increased relative to the outfeed speed and the relative distance between the first roller group and the second roller group is increased, whereas when the amount of the web of packaging material in the buffer unit needs to be decreased, the infeed speed is decreased relative to the outfeed speed and the relative distance between the first roller group and the second roller group is decreased. Under normal operating conditions, the relative distance between the first roller group and the second roller group is kept substantially constant.

Although such buffer units function satisfactorily, there is a need in the art for further improvements to known packaging devices.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved buffer unit for a packaging machine for producing packages formed from a web of packaging material and filled with a pourable product.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging apparatus for producing packages formed from a web of packaging material and filled with a pourable product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for producing a package formed from a web of packaging material and filled with a pourable product.

According to the present invention, there is provided a buffer unit as described in claim 1.

Further advantageous embodiments of the buffer unit according to the invention are defined in the respective dependent claims.

Advantageously, according to the present invention, there is provided a packaging device as claimed in claim 11.

Further advantageous embodiments of the packaging device according to the invention are defined in the claims which depend directly or indirectly on claim 11.

Advantageously, the present invention provides a method as claimed in claim 13.

Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are defined in the claims which depend directly or indirectly on claim 13.

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic view, with parts removed for clarity, of a packaging device having a buffer unit according to the invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic and perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, showing details of the packaging device of FIG. 1; 2 is a schematic side view showing further details of the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1, with the buffer unit in a first configuration and parts removed for clarity; 2 is a schematic side view, with parts removed for clarity, showing further details of the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 , with the buffer unit in a second configuration and with a first load level; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view, with parts removed for clarity, showing further details of the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 , with the buffer unit in a second configuration and having a second load level;

Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine, in particular an automatic packaging machine, for (continuously) producing packages 2 filled with pourable products, in particular pourable food products, such as milk, fruit juices, wine, water, salt, sugar and the like.

The packaging device 1 is configured to produce packages 2 from a web of packaging material 3, in particular by forming, filling and sealing the web of packaging material 3.

More specifically, the web of packaging material 3 may have a multi-layer structure (not shown) and may comprise at least one layer of fibrous material, e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-sealable plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, between which the layers of fibrous material are interposed. One of these two layers of heat-sealable plastic material may define the inner surface of the package 2 that will ultimately contact the pourable product.

Preferably, the packaging material web 3 may comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, for example an aluminum foil or an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, arranged in particular between one of the layers of heat-sealable plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferably, the packaging material web 3 may comprise a further layer of heat-sealable plastic material interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.

According to the disclosed embodiment, the web 3 of packaging material comprises a continuous pattern, in particular each pattern being associated with one respective package 2 as the respective package 2 is formed.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, the packaging device 1 comprises:
a conveying device 4 configured to advance a web of packaging material 3 along a web advancement path P;
a buffer unit 5 adapted to buffer the web of packaging material 3;
a tube forming and sealing device 6 configured, in use, to form a tube 7 from the advancing web of packaging material 3 and to seal the tube 7 longitudinally;
a filling device 8 adapted to fill the tube 7 with a pourable product;
a package forming unit (known and not shown) arranged to transversely seal and preferably transversely cut the tube 7 to form the package 2;
At least:

Preferably, the operation of the buffer unit 5 may be controlled in response to the operation of the conveying device 4.

More specifically, the tube forming and sealing device 6 may be positioned downstream of the buffer device 5 along the web advancement path P.

Preferably, the conveying device 4 may also be configured to advance the tube 7 along the tube advancement path Q. More specifically, the conveying device 4 may be configured to advance the tube 7 and any intermediate of the tube 7 along the tube advancement path Q in a known manner. In particular, the expression intermediate of the tube 7 means any configuration of the web of packaging material 3 before obtaining the tube structure and after folding of the web of packaging material 3 by the tube forming and sealing device 6 has started. In other words, the intermediate of the tube 7 is the result of gradually folding the web of packaging material 3 to obtain the tube 7, in particular the result of overlapping the side edges of the web of packaging material 3 on one another.

Preferably, the packaging device 1 may be provided with a control unit configured to control the operation of the packaging device 1.

Advantageously, the packaging device 1 may also comprise an isolation chamber (known and not shown) having an internal environment, in particular a sterile internal environment. In particular, the isolation chamber separates the internal environment from the (hostile) external environment.

Preferably, the isolation chamber is vertically oriented.

Preferably, the tube forming and sealing device 6 may be at least partially disposed within the isolation chamber and/or the internal environment and may be configured to form and longitudinally seal the tube 7 within the internal environment.

According to some preferred, non-limiting embodiments, the packaging apparatus 2 may include a splicing unit (known and not shown) configured to splice a new web of packaging material to the web of packaging material 3 during use.

In particular, the splicing unit may be positioned upstream of the buffer unit 5 along the web transport path P.

Preferably, the packaging device 1 may comprise a magazine unit 9 having at least a first support for carrying a reel 10 of the web of packaging material 3. Further preferably, the magazine unit 9 may comprise a second support for carrying another reel 10 of the web of packaging material 3.

More specifically, one of the first and second supports may provide a web of packaging material 3 in use, and the other of the first and second supports may provide a web of new packaging material 3. In use, the roles of the first and second supports may alternate. For example, initially, the first support carries a reel 10 of packaging material 3 in use, and the second support carries a reel 10 of new packaging material 3. After splicing, the second support carries a reel 10 of packaging material 3 in use, and the first support carries another reel 10 of new packaging material 3.

According to some preferred, non-limiting embodiments, the packaging apparatus 1 may also include a sterilization unit (known, not shown) configured to sterilize the advancing web of packaging material 3 during use, in particular by chemical and/or physical sterilization. Preferably, the sterilization station may be located along the advancing path P of the web upstream of the tube forming and sealing apparatus 6 and downstream of the buffer unit 5.

Preferably, the package forming unit may be configured to laterally seal and, in particular, cut the tube 7 during use while advancing the tube 7 along at least a portion of the tube advancement path Q.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the tube forming and sealing device 6 may comprise a tube forming unit 13 arranged at least partially, preferentially completely, in the isolation chamber, in particular in the internal environment, and configured to gradually fold the web of packaging material 3, in use, into a tube 7, in particular by (gradually) overlapping the lateral edges of the web of packaging material 3 with respect to one another. Preferably, the tube forming unit 13 may extend along a longitudinal axis, in particular vertically.

Preferably, the tube forming and sealing device 6 may comprise a sealing unit disposed at least partially within the isolation chamber and/or the internal environment and configured to longitudinally seal the tube 7.

Furthermore, the sealing unit may comprise a sealing head (not shown) arranged in the isolation chamber and configured to transfer thermal energy to the tube 7 in order to seal the tube 7 longitudinally. In particular, the sealing head may be of any kind, e.g. operated by induction heating, and/or by a flow of heated gas, and/or by ultrasound, and/or by laser heating, and/or by any other means.

Preferably, the sealing unit may include a pressing assembly adapted to apply a mechanical force to the tube 7 to ensure a longitudinal seal of the tube 7.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the filling device 8 may comprise a filling pipe 14 for, in use, directing the pourable product to the tube 7. In particular, the filling pipe 14 may be in, and may be controllable to be in, fluid communication with a pourable product storage tank (not shown, but known as such) adapted to store/distribute the pourable product to be packaged, in particular a pourable food product.

Preferably, the filling pipe 14 may be at least partially disposed within the tube 7 during use.

According to some preferred, non-limiting embodiments, the package forming unit comprises a plurality of pairs of at least one respective manipulation assembly (known and not shown) and at least one counter manipulation assembly (known and not shown); and a transport unit (known and not shown) adapted to advance the pair of respective manipulation assemblies and respective counter manipulation assemblies along respective transport paths.
The present invention may also include:

More specifically, each manipulation assembly may be configured to cooperate with a respective counter-manipulation assembly of a respective set to form, in use, one respective package 2 from the tube 7. In particular, each manipulation assembly and each counter-manipulation assembly may be configured to shape, transversely seal and preferably transversely cut the tube 7 to form the package 2.

More specifically, each manipulating assembly and each counter-manipulating assembly may be configured to cooperate with one another to form a respective package 2 from the tube 7 as they advance along their respective manipulating portions of the respective conveying paths. In particular, while advancing along their respective manipulating portions, each manipulating assembly and each counter-manipulating assembly may advance parallel to and in the same direction as the tube 7.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the buffer unit 5 includes:
an infeed roller arrangement 20 adapted to feed the web of packaging material 3 to the buffer unit 5;
an outfeed roller arrangement 21 arranged to deliver the web of packaging material 3 from the buffer unit 5;
Equipped with.

In particular, the portion of the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5 may extend between the infeed roller arrangement 20 and the outfeed roller arrangement 21.

In particular, the buffer unit 5 may lack a further roller device interposed between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21 along the forward movement path P of the web. In other words, there is no further roller device interposed between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21 along the forward movement path P of the web.

Preferably, when the packaging material web 3 is in the buffer unit 5, it does not interact with other types of roller devices and their respective rollers in addition to the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21.

Furthermore, the load of the buffer unit 5 can be measured as the amount of the web of packaging material 3 extending between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21. Thereby, the amount of the web of packaging material 3 in the buffer unit 5 can be expressed in meters and/or seconds. More specifically, when the amount of the web of packaging material 3 is expressed in meters, it indicates the meters of the web of packaging material 3 extending between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21 and the meters of the web of packaging material 3 extending along the longitudinal axis of the web of packaging material 3. Additionally or alternatively, when the amount is expressed in seconds, it indicates the amount of the web of packaging material 3 extending between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21 and the time during which the web of packaging material 3 can be fed out of the buffer unit 5 without the need to introduce it anew into the buffer unit 5.

Preferably, the buffer unit 5 is controllable in the following configurations:
an accumulation configuration in which the web of packaging material 3 is accumulated in the buffer unit 5, in particular between the infeed roller arrangement 20 and the outfeed roller arrangement 21 (i.e. the amount of web of packaging material 3 in the buffer unit 5 is increased);
- a buffer configuration in which the amount of the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5, in particular between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21, remains substantially constant (i.e. the amount of the web of packaging material 3 in the buffer unit 5 fluctuates around an average amount); and - a reduction configuration in which the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5, in particular between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21, is reduced (i.e. the amount of the web of packaging material 3 in the buffer unit 5 is reduced).

Preferably, the buffer unit 5 is controlled, in use, in particular by the control unit, in the buffering configuration during normal production of the packaging device 1 to form the packages 2. When it becomes necessary to buffer the web of packaging material 3 in the buffer unit 5, in particular between the infeed roller arrangement 20 and the outfeed roller arrangement 21 (e.g. because it is necessary to prepare for the start-up of the splicing unit), the buffer unit 5 is controlled, in use, in particular by the control unit, in the accumulation configuration. Thereafter (e.g. after completion of the splicing of the web of packaging material 3 in use with the new web of packaging material 3), the buffer unit 5 is controlled, in use, in particular by the control unit, in the reduction configuration. Thereafter, the buffer unit 5 is controlled, in particular by the control unit, again in the buffering configuration.

The buffer unit 5 further comprises an accumulation housing 22 having an accumulation space 23 configured to randomly receive the web of packaging material 3 (see Figures 4 and 5) while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in an accumulation configuration during use.

In particular, the accumulation housing 22 may define an accumulation space 23.

More specifically, and with particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, the buffer unit 5, and in particular the accumulation housing 22, can be configured such that while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5 falls randomly, in particular freely and randomly, into the accumulation housing 22, i.e. the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5 only interacts with the infeed roller arrangement 20, the outfeed roller arrangement 21 and the accumulation housing 22, and the web of packaging material 3 does not take a defined ordered position.

Furthermore, during use, depending on the loading of the buffer unit 5 (i.e. the amount of the web of packaging material 3 present in the accumulation housing 22, in other words the meters of the web of packaging material 3 present in the accumulation space 23), the shape of the web of packaging material 3 changes continuously while the buffer unit 5 is operating in the accumulation configuration. For example, the web of packaging material 3 present in the accumulation housing 22, and in particular in the accumulation space 23, can, but does not necessarily have to, take the shape shown in Figures 4 and 5. For example, if the web of packaging material 3 takes the form shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, such a particular configuration will typically only last for a short time because new webs of packaging material 3 enter the accumulation space 23.

It should be noted that preferably the term "randomly" indicates that the shape of the web of packaging material 3 is not determined and may vary.

More specifically, the web of packaging material 3 extends randomly, in particular randomly, freely between the infeed roller arrangement 20 and the outfeed roller arrangement 21 while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the accumulation configuration.

In particular, since the buffer unit 5 does not have any further roller devices and/or rollers between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21, the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5 is freely connected between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21.

Furthermore, while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the amount of the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5 can be varied, in particular until the accumulation space 23 is fully occupied and/or until a maximum load is obtained.

More specifically, and with particular reference to FIG. 3, the buffer unit 5 is configured such that while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the buffer configuration, the web of packaging material 3 is disposed in a free loop 24 within the buffer unit 5, particularly between the infeed roller arrangement 20 and the outfeed roller arrangement 21.

More specifically, the buffer unit 5 is configured such that, in use, while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in a buffer configuration, the free loops 24 present in the buffer unit 5 vary around an average shape, e.g. measured in meters and/or depending on the position of the apex 25 of the free loops 24.

It should be noted that free loops 24 may arise due to the absence of further elements (e.g. rollers, etc.) that may define the shape of the web of packaging material 3 extending within the buffer unit 5, in particular between the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21, and in particular due to the acting force of gravity.

Advantageously, the buffer unit 5 may be configured such that a randomly, in particular a freely randomly arranged web of packaging material 3 is reduced from the accumulation space 23, in particular from the buffer unit 5, while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the reducing configuration. Preferably, the buffer unit 5 is controlled from the reducing configuration to the buffering configuration once the web of packaging material 3 present in the buffer unit 5 has again taken the form of free loops 24, in particular having a desired amount of the web of packaging material 3.

With particular reference to Figures 2 to 5, the accumulation housing 22 may have a main wall 26 and, transversely, in particular perpendicularly, a number of side cut walls 27 relative to the main wall 26 and a main opening 28 through which the web of packaging material 3 enters the accumulation space 23.

In particular, the main wall 26 may be on the opposite side to the main opening 2.

More specifically, the main wall 26 may define a bottom wall of the integration housing 22.

Preferably, the main opening 28 may be bounded by respective side partition walls 27.

In particular, the main opening 28 may be located at the top of the integrated housing 22.

In use, when the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the web of packaging material 3 has the shape of a free loop until the web of packaging material 3 starts to contact the main wall 26. Thereafter, the web of packaging material 3 becomes randomly distributed within the accumulation housing 22, in particular within the accumulation space 23.

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 5, the infeed roller device 20 may comprise a drive roller 32 and, in particular, one or more counter rollers 33, of which two are shown in the specific case, for interposing the web of packaging material 3 between the drive roller 32 and one or more counter rollers 33.

Furthermore, the infeed roller device 20 may comprise an actuator 34, in particular a motor, more particularly an electric motor, configured to drive the rotation of the drive roller 32. In particular, the actuator 34 may be configured to control the angular velocity of the drive roller 32 so as to at least partially control the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the accumulation housing 22, in particular the accumulation space 23.

Returning again to Figures 1 to 5, the outfeed roller device 21 may comprise a main roller 35 and one or more counter rollers 36, in particular two counter rollers 36 in the illustrated embodiment, so as to interpose the web of packaging material 3 between the main roller 35 and the one or more counter rollers 36 during use.

Preferably, the outfeed roller arrangement 21 may be provided with a brake 37 configured to slow down the main roller 35 in order to control the tension in the web of packaging material 3, particularly downstream of the outfeed roller arrangement 21 along the web advancement path P.

In particular, the web of packaging material 3 may extend freely between the drive roller 32 and the main roller 35.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the buffer unit 5 and/or the transport device 4 may be configured as follows:
when the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the buffer configuration, the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5 substantially corresponds to the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 from the buffer unit 5; and/or
when the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5 is greater than the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 from the buffer unit 5; and/or
The infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5 is smaller than the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3, which may include the possibility of maintaining the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 at 0 m/s outside the buffer unit 5, in particular when the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the reduced configuration.

More specifically, the infeed roller arrangement 20, in particular the drive roller 32, is configured to at least partially control the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5:
- while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the infeed rate is greater than the outfeed rate;
the infeed speed is smaller than the outfeed speed, in particular including the possibility of keeping the infeed speed at 0 m/s while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in use in a reduced configuration; and/or
While the buffer unit 5 is controlled in a buffer configuration, the infeed rate substantially corresponds to the outfeed rate.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the conveying device 4 may include a roller 38 disposed upstream of the infeed roller arrangement 20 along the web advancement path P. In particular, the roller 38 may be positioned such that the web of packaging material 3 has an auxiliary free loop 39 between the roller 38 and the infeed roller arrangement 20.

In use, the packaging apparatus 1 forms a package 2 filled with the pourable product. In particular, the packaging apparatus 1 forms the package 2 from a tube 7 formed from a web of packaging material 3, the tube 7 being continuously filled with the pourable product.

More specifically, the operation of the packaging device 1 (i.e. the formation of the packages 2) includes at least
- advancing the web of packaging material 3 along a web advancement path P, in particular by means of a conveying device 4;
- the packaging material 3 is formed into a tube 7, in particular by means of a tube forming and sealing device 6, more particularly by means of a tube forming device 13;
- the tube 7 is sealed longitudinally, during which in particular by the tube forming and sealing device 6, more particularly by a sealing unit;
The filling tube 7 is meanwhile filled with the pourable product, in particular by means of a filling device 8 and more particularly by means of a filling tube 14 .

Preferably, the formation of the package 2 comprises a further advancing step, during which the tube 7 is advanced along the tube advancement path Q, in particular by the conveying device 4.

According to some preferred, non-limiting embodiments, the formation of the package 2 also includes a molding step, during which the package 2 is formed from the tube 7, in particular by molding, transverse sealing, in particular by transverse cutting. Preferably, during the molding step, the package 2 is formed by the operation of a package forming unit.

Preferably, the operation of the packaging device 1 may comprise a sterilization step, during which the web of packaging material 3 is sterilized by a sterilization unit.

According to some preferred non-limiting embodiments, the operation of the packaging device 1 may include a splicing step in which a web of packaging material 3 in use is spliced with a new web of packaging material 3.

Operation of the packaging device 1 may include controlling the buffer unit 5 to one of an accumulation configuration, a buffer configuration, and a reduction configuration.

More specifically, an accumulation step is performed while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in an accumulation configuration, during which the web of packaging material 3 is randomly accumulated within the buffer unit 5, in particular within the accumulation space 23 of the accumulation housing 22.

Furthermore, while the buffer unit 5 is controlled in the buffer configuration, the usual buffering steps are carried out, during which a free loop 24 of the web of packaging material 3 is maintained within the buffer unit 5, in particular between the infeed roller arrangement 20 and the outfeed roller arrangement 21.

Furthermore, a reduction step is performed when the buffer unit 5 is controlled in a reduction configuration, during which the web of packaging material 3 is reduced from the buffer unit 5, in particular from the accumulation space 23 of the accumulation housing 22.

More specifically, during the accumulating step, the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5 may be greater than the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 from the buffer unit 5.

Furthermore, during the reduction step, the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5 may be less than the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 from the buffer unit 5. This may include the possibility of keeping the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 at 0 m/s at least for some time.

Furthermore, during the normal buffering step, the infeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 into the buffer unit 5 may substantially correspond to the outfeed speed of the web of packaging material 3 from the buffer unit 5.

Preferably, the accumulation step may be performed before the splicing step.

Furthermore, the reduction step may be performed during the splicing step.

More specifically, the accumulation step may be performed after the normal buffer step. After the accumulation step is completed, a de-accumulation step is performed, after which the normal buffer step is performed again.

The advantages of the buffer unit 5 and/or the packaging device 1 and the method according to the present invention will be clear from the above description.

In particular, the buffer unit 5 has a simple design because there is no first roller group or second roller group, as in prior art buffer units. This avoids relying on a means for varying the relative distance between the first roller group and the second roller group.

A further advantage is that the web of packaging material 3 passing through the buffer unit 5 does not come into contact with rollers other than those of the infeed roller device 20 and the outfeed roller device 21. This also reduces the stress acting on the packaging material 3.

Obviously, modifications may be made to the buffer unit 5 and/or the packaging device 1 and/or the method described herein without departing from the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims (15)

A buffer unit (5) for a packaging machine (1) for forming packages (2) filled with a pourable product from a web of packaging material (3), the buffer unit (5) being configured to buffer the web of packaging material (3), the buffer unit (5) comprising:
an in-feed roller arrangement (20) configured to feed the web of packaging material (3) into the buffer unit (5);
an out-feed roller arrangement (21) configured to feed the web of packaging material (3) out of the buffer unit (5);
an accumulation housing (22) having an accumulation space (23) configured to randomly receive the web of packaging material (3);
the buffer unit (5) is controllable into a stacking configuration in which the web of packaging material (3) is randomly stacked in the buffer unit (5);
Buffer unit (5). The buffer unit (5) is controllable into a buffer configuration;
While the buffer unit (5) is controlled in the buffer configuration, the web of packaging material (3) is arranged in a free loop (24) between the in-feed roller arrangement (20) and the out-feed roller arrangement (21).
2. The buffer unit according to claim 1. the buffer unit (5) being controllable in a decreasing configuration;
While the buffer unit (5) is controlled in the reducing configuration, the randomly arranged web of packaging material (3) is configured to be reduced from the accumulation space (23).
3. A buffer unit according to claim 1 or 2. While the buffer unit (5) is controlled in the accumulation configuration, the web of packaging material (3) extends freely and randomly between the in-feed roller arrangement (20) and the out-feed roller arrangement (21).
A buffer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3. said accumulation housing (22) comprises a main wall (26), a plurality of lateral partition walls (27) transverse to said main wall (26), and a main opening (28) through which said web of packaging material (3) enters an accumulation space (23);
A buffer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The main wall (26) faces the main opening (28).
6. A buffer unit according to claim 5. The infeed roller device (20) comprises a drive roller (32) and at least one counter roller (33).
A buffer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The outfeed roller device (21) comprises a main roller (35) and at least one counter roller (36).
A buffer unit according to any one of the preceding claims. the web of packaging material (3) extends freely between the drive roller (32) and the main roller (35);
9. A buffer unit according to claim 8. the in-feed roller device (20) is configured to maintain an infeed speed of the web of packaging material (3) into the buffer unit (5) greater than an outfeed speed of the web of packaging material (3) from the buffer unit (5) while the buffer unit (5) is controlled in an accumulating configuration;
A buffer unit according to any one of the preceding claims. A packaging machine (1) for forming packages (2) from a web of packaging material (3) and filling them with a pourable product, comprising:
The packaging device (1) comprises:
a conveying device (4) for advancing said web of packaging material (3) along a web advancement path (P);
A buffer unit (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
a tube forming and sealing device (6) arranged upstream of the buffer unit (5) along the web advancement path (P) and configured to form and longitudinally seal a tube (7) from the web of packaging material (3);
a filling device (8) configured to introduce said pourable product into said tube (7);
a package forming unit configured to transversely seal the tube (7) to form the package (2);
Equipped with
Packaging device (1). further comprising a splicing unit configured to splice a new web of packaging material (3) to the web of packaging material (3);
the buffer unit (5) is controlled in an integrated configuration before the splicing unit is activated;
12. The packaging device of claim 11. 1. A method for forming a pourable product-filled package (2) from a web of packaging material (3), comprising the steps of:
advancing the packaging material web (3) along a web advancement path (P);
forming a tube (7) from the web of packaging material (3);
The tube (7) is sealed longitudinally,
Filling said tube (7) with a pourable product,
a buffer unit (5) for collecting said web of packaging material (3),
At least,
The buffer unit (5) comprises:
an in-feed roller arrangement (20) configured to feed the web of packaging material (3) into the buffer unit (5);
an out-feed roller arrangement (21) configured to feed the web of packaging material (3) out of the buffer unit (5);
an accumulation housing (22) having an accumulation space (23) configured to randomly receive the web of packaging material (3);
Equipped with
During the accumulating step, the buffer unit (5) randomly accumulates the web of packaging material (3) in the accumulation space (23).
method. The buffer unit (5),
an accumulation arrangement for accumulating said web of packaging material (3) in said buffer unit (5);
a buffer arrangement, in which the buffer unit (5) keeps the amount of the web of packaging material (3) in the buffer unit (5) substantially constant; and
a reduction configuration in which the web of packaging material (3) present in the buffer unit (5) is reduced;
The method further includes controlling the state of the
said buffer unit (5) is controlled in said accumulation configuration and an accumulation step is performed while said web of packaging material (3) is accumulated in said buffer unit (5);
a normal buffering step is carried out when the buffer unit (5) is controlled in the buffering configuration and a free loop (24) of the web of the packaging material (3) is maintained within the buffer unit (5);
a reducing step is performed when the buffer unit (5) is controlled in the reducing configuration and the web of packaging material (3) is reduced from the buffer unit (5);
The method of claim 13. The method further comprises the step of splicing the packaging material web (3) with a new packaging material web (3),
The accumulating step is performed before the connecting step.
15. The method according to claim 13 or 14.

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