# US 12,179,404 B2 · Device and method for deaerating a flattened tubular film > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,404 B2 - Document ID: US12179404B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/950,354 - Filed: 2022-09-22 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-22 - Assignees: Hosokawa Alpine Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: HOSOKAWA ALPINE Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Florian Finsinger; Carlo Benedetti; Mauro Belcastro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179404B2 ## CPC - B29C 48/0022: {combined with cutting} - B29C 48/0017: {combined with blow-moulding or thermoforming} - B29C 48/0018: {combined with shaping by orienting, stretching or shrinking, e.g. film blowing (B29C48/0017 takes precedence)} - B29C 48/10: flexible, e.g. blown foils - B29C 48/355: Conveyors for extruded articles - B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating - B29C 55/28: of blown tubular films, e.g. by inflation {(extrusion moulding of tubular films B29C48/03)} - B29C 2793/0036: Slitting - B29C 2948/92295: Errors or malfunctioning, e.g. for quality control - B29C 2948/92438: Conveying, transporting or storage of articles - B29L 2023/001: {Tubular films, sleeves} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A device and method for the production of a tubular film in a blown film method with a blown film line. It includes a lay-flat device and a take-off device with a pair of take-off rolls, in which the tubular film can be laid flat, and at least one deaerating device of the previously flattened tubular film. The deaerating device includes a movement device for a cutting device with cutting elements and is arranged in the transport direction of the flattened tubular film downstream of the pair of take-off rolls so that the flattened tubular film can be slit and deaerated by the deaerating device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for production of a tubular film in a blown film method with a blown film line, the device comprising a lay-flat device and a take-off device with a pair of take-off rolls in which the tubular film can be flattened, and at least one deaerating device configured for deaerating a flattened tubular film, wherein the at least one deaerating device comprises a movement device for a cutting device with cutting elements, arranged downstream of the pair of take-off rolls in a transport direction of the flattened tubular film, so that the flattened tubular film can be slit through both layers of the flattened tubular film and deaerated by the deaerating device, and wherein the movement device is movable by at least one actuator so that the cutting device is movable between a parking position in a frame of the take-off device and a base position in front of the flattened tubular film. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device is movable by the at least one actuator so that the cutting device is movable from the base position into a cutting position, so that the cutting elements of the cutting device are configured to slit both layers of the flattened tubular film. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the movement device is arranged in front of a protection device, the protection device configured to be moved by a second actuator such that undesired interaction with the cutting device is prevented. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a motor, arranged in a linear guide, or designed as a lever configured for manual operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting elements comprise a plurality of uniformly spaced blades. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that the flattened tubular film can be slit several times next to each other across the transport direction of the tubular film by the cutting elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that the flattened tubular film can be slit several times in succession transversely to the transport direction of the tubular film by the cutting elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising air pocket sensors arranged downstream of the pair of take-off rolls in the transport direction of the flattened tubular film. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deaerating device comprises a plurality of deaerating devices arranged downstream of the pair of take-off rolls. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that cutting parameters of the cutting device are adjustable and controlled via machine control of a blown film machine of the blown film line or via a separate control and wherein the cutting parameters include at least one of slit length, cutting time, number of successive cutting processes, blade spacing, and number of blades. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method for production of a tubular film in a blown film method in a blown film line, the method comprising: providing the device of claim 1; producing a tubular film; producing a flattened tubular film by flattening the tubular film in the lay-flat device; pulling the flattened tubular film into the take-off device with the pair of take-off rolls; and slitting both layers of the flattened tubular film and deaerating the flattened tubular film with the at least one deaerating device after pulling the flattened tubular film through the pair of take-off rolls. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the slitting comprises slitting of the flattened tubular film several times across the transport direction of the tubular film. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the slitting comprises slitting of the flattened tubular film once or several times in succession across the transport direction of the tubular film. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the slitting and deaerating include: moving the movement device with the cutting device from the parking position into the base position; moving the cutting device from the base position into a cutting position; slitting both layers of the flattened tubular film and deaerating the flattened tubular film; moving the cutting device from the cutting position into the base position; and moving the movement device with the cutting device from the base position to the parking position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising carrying out a maintenance process, the maintenance process including: moving the movement device with the cutting device from the parking position into the base position, the base position corresponding to a maintenance position; maintaining the cutting device and the cutting elements; and moving the cutting device from the base position into the parking position. ### Claim 16 A device for production of a tubular film in a blown film method with a blown film line, the device comprising a lay-flat device and a take-off device with a pair of take-off rolls in which the tubular film can be flattened, and at least one deaerating device configured for deaerating a flattened tubular film, wherein the at least one deaerating device comprises a movement device for a cutting device with cutting elements, arranged downstream of the pair of take-off rolls in a transport direction of the flattened tubular film, so that the flattened tubular film can be slit through both layers of the flattened tubular film and deaerated by the deaerating device, and wherein the movement device is arranged in front of a protection device, the protection device configured to be movable by at least one actuator such that undesired interaction with the cutting device is prevented. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method for production of a tubular film in a blown film method in a blown film line, the method comprising: providing the device of claim 16; producing a tubular film; producing a flattened tubular film by flattening the tubular film in the lay-flat device; pulling the flattened tubular film into the take-off device with the pair of take-off rolls; and slitting both layers of the flattened tubular film and deaerating the flattened tubular film with the at least one deaerating device after pulling the flattened tubular film through the pair of take-off rolls, wherein the slitting and deaerating include: moving the movement device with the cutting device from a parking position into a base position in front of the flattened tubular film; moving the cutting device from the base position into a cutting position; slitting both layers of the flattened tubular film and deaerating the flattened tubular film; moving the cutting device from the cutting position into the base position; and moving the movement device with the cutting device from the base position to the parking position.