Modular packaging machine with web tension control
AssigneeKlockner Bartelt, Inc.
InventorsJames E. Todd, Thomas E. Brooker, Gregory A. Conn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packaging machine for forming pouches from a web of material having web tension control. A second pair of infeed rolls allows web tension through a sealing section to be controlled. An unwind reel is power-driven according to downstream web demand to thereby minimize tension spikes through the infeed section. The power unwind further minimizes the amount of festoon area needed. An entire packaging machine may be provided using modules. The registration-related operations of each section are independently controlled so that each module need only coordinate input and/or output speeds with interfacing sections.
Claims40
Apparatus for forming pouches from a web of sealable material provided as a roll, the web traveling along a predetermined path, the apparatus comprising:
- a pair of infeed rolls on the web path and positioned to controllably draw the web from a supply, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the infeed rolls;
- a seal station located downstream of the infeed rolls for forming seals in the web;
- a pair of drive rolls on the web path downstream of the seal station, the drive rolls positioned to controllably draw the web from the infeed rolls, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the drive rolls;
- and
- a controller for controlling the speed of the infeed roll and drive roll motors to produce a predetermined positive draw rate of the web through the seal station thereby to control web tension therethrough.
Apparatus for forming pouches from a web of material supplied as a roll, the web traveling along a predetermined path, the apparatus comprising:
- an unwind reel for supporting a roll of web material, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the reel;
- a pair of feed rolls on the web path at a first point and positioned to controllably draw the web from the reel, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the feed rolls;
- a plurality of rollers between the reel and the feed rolls positioned in a pattern to form a web festoon, at least one of the rolls being mounted for translation to allow a buffer length of web to be accumulated in or played out from the festoon, a sensor for measuring the buffer length;
- and
- a controller for controlling speed of the reel motor, the sensor operatively connected to the controller for increasing reel motor speed as the buffer length decreases and decreasing reel motor speed as the buffer length increases.
In a machine for forming pouches from a continuous web of material supplied as a roll, and in which a web sealing section draws the web from an unwind section, the web advancing at an average velocity through the web sealing section, the improvement comprising the unwind section having an unwind reel for supporting the roll, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the reel, a controller for controlling speed of the reel motor to supply the web at an average velocity of the web sealing section, a festoon between the reel and the web sealing section for storing a buffer of web material therebetween, a buffer monitor measuring the size of the buffer and being operatively connected to the controller for increasing the reel motor speed as the buffer size decreases and decreasing the reel motor speed as the buffer size increases.
A modular pouch making apparatus for forming pouches from a wound roll of planar material, the apparatus comprising:
- a supply module adapted to receive an end of the planar material, a pair of infeed rolls adapted to pull the planar material therethrough, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the infeed rolls, a drive connected to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor, and a plow upstream of the infeed rolls for folding the material into mating first and second sides;
- a sealing module downstream of the supply module having a pair of drive rolls adapted to pull the folded material therethrough, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the drive rolls, a drive connected to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor, a longitudinally adjustable mechanism for making seals between the first and second sides at spaced locations, and a cutter downstream of the drive rolls for cutting the material at the seals;
- a filling module having an endless carrier with a plurality of clamp pairs mounted thereon and adapted to grip the individual pouches, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the endless carrier, a drive connected to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor, a device for transferring the pouches from the cutter to the clamp pairs, a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the transfer device, a drive connected to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor, a mechanism for opening and closing the pouches before and after filling, respectively, and a device for sealing the pouches after the pouches are closed;
- and
- a controller connected to the drives for adjusting speeds of the motors.
A supply module for a pouch making apparatus of the type which forms pouches from a continuous web of wound material, the supply module transforming the web from a single planar material to a folded material having first and second mating sides, the supply module comprising:
- a plow adapted to receive the planar material and fold the material into the first and second mating sides;
- a pair of infeed rolls disposed downstream of the plow, the infeed rolls adapted to pull the material over the plow;
- a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the infeed rolls;
- and
- a drive connected to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor.
A sealing module for a pouch making apparatus of the type which forms pouches from a continuous web of wound material, the sealing module receiving a web of material folded to have first and second mating sides, the sealing module comprising:
- a pair of drive rolls adapted to pull the folded web material therethrough;
- a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the drive rolls;
- a drive connected to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor;
- a longitudinally adjustable mechanism for making seals between the first and second sides at spaced locations;
- and
- a cutter downstream of the drive rolls adapted to cut the material into individual pouches at the seals formed by the sealing mechanism.
A filling module for a pouch making apparatus of the type which forms pouches from a continuous web of wound material, the filling module adapted to receive individual pouches, the filling module comprising:
- an endless carrier;
- a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the endless carrier;
- a drive connected to the carrier motor for adjusting the speed of the carrier motor;
- a plurality of clamp pairs mounted on the endless carrier, the clamp pairs adapted to grip the pouches;
- a transfer device to feed the pouches to the plurality of clamp pairs;
- a variable speed motor drivingly connected to the transfer device;
- a drive connected to the transfer motor for adjusting the speed of the transfer motor;
- a mechanism for opening and closing the pouches before and after filling, respectively;
- and
- a device for sealing the pouches after the pouches are closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.