Servo motor operated indexing motion packaging machine and method

A packaging machine, comprising:

• web supply means for indexingly supplying a flexible web of packaging material to a forming station associated with the packaging machine;
• forming means located at the forming station for deforming the flexible web to form a cavity adapted to receive product to be packaged, the forming means including forming tooling having a forming cavity, the forming tooling being movable between a first position in which the forming tooling engages the flexible web and acts on the web to form the web into the forming cavity, and a second position in which the forming tooling is moved away from the web;
• means for moving the forming tooling between its first and second positions, comprising motor means having a rotatable output shaft and a programmable control associated with the motor means;
• and
• means interposed between the motor output shaft and the forming tooling for moving the forming tooling between its first and second positions in response to rotation of the motor output shaft, comprising a rotatable member drivingly engaged with the motor output shaft so as to be rotatable in response to rotation of the motor output shaft, and lifting and lowering means for lifting and lowering the forming tooling in response to rotation of the rotatable member;
• wherein the lifting and lowering means comprises a cam arrangement including structure defining a cam slot mounted to the forming tooling, an arm mounted to and rotatable with the rotatable member, and a roller member mounted to the arm and engaged within the cam slot, wherein alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the rotatable member causes back and forth movement of the roller member within the cam slot to lift and lower the forming tooling.

A method of forming a product cavity in a flexible web of packaging material, comprising the steps of:

• providing forming tooling at a forming station;
• indexingly supplying the flexible web to the forming station and temporarily maintaining the web stationary at the forming station;
• and
• moving the forming tooling between a first position, in which the forming tooling engages the web and is temporarily maintained stationary in its first position and acts on the web to form the product cavity as the web is maintained stationary at the forming station, and a second position in which the forming tooling is removed from the web, by operation of a motor having a rotatable output shaft and a programmable control associated with the motor, with the motor output shaft being interconnected with the forming tooling, wherein the forming tooling is movable between its first and second positions in response to rotation of the motor output shaft.

A packaging machine, comprising:

• an indexing mechanism for supplying a flexible web of packaging material to a forming station and for temporarily maintaining the web stationary at the forming station, comprising:
• a movable advancement mechanism for gripping the flexible web;
• web supply means for supplying the flexible web of packaging material to the movable mechanism;
• and
• motor means having a programmable controller associated therewith and drivingly engaged with the movable advancement mechanism, for providing an indexing advancement of the web to the forming station, wherein the web is temporarily maintained stationary at the forming station by the motor means;
• forming means located at the forming station for deforming the flexible web to form a cavity adapted to receive product to be packaged while the web is maintained stationary at the forming station;
• and
• sealing means for sealing the cavity after placement of the product therein.

A method of advancing a web of packaging material in a packaging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• supplying a web of packaging material to a movable advancement mechanism;
• engaging the web with the advancement mechanism so that the web is movable along with the advancement mechanism;
• and
• indexingly driving the advancement mechanism by means of a motor having a programmable controller, with the motor including an output shaft drivingly engaged with the advancement mechanism, wherein the motor functions to temporarily maintain the web stationary at the forming station.

A packaging machine, comprising:

• web supply means for supplying a flexible web of packaging material to a forming station;
• a forming box located at the forming station and including an internal forming cavity, the forming box being movable to a forming position in which the web is located over the forming cavity;
• vacuum means for providing negative air pressure to the forming cavity when the forming box is in its forming position;
• and
• means for assisting the web to conform to the contour of the forming cavity during operation of the vacuum means, comprising:
• a plug member reciprocably movable between an operative position in which it engages and moves the web within the cavity to assist the web to conform to the cavity, and an inoperative position in which the plug member is withdrawn from the cavity;
• motor means including an output shaft and a programmable controller associated with the motor means;
• and
• means interposed between the motor output shaft and the plug member for reciprocably moving the plug member between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of the motor means.

A packaging machine, comprising:

• web supply means for indexingly supplying a flexible web of packaging material to a forming station;
• a forming box located at the forming station and including an internal forming cavity, the forming box being movable to a forming position in which the web is located over the forming cavity;
• vacuum means for providing negative air pressure to the forming cavity when the forming box is in its forming position;
• and
• means for assisting the web to conform to the contour of the forming cavity during operation of the vacuum means, comprising:
• a plug member reciprocably movable between an operative position in which it engages and moves the web within the cavity to assist the web to conform to the cavity, and an inoperative position in which the plug member is withdrawn from the cavity;
• motor means including an output shaft and a programmable controller associated with the motor means;
• and
• means interposed between the motor output shaft and the plug member for reciprocably moving the plug member between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of the motor means;
• wherein the plug member is mounted to a frame assembly, and wherein the means for reciprocably moving the plug member comprises a linear actuator connected between the motor output shaft and the frame assembly for lowering and raising the frame assembly in response to rotation of the motor output shaft.

A method of assisting a flexible web of packaging material to conform to the internal cavity of a forming box located at a forming station of a packaging machine, in which the cavity is subjected to a vacuum, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a plug member at the forming station for reciprocable movement between an operative position in which it engages the web within the cavity to assist the web to conform to the cavity while the cavity is subjected to a vacuum, and an inoperative position in which the plug member is withdrawn from the cavity;
• and
• moving the plug member between its operative and inoperative positions by operation of a motor having a programmable controller associated therewith, and drivingly engaged with the plug member;
• wherein the step of mounting the plug member at the forming station comprises mounting the plug member to a reciprocably movable frame assembly located at the forming station, and wherein the step of moving the plug member between its operative and inoperative positions comprises moving the frame assembly between a lowered position and a raised position;
• wherein the motor includes a rotatable output shaft, and wherein the step of moving the frame assembly between a lowered position and a raised position comprises interconnecting the motor output shaft with the frame assembly such that the frame assembly is movable between lowered and raised positions in response to rotation of the motor output shaft;
• and
• wherein the step of interconnecting the motor output shaft with the frame assembly comprises mounting a linear actuator assembly between the motor output shaft and the frame assembly, wherein the linear actuator assembly includes a linearly movable output member, and connecting the linearly movable output member to the frame assembly such that rotation of the motor output shaft causes movement of the linear actuator output member to move the frame assembly between its lowered and raised positions.

A packaging machine, comprising:

• an indexing mechanism for supplying a flexible web of packaging material to a forming station located on the machine, comprising:
• a movable advancement mechanism for gripping the flexible web;
• web supply means for supplying a flexible web of packaging material to the movable advancement mechanism;
• and
• a first motor having a programmable controller associated therewith and drivingly engaged with the movable advancement mechanism for providing an indexing advancement of the web to the forming station;
• forming means located at the forming station for deforming the flexible web to form a cavity adapted to receive product to be packaged, the forming means including forming tooling having a forming cavity, the forming tooling being movable between a first position in which the forming tooling engages the flexible web and acts on the web to form the web into the forming cavity, and a second position in which the forming tooling is moved away from the web;
• means for moving the forming tooling between its first and second positions, comprising a second motor having a rotatable output shaft and a programmable controller associated with the second motor, and means interposed between the second motor output shaft and the forming tooling for moving the forming tooling between its first and second positions in response to rotation of the second motor output shaft;
• vacuum means for providing negative air pressure to the forming cavity when the forming tooling is in its first position;
• and
• means for assisting the web to conform to the contour of the forming cavity, comprising:
• a plug member reciprocably movable between an operative position in which it engages the web within the cavity to assist the web to conform to the cavity, and an inoperative position in which the plug member is withdrawn from the cavity;
• a third motor including a rotatable output shaft and a programmable controller associated with the motor;
• and
• means interposed between the third motor output shaft and the plug member for reciprocably moving the plug member between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of the third motor.

A method of packaging an article, comprising the steps of:

• supplying a web of packaging material to a forming station by means of a movable advancement mechanism;
• engaging the web with the advancement mechanism so that the web is movable along with the advancement mechanism;
• indexingly driving the advancement mechanism by means of a first motor having an output shaft drivingly engaged with the advancement mechanism, and a programmable controller associated with the motor;
• providing forming tooling at the forming station, the forming tooling including a forming cavity;
• moving the forming tooling between a first position, in which the forming tooling engages the web and acts on the web to form the product cavity, and a second position, in which the forming tooling is removed from the web, by operation of a second motor having a rotatable output shaft, and a programmable controller associated with the second motor, with the second motor output shaft being interconnected with the forming tooling, wherein the forming tooling is movable between its first and second positions in response to rotation of the second motor output shaft;
• mounting a plug member at the forming station for reciprocable movement between an operative position in which it engages the web within the forming cavity to assist the web to conform to the cavity, and an inoperative position in which the plug member is withdrawn from the cavity;
• and
• moving the plug member between its operative and inoperative positions by operation of a third motor having an output shaft drivingly engaged with the plug member, and a programmable controller associated with the third motor.