Packaging machine with dynamic chain tension
AssigneeMultivac Sepp HaggenmüLler SE & Co. KG
InventorsElmar Ehrmann, Ivo Ruzic
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Abstract
The invention relates to a packaging machine, in particular a thermoformer, traysealer, comprising at least two transport chains for transporting a web of material, such as a film or the like. The packaging machine is characterized in that sensor means are provided for detecting the chain length and/or the chain pitch and/or the chain tension of the transport chains, means being provided for stretching and/or relaxing at least one individual transport chain, and control means being provided for adapting different lengths or chain pitches of two transport chains by stretching and/or relaxing at least one transport chain in a controlled manner.
Claims21
A packaging machine comprising:
- at least two transport chains for transporting a web of material;
- at least one sensor for detecting a chain length and/or a chain pitch and/or a chain tension of the at least two transport chains;
- at least one chain tensioning mechanism for stretching and/or relaxing at least one of the at least two transport chains independent of another one of the at least two transport chains;
- and
- a control unit for compensating for differences in the chain lengths or chain pitches of the at least two transport chains using the at least one chain tensioning mechanism to stretch and/or relax at least one of the at least two transport chains in a controlled manner independent of another one of the at least two transport chains.
A method of operating a packaging machine comprising at least two transport chains for transporting a web of material, and a chain tensioning mechanism for applying a tensile stress to at least one of the at least two transport chains independent of another one of the at least two transport chains, said tensile stress being determinable by a control unit, the method comprising:
- detecting a chain length, a chain pitch and/or a chain tension prevailing in the at least two transport chains during operation;
- and
- compensating for differences between the detected chain lengths or the detected chain pitches of the at least two transport chains by stretching and/or relaxing at least one of the at least two transport chains independent of another one of the at least two transport chains.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.