DE102010053872C5 - Packaging plant with sorting station - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging installation (1) which has a product feeder (3), a packaging machine (7) which has an infeed station (9) arranged downstream of the product feeder (3) and a sealing station (10), a sorting station (13) and a controller (18). wherein the controller (18) is designed such that all supplied products (19) along a production direction (R) from the product feeder (3) to the sorting station I (13) are traceable, characterized in that a monitoring device (4) is provided in front of or along the product feeder (3) for detecting at least one property of the products (19) and relaying them to the controller (18), and in that upstream of the packaging machine (7) is a distributor (6) for distributing one lane from the one Product supply (3) of incoming products (19) on two up to an infeed station (9) of the packaging machine (7) reaching conveyor belts (20) is provided, wherein the downstream of the Verpackungsmasc in (7) arranged sorting station (13) for sorting of packages (21) in depending on a category of the packaged product (19) dedicated collecting container (14) and / or conveyor belts is directed, wherein the packaging system (1) a cutting device ( 2) before the product feed (3), and wherein the category of the product (19) is classified by the size of a fat edge of the product (19).

Description

The invention relates to a packaging installation according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for operating such a packaging installation.

Packaging plants comprise several workstations. At the beginning of a packaging system, containers can be transferred to a transport system; The transport system is usually designed as a conveyor belt. If the containers within the packaging system are first produced by deep drawing into a film web through a forming station, the film web is transported along a two-sided film transport chain along workstations. Subsequently, the introduction of products takes place in the container. In a subsequent sealing station, the containers are sealed with a lidding foil after the containers have been evacuated and / or fumigated to produce a package which ensures as long a shelf life as possible, especially for foodstuffs.

It is for example from the DE 691 03 232 T2 Packaging machines are known in which before the sealing station, the still open packages are monitored to see whether the filling with one or more products has been done correctly. If this is not the case, such a package in the controller is classified as "defective" and tracked by a track controller to sort out this pack at a discharge station, since this package should not be carried until the end of the production process.

From the WO 2005/123 513 A1 For example, a sorting apparatus is known which has a plurality of conveyor belts for distributing or grouping products from a feed belt onto different conveyor belts before the products are placed in packages.

From the EP 0 931 723 A1 For example, a packaging machine is known in which the portions of meat to be packaged and cut are treated or packaged for better preservability by means of a specific composition and quantity of a gas mixture. The gas mixture depends on the previously measured staining of the meat.

Also, monitoring systems, preferably vision systems, are known to inspect the closed packages on which at least one label is applied, whether the label is present, the location of the label is correct, or whether the printing on the label is correct. If the monitoring of a packaging detects an error here, such a package is set in the controller as "faulty" and followed by a track control to sort out the pack at a discharge station.

The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging plant and a method for operating such a packaging plant, which allow a classification of the products.

This object is achieved by a packaging system with the features of claim 1 or by a method for operating such a packaging system according to claim 7. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Sliced goods such as ham or bacon slices have z. B. a different fat content or fat area, the proportion is used as a property for a classification of the total product, for example, a number of slices. In this case, for example, a low fat content is classified as property A and a high fat content is classified as property B. Other product properties can also be used for classification.

For the rest of this text, the term "category" is defined as the virtual state of the product in the controller. The real state of the container or packaging in the packaging installation is the degree of processing by the workstations. A "container" or "package tray" is open for product delivery; a "package" is defined as a closed container, preferably as a container closed by a lidding film.

The packaging installation according to the invention comprises a product feed, a packaging machine which has an insertion station and a sealing station, a sorting station for filling packages into collection containers and a controller, wherein the controller is designed in such a way that all the products fed in along a production direction from the product feed to the sorting station are traceable. In such a packaging system, a monitoring device is provided in front of or along the product supply to detect at least one property of the products and pass this property to the controller, the sorting station for introducing packages depending on the category of the packaged product in designated collection or intended Conveyor belts is executed.

The controller associates the information received from the monitoring device with a product characteristic of a category. A category represents a limited area or a range of values and is assigned to the product or packaging for the further course of production. Two, three or even more categories can be defined per property.

The control system tracks all products from the monitoring device to the product infeed and the packaging machine to the sorting station in order to place the packaging at the sorting station into appropriate collection containers or onto conveyor belts for further processing or final packaging, depending on the characteristics of the product. This monitoring devices can be omitted in the packaging machine, which would have to be present for example in a multi-lane thermoforming packaging machine for each track to check the product-filled, still open packs. This can lead to problems because the testing of the property of the product by the film of the package or by additionally inserted deposits is no longer possible or difficult.

The packaging system has before the product feed on a cutting device, or slicer called. The slicer cuts products such as ham, sausage or cheese slices and passes z. A number of slices as a portion onto the product feeder.

Preferably, the packaging machine is a thermoforming packaging machine or tray sealing machine, also called tray sealer. These embodiments of packaging machines are used for high performance and a high degree of automation.

In a preferred packaging installation, a device for inserting an insert is provided prior to inserting the product into the open package trough. For soft film packages, cardboard inserts can be used to support the product and to stabilize the packaging. In this case, for example, product or manufacturer information may be printed on the underside of the insert, which are readable in a transparent bottom film from the back of the package. A preferred insert is a so-called "L-board", which has substantially two surfaces in the form of an "L". After inserting the L-board, the product, for example a portion of ham slices, is placed on the part located on the bottom of the package. The second part of the L-board is then folded over onto the product to cover part of the product, and also includes product or manufacturer information that is readable from the top when the lidding film is transparent.

Preferably, the packaging system has a labeling device for applying labels to the top and / or bottom of the package depending on the category of the product. This brings advantages in terms of flexibility and efficiency, since in a packaging system with only one slicer and only one packaging machine products with different properties, such. As fat in ham, cut and can be packed without having to retool the packaging plant or to distribute the products depending on several packaging machines.

In an advantageous embodiment of the packaging installation, the sorting station, which is preferably located at the end of the packaging installation, has at least two collection containers or at least two conveyor belts for receiving packages depending on the category of product and a container for sorting empty or defective packaging. There are preferably in the same number of collection containers or conveyor belts as distinguishable "categories" of the products available.

Preferably, the monitoring station is designed as a laser, X-ray or vision system. Depending on the nature of the product to be tested, several different systems can be used. The monitoring station can also be provided on or in the cutting device in order to control both the slice thickness and to transfer the detected product properties to the controller.

A method according to the invention for operating a packaging installation, which comprises a product feed, a packaging machine, an insertion station, a sealing station, a sorting station for filling packaging into collecting containers or placing on conveyor belts and a controller, provides that a controller controls all supplied products along a production direction from the product infeed to the sorting station, and that a monitoring device provided in front of or along the product feeder detects at least one property of the products and passes them to the controller for packaging at the sorting station with the products therein depending on the category to place the products in collecting containers or to place them on conveyor belts. The controller is thus able to convey the information about the properties of the products to workstations such as the inserting station for inserting inserts or the sorting station so that these workstations can process the packaging depending on the property.

The products are preferably produced before the product feed by means of a cutting device, also called a slicer. Thus, the packaging system can flexibly and efficiently process a variety of products such as ham, sausage and cheese slices.

In an advantageous embodiment, the packaging machine is a thermoforming packaging machine or a tray sealing machine which can be operated very efficiently and flexibly with the method according to the invention.

Preferably, an infeed station inserts a liner prior to loading the product into the open package well to stabilize the package or to cover a portion of the product and to use the inserts as a carrier for manufacturer and / or product information. It is also a variant conceivable in which the insert is already supplied to the product feed under the product or the product stack. This is possible, for example, by a band transfer of a first conveyor belt to a second conveyor belt, in which the respective insert is fed between the conveyor belt and below the product. This brings an advantage in the processing of frozen or frozen products, as they have on a conveyor belt only a very low adhesion and can slip through accelerations or speed changes. An insert that is already underlaid under the product directly after a monitoring device can lead to greater process reliability for further transport on the product feed, including insertion into the molded packing trough.

Preferably, a labeling device applies labels to the packages depending on the nature of the product. The labels can contain information such as ingredients, quality class, fat content, weight and / or price.

In an advantageous embodiment, the monitoring device detects the property of the product by means of a vision, laser and / or X-ray system and forwards this information to the controller.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungsanlage,
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Packungsmulde mit einer Einlage und einem Produkt,
• 3 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer versiegelten Verpackung.

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is illustrated in more detail with reference to a drawing.

• 1 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the packaging system according to the invention,
• 2 shows a schematic view of a packing tray with a liner and a product,
• 3 shows a schematic view of a sealed package.

Corresponding components are consistently provided in the figures with the same reference numerals.

• - Schneideeinrichtung 2,
• - Produktzuführung 3,
• - Überwachungseinrichtung 4,
• - Wägeeinrichtung 5,
• - Verteiler 6,
• - Tiefziehverpackungsmaschine 7,
• - Formstation 8,
• - Einlegestation 9,
• - Siegelstation 10,
• - Etikettiereinrichtung 11,
• - Vereinzelungsstation 12 und
• - Sortierstation 13 mit Sammelbehältern 14 und einem Aussortierbehälter 14'.

1 shows a packaging system according to the invention 1 with in a production direction R successive institutions:

• - Cutting device 2 .
• - Product feed 3 .
• - Monitoring device 4 .
• - Weighing device 5 .
• - Distributor 6 .
• - thermoforming packaging machine 7 .
• - Form station 8th .
• - insertion station 9 .
• - sealing station 10 .
• - Labeling device 11 .
• - Separation station 12 and
• - sorting station 13 with collection containers 14 and a sorting container 14 ' ,

Before the loading station 9 the thermoforming packaging machine 7 is a facility 15 for inserting deposits, eg. B. boards 16 or L-boards 17 , which are provided in magazines, arranged.

A controller 18 is with facilities 4 . 15 or stations 11 . 13 connected and has a track control on all products 19 by detecting on the product feeder 3 through the packaging machine 7 to the sorting station 13 or to the collection container 14 tracked. The control 18 can also control the thermoforming packaging machine 7 be.

In detail, the devices or stations will now be described in more detail.

The cutting device 2 is a so-called slicer, which cuts from a caliber sausage, ham or cheese slices and these as portions 19 stacked by several slices or shingled onto the product feeder 3 passes.

The on or at the product feeder 3 mounted monitoring device 4 recorded by the pasted portions 19 , or product 19 called, for. B. by means of a vision and / or X-ray device, the fat content of a ham and / or the size of the fat margin. As a feature of the product 19 is the fat content in the controller 18 z. In category A and category B divided. Here is the product 19 the category A with the lower fat content the higher quality product 19 and the product 19 with the category B the inferior product 19 , There are also further subdivisions of the categories conceivable, as well as other categories, which in turn can be subdivided several times. For different categories, these can be transmitted or assigned to all or even individual devices or stations.

The weighing device 5 weighs every single serving 19 and transmits the weight value to the controller 18 , the cutting device 2 , the labeling device 11 and / or the sorting station 13 ,

The distributor 6 takes over the one-lane from the product feeder 3 incoming products 19 , previously referred to as portions, and distributes them in the illustrated embodiment on two conveyor belts 20 leading up to the loading station 9 the thermoforming packaging machine 7 pass.

The thermoforming packaging machine 7 has a forming station 8th on, in which in a first foil sheet packing troughs 22 (please refer 2 ) are molded to receive the product. The packing pits 22 in the first film web can intermittently or continuously by means of a feed device, not shown, within the thermoforming packaging machine 7 transported in a production direction R.

Between the forming station 8th and the loading station 9 for the products 19 is the loading device 15 arranged, depending on the property of the product 19 a flat insert 16 , also called board, from a first magazine or an L-shaped insert 17 , also called L-board, from a second magazine in the packing troughs 22 inserts. The insertion device 15 can do this in a form not shown by means of a robot or a handling module known in the art. The deposits 16 . 17 serve for example in packaging 21 , which consist of soft films, as support for the product 19 and to stabilize the packaging 21 , In the case of the L-board 17 lies the longer part of the L-board 17 in the packing tray 22 and the shorter part stands up so that the product 19 in the loading station 9 from the conveyor belts 20 coming on L-board 17 in the packing tray 22 can be hung up. For packs with an L-board 17 becomes the shorter part by a device not shown on top of the product 19 folded. This obscures this part of the L-board 17 a part of the product 19 , in the case of ham slices as a product 19 Preferably the fat margin.

In the thermoforming packaging machine 7 are located in the two tracks of packing pits 22 different deposits 16 . 17 or boards and then products 19 with different categories. The control 18 has a software-based path control that allows the position of each product 19 from the monitoring device 4 to the sorting station 13 to track and manage additional information such as the category of the product, and to share that information with other facilities or stations during the production process.

After the sealing station 10 in which the packing pits 22 holding a board 16 . 17 and a product 19 include, with a second film web under vacuum and / or modified atmosphere to a package 21 be sealed, followed by the labeling 11 , The labeling device 11 brings one or more labels on the top and / or bottom of the package 21 on. Depending on the category of the packaged product 19 either different labels are applied or the information printed on the label during the labeling process is different and the product 19 directly assigned. For example, this will be done on the weighing device 5 recorded weight and category A or B printed as information. In a variant, a weighing device is in front of the labeling device 11 provided to the previously isolated packaging 21 to weigh and the weight information for pricing to the labeling 11 pass.

In the separation station 12 become the packaging 21 separated from the two films by means not shown punching and / or cutting devices.

The sorting station 13 has a handling device, not shown, preferably a delta robot for simultaneous gripping multiple packages 21 containing the isolated packaging depending on the category of the product 19 on different collection containers 14 or final packaging equipment. packagings 21 that were flagged as faulty in the route control during the production process, eg B. by a missing board or label or too low a product weight, can on a Aussortierbehälter 14 ' be sorted out. If necessary, the products can 19 , which are recognized, for example, as underweight or overweight, be sorted out prior to insertion in the packaging machine.

Claims (10)

Packaging installation (1) which has a product feeder (3), a packaging machine (7) which has an infeed station (9) arranged downstream of the product feeder (3) and a sealing station (10), a sorting station (13) and a controller (18). wherein the controller (18) is designed such that all supplied products (19) along a production direction (R) from the product feeder (3) to the sorting station I (13) are traceable, characterized in that a monitoring device (4) is provided in front of or along the product feeder (3) for detecting at least one property of the products (19) and relaying them to the controller (18), and in that upstream of the packaging machine (7) is a distributor (6) for distributing one lane from the one Product supply (3) of incoming products (19) on two up to an infeed station (9) of the packaging machine (7) reaching conveyor belts (20) is provided, wherein the downstream of the Verpackungsmas sorting station (13) arranged for sorting packages (21) into collecting containers (14) and / or conveyor belts provided therefor according to a category of the packaged product (19), the packaging installation (1) comprising a cutting device (1). 2) before the product feed (3), and wherein the category of the product (19) is classified by the size of a fat edge of the product (19). Packaging plant after Claim 1 , characterized in that the packaging machine (7) is a thermoforming packaging machine or a tray sealing machine. Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (15) for inserting an insert (16, 17) before inserting the product (19) in the open packing trough (22) or under the product (19) on the product feed (3) is provided. Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging installation (1) has a labeling device (11) for applying labels to the packages (21) as a function of the category of the product (19). Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting station (13) at least two collecting containers (14) or conveyor belts for picking up packages (21) depending on the category of the product (19) and a sorting container (14 ') for sorting of empty or defective packaging (21). Packaging installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring device (4) comprises a laser, an X-ray and / or a vision system. Method for operating a packaging installation (1), comprising a product feeder (3), a packaging machine (7), an infeed station (9), a sealing station (10), a sorting station (13) for filling packages (21) into collecting containers (14 ) or placing on conveyor belts, and a controller (18), wherein the controller (18) tracks all supplied products (19) along a Produktiorisrichtung (R) from the product feeder (3) to the sorting station (13), and a monitoring device ( 4), which is provided in front of or along the product feeder (3), detects at least one property of the products (19) and passes them on to the controller (18), at the sorting station (13) located downstream of the packaging machine (7). 21) with the products (19) therein depending on a category of the products (19) in the collecting container (14) or to transfer to the conveyor belts, wherein the products (19), as a P of a plurality of discs, before the product feed (3) are made by means of a cutter (2), and wherein the category of the product (19) is classified by the size of a fat edge of the product (19), further comprising a distributor (6) one-lane from the product feeder (3) incoming products (19) takes over and on two up to an insertion station (9) of the packaging machine (7) reaching conveyor belts (20) distributed. Method according to Claim 7 characterized in that means (15) introduces a liner (16, 17) under the product along the product feed (3) prior to loading the product (19) into the open package well (22) or insert (16, 17) , Method according to one of Claims 7 or 8th , characterized in that a labeling device (11) applies labels to the packages (21) depending on the category of the product (19). Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9 , characterized in that the monitoring device (4) detects the property of the product by means of a vision, laser or X-ray system.

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