Package making – Means to fill and close preformed receptacle – With separate closure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-09-04
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Means to fill and close preformed receptacle
With separate closure
C053S559000, C198S833000, C198S850000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a packaging machine. Specifically, the invention relates to a packaging machine comprising a base frame having an input side and an output side and a transport path from said input side to said output side, a plurality of tray carriers for holding trays, said tray carriers being arranged in succession along said transport path from the input side to the output side, and drive means for advancing the tray carriers in an advancement plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,829 discloses a line of successive pivotally interconnected tray carriers. Engagement elements are provided at the forward and rearward side of the tray carrier in transport direction and engage a driven star wheel which also serves for deflecting the line of tray carriers. In addition to the engagement elements the line of tray carriers includes further engagement elements arranged laterally of the line and engaged by a sealing device functioning as feeding device for the cover film.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,072 discloses a packaging machine comprising a line of pivotally interconnected tray carriers driven by a chain having connecting rods engaging the rearward side of the tray carriers (FIG.
7
).
Documents WO 91/03407 and DE-OS-196 45 454 disclose packaging machines wherein the lines of tray carriers are driven by and deflected around star wheels.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved packaging apparatus. It is a further object of the invention to provide a packaging apparatus which allows the tray-shaped packages to be firmly and attractively sealed with suitable cover films of various materials for the corresponding product, in particular also as skin packages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above mentioned objects the invention provides a packaging machine comprising a base frame having an input side and an output side and a transport path from the input side to the output side, a plurality of tray carriers for holding trays, said tray carriers being arranged in succession along said transport path and comprising pivoting coupling links for pivotally interconnecting successive tray carriers, engagement elements at the forward side and at the rearward side of said tray carriers, drive means for advancing said tray carriers in an advancement plane, the drive means including a drive chain with a first chain strand trained over chain wheels, the engagement elements engaging the first chain strand when in a position adjacent thereto, and feed means for feeding a cover film for covering the filled trays, the feed means including a second drive chain with a second chain strand trained over chain wheels and coupling the sides of the cover film, the second chain strand being guided in a plane parallel to said first chain strand along a predetermined length parallel to said first chain strand at a predetermined distance therefrom, the engagement elements engaging the first and second chain strand, respectively, along at least a portion of the predetermined length.
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patent: 5603203 (1997-02-01), Robache
patent: 5921378 (1999-07-01), Bonnet
patent: 196 45 454 A1 (1998-03-01), None
patent: 0 569 933 A1 (1993-11-01), None
patent: WO 91/03407 (1991-03-01), None
Ehrmann Elmar
Natterer Hans
Desai Hemant M.
Dike, Bronstei, Roberts, Cushman IP Group of Edwards & Angell LL
Multivac Sepp Haggenmauller GmbH & Co.
Neuner George W.
Vo Peter
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