초록 ▼

Packaging machines are disclosed including a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations. Packaging apparatuses are disclosed including a forming station and a closing station, each having movable die mem

Packaging machines are disclosed including a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations. Packaging apparatuses are disclosed including a forming station and a closing station, each having movable die members that are counterbalanced. Methods of operating the packaging apparatus are disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A packaging apparatus for an indexing-motion packaging machine, the machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a first web of flexible packaging material along a direction of transport from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations for forming at least one pocket

1. A packaging apparatus for an indexing-motion packaging machine, the machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a first web of flexible packaging material along a direction of transport from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations for forming at least one pocket in the first web, placing food product in the at least one pocket, and closing the pocket with an second web of packaging material; the packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between first, open position relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members in which position the movable forming die member is moved away from the first web, and a second, closed position relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members in which position the movable forming die member engages the first web and assists in forming the first web into the pocket;wherein the movable forming die member is movable into a third, extracted position along a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the movable forming die member between the first, open and second, closed positions and transverse to the direction of transport of the first web, the movable forming die member being moved to said third, extracted position to enable tooling change; anda lift that is selectively operable to register and unregister the movable forming die member in the packaging apparatus;wherein when registered, the movable forming die member is prevented from moving from the first, open position into the third, extracted position and wherein when unregistered, the movable forming die member is free to move from the first, open position into the third, extracted position;wherein the lift is configured to move the movable forming die member between a registered position and an unregistered position;comprising a base supporting movement of the movable forming die member between the first, open position and the second, closed position;wherein the base comprises top and bottom parts that are biased together to position the movable forming die member into the unregistered position and wherein actuation of the lift moves the bottom part away from the top part to move the base and the movable forming die member into the registered position. 2. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lift comprises a bladder that deflates to allow the bottom part of the base to move into the unregistered position and inflates to move the bottom part into the registered position. 3. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lift comprises at least one spring biasing the bottom part towards the top part into the unregistered position. 4. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top and bottom parts comprise plates. 5. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one side rail supporting movement of the bottom part. 6. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lift comprises at least one spring biasing the bottom part towards the top part to thereby move the movable forming die member into the unregistered position, wherein the lift comprises a bladder that inflates to move the bottom part of the base to thereby move the movable forming die member into the registered position and deflates to allow the bottom part to be biased into the unregistered position. 7. A packaging apparatus for an indexing-motion packaging machine, the machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a first web of flexible packaging material along a direction of transport from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations for forming at least one pocket in the first web, placing food product in the at least one pocket, and closing the pocket with an second web of packaging material; the packaging apparatus comprising: a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between first, open position relative to the other one of the first and second closing die members in which position the movable closing die member is moved away from the first web and a second, closed position relative to the other one of the first and second closing die members in which position the movable closing die member engages the first web and assists in closing the pocket;wherein the movable closing die member is movable into a third, extracted position along direction transverse to the direction of movement of the movable closing die member between the first, open and second, closed positions and transverse to the direction of transport of the first web, the movable closing die member being moved to said third, extracted position to enable tooling change; anda lift that is selectively operable to register and unregister the movable closing die member in the packaging apparatus;wherein when registered, the movable closing die member is prevented from moving from the first, open position into the third, extracted position and wherein when unregistered, the movable closing die member is free to move from the first, open position into the third, extracted position;wherein the lift is configured to move the movable closing die member between a registered position and an unregistered position;comprising a base supporting movement of the movable closing die member between the first, open position and the second, closed position;wherein the base comprises top and bottom parts that are biased together to position the movable closing die member into the unregistered position and wherein actuation of the lift moves the bottom part away from the top part to move the base and the movable closing die member into the registered position. 8. The packaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lift comprises a bladder that deflates to allow the bottom part of the base to move into the unregistered position and inflates to move the bottom part into the registered position. 9. The packaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lift comprises at least one spring biasing the bottom part towards the bottom part into the unregistered position. 10. The packaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the top and bottom parts comprise plates. 11. The packaging apparatus according to claim 7, comprising at least one side rail supporting movement of the bottom part. 12. The packaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lift comprises at least one spring biasing the bottom part towards the top part to thereby move the movable closing die member into the unregistered position, wherein the lift comprises a bladder that inflates to move the bottom part of the base to thereby move the movable closing die member into the registered position and deflates to allow the bottom part to be biased into the unregistered position.