US 11,884,441 B2
Packaging machine and method for producing sealed packages
Marco Melandri, Bologna (IT); Paolo Bergami, Formigine (IT); Gianluca Pagliani, Modena (IT); Lorenzo Martini, Modena (IT); Stefano Costa, Casalmaggiore (IT); Roberto Panciroli, Reggio Emilia (IT); and Claudio Ferrari, Fiorano Modenese (IT)
Assigned to TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A., Pully (CH)
Appl. No. 17/439,276
Filed by TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A., Pully (CH)
PCT Filed Apr. 10, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/060316
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 14, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/212280, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 22, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19170359 (EP), filed on Apr. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0194639 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 9/20 (2012.01); B65B 9/207 (2012.01); B65B 41/16 (2006.01); B65B 51/26 (2006.01); B65B 55/04 (2006.01); B65B 57/02 (2006.01); B65H 20/24 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 9/2028 (2013.01) [B65B 9/207 (2013.01); B65B 41/16 (2013.01); B65B 51/26 (2013.01); B65B 55/04 (2013.01); B65B 57/02 (2013.01); B65H 20/24 (2013.01); B65H 2404/143 (2013.01); B65H 2511/112 (2013.01); B65H 2513/11 (2013.01); B65H 2553/00 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A packaging machine for producing sealed packages of a pourable product from a web of packaging material;
the packaging machine comprises:
a conveying device for advancing the web of packaging material along a web advancement path at least to a tube forming station at which the web of packaging material is formed, in use, into a tube and for advancing the tube along a tube advancement path;
a tube forming and sealing device configured to form the tube at the tube forming station and to longitudinally seal the tube;
a tensioning device arranged upstream of the tube forming station along the web advancement path and configured to control at least the tension of the tube; and
a control unit configured to control operation of the packaging machine;
wherein the tensioning device comprises at least
a main drive roller rotatable around a main rotation axis;
a main drive motor configured to actuate rotation of the main drive roller around the main rotation axis;
wherein the control unit is configured to control the main drive motor such that an angular speed and/or angular acceleration of the main drive roller is cyclically varied such to control the tension of the tube;
wherein the control unit is configured to control the main drive motor such that the angular speed and/or the angular acceleration of the main drive roller is varied according to respectively a pre-defined and/or pre-determined speed profile and/or acceleration profile.
 
9. Method for producing sealed packages of a pourable product from a web of packaging material;
the method comprising:
advancing the web of packaging material along a web advancement path at least to a tube forming station;
forming the web of packaging material into a tube at the tube forming station;
advancing the tube along a tube advancement path;
controlling the tension of the tube by a tensioning device;
wherein the tensioning device is arranged upstream of the tube forming station along the web advancement path and has at least a main drive roller rotatable around a main rotation axis;
wherein during the controlling of the tension, the main drive roller rotates around the main rotation axis and an angular speed and/or an angular acceleration of the main drive roller is cyclically varied;
wherein the angular speed and/or the angular acceleration of the main drive roller is varied according to respectively a pre-defined and/or pre-determined speed profile and/or acceleration profile.