US 12,441,504 B2
Method for automatically maintaining a predetermined portion arrangement in a tray, packaging device suitable therefor
Sven Regien, Ottobeuren (DE); Markus Berchtold, Wolfertschwenden (DE); Johann Woelfle, Oberguenzburg (DE); and Albert Bumann, Groenenbach (DE)
Assigned to Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller SE & Co. KG, Wolfertschwenden (DE)
Filed by MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG, Wolfertschwenden (DE)
Filed on Aug. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/236,564.
Claims priority of application No. 102022121774.4 (DE), filed on Aug. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0067379 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. B65B 57/14 (2006.01); B26D 7/06 (2006.01); B26D 7/32 (2006.01); B65B 5/06 (2006.01); B65B 25/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 57/14 (2013.01) [B26D 7/0625 (2013.01); B26D 7/32 (2013.01); B65B 5/068 (2013.01); B65B 25/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for automatically achieving a predetermined portion arrangement of a portion of slices deposited on a packaging element, the method comprising:
determining an actual arrangement in a deposited state of the portion,
comparing the actual arrangement with a predetermined target arrangement, and
upon detecting a deviation of the actual arrangement from the target arrangement by more than a predetermined tolerance range,
automatically changing one or more production parameters of an upstream portion production unit and/or an upstream portion delivery unit and/or an upstream packaging delivery unit as a function of the detected deviation in such a way that an actual arrangement in a deposited state of an additional portion lies within all tolerance ranges around desired arrangement values of the predetermined target arrangement,
wherein the actual arrangement is determined with the packaging element being stationary, immediately after the portion has been deposited on the packaging element,
wherein the packaging element comprises a packaging trough for receiving the portion, and the predetermined target arrangement comprises, as a target arrangement value, a target trough longitudinal distance in a longitudinal direction between the trough and a reference point of the environment,
wherein, when an actual trough longitudinal distance is greater than the target trough longitudinal distance by more than an associated tolerance value, as a production parameter of the upstream packaging delivery unit, delivery speed thereof is increased in such a way that thereafter an actual trough longitudinal distance of an additional trough lies within a respective tolerance range around the target trough longitudinal distance, and
wherein a reverse procedure is followed in case the actual trough longitudinal distance is smaller than the target trough longitudinal distance by more than an associated tolerance value.