The present invention relates to Packaging machine having a deep-drawing-, filling- and/or sealing station to produce a package made from a lower- and an upper film web, wherein, in the filling station, a packaging item is placed on the lower film web on a L-board comprising a base and a flap foldable connected to the base and folding means to pivot the flap from an initial flat to a folded position and hold-down means which maintains the flap in the folded position.

Such packaging machines are for example known from US 2013/0152512 A1 , US 5 087 498 or US 6 326 577. These machines are, however, rather complicated.

The tool changing systems which are therein described are comparatively complex, however, or do not enable tools to be changed at economically favorable height.

The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a machine which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.

The object is achieved with a packaging machine having a deep-drawing-, a filling- and/or sealing station to produce a package made from a lower- and an upper film web, wherein, in the filling station, a packaging item is placed on the lower film web on an L-board comprising a base and a flap foldable connected to the base and folding means to pivot the flap from an initial flat to a folded position and hold-down means which maintains the flap in the folded position, wherein the hold-down means is a flexible band.

Film web within the meaning of the invention signifies that it consists at least partially of plastic, but can also have a paper component or the like.

According to the present invention, in the packaging machine at least one film web, in particular the lower film web, is transported along a film transport plane, for example by two parallel chains. This transport can be realized continuously. Preferably, the transport is realized, however, in cycles wherein the film web is transported onward by one format length in each cycle. During one cycle firstly, a format of troughs is formed into the lower film web. During the next cycle, in the filling station, each trough is filled with an L-board and the packaging item, which is in the present case a food material, preferably sliced ham, bacon or cheese. The L-board, which is preferably made from a paper and/or a paper-material each comprises a base on which the packaging item rests and a flap, which is foldable connected to the base. In certain cases the packaging item may as well rest on the flap, at least partially. The connection of the flap to the base is preferably pre- folded and/or weakened so that the flap can be pivoted relative to the base after the packing item has been loaded on the L-board from an initially flat to a folded position, in which it at least partially covers the packaging item. According to the present invention, the folded flap is then held in its folded position until during a next cycle a top film is sealed to the lower film web in the sealing station to hermetically seal the packages. The top film maintains the flap in its folded state. In a last step, a cutting station, the packages are separated from each other by longitudinal- and cross-cutting-means.

According to the present invention, the flap is maintained in its folded position by a flexible band, preferably a rubber or silicon band, which even more preferably extends over the entire inlaying station in which the L-board and/or the packaging item is inserted into the deep drawn trough. The flexible band extends parallel to the transport direction of the film web and above the film web. The vertical distance between the transport plane of the lower film web and the flexible band is preferably smaller than the length of the flap, so that the flexible band is lifted and or stretched during pivoting of the flap into its folded position. Preferably, one flexible band per row of packages is provided. Preferably, the tension of the flexible band can be adjusted.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention the flexible band is at least partially interrupted in the loading area in order to allow loading of each packaging item from the top. In another embodiment, the flexible band extends in every loading spot under an angle to the transport direction of the film web and above the film web in order to create the necessary spot for the loading from the top. Preferably, the flexible band is a rubber band or a silicon band or stainless steel. In some cases it might have very low flexibility, e.g. when it is made from a thin stainless steel rod.

The folding means fold the flap of the L-board from its initial, usually flat position into its folded position by pivoting the flap relative to the base of the L-board. The folding means are preferably utilized by a lever with preferably roller at its front end. The front of the lever, preferably the roller, engages with the front end of the flap and thereby pivots the flap while the lower film web is advanced during one cycle. The lever is preferably pivotable around an axis which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the lower film web and located above the lower film web. However, the folding means can also be provided as a flexible lever, which bends during folding. Preferably one folding means per row of packages is provided. The folding means is preferably not motor driven, but are lifted during folding and while the film advances and then drops back into its initial position by gravity and/or elasticity of the lever.

Preferably, the folding means is adjustable in the transport direction of the film. I.e. the instant of time, when the flap is folded can be adjusted. Even more preferably, the position of the folding means is adjustable perpendicular to the transport direction of the film.

The invention is elucidated below with reference to figures 1 to 4. These elucidations are purely exemplary and do not restrict the general inventive concept. These elucidations apply to all subjects of the present invention equally.

Figure 1 shows an L-Board

Figure 2 shows a packaging machine.

Figure 3 shows the folding station of the packaging machine.

Figure 4 shows the folding means. Figure 1 shows an L-board 5 which can be placed on the lower film web 8. The L- board comprises a base 5 ^' on which the packaging item, for example sliced bacon, cheese or the like is placed. Connected to the base 5 ^' , preferably as one part is a flap 5 ^" . The connection between the flap 5 ^" and the base 5 ^' is provided as a hinge around which the flap can be pivoted. The hinge can be, for example, be provided by removing material in this area and/or by forming this area under heat and/or pressure. Figure 1 a shows the L-board in its initial position, in which it is preferably flat. Figure 1 b shows the L-board in its folded state. The flap has been pivoted clockwise into. This takes preferably place by moving the lower film web, here from the right to the left. During this motion, the tip of the flap hits a folding means, which turns the flap. The hinge is thereby deformed partially plastically but also elastically, so the hold down means are needed to maintain the flap in its folded state.

Figure 2 shows the inventive packaging machine 1 , which has a deep-drawing station 2, a filling station 7 and a sealing station 19. A plastics film web 8, the so- called lower web, is drawn off from a supply roller and is transported from right to left along the inventive packaging machine, preferably in cycles. In a cycle, the film is transported onward by one format length. For this purpose, the packaging machine has two transport means (not depicted), in the present case respectively two endless chains, which are disposed respectively to the right and left of the film web. Each endless chain has holding means, which respectively cooperate with the edges of the film web. Both at the start and at the end of the packaging machine, a gearwheel is respectively provided for each chain, around which gearwheel the respective chain is diverted. At least one of these gearwheels is driven. The gearwheels in the inlet region and/or in the outlet region can be connected to each other, preferably by a rigid axle. Each transport means has a multiplicity of clamping means, which clampingly grip the lower film in the inlet region and transmit the movement of the transport means to the lower film. In the outlet region of the packaging machine, the clamping connection between the transport means and the lower film is released again. In the deep-drawing station 2, which possesses an upper tool 3 and a lower tool 4, which has the shape of the pack trough to be produced, the pack troughs 6 are shaped in the film web 8. The lower tool 4 is disposed on a lifting table 5, which, as is symbolized by the double arrow, is vertically adjustable. Prior to each film feed, the lower tool 4 is lowered and subsequently raised again. In the further course of the packaging machine, the pack troughs are then filled in the filling station 7 with the packaging item 16. In the filling station the L-board as depicted in Figure 1 a is also placed on the lower film web or into a pack trough 6. Subsequently, in a folding station 15, the flaps 15 ^' are turned from their initial- into their folded position. In the adjoining sealing station 19, which likewise consists of an upper tool 12 and a vertically adjustable lower tool 1 1 , an upper film is sealed onto the pack trough. In the sealing station also, the upper tool and/or the lower tool are lowered and raised before and after each film transport. The upper film 14, too, can be guided in transport means or be transported by transport chains, in which case these transport means extend only from the sealing station and, if necessary, downstream. Otherwise, the statements made about the transport means of the lower film apply. In the further course of the packaging machine, the finished packs are also separated, which is realized with the cutting tool 18.

Figure 3 shows the folding station 15 which is provided between the filling- and the sealing station. The lower film web moves, here from the right to the left as depicted by arrow 20. As already mentioned above, the movement is preferably intermittend. The folding station comprises folding means 10, which turn the flap 5 ^' of the L-board during movement of the lower film web 8. The folding means are described in more detail according to Figure 4. As can be seen, one folding means 10 is provided per row of troughs. Also one hold down means 17 is provided per row of troughs. As can be particularly seen from the lower drawing of figure 1 , the folding means engage with the front end of the flap and during the movement of the lower film web, the flap is then turned clockwise. Each folding means 10 is provided adjustable at a beam 21 , so that the position at which the flap is turned, can be determined. In the depicted embodiment, the folding means 10 is provided at the outlet of the turning station, However, the folding means 10 can also be further moved to the right. The height, here the vertical distance between the plane in which the film web 8 moves and the hold down means, of the hold down means 17 can also be adjusted. Preferably, during turning of the flap, the hold down means are slightly lifted. According to the present invention, the hold down means is a flexible band, here a rubber band, which slightly stretches elastically, during folding of the flap. Figure 4 shows the folding means, which are, in the present example, provided as a lever 22, which is connected to a horizontal axis which turns around a pivot 23. One lever is provided per row of troughs. The folding means has an opening 25 into which the beam 21 is inserted so that the position of the folding means can be adjusted. At the tip of each beam, a roller is provided, which engages with the tip of the flap, when the film web 8 advances. During the rotation of the flap, the lever is lifted, until the roller disengages with the tip of the flap an then, the lever falls back into its initial position by virtue of gravity.

Reference symbol list:

1 packaging machine

2 deep-drawing station

3 upper tool of the deep-drawing station

4 lower tool of the deep-drawing station

5 L-board

5 ^' base of the L-board

5 ^" flap

6 pack trough

7 filling station

8 lower film web

9 lifting device

10 folding means

1 1 lower tool of the sealing station

12 upper tool of the sealing station

13 lifting table

14 upper film

15 folding station

16 packaging item

17 hold-down means

18 cutting means

19 sealing station

20 direction of motion of the film

21 beam

22 lever

23 pivot

24 roller

25 fixation adjustment means

26 connecting means

27 cutting device