Apparatus for automated manufacturing of a foil sleeve from a foil section

Abstract

An apparatus for automated manufacturing of a foil sleeve from a foil section. The apparatus includes a cylindrical shaping pipe that is configured as two separate halves, whereby one half of the shaping pipe is movable perpendicular to the axis of the shaping pipe and the other shaping pipe half is stationary. A folding apparatus includes two folding sections that are movable to and from the shaping pipe. The folding sections are configured to independently surround at least a portion of the cylindrical shaping pipe. A stationary sealing apparatus is disposed within the shaping pipe together with a movable sealing apparatus disposed on the exterior of the shaping pipe collaborate to generate a longitudinal sealed seam for a foil sleeve. The stationary shaping pipe half can include with a recess that defines the location of the longitudinal sealed seam.

1 . An apparatus for automated manufacturing of a foil sleeve from a foil section, comprising:
 a cylindrical shaping pipe that contains a stationary shaping pipe half and a movable shaping pipe half that are mutually divided along an axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe, wherein the movable shaping pipe half is configured to move perpendicular to the axis of the shaping pipe;   a folding apparatus having two folding sections that are movable toward and away from the shaping pipe, and which folding sections are configured such that, independently of the other, each folding section can surround a portion of the cylindrical shaping pipe;   an immovable sealing jaw disposed within the shaping pipe;   and a movable sealing jaw disposed in a region exterior to the shaping pipe, wherein the movable and immovable sealing jaws are configured to collaborate to generate a longitudinal sealed seam for a foil sleeve,   wherein the stationary shaping pipe half is fitted includes a recess that defines the location of the longitudinal sealed seam.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding sections are folding claws. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding sections are areas of a folding curtain. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stationary and movable shaping pipe halves each include an integrated water cooling system. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable shaping pipe half is stabilized by a support during the sealing process. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claims 1 , wherein the immovable sealing jaw is stabilized by a movable support during the sealing process. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for manufacturing of a foil sleeve from a foil section, comprising:
 a cylindrical shaping pipe that contains a stationary shaping pipe half and a movable shaping pipe half whose mutual boundary lies along an axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe that are mutually divided along an axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe, wherein the movable shaping pipe half is configured to move perpendicular to the axis of the shaping pipe;   a folding apparatus having a first and a second folding section, wherein each folding section of the first and second folding sections is configured to surround at least a portion of the cylindrical shaping pipe independently of the other folding section;   a stationary sealing apparatus disposed within the cylindrical shaping pipe; and   a movable sealing apparatus disposed outside the cylindrical shaping pipe, wherein the stationary and the movable sealing apparatus are configured to cooperatively generate a longitudinal seam in the foil sleeve along the axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe,   wherein the cylindrical shaping pipe includes a recess that defines the longitudinal sealed seam.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the folding apparatus is configured to move toward and away from the shaping pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 ) further comprising a pedestal connected to the movable shaping pipe half, wherein the pedestal is configured to move along support rods in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical shaping pipe, wherein the movable shaping pipe half is configured to move inwardly or outwardly along the direction perpendicular to the cylindrical shaping pipe in accordance with differences in a foil sleeve diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and the second folding sections each comprises a folding claw that contains a set of curved fingers, wherein the folding claw is configured to rotate from an open to a closed position about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical shaping pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and the second folding sections each comprises a section of a folding curtain, wherein section of the folding curtain is coupled to a rigid portion that is configured to rotate from an open to a closed position about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical shaping pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the stationary and movable shaping pipe halves each include an integrated water cooling system. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the movable shaping pipe half is stabilized by a support during the sealing process. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claims 1 , wherein the stationary sealing apparatus is stabilized by a movable support during the sealing process. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for manufacturing of a foil sleeve from a foil section, comprising:
 a cylindrical shaping pipe that contains a stationary shaping pipe half and a movable shaping pipe half whose mutual boundary lies along an axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe that are mutually divided along an axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe;   a pedestal connected to the movable shaping pipe half wherein the pedestal is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical shaping pipe, wherein the movable shaping pipe half is configured to move inwardly or outwardly along the direction perpendicular to the cylindrical shaping pipe, whereby fine adjustments in a foil sleeve diameter can be made;   a folding apparatus having a first and a second folding section, wherein each folding section of the first and second folding sections is configured to surround at least a portion of the cylindrical shaping pipe independently of the other folding section;   a stationary sealing apparatus disposed within the cylindrical shaping pipe and configured to contact an end of the foil section; and   a movable sealing apparatus disposed outside the cylindrical shaping pipe, wherein the movable sealing apparatus is configured to rotate toward the stationary sealing apparatus while the movable and the stationary sealing apparatus are heated, wherein a longitudinal seam is generated in the foil sleeve along the axial direction of the cylindrical shaping pipe.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the cylindrical shaping pipe includes a recess in the stationary shaping pipe half that defines the longitudinal sealed seam. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and the second folding sections each comprises a folding claw that contains a set of curved fingers, wherein the folding claw is configured to rotate from an open to a closed position about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical shaping pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and the second folding sections each comprises a section of a folding curtain, wherein section of the folding curtain is coupled to a rigid portion that is configured to rotate from an open to a closed position about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical shaping pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the stationary and movable shaping pipe halves each include an integrated water cooling system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the folding apparatus is configured to move toward and away from the shaping pipe.