Thermoforming machine for package control and making

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoforming machine for conditioning products ( 3 ) with packages ( 2 ) obtained from a film ( 22 ) and sealed by a welded film ( 25 ), wherein said machine ( 20 ) sequentially includes, in the direction (D) of the package transport carried out by conveying means ( 34 ): at least one conditioning station ( 5 ), a welding station ( 24 ), a marking station ( 6 ) and a package degrouping station ( 27 ). According to the invention, a viewing station ( 1 ) is provided between the welding station ( 24 ) and the marking station ( 6 ), the viewing station comprising means ( 31 ) for taking images of the packages and means ( 11 ) for piloting the marking station ( 6 ) in order to apply marks (M) on the packages ( 2 ) according to the respect or not of certain criteria; the invention is characterised in that the conveying means ( 34 ) carries out the grouped transportation of the packages ( 2 ) by the two longitudinal edges of the two superimposed films ( 22, 25 ).

1 . A blister-pack machine for the packaging of products ( 3 ) in packs ( 2 ) that are created from a film ( 22 ) and closed by a welded film ( 25 ), where the machine ( 20 ) successively includes, in the direction (D) of transportation of the packs led by the conveying means ( 34 ), at least one packaging station ( 5 ), one welding station ( 24 ), one marking station ( 6 ) and one pack separating station ( 27 ), characterised in that a viewing station ( 1 ) is placed between the welding station ( 24 ) and the marking station ( 6 ), with the viewing station including means ( 31 ) to take pictures of the pack, synchronised with the progression of the conveying means ( 34 ), and means ( 11 ) for controlling the marking station ( 6 ), so that after determining whether the packs are meeting the set criteria or not, the viewing station ( 1 ) commands the marking station ( 6 ) in order to place marks (M) onto the packs ( 2 ) according to compliance or not with the set criteria, and in that the conveying means ( 34 ) effect the grouped transportation of the packs ( 2 ) by the two longitudinal edges of the two superimposed films ( 22 ,  25 ). 
   
   
       2 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the viewing station ( 1 ) effects optical monitoring for an advancing group of packs at a given pitch according to the packaging of the products. 
   
   
       3 . A packaging machine according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the progression pitch of the machine is equal to a length that includes a series of packs ( 2 ). 
   
   
       4 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) effects the marking of at least the “best before” date, and of marks (M) showing compliance or not with the set criteria. 
   
   
       5 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) places onto the packs ( 2 ) marks (M) relating to one or more different categories, each corresponding to different criteria to be respected. 
   
   
       6 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) effects the marking onto the packs ( 2 ), for information purposes, of at least the “best before” dates, close to which it places the marks (M) indicating compliance or not with the set criteria. 
   
   
       7 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) places coded marks (M) that are not directly comprehensible in the absence of a table of correspondence between the said coded marks and compliance or not with the set criteria. 
   
   
       8 . A packaging machine according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) places, as the coded marks (M), lines of greater or lesser length. 
   
   
       9 . A packaging machine according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) places marks (M) that are directly comprehensible. 
   
   
       10 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the viewing station ( 1 ) performs an optical check on the packs ( 2 ) so as to determine whether the packs respect the set criteria or not, regarding evidence of tampering with the welds on the pack, the appearance of the product, the appearance of the pack, and/or the presence of the product within the pack. 
   
   
       11 . A packaging machine according to  claim 10 , characterised in that, at each forward step of the packs ( 2 ), the marking station ( 6 ) performs an optical check on the packs so as to attribute to each pack a code representing its position. 
   
   
       12 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the marking station ( 6 ) is followed by a station ( 7 ) for sorting the packs, based on the marks placed on the packs and according to compliance or not with the set criteria. 
   
   
       13 . A packaging machine according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the sorting station ( 7 ) includes means to take pictures of the packs, in order to detect at least the marks (M), the “best before” dates, and the position of the packs, with these picture-taking means then controlling a system for grasping the packs that is designed to place the good packs into a packing case, and to allow the bad packs to follow a processing track.