Packaging machine with several heater elements

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a packaging machine and a method, in particular for an intermittently operating deep-draw packaging machine, which has at least one heating surface with a plurality of heater elements, which can be individually controlled by a controller in order to heat a film to different temperature levels. The heater elements are formed as thick-film heater elements

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging machine comprising:
 a moulding station having at least one heating surface with a plurality of heater elements per heating surface; and   a controller configured to individually control the heater elements in order to bring different regions of a film to different temperature levels;   wherein the heater elements are formed as thick-film heater elements.   
     
     
         2 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one heating surface is configured as a heating plate, a stamp and/or surfaces of a moulding cavity. 
     
     
         3 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein the heater elements are integrated into a common heating plate or heating mat. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein that at least one heating surface comprises two mutually facing heating surfaces, and wherein the heater elements arranged on one heating surface are mirrored with the heater elements on the other heating surface. 
     
     
         5 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one heating surface comprises a plurality of heating surfaces that can be heated independently of one another. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein the moulding station is configured to perform a moulding process on the film, and wherein the at least one heating surface is coolable during the moulding process. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein the packaging machine is implemented as a deep-draw packaging machine with an intermittent operational cycle. 
     
     
         8 . A packaging machine according to  claim 1  wherein the film is a plastic film. 
     
     
         9 . A method for an intermittently operating a deep-draw packaging machine with a moulding station, the method comprising:
 feeding a film into the moulding station, wherein the moulding station comprises at least one heating surface with a plurality of heater elements formed as thick-film heater elements, wherein the heater elements are controllable individually by a controller in order to heat the film to different temperature levels;   closing the moulding station to create a tightly closed chamber;   controlling the heater elements with the controller for a spatially inhomogeneous temperature distribution in the film;   positioning the film on the heater elements;   switching off the heater elements after reaching the different temperature levels in the film;   deforming the film in a mould tool part of the moulding station;   cooling the film in a stable and no longer plastically deformable temperature range;   opening the moulding station; and   removing the deformed film from the moulding station.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the at least one heating surface comprises at least two mutually facing heating surfaces on which the heater elements are in each case mirrored with respect to one another, wherein in each case two mutually facing heater elements are operated together on the oppositely situated heating surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  9  wherein the at least one heating surface comprises a plurality of heating surfaces, of which at a point in time only one is heated at least progressively.