Packaging system with sorting station

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a packaging system comprising a product feeder and a packaging machine, wherein a monitoring unit, which is arranged upstream of or along the product feeder, detects at least one characteristic of the products and transmits it to the control unit. Depending on the category of the packed products, a downstream sorting station sorts the packagings into collecting containers provided for them or onto conveyor belts provided for them. The disclosure also relates to a corresponding method for operating a packaging system.

1 . A packaging system comprising:
 a product feeder for feeding products;   a packaging machine provided with an infeed station arranged downstream of the product feeder for inserting the products into open package troughs, the packing machine further including a sealing station for sealing the package troughs to form packagings;   a sorting station;   a control unit that is configured to track the products in a direction of production along at least a portion of the packaging system; and   a monitoring unit arranged upstream of or along the product feeder for detecting at least one characteristic of the products and transmitting the at least one characteristic to the control unit;   wherein the sorting station is configured for sorting, depending on a category of the respective packed product, the packagings into collecting containers and/or onto conveyor belts.   
     
     
         2 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  further comprising a cutting unit upstream of the product feeder. 
     
     
         3 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  wherein the packaging machine comprises a thermoform packaging machine or a tray sealer. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  further comprising a unit for placing an insert into a respective open package trough prior to insertion of a respective product into the respective open package trough, or below the respective product on the product feeder. 
     
     
         5 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  further comprising a labeller for applying labels to the packagings such that each label depends on the category of the respective product in the respective packaging. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  wherein the sorting station comprises at least two collecting containers or conveyor belts for accommodating packagings depending on the category of the respective product and a reject container for sorting out empty or defective packagings. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  wherein the monitoring unit comprises a laser system, an X-ray system and/or a vision system. 
     
     
         8 . A packaging system according to  claim 1  wherein the control unit is configured to track the products from the product feeder to the sorting station. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a packaging system comprising a product feeder for supplying products, a packaging machine including an infeed station for inserting the products into package troughs and a sealing station for sealing the package troughs to form packagings, a sorting station for inserting the packagings into collecting containers or for placing them onto conveyor belts, and a control unit, the method comprising:
 tracing by the control unit the supplied products in a direction of production;   detecting by a monitoring unit, which is provided upstream of or along the product feeder, at least one characteristic of the products;   transmitting the at least one characteristic to the control unit; and   inserting, at the sorting station, the packagings and the products contained therein into the collecting containers or transferring the packagings onto the conveyor belts depending on categories of the products.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising cutting the products upstream of the product feeder by a cutting unit. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the packaging machine is a thermoform packaging machine or a tray sealer. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising placing by a unit an insert into a respective open package trough prior to insertion of a respective product into the respective open package trough, or below the respective product on the product feeder. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising applying labels to the packagings by a labeller, depending on the category of the respective product. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the monitoring unit detects the at least one characteristic of the products by means of a vision system, a laser system and/or an X-ray system. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the tracing is performed such that the products are traced from the product feeder up to the sorting station.