Sealing station and method for its operation

Abstract

A sealing station for a packaging machine for sealing a foil on to a packaging tray is provided. The sealing station comprises a sealing tool whereby the sealing tool is configured to apply a sealing force for sealing on to the foil and the packaging tray. The sealing tool includes an upper tray holding fixture and a lower tray holding fixture that are arranged at different heights, whereby each is configured for holding at least one packaging tray.

1 . A sealing station for a packaging machine, adapted for sealing a foil on to a packaging tray, the sealing station comprising:
 a sealing tool including an upper tray holding fixture and lower tray holding fixture arranged at different heights and each being configured to hold at least one packaging tray;   wherein the sealing tool is configured to apply a sealing force on to the foil and the packaging tray.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing station of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing tool is configured to apply the sealing force simultaneously onto a packaging tray held in the upper tray holding fixture and a packaging tray held in the lower tray holding fixture. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing station of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing tool comprises an upper sealing plate and a lower sealing plate. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing station of  claim 3 , wherein the upper tray holding fixture and the lower sealing plate are movable in a coupled manner. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing station of  claim 1  further comprising a controllable force device for applying the sealing force. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing station of  claim 1  further comprising a device for registering the sealing force and for regulating the sealing force to a specific value. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing station of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing tool is configured to evacuate the packaging tray and/or to treat the packaging tray with gas. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing station of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and the lower tray holding fixtures can be moved by means of a lifting unit. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing station of  claim 1  further comprising a gripper system for loading and/or unloading the packaging tray into and/or out of one of the upper and lower tray holding fixtures. 
     
     
         10 . The sealing station of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing station is configured for incorporation with a packaging machine. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a sealing station, comprising the step of simultaneously applying a sealing force to at least one packaging tray located in an upper tray holding fixture and at least one packaging tray located in a lower tray holding fixture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a sealing tool is fed packaging trays in a second level after a first level of the sealing tool has received packaging trays. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and the second levels of the sealing tool are individually evacuated and/or treated with gas.