Clipping Tool Arrangement Having Linearly Movable Closure Tool and Die

Abstract

The invention relates to a clipping tool assembly for closing a closure clip comprising: a first closing tool and a die for applying the clip at a plait-like portion of a packaging; a die drive for reversibly moving the die linearly along a die axis; a tool drive for reversibly moving the first closing tool linearly along a closing axis; wherein the clipping tool assembly is configured to close the clip at the plait-like portion when the first closing tool is moved towards the die; and wherein the die axis and the closing axis intersect each other in the closing region. The invention further relates to packaging machine having such a clipping tool assembly and to the use of a clipping tool assembly.

1 . A clipping tool assembly for closing at least one closure means, like a closure clip, in a packaging machine for closing tubular or bag-shaped packagings containing filling, in particular an incoherent filling like fruit or vegetables, the clipping tool assembly comprising:
 a first closing tool and a die for applying the at least one closure means at a plait-like portion of a packaging, the plait-like portion extending through a closing region of the clipping tool assembly along a filling axis;   a die drive for reversibly moving the die linearly along a die axis between a neutral position and an engagement position in the closing region;   a tool drive for reversibly moving the first closing tool linearly along a closing axis from an open position to a closing position in the closing region;   wherein when the die is in the engagement position, the clipping tool assembly is configured to close the at least one closure means at the plait-like portion of the packaging when the first closing tool is moved towards the die; and   wherein the die axis and the closing axis intersect each other in the closing region.   
     
     
         2 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the die axis intersects the closing axis at an axis angle in a range of 70° to 90°, wherein preferably the die axis is perpendicular to the closing axis. 
     
     
         3 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling at least the die drive and the tool drive, wherein the controller is configured to control the die drive and the tool drive such that a movement of the die between the neutral position and the engagement position and of the first closing tool between the open position and the closing position is at least partially sequential, wherein
 the controller is preferably configured to control the die drive and the tool drive such that the movement of the first closing tool towards the die is started after the die has reached the engagement position.   
     
     
         4 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising gathering means for forming the plait-like portion of the packaging, the gathering means comprising a first gathering tool and a second gathering tool, wherein the first gathering tool is movable towards the second gathering tool along a gathering axis for gathering packaging material and forming the plait-like portion of the packaging, and
 wherein the first gathering tool and the second gathering tool preferably each comprise a sloped inner gathering contour, wherein the sloped inner gathering contour of the first gathering tool and the second gathering tool slope in opposite directions, wherein   preferably the gathering axis is parallel to the closing axis.   
     
     
         5 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling axis is perpendicular to the closing axis and/or the die axis. 
     
     
         6 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a die holder for holding the die, wherein the die holder and the die are jointly movable along the die axis, and wherein preferably the die is at least partially received in the die holder. 
     
     
         7 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising a support for supporting the die holder when the die is in the engagement position,
 wherein the support preferably comprises a support pin and the die holder preferably comprises a receiving cavity, wherein the support pin engages the receiving cavity when the die is in the engagement position.   
     
     
         8 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein viewed along the filling axis the die holder is substantially u-shaped,
 wherein the u-shaped die holder is preferably configured to surround the plait-like portion extending through the closing region when the die is in the engagement position.   
     
     
         9 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein a support leg of the u-shaped die holder is supported by at least one guide rail on a tool side of the closing region opposite the gathering side,
 wherein a thickness of the support leg of the die holder along the filling axis is smaller than a thickness of a die leg of the u-shaped die holder, such that the first closing tool can pass the support leg when being moved towards the closing position and engage the die at least partially received in the die leg for closing the closure means.   
     
     
         10 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second closing tool for closing a second closure means, the second closing tool being movable from the open position to the closing position, and a second die, wherein the first closing tool engages the first die for closing the first closure means and wherein the second closing tool engages the second die for closing the second closure means,
 wherein preferably the first die is provided on a first die leg of a die holder and the second die is provided on a second die leg of the die holder spaced from the first die leg along the filling axis.   
     
     
         11 . The clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cutting means for cutting the packaging at the plait-like portion,
 wherein the cutting means is movable along a cutting axis that is parallel to the die axis.   
     
     
         12 . The clipping tool assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pusher means for pushing the closure means just closed out of the die, wherein the pusher means preferably is a pneumatic pusher means,
 wherein the pneumatic pusher means preferably comprises a pusher channel at least partially extending through the die and opening to a die surface of the die, wherein the pusher channel is coupled to a pressure source, and wherein the pneumatic pusher means is configured to discharge pressurized air out of the pusher channel for urging the closure means just closed out of the die,   wherein the pusher means preferably comprises at least one flexible pressure line forming at least part of a fluid connection between the pusher channel and the pressure source, wherein the flexible pressure line is configured to compensate the movement of the die from the neutral position to the engagement position, wherein the pressure line preferably has slack when the die is in the neutral position and is preferably substantially taut when the die is in the engagement position.   
     
     
         13 . A packaging machine for producing filled tubular or bag-shaped packagings, by inserting a filling, in particular an incoherent filling like fruit or vegetables, into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging and closing said packaging by a closure means, like a closure clip, the clipping machine comprising a clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1  for use in a packaging machine for closing tubular or bag-shaped packagings by at least one closure means, like a closure clip. 
     
     
         15 . Method for at least partially closing at least one packaging with a closure means using a clipping tool assembly, preferably a clipping tool assembly according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps:
 gathering a portion of a packaging material to form a plait-like portion of the packaging in a closing region of the clipping tool assembly;   linearly moving a die of the clipping tool assembly along a die axis from a neutral position, in which the position of the die allows the plait-like portion to be positioned in the closing region, to an engagement position of the die in the closing region;   providing at least one closure means, preferably a closure clip, to the clipping tool assembly;   linearly moving a first clipping tool of the clipping tool assembly towards the die along a closing axis from an open position to a closing position in the closing region for applying the at least one closure means to the plait-like portion;   wherein the die axis and the closure axis intersect each other in the closing region, and   wherein the die and the first closing tool are preferably moved at least partially sequential, wherein particularly preferred the movement of the first closing tool along the closing axis is started after the die has reached the engagement position.