Contour cutting station for web packaging machine

Abstract

A cutting station is provided for separating a plurality of packages from a continuous chain of sealed packages formed on an indexing motion packaging machine. The cutting station includes a plurality of cutting blades configured in a nested arrangement to form closed curved contours for producing curved cuts in the continuous chain of sealed packages to form severed individual sealed packages having contours corresponding to the contours of the blades with a minimum of waste of the severed joined webs. A blade receiving plate is provided for receiving the severed sealed packages, and is mounted for movement relative to the cutting blades and formed with a plurality of recesses configured in a nesting arrangement of closed curved contours aligned with and corresponding in shape to the closed curved contours of the cutting blades.

1 . In an indexing motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of packaging material through a series of stations including a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the web, a loading station for placing a product in the pocket and a closing station for closing and joining the web with another web of packaging material so that the joined webs form a continuous chain of sealed packages, a cutting station for separating the continuous chain of sealed packages comprising:
 a plurality of cutting blades configured in a nested arrangement to form closed curved contours for producing curved cuts in the continuous chain of sealed packages to form severed individual sealed packages having contours corresponding to the contours of the blades with a minimum of waste of the severed joined webs; and   a blade receiving plate for receiving the severed sealed packages mounted for movement relative to the cutting blades and formed with a plurality of recesses configured in a nested arrangement of closed curved contours aligned with and corresponding in shape to the closed curved contours of the cutting blades.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting blades are formed with a kidney shaped contour. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cutting blades has an open crescent shape formed with a mouth, and at least another of the cutting blades has a closed kidney shape having a rear wall which is nested into the mouth of the at least one of the cutting blades. 
     
     
         4 . A cutting station for separating a plurality of packages from a continuous chain of sealed packages comprising:
 a cutting head having a top plate, a blade holder movably mounted relative to the top plate and formed with a plurality of cutting blades configured in a nested arrangement to form closed curved contours for providing curved cuts in the continuous chain of sealed packages, and an upper clamping plate for receiving the cutting blades; and   a lifting arrangement having a lower clamping plate mounted for movement relative to the upper clamping plate for clamping the continuous chain of sealed packages between the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate, the lower clamping plate being constructed to receive the cutting blades such that the cutting blades cut through the continuous chain of sealed packages to form severed individual sealed packages having contours corresponding to the contours of the blades, the lower clamping plate being formed with a plurality of recesses configured in a nested arrangement of closed curved contours continuously aligned with and corresponding in shape to the closed curved contours of the cutting blades for receiving the severed sealed packages.   
     
     
         5 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein the top plate includes a plurality of cylinders, and a fluid valve for providing a source of pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting station of  claim 5 , wherein a bladder is provided between the top plate and the blade holder, and is in fluid communication with the fluid valve and the pressurized fluid to selectively cause movement of the blades relative to the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting station of  claim 5 , wherein the upper clamping plate includes a plurality of internal clamping plates surrounded by the cutting blades and connected with fixed portions of the cylinders. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting station of  claim 7 , wherein extractor plates are provided on the bottom surfaces of the internal clamping plates and are connected to movable rods of the cylinders such that the extractor plates push the severed sealed packages through the recesses of the lower clamping plate. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting station of  claim 7 , wherein the internal clamping plates are provided with gaskets engageable with the continuous chain of sealed packages. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein the upper clamping plate is fixed relative to the top plate. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein the cutting blades and the recesses are formed with a kidney-shaped contour. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the cutting blades has an open crescent shape formed with a mouth, and at least another of the cutting blades has a closed kidney shape having a rear wall which is nested into the mouth of the at least one of the cutting blades. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein the cutting blades have cutting edges that are movable into and out of blade receiving grooves formed in the lower clamping plate. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein spring biased devices are provided between the top plate and the blade holder. 
     
     
         15 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein the upper clamping plate is suspended on rods from the blade holder. 
     
     
         16 . The cutting station of  claim 4 , wherein the lower clamping plate is joined to a pair of sidewalls which are interconnected by a bed adapted to carry a conveyor for receiving the severed sealed packages. 
     
     
         17 . The cutting station of  claim 16 , wherein the lower clamping plate, the pair of sidewalls, and the bed are movable along the lifting arrangement defined by a four post structure adapted to be fixed within a frame of a packaging machine. 
     
     
         18 . A method of producing a plurality of severed individual contour cut packages from a continuous chain of sealed packages comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a cutting head having a top plate, a blade holder movably mounted relative to the top plate and formed with a plurality of cutting blades configured in a nested arrangement to form closed curved contours for providing curved cuts in the chain of sealed packages and an upper clamping plate configured to receive the cutting blades and fixed to the top plate;   b) providing a lifting arrangement having a lower clamping plate mounted for movement between an open position and a closed position relative to the upper clamping plate, the lower clamping plate being formed with a plurality of recesses configured in a nested arrangement of closed curved contours continuously aligned with and corresponding in shape to the closed curved contours of the cutting blades, the lower clamping plate also being formed with blade receiving grooves located outwardly of the recesses;   c) positioning the continuous chain of sealed packages between the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate in the open position;   d) moving the lower clamping plate to the closed position to clamp the chain of sealed packages between the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate such that the sealed packages are received in the recesses;   e) moving the cutting blades through the upper clamping plate into the blade receiving grooves of the lower clamping plate to sever the chain of sealed packages into severed individual sealed packages with the closed curved contours; and   f) forcing the severed individual sealed packages with the closed curved contours through the recesses of the lower clamping plate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cutting blades are formed with a kidney-shaped contour. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the cutting blades has an open crescent shape formed with a mouth, and at least another of the cutting blades has a closed kidney shape having a rear wall which is nested into the mouth of the at least one of the cutting blades.