Welding device and method for welding an outlet element to a packaging material
A welding device ( 10 a; 10 b ) for welding an outlet element ( 12 a; 12 b ) to a packaging material ( 14 a; 14 b ) has at least one anvil ( 16 a; 16 b ) comprising at least one receiving region ( 18 a; 18 b ) for receiving the outlet element ( 12 a; 12 b ) that is to be welded, has a holding element ( 20 a; 20 b ) which the anvil ( 16 a; 16 b ) is arranged on, and at least one welding die ( 22 a; 22 b ), in particular a sonotrode, which is configured to interact with the anvil ( 16 a; 16 b ) for a welding of the outlet element ( 12 a; 12 b ) to the packaging material ( 14 a; 14 b ), wherein the welding device ( 10 a; 10 b ) comprises at least one support unit ( 24 a; 24 b ) for supporting the anvil ( 16 a; 16 b ), comprising at least one movably supported support element ( 26 a; 26 b ), which is configured to exert a holding force onto the anvil ( 16 a; 16 b ) in a welding operation state of the welding die ( 22 a; 22 b ).
1. A welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) for welding an outlet element ( 12 a ; 12 b ) to a packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ), the welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) comprising:
at least one anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) including at least one receiving region ( 18 a ; 18 b ) for receiving the outlet element ( 12 a ; 12 b ) that is to be welded;
a holding element ( 20 a ; 20 b ) on which the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is arranged;
at least one welding die ( 22 a ; 22 b ), which is configured to interact with the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) to weld the outlet element ( 12 a ; 12 b ) to the packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ); and
at least one support unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) for supporting the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ), the support unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) including at least one movably supported support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ), which is configured to exert a holding force onto the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) when the welding die ( 22 a ; 22 b ) is in a welding operation state,
wherein the movably supported support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) has a movement axis ( 72 a ; 72 b ) along which the movably supported support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) is movable relative to the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ).
2. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , wherein the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is supported movably on the holding element ( 20 a ; 20 b ) and can be subjected to a holding force toward the welding die ( 22 a ; 22 b ) by the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ).
3. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder ( 28 a ; 28 b ), a pneumatic cylinder ( 30 a ; 40 b ), or a servo drive ( 32 a ; 32 b ), for moving the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ).
4. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , wherein the support unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) is arranged relative to the holding element ( 20 a ; 20 b ) in such a way that the packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ) is arrangeable between the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) and the holding element ( 20 a ; 20 b ).
5. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , wherein the anvil ( 16 a;
16 b ) comprises an anvil support surface ( 34 a ; 34 b ), which is at least configured to interact with the support element ( 24 a ; 24 b ) for a support of the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ), wherein a maximum extent of the anvil support surface ( 34 a ; 34 b ) is larger than a maximum extent of the receiving region ( 18 a ; 18 b ) of the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ).
6. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , comprising at least one punching unit ( 36 b ), which is at least configured for introducing a perforation into the packaging material ( 14 b ), wherein the punching unit ( 36 b ) is arranged at least partly on the welding die ( 22 b ).
7. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , wherein the least one welding die ( 22 a ; 22 b ) is a sonotrode.
8. The welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 , wherein the movably supported support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) is positioned on a first side of the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) and the welding die ( 22 a ; 22 b ) is positioned on a second side of the anvil opposite the first side.
9. A packaging machine ( 50 a ; 50 b ) for a production of packagings from a packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ) with an outlet element ( 12 a ; 12 b ), the packaging machine ( 50 a ; 50 b ) comprising a welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 .
10. A method comprising:
welding an outlet element ( 12 a ; 12 b ) to a packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ) utilizing a welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) according to claim 1 .
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising arranging the packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ) between the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) of the welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ) and the support unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) of the welding device ( 10 a ; 10 b ).
12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising moving the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) and the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) of the support unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) relative to one another.
13. The method according to claim 10 , during the welding of the outlet element ( 12 a ; 12 b ) to the packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ), the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is supported by the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ), and the packaging material ( 14 a ; 14 b ) is arranged between the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) and the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ).
14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising severing a contiguous train of outlet elements ( 12 a ; 12 b ) by an interaction of the support element ( 26 a ; 26 b ) with the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ).
15. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising introducing a perforation into the packaging material ( 14 b ).
16. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising moving the anvil ( 16 a ; 16 b ) into an outlet element feeding position.