METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PENETRATING FILM-TYPE SUBSTRATES

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF POUR PERCER DES SUBSTRATS DE TYPE FILM

English Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for separating film layers (8),
which consist of different materials and are joined together in an air-tight
manner by adhesion, a material bond or similar forms of bonding, in a simple
manner. In this case, separation means that only one respective layer (18) is
pierced and raised by rotation by means of a screw-type thread (16), allowing
a gaseous medium, (e.g. air) or liquid medium, (e.g. water) medium to be
introduced into the gap that has been created between said layer and the
second film layer (17). The method and the device are characterised in that
they are simple and can be applied in any position on the film workpieces. No
additional openings, distances, valves or similar in the films therefore need
to be considered and no prior material treatment, (introduction of separation
elements) is required in order to subsequently fill bags that are produced in
this manner. Production costs are thus minimised, handling times are reduced
and material expenditure or the creation of composites by the introduction of
other materials is avoided.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif et un procédé permettant de séparer de manière simple des couches (8) de films de différentes matières assemblées de façon hermétique par adhérence, collage ou tout autre type d'assemblage. Cette opération de séparation consiste à percer une seule couche (18) et à la soulever au moyen d'un filetage hélicoïdal (16) par rotation, un fluide gazeux (p. ex. de l'air) ou liquide (p. ex. de l'eau) pouvant ensuite être introduit dans l'espace créé entre cette première couche et la deuxième couche (17) de film. Le procédé et le dispositif selon l'invention se caractérisent en ce qu'ils sont simples à utiliser et en ce qu'ils peuvent être appliqués à des pièces de film indépendamment de la position. Il n'est donc pas nécessaire de prendre en considération des ouvertures, des écartements ou des valves supplémentaires, ou similaire, dans les films, ni de prévoir de traitement de matériaux préalable (introduction d'agents de séparation) pour permettre un remplissage ultérieur des sachets produits de cette manière. L'invention permet ainsi de réduire les coûts de production et les temps de manutention et d'éviter des dépenses de matériaux ou la création de matériaux composites par introduction d'autres matériaux.

Claims

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Claims:
1. A method for penetrating film-type substrates (8) being
arranged air-proofed or tightly one above the other, wherein
only a desired number of foil layers is pierced by the defined
rotation of a cylindrical hollow body (3) through control of the
number of rotations and extent of the torque of at least one
cutting surface (14) of the helically terminating portion (12)
of the cylindrical hollow body.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a
gaseous or liquid medium is introduced between the foil layers
(17) and (18) through the specially inserted cylindrical hollow
body (3).
3. Device for penetrating film-type substrates (8) being
arranged air-proofed or tightly one above the other, comprising
a unilaterally helically designed, cylindrical hollow body (3),
wherein at least one cutting surface (14) of the helically
terminating portion (12) of the cylindrical hollow body is
designed to gradually pierce a foil (8) or (18), respectively,
by rotation on the same, so as to prevent any penetration into
the consecutive foil layer (17) at a defined stop of the rotary
movement.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that an
adaptation of the penetration behaviour to different materials
and material thicknesses is feasible by the angle of inclination
of the cutting surface (14).
5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the
distance of the individual foil layers (17) and (18) relative to
each other is determined during separation by the lead of the
thread (12) constituting the helical configuration.

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6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized
in that the degree of adherence of the individual foil layers
(18) to the cylindrical hollow body is determinable by
determining the dimension of the thread (12) constituting the
helical configuration.
7. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized
in that it is fixedly surrounded by a funnel-shaped part (4)
through which the surrounding atmosphere can be sucked (5) in a
manner that the foil layers (8) applied on the helically
designed, cylindrical hollow body are sucked in by vacuum and
thereby placed into a defined avid immovable position relative to
the cutting surfaces (14) forming the end of the helically
designed, cylindrical hollow body (3).
8. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized
in that it is connected with a cushioning part located opposite
the cutting surfaces (14) forming the end of the helically
designed, cylindrical hollow body, in a manner that said
cushioning part places the foil layers in a defined and
immovable position relative to the cutting surfaces (14) forming
the end of the helically designed, cylindrical hollow body (3).
9. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized
in that it comprises an internally arranged, second,
unilaterally closed hollow cylinder, wherein said second hollow
cylinder determines the exit opening for the gaseous or liquid
medium between the separated foil layers by changes in position.
10. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized
in that at least one opening (13) opens near the cutting surface
(14) or along the thread (12) being in communication with the
interior of the cylindrical hollow body (3).

Description

CA 02502812 2005-04-19
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METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PENETRATING FILM-TYPE SUBSTRATES
The invention relates to a method and device for inflating,
separating and/or filling tightly adjacent foil layers without
having to use additional auxiliary means, such as valves,
devices, funnels or the like.
The invention relates to in particular to a method and a device
for penetrating foil-like or fi:Lm-type substrates being arranged
air-proofed or tightly one above the other.
To fill tightly adjacent foils or bags, devices are usually
employed, in which the individual layers are either mechanically
separated (torn apart), wherein further cannules or the like for
filling are inserted in the separated layers only afterwards, or
cannules, nozzles or the like are tried to be inserted or
pricked between the foil layers by complex and sensitive manual
operations.
Another method frequently applied would consist in inserting
valves, filling openings or spacers into the foils to be
confectioned on appropriate sites in previous manufacturing
steps in order to subsequent:Ly enable suitable cannules or
nozzles to be connected to the thus prepared sites for the
filling procedure. Yet, accordingly high expenditures in terms
of material, time and costs would have to be taken into account
in all those processes and automation processes would be
accordingly more complex and demanding. Likewise, foils upgraded
by additional functions (e.g., valves or filling openings) in
most cases are comprised of thus formed composite materials and
hence require cumbersome operating techniques for the
appropriate disposal of such materials.

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The invention aims at providing a method and device for filling
foil bags, and separating tightly adjacent foil layers, by a
method and device simple to handle, which is not very demanding
on the foil either.
For solving this object there is provided a method for
penetrating film-type substrates being arranged air-proofed or
tightly one above the other, wherein only a desired number of
foil layers is pierced by the defined rotation of a cylindrical
hollow body through control of the number of rotations and
extent of the torque of at least one cutting surface of the
helically terminating portion of the cylindrical hollow body.
According to the invention the foils to be separated, or the bag
to be filled, are guided to the end comprising the cutting
surfaces, of the unilaterally helically designed, cylindrical
hollow body. As opposed to conventional methods including
special filling openings, no exact positioning on the workpiece
foil is required here. Rather are the foils applied at the
cutting surfaces of the helically designed, cylindrical hollow
body, and fixed in their positions, either by sucking in through
the funnel surrounding the cylindrical hollow body or by
pressing with a cushioned surface according to preferred
embodiments of the invention. After this, the cylindrical hollow
body is set in a controlled and defined rotary movement, thus
causing the cutting surface constituting the end of the
helically designed, cylindrical hollow body to initially
punctually roughen the foil by friction in order to be able to
subsequently seize the foil by the tip of the cutting surface,
due to the provided roughness o:f the foil surface, and penetrate
the foil at a further rotary me>vement . In doing so, the foil is
circularly opened by the cutting surface extending perpendicular
to the first-mentioned cutting surface and, due to the threaded
structure of the cylindrical hollow body, the tip is further

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rotated between the foil layers and/or due to said threaded
structure, is lifted along the lead of the threaded structure.
When parametrizing (number of rotations, speed and torque) the
drive of the cylindrical hollovr body, both material strengths,
material properties and the number of foil layers to be
separated can be taken into account.
For allowing an easy filling there is furthermore proposed
according to a preferred embodiment that a gaseous or liquid
medium is introduced between the foil layers and through the
specially inserted cylindrical hollow body.
For solving the above object there is also provided a device for
penetrating film-type substrates being arranged air-proofed or
tightly one above the other, cornprising a unilaterally helically
designed, cylindrical hollow body, wherein at least one cutting
surface of the helically terminating portion of the cylindrical
hollow body is designed to gradually pierce a foil or,
respectively, by rotation on t:he same, so as to prevent any
penetration into the consecutive: foil layer at a defined stop of
the rotary movement.
According to the invention a rotationally mounted and
accordingly driven tubular hollow cylinder is used, which is
helically des~:gned on one side. The runout end of this helical
hollow cylinder is provided for example with two cutting
surfaces arranged perpendicular- to each other and converging
into a tip by extending towards each other and following the
circumference of the hollow c~rlinder. The functions of these
cutting surfaces are divided in a manner that the cutting
surface crucial for the beginning of the process, which is
arranged largely perpendicular to the bore axis of the hollow
cylinder, is responsible for the roughening and incipient cut of
the material to be penetrated. The cutting edge of this cutting

~
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surface is thus ground to terminate towards the end only on one
side, too. The second cutting surface, which extends
perpendicularly to the former (hence parallel to the bore axis
of the hollow cylinder) is subsequently responsible for making a
cut that extends circularly in correspondence with the
circumference of the hollow cylinder. The converging tip formed
by the two cutting surfaces, in turn, is designed such that the
foil surface roughened by the cutting surface extending
perpendicular to the bore axis can be seized, thus enabling the
tip to penetrate the foil material at a very flat angle. An
angular deviation of the first cutting surface, based on the
perpendicular line relative to the bore axis of the hollow
cylinder, is decisive for the roughening or penetration
behaviour. The more obtuse said angle, based on the
perpendicular line relative to the bore axis, the more
aggressive the penetration of the foils by the helically
designed hollow cylinder, thus :involving the risk of penetrating
or hurting also the second foil layer arranged immediately
below. Such constellations wil_L, therefore, be used only with
resistant and thicker foil materials.
An easy adaptation to different materials and material
thicknesses is feasible by the angle of inclination of the
cutting surface according to a preferred embodiment of the
inventive device.
For an easy determination of the distance of individual foil
layers relative to each other it is preferably proposed that
such distance is determined during separation by the lead of the
thread constituting the helical configuration.
In many cases the degree of adherence of an individual foil
layer has to be taken into <~ccount. In this context it is
furthermore preferably proposed that the degree of adherence of

CA 02502812 2005-04-19
the individual foil layers to the cylindrical hollow body is
determined by determining t:he dimension of the thread
constituting the helical configuration.
For allowing a secure positioning of the inventive device when
penetrating at least one foil layer it is furthermore preferably
proposed that the hollow body is fixedly surrounded by a funnel-
shaped part through which the surrounding atmosphere can be
sucked in a manner that the foi:1 layers applied on the helically
designed, cylindrical hollow body are sucked in by vacuum and
thereby placed into a defined and immovable position relative to
the cutting surfaces forming the end of the helically designed,
cylindrical hollow body.
For enhancing the exact positioning as well as avoiding that an
excessive stress is applied in particular on any foil being
opposite to the foil to be pricked or penetrated there is
furthermore preferably proposed that the inventive device is
connectable with a cushioning part located opposite the cutting
surfaces forming the end of the helically designed, cylindrical
hollow body, in a manner that said cushioning part places the
foil layers in a defined and immovable position relative to the
cutting surfaces forming the end of the helically designed,
cylindrical hollow body.
Depending on the application envisaged, the opening formed by
filling may or must be closed again. This can be effected
independently in a further operating procedure by gluing,
welding or closing by means of a closure. Yet, these processes
may also be incorporated in the device and integrated in the
process in terms of control engineering.
The type and configuration of the device according to the
invention as well as the course of procedure according to the

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invention are definitely suitable to be integrated in a simple
appliance operable by hand so as to provide a user-friendly and
mobile apparatus for the flexible filling of foil bags or for
separating foil layers.
Furthermore, the helical hollow cylinder can be devised in a
manner that several openings are provided within the pitches. In
this context it is proposed that at least one opening opens in
the vicinity of the cutting surf=ace or along the thread being in
communication with the interior of the cylindrical hollow body.
It is, thus, feasible to separate several foil layers from one
another in one operating procedure and, at the same time, to
fill a medium in between the layers. If theses bores are
differently free, or closed, by a tube running in the interior
of the hollow cylinder, also different filling levels or filling
media can be introduced in the individual layers. The simple
filling of two-layer foil bags is, thus, as readily feasible as
the rinsing, separation and ventilation of multi-layer flat
foils connected by adhesion or material bonding, aimed to ensure
optimized further processing of such foil blanks. In this
context it is preferably proposed that the device according to
the invention comprises an internally arranged, second,
unilaterally closed hollow cylinder, wherein said second hollow
cylinder determines the exit opening for the gaseous or liquid
medium between the separated foil layers by changes in position.
In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail
by way of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing.
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 depicts an assembled device according to the invention
for separating two-layer foils for realization of the method
according to the invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates the helically designed, cylindrical hollow
body of the device according to the invention; and

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Fig. 3 illustrates the helically designed, cylindrical hollow
body rotated into two foil layers.
In Fig. 1 it is shown how a helically designed, cylindrical
hollow body 3 of a device for penetrating or pricking foil-like
substrates is rotationally mounted in a housing 7 and driven by
a motor 1 via a flexible coupling 2. Vacuum can be generated by
means of the funnel 4 via the duct 5 so as to position and fix
foil layers 8 on the cutting surfaces 9 of the helically
designed, cylindrical hollow body 3. After separation of the
foil layers by the rotating helically designed, cylindrical
hollow body 3, a medium can be introduced between the foil
layers 8 through a duct 6 and via the bore 10.
In Fig. 2 there is shown the helically designed, cylindrical
hollow body 3, which may be coupled to a drive by means of the
shaft end 15 and, on the other hand, comprises a helically
designed end 12 terminating in the cutting surfaces 14. Gaseous
or liquid media can be introduced through the bore 13 including
the inlet opening 11.
In Fig. 3 there is shown how the helically designed, cylindrical
hollow body 3 is rotated into a bag comprised of two foil layers
17 and 18, so that the upper foil layer 18 is lifted by the
helically designed pitch 16 and separated from the second foil
layer 17.

Representative Drawing