FILM UNWINDING AND FEEDING STATION

The film is automatically unwound from a single web of plastic material that is subsequently folded into a V-shape prior to entering the thermoforming area. The film is fed and conveyed through the machine as a continuous single strip by means of pneumatic grippers. An optic device is available to register the printing on both the front and the back of the monodose. The use of single folded webs also allows the production of stand-up monodose containers. The reel holding device is positioned in straight line.

THERMOFORMING AREA

After folding, the film strip enters the thermoforming area where the moulds are located on easily accessible balcony hinged supports that make servicing and change-over operations extremely simple and quick.
The thermoforming area consists of a double preheating station, one set of heated sealing moulds and one set of water-cooled thermoforming moulds.
The machine has a moulding width (and hence an advance pitch) of 160 mm, while the moulding height can vary from a minimum of 50 mm to a maximum of 120 mm, corresponding to a total web width of 100 mm to 240 mm.

THE FILLING UNIT

Once the cavities are thermoformed, the continuous strip reaches the filling area where a dedicated filling unit provides the dosing of the product inside the cavities. Different filling units are available according to product characteristics and to specific dosing requirements.

TOP SEALING STATIONS

After filling operations, the continuous strip is conveyed through a progressive sealing system that provides an accurate sealing and cooling of the containers filling neck. In the station, a dry coding system can be provided on the top or bottom side of the monodose.

BUFFER AND FINAL CUTTING STATION

Following the top neck sealing, the strip is conveyed through a buffering unit to the final cutting die. The buffer has special shaped wheels to ensure an accurate introduction of the strip into the final cutting die: it also compensates the difference in the pace of the machine advance (step-by-step) and of the cutting die (high speed).
The final cutting station can be fit with different dies to achieve different monodose configurations such as straight vertical cutting, individual contour cutting, multi-pack connected containers.

AVAILABLE OPTIONS

The TF-K monodose machine can be fit with a number of options to include jacketed tank for hot filling operations, one-side labelling system, dry coding / embossing system, ink-jet printing system.
Hygienic filling conditions for fresh products can also be met with the dedicated "Ultra-Clean Package" to include sterile air thermoforming and laminar flow with Hepa filter, inert gas flushing and magnetic filler.

PACKING MATERIALS

The TF-K monodose machine is a highly versatile machine suitable for a variety of different FOOD and NON-FOOD applications. For this reason, the TF-K monodose machine can use an extremely wide range of laminated and/or co-extruded packaging materials such as PS/PE, PA/PE, PET/PE, PVC/PE, PP with a thickness range between 100 and 600 microns. Special barrier materials such as EVOH or PVDC can also be used to improve barrier properties and to better preserve products characteristics.