EP0043403B1 - Device for arranged transfer of successively advanced objects or groups of objects - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A device for the orderly transfer to a processing station of objects of groups of objects (7) fed to the device in spaced succession, comprising transport means (1) conveying the objects individually or in groups along the feeding direction into a transfer station (8), the transport means (1) being followed at the transfer station by a swing mechanism (9) which operates in synchronism with the arrival of the objects or groups of objects (7), to which individual objects or groups of objects (7) can be fed by a pusher element (16) of a pusher device (14) operating in strict synchronism with the movement of the swing mechanism (9), and by which the individual objects or groups of objects (7) can be picked up by means of a pick-up element (13) in the receiving position and then pivoted upwardly by 90 degrees into a transfer position, and comprising further an ejector device (21) which is driven in strict synchronism with the movement of the swing device (9) and by which the objects or groups of objects (7) can be ejected from the pick-up element (13) of the swing device (9) in the transfer position in a charging direction for the processing station, characterized in that the transport means (1) comprises a continuously running conveyor element (3) provided with pairs of carrier elements arranged at a fixed spacing relative to each other and carrying between them one object or group of objects (7) each, that the pick-up element takes the form of a receiving cup (13) which is open on two sides and exhibits a substantially U-shaped cross-section and which in its receiving position is arranged laterally of the transport means (1), that the pusher device (14) of the swing device (9) is provided on the side of the transport device (1) opposite the receiving cup, and that the pusher part (16) moves at high speed, the spacing between the carrier elements (4) of each pair of carriers and the dimensions of the pusher element (16) being selected in such a manner that when the pusher element (16) occupies the position between the carrier elements (4), the latter can perform a lateral movement permitting the pusher element (16) to perform its reciprocating movement.

Description

The invention relates to a device for the orderly transfer of objects or groups of objects brought up successively in a predetermined transport direction at intervals to a further processing station, with a transport device transporting the objects individually or in groups in the transport direction into a transfer station, which in the transfer station receives one of the objects in time or object groups working swivel device is subordinate to which the individual objects or object groups can be fed to a push-in device by means of a push-in part which works in a clocked manner depending on the movement of the swivel device and through which the individually supplied objects or object groups can be gripped and rotated by means of a receiving part in a receiving position Can be swiveled up 90 ° into a transfer position, as well as with a fixed, cyclical dependence on the movement of the shear pivoting device driven ejection device through which the objects or groups of objects standing in the transfer position can be ejected from the receiving part of the swivel device in an input direction for the further processing station.

A device with these features, which is used in particular for packaging diapers or the like, is known (DE-A-27 49 424). In this device, diaper stacks are successively pushed in a lateral direction by a slide forming the transport device onto a platform of the swivel device which has receiving parts in the form of drivers which are arranged at intervals on a conveyor which passes through a vertical and a horizontal path section. The diaper stack lying on the platform in each case is gripped by a driver passing through slots in the platform, transported upwards along the vertical track section and then placed upright at the transition to the horizontal track section, whereupon it is brought into contact with a movable stop and the driver is disengaged is lowered with the stack. The stack lying against the stop is then - if appropriate together with a stack subsequently delivered - pushed in by the ejection device in the form of a slide into a carton arranged at the further processing station. The transport of the diaper stacks into the transfer station and the task of the stacks on the platform of the swivel device by means of sliders imposes a restriction on the maximum possible working speed, because the diaper stacks not only have to be deflected several times, but have to be temporarily stopped and then accelerated again.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a transfer device which allows a high operating speed to be achieved with great operational reliability.

To achieve this object, the device mentioned at the outset is characterized according to the invention in that the transport device has a continuously circulating conveying means which carries drivers arranged in pairs at fixed mutual intervals, between each of which an object or group of objects is held, that the receiving part as two opposite Edge sides of open receptacles of substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape is formed, which is in the receiving position laterally next to the transport device, that the push-in device of the swivel device is arranged opposite on the other side of the transport device and that the push-in part is moved quickly and the distances of the drivers each Driver pair and the dimensions of the push-in part are selected such that the drivers with a push-in part inserted between them allows the reciprocating stroke movement of the push-in part laterally I can make movement.

The continuously rotating conveying means of the transport device allows a high working speed to be achieved because the objects or groups of objects are pushed into the receiving cup in the receiving position by the pushing-in device as the conveying means continues. Soft objects, such as sanitary napkins, are slightly compressed at the same time. The movement of the push-in part is so fast that with the selected distance of the drivers of each driver pair and the selected dimensions of the push-in part, a hindrance to the transport movement of the drivers due to the push-in process is excluded.

The receptacle can have at least one suction opening for the object or group of objects introduced therein, the suction opening being connected to a vacuum source. In this way, it is possible to suck the object or the group of objects firmly into the receiving cup during the reception and thus to grip them in a particularly gentle manner.

In order to avoid, in particular in the case of soft or very narrow objects, that the catches jam with the push-in part, it is advantageous if the catches of each pair of catches have guides on their inside which extend transversely to the transport direction and into which guide parts present on the push-in part engage. Depending on the type of objects to be processed, the push-in part can have a push-in surface, in the area of which the guide parts are arranged. In Similarly, the receptacle can carry longitudinal guides on the inside in the region of its opposite side walls, in which guide parts of the ejection device engage. These guides and guide parts can be formed by interacting guide grooves and guide lugs.

It is also advantageous if the device has an input channel which receives the objects or groups of objects and which is arranged next to the pivoted-up receiving cup and runs in the input direction, in which the objects are then fed in the form of a row to the entrance of the further processing machine.

In the case of a very high working speed of the production machine and a correspondingly high conveying speed of the transport device, precautions must be taken to ensure that sufficient time is nevertheless available for the pushing-in process in the transfer station. For this purpose, the conveying means can be driven at a non-uniform speed, the driver pairs being moved at a lower speed during their passage through the transfer station. In a practical embodiment, this non-uniform drive of the conveying means can take place, for example, via an elliptical gear.

• Figur 1 eine Vorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Figur 2 den in der Übergabestellung stehenden Aufnahmebecher der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 in einer Seitenansicht und
• Figur 3 ein in der Übergabestation stehendes Mitnehmerpaar der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 in einer Seitenansicht.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the object of the invention is shown schematically. Show it

• FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention in perspective,
• FIG. 2 shows the receiving cup of the device according to FIG. 1 in the transfer position in a side view and
• Figure 3 is a side view of a pair of drivers of the device of Figure 1 standing in the transfer station.

The transfer device shown in FIG. 1 has a transport device 1 which has a conveying means in the form of an endless belt or an endless chain 3 which is guided over a deflection pulley 2. On the chain 3, strip-like carriers 4, which are assigned to one another in pairs and which slide on a guideway 5, are fastened at fixed predetermined intervals.

The conveyor 3 is driven synchronously with a manufacturing machine, not shown, from which it transports object groups 7 in a transport direction indicated by an arrow 6, which in the present case consist of a predetermined number of sanitary napkins standing up on the end face of the guideway 5 and stacked flat against one another. Each group of objects 7 is frictionally held between a pair of drivers 4.

The groups of objects 7 are successively transported by the carriers 4 to a transfer station 8, in which a swivel device 9 is arranged laterally next to the transport device 1. The swivel device 9 has a swivel arm 12 which can be swiveled about a swivel axis 11 which is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 10 and which carries an accommodating cup 13 at the end. The receptacle 13 is essentially in the form of an open-edge channel section of U-shaped cross-sectional shape. It can be pivoted by the swivel arm 12 between the receiving position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and a transfer position, shown by dashed lines, rotated by 90 °.

The drive of the swivel device 9, which is not further illustrated, is inevitably coupled to the movement of the conveying means 3 in such a way that the swiveling of the swivel arm 12 and thus of the receiving container 13 takes place as a function of the driver pairs 4 arriving in the receiving station 8, as will be done in detail will be explained.

On the side of the transport device 1 which is opposite the receiving cup 13 in the receiving position, an insertion device 14 is arranged with an insertion part 16 which can be pushed in and out in the direction of the arrows 15 transversely to the transport direction 6. The push-in part 16 is a plunger which has a push-in plate 17 on the end face and which can be moved pneumatically or electromechanically and the stroke of which is dimensioned such that it can be advanced from the rest position shown in FIG. 1 to the edge of the side walls of the receiving cup 13 with its push-in plate 17 .

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the drivers 4 of a pair of drivers are each formed on their inside with guide grooves 18 running transversely to the transport direction 6 and thus in the direction of the arrows 15 of the push-in device 14, while the insertion plate 17 of the push-in device 14 laterally corresponds to guide lugs 19 wearing.

The dimensions of the insert plate 17 and the guide grooves 18 and the guide lugs 19 are chosen such that the drivers 4 can carry out a certain lateral movement when the insert plate 17 is inserted between them, which is sufficient for the insert plate 17 to carry out its reciprocating stroke movement without to run sideways to one of the drivers 4. The guide lugs 19 are so long that they protrude into the guide grooves when the insertion plate 17 is located between the drivers 4, i. H. overlap the inner contour of the pair of drivers 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangement is such that the drivers 4 are also provided on their outside with corresponding guide grooves 18a. In this way, object groups 7 can be held in succession between the carriers 4 without empty spaces.

In the by the dashed in the Transfer position swiveled up receiving cup 13 defined transfer plane is then arranged on the receiving cup 13, an input channel 20, which leads to a further processing machine, not shown, for example, a bag packing machine. In the direction of escape of the feed channel 20, an ejection device 21 is provided which has an ejection plunger 23 which can be moved back and forth in the direction of the arrows 22 and which is provided on the end face with two guide lugs 24 which, in the manner shown in FIG. 2, have longitudinal guide grooves 25 on the inside of the side walls 26 of the receiving cup 13 in the transfer position can engage.

Finally, the receptacle is formed in the area of its rear side with a slit-like suction opening 27, to which a suction channel 28 is connected, which leads to a vacuum source, not shown.

• Die von der Herstellungsmaschine zwischen jeweils ein Mitnehmerpaar eingefügten Gegenstandsgruppen 7 werden von dem Fördermittel 3 aufeinanderfolgend in die Übergabestation 8 eingeführt. Sowie ein Mitnehmerpaar 4 auf den in der Aufnahmestellung stehenden Aufnahmebecher 13 ausgerichtet ist, schiebt der in zwangsläufiger Abhängigkeit von der Bewegung des Fördermittels 3 gesteuerte Einschiebstößel 16 die Gegenstandsgruppe in den Aufnahmebecher 13 ein, wo sie über die Saugöffnung 27 festgesaugt wird. Da, wie bereits erläutert, die Führungsnasen 19 bei dieser Einschubbewegung die Berandung der Führungsnuten 18 der Mitnehmer 4 überdecken, können sich seitlich keine Gegenstände verklemmen, während andererseits die Mitnehmer wegen des vorhandenen seitlichen Spiels ihre Transportbewegung fortsetzen können.
• Bei hoher Transportgeschwindigkeit der Transportvorrichtung 1 kann die Anordnung auch derart getroffen sein, daß das Fördermittel 3 beispielsweise von einem Ellipsengetriebe mit ungleichförmiger Geschwindigkeit angetrieben ist, derart, daß die Mitnehmerpaare 4 während ihres Durchganges durch die Übergabestation 8 mit geringerer Geschwindigkeit bewegt sind oder kurzzeitig verweilen, um dem Enschiebstößel 16 Gelegenheit zu geben, seinen Arbeitshub auszuführen, ohne seitlich an die Mitnehmer anzulaufen.
• Die in dem Aufnahmebecher 13 festgesaugte Gegenstandsgruppe 7 wird von der Schwenkvorrichtung 9 mit dem Aufnahmebecher 13 in die in Figur 1 gestrichelt dargestellte Übergabestellung überführt, in der der Aufnahmebecher 13 auf die Eingaberinne 20 ausgerichtet ist. Sowie der Aufnahmebecher 13 diese Stellung erreicht hat, schiebt der Ausstoßstößel 23 die in dem Aufnahmebecher 13 enthaltene Gegenstandsgruppe 7 in die Eingaberinne 20 ein. Damit bildet sich in der Eingaberinne 20 eine Reihe aufeinanderfolgender Gegenstandsgruppen 7, die der Weiterverarbeitungsmaschine zugeführt wird. Die in die Führungsnuten 25 des Aufnahmebechers 13 eingreifenden Führungsnasen 24 gewährleisten, daß beim Ausstoßen der Gegenstandsgruppe 7 aus dem Aufnahmebcher 13 auch die randseitig liegenden flachen Gegenstände einwandfrei mitgenommen werden.
• Die Synchronisation der Bewegungen der Ausstoßvorrichtung 21, der Schwenkvorrichtung 9 und der Einstoßvorrichtung 14 geschieht in an sich bekannter Weise abhängig von den verwendeten Bauelementen.
• Bei dem beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiel wird der Aufnahmebecher 13 zwischen der Aufnahmestellung und der Übergabestellung um einen Winkel von 90° verschwenkt, weil die Mitnehmer 4 und die Gegenstandsgruppen 7 vertikal angeordnet sind und die Eingaberinne 20 in einer Horizontalebene liegt.
• Es sind auch Ausführungsformen denkbar, bei denen der Verschwenkwinkel des Aufnahmebechers 13 einen von 90° abweichenden Wert aufweist. So gibt es z. B. Fälle, bei denen die Mitnehmer 4 gegenüber der Vertikalen zur Seite geneigt und paarweise miteinander durch eine Wand verbunden oder taschenartig ausgebildet sind, wobei durch die Neigung erreicht wird, daß die eingelegten Gegenstände unter Schwerkraftwirkung an der Verbindungswand oder auf dem Taschenboden gehalten sind. Der Aufnahmebecher nimmt unter diesen Umständen in der Übergabestation 8 eine Aufnahmestellung ein, in der er parallel zu den geneigten Mitnehmern ausgerichtet ist, was bedeutet, daß er gegenüber der Vertikalen ebenfalls entsprechend verschwenkt ist.
• In ähnlicher Weise kann auch die Übergabeebene, in der die Eingaberinne 20 verläuft, gegenüber der Horizontalen geneigt sein, wenn dies mit Rücksicht auf den Weitertransport der übergebenen Gegenstände oder die Eingabeverhältnisse bei der Weiterverarbeitungsmaschine erforderlich ist.

The device described so far works as follows:

• The object groups 7 inserted by the manufacturing machine between each pair of drivers are successively introduced into the transfer station 8 by the conveying means 3. As soon as a pair of drivers 4 is aligned with the receiving cup 13 in the receiving position, the push-in ram 16, which is inevitably dependent on the movement of the conveying means 3, pushes the group of objects into the receiving cup 13, where it is sucked in via the suction opening 27. Since, as already explained, the guide lugs 19 cover the edges of the guide grooves 18 of the carriers 4 during this insertion movement, no objects can get stuck on the side, while on the other hand the carriers can continue their transport movement because of the lateral play.
• At a high transport speed of the transport device 1, the arrangement can also be such that the conveying means 3 is driven, for example, by an elliptical gear with a non-uniform speed, such that the driver pairs 4 are moved at a lower speed during their passage through the transfer station 8 or linger briefly, to give the push rod 16 the opportunity to carry out its working stroke without running sideways on the drivers.
• The object group 7 sucked into the receiving cup 13 is transferred by the pivoting device 9 with the receiving cup 13 into the transfer position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, in which the receiving cup 13 is aligned with the input channel 20. As soon as the receiving cup 13 has reached this position, the ejection plunger 23 pushes the object group 7 contained in the receiving cup 13 into the input channel 20. This forms a series of successive groups of objects 7 in the feed channel 20, which are fed to the further processing machine. The guide lugs 24 engaging in the guide grooves 25 of the receptacle 13 ensure that when the object group 7 is ejected from the receptacle 13, the flat objects lying on the edge are also carried along perfectly.
• The movements of the ejection device 21, the swivel device 9 and the push-in device 14 are synchronized in a manner known per se, depending on the components used.
• In the exemplary embodiment described, the receiving cup 13 is pivoted by an angle of 90 ° between the receiving position and the transfer position, because the catches 4 and the object groups 7 are arranged vertically and the input channel 20 lies in a horizontal plane.
• Embodiments are also conceivable in which the pivoting angle of the receptacle 13 has a value deviating from 90 °. So there are z. B. Cases in which the drivers 4 are inclined to the side to the vertical and are connected in pairs to one another by a wall or are pocket-like, whereby the inclination ensures that the inserted objects are held under the force of gravity on the connecting wall or on the pocket bottom. Under these circumstances, the receiving cup in the transfer station 8 assumes a receiving position in which it is aligned parallel to the inclined drivers, which means that it is also pivoted correspondingly with respect to the vertical.
• Similarly, the transfer plane in which the feed channel 20 runs can be inclined with respect to the horizontal if this is necessary in view of the further transport of the transferred objects or the input conditions in the further processing machine.

Claims (9)

1. A device for the orderly transfer to a processing station of objects of groups of objects (7) fed to the device in spaced succession, comprising transport means (1) conveying the objects individually or in groups along the feeding direction into a transfer station (8), the transport means (1) being followed at the transfer station by a swing mechanism (9) which operates in synchronism with the arrival of the objects or groups of objects (7), to which individual objects or groups of objects (7) can be fed by a pusher element (16) of a pusher device (14) operating in strict synchronism with the movement of the swing mechanism (9), and by which the individual objects or groups of objects (7) can be picked up by means of a pick-up element (13) in the receiving position and then pivoted upwardly by 90° into a transfer position, and comprising further an ejector device (21) which is driven in strict synchronism with the movement of the swing device (9) and by which the objects or groups of objects (7) can be ejected from the pick-up element (13) of the swing device (9) in the transfer position in a charging direction for the processing station, characterized in that the transport means (1) comprises a continuously running conveyor element (3) provided with pairs of carrier elements arranged at a fixed spacing relative to each other and carrying between them one object or group of objects (7) each, that the pick-up element takes the form of a receiving cup (13) which is open on two sides and exhibits a substantially U-shaped cross-section and which in its receiving position is arranged laterally of the transport means (1), that the pusher device (14) of the swing device (9) is provided on the side of the transport device (1) opposite the receiving cup, and that the pusher part (16) moves at high speed, the spacing between the carrier elements (4) of each pair of carriers and the dimensions of the pusher element (16) being selected in such a manner that when the pusher element (16) occupies the position between the carrier elements (4), the latter can perform a lateral movement permitting the pusher element (16) to perform its reciprocating movement.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the receiving cup (13) comprises at least one intake opening (27) for the object or groups of objects (7) fed into it and that the intake opening (27) is connected to a vacuum source.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the individual carrier elements (4) of each pair of carrier elements are provided on their insides with guides (18) extending crosswise to the feeding direction, for engagement by the guide elements (19) provided on the pusher element (16, 17).

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the pusher element comprises a pusher surface (17) and that the guide elements (19) are arranged in the area of the said surface.

5. A device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inside of the receiving cup (13) is provided in the area of its opposite side walls (26) with guides (25) extending in the longitudinal direction, for engagement by the guide elements (24) of the ejector device (21).

6. A device in accordance with claim 3 or 5, characterized in that the guides (18 ; 25) and the guide elements (19 ; 24) take the form of coacting grooves and guide strips.

7. A device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a feed chute (20) extending in the feed direction and arranged adjacent the receiving cup (13) when the latter is in its raised position, for receiving the objects or groups of objects (7).

8. A device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor element (13) is driven at variable speed, and that the pairs of carrier elements (4) move at a reduced speed when passing the transfer station (8).

9. A device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the receiving position the receiving cup (13) is aligned in parallel to the respective coacting carrier elements (4).

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