EP0087106B1 - Handling apparatus for making boxes - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Handling apparatus for the production of boxes, in particular tunnel shaped parallelepipedic boxes for packagings and for matches, consisting of a) a blanks-containing magazine (1) ; b) a delivery mechanism (3) arranged below the magazine (1) ; c) a conveyor (7), along which extend helical surface shaped deflecting arrangements (36, 38) for orienting and bending of the blanks ; d) and a container (45) with adhesive which is provided with an adhesive spreading disc, characterised in that - the supply mechanism (3) for the blanks possesses an ejector (4) with wedge-shaped teeth (28) ; - the conveyor (7) is a belt conveyor and presses (9) are distributed along the length of its conveyor belt (11) ; - a centering rail (12) and a chain conveyor (15) below the belt conveyor (7) are so arranged that the end of the centering rail (12) overlaps the beginning of the chain conveyor, with the blanks bent to boxes in the centering rail (12) being removed from the chain conveyor (15) and forced against the lower section of the conveyor belt (11).

Description

The invention relates to a manipulator for the production of boxes, in particular tunnel-shaped parallelepiped boxes for packaging and for matches, consisting of a magazine containing blanks, a feed mechanism arranged below the magazine, a conveyor located behind the magazine, along which helical bending devices for straightening and Bend the blanks, and a container of glue, which is provided with an adhesive-applying disc.

Such a manipulator is already state of the art. Disadvantage of this known manipulator is the insecure feeding of the blanks, since the feed mechanism is driven by gear wheels and this causes a vibration movement of the magazine containing the blanks, which leads to poor centering or alignment of the blanks before they reach the shaping elements of the machine . Because the areas of the box to be joined are pressed together for a very short time, only fast-acting adhesives can be used which give rise to contamination of the guiding and shaping elements of the machine and thus to malfunctions. Increased friction between the poorly partially machined workpieces and other shaping elements causes frequent blockages and thus the failure of the machine.

From the deficiencies in the operation of the known machine, the object underlying the invention follows to design the known manipulator with the features mentioned at the outset in such a way that trouble-free shaping and gluing of boxes is possible without interrupting a series production process.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the feed mechanism for the blanks has an ejector with wedge-shaped teeth, that the conveyor is a belt conveyor and pressure devices are distributed over the length of its conveyor belt, and that a centering rail and a chain conveyor are arranged below the belt conveyor in such a way that that the end of the centering rail overlaps the beginning of the chain conveyor, the blanks bent into boxes in the central rail being picked up by the chain conveyor and pressed against the lower run of the conveyor belt.

A sorting device is expediently arranged at the exit of the belt conveyor.

Advantageously, each presser consists of a body that has rollers at its end, which are biased by a spring for pressing.

The centering rail preferably has a sector for coarse centering and a sector for fine centering, which are arranged one behind the other and at the same level.

The rough centering sector may consist of a support with cylindrical rollers arranged along its length and rails with rollers arranged parallel to the support on both sides.

The sector for fine centering can consist of a centering prism, on the two long sides of which rollers are arranged.

The rollers of the sector for fine centering on the two long sides of the centering prism are expediently arranged offset from one another.

The profile chain conveyor preferably has a profile chain with links in the form of a double U-profile, which are connected to one another by means of intermediate links.

The opening of the U-profile advantageously corresponds to the box dimensions.

The sorting device can consist of a rod which lies in the profile of the channel formed by the links, the rod ending in a spiral wire and a spiral wire welded to it.

The manipulator according to the invention has the advantage that guiding and pressing the box is ensured during the entire conveying path. The operational safety of the manipulator is increased due to the improved feeding of the blanks, the favorable shape of the elements and its productivity due to the absence of downtimes due to contamination with adhesive. The manipulator works silently, has a low consumption of electrical energy and uses a universal adhesive, which results in an excellent quality of the bonds.

• Fig. 1 schematisch eine Gesamtansicht des Manipulators mit der kinematischen Kette,
• Fig. 2 schematisch eine Draufsicht auf den Zuführmechanismus für die Rohlinge,
• Fig. 3 einen Längsschnitt durch einen Andrükker des Bandförderers,
• Fig. 4 schematisch eine Draufsicht auf den Sektor für grobe Zentrierung,
• Fig. 5 die Ansicht A-A von Fig. 4,
• Fig. 6 schematisch eine Draufsicht auf den Sektor für feine Zentrierung,
• Fig. 7 die Ansicht B-B von Fig. 6,
• Fig. 8 eine Seitenansicht der Profilkette,
• Fig. 9 einen Querschnitt eines Glieds der Profilkette und
• Fig. 10 schematisch eine Ansicht der Sortiereinrichtung.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings. It shows:

• 1 schematically shows an overall view of the manipulator with the kinematic chain,
• 2 schematically shows a plan view of the feed mechanism for the blanks,
• 3 shows a longitudinal section through a presser of the belt conveyor,
• 4 schematically shows a top view of the sector for rough centering,
• 5 is the view AA of FIG. 4,
• 6 schematically shows a top view of the sector for fine centering,
• 7 shows the view BB of FIG. 6,
• 8 is a side view of the profile chain,
• Fig. 9 shows a cross section of a link of the profile chain and
• 10 schematically shows a view of the sorting device.

The manipulator shown in the drawing has a vertical magazine 1 for blanks 2. A feed mechanism 3 for the blanks 2 with ejectors 4 is arranged in front of the magazine 1. Behind the magazine 1, a divider 5 is provided for the separation of the blanks 2 with a connection 6, which ensures the individual passage of the blanks 2.

Immediately next to the divider 5, the starting part of a belt conveyor 7 is arranged, which consists of a supporting frame 8, on which the presser 9 with rollers 10 are attached, under which a conveyor belt 11 is located. Below the belt conveyor 7 is a centering rail or gauge 12, which has a sector 13 for rough centering 13 and a sector 14 for fine centering 14 of the blanks 2.

Before the end of the centering rail 12 begins the beginning of a profile chain conveyor 15, which consists of a profile chain 16 with a drive sprocket 17 and a driven sprocket 18. The drive chain gear 17 is fixedly connected to a spur gear 19 which is constantly in engagement with a gear 44 of a drive drum 20 of the belt conveyor 7. At the end of the belt conveyor 7, the beginning part of a sorting device 21 begins, which is used for separating non-glued boxes and for continuing the glued boxes.

Before the beginning of the profile chain conveyor 15 and below the centering rail 12, the adhesive-applying device 45 is arranged, which consists of a container for adhesive with an adhesive feed disc 23 immersed therein and an adhesive-applying disc 24 abutting thereon. The device 45 has a drive in the form of a gear transmission which is driven by an electric motor 25. The adhesive thickness is set by a regulator 22, which sits close to the adhesive feed disk 23. The feed mechanism 3 for the blanks 2 and the profile chain conveyor 15, which drives the belt conveyor 7, are also coupled to the electric motor 25 via gears.

The feed mechanism 3 for the blanks 2 (FIG. 2) consists of guides 26, between which the ejector 4 moves back and forth, which is driven by a crank mechanism 27. In the front part of the ejector 4, two profile teeth 28 are formed, which serve to eject the blanks 2 from the magazine 1.

Each presser 9 (Fig. 3) consists of a body 29, on the lower part of which two rollers 10 are arranged offset. A spring 30 is attached to the body 29, one end of which protrudes into a plastic bushing 31 which is pressed into the supporting frame 8 and serves as a guide for the body 29. The body 29 is held on the supporting frame 8 by nuts 32, which also serve to limit the stroke.

The sector 13 for the rough centering (Fig. 4) consists of a support 33 with a U-shaped cross section, the opening of which is directed upwards. Cylindrical rollers 34 are attached along the carrier 33 and serve to transport the blanks 2.

Rails 35 are welded to both sides of the carrier 33 at a fixed distance, and they support rollers 46 in a console-like manner along the outside of the rails. Parallel to the rails 35 above the level of the rollers 46, helical bending devices 36 are attached on both sides, which serve to bend the outer sides of the blanks 2, to roughly center the blanks 2 and to reduce elastic stresses in the material.

The front part of the helical bending devices 36 (FIG. 5) is turned upwards and is at a higher level than the rollers 46. The sector for fine centering 14 (FIG. 6) consists of a prism 37, on the two longitudinal sides of which staggered seats for the rollers 47 are formed. On both sides of the centering prism 37, wide helical bending devices 38 are arranged for the bending and fine centering of the inner sides of the blanks 2. The front part of the wide helical bending devices 38 is turned slightly upwards and protrudes beyond the level of the rollers 47 (FIG. 7). When the box 39 leaves the helical benders 38, it is almost in its final form.

The profile chain 16 of the profile chain conveyor 15 (Fig. 8) consists of links 40 in the form of a double U-profile. The links 48 of the chain are attached to the legs of the lower U-profile, while the legs of the upper U-profile serve to receive the finished shaped box (FIG. 9).

The sorting device 21 (FIG. 10) consists of a rod 41 which is arranged in the channel of the upper U-profile (FIG. 8) of the profile chain 16 and is attached to the centering rail 12. At the other end of the rod 41, a spiral-like wire 42 is attached, to which an offset spiral-like steel wire 43 is fastened, which serves to rotate the box by 120 °.

• Bei der Hin- und Herbewegung des Ausstossers 4 stossen die Profilzähne 28 den untersten Rohling 2 aus dem Magazin 1 heraus. Der Rohling 2 geht zwischen dem Teiler 5 und dem Anschluss 6 hindurch, die nur einen einzigen Rohling durchlassen, und gelangt zwischen den Bandförderer 7 und die zylindrischen Rollen 34 im Sektor 13 für die grobe Zentrierung längs der Zentrierschiene 12. Der auf diese Weise angedrückte Rohling 2 bewegt sich vorwärts und gelangt in den Bereich der schraubenflächenförmigen Biegeeinrichtungen 36, die die äusseren Seiten des Rohlings 2 abwärts biegen und gleichzeitig grob zentrieren. Dann gelangt der Rohling 2 in den Sektor für die feine Zentrierung 14, wo er unter der Wirkung der breiten schraubenflächenförmigen Biegeeinrichtungen 38 zum zentrierenden Prisma 37 genau zentriert wird und auf Grund der Biegung der inneren Seiten des Rohlings 2 U-Form erhält. Bei dieser Biegung um das zentrierende Prisma 37 entsteht die Hohlform. Bei seiner weiteren Vorwärtsbewegung läuft der gebogene Rohling 2 über die Klebstoff auftragende Scheibe 24, die den inneren Deckel mit Klebstoff bestreicht. Die Dicke der Klebstoffschicht auf der Klebstoff auftragenden Scheibe 24 wird durch den Regler 22 stufenlos reguliert.

The manipulator works as follows:

• When the ejector 4 moves back and forth, the profile teeth 28 push the lowermost blank 2 out of the magazine 1. The blank 2 passes between the divider 5 and the connector 6, which only allow a single blank to pass, and passes between the belt conveyor 7 and the cylindrical rollers 34 in the sector 13 for rough centering along the centering rail 12. The blank pressed in this way 2 moves forward and reaches the area of the helical bending devices 36, which bend the outer sides of the blank 2 downwards and at the same time roughly center them. Then the blank 2 enters the sector for the fine centering 14, where it is precisely centered under the action of the wide helical bending devices 38 to the centering prism 37 and is given a U shape due to the bending of the inner sides of the blank. This bend around the centering prism 37 creates the hollow shape. During its further forward movement, the curved blank 2 runs over the adhesive-applying disk 24, which brushes the inner lid with adhesive. The thickness of the adhesive layer on the adhesive-applying disc 24 is continuously regulated by the controller 22.

As the movement continues along the centering prism 37, the box is finished forms with their lids overlapping each other. When the box, which is shaped in this way and provided with adhesive, leaves the centering prism 37, it is picked up by the profile chain conveyor 15 and pressed onto the conveyor belt 11 of the belt conveyor 7, which results in high-quality gluing. The box is then fed to the sorting device 21. As it moves along the spiral wire 42, it comes to the spiral steel wire 43 which rotates it through 120 ° so that it falls off. When the finished box is turned, the lids open when they are not glued. The box falls from the spiral wire 42 into the container for rejects, while the high-quality boxes come into the container for the finished products when they leave the sorting device 21.

Claims (10)

1. Handling apparatus for the production of boxes, in particular tunnel shaped parallelepipidic boxes for packagings and for matches, consisting of

a) a blanks-containing magazine (1);

b) a delivery mechanism (3) arranged below the magazine (1);

c) a conveyor (7), along which extend helical surface shaped deflecting arrangements (36, 38) for orienting and bending of the blanks;

d) and a container (45) with adhesive which is provided with an adhesive spreading disc, characterised in that - the supply mechanism (3) for the blanks possesses an ejector (4) with wedge-shaped teeth (28);

- the conveyor (7) is a belt conveyor and presses (9) are distributed along the length of its conveyor belt (11);

- a centering rail (12) and a chain conveyor (15) below the belt conveyor (7) are so arranged that the end of the centering rail (12) overlaps the beginning of the chain conveyor, with the blanks bent to boxes in the centering rail (12) being removed from the chain conveyor (15) and forced against the lower section of the conveyor belt (11).

2. Handling apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that a separating arrangement (21) is arranged at the exit from the conveyor belt.

3. Handling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the presses (9) consists of body (29) which possesses at one end rollers (10) which are tensioned for the pressing by a spring (30).

4. Handling apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the centering rail (12) possesses a sector (13) for crude centering and a sector (14) for fine centering, which are arranged one after the other and at the same level.

5. Handling apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the sector (13) for the crude centering consists of a support (33) with cylindrical rollers (34) which are arranged over its length and of rails (35) with rollers (46) which are arranged on both the sides which are parallel to the support (33).

6. Handling apparatus according to claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the sector (14) for the fine centering consists of a centering prism (37) on both of whose longitudinally extending sides are arranged rollers (47).

7. Handling apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the rollers (47) of the sector (14) for the fine centering are arranged displaced from one another on both longitudinally extending sides of the centering prism (37).

8. Handling apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the chain form conveyor (15) possesses a chain structure (16) with links (40) in the form of a double U-shape which are connected with one another by means of intermediate links (48).

9. Handling apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the one opening of the U-shape conforms to the measurements of the box to be produced.

10. Handling apparatus according to claim 2 and one of claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the separating arrangement (21) consists of a bar (41) which lines in the profile of the channel formed by the links (40), with the bar (41) projecting in a spiral shaped leader (42) and a spiral formed wire (43) welded to it.

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