EP0569692A1 - Apparatus for depositing packaged goods in moulds - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus serves for introducing stacks of material to be packaged (1), for example sausage slices, into troughs (4), the size of the trough corresponding essentially to the dimensions of the material to be packaged. Grippers (2) are provided, which, during the introduction operation, remain essentially above the trough edge (3) and, in this position, dispense the material to be packaged (1). If appropriate, extensions (5) which engage under the material to be packaged can also be provided. The extensions (5) can move above the trough (4). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for inserting packaged goods into troughs, the size of which is adapted to the dimensions of the good, wherein a plurality of lateral grippers are provided which rest on the circumference of the packaged goods.

It is known to place packaged goods, for example pieces of sausage or cheese, in preformed hollows. The troughs are then closed by a film which is welded or sealed, for example, to the edge of the trough. The procedure is usually such that several rows of depressions are formed in a film by a deep-drawing process which are then continuously filled and covered and sealed with a top film. The individual troughs are then separated by cuts. If necessary, evacuation or gassing processes can also be switched on.

If the troughs are large enough to hold the packaged goods, the loading process is generally not difficult. The packaged goods can, for example, be held on the corresponding transport devices by vacuum devices and moved in this way. However, the application of negative pressure fails if the packaging material is permeable to air or if the packaging is a stack. In particular with cheese or sausage, but also with biscuits and other packaging goods, piles must be placed in troughs.

The loading process is made more difficult if the troughs are matched as closely as possible to the contours of the packaged goods. Such an exact adjustment is desirable in order to save packaging material and also to facilitate the evacuation and fumigation processes. An excessively large trough would also give the impression that the packaging was only partially filled.

But if the trough is adapted to the contours of the packaged goods, it is difficult to mechanize the loading process. As a rule, such packaging goods are inserted by hand.

DE-OS 40 29 359 describes an insertion device for stacked packaged goods, wherein grippers are provided which rest laterally on the packaged goods and reach under the packaged goods with hook ends. With this device, the packaged goods are placed in the troughs. Is this happens, the hook ends are rotated or pivoted so that the grippers can be withdrawn.

The invention has for its object to further develop a device of the type mentioned that the insertion of packaging material into troughs succeed even if the troughs are adapted to the dimensions of the packaging goods as precisely as possible and if it is not possible or recommended, pneumatic Use lifting devices or similar means.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes that, in a device of the type specified at the outset, the grippers remain above the edge of the trough during the insertion process or engage only slightly in the trough.

If the trough is optimally adapted to the dimensions of the packaged goods, there is no significant or usable space between the outer dimensions of the packaged goods and the wall of the trough. The trough wall is preferably made of plastic, which is particularly deep-drawn. This manufacturing process leads to a reduction in the wall thickness in the drawn area of the film. There is therefore a considerable risk that the grippers and the associated devices damage the trough wall during the insertion process.

Especially when the troughs are created by a deep-drawing process or a comparable process, it follows that the troughs generally have conical boundary walls, i.e. the troughs are a little wider on the trough edge than on the trough bottom.

The invention is based on the consideration that it is sufficient if the insertion device brings the goods to be packaged exactly over the trough. But it is not necessary that the insertion device penetrates completely into the hollow. If in this position the insertion device releases the packaged goods, the packaged goods will get into the trough, and it will be possible to largely match the dimensions of the trough and the packaged goods.

It is even possible that the grippers engage slightly with their front end in the trough and, for example, take advantage of the space that results from the conical shape of the trough.

The insertion can take place, for example, in that the grippers release the packaged goods so that they fall into the trough. However, it is also possible to use ejectors that convey the packaged goods into the trough.

Another advantage of the invention is that in this way the loading process can run faster than in the case in which the loading device with the packaged goods moves completely into the trough and has to move back again after the release.

The proposal according to the invention is particularly useful for stacked packaged goods. But it can also be used for one-piece packaging.

The invention further proposes that approaches are provided on the grippers which underlie the packaged goods and the approaches remain above the trough during the loading process.

The remaining of the approaches above the trough has the essential advantage that there is enough space available for the elements that connect these approaches to the grippers or allow them to interact with the grippers. This allows a stable design, which in turn is a prerequisite for a high working speed.

In particular, the invention proposes that the approaches are designed to be bendable. The approaches can thus be designed to be resilient, for example.

Such a configuration is recommended if an ejector is provided which strips the packaged goods from the grippers. The approaches are simply deformed and return to the starting position without a special drive after the ejector has been pulled back.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the grippers move away from the packaged goods in the delivery position. This clearly shows the advantage that lies in the main idea of the invention.

According to a further feature of the invention, arms are provided which carry the lugs at their ends. These arms extend essentially parallel to the grippers, the grippers and the arms preferably being driven separately from one another.

It is favorable if the grippers have recesses for the approaches carried by the arms. This allows the grippers to protrude towards the trough in relation to the projections, and the grippers can engage with the protruding parts in the trough. During the loading process, the packaged goods are therefore still guided in a certain area, which ensures that the packaged goods are inserted in the intended manner, for example in an exact stack, into the trough which tightly encloses the stack.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the lugs carried by the arms are arranged under the grippers.

The invention also proposes to close the grippers in a shell-like manner shape and round the facing edges of the cup-like grippers. In this way it is avoided that the goods to be packaged are damaged when the grippers are closed. It should be taken into account here that the goods to be packaged often have a sensitive surface and that the goods to be packaged are stressed during the loading process.

It is expedient if the drive of the grippers or the arms is derived from the ejector, in particular by means of a slide track on the ejector.

As already stated at the beginning, the invention is essentially concerned with the idea of inserting the packaged goods, particularly if they consist of stacked slices, into troughs which are optimally adapted to the packaged goods. It has been found that following the suggested procedure below will provide essential troubleshooting help.

The method according to the invention preferably, if not exclusively, uses the devices specified above. However, the method according to the invention can also be used if the grippers which grip the stack of packaging goods laterally penetrate completely into the trough during the depositing process.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the stacks are formed on a base which is convexly curved upwards and are released into the trough in the shape thus obtained, which is secured by the lateral grippers. Stacking on such a curved base reduces the dimensions in plan view, for example in the case of circular disks. Due to the curvature, the outer diameter reduced. In this way, space is gained for the grippers. Another advantage is that the arched shape of the stack of packaged goods improves the stability of the packaged goods. In many cases, the friction between the grippers acting on the outer circumference of the packaged goods is sufficient to hold the packaged goods securely. If approaches are provided that reach under the stack, they can have small dimensions. The small dimensions in turn also allow the grippers to penetrate into the trough or to release and move backwards.

If the stack is completely inserted into the trough, it will return to normal shape, i.e. with flat bottom and surface. The hollow is completely filled.

Fig. 1

eine Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in zwei Betriebsstellungen,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die wesentlichen Teile der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Schnittdarstellung durch ein abgewandeltes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 4, Fig. 5 und Fig. 6

Darstellungen eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Fig. 7 und Fig. 8

eine Draufsicht auf eine Einzelheit der Erfindung und

Fig. 9 und Fig. 10

Ansichten einer anderen Einzelheit der Erfindung in verschiedenen Betriebsstellungen.

In the drawing, some embodiments of the invention are shown schematically. Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a sectional illustration of a device according to the invention in two operating positions,

Fig. 2

1 shows a plan view of the essential parts of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a sectional illustration through a modified exemplary embodiment of the invention,

4, 5 and 6

Representations of a method according to the invention,

7 and 8

a plan view of a detail of the invention and

9 and 10

Views of another detail of the invention in various operating positions.

1 shows a device for inserting packaged goods, which is attached to a carrier plate 10. This carrier plate 10 generally receives a plurality of such devices and moves by means not shown in detail between a point in which the packaged goods or the packaged goods are deposited and the point at which the troughs 4 are located. The troughs 4 are generally, if not exclusively, molded into a film by a deep-drawing process. For the insertion process, the troughs 4 are fixed, for example by negative pressure, on a base which also has devices for the exact positioning of the troughs 4. In this way it is ensured that when the carrier plate 10 moves, the device arrives at the desired storage location.

In the left part of the illustration in FIG. 1, that position of the grippers 2 and the levers 7 is shown, which they assume shortly before the stack 1 is put down. The gripper 2, which is part of a cylinder shell, as shown in FIG. 2, lies against the outer circumference of the stack 1. A total of four grippers 2 are provided which almost complete the cylindrical shape in the contact position on the stack 1.

The grippers 2 in particular also have the task of calibrating the stack. During the stacking process it must be taken into account that the individual slices of the stack do not lie exactly on top of one another. When the grippers 2 are placed on the stack, these grippers moving concentrically towards one another, the stack is brought into the desired shape.

For each of the individual grippers 2, a pneumatic cylinder 12 is provided in the head part 11, which is connected to the support plate 10. These pneumatic cylinders are acted upon together, for example, and cause the radial movement with respect to the central axis 35.

In the same way as the grippers 2, the arms 7 are each movable by a pneumatic cylinder 13 in the head part 11. The arms 7 carry lugs 5 at the lower end, for which recess 8 is provided in the lower ends of the grippers 2. The approaches 5 engage in the transport position in which the stacks are conveyed over the troughs 4 a small amount under the edges of the stacks 1 and hold them firmly. In some cases, these approaches 5 or the arms 7 can also be dispensed with, namely when it is ensured that the friction between the circumference of the stack 1 and the grippers 2 is sufficient to hold the stack securely.

If the position according to FIG. 1 is reached, the arms 7 are pulled back somewhat by the pneumatic cylinders 13, as shown in the drawing.

An ejector 6 is provided for inserting the stacks into the troughs 4 and is driven by a further pneumatic cylinder 14 by means of the piston rod 25. The ejector 6 pushes the stacks down. They come free from the grippers 2 and lie in the trough 4, as shown in the right part in FIG. 1.

The part 9 at the lower end of the gripper 2, which projects beyond the recesses 8, can engage in the upper part of the trough during the insertion process. This is achieved by a corresponding vertical movement of the support plate 10 at the end of the transport movement.

Fig. 2 shows that the arms 7 are kept narrower than the grippers 2, so that the lugs 5 only support the stack 1 in a partial area. However, this construction is only to be understood as an example. It is also possible to make the arrangement in such a way that the lugs 5 extend over the same circumference as the grippers 2.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 essentially in that both the grippers 2 and the arms 7, which carry the lugs 5 at the lower end, are designed as levers. The grippers 2 are each movably mounted around the joint 15 and the arms around the joint 16. Fig. 3 further shows that the approaches 5 include the grippers 2 from below.

The lever-like grippers 2 and the arms 7 are driven in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 by a link 17 which is connected to the ejector 6 or is formed in one piece. This link 17 acts on the rollers 18 and 19, the roller 18 being connected to the arm 7 and the roller 19 being connected to the gripper 2. The ejector 6 and the link 17 are in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 via the piston rod 25 driven. The associated pneumatic cylinder is not shown.

The ejector 6 initially maintains a greater distance from the stack 1, and the movement of the controlled ejector 6 also results in a controlled movement of the grippers 2 and the lever 7 via the link 17 and the rollers 18 and 19. In this way, the Gripping operations and the release movements are controlled. It can easily be achieved that in the last path of the ejector 6 the grippers 2 release the stack 1 and further that the approaches 5 are withdrawn at the appropriate time.

While in the lower part both rollers 18 and 19 are guided by part 20 of the slide track 17, the roller 18 of the arm 7 moves on the part 21 of the slide track, while the part 22 of the slide track controls the roller 19 of the gripper 2. It is clear that the different movements of the arm 7 and the gripper 2 can be forced by these different backdrop tracks, which are arranged offset to one another on the circumference of the sleeve 23.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 it is further provided that the bearing part 24 for the joint 15 is designed to be displaceable in the direction of the axis 35. For this purpose, a sliding part 26 is provided which carries the bearing part 24. This sliding part 26 is connected to the piston 27, and the cylinder spaces 28 and 29 can be acted on via the lines 30 and 31, so that the bearing part 24 can be pushed back and forth with the grippers 2. In this way it becomes possible that the front end of the gripper 2 penetrates into the upper part of the trough in the same way as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. On the other hand, the device can be adapted to the respective conditions, so that the front end penetrates of the gripper 2 can also be dispensed with if the dimensions of the packaged goods or the trough do not allow this.

4 shows a base 32 which has a convex curvature 34. The stack 1 of the packaging material lies on this curvature. The individual disks, e.g. Sausage slices 33 are placed directly on the curvature 34 after the cutting process. It is noted that relatively thick slices 33 are shown in the drawing. In practice, the slices can also be comparatively thin.

The stack thus formed is gripped by the grippers 2, as is shown in FIG. 4. The grippers have for example approaches 5 that reach under the stack. The grippers secure the arched stack shape. In this way, the stack is brought from the base 32 over the trough to be filled. In this position, for example, the grippers 2 move outwards, so that the stack is released and can fall into the trough 4, as shown in FIG. 6. Since the stack again takes the usual shape of a cylinder section, the diameter of the stack increases, so that the trough 4 is completely filled.

The stack can be placed in the trough using the ejector 6 (FIG. 5). The pusher can also have a concave shape adapted to the convex shape of the stack, as shown by dash-dotted lines 36 in FIG. 5.

7 shows a partial top view of a gripper design according to the invention. The grippers 2 are shaped like a bowl and have an essentially part-cylindrical shape in plan view. The edges 37 of the grippers 2, which face one another, are each provided with roundings 38, so that when the grippers 2 are manufactured, for example from sheet metal, the edges of the sheet cannot damage the packaged goods.

As shown in Fig. 8, the grippers can be designed so that they form almost a complete cylinder in the closed state. Even if the packaged goods may deform somewhat under the action of the grippers, damage by the edges 37 of the grippers is nevertheless avoided.

9 and 10, an embodiment of the lower ends of the arms 7 and the lugs 5 is shown. By a suitable shape, in particular by a small dimension in the area 39 of the arms 7 and also a small dimension of the lugs 5 reach under the packaged goods 1, it is achieved that under the action of an ejector 6 the lugs 5 bend downward, so that the packaged goods 1 can be inserted into the trough 4. The bent approaches 5 can also engage slightly in the trough 4.

Generally, the stacks to be packaged are circular in plan. However, it is not absolutely necessary for the invention. It is also possible to pack another packaged item with a different layout.

Claims (12)

Device for inserting packaged goods into troughs, the size of which is adapted to the dimensions of the goods, several side grippers being provided which rest on the circumference of the packaged goods, characterized in that the grippers (2) during the insertion process essentially above the edge of the trough (3) remain or engage only slightly in the troughs (4). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that projections (5) are provided on the grippers (2) which underlie the packaged goods (1) and that the projections remain above the trough (4) during the insertion process. Device according to one or both of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lugs (5) are designed to be bendable. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an ejector (6) It is provided, which strips the packaged goods (1) from the grippers (2). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grippers (2) move away from the packaged goods (1) in the delivery position. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that arms (7) are provided which carry the lugs (5) at their ends. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grippers (2) have recesses (8) for the shoulders (5) carried by the arms (7). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the grippers (2) engage with the parts (9) projecting beyond the projections (5) into the trough (4). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lugs (5) carried by the arms (7) are arranged under the grippers (2). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grippers (2) are shaped like a shell and that the mutually facing edges (37) of the shell-like grippers are provided with roundings (38). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movements of the grippers (2) and / or the arms carrying the attachments move from Drive of the ejector (6) are controlled, the ejector carrying a slide track (17) which acts on the grippers (2) or the arms (7). A method for loading Verpackungsgutstapeln in wells, the size of the dimensions of the stacks are adjusted and the stacks are covered by lateral grippers, in particular using the apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that ß the stack on a convex upward arched base formed and in the resulting shape, which is secured by the side grippers, is released into the trough.

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