EP0816235A1 - Apparatus for packaging objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a feed position (2) where the objects are delivered either singly or in packs and a station (5) for preparing and/or opening the packing. There is another station(6) to seal up the filled packing and a slider (12) to transport the objects from the feed position into the opened packing and together with this as far as the second station. There is at least one rail (4), and preferably a pair of rails, running in the transport direction of the slider, on which at least the above two stations are fixed, at least one of them being adjustable in position along the rail(s).

Description

The invention is based on a packaging device of objects.

These devices usually have a drop point, on the items to be packaged individually or as a stack can be entered into the device. From there they will in an open packaging transported, for example with a slider. Subsequently the filled packaging is closed and from the Device led out.

The known devices are usually as fixed systems educated.

The invention has for its object a device to create this type, which is possible with little effort makes to adapt the device to different circumstances, for example to different pack sizes. The transport routes should be kept short, so achieved the highest possible processing speed can be.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes a device with the features mentioned in claim 1. Training the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

For example, the station where the packaging is closed will be placed in a fixed place. If packaging of different sizes is to be filled, so the station can open the packaging with different Distance from the fixed sealing station be positioned with the distance just chosen will that the transport route of the just filled packaging too the sealing station becomes as small as possible. Of course it is also possible, for example the opening station to hold on and the capping station at different distances to arrange. It is also possible to use both stations to postpone.

The stations can be interchangeable at least in particular a rail can be fixed. This makes it possible possibly stations by other stations of different sizes or exchange working speed, or else simply insert an additional station. This is particularly so of interest if the operator of the device initially buys for a product range and subsequently from one product line to for example four lines or Wants to change locations.

In particular, it can be provided that the device Device for creating an air cushion between the Rail and the sliding station has. This Air cushions are created when the station moves shall be. This reduces the friction, so that the Stations can be easily moved without this expensive ball guides or the like would be required.

The stations can be attached with the help of clamping plates or other clamping elements, for example are known in machine tools.

If the items to be packaged are such acts, which compresses before insertion into the packaging should be, for example, diapers, can according to the invention the device has a compression station which then also interchangeable and adjustable along the rail can be fixed on this. Should bigger packaging for example with two adjacent stacks are filled by diapers, so the device enables for example, two identically designed compression stations to be arranged next to each other for a stack and when changing to the smaller packaging size again to remove.

The objects from the drop point to the packaging and together with this to the delivery point In a further development of the invention, the slide can reciprocate be formed, the position according to the invention which reverses the movement of the slide can be. This also allows a higher processing speed achieve because with smaller packaging the slider can no longer be fully retracted must, but only to the posting point. Of course it is conceivable that one point of reversal of the movement of the slider holds, namely the turning point, which at the end the device is arranged.

The realization of at least one or preferably the two adjustable reversal points, for example happen that the slider is attached to a slide member which is formed back and forth and for example is driven by a servo motor. Then leave the reversal points change very easily.

According to the invention it can be provided that the slide at the return movement out of the path of objects can be moved. This can cause the backward movement with the delivery of the items to be packaged to be continued. Moving the slide out can According to the invention done in that the slide moving slide element, a gear motor is arranged, the like or a carried cable. with energy the movement and at any desired location the slide out of and into the path can.

To increase the working speed again be provided according to the invention that two alternately effective Sliders are available which are guided such that they move backwards from each other's path Slider can be moved out. For both sliders can a separate linear drive can be provided so that the The two sliders are driven independently of one another can.

For placing the objects to be packaged in the packaging can be a shaft that can be moved in the transport direction be provided, also between two adjustable Reversal points can be designed to be movable back and forth can. This shaft serves for the possibly compressed objects record, and will then join in with them the packaging retracted. The adjustment also serves here the reversal points of the movement of this shaft, the Keep transport routes as short as possible.

In addition, of course, the adjustment of the reversal points is used Movement of this shaft to the system to different To be able to adjust pack sizes.

Due to the movable shaft, they are state of the art Bag spread doors previously used replaced. The device this makes it easier and fewer parts needed. When changing the packaging format, the changeover time shorter. In addition, the package image improves significantly.

The shaft is inserted into the bag up to the bottom of the bag. This causes the friction between the product and the Loot] no longer causes the outer packaging layer to slip, for example a diaper. This also improves the package picture.

The invention proposes that the side walls at least partly in the curvature of the curvature of the finished pack be adjusted. This will over-compress too much the products in the compression station prevented.

The curvature of the side parts can change in the direction of transport extend over the entire depth of the bag. In the part of the shaft, which then does not enter the bag the side walls should be flat, i.e. to the compression station customized.

According to the invention it can be provided that the side walls of the Shaft are at least partially hollow, so that an air cushion can be created. The air cushion can either are formed on the inside of the side walls, i.e. between the shaft and the objects to be packed. But it can also be formed on the outside of the side walls become, i.e. between the bag and the shaft.

If for any reason no bag has been opened, the items to be packed can be which in this case is due to the open welding jaws of the Capping station moves through without stopping the machine lead out of the interference area.

The packaging can be, in particular, advantageously bags, preferably bags made of plastic material. In In this case, the station for opening the bags may be preferable have a suction device, the two walls separates the initially lying flat bag, whereby to hold the bag walls as soon as they are open, also mechanical devices, such as hooks, can be provided.

The suction device has, for example, two vertically movable ones Sucker on. These suction cups move outside of the Shaft area, i.e. outside the cross-sectional area of the opened bag. In the state of the art move the suction cups within the open cross section of the bag. By the bag can be used in the use of swiveling hooks detach from the vacuum in an almost open condition.

As soon as the bag is filled and slid by only pushed a short way towards the capping station the suction cups can be moved down again to suck the next bag. this leads to a performance of the device, which with the previous procedure was not possible.

The hooks swivel immediately after lifting the bag through the suction cup under the suction cup and support it when pulling up the bag.

In particular, a can be used to move the suction cups up and down Servo geared motor can be provided. So that the stroke the suction device also during the operation of the device to change. Because of this, it becomes possible to stack a bag work from top to bottom without the stack of bags needs to be raised. The top bag can are therefore at different heights without the Device becomes slower. This measure of Change the lower reversal point of the suction device leads to a great simplification of the feeding device for the stack of bags.

In the case of using plastic bags the sealing station is in particular a welding station, which seals the bags after they are filled.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht einer Einrichtung zum Verfahren eines Schachtes;

Fig. 3

eine Stirnansicht der Anordnung der Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

eine Aufsicht auf zwei Schieber;

Fig. 5

eine Einzelansicht einer Möglichkeit zur Bewegung eines Schiebers aus der Transportbahn heraus;

Fig. 6

eine der Fig. 5 entsprechende Darstellung einer weiteren Möglichkeit zur Herausbewegung des Schiebers aus der Transportbahn;

Fig. 7

in vergrößertem Maßstab eine Ansicht des verfahrbaren Schachtes in Transportrichtung.

Further features, details and advantages emerge from the patent claims, the wording of which is made by reference to the content of the description, the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and with reference to the drawing. Here show:

Fig. 1

schematically a side view of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a side view of a device for moving a shaft;

Fig. 3

an end view of the arrangement of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

a supervision of two sliders;

Fig. 5

a single view of a way to move a slider out of the transport path;

Fig. 6

a representation corresponding to FIG. 5 of a further possibility for moving the slide out of the transport path;

Fig. 7

on a larger scale a view of the movable shaft in the direction of transport.

1 is greatly simplified in a machine frame 1 shown a device according to the invention. The side view shows the device so that the transport direction, in which the objects are transported through the device are going from right to left. In the same direction the individual parts of the device are also described first. The items to be packaged are on one Feed point 2 introduced into the device. The bringing in can be done, for example, from behind or from the front, so perpendicular to the paper plane.

Two are located at the drop point in the direction of transport Compression stations 3, which are placed on two rails 4 and are committed to them. Immediately behind the compression stations 3, i.e. in Fig. 1 left, is a station 5 for Arranged to open a packaging that provides the packaging opens and keeps open.

In the direction of transport behind the station to open and ready the packaging has a sealing station 6, which serves to hold the filled packaging on your To close the input page. Acting in the example shown it is a station that can be moved with the help of two Welding jaws 7 a plastic bag closes. The two welding jaws are with the help of Push rods 8 movable, the guide device for the welding jaws 7 are not shown for reasons of simplification is. Both push rods 8 are on a pivot lever 9 articulated, the closing station about an axis 10 can be pivoted. When swiveling the two welding jaws 7 moved towards each other until they are about halfway up the packaging and hit the Seal the mouth of the bag.

The closing station 6 is also placed on the rails 4 and committed to it.

The objects introduced into the device at the loading point are first between the jaws 11 of the compression stations inserted, whereupon the jaws 11 towards each other be moved to compress the objects. In compressed They are ready in the state of station 5 and the bag is kept open and inserted after insertion along with the packaging between the opened ones Welding jaws 7 pushed through. Stay in an end position the bags with the objects then stand on which the Shaft 10 is rotated to seal the bag.

A slide 12 is provided for moving the objects, one intended to attack objects Has slide plate 13. The slide plate 13 is with With the help of a pivot lever 14 on the slide device 12 articulated. The slide device 12 is with the help of a Linear drive 15 moved in the transport direction. The in Fig. 1 left reversal point for the movement of the slide element 12 is chosen so that the slide is filled Brings the bag into a position in which it can be moved from station 6 can be locked. From there, the slide 12 moved back by the linear drive 15. So that Slider plate 13 does not conflict with that again the drop point 12 placed objects can the slide plate 13 with the help of a swivel drive be pivoted up. This rotary actuator can be used in the Slider 12 itself can be arranged and for example the Raise swivel lever 14 clockwise. The backward movement of the slider 12, so to the right in Fig. 1, happens until the slide plate 13 again in front of the objects is arranged, so in Fig. 1 to the right of the posting point. This reverse position, in which the slide plate is then is lowered back into the position shown, is also adjustable.

Should be a smaller with the device shown in Fig. 1 Packaging can be filled, for example right of the two compression stations 3 from the rails 4 be removed. Then the posting point 2 can be closer to the remaining compression station 3 and the right reversal point of the slide 12 also corresponding be changed. In this way it is ensured that short transport routes not only for the items to be packed, but are also possible for the slide.

Similarly, if desired, a The distance between stations 5 and 6 was changed will.

2 shows station 5 in somewhat greater detail to provide, open and keep packaging open, in the example shown of plastic Bags 16.

The rail 4 is only shown in a section. At the Rail 4, station 5 is fixed. To open the bags, the bag level shown in dash-dotted lines 17 are delivered, two serve on both sides of the Transport means arranged suction device 18 of a suction device. The suction cups 18 are cantilevered on a guide, the vertical up and down movement of the suction cup 18th enables. Racks are used to drive this device 19 provided, at the upper end of the suction cups 18 attached are. With the toothing of the toothed racks 19, a rotary drive meshes Gear 20, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 2 is. By turning the gear 20 clockwise or in the counterclockwise direction, the sucker 18 is up and down hazards.

The suction cups 18 are designed so that they cover the upper wall first lift a bag 16. Then pulls in pivotally attached to the sucker 18, only indicated in Fig. 2 Hook 21 under the top side of the bag to the bag to keep it better this way. By driving upwards the sucker 18 is the bag 16 opened and in kept open.

3 also shows the arrangement of the suction cups 18 on guides 22, which are also shown only schematically. For the Drive the racks 19 with the help of the gears 20 is used a torque transmitting shaft 23, which by a Drive 24 can be rotated, for example a drive motor.

The station 5 for opening and keeping the bags 16 open mounted on a traverse 25, the two on its underside Has guide elements 26 for guiding on the rails 4. The guide elements 26 are designed so that they Include rails in their upper area, so that an exact Management and alignment of station 5 is given. The definition the station 5 at the desired point in the longitudinal direction the rails 4 can be made in any way, for example with the help of clamping elements.

For inserting the objects to be packaged into the open ones Bag 16 serves an additional shaft 27, who also back and forth in the direction of transport of the device can be driven here. To drive the shaft 27 serves a linear guide 28 with a drive motor 29, see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The shaft 27 has two side walls 30 on, which are connected by a bottom 31 are. The front edge of the side walls 30 of the shaft 27 is with a rounded tip to facilitate the Driving into the opened bags 16.

The bottom 31 of the shaft 27 is transverse Rod 32 connected to the linear guide 28. The rod is attached to the front end of the base 30 in the transport direction, so that the shaft 37 almost completely in the open Bag can be retracted.

The objects to be packaged are moved by the slide 12 first inserted into the shaft 27, possibly in a compressed one Status. The shaft 27 then moves them into the bag 16 a. The onward transport then takes place again with the help of Slider, which is possible because the shaft 27 is open at the top. This is then pulled back into the starting position. The displacement path of the shaft 27 corresponds approximately the depth of the bag forming the packaging 16. If different large bags can also move the Chute 27 can be set or changed.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a top view of the system two sliders 12. There is a separate one for each slider 12 Linear drive 15 is provided. Both linear drives 15 can work independently, but are supported by a Control in the system controlled synchronously. The two sliders 12 work alternately, so that one slider each Pushes objects into the package while the other moves back to the starting position.

The reciprocating movement of the slide 12 can for example with the help of rotating toothed belts, that are powered by motors. The direction of rotation the motors are reversible. This allows the slider be moved back and forth. There is a separate one on each slide Drive motor 33 provided by means of a gear can raise and lower the slide arm 14. It will possible, the slide plate 13 of the returning Lift slider 12 using the swivel arm 14 and after Reaching the right starting position in FIG. 1 again. The power supply to the motors 33 can be carried along Trailing cables are made. Similarly would be the supply of an air motor or the like. about carried along Hoses possible.

While in the slide 12 of FIGS. 1 and 4 lifting the slide plate 13 by pivoting a slide arm 14 happens, Fig. 5 shows another possibility of Movement of the slide plate 13 out of the path of movement.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the slide 33 has carriage element 34 which can be driven by the linear drive 15 similar to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4. This slide element is only moved back and forth linearly. In the slide element 34 is transverse to the direction of transport an arm 35 slidably mounted in the area has the slide plate 13 at its lower end. The straight forward slidable arm 35 includes a rack 36, the one with a torque shaft 37 directly or with a gear combs. The torque shaft 37 extends over the entire linear drive and is at both ends in one Bearing 38 stored. With the longitudinal displacement of the slide 34 remains the engagement between the rack 36 and the Torque shaft 37 obtained so that by rotating the shaft 37 the arm 35 at any point on the linear drive can be moved up and down.

6 is in turn on the linear drive 15 a slide element 34 in the transport direction slidably arranged, which in turn a transverse to Includes transportable arm 40. At the bottom End of arm 40 protruding from slide element 34 an arm 39 is attached to its front free end is intended to receive the slide plate 13. The movement of the arm 40 with respect to the slide element 34 happens with With the help of a pressure piston cylinder, a rodless one Cylinders or the like. Here the required hydraulic fluid fed with a tube carried along will.

The invention creates a system by replacing Individual parts, changing the distances of the rails 4 attached stations and by changing the reversal points of the Movements of the other elements with little effort different pack sizes and different packs Objects can be customized. Despite the possibility the adjustment of the different circumstances the system still short transport routes, so that it with a high processing speed can work.

Fig. 7 shows again greatly simplified on an enlarged scale the mutual arrangement of the stack of bags, the movable shaft 27 and the suction device. It is there to see that the suction cups 18 open the bag so that they even outside the cross-sectional area of the shaft 27 are arranged. The bag is opened so far that it is slightly larger than the cross section of the shaft, so this can easily drive into it. The side walls 30 of the Manholes 27 are slightly curved outwards, in a curve, which roughly the shape of a filled and closed Bag corresponds. This will over-compress the objects to be packed within the shaft 27 avoided.

The curvature of the side walls 30 is only in the area of the Given the shaft when the fully inserted into the bag Shaft in the bag. That part of the Shaft, which then still lies outside the bag, points flat side walls. These are at the compression station customized.

The side walls 30 can, as shown schematically is to be hollow or double-walled, so that it with a compressed air source can be connected. Through valves if necessary controllable openings on the outside and / or inside an air cushion can be generated by the side walls 30, either between the side walls and the ones to be packed Objects or between the side walls and the Inside of the bag.

When the bag is filled, it is pushed in by the slider Fig. 1 pushed to the left. During this onward movement can the suction device 18 of the suction device already lowered back down to the next one Loot] and open it. This can happen at the same time with the backward movement of the shaft.

Decreases during the operation of the device Height of the stack of bags, it does not need to be raised be, since you have the lower turning points of the suction cups 18 their vertical movement can change.

Claims (14)

Device for packaging objects, with 1.1 a task (2) at which the objects to be packaged are entered into the device individually or as a stack, 1.2 a station (5) for providing and / or opening the packaging, 1.3 a station (6) for closing the filled packaging, 1.4 a slide (12) for transporting the objects from the loading point (2) into the opened packaging and with this to the closing station (6), as well as with 1.5 at least one rail (4) extending in the transport direction of the slide (12), preferably a pair of rails (4), on which 1.5.1 at least the station (5) for opening the packaging and the station (6) for closing the packaging can be fixed, whereby 1.5.2 at least one of the stations (5, 6) is adjustably fixable along the rail (s) (4). Apparatus according to claim 1, with a device for Generating an air cushion between the least a rail (4) and the adjustable station (5, 6). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which at least a station (5, 6) is interchangeable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with a compression station (3) for compressing the packing objects before pushing them into the opened packaging, this station (3) replaceable and adjustable along the rail (4) is. Device according to one of the preceding claims, that of the slide (12, 13) between two reversal points is arranged back and forth and the reversal points are adjustable. Apparatus according to claim 5, in the realization the adjustable reversal points of the slide (12, 13) carriage element provided with a geared motor (33) (34). Device according to one of the preceding claims, that of the slide (12, 13) on its return movement is movable out of the path of the objects. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with two alternately effective slide (12, 13), which are guided that they move backwards out of the Path of the other slide (12, 13) moved out will. Device according to one of the preceding claims, that of the slide (12, 13) during its backward movement is moved upwards, in particular is pivoted. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with a shaft (27) which can be moved in the transport direction, who picks up the items and in the opened packaging is retracted, with the reversal points of the reciprocating movement of the shaft (27) adjustable are. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the well (27) at least partially domed, possibly to generate a Air cushion has hollow side walls (30). Device according to one of the preceding claims, which are the packaging bags (16) and the station (5) for opening the bag (16) has a suction device. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the suction device two outside the cross section of the open Bag arranged, in particular vertically movable Has suction cup (28). Device according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the closing station (6) has two welding jaws (7) Sealing the plastic bags (16) having.

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