EP0878426B1 - Conveying device for feeding flat articles to a transport package and operating method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a conveying device for feeding of flat goods e.g. to a transport packaging with a essentially horizontal stowage belt for transporting the flat goods in a stream of shed e.g. from a gluing machine and for the temporary buffering of flat goods and with an upward-moving conveyor that adjoins the jam belt and about a horizontal swivel axis at about the height of the lock belt swiveling lock belt.

Such a conveyor device is known, for example from DE 34 15 578 A1.

Pre-glued, flat-lying folding boxes come in large Quantities in various branches of industry, in particular in the pharmaceutical industry, but also in the cosmetics industry, the food industry and other fields used. Such pre-glued with bending lines, creases and the like prefabricated folding boxes may with your Transport is not exposed to excessive pressure, because otherwise it would be very difficult, at least not anymore automatic and easy to fill up to its final shape leave because their elasticity is lost. About Shipping such pre-glued, flat-lying folding boxes is therefore usually a manual filling in transport packaging, which usually consist of cardboard boxes, preferred. This manual filling is done by a conveyor belt the boxes lying in shingled form by an operator manually with both hands in one picked out about the right amount and one rod-shaped rows of folding boxes are formed, with which they are filled into the outer carton.

However, this manual method is disadvantageous on the one hand the lack of accuracy in the number of in the outer carton, on the other hand also no exact sampling according to a sampling plan, So according to a predetermined, statistically changing Number of packed folding boxes possible. At best can arbitrarily pack any folded box pulled from the outer packaging and the sample inspection be fed. This can then either be returned or replaced by another, similar folding box the number of folding boxes in the outer carton again roughly true.

In addition, the manual method is also the monotonous and ultimately inhumane burden on the operator due to the constant, described work process of picking out a stick of folding boxes and manual insertion in the outer carton needs improvement.

A certain remedy therefore creates a semi-automatic, sequential individual filling of the outer carton with pre-glued Folding boxes, although automated counting is possible is, as described for example in DE 30 18 894 A1 is, however, still sampling must be done by hand. In the well-known, sequential semi-automatic filling of the folding boxes into the outer carton without prior formation of sticks is also not a high one Quantity precision and no easily reproducible, definable Number of packaged folding boxes achievable.

Furthermore, the known from DE-30 18 894 A1 semi-automatic filling process disadvantageous that a Format change of the folding boxes to be packed very much is complex and in the range between 1 and 1.5 hours lies, so that only large batches make economic sense can be processed in this way. The same applies to a device for inserting folding box blanks or similar shipping boxes according to DT 22 61 416 B2.

DE 34 03 314 A1 describes a conveyor belt system with a essentially horizontal first conveyor and one then in a first section at an angle above and horizontally promoting in a second section Transfer belt provided. The transfer belt is not pivotable. A sampling device is not provided in the known device. Just as little is the optional funding on one of several to the Transfer belt subsequent switch belts provided.

DE 34 15 578 A1 cited at the outset discloses a method and a device for dividing a shingled stream from printed sheets in partial scales. Thereby is to a horizontal first conveyor belt around a horizontal one Axis pivotable second conveyor belt provided is designed as a switch and pivoted between two end positions can be. Close to the end positions of the switch two arranged one above the other in the vertical direction Transfer conveyor belts. In both end positions of the swiveling second conveyor belt is a continuous one Flow of printed sheets lying on top of one another in a scale-like manner intended. In particular, there is no damming up of the shingled stream intended. A disadvantage of all described above Conveyors is the lack of an opportunity automatable sampling. With all of these devices is a sampling at most in the Manual procedure described above possible, which in no way is exactly reproducible and large sources of error hides.

DE 195 02 676 A1 is a fully automatic one Sampling device with counting and marking unit known per se, but this is completely different as the generic conveying device described above. In particular, in this known device no swiveling lock belt and consequently also no sampling in the swung open state of the Lock band provided. Rather, the device according to DE 195 02 676 A1 sampling sideways out of the moving stream of shingles, whereby the technical problem arises, a precise coordination of the relative To accomplish movements, with which the DE 195 02 676 A1 busy.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is a To present conveyor of the type described at the outset, automated with simple technical measures Sampling allows without the Funding company for the flat goods to be transported significantly is disturbed.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that Area of the sluice belt a device for targeted Sampling of individual flat goods is provided, the samples in the swung-up state of the lock belt in the conveying direction of the sluice belt.

By swiveling the lock belt around the horizontal Axis is initially interrupted to promote flat goods and a pole at the end of the horizontal jam band pent up by flat goods. From this, with the help of Device for sampling in the conveying direction of the Sluice tape the desired sample is subtracted. With the sluice belt swung down, however, there is a Further promotion of the stream of shed over the sluice belt to another horizontal one that follows Conveyor belt.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention Conveyor has a magazine in which the samples taken, preferably in vertical Stacked, put down and thus for one direction Documentation or a proof of error in a suitable Form are available.

One is particularly preferred in the area of the lock belt Counting device for counting over the sluice belt funded flat goods provided to the each of the exact amount to be filled in the transport packaging to adhere to.

An embodiment of the invention is particularly preferred Conveyor device in which at least two parallel, essentially horizontal switch bands that are horizontal are displaceable transversely to their conveying direction, in connect to a shift position on the lock belt. This enables a tandem process that saves cycle times and an exact count of the packaged goods as well Fully automated sampling is easy Funds possible.

In a preferred embodiment, the jam band comprises and the turnout belts each have a twin belt with two parallel, spaced apart from one another transversely to the conveying direction Conveyor tracks, which is a high security against slipping out of the transported flat goods during the promotion on the hinge system offers a toothing to the lock hinge enables and when changing the format of the transported goods Makes adjustments unnecessary.

In a further development of this embodiment is in the area between the conveyor tracks at the end of the soft belt of the lock band and at the ends of the lock band the switch belts a device for coupling the lock belt provided on the respective turnout belt or vice versa. This allows you to change the switch band achieve a safe connection to the lock belt.

In a further advantageous development of those described above Embodiment of the filling device according to the invention is connected to the ends facing away from the sluice band each of the turnout belts is a stationary vertical station to accommodate those conveyed via the respective switch belt flat goods is provided. This collects those from the turnout belt transported goods at the end of each line and stores them appropriately.

The vertical station preferably contains one that can be connected and disconnected Gripper system in which the picked up flat goods can be stored in magazines and transported further.

This can advantageously during the mechanical coupling also an energy coupling to the gripper station be provided so that the gripper system without moving Energy supplies come from the positioning station.

A method also falls within the scope of the present invention to operate a conveyor, which is characterized by distinguishes that the flat goods in a stream of shed with the storage belt e.g. from a gluing machine continuously are removed and that the continuous stream of shingles either continued with the sluice belt swung down or with the sluice belt swung up on the sluice belt side End of the jam and thus one Rod of flat goods is formed and that an automatic Sampling from that supported by the congestion belt Scale flow of flat goods with the sluice belt swung up in the conveying direction of the sluice belt.

The storage belt serves on the one hand in cooperation with the swung-up sluice band to prepare one simple sampling, but on the other hand it works also as "temporary storage" for the removed goods. When the sluice belt is swung down, the dust band and Lock conveyor belt as pure conveyor belts for the transportation of flat goods in the stream of shed.

The conveyed in the conveying direction are preferably used flat goods are counted by means of a counting device.

According to a sampling plan, the promoted flow of counted flat goods a certain Pieces taken from the conveyor as a random sample become.

The samples taken are preferably automatic magazine and for example via electronic information storage documented so that unauthorized manipulation sampling can almost be excluded.

A particularly preferred variant of the invention The process is characterized in that when swung up Lock band the parallel switch bands across to her Direction of conveyance are shifted to another switch belt positioned at the corresponding end of the sluice band and when the sluice belt is swung down, the one from it promoted scale flow of flat goods and further promotes, which allows an arbitrarily controllable distribution from subsets of the shingled stream of flat goods to different ones Transport routes is made possible.

During the swung-up phase of the lock belt, but also an automatic sampling from the Conveyed stream of flat goods at the same time with or regardless of a change of the respective to the Lock band subsequent switch band take place.

Preferably, the sluice belt is conveyed after a preselected number of flat goods swung up so either sampling at a predetermined location or only by a certain, counted amount approached the respective turnout belt on flat goods then a band change or emptying of the filled switch band can take place.

Several gripper systems with holding devices are advantageous for the same and / or different formats of the flat goods available. Then in a preferred process variant after filling a gripper system this Unloading and an empty one in tandem Gripper system can be filled, so that no cycle time losses occur.

If the format of the flat goods is changed, this can be loaded Gripper system either automatically against such be replaced with a suitable holding device or the used holding device of the gripper system to be filled also automatically by regulated adjustment of the minimum distance from holding jaws acting in the x direction can be adapted to the new format without time-consuming and conversions requiring mechanical training are necessary.

The inventive method can be particularly advantageous insert if the transport packaging comes from a cardboard box exists that automatically by means of another gripper system is erected and assembled. With this further If required, the gripper system can also have one or more intermediate layers be mounted in the transport packaging, whereby own erection and assembly facility saved becomes.

Further advantages of the invention result from the description and the drawing. Likewise, the above mentioned and the features listed further according to the invention individually for themselves or for several in any Combinations are used. The shown and The embodiments described are not intended to be final Understand enumeration, but rather have exemplary Character for the description of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Draufsicht von oben auf eine automatische Befülleinrichtung mit der erfindungsgemäßen Fördervorrichtung;

Fig. 2a

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Förderbandsystems mit herabgeschwenktem Schleusenband;

Fig. 2b

das Förderbandsystem nach Fig. 2a schematisch von oben;

Fig. 2c

das Förderbandsystem nach Fig. 2a mit hochgeschwenktem Schleusenband;

Fig. 3a

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer stationären Vertikalstation mit angekoppeltem Wechselgreifersystem beim Befüllen;

Fig. 3b

ein Positioniersystem beim Andocken an das Wechselgreifersystem nach Fig. 3a; und

Fig. 3c

das Wechselgreifersystem nach Fig. 3b mit angedocktem Positioniersystem beim Ausführen einer Greifbewegung und Abdocken von der stationären Vertikalstation mit Hilfe des Positioniersystems.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic plan view from above of an automatic filling device with the conveyor device according to the invention;

Fig. 2a

a schematic side view of an embodiment of the conveyor belt system according to the invention with the sluice belt pivoted down;

Fig. 2b

the conveyor belt system of Figure 2a schematically from above.

Fig. 2c

the conveyor belt system of Figure 2a with the sluice belt swung up.

Fig. 3a

is a schematic side view of a stationary vertical station with an interchangeable gripper system when filling;

Fig. 3b

a positioning system when docking to the interchangeable gripper system according to Fig. 3a; and

3c

the interchangeable gripper system according to Fig. 3b with the docked positioning system when performing a gripping movement and undocking from the stationary vertical station with the help of the positioning system.

The filling device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used for filling from flat, row or scale-like, especially pre-glued, flat-lying folding boxes in a transport packaging, especially one Outer carton. To do this, the folding boxes in the shingled stream removed from a gluing machine 1 and via an intermediate belt 2 conveyed to a conveyor belt 3. The accumulation belt 3 promotes pre-glued, flat-lying folding boxes in a stream of shed to a lock belt 4 on which a counting device 5 for counting the funded boxes and one not shown in detail in the drawing Device 6 for targeted sampling of individual Folding boxes is provided.

At the other end of the lock belt 4, a switch belt closes 7, which is horizontal across its conveying direction is displaceable, so that an adjacent, parallel running switch belt 7 'in the place of the first switch belt 7 can kick. At the end of the switch strips 7, 7 ' is a vertical station 8, 8 'with a docked Interchangeable gripper system 9, 9 'positioned. As described in more detail below the interchangeable gripper systems 9, 9 'according to Filled with folding box or other flat goods from the respective stationary vertical station 8, 8 'by means of a positioning system provided in a robot cell 11 undocked and pivoted to a filling station 12 where them in a ready transport packaging 13 from above be filled in the form of a rod. Via a discharge roller belt 14 the filled transport packaging 13 then fed to a central conveyor belt 15 which it transported to a palletizer not shown in the drawing.

Outside of the robot cell 11 in spatial proximity to the filling station 12 is a station 16 for assembling the trays provided for the transport packaging 13. To straighten up Gluing and joining the outer boxes are done with a butterfly-like another gripper system 17, which has an automatic, central format adjustment, die cuts taken from a magazine 18 and for mounting on the Station 16 swiveled. The fully assembled transport packaging 13 is then with the further gripper system 17 Filling station 12 supplied.

Finally, intermediate layers can be on a cassette tape 19 provided and the assembly station 16 for further processing are supplied if several in the outer carton 13 rod-shaped layers of folding boxes packed up and apart should be separated.

The filling device 10 is used for automation and Humanization of operations related to a folder gluer Connect 1, namely the counts, sampling and fully automatic packaging of folding boxes. A robot cell 11 is used here, which acts with two main functional groups:

A first axis system takes a blank from the magazine 18 for a tray. With the help of the butterfly claw 17 the side and front parts are assembled. The gluing and erecting a reinforcement front then happens in the Assembly station 16. The finished tray is then opened the filling station 12, which is also the second functional group can be assigned.

As soon as the first axis system is out of the area of the filling station 12 has removed, another axis system with start packing the boxes. In a tandem process with the help of the semi-stationary magazine grippers 9, 9 'rods of folding boxes packed in the tray.

If intermediate layers are required, the first functional group comes engaged again. With the butterfly claw 17 the appropriate intermediate layers are prepared and used.

The empty magazine gripper is in the second function group 9 or 9 'covered and by the now filled second magazine gripper 9 'or 9 replaced so that by the filling process of the outer carton 13 no loss of cycle time arise.

FIGS. 2a to 2c show how an inventive method works Conveyor belt system 30 shown, which one Storage belt 33, a lock belt 34 and two horizontally across switch belts 37, 37 'which can be displaced in relation to their conveying direction includes.

The folding boxes leave according to Fig. 1 in the shingled stream the gluing machine 1 on an intermediate belt 2 with her Adhesive seam along or preferably across the direction of transport. From the intermediate belt 2 they then reach the storage belt 3, 33, where they are buffered in time or space. At the end of the storage belt 33, the folding boxes run against it Lock belt 34 at where it is jammed and pulled upwards become. The lock belt 34 is generated from the tightly closed Folding boxes an exact stream of shingles. The Folding boxes in the shingled stream are made using the counting device 35 automatically counted individually.

In Fig. 2a, the lock belt 34 is swung down State shown in which the tightly folded boxes, the upper edges of which are moved vertically Top plate 32 are kept at the same height from the stowage belt 33 deducted and with the help of an upper take-off belt 31 the turnout belt 37 are fed.

This stops after a preselected number of folding boxes Lock belt 34 and swings open, as shown in Fig. 2c is. Then during the swung-open phase, how shown in Fig. 2b, the switch band 37 by a transverse movement moved away from its funding position and in its place the switch belt 37 'arranged parallel to it into the conveying position be pushed. After the change, the lock band can 34 then swivel down again and the Transport of folding boxes can now be done via the switch belt 37 'to be continued.

Sampling by means of device 36 is in progress according to the same scheme. From a control device comes the message that a folding box with a certain Number X should be taken as a sample. The sluice band 34 then stops the folding box scale stream and pivots, as shown in Fig. 2c, so that the corresponding Folding box with the number X is released. This is then from an upper band of the device 36 Sampling that is in the pivoted position of the sluice belt 34 directly adjoins this, deducted and in a not shown in the drawing Magazine filed where the sample is processed further or can be examined. Also a documentary, in particular by means of electronic data acquisition conceivable.

The counter 35 can, for example, be a laser copy counter be like him specifically for newspaper counting, Magazines or single sheets in a stream of shingles come across, was developed. Such a counter is characterized by a large measuring range of approx. 70mm, the detection of the finest edges in the range 0.1 mm and a high processing speed. Analog electronics is trimmed to the high processing speed. In a prototype of the conveyor belt system according to the invention could count over 360,000 copies per hour, what corresponds to a counting rate of 100 folding boxes per second. A built-in microprocessor monitors the counting process and can produce unwanted double or multiple impulses, such as occur with a pre-fold, suppress.

The accumulation belt 35 in the conveyor belt system 30 consists of a Twin band, as well as the two turnout bands 37 and 37 ', which on a base frame with linear guide and drive for Lane changes are established. The lock band 34 includes one Timing belt with central drive, which is about 20 ° in height is pivotable. The trigger belt 31 as well as the upper belts for sampling in the device 36 twin belts with two parallel conveyor tracks.

In Figures 3a to 3c the path of the scale flow is from to be packed, pre-glued and flat-lying folding boxes shown over the switch band 47. 3a is a stationary vertical station 48 from the turnout belt 47 with folding boxes filled from below. During the filling process the vertical station 48 lowers automatically, for example weight-controlled or based on a counting pulse from the Counter device 35 in the downward direction of the arrow.

As soon as the vertical station 48 is filled, the conveyor stops 47 on and an arm of a positioning system 41 pivots and docks on the gripper system 49 via one Base unit 49 '' mechanically, energetically and possibly sensorially as indicated in Fig. 3b.

3c finally shows a gripping movement of the gripper system 49 by moving its two gripper jaws 49 'in Arrow direction up or down to the stacked Folding boxes in a bar shape along the bar axis (y-direction) with a defined force. Then the positioning system 41 pulls the gripper system 49 together with the folding box bar from the stationary vertical station 48 and conveys it to that in FIG. 1 Filling station 12 shown, the base unit 49 '' of the gripper system 49 mechanically and energetically from the Vertical station 48 is uncoupled.

Claims (10)

1. Transport means for supplying flat goods to e.g. a transport packing (13), comprising a substantially horizontal retaining band (3;33) for transportir g the flat goods in a shedding flow e.g. from a gluing machine (1), and for temporary buffering of the flat goods, and a channelling band (4;34) joining the retaining band (3;33), with upward transport and being pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis approximately at the height of the retaining band (3;33), characterized in that, in the region of the channelling band (4;34), a means (6;36) is provided for specific random test of individual flat goods which can remove random samples in the transport direction of the channelling band (4;34) in the upwardly pivoted state of the channelling band (4;34).
2. Transport means according to claim 1, characterized in that a magazine is provided in which the removed random samples can be piled preferably in the vertical direction.
3. Transport means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the region of the channelling band (4;34), a counting means (5;35) is provided for counting the flat goods supplied via the channelling band (4;34).
4. Transport means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two parallel, substantially horizontally extending deflector bands (7,7';37,37';47) which can be displaced in a horizontal direction transverse to their feed direction join the channelling band (4;34) in a displacement position.
5. Transport means according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining band (3;33) and the deflector bands (7,7';37,37';47) comprise a twin-band with two parallel supply tracks which are separated from one another transverse to the transport direction.
6. Transport means according to claim 5, characterized in that in the region between the supply tracks on the deflector-band sided end of the channelling band (4;34) and on the channelling band-sided ends of the deflector bands (7,7';37,37';47) a means is provided for coupling the channelling band (4;34) to the respective deflector band (7;37;47).
7. Method for operating a transport means according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat goods are continuously removed in a shedding flow with the retaining band (3;33) e.g. from a gluing machine (1) and that the continuous shedding flow is either further supplied with pivoted-down channelling bard (4;34) or retained with upwardly pivoted channelling band (4;34) on the channelling-band-sided end of the retaining band (3;33) thereby forming a bar of flat goods and tiat random samples are taken automatically from the shedding flow of flat goods tran sported by the retaining band (3;33) with pivoted-up channelling band (4;34) in the tran sport direction of the channelling band.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the flat goods which are supplied via the transport means are counted by a counting device (5;35), that the channelling band (4;34) is pivoted upwards after transporting a predetermined number of flat goods, and a certain piece of the flat goods is automatically removed from the transport means as a random sample, from the supplied flow of counted f at goods according to a random test schedule.
9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the removed random samples are automatically magazined and documented preferably via electronic information storage.
10. Method according to any one of the claims 7 through 9 for operating a transport means in accordance with any one of the claims 4 through 6, characterized in that in the upwardly pivoted state of the channelling band (4;34), the parallel deflector bands (7,7';37,37') are displaced transverse to their supply direction, another deflector band (7';37') is positioned at the corresponding end of the channelling band (434) which in the downwardly pivoted state of the channelling band (4;34) receives and conveys the shedding flow of flat goods transported thereby, wherein in the upwardly pivoted state of the channelling band (4;34) a random test is taken automatically by the means (6;36).

Images