EP0936992B1 - Device for packing wrappers feeding in a filling machine to fill liquid foodstuff in multilayer composite packings - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for feeding packing wrappers in a filling machine to fill liquid foodstuffs in multilayer composite packings, wherein the filling machine comprises multiple parallel-running filling lanes (F), and wherein the operator is relieved of certain tasks and the feeding of the packing wrappers is reliably performed semi-automatically or even fully automatically. This is done by a manipulator (1) that grasps one bundle (P) of packing wrappers each time and conveys it to a given filling lane (F), wherein the manipulator (1) can be displaced in a parallel direction in a horizontal plane and perpendicular to the filling lanes (F) and is fitted with means to grasp and deliver the bundles (P).

Description

The invention relates to a device for feeding Packing jackets in a filling machine for filling liquid food in multi-layer composite packaging, the filling machine having several parallel ones Filling lines.

Multi-layer composite packs, in particular cuboid Multi-layer composite packaging, in particular as Sales units of drinks generally known. she always sit down due to their favorable energy balance more against beverage bottles, also reusable beverage bottles, by. With these cuboid Multi-layer composite packs are made from one Hose made and only separated after filling and others that are made of folding grooves and glued together into a packing jacket Package blanks are made. The Production of the finished packaging base only immediately before filling.

Filling machines for filling liquid food in such multilayer composite packages are from the DE 41 42 167 C2 known. These well-known filling machines assign a number to the amount of filling lines appropriate magazines for feeding the packaging sleeves on. Because the filling machines regularly at the bottler stand, according to the wishes of the bottler printed prefabricated packing sleeves from the manufacturer the pack is first packed, with a given Number of packaging sleeves folded flat on each other in a package, which from a box as outer packaging is held together, is transported to the bottler. It goes without saying that with this type of Transport the available transport space almost Can be used 100%. The individual boxes with the packaging jacket packages contained therein are included stacked on euro pallets to load and unload the To facilitate or accelerate trucks.

In the known filling machine, it is necessary depalletized and still with the carton to remove packing sleeves from their outer packaging and in packages to the magazine or magazines of Feed filling machine. Since the bottling regularly with high speed must always be ensured be that the magazines are adequately packaged are loaded to a standstill of the filling machine reliably excluded. This makes the permanent Use of an operator is necessary.

GB 2 203 723 A is a transport system for Packaging blanks known, in which the successive lying stacked packaging blanks from a warehouse placed on a conveyor belt. The transport system provides a gripping device for this purpose, which is located on move a connector perpendicular to the conveyor belt can. This connector is in turn on his both ends connected with two rails, one lateral movement of the connector along the Enable conveyor belt.

EP 0 597 549 A1 describes a special one Design of a gripper for the transport of Packaging blanks, which enables a number of Packaging blanks from a larger stack of to remove stacked packaging blanks. For this purpose, the desired one is in the upper part of the stack Number of packaging blanks shifted laterally and then picked up by the gripper.

The known transport systems are for use in Filling machines for filling liquid food only conditionally applicable. For one thing, it is with the known ones Transport systems not possible, upright Transport packing sleeves. On the other hand, they have either a large build volume or one for gripping upright packaging sleeves unnecessary complexity.

The present invention is therefore based on the object based on a device for feeding upright standing packaging sleeves in a filling machine Filling liquid food into To create multi-layer composite packs that the Operator relieved and a semi-automatic or even fully automatic feeding of the package jacket packages reliably guaranteed.

This object is achieved by a manipulator with a gripping unit for gripping one package at a time from upright packaging sleeves and handing over to solved a certain filling line, the gripping unit in a horizontal plane in the direction of the filling lines is movable and can be pivoted transversely thereto and means for Clamping and handing over the packages. According to the invention, the packages no longer have to individual magazines of the different filling lines are fed, but only the manipulator, the then depending on the actual magazine filling the distribution of the packages in the respective least filled magazine takes over. Due to the movability in a horizontal plane and a pivotability transversely this is the gripping unit for a quick Appropriate procedure.

Another teaching of the invention provides that the Manipulator has a driving unit that at least a rail can be moved longitudinally parallel to the filling lines is. In addition, the manipulator expediently a swivel unit that is relatively to the above-mentioned driving unit in a horizontal plane is pivotable. This way, during the Feeding to the magazines of the individual filling lines the packages are pivoted to the side package held by the manipulator to the respective one Feed magazine.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that as a means of gripping at least on the filling machine side two hinged clamping plates are provided, which side front edges of a package against an am press end attacking the other end of the package to press. In this way it is reliably guaranteed that the - initially compressible - package is so strong is squeezed that it is safe from the manipulator can be handled.

When the magazines are actually filled, this is important make sure that the front packing sleeves of the Not the package or the last packaging jacket of the magazine tip over as this is a manual intervention or in In extreme cases, the filling machine even stops would pull. For this reason, in further preferred embodiment of the invention for a safe Handing over the package of press stamps relative to Swivel unit of the manipulator in the direction of Filling lines designed to be longitudinally movable. This is reliably ensures that when the machine is stationary Manipulator the package from the Press stamp with the feed rate of the Packing jackets fed to the filling machine are moved on until it is completely in the magazine of the filling machine has arrived and the "tilt protection" of the last Packing jackets are taken over by the magazine.

It is particularly advantageous from a construction point of view if a further teaching of the invention, the clamping plates and the press stamp directly on the swivel unit are articulated. To reach a side Swiveling looks another preferred Formation of the invention that the swivel unit arranged one behind the other by means of two feed directions Swivel arms can be moved parallel to the drive unit is articulated. This is advantageously only one of the swivel arms driven and the other Swivel arm with this rotary driven first swivel arm positively coupled. This makes it reliable prevent that from the starting movement in the dead center a malfunction regarding the parallelism of the Swivel unit can occur. Can as a forced coupling well-known construction elements such as chains, belts or the like.

Now the device according to the invention as long as possible without supervision can work by operating personnel, sees another Embodiment of the invention that the device Storage for a plurality of packets is connected upstream. It is particularly advantageous here if the memory is one of the number of filling lines having a number of storage spaces which in each case a plurality of pack-shell packages be able to record. It is particularly useful if this Storage spaces extend vertically so that the Manipulator, which is in the level of the filling lines the packets to be fed are passed from below can be. The storage spaces expediently have a plurality of movable storage units for recording of the packages on.

Finally, see further developments of the invention before that the device a device for Depalletizing is upstream and / or that the Device means for removing the outer carton Have package jacket package. That way, ever according to the wishes and the spatial conditions of the Bottler, a modular structure possible to the device according to the invention fully automatically or to be able to operate semi-automatically.

Fig. 1

die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in Stirnansicht,

Fig. 3

die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in schematischer, dreidimensionaler Darstellung und

Fig. 4

den eigentlichen Übergabevorgang eines Packungsmantel-Paketes in einzelnen Schrittdarstellungen.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing which represents only one preferred exemplary embodiment. Show in the drawing

Fig. 1

the device according to the invention in side view,

Fig. 2

the device according to the invention in front view,

Fig. 3

the device according to the invention in a schematic, three-dimensional representation and

Fig. 4

the actual transfer process of a package jacket package in individual step representations.

1 and 2 are two views of a preferred one Embodiment of the present invention shown. The device according to the invention a manipulator 1, which consists essentially of a Driving unit 2, which is parallel to the filling lines F of the only indicated filling machine running rails 3 is movable and there is a swivel unit 4. in the illustrated embodiment has the filling machine four filling lines F.

3 shows the structure of the actual manipulator 1 clearly stands out. With those shown there Double arrows are the movements of drive unit 2 and Swivel unit 4 shown schematically. The exact Position of the manipulator 1 is only about indicated odometer and to whom the Feed control microprocessor reported. As a means for gripping a package P, the swivel unit 4 on the filling machine side, two hinged clamping plates 5, which opposes the lateral front edges of the package P one attacking at the other end of package P. Press stamp 6. This stamp 6 is how indicated by an arrow, relative to the swivel unit 4 of the manipulator 1 in the direction of the filling line F designed to be longitudinally movable.

In order to be able to pivot the swivel unit 4 laterally can be reached relative to driving unit 2 in illustrated and preferred embodiment two in Swing arms 7 arranged one behind the other and 7 'are provided. The rotation of the Swivel arm 7 immediately by one not closer designated rotary motor. So there are no problems in terms of rotation from or over the Dead center position, both swivel arms 7 and 7 ' by an unspecified transmission medium positively coupled. This way is a reliable one parallel pivoting of the swivel unit 4 guaranteed.

1 and 2 also show that the device according to the invention a memory 8 for recording a plurality of packets P is connected upstream. The memory 8 expediently faces vertically extending storage spaces A, B, C, D, each accommodate a plurality of packing jacket packages P. can. Each storage space A, B, C, D has stacked storage units 9, so that the packages P located there from below the manipulator 1 can be fed. It is easy to see that by connecting a memory 8 upstream a longer one Operation of the filling machine is possible without a Operator constantly packets P in the magazine M the Filling machine must insert. The operator is therefore standing for longer periods of time for other tasks Available.

The actual transfer of one from manipulator 1 carried package P is in successive Steps shown schematically in Fig. 4:

It is in five consecutive steps that schematically shows a plan view of the manipulator 1 worn package P and the corresponding magazine M the Filling machine shown, with the clarity for the sake of illustration on a single filling line is limited.

In the first step, the packet P is not shown swivel unit by the attached Clamping plates 5 and the press stamp 6 held and it there is a feed in the direction of the arrow on the Magazine M of the filling machine. While in magazine M the Filling machine on the right side a firm stop the last packing sleeves (on the left side) by means of clamping plates belonging to magazine M. 10 secured against tipping over. Because on the right packaging sleeves are continuously removed, the clamping plates 10 move according to the Withdrawal speed to the right. A schematic only The odometer 11 shown indicates when a predetermined minimum level of the magazin M reached is. This manipulated variable is used by a microprocessor processed and ensures that the swivel unit with the clamped package P up to the magazine M approaches, as shown in the second step. In in this position, the two pairs of clamping plates 5, 6 by means of bolts 12 which are only shown schematically locked and the clamping plates 5, 10 from the area of The packaging sleeves swung out, as in step 3 shown. The stamp 6 ensures that necessary tracking of the packing sleeves in the Magazin M. For this purpose, as already stated, the punch 6 relative to the swivel unit 4 of the Manipulator 1 executed longitudinally.

Step 3 further shows that after the Press stamp 6 for the further transport of the refilled Packing jackets ensures, the driving unit 2 as far is retracted that the clamping plate pairs 5, 10 in the extreme (left) position of the magazine M to stand come. This position is shown in step 4. There are then the swing flaps 10 back in the Packing jacket cross section swung in and take over the backward hold of those in magazine M. Package jackets, as can be clearly seen in step 4. The press ram 6 is relieved and the Clamping plates 5 unlocked from the clamping plates 10, so that the entire swivel unit 4 for receiving the next one Package P can be moved from the magazine M.

By the odometer 11, the for each magazine existing filling lines F are available ensures that - in conjunction with a appropriately programmed microprocessor - always that "Empty" magazine with the next one from manipulator 1 to Packing jacket package P supplied becomes.

Claims (14)

1. A device for feeding packing sheaths to a filling machine to fill liquid foodstuffs in multi-layer composite packings, wherein the filling machine exhibits several parallel filling lines, characterized by a manipulator (1) with a gripping unit to grip one respective packet (P) of standing packing sheaths and transferring it to a specific filling line (F), wherein the gripping unit can be moved in a horizontal plane in the direction of the filling lines (F) and swiveled transverse thereto, and exhibits means for securing and transferring the packets (P).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the manipulator (1) exhibits a traveling unit (2) that can be moved lengthwise on at least on a rail (3) parallel to the filling lines (F).
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the manipulator (1) exhibits a swiveling unit (4) that can be swiveled in a horizontal plane relative to the traveling unit (2).
4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that at least two swiveling clamping plates (5) on the filling machine side as the securing means are provided, wherein these plates press the lateral front edges of a packet (P) against a pressing stamp (6) acting on the other end of the packet (P).
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the pressing stamp (6) can be moved lengthwise in the direction of the filling lines (F) relative to the swiveling unit (4) of the manipulator (1).
6. The device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized by the fact that the clamping plates (5) and pressing stamp (6) are hinged to the swiveling unit (4).
7. The device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized by the fact that the swiveling unit (4) is hinged to the traveling unit (2) in such a way that it can shift parallel by means of two swiveling arms (7, 7') situated one in back of the other in the supply direction.
8. The device according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that one of the swiveling arms (7) is motor-driven, and the other swiveling arm (7') is positively connected with it.
9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that the device is connected in series to a storage device (8) for receiving numerous packets (P).
10. The device according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the storage device (8) exhibits a number of storage spaces (A, B, C, D) corresponding to the number of filling lines, which can each hold numerous packets (P).
11. The device according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the storage spaces (A, B, C, D) extend vertically.
12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the fact that the storage spaces (A, B, C, D) exhibit numerous moveable storage units (9) for holding the packets.
13. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that the device is connected in series with a device for removing pallets.
14. The device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the fact that the device exhibits means for removing the outside cardboard of a packet.

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