EP1118543B1 - Method and apparatus for automatically opening and emptying closed cartons for rod-like articles from the tabacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The method comprises opening the top of a container; moving the container from one level to a different second level; and then causing the container to change its orientation from one orientation in which the products are located below the opened top to a second orientation in which the products are evacuated through the opened top by gravity flow. Independent claims are included for apparatus for automatically manipulating initially closed containers containing smokers' products.

Description

The invention relates to a method for automatic opening and Emptying closed boxes for rod - shaped articles tobacco processing industry and a device for automatic Opening of closed boxes for rod - shaped articles tobacco processing industry.

Such a method or device are according to Knowledge of the applicant from the prior art is not known. US-A 4,661,034 shows one method and one Device for the automatic emptying of cartons for rod-shaped Articles of the tobacco processing industry, for boxes where the opening section is a can be swiveled on one side with the respective box connected lid, being a box in one Picking up a lifting device from which Lifting device raised after fully opening to one Pass swivel frame and for emptying in the Swivel frame is pivoted about 180 °. Doing so already partially open cartons processed. Furthermore, for example from FR-A-2765554 a device for automatic opening of sealed cartons provided with an opening section for Rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry known, in which a suction device assigned to a conveying path of the cartons for Suction and opening of the opening portion of the carton provided is.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for emptying opened boxes for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry Industry with a holder for a lifting device at least one carton.

Such devices are from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 56-52880 and 57-28640. Both disclosures show each have the same functions Devices of the type mentioned above, in which with filter rods filled boxes in an open state on a feed conveyor a recording of a lifting device become. The lifting device lifts the respective carton with the help of the holder in a swing frame. The swivel frame can be swiveled through 180 °, to empty the respective carton. Then he is on his head standing cardboard pushed out of the swivel frame so that he lying one Can slide down to be removed.

Based on this prior art, it was the task of the present Invention to provide a device of the type mentioned above that requires fewer staff.

This task did solved that a device for automatic opening of closed, with an opening section provided cartons for rod-shaped articles of tobacco processing Industry is provided according to claim 5. In addition, that of the above The method on which the invention is based claims independent protection.

The advantage of the present invention is, in particular, that due to the automatic opening of the opening sections of the cartons upon opening Hand can be dispensed with.

The device according to the invention has a suction device on which of a first, the lid in its closed position detecting position by about 180 ° together with the detected cover in one second position holding the lid is pivotable to open the lid to be able to. In this way, the lid is completely outside the plane of the through the lid closable opening of the box, so that the lid the Can in no way hinder access to this opening. This is particularly so then advantageous if temporarily a sword on the then exposed opening is pivoted to at least temporarily close this opening again.

In a further advantageous embodiment is on the side of the receptacle for the box to which the lid is also pivoted by the suction device Spring plate provided, which has a thickening at its end, behind what thickening of the lid when swinging open by means of the suction device can snap into place. This ensures that the lid is in the 180 ° pivoted position remains. This spring plate to hold the lid back preferably moves upwards together with the receptacle in the lifting device Direction on the swivel frame for emptying the carton can also be designed to be fixed.

In another variant of the invention, in particular for cardboard lids it is suitable which lugs have tabs which are in the closed position of the lid in the side walls of the box, is opened when the Automatically cover each tab pulled out of the side walls of the box also pivoted through 180 °. In this way, also regarding the Tabs ensured that this the emptying of the box or the further Processing - for example by using the sword mentioned above for temporary Closing the opening - do not hinder. It is advantageous if a Swivel lever is provided, which is in contact with at least when the lid is open one of the tabs can be brought to the at least one tab in one of the Swivel cardboard in the direction pointing. The swivel lever can Actively swivel tabs or it can act passively by in the conveying path the cartons is arranged so that the tabs automatically against the Swivel levers run and are thus pushed back.

In order to continue to ensure with the aforementioned tabbed lids, that this is not even during the lifting process by the lifting device swiveling back towards the lid is another one Embodiment of the invention, the lifting device with lateral guides for the boxes provide which guides in their distance to the respective box are arranged so that they are the at least one of the pivot lever pivoted tab during the lifting of the carton by means of the lifting device press towards the box so that the tab is at least maintains its degree of pivoting caused by the pivoting lever. In this way, the respective tab also comes in this embodiment during the lifting process does not return to its original and thus disruptive position.

In another embodiment of the invention, a feed conveyor is for feeding of closed boxes provided for the reception, which feeder with a second suction device and a sensor is fitted to the boxes to be recorded on the feed path and, when a carton is picked up, the following Use the suction device to temporarily stop the box to remove the separate cardboard from the following cardboard boxes. That way ensured that only a single box in the receptacle of the lifting device device.

Another embodiment has a discharge conveyor along the discharge path arranged friction elements, in particular brush elements. These serve to empty the cartons, which is therefore a higher focus have to be able to discharge in an upright position on the discharge path. This facilitates further processing of the boxes.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the subclaims specified.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG accompanying drawing described.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Öffnen und Entleeren von Kartons für stabförmige Artikel der tabakverarbeitenden Industrie;

Fig. 2

eine Frontalansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt A in der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3b

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt A in der Fig. 2;

Fig. 4a

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt B in der Fig. 1;

Fig. 4b

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt B in der Fig. 2;

Fig. 5a

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt C in der Fig. 1;

Fig. 5b

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt C in der Fig. 2;

Fig. 6a

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt D in der Fig. 1;

Fig. 6b

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt D in der Fig. 2;

Fig. 7a

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt E in der Fig. 1;

Fig. 7b

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt E in der Fig. 2;

Fig. 8a

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt F in der Fig. 1; und

Fig. 8b

eine Detailansicht gemäß dem Ausschnitt F in der Fig. 2.

The figures show:

Fig. 1

a side view of an inventive device for opening and emptying boxes for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry;

Fig. 2

a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3a

a detailed view according to section A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3b

a detailed view according to section A in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4a

a detailed view according to section B in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4b

a detailed view according to section B in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5a

a detailed view according to section C in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5b

a detailed view according to section C in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6a

a detailed view according to section D in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6b

a detailed view according to section D in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7a

a detailed view according to section E in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7b

a detailed view according to section E in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8a

a detailed view according to section F in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8b

3 shows a detailed view according to section F in FIG. 2.

Fig. 1 shows an inventive device 1 for opening and emptying Cartons 2 for filter rods (not shown). The device 1 has a frame 4 which has 6 feet. The feet 6 stand on a dashed line Floor 8. The frame 4 carries all the facilities described below Device 1.

The cartons 2 are placed on a feed belt 10 serving as a feed conveyor, which is provided with side guides 12 for the cartons 2, towards one Lifting device 14 promoted. For this purpose, the conveyor belt 10 with the help a motor 16 driven by a drive wheel 18 and deflection rollers 20. The Cartons 2 are in an upright position on the conveyor belt 10.

Shortly before reaching a receptacle 22 for the cartons 2, the cartons 2 of a suction device connected to a vacuum device, not shown 24 sucked in as soon as a sensor, not shown, detects that a box 2 the Suction device 24 has passed. For suction, the suction device 24 in Towards the cartons 2 extendable suction cups 26. This suction device 24 with the suction cups 26 and the carton 2 in the holding position is shown as section A of FIG. 1 again enlarged in FIG. 3a. there the side guide 12 of the conveyor belt 10 is shown partially interrupted, to represent the standing of the carton 2 on the conveyor belt 10.

2 shows in section A the suction device 24 and the suction cups 26 in a frontal view. This section A of FIG. 2 is also enlarged in FIG. 3b shown.

After being separated by the suction device 24, the cutout is made accordingly A held on cardboard 2 leading cardboard 2 received in the receptacle 22, by pressing against the holding plate 28 of the receptacle 22 from the conveyor belt 10 is driven. As the frontal view of FIG. 2 shows, the conveyor belt 10 divided in two. In this way it is possible that the receptacle 22 with the help of Lifting device 14 with the carton 2 together through the conveying plane of the Conveyor belt 10 can be lifted through. For this purpose, the Lifting device 14 has an arm 30 on which the carton 2 in the receptacle 22 comes to rest.

Before lifting the box 2 using the lifting device 14 or the arm 30, a lid 32 of the carton 2 is opened with the aid of a suction device 34. The suction device 34 can be seen in section C of FIG. 1 and also in the corresponding Fig. 5a, which shows the section C of Fig. 1. 5b shows the corresponding side view of section C, as he in the Frontal view of Fig. 2 can be seen. The suction device 34 also has Suction cups 36 for contacting and lifting the lid 32 of the carton 2. With the aid of the suction device 34 which can be pivoted about an axis 38 according to FIG. 5b can then the lid 32 of the carton 2 by 180 ° in dashed lines in Fig. 5a pivot position 40 shown.

5a, the cover 32 swung open by the suction device 34 is shown in FIG a projection 46 attached to the end 42 of a spring plate 44 is held, by the spring plate 44 snaps back when the cover 32 of the Suction device 34 is pivoted into position 40.

Fig. 5b shows that the projection 46 and the spring plate 44 in two parts is executed (see the dashed lines behind the box 2 of Fig. 5b).

The cover 32 also has tabs 48 which are in the side walls 50 of boxes 2. When opening the lid 32 using the suction device 34, the tabs 48 are pulled out of the side walls 50 of the cartons 2. After completing the pivoting process and locking the lid 32 in the 5a with 40 designated position under the projection 46 of the spring plate 44 the lids protrude upwards according to line 52. To meet the requirements of 52 protruding tabs below the level of the open 40 To press cover 32, a lever 54 is provided. The lever 54 has a pin 56 on, which acts as a barb for the upstanding tab according to line 52 48 serves. This lever 54 is pivotable about an axis 58 on a plate 60 attached. With the help of the lever 54, the tabs 48 can be according to the in FIG. 5b passively pivot lines 62 shown in broken lines. That the lever 54 acts only passively on the tabs 48.

Then the opened carton 2 is lifted in with the aid of the lifting device 14 a swing frame 64 is raised where it is held by angle brackets 66. The angle brackets 66 are in accordance with the sections D of FIGS. 1 and 2 in FIGS. 6a and 6b are shown enlarged. Lateral guides 90 prevent the Snap tabs 48 back because of the mutual distance between the guides 90 is dimensioned such that the tabs once pressed down by the lever 54 48 Grind the guides 90 when lifting the box 2.

Then the carton 2, which according to the section E of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the Swing frame 64 is also held from above with the help of angles 68 and 70 (see FIGS. 7a and 7b), pivoted into the position 72 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. In position 72, the carton 2 is thus about 180 ° with respect to Position of the carton 2 pivoted in the receptacle 22 so that the content of the Cartons 2 from filter rods in a receptacle 74 for a mass flow for Can pour filter rods.

Then the emptied carton 2 is pivoted back about 180 ° so that an enlarged according to sections F in FIGS. 1 and 2 in FIGS. 8a and 8b shown picker 76 remove the boxes 2 from the swivel frame 64 and can discharge on a discharge path 78. The discharge path 78 is also included lateral guides 80 provided. There are 80 on the side guides in addition brushes 82, which contact the carton 2 on the side walls 50 and keep him in an upright position despite the increased center of gravity due to the emptying hold. The pickup 76 is actuated by a hydraulic 84.

Claims (12)

1. A method of automatically opening and emptying closed boxes (2) for rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, in particular for boxes (2) in which the opening portion is a lid (32) connected pivotably at one side to the respective box (2), comprising the following steps:

   a closed box (2) is moved into a receiving means (22) of an elevator device (14) for the box (2),

   the closed box (2) is automatically opened,

   the opened box (2) is lifted by the elevator device (14),

   the opened box (2) is transferred from the elevator device (14) to a pivotal frame (64), and

   the opened box (2) is pivoted approximately through 180° for emptying thereof in the pivotal frame (64).
2. A method according to claim 1 comprising the following step:

   before being moved into the elevator device (14) the closed box (2) is separated to constitute an individual item from a row of closed boxes (2).
3. A method according to one of the preceding claims wherein the box (2) has a lid (32) which is provided with side flap portions (48), which flap portions (48) fit into the side walls (50) of the box (2) when the box (2) is closed,
   comprising the following steps:

   the closed box (2) is opened by automatic opening of the lid (32), and

   the side flap portions (48) which are pulled out of the side walls (50) of the box upon opening of the lid (32) are automatically pivoted through about 180°.
4. A method according to one of the preceding claims comprising the following further steps:

   the emptied box (2) is pivoted back through about 180° in the pivotal frame (64), and

   the emptied box (2) is removed from the pivotal frame (64) in the upright position and conveyed away.
5. Apparatus for automatically opening closed boxes (2) provided with an opening portion (32), for rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, for boxes (2) in which the opening portion is a lid (32) connected pivotably at one side to the respective box (2), comprising a suction device (34) associated with a conveyor path of the boxes (2), for sucking and opening the opening portion (32) of the boxes (2), wherein the suction device (34) is pivotable from a first position of engaging the lid (32) in its closed position through about 180° together with the engaged lid (32) into a second position of holding the lid (32) open, in order to be able to open the lid (32).
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a retaining device which is preferably in the form of a spring plate (44, 46) is arranged in the region of the suction device (34) in such a way that in the second position the lid (32) can snap into same in order to hold the lid (32) in the second position.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 for boxes (2) in which the lid (32) is provided with side flap portions (48), which flap portions (48) in the closed position of the lid (32) fit into side walls (50) of the box (2), wherein there is provided at least one pivotal lever (54) which, when the lid (32) is opened, can be brought into contact with at least one of the side flap portions (48) in order to pivot the at least one side flap portion (48) in a direction away from the box (2).
8. Apparatus for emptying opened boxes (2) for rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising
      a receiving means (22) for at least one box (2), the receiving means being associated with an elevator device for lifting the boxes (2), and
      a pivotal frame (64) for emptying the boxes (2), which pivotal frame can be reached for the boxes (2) by means of the elevator device (14),
      characterised by an apparatus according to one of claims 5 to 7.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the suction device (34) is arranged in the region of the receiving means (22) so that a box (2) disposed in the receiving means can be opened.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the elevator device (14) has lateral guides (90) arranged along the lifting path of movement of the elevator device (14), for the at least one box (2) disposed in the receiving means of the elevator device (14), which guides (90) are so arranged in respect of their spacing relative to the respective box (2) that they urge the at least one side flap portion (48) which is pivoted by the pivotal lever (54) towards the box (2) during the lifting of the box (2) by means of the elevator device (14), in such a way that the side flap portion (48) maintains at least its degree of pivotal movement which was caused by the pivotal lever (54).
11. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 10 comprising a feed conveyor (10) for feeding the closed boxes (2) to the receiving means (22), wherein provided at the feed conveyor (10) is at least one laterally arranged second suction device (24) and a sensor for detecting boxes (2), which second suction device (24), when a box (2) is detected by the sensor, can temporarily suctionally engage the subsequent box (2).
12. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 to 11 and comprising a removal conveyor (76) for conveying the emptied boxes (2) away along a removal conveyor path, wherein provided at the removal conveyor (76) is at least one friction element, in particular a brush element (82), arranged laterally along the removal conveyor path (78), in order to move the emptied boxes (2) in an upright position on the removal conveyor path (78).

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