EP1357037B1 - Apparatus and method for feeding packaging material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a feeding device of a packaging device and a Method for feeding packaging material for packaging small-sized articles.

Wherever a large number of similar or different items are individually packed before they are transported to their destination There is a need for effective packaging devices and procedures with the help of even large quantities of articles to be packed in a short time Time can be packed or wrapped.

Conventionally, packaging machines or devices are used for this, in which so-called feeders are integrated or upstream, the separation of the articles to be packaged and / or their delivery to the take over the actual packaging device. It is also common that the same or other feeders provide the packaging material, in that the items are inserted or wrapped.

In particular, if articles from the consumer or food sector or other It may be necessary to use the items with small items to package To wrap several packaging layers. However, also optical reasons speak for a product with several layers of the same or different Wrap wrapping material.

This has conventionally been done in several separate steps those on a first packaging machine with a first packaging material wrapped product in a second step another packaging machine was fed, in which the already simply wrapped product with a second wrapping material was wrapped again.

However, this procedure is very costly and space consuming, because to appropriate To ensure cycle times, two complete packaging lines in a row had to be switched.

It has also been proposed that the packaging process in a single pass at a To carry out packaging machine, the packaging machine already a multilayer packaging material was supplied, which then in one step was wrapped around the article to be packaged.

However, this approach has the decided disadvantage that when the individual Layers of the packaging material are not glued together, no defined Location of each layer produced with sufficient accuracy can be. So there is a particular possibility that the individual Slipping layers of the multilayer packaging material relative to each other, such that, for example, the inner packaging material over the outer packaging material protrudes.

Also, the individual layers can not be processed in different dimensions become. A safe and uniform enclosure of the article to be packaged is therefore not to be carried out with sufficient safety and repeatability.

A feeding device according to the preamble of Claim 1 is known from DE 43 14 142 C1.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a feeding device of a packaging device and a method of feeding packaging material for packaging to create small-piece articles that provide a defined feeding in particular allow multilayer packaging materials with sufficient accuracy.

This object is achieved according to the invention in terms of a feeder a feeder of a packaging device for supplying packaging material for packaging small-sized articles, having a feed wheel on which a plurality of article receiving units and a plurality of packaging material receiving units are arranged, wherein each of the packaging material receiving units at least a first Holding device for a first packaging material, and at least a second Holding device for a second packaging material.

Furthermore, the object of a method for supplying packaging material for packaging small-sized articles according to the invention by a method, comprising the steps of receiving and supporting an article to be packaged in an article receiving unit of a feeder, record and holding a first packaging material in a first packaging material holding device of the feeding device, receiving and holding a second packaging material in a second packaging material holding device of the feed device, applying both packaging materials to at least an outer area of the article to be packaged and deliver the article and the packaging materials to a packaging device for packaging the article with the packaging materials.

By the feed device of a packaging device next to an article receiving unit, in which an article to be packaged is fed to a packaging machine can also be at least two holding devices, by means of a first and a second packaging material are each held separately from each other, can be guaranteed be that each of the two packaging materials in a defined position with respect of the article to be packaged supplied to the actual packaging machine becomes.

Unlike before, it is possible to require each of the two to package the article To hand over packaging materials individually to the feeder and then individually a defined position to hold, which prevents slippage of an individual Packaging material relative to the other packaging material and to be packaged Article can be excluded with reasonable certainty.

By, unlike previously, in the case of a packaging material consisting of two or more more packaging material layers, the packaging material is no longer multilayered the feeding device is supplied, but each packaging material layer individually and separately the feeding device is supplied, according to the invention, each of the Packing material layers have a different size or dimension and in defined Location can be passed to the actual packing, without a move or slipping or otherwise changing the position of the different to fear large packaging material layers to each other or to the article to be packaged would.

Furthermore, because the combination of individual packaging materials, resulting in a multilayered Packaging material to be combined, only defined in the feeder It is possible to produce a large variety of different packaging materials with different properties or colors or structures cost-effective too realize.

Since no previous juxtaposition or joining of the individual packaging materials before Feed is more necessary, the packaging process can be cheaper and more save space as previously executed.

In particular, when different materials used as individual packaging materials should be, such as metal, cellulose and / or plastic films, which are then combined to form a multilayer packaging material, can by the feeding device according to the invention and the inventive Method a precise positional positioning of the individual packaging materials to each other be ensured.

This leads according to the invention in particular to the fact that in a multilayer packaging also different lengths and sizes of the individual packaging materials Packaging device can be supplied. This ensures in particular that an external impact, so as an outer layer on an article applied packaging material an interior impact, so one between the Article and the outer wrap wrapped around the article packaging material safely covered.

Preferably, the feed device according to the invention is as one about a main axis of rotation rotatably arranged rotary head, so that the supply of packaging article and the packaging materials required for the actual packaging device be carried out continuously and essentially without interruption can.

For this purpose, preferably a plurality of article receiving units are alternating with an equal number of packing receiving units annular around the main axis of rotation at the transport device, so the turret arranged. Preferably There are five units each annularly on such a rotary head.

While the article receiving units preferably include first and second article holding members have, between each of which an item to be packaged halterbar is, have the packaging material receiving units, each of which a packaging material receiving unit is associated with an article recording unit, respectively a first and a second holding device, by means of which a first and a second packaging material each holder is independent of the other halterbar.

In a preferred embodiment of the feeding device according to the invention the inclusion of an article to be packaged by the article holding elements the article receiving unit at a same for each article receiving units Rotary position or position of the feed wheel, during the rotation of the Zuführrades one after the other through the article recording units. As well the inclusion of the respective packaging material by the first and second takes place Holding device of the packaging material receiving unit at a (different) rotational position of the Feed wheel.

During twisting of the feed wheel, the individual packaging materials are defined contacted with an outside of the article to be packaged and then together with this at a further rotational position of the actual packing device, to hand over.

Regarding the method of feeding packaging material for packaging kleinstückiger article, it is particularly advantageous that the feeding of the packaging materials (and the article to be packaged) by means of a feeder of the above Art done.

In this case, the feeding takes place in the way of a rotational movement exerted by the feed wheel continuous and essentially uninterruptible, with the individual Process steps are carried out in each case at different rotational positions, each offset by a predetermined angle of rotation to each other.

Preferably, in this case, the inclusion of each article to be packaged and the intended for this article individual packaging materials in the feeder respectively single, whereas the delivery of the article and the packaging materials from the feeder to the packing device together.

Further advantages of the invention and preferred embodiments of the device and the method are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführeinrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer solchen Zuführeinrichtung, und

Fig. 3

eine weitere, teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer solchen Zuführeinrichtung in Relation zu einer Einpackvorrichtung.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a schematic drawing, for example, and with further details. Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a feed device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a partially sectioned view of such a feeder, and

Fig. 3

a further, partially sectioned view of such a feeder in relation to a packing device.

In Fig. 1 is a feeding device according to the invention a packaging machine and device, shown in a perspective view, as in the following will be described in more detail.

The feeder 1 comprises a transport device, preferably as a Feed wheel 2 which is rotatable about a main axis 7 is formed (compare FIGS. 2 and 3). At a normal to the axis of rotation 7 formed end face 3 of the Zuführrades 2 are in the preferred embodiment described herein is substantially annular the rotation axis 7 a plurality of article receiving units 10 alternately with packaging material receiving units 20 arranged.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 alternate in each case five article receiving units 10 and five packing receiving units 20 in their Arrangement.

The basic structure of the article receiving units 10 is best seen in FIG. 1. Each article receiving unit 10 in this case has two article holding elements 11 and 12, which are opposed to each other and in their distance from each other in one Direction parallel to the main axis of rotation 7 of the feed wheel 2 are adjustable.

The article receiving units 10 are used for receiving and holding individual packaging article or products. Here, the inclusion of the article takes place in cooperation with a conveying or separating device (not shown), which delivers the articles or products to be packaged and puts them in a position in they can be picked up by the article holding elements.

However, it is also conceivable that the article 4 by means of an intermediate conveyor be picked up by the conveying or separating device and then be passed to the article receiving units 10.

The articles 4 are received by the article holding members 11 and 12 at a first rotational position the Zuführrades 2, received or received and while in a fixed position relative to the Zuführrad held until they at a further position, which is designated in Fig. 3 with C, are delivered to a packing device 14.

As already described above, are on the front side 3 of the Zuführrades 2 between the article receiving units 10, this each associated packaging receiving units 20 arranged. While the article receiving units 10 preferably stationary are attached to the Zuführrades 2 at this, are the packaging material receiving units 20 each about its own pivot axis 24 relative to the Zuführrad second rotatably hinged to this. Also, the pivot axis 24 is parallel to the main axis of rotation 7 of the feed wheel 2 is formed.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the packaging material receiving unit 20 includes several in essentially identically constructed pairs of lever devices, between which one Clamping rod 26 and first and second jaws 25, 27 are arranged so that in turn, they extend substantially parallel to the pivot axis 24. Of the respective normal to the pivot axis 24 extending lever pairs is in the Fig. 2 and 3 in each case only the part shown, which is closer to the end face 3 of the Zuführrades 2 lies.

In the following, the operation and the arrangement of the packaging material receiving unit 20 and their lever pairs explained in more detail, wherein the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 Reference is made.

In this case, three of the preferably five packaging material receiving units 20 are shown in FIG. 2, each having an identical structure, but then, if they are due the rotation of the Zuführrades 2 to different rotational positions of the Zuführrades arrive, take different positions. Here, the controller the individual positions or pivot positions about the pivot axis 24 of the Packing material receiving units 20 via a mechanical coupling with the rotation the Zuführrades 2 (in particular planetary or lever gear) or electronically done via a rotary or position sensor.

Each of the preferably five identically constructed packaging material receiving units 20 has a pair of pinch levers 30 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2), between which the clamping bar 26 is arranged. The clamping rod lever 30 are to the pivot axis 24 relative to the Zuführrad 2 rotatable.

Parallel to pivot axis 24 and to the clamping bar 26, a jaw lever axis extends 21, via which a first pair of jaw levers 22 and a second pair of jaw levers 23 pivotally hinged to the clamping rod lever 30 are. The jaw lever axis 21 is also parallel to the pivot axis 24th

Between the first jaw levers 22 extends parallel to the clamping bar 26, a first clamping jaw 25, between the and the clamping bar 26, a first packaging material 5 can be held or clamped. This is done by the first Jaw lever 22 via a first lever 28 to the jaw lever axis 21 is twisted. The first adjusting lever 28 is about the pivot axis 24 rotatably mounted. The first jaw lever 22 is here with his two Ends rotatably mounted on the first adjusting lever 28 which is opposite to the end, where the first jaw 25 is arranged.

The packaging material receiving unit 20 furthermore has a second lever arrangement, which essentially one of the first just described lever assembly in construction and Functionality corresponds. Here drives a rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 24 second adjusting lever 29 via a rotary sliding connection a second Jaw lever 23, at its connection-free end a second jaw 27 is disposed, between the and the clamping bar 26, a second packaging material can be clamped or held.

Preferably, in this case the first packaging material is that layer of the packaging material, which forms the inner impact, so the layer, in direct contact with the Article 4 comes when it is packed. The second packaging material 6 is preferably corresponding to this the outside impact, that is the layer of the packaging material, which completely shields the interior impact to the outside.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, at a first rotational position of the Zuführrades 2, the designated A, the first packaging material (interior impact) of a separate (not illustrated) take-off roll and one of these downstream cutting device the fed substantially continuously circulating feed 2.

According to the invention, the take-off roll is independent, in contrast to the prior art driven and controlled by a servo motor, because of the higher Article throughput the dynamic load on the packaging material otherwise too large would. The packaging material feed rate is about 2.7 m / sec.

Here, a dummy clock control is provided, wherein between the take-off roll and the actual packaging material feed (e.g., two or more in the cycle of the feed Förderwellen) a sensor device is provided which determines whether Packaging material was delivered (normal case) or not (idle stroke).

Preferably, the sensor device is designed as a rocker, which sends a signal forwards the servomotor of the take-off roller and stop or slow it down moved, if it is determined that no packaging material was delivered, because in the Article holding device was not an article, which e.g. on an unfilled receiving bag may be due in an upstream article separating device.

In this position, the packaging material receiving unit 20 takes over the supplied first Packing material 5 (inner impact) and clamps this along a pivot axis 24th parallel line between one side of the clamping bar 26 and the first jaw 25 fixed in a predetermined position, which is about a rotation of the first Adjusting lever 28 and the first jaw lever 22 takes place.

While the continuously rotating feed wheel 2 continues in the in Fig. 2 (arrow) shown rotating direction clockwise about the main axis of rotation 7, becomes the packaging material receiving unit 20 when it has reached a rotational position, the in Fig. 2 is designated by the letter B has reached, the second packaging material 6 (outer wrap) from another and essentially the first corresponding one separate take-off roller (not shown) with downstream cutting device fed. This is followed by the second adjustment lever 29 of the packaging material receiving unit 20 and the second jaw lever 23 is rotated, whereby the second Clamping jaw 27 moves toward the clamping bar 26 and the second packaging material (outer wrap) clamped between itself and the clamping bar 26. The clamping area is here substantially as described with respect to the first packaging material 5, linear but substantially on the opposite of the first clamping area Side of the clamping bar 26 is positioned. Instead of a clamping rod 26, on the Both packaging materials are clamped, are also completely separate Clamping devices conceivable for those of the packaging materials. This is true even if more than two packaging materials (3 or more layers) from the feeder 1 to Will be provided.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the inclusion of the first and takes place of the second packaging material in each case in a rotational position of the packaging material receiving unit 20 about the pivot axis 24 relative to the feed wheel 2, in which the jaws 25,27 and the clamping bar 26 each in their radially outermost position with respect to the main axis of rotation 7 of Zuführrades 2.

Preferably, the first and the second packaging material respectively at the latest from the rest of the located on the unwinding rollers packaging materials separated by the cutting means when the first and the second Packing material at the rotational positions A, B clamped in the packaging material receiving unit 20 are.

It is due to the separate supply of individual packaging materials (interior impact, Outside impact) as well as their individual holder possible, the packaging materials according to their use in different dimensions to pass and in each case a suitable mutual assignment to hold and fix. Of course, the feed device according to the invention is described in the or in a modified embodiment also suitable for packaging, the consist of only one layer.

Are then the first packaging material 5 (inner impact) and the second packaging material 6 (outer impact) detected with different assignment and section length and between held the clamping means (25,26,27), the clamping devices by means of the clamping rod lever 30 around the pivot axis 24 from its farthest outboard position during the continuous orbital motion of the feed wheel 2 so pivoted (counterclockwise) that before the in the article receiving unit 10 retained items 4 are in a precisely defined assignment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the feed wheel 2 has reached a rotational position, as indicated in Fig. 3 with C. is the article 4 between a packing 15 and a box counter stamp 16 clamped, wherein the first packaging material 5 and the second packaging material 6 at exactly predetermined position relative to each other and relative to the article 4 between this and the packing counter punch 16 are located. Once the article 4 and the packaging materials 5, 6 between the packing die 15 and the packing counter punch 16 have been received, move the first and the second article holding member 11,12 of the article-receiving unit 10 apart and give that between them so far held article free.

This is taken from the packing device 14 and hereinafter by means of Packing punch 15 together with the packing counter punch 16 through a packing sleeve 17 (rotating folding shaft) while the Einpackvorrichtung 14 continuously rotated counterclockwise about Einpackradachse 18.

Due to the interaction of the Einpackstempels 15 with the Einpackhülse 17 and the pack counter punch 16 is the article 4 according to its dimensions exactly and substantially simultaneously in the first and in the second packaging 5.6 packed. As the article is handed over, the first and the second packaging material are also included 5.6 are precisely defined in their respective position, it is ensured that the external impact (second packaging material 6) the inner wrapping (first packaging material 5) safely covered.

At the time the article holding elements 11, 12 release the article 4, give Also, the jaws 25,26 the packaging materials 5,6 free, while the Zuführrad second continues to rotate continuously in a clockwise direction.

In the following, the packaging material receiving unit 20 pivots back outwards, Then, as soon as it reaches the rotational position A, again a new piece of to receive first packaging material 5.

The finished packaged articles 4 are transferred from the packing device 14 to a dispenser or another intermediate conveyor forwarded from where they then individually or in groups of another Community packaging or one fed directly.

It is possible in every single step before and between the feed wheel and / or the packaging device to provide a quality or packing control, the Checks whether the items to be packaged or the packaging materials to be used here or the partially or finished packaged articles the required quality standards correspond. Such control may be by means of optoelectric sensors or the like.

By means of the above-described feeding device, it is therefore possible according to the invention that different packaging materials or packaging material sections of different Materials and dimensions, preferably as an outside and inside impact on a continuously circulating Zuführrad be applied and supported by, wherein the application preferably at different rotational positions of the Zuführrades he follows.

The picking up of the packaging materials is preferably carried out at each of the two rotational positions by means of a clamping lever combination opposite to the feed wheel and to each other are relatively movable, wherein the packaging material receiving units the packaging material accurate to a position also taken up and supported by the feed wheel Position items before items and packaging materials together at a packing device be handed over.

Preferably, the packaging materials each consist of different material, in particular made of metal, plastic, cellulose and / or other film elements.

Preferably, the individual packaging materials are each more suitable but different Width individually supplied to the feeder 1 and taken from this and held. Here, preferably, a first packaging material between an article to be packaged and a second packaging material is to be arranged, dimensioned smaller than the second packaging material.

Claims (17)

1. Feed equipment of a packaging device for feeding packaging materials for packaging small-size articles, with a feed wheel (2) at which a plurality of article receiving units (10) and a plurality of packaging material receiving units (20) are arranged, wherein each of the packaging material receiving units (20) comprises at least one first holding device (25, 26) for a first packaging material (5), characterised in that each of the packaging material receiving units (20) comprises at least one second holding device (26, 27) for a second packaging material (6).
2. Feed equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that the feed wheel (2) is constructed as a rotary head arranged to be rotatable about a main axis (7) of rotation.
3. Feed equipment according to claim 2, characterised in that a plurality of article receiving units (10) are arranged at the feed wheel (2) annularly around the main axis (7) of rotation in alternation with a like number of packaging material receiving units (20).
4. Feed equipment according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the article receiving unit (10) comprises a first and a second article holding element (11, 12), between which an article (4) to be packaged can be held.
5. Feed equipment according to claim 4, characterised in that the article holding elements (11, 12) are constructed to be adjustable in their mutual spacing at least in the direction of the main axis (7) of rotation.
6. Feed equipment according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each of the packaging material receiving units (20) is articulated to the feed wheel (2) to be rotatable relative thereto about a pivot axis (24) parallel to the main axis (7) of rotation.
7. Feed equipment according to claim 6, characterised in that the packaging material receiving unit (20) comprises a clamping rod (26) which is parallel to the pivot axis (24) and the length of which in direction of the pivot axis (24) at least corresponds with the maximum spacing of the article holding elements (10, 12).
8. Feed equipment according to claim 7, characterised in that the packaging material receiving unit (20) comprises a first clamping unit (25) which can be pressed against a region of the clamping rod (26) and a second clamping unit (27) which can be pressed against another region of the clamping rod (26).
9. Feed equipment according to claim 8, characterised in that the first clamping unit (25) and the second clamping unit (27) are controllable in drive independently of one another.
10. Feed equipment according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the clamping units (25, 27) are constructed as clamping jaws at first and second clamping jaw levers (22, 23) which are constructed to be rotatable about a common clamping jaw lever axis (21) parallel to the pivot axis (24).
11. Feed equipment according to claim 10, characterised in that the clamping units (25, 27) are actuable by way of first and second adjusting levers (28, 29), which in turn are constructed to be rotatable about the pivot axis (24).
12. Feed equipment according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterised in that the first and second article holding elements (11, 12) are respectively controllable in drive independently of a respective rotational setting of the feed wheel (2).
13. Feed equipment according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterised in that the first and the second holding devices (25, 26, 27) are respectively controllable in drive independently of a respective rotational setting of the feed wheel (2).
14. Method of feeding packaging material for packaging small-size articles, comprising the following steps:

    receiving and holding an article (4), which is to be packaged, in an article holding unit (10) of feed equipment (1);

    receiving and holding a first packaging material (5) in a first packaging material holding device (25, 26) of the feed equipment (1);

    receiving and holding a second packaging material (6) in a second packaging material holding device (26, 27) of the feed equipment (1);

    laying the two packaging materials (5, 6) against at least one outer region of the article (4) to be packaged; and

    delivering the article (4) and the packaging materials (5, 6) to a packing device (14) for packaging the article (4) with the packaging materials (5, 6).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the reception of the article (4) to be packaged and the individual packaging materials (5, 6) in the feed equipment (1) takes place individually and the delivery of the article (4) and the packaging materials (5, 6) from the feed equipment (1) to the packing device (14) takes place conjunctively.
16. Method according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterised in that the feed is carried out in the course of a rotational movement executed by the feed device (1), wherein the individual method stages are respectively undertaken at different rotational positions which are respectively offset relative to one another by a predetermined rotational angle.
17. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterised in that the feed of the article (4), which is to be packaged, and the packaging materials (5, 6) is carried out by means of the feed equipment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

Images