EP1388495B1 - Apparatus for removing flat carton blanks from a magazine and for transferring them to a feeding conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser for flat folded packaging bags (2) from a magazine tube (3) to a conveyor (4) has a planet carrier (9) rotatably driven around a sun axis (8). A planet arm (11) is moved eccentrically around the sun axis and parallel to the planet axis and carries a gripper (12) on a planet wheel (13) coaxial to the planet axis and connected directly or indirectly to the sun wheel (14) which has a drive (16), so that the gripper follows an asymmetrrical path (17).

Description

Device for the removal of flat folded cartons from a magazine shaft and their transfer to a conveyor

The invention relates to a device for the removal of flat folded cartons from a magazine shaft and the transfer thereof, consisting of a rotatable about a sun axis and driven planet carrier, a planetary part, which is mounted about a sun axis eccentric and parallel to the planetary axis rotatably mounted on the planet carrier and a gripping member and a planetary shaft with the coaxial planet carries, which is coupled directly or indirectly with a coaxial sun gear to the sun, wherein the planet carrier assigned to exactly the one planetary member carrying the gripping member and for purposeful influence the rotational position of the planetary part of the sun gear is associated with a drive unit.

Such devices form, in particular in packaging machines, the coupling link between the inclined to the vertical magazine shaft in which the flat folded cartons are provided, and the conveyor with its conveyor cells, in which the erected cartons are removed for further processing and filling in the packaging machine.

In a disclosed in DE 42 24 897 C1 device results from the superposition of the movements of the planet carrier and the planetary part Hypozykloidenbahn the gripping member, which takes over the carton from the magazine shaft and passes to the conveyor cell. This Hypozykloidenbahn requires a large space and a large track length, which is time consuming to pass through, so that several planetary parts are arranged with gripping members on the planet carrier in order to achieve the desired high processing speed. In addition to the high space requirement and the high equipment cost is also disadvantageous that a lot of time is required even with the frequently required format change when after processing the carton in a given size folding boxes of a different size to be processed, as to a new adjustment of Device is required and sometimes format parts must be replaced. Finally, the expenditure on equipment is further increased since, at each planetary part, a rearing member for the folding box is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation in order to move the folding box towards the folding box Time saving already erected in the conveyor cell of the conveyor to be handed over. The Aufrichtorgan takes this with respect to the plane of the gripper with the carton different positions while it goes through together with the gripper the Hypozykloidenbahn. The control of the movements of the Aufrichtorgans via its own, coaxial with the sun axis sun gear and its own, rotatably mounted relative to the planet part about the planet shaft mounted planet gear, the sun gear of Aufrichtorgans is rotatable by a drive means and as a result the Aufrichtorgan on his Hypozykloidenbahn a specific Can assign rotational position.

US 5,431,274 discloses a device of the kind known from the preamble of new claim 1. This device serves to take labels or plaques from a magazine shaft and to place them on packages which pass by means of a conveyor not further characterized become. Since the sun axis associated gripping member undergoes a complete hypocycloidal trajectory with a "3-stop, fixed-point profile" designated trajectory, is in the transfer point in conventional devices, a speed difference between the gripping member and the moving with the conveyor package before, to difficulties and inaccuracies in the placement of the label on the package. According to US Pat. No. 5,431,274, the handover is therefore provided at the moment of additionally rotating the sun axis by means of a motor so as to achieve, at the time of transfer, a synchronized movement of the gripping member with the pack in the conveyor.

The US 5 215 515 shows an apparatus for automated removal of cartons from a magazine shaft and their transfer to a conveyor, each with a carton receiving conveyor cells, wherein the gripping member is associated with an additional erecting member to support the erection of the carton. The web movement of the gripping member itself is shown in the drawing, but not explained in detail in the text, it being noted that the gripping member undergoes a conventional Hypozykloidenbahn and no additional drive unit is disclosed for the sun gear.

WO 03/020615 A2 is a post-published document that counts only on the question of novelty to the prior art. This reference discloses a device having a main shaft and a first planetary part connected to the main shaft and rotatably connected to a first planetary shaft. Furthermore, a second planetary shaft is present, which is connected to a secondary body. The second planetary shaft is associated with a gripping member, wherein furthermore a shaft associated with the second planet shaft is used to modify its path in the extended positions of the gripping member circulating on a conventional hypocycloidal track.

EP 0 331 325 A1 as response D4 has a plurality of gripping members arranged on a central shaft, which remove packages from a magazine shaft during one revolution of the shaft and feed them to a conveyor, wherein a control cam is used for the movement control. The same applies to US Pat. No. 6,503 180 B1 as citation D5, which teaches the use of two cams in a device for removing cartons from a magazine shaft and their transfer into a conveyor chain to control the trajectory of the gripping members in a suitable manner.

The US 4 518 301 shows a device for the removal of cartons from a magazine shaft and their transfer to a conveyor, wherein the erecting of the cartons during transport of the cartons by means of several grippers takes place, the rotational position is determined by a cam.

The invention is therefore based on the object, a device of the type mentioned in such a way that without affecting the work performance of their space requirement is reduced.

This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned according to the invention in that for the transfer of the carton removed from the carton into a conveyor with a carton receiving conveyor cells, the path of the gripping member an asymmetric, compared to a Hypozykloidenbahn shortened trajectory with only two Has expanded layers.

With this embodiment, the advantage is associated that the path of the gripping member is not given apparati-mechanistic, but can be actively influenced by the drive unit for the sun gear to opposite a mere expiration of the planetary gear on the sun gear to cause additional rotations, so that at a certain angular position of the planet carrier the gripping member a corresponding angular position can be assigned, so the track of the gripping member does not necessarily follow a Hypozykloidenbahn, but within wide limits influenced and thus optimized is, so that the tips of a Hypozykloidenbahn need not be extended and also a format change simply by suitable control of the sun gear via the drive unit is possible. In particular, the expenditure on equipment is reduced, because the planet carrier is associated with only one of the planetary parts, this being made possible without reducing the performance of the device by shortening of the gripping member to be traversed web with only two extended positions for the removal of the carton from the magazine shaft and the delivery of the cartons into the conveyor cells of the conveyor. Since only one planetary part is present, the determined by the servo motor rotational position of the sun gear can be matched exactly to the gripping member, so that in particular no symmetrical path of the gripping member must be traversed, as would be required when using a larger number in the planet carrier mounted planetary parts.

In the context of the invention, it is possible that the drive unit is formed by a stepping gear. For the purpose of greater flexibility, however, it is preferred if the drive unit is formed by a servo motor, which without fixed mechanical specifications, as they exist in a stepping gear, the rotational position of the sun gear in any steps and with can change any speed, so that the servo motor is provided for gradually influencing the rotational position of the planetary part.

Conveniently, the two stretch sheets enclose an angle of 120 ° with each other, so as to take into account that the magazine shaft is inclined to the vertical, so that under the action of gravity, the stack of cartons is pressed against the magazine shaft mouth.

A very particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that each conveyor cell is formed from at least one sliding driver and a preceding driver, and that the determined by the rotation of the sun gear web of the carton leads this upright against the sliding driver. In this device is particularly advantageous that regardless of the format of the carton with the suitably designed web upright by the sliding driver, so no additional expenditure on equipment is required to erect during the passage of the web through the gripping member at the same time the carton. It is also favorable if each conveyor cell is formed from at least one sliding and a leading driver, and if the determined by the rotation of the sun gear web of different opening carton leads this upright against the leading driver, so that by selectively influencing the rotational position of the Sonnenrades the other advantage is achieved that also different opening cartons, in which therefore the to be acted upon by the driver side tab in Direction of conveyance of the conveyor is bent, can be raised by guiding the path of the gripping member against the leading driver.

By the sun gear associated drive unit, the rotation angle, the rotational speed and the direction of rotation can be chosen freely, but it is preferred in terms of a lower load on the drive unit when the direction of rotation for the rotation of the sun gear is constant and only affects the rotational speed and the rotation angle become.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung für die Entnahme von Faltschachteln aus einem Magazinschacht und deren Übergabe an einen Förderer,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 am Anfang eines Entnahme- und Übergabezyklus bei der Entnahme einer Faltschachtel aus dem Magazinschacht,

Fig. 3

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung kurz nach der Entnahme der Faltschachtel aus dem Magazinschacht,

Fig. 4

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einem gegenüber Fig. 3 späteren Stadium des Zyklus,

Fig. 5

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einem späteren Stadium des Zyklus, in dem durch Vorwärtsdrehung des Sonnenrades das Greiforgan radial nach innen verstellt und eine Spitze einer Hypozykloidenbahn unterdrückt ist,

Fig. 6

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung in einem Stadium des Zyklus kurz vor Aufrichtung der Faltschachtel an dem schiebenden Mitnehmer des Förderers,

Fig. 7

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung während der Ausrichtung der Faltschachtel durch den schiebenden Mitnehmer des Förderers,

Fig. 8

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung während der Abgabe der Faltschachtel in die Förderzelle mit der unteren Strecklage des Greiforgans, und

Fig. 9

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung mit der Rückkehr des Greifers in die obere Strecklage entsprechend Fig. 2.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail in an embodiment shown in the drawing; show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the device for the removal of cartons from a magazine shaft and their transfer to a conveyor,

Fig. 2

1 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 at the beginning of a removal and transfer cycle during the removal of a folding box from the magazine shaft;

Fig. 3

2 representation shortly after the removal of the carton from the magazine shaft,

Fig. 4

2 in a representation corresponding to FIG. 3 later stage of the cycle,

Fig. 5

2 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 at a later stage of the cycle in which, by forward rotation of the sun gear, the gripping member is displaced radially inwards and a tip of a hypocycloidal track is suppressed,

Fig. 6

2 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 2 at a stage of the cycle shortly before erection of the folding box on the sliding carrier of the conveyor,

Fig. 7

2 representation during the alignment of the carton by the sliding carrier of the conveyor,

Fig. 8

one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation during the delivery of the carton in the feed cell with the lower stretched position of the gripping member, and

Fig. 9

2 corresponding representation with the return of the gripper in the upper stretched position corresponding to FIG. 2.

The device 1 shown in the drawing serves for the removal of flat folded cartons 2 from a relative to the vertical inclined magazine shaft 3, wherein the carton 2 is transported after removal to a conveyor 4, which has a plurality of conveyor cells 5, by sliding driver 6 and are formed by leading entrainment 7, which take up the erected during the transfer carton 2 between them.

The device 1 has a planet carrier 9 which is rotatable about a sun axis 8 and can be driven, in which a planetary part 11 which is rotatable about an axis axis 8 which is parallel to the sun axis 8 and parallel to it is mounted, which at its free end is a gripping element 12 for gripping the folding box 2 and has a planetary gear 10 coaxial with the planetary gear 13 which is coupled to a coaxial with the sun axis 8 sun gear 14, wherein in the embodiment shown in the drawing, the coupling takes place directly via a drive belt 15, but can also be realized indirectly via an intermediate , For selectively influencing the rotational position of the planetary part 11, the sun gear 14 is associated with a drive unit 16, which is realized by a servo motor with which the direction of rotation, the rotation angle and the rotational speed of the sun gear 14 can be changed, so that by the rotation of the planet carrier. 9 caused rotation of the planetary part 11 is additionally superimposed by the rotation of the sun gear 14 so as to make targeted within wide limits the path of the gripping member 12 and to optimize in the sense that the tips of a Hypozykloidenbahn need not be extended, but a shortening of the web the gripping member 12 enters with the associated reduction in space requirements and the time for a circulation loop. Figures 2 to 9 show schematically a full rotation of the gripping member 12 which rotates in the direction of arrow G about the planetary axis 10 of the planetary gear 13, while the planet carrier 9 rotates in the direction P about the sun axis 8. By the rotation of the sun gear 14 by means of the servo motor follows the path of the gripping member 12 of the trajectory 17 shown in Figures 2 to 9, which is characterized by their brevity distinguished. This trajectory 17 is asymmetrical, so that the planet carrier 9 is assigned to only one of the planetary parts 11, wherein the path of the gripping member 12 has two stretched layers 18 shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, which enclose an angle of 120 ° with one another. In the cycle illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 9, the folding box 2 removed from the magazine shaft 3 by the gripping member 12 is erected by its abutment against the sliding carrier 6 of the conveyor cell 5, although the path can also be designed by the drive unit 16 in that a differently opening folding box 2 is guided against the preceding carrier 7 so as to bend the side flap projecting in the conveying direction of the conveyor 4.

Claims (8)

1. Device for the removal of flat-packed folding boxes (2) from a magazine chute (3) and their transfer, comprising a satellite carrier (9) rotatable and drivable about a sun axle (8), a satellite part (11) which is housed at the satellite carrier (9) rotatable about a satellite axle (10) eccentric to the sun angle (8) and parallel to it and carries a gripping element (12) and a satellite wheel (10), coaxial to the satellite axle (10), which is coupled directly or indirectly to a sun wheel (14), coaxial to the axle (8), only the one satellite part (11) carrying the gripping element (12) being allocated to the satellite carrier (9) and a drive unit (16) being allocated to the sun wheel (14) for the targeted influencing of the rotation position of the satellite part (11), characterized in that, for the transfer of the folding boxes (2) removed from the magazine chute (3) into a conveyor (4) with in each case conveying segments (5) housing a folding box (2), the path of the gripping element (12) has an asymmetrical trajectory (17) shortened vis-à-vis a hypocycloid path, with only two legs (18).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive unit (16) is formed by a stepping gear.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive unit (16) is formed by a servomotor.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the servomotor is provided for the stepwise influencing of the rotation position of the satellite part (11).
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two legs (18) together form an angle of 120°.
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each conveying segment (5) is formed from at least one pushing drive carrier (6) and one preceding drive carrier (7), and the path, determined by the rotation of the sun wheel (14), of the folding box (2) guides this to assembly against the pushing drive carrier (6).
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each conveying segment (5) is formed from at least one pushing drive carrier (6) and one preceding drive carrier (7) and the path, determined by the rotation of the sun wheel (14), of the differently-opening folding boxes (2) guides these to assembly against the preceding drive carrier (7).
8. Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the rotation direction for the rotation of the sun wheel (14) is constant.

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