EP1531138A1 - Method and device for separating an endless stream of shells - Google Patents

Abstract

In a process to separate a number of cardboard dishes or folded boxes (2) from a moving group flow, a separation point (11) is defined between two boxes and a quantity (10) of the product is removed. The quantity removed is defined by an automatic counter unit and without pre-marking the boxes. Also claimed is a commensurate assembly.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for separating a endless tray or carton stream, for example a stream of Cardboard trays or cardboard boxes for packaging foodstuffs, wherein the individual trays or boxes are machined, folded and closed the endless shell or box stream pushed together or stacked be then in single stack with any shell or Box quantity is divided or separated at a separation point.

The separation of such a shell or box stream from each other mated or stacked trays or boxes containing the production machine leaves with a certain speed as an endless stream - in Single stack of certain defined quantity - has been carried out manually so far. To identify the separation point is the shell or box stream leaving the production machine at predetermined intervals, according to the size of the individual stacks to be separated, with a Marking point marking provided. As a marker is doing For example, an inserted paper strip used or a shell or Box with a picker (notch) or with a color marker etc. Mistake. At the separation point so marked, the shell or Schachtelstrom manually separated into individual stacks and this their other Use supplied.

Disadvantages of these previously used methods is the manual separation and the at least manual initiation of the further transport of the individual stacks and the marking made by the production machine one each Shell or box, which optionally sorted out manually as a committee must become.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the invention, a Specify separation method and a corresponding device with which the described disadvantages in the separation of an endless shell or Box stream can be avoided.

The stated object is achieved with the characterizing features of the claim 1 solved in that the separation of the individual stacks for automatic Quantity counting without prior labeling on the trays or boxes done by machine. An apparatus for carrying out this method is characterized by the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments The invention are specified in the subclaims.

The division into individual stacks takes place according to the invention by means of a separating device, for example, by one or more separating wedges, the in the shell or box stream between the side walls of the to be separated Trays or boxes are introduced at the separation point and detach the individual stack to be separated from the shell or box stream. The separating wedge prevents the shell or box stream at the further movement. The free part of the shell or Box stream can then by suitable funding, preferably conveyor belt, subtracted from. After penetration of the release agent, the Separation point by cooperating with the separator means, for example Compressed air, enlarged and the single stack in the transport direction of Peel or box stream are pushed away. This is the conveyor belt from above and / or from below and / or from the side with the single stack brought into contact.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the enlargement of the Separation point also by acting in the direction of transport thrust movement of Separator be brought about.

The for the separation of individual stacks with a defined number of trays or boxes required quantity counting of the trays or boxes can be done accordingly of the invention are carried out in different ways, for example optically through a light guide, in a suitable location, for example is arranged on the front side of the separating device. Alternatively it is also an acoustic or mechanical quantity counting of the shells or Nesting possible, for example with a on the shell or box stream resting impeller for the mechanical counting of quantities, wherein the Number of overrun trays or carton edges detected as quantity measure becomes.

To separate the individual stacks automatically without manual intervention perform a measuring and control device connects the respective quantity counter with the separator and the conveyor belt and dissolves on reaching the predetermined defined shell or boxes amount of insertion the release agent in the separation point.

• eine in den Schalen- bzw. Schachtelstrom zur Erzeugung der Einzelstapel einbringbare Trennvorrichtung,
• Mittel zur Vergrößerung der Trennstelle, wobei die Mittel mit der Trennvorrichtung zusammenwirken,
• eine Transportvorrichtung zur vollständigen Abtrennung und Wegförderung der Einzelstapel vom Schalen- bzw. Schachtelstrom,
• eine Zählvorrichtung zur optischen, mechanischen oder akustischen Ermittlung der Trennstelle,
• eine die Zählvorrichtung mit der Trennvorrichtung und der Transportvorrichtung verbindende und den Trennvorgang auslösende und steuernde Mess- und Regeleinrichtung.

An apparatus for separating an endless tray or carton stream transported at a given speed for carrying out the method of the invention is characterized by

• a separating device which can be introduced into the shell or box stream for producing the individual stacks,
• Means for increasing the separation point, the means cooperating with the separation device,
• a transport device for the complete separation and removal of the individual stacks from the shell or box stream,
• a counting device for the optical, mechanical or acoustic determination of the separation point,
• a measuring and control device connecting the counting device to the separating device and the transport device and initiating and controlling the separating process.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention will become apparent below to exemplary embodiments illustrated in schematic drawing figures explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

einen Schalen- bzw. Schachtelstrom mit einer Trenn- und einer Zählvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

einen Schalen- bzw. Schachtelstrom mit alternativen Zählvorrichtungen,

Fig. 3a-3d

zeitliche Abfolge eines Trennvorgangs,

Fig. 4a-4c

zeitliche Abfolge eines weiteren Trennvorgangs,

Fig. 5

ein Maschinenschema für die Trennung eines Schalen- bzw. Schachtelstroms.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a tray or box stream with a separating and counting device,

Fig. 2

a tray or box stream with alternative counting devices,

Fig. 3a-3d

time sequence of a separation process,

Fig. 4a-4c

time sequence of a further separation process,

Fig. 5

a machine scheme for the separation of a tray or box stream.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a sheep or carton stream 1 which is led away in the transporting direction 21 on a transport underlay 5, for example a sliding plate or a support, at a transport speed v ₁ from a production machine (not shown). Above the tray or box stream 1, a separating wedge 3 displaceable in the direction of the arrow 23 is arranged, the front tip of which enters the separation point 11 between the two trays 2 'and 2 ", ie, between the upper side walls 12, inside or to the side at the front part of the separating wedge 3, a line 9 for einzublasende compressed air and / or a line for the optical quantity counting with a light guide 13th
At a distance above the tray or carton stream 1 and in the transport direction 21 immediately behind the separating wedge 3, a transport device 6 which can be displaced in the vertical direction 24 is arranged, which serves with a circulating speed v ₂ in the direction of circulation 22 for transporting separated individual stacks 10 (see FIG. 3a to 3d).

In Figure 2, which shows the tray or box stream 1 of Fig. 1, devices for mechanical and acoustic quantity counting are shown. A simple mechanical device in this case constitutes an impeller 7 resting on the tray or carton stream ₁ , which is driven by frictional engagement with the transport speed v _{1 of} the tray or carton stream 1 in the direction of circulation 26 and whose rotations are used for quantity counting. A further simple mechanical counting of quantities makes it possible to use a pushbutton 8 which is movably arranged about an axis of rotation 8 'and which rests on the shell or box stream 1 in a grinding manner. When transporting the tray or box stream 1, the edges of the side walls 12 of the individual trays or boxes 2 then cause a mechanically registered pivotal movement 25 of the button 8 due to the button axis of rotation 8. The arrangement of the button 8 shown here can also be advantageous for acoustic Quantity counting can be used. For this purpose, then eliminates the axis of rotation 8 'and the button 8 remains rigid, whereby 12 are generated when sweeping the edges of the side walls acoustically recordable pops. The function of the button 8 can of course also be combined with the separating wedge 3 of FIG.

3a shows the time sequence of a separation process carried out with a separating wedge 3 corresponding to FIG. 1. FIG. 3a shows the starting position of the separating process, in which the separating wedge 3 with integrated quantity counting by means of light guide 13 and compressed air line 9 grinding and Counting with its tip on the tray or box stream 1 rests. The conveyor belt 6 is still at a distance above the tray or box stream 1. In Fig. 3b, the required number of pieces has been reached and the separating wedge 3 pushes in the direction of arrow 23 at the separation point 11 between the local shells 2 'and 2 "( see Fig. 1) .At the same time, the counting operation is aborted.The conveyor belt 6 is located at a constant distance above the tray or carton stream 1. In Fig. 3c, the conveyor belt 6 is lowered to the tray or box stream 1 so that the As shown in Fig. 3d shows, at the same time by blowing compressed air through the line 9 in the separation point 11, this is increased so that the conveyor belt 6 the separated single stack 10 completely can capture and with the transport speed v ₂ increased compared to v _1. Then then the separating wedge 3 and the Conveyor 6 back to their initial positions of Fig. 3a back, with the new count starts.

FIGS. 4a to 4c show a temporal sequence of an alternative separation of the tray or carton stream 1 with a rotatable separator 4 shown. Such a separation device is particularly useful to use, if not, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the shell or Box stream 1 with the tray or box bottoms in the transport direction towards the front, but turned backwards. In such a Alignment of the shells or boxes 2 is that in the figures 3a to 3d shown insertion of the separating wedge 3 is very difficult and possible with the Danger of damage connected. By using a rotatable Separating device 4 with one or more arranged on a rotation axis Separating wedges 3, this risk can be avoided, in addition by the pushing movement or the translatory movement in the transport direction 21 'of each inserted separating wedge 3 in its rotation about the Rotary axis advantageous and the generated separation point 11 is extended.

In Fig. 4a, the starting position of such a separation is shown. The shell or box stream 1 is also transported here at the speed v ₁ , but with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 but now in the opposite direction 21 '. Above the tray or box stream 1 is - still in rest position - a rotatable separator 4, at the axis of rotation 4 'three separating wedges 3 are attached. Below the front end of the tray or box stream 1 is a conveyor belt 6 ', also in the rest position.

Fig. 4b shows the beginning of the separation process. By the rotation of the separator 4 in the direction of rotation 27, a separating wedge 3 was inserted into the shell or box stream 1 at the separation point 11 and the separated single stack 10 by the pushing movement of the separating wedge 3 in the transport direction 21 'partially pushed onto the still stationary conveyor belt 6' , By further rotation of the separator 4 was then, as shown in FIG. 4c, the separation point 11 is increased so that now the end of the single stack 10 is completely pushed onto the conveyor belt 6 ', so that now the single stack 10 with the now transporting Conveyor belt 6 'with the transport speed v ₂ from the shell or box stream 1 is completely removed.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary machine scheme for the separation of a tray or carton stream 1 corresponding to FIG. 1. Shown is a produced from a production machine 30 tray or box stream 1, which is transported away with the speed v ₁ of the production machine 30 (in the drawing to the left). Furthermore, the arrangement of a light guide 13 for optical quantity counting, a separating wedge 3 for performing the separation process and a transport device 6 for discharging the separated single stack 10 is shown schematically. The light guide 13, the separating wedge 3 and the transport device 6 are interconnected via lines 31, 32, 33 via a measuring and control device 20 so that the determined by the light guide 13 counts in the measuring and control device 20 when reaching the for Single stack 10 provided number of trays or boxes 2 trigger the necessary control commands for inserting the separating wedge 3 and for lowering the conveyor belt 6 and the subsequent restoration of the starting position and restart the quantity count.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments limited, but with respect to the usable counting and transport devices and the means of supporting the separation process to a large extent variably combinable, as far as the basic idea of the invention, the Separation of the shell or box stream into single stacks by machine and without prior marking on individual trays or boxes, is maintained.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Shell or box stream

2, 2 ', 2 "

Bowls or boxes

3

separating wedge

4

rotatable separator

4 '

Rotation axis of 4

5

Transport pad for 1

6, 6 '

Transport device for 10

7

Wheel

8th

button

8th'

Rotation axis of 8

9

Compressed air line

10

Single stack

11

separation point

12

Sidewall of 2

13

Optical fiber cable

20

Measuring and control device

21

Transport direction of 1

21 '

opposite transport direction of 1

22

Direction of rotation of 6

23

Sliding way of 3

24

Sliding path of 6

25

Swinging movement of 8

26

Direction of rotation of 7

27

Direction of rotation of 4

30

production machine

31,32,33

cables

v ₁

Transport speed of 1

v ₂

Circulation speed of 6 or transport speed of 10

Claims (20)

A method of separating an endless tray stream (1), for example a stream of cardboard boxes for packaging foodstuffs, wherein the individual trays (2) are machined, folded and fed to the endless tray or carton stream (1) are pushed into each other or stacked, which is then divided into individual stack (10) with any shell or box quantity at a separation point (11) or separated, characterized in that the separation of the individual stack (10) for automatic Quantity counting without prior labeling on the trays or boxes (2) done by machine. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation into individual stacks (10) by means of a separating device (3, 4), for example by one or more separating wedges (3), the or in the shell or box stream (1) between the side walls (12) of the trays or boxes (2 ', 2 ") to be separated at the separation point (11) are introduced and the separated individual stack (10) from the shell or box stream (1) solve. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that after the insertion of the separating device (3, 4), the separation point (11) by means of the separating device (3, 4) cooperating means increases and the single stack (10) in the transport direction of the shell or box stream (1) is pushed away. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the separation point (11) is enlarged by injected compressed air. A method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the enlargement of the separation point (11) is effected by a thrust movement of the separation device (3, 4) acting in the transport direction. Method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the individual stack (10) separated from the tray or carton stream (1) with enlarged separation point (11) is grasped by a transport device, for example a conveyor belt (6), and completely from the trays - Is removed or box stream (1) and its further use. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the conveyor belt (6) for removal from above and / or from below and / or from the sides with the single stack (10) is brought into contact. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the quantity counting of the shells or boxes (2) takes place optically, for example by means of a light guide (13). Method according to one or more of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the quantity counting of the trays or boxes (2) is carried out mechanically, for example with an impeller (7) resting on the tray or carton stream (1), wherein the rolled-over path length or the number of overrun edges of the side walls (12) is detected as a quantity measure. Method according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the quantity counting of the trays or boxes (2) acoustically, for example by means of a button (8), is performed. A method according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the quantity counter (13, 7, 8) via a measuring and control device (20), the insertion of the separating device (3, 4) in the separation point (11) triggers. Apparatus for separating an endless tray stream (1), for example a stream of cardboard boxes for packaging foodstuffs, wherein the individual trays (2) are machined, folded and fed to the endless tray or carton stream (1) are pushed into each other or stacked, which is then divided or separated into individual stack (10) with any number of trays or boxes at a separation point (11), for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by a separation device (3, 4) which can be introduced into the shell or box stream (1) for producing the individual stacks (10), Means for increasing the separation point (11), the means cooperating with the separation device (3, 4), a transport device (6) for complete separation and removal of the individual stacks (10) from the tray or carton stream (1), a counting device (13, 7, 8) for optical, mechanical or acoustic determination of the separation point (11), a measuring and control device (20) connecting the counting device (13, 7, 8) to the separating device (3, 4) and the transport device (6) and triggering the separating process. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the separating device (3, 4) at least one separating wedge (3) is inserted for separation at the separation point (11) in the shell or box stream (1) and after separation into its Initial situation is traced back. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the separating device (3, 4) is rotatable and has an axis of rotation (4 ') arranged above the shell or box flow (1), on which at least one separating wedge (3) is arranged at an angle in that, on rotation of the rotation axis (4 '), the separating wedge (3) is first inserted into the shell or box stream (1) at the separation point (11) and then the separating wedge (3) is rotated on further rotation by the translational component of the rotary movement Single stack (10) in the transport direction at the speed (v ₂ ) of the tray or box stream (1) away. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that a plurality of separating wedges (3) on the axis of rotation (4 ') are arranged so that after the separation process is always another separating wedge (3) for re-separation in insertion position. Apparatus according to claim 12, 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the insertable separating wedge (3) at its front region has at least one outlet opening (9) for compressed air. Device according to one or more of Claims 12 to 16, characterized in that an optical waveguide (13) which is used as part of the separating device (3, 4), for example, is used for optically counting the number of shells or boxes (2) of a single stack (10) is arranged on a front side of a separating wedge (3). Device according to one or more of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that for mechanical quantity counting of the trays or boxes (2) of a single stack (10) on the tray or box stream (1) as a counting device an impeller (7) rests. Device according to one or more of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that for the acoustic quantity counting of the trays or boxes (2) of a single stack (10) on the tray or box stream (1) sliding a button (8) rests. Device according to one or more of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the measuring and control device (20) evaluates the count pulses emanating from the counting devices (13, 7, 8) and after reaching a variably presettable separation quantity the control of the separating device (3 , 4) and the transport device (6) automatically performs.

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