EP2029435B1 - Transfer device for transferring a folding box - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a transfer device for transferring a folding box from a stack in which said box is stored in a flat state onto a conveyor device, said transfer device comprising a holding device that grasps the folding box and holds said box during transfer, said holding device being movable on a cycloid path having multiple reversal points and curved arcs located therebetween. The transfer device has a base lever that performs a continuous, uniform circular motion, a first lever pair having a first lever mounted on the base lever in a pivoting fashion via a first joint, and a second lever mounted on the first lever in a pivoting fashion via a second joint, and a second lever pair having a third lever mounted on the base lever in a pivoting fashion via a third joint, and a fourth lever mounted on the third lever in a pivoting fashion via a fourth joint. The holding device is attached to a holding block that is connected by an additional joint in a pivoting fashion with the second lever of the first lever pair. A pivotally mounted guide piece is provided that comprises a linear guide. A sled piece is configured on the holding block that sits on the linear guide and is movable along said linear guide.

Description

The invention relates to a transfer device for transferring a folding box from a magazine receiving them in a flat state to a conveying device with simultaneous straightening, with a holding device which takes over the folding carton and is carried during the transfer and which can be moved on a cycloidal trajectory having a plurality of reversing points and intervening curve bends.

Such a transfer device is used, for example, in a cartoning machine, in which it is necessary to first erect a folded box received in a magazine in a flat collapsed condition prior to feeding the product to be packaged and to make it available in a conveyor device usually designed as a belt or chain conveyor.

As for example from the DE 198 01 194 A1 is known, for this purpose, each carton by means of a holding device, which is designed in particular in the form of a suction device and on a rotating, running on a sun gear planetary part of a removal device is arranged, taken from the magazine and supplied with this on a cycloid trajectory of the conveyor and stored in a cell formed between two fingers arranged there. During the movement along the cycloidal track, a erecting member mounted on the planetary part is brought into contact with the folding box, whereby it is erected.

It has been shown that the use of a simple planetary gear in the transfer device is not sufficient to ensure a long-term reliable handover of the carton to the conveyor. It has therefore been attempted to optimize the course of the cycloidal trajectory, for example by the sun gear is cyclically moved back and forth or by a second sun gear is arranged with another planetary part, wherein the two sun gears are adjustable relative to each other and thus the movements in the desired Can be customized. According to the DE 198 01 194 A1 For each rotational movement of the holding device and for the rotational movement of the Aufrichtorgans each corrective rotational movement is tapped at independent cams and superimposed with the respective resulting from the rotation of the planetary part rotational movement. In all cases, the design effort to achieve the cycloidal trajectory is very high, making the transfer devices not only expensive, but in particular are prone to failure.

The invention has for its object to provide a transfer device of the type mentioned, which has a structurally simple structure and ensures reliable transfer of the carton to the conveyor.

• es ist ein Grundhebel vorgesehen, der eine kontinuierlich, gleichförmige Drehbewegung ausführt,
• es ist ein 1. Hebelpaar vorgesehen, das einen 1. Hebel, der über ein 1. Gelenk schwenkbar am Grundhebel gelagert ist, und einen 2. Hebel aufweist, der über ein 2. Gelenk schwenkbar am 1. Hebel gelagert ist,
• es ist ein 2. Hebelpaar vorgesehen, das einen 3. Hebel, der über ein 3. Gelenk schwenkbar am Grundhebel gelagert ist, und einen 4. Hebel aufweist, der über ein 4. Gelenk schwenkbar am 3. Hebel gelagert ist,
• es ist ein Halteblock vorgesehen, an dem die Haltevorrichtung angebracht ist und der an einem weiteren Gelenk schwenkbar mit dem 2. Hebel des 1. Hebelpaars verbunden ist,
• es ist ein schwenkbar gelagertes Führungsteil vorgesehen, das eine Linearführung, beispielsweise eine Schiene oder eine Führungsnut aufweist,
• an dem Halteblock ist ein Schlittenteil ausgebildet, das auf der Linearführung sitzt und längs der Linearführung bewegbar ist,
• das 1. Hebelpaar weist eine 1. Kurvenrolle auf, die mit einer 1. Steuerkurve in Eingriff steht, und
• das 2. Hebelpaar weist eine 2. Kurvenrolle auf, die mit einer 2. Steuerkurve in Eingriff steht.

This object is achieved by a transfer device of the type mentioned, which has the following features:

• it is provided a basic lever, which performs a continuous, uniform rotational movement,
• a first lever pair is provided which has a first lever, which is pivotably mounted on the base lever via a first joint, and a second lever which is pivotably mounted on the first lever via a second joint,
• a second pair of levers is provided which has a third lever, which is pivotally mounted on the base lever via a third joint, and a fourth lever, which is mounted pivotably on the third lever via a fourth joint,
• there is provided a holding block on which the holding device is mounted and which is pivotally connected to the second lever of the first lever pair at a further joint,
• it is provided a pivotally mounted guide member having a linear guide, such as a rail or a guide groove,
• on the holding block, a slide member is formed, which sits on the linear guide and is movable along the linear guide,
• the first pair of levers has a first cam roller, which is in engagement with a first cam, and
• the 2nd lever pair has a second cam roller, which is in engagement with a second cam.

According to the planetary gear usually used in prior art transfer devices is replaced by a lever mechanism. Starting point is a basic lever that is continuous and at a steady speed is rotated by a suitable drive. Mounted on the base lever two lever pairs constructed of two levers, each lever is articulated on both sides. In order to impose defined movements and relative positions on the levers during the passage of the entire cycloidal trajectory, the first lever pair is assigned a first cam roller which engages with a first cam. In addition, the second lever pair is assigned a second cam roller, which is in engagement with a second cam. The free end of the second lever of the first lever pair is pivotally mounted via a further joint with a holding block on which the holding device is mounted. Preferably, the holding device comprises a conventional vacuum cleaner, which can be activated by applying negative pressure.

For the control of the pivoting movement of the holding block to the other joint, the pivotally mounted guide member is provided which has a linear guide, such as a rail or a guide groove. On the holding block, a slide member is formed, which sits on the linear guide and along the linear guide is movable. The design of the guide member with a linear guide makes it possible to superimpose the movements of the individual components so that the holding device performs a linear movement perpendicular to the surface of the cartons folded in the magazine at the reversal point of the cycloid web on the carton magazine, whereby a secure removal of the lower Folding box of Faltschachtelstapels guaranteed and striking the removed carton is reliably avoided on the magazine. A similar linear movement can also be in a reversal point of the cycloid trajectory near a counter sucker and / or at the reversal point of the Cycloid traction can be achieved when storing the erected carton on the conveyor.

In one possible embodiment of the invention can be provided that the free ends of the second lever and the fourth lever are connected to each other via the other joint, so that the two pairs of levers form a joint quadrangle.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the fourth lever of the second pair of levers is pivotally connected to the guide part via a guide joint, while the second lever of the first pair of levers is pivotably connected in the aforementioned manner via the further joint to the holding block. This embodiment has the advantage that the movements imposed by the two control cams on the respective pairs of levers are independent of one another, so that an even better adaptation of the movements and in particular a separation of the radial movement of the holding device from the rotational movement is provided. This allows the linear guide to stand still for a short period of time so that a true linear picking movement for the carton out of the magazine is achieved.

The guide member is pivotable about an axis which is parallel to the drive axis of the base lever. Preferably, these two axes coincide, so that the guide member is pivotable about the drive axis of the base lever.

In a possible embodiment of the invention it is provided that the holding device is not directly seated on the holding block, but that a preferably in the longitudinal direction of the drive axis and extending parallel thereto arm is arranged, on which the holding device is mounted and which runs parallel to a pivot axis of the holding block.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung der Umgebung einer Übergabevorrichtung in einer Karto- niermaschine mit der Zykloidenbahn und den Steuerkurven,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer ers- ten Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Übergabevorrichtung,

Fig. 3

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 2 bei der Entnahme einer Faltschachtel aus dem Ma- gazin,

Fig. 4

die Übergabevorrichtung unmittelbar nach der Entnahme der Faltschachtel aus dem Magazin,

Fig. 5

die Übergabevorrichtung kurz nach der Situa- tion gemäß Figur 4,

Fig. 6

die Übergabevorrichtung bei der Anlage der Faltschachtel an dem Gegensauger,

Fig. 7

die Übergabevorrichtung bei Ablage der Falt- schachtel auf der Fördervorrichtung,

Fig. 8

eine schematische Darstellung des kinemati- schen Aufbaus der Übergabevorrichtung gemäß der ersten Ausgestaltung und

Fig. 9

eine schematische Darstellung des kinemati- schen Aufbaus der Übergabevorrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausgestaltung.

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

1 is a schematic representation of the surroundings of a transfer device in a cartoning machine with the cycloid trajectory and the control cams;

Fig. 2

1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the transfer device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

the transfer device according to FIG. 2 when removing a carton from the magazine,

Fig. 4

the transfer device immediately after the removal of the carton from the magazine,

Fig. 5

the transfer device shortly after the situation according to FIG. 4 .

Fig. 6

the transfer device during the installation of the folding box on the counter sucker,

Fig. 7

the transfer device when the folding box is placed on the conveyor,

Fig. 8

a schematic representation of the kinematic structure of the transfer device according to the first embodiment and

Fig. 9

a schematic representation of the kinematic structure of the transfer device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows the basic arrangement of a transfer device 10 within a cartoning machine. The cartoning machine has a circulating conveying device 30, for example in the form of a chain conveyor, which has a plurality of spaced-apart fingers 31, between which cells 32 are formed. In each cell 32 in each case an erected folding box FS can be used. The conveying device 30 is filled from above with folding boxes, with their conveying direction F extending substantially horizontally.

Above the conveying device 30, the transfer device 10 is provided, from the in FIG. 1 only one sucker 25.1 of a holding device is shown in different positions on a cycloidal path Z. The cycloid trajectory Z comprises three reversal points P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₃ , which lie on the vertices of an approximately simultaneous triangle. The direction of rotation along the cycloid trajectory Z takes place essentially in the counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows U. FIG. 1 shows in the upper right representation of the state of the holding device in which the teat 25.1 is in the upper reversal point P ₁ , which is associated with a magazine M, in which the cartons FS are received in flat folded state in a stacked form. When the teat 25.1 with the lower carton FS of the folding carton stack of the magazine M comes into abutment, the teat 25.1 is activated and thereby the bottom folding box FS of the magazine M is gripped. Subsequently, the teat 25.1 is moved together with the folding box M on a first curve arc of the cycloid web Z in the direction of the second reversal point P ₂ , in which a Aufzieh- or counter sucker 29 is arranged. When the 2nd reversal point P _{2 is} reached ( FIG. 1 , top left), the folding box FS is brought into abutment with the stationary Aufzieh- or counter sucker 29, whereby the carton M is pulled apart on further movement of the teat 25.1 on the cycloid web Z and a resulting removal of the sucker 29 by a small amount ,

At the end of the movement along the second curve arc of the cycloid path Z between the second turning point P ₂ and the third turning point P ₃ , ie when the third turning point P _{3 is reached} , in which the folding box FS is transferred to the conveying device 30, is the sucker 25.1 aligned with its the folding box FS supporting suction surface substantially horizontally and thus runs parallel to the conveying direction F of the conveyor device 30 (Fig. FIG. 1 , lower illustration). During the movement between the 2nd reversal point P ₂ and the third reversal point P ₃ , a not shown, known Aufrichtorgan that forms a Aufrichtanschlag, with the folding box FS usually brought into abutment, whereby this is erected.

At the point of reversal P ₃ , the folding box M can be inserted from above into the cell 32 of the conveying device 30 formed between two fingers 31, the orientation of the cycloid path Z relative to the conveying device 30 having the advantage that the teat 25.1 and thus the Folding box FS when approaching the 3rd reversal point P ₃ , in which the transfer of the carton takes place, has a directed in the conveying direction F movement component. After delivery of the folding box to the conveying device 30, the holding device 24 returns to the magazine M with the sucker 25.1 on a third curve arc of the cycloid path Z ( FIG. 1 , right upper illustration), whereupon the cycle runs again.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the transfer device 10, which is designed as a lever mechanism. The FIGS. 3 to 7 show the mutual arrangement of the levers of the transfer device 10 in different positions on the cycloid trajectory Z. The kinematic structure of the transfer device is shown schematically in FIG FIG. 8 shown.

On a drive shaft 17, which performs a continuous, uniform rotational movement at a constant rotational speed about a drive axis A (arrow D) sits a substantially perpendicular to the drive axis A aligned basic lever 11. Near the drive axis A remote from the end of the basic lever 11 is at this a first Lever pair 12 hinged. The first pair of levers 12 comprises a first lever 12.1, which is mounted on the base lever 11 via a first joint 15, wherein a pivot axis B _{1 of} the first joint 15 extends parallel to the drive axis A. Near the first joint 15, the first lever 12.1 carries a first cam roller 14, which has a first cam track K ₁ (see FIG FIG. 1 ) is engaged.

At its end facing away from the first joint 15, the first lever 12.1 is connected via a second joint 16, whose pivot axis B ₂ also parallel to the drive axis A, hingedly connected to a second lever 12.2.

On the side facing away from the first lever pair 12 of the basic lever 11, a second lever pair 13 is connected to this. The second lever pair 13 comprises a third lever 13.1 which is connected to a third joint 19 (in FIG FIG. 2 not visible) hingedly connected to the base lever 11, wherein a pivot axis of the third joint 19 preferably coincides with the pivot axis B _{1 of} the first joint 15.

The third lever 13.1 carries a second cam roller 18, which with a second cam track K ₂ (see FIG. 1 ) is engaged. At its end remote from the third joint 19, the third lever 13.1 is pivotally connected to a fourth lever 21 via a fourth joint 21 whose pivot axis B ₃ extends parallel to the drive axis A.

The free end of the second lever 12.2 facing away from the second joint 16 and the free end of the fourth lever 13.2 facing away from the fourth joint 21 are articulated to one another via another joint 33 whose pivot axis B ₄ extends parallel to the drive axis A. , The two pairs of levers 12 and 13 and the four levers 12.1, 12.2, 13.1 and 13.2 thus form an articulated quadrilateral 34 or a parallelogram linkage.

At the joint square 34, a holding block 22 is articulated in the further joint 33, which can perform a pivoting about the pivot axis B ₄ . The support block 22 carries a transverse projection 20, to which a in the longitudinal direction of the drive axis A, but offset to this extending arm 23 is mounted, which carries at its front free end, the holding device 24, the one extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm 23 extending rod-shaped holder 25.2, at the upper free end of the teat 25.1 is arranged.

The holding block 22 has a slide member 28 which sits longitudinally displaceable on a linear guide 27, as in FIG. 2 indicated by the double arrow V. The linear guide 27 is part of a guide member 26 which is pivotally mounted on the drive shaft 17 and thus can perform a pivot about the drive axis A.

The FIGS. 3 to 7 show the transfer device according to the invention in different states along the cycloid trajectory Z. It can be seen that the teat 25.1 of the holding device 24 is directed in all states radially outward. How the particular FIGS. 3 to 5 show, the inventive design and in particular the arrangement of the linear guide 27, that the folding box FS in the magazine M touching suction surface of the teat 25.1 full surface with the surface of the lower carton comes into abutment and in the course of movement initially a purely translational movement performs a rectilinear path, although the basic lever 11 performs a further pivotal movement, as is apparent from the Figures 3 . 4 and 5 is apparent. Accordingly, a linear approach takes place at the reversal point P ₂ to the counter sucker 29.

In the figures, the transfer device 10 is shown with only a joint square and a sucker. However, it is also possible to equip the transfer device with a plurality of suckers which are distributed over the circumference and each have a joint quadrilateral. The cam rollers of all joint squares can be performed in the same curved paths K ₁ and K ₂ .

FIG. 9 shows one FIG. 8 corresponding schematic representation of the kinematic structure of the transfer device according to a second embodiment. This second embodiment is in accordance with essential elements according to the first embodiment FIG. 8 and differs from this among other things in that the first joint 15 of the first lever 12.1 and the third joint 19 of the third lever 13.1 are now formed at different points of the base lever 11. Such a configuration is also according to the first embodiment FIG. 8 conceivable and vice versa can also be provided in the second embodiment that the first joint 15 and the third joint 19 coincide with its axis of rotation.

The essential difference of the second embodiment according to FIG. 9 compared to the first embodiment according to FIG. 8 is that the fourth lever 13.2 of the second lever pair 13 with its front, the third lever 13.1 facing away from the end now articulated via a guide joint 35 is connected to the Frührsteil 26, so that the two pairs of levers 12 and 13 no joint quadrangle to form more.

The second lever 12.2 of the first pair of levers 12 is further connected via the further joint 33 articulated to the support block 22, which can be moved with its slide member 28 along the linear guide 27 of the guide member 26.

Claims (6)

1. Transfer device for transferring a folding box (FS) from a magazine (M) that accommodates flat folding boxes, to a transport device (30), thereby simultaneously erecting it, comprising a holding device (24) which takes over the folding box (FS), holds it during transfer, and can be moved along a cycloid path (Z) having several turning points (P₁, P₂, P₃) and intermediate curved sections, characterized in that the transfer device (10) comprises:

   - a basic lever (11) which performs a continuous steady rotary motion;

   - a first lever pair (12) comprising a first lever (12.1) which is pivotably disposed on the basic lever (11) via a first joint (15), and a second lever (12.2) which is pivotably disposed on the first lever (12.1) via a second joint (16);

   - a second lever pair (13) comprising a third lever (13.1) which is pivotably disposed on the basic lever (11) via a third joint (19), and a fourth lever (13.2) which is pivotably disposed on the third lever (13.1) via a fourth joint (21);

   - a holding block (22) to which the holding device (24) is mounted and which is pivotably connected to the second lever (12.2) of the first lever pair (12) via a further joint (33); and

   - a pivotably disposed guiding part (26) which has a linear guidance (27), wherein a carriage part (28) is formed on the holding block (22), which is seated on the linear guidance (27) and can be moved along the linear guidance;

   - wherein the first lever pair (12) has a first curve roller (14) which is in engagement with a first control cam (K₁), and wherein the second lever pair (13) has a second curve roller (18) which is in engagement with a second control cam (K₂).
2. Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the free ends of the second lever (12.2) and of the fourth lever (13.2) are connected to each other via the further joint (33), such that the two lever pairs (12, 13) form a four-bar linkage (34).
3. Transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fourth lever (13.2) of the second lever pair (13) is articulated to the guiding part (26) via a guiding joint (35).
4. Transfer device according to any one of the claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the guiding part (26) can be pivoted about the drive axis (A) of the basic lever (11).
5. Transfer device according to any one of the claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the holding device (24) is mounted to an arm (23) which extends parallel to a pivot axis (B₄) of the holding block (22).
6. Transfer device according to any one of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the holding device (24) comprises a suction device (25.1).

Images