EP2150138B1 - Emptying magazine and transfer mechanism for a hopper emptying apparatus, and hopper emptying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an emptying magazine for a tray emptier for emptying drawer filled with rod-shaped products, comprising a connection means for adapting the drawer to be emptied to the emptying magazine, an at least partially enclosed receiving space for the products flowing out of the tray, wherein the receiving space is in an input area for the product is open at the top and is delimited downwards in a dispensing area for the products, wherein the receiving space in the dispensing area is assigned a sending station which delimits the receiving space for the direct forwarding of the products to downstream devices, so that the sending station is an integral part of the unloading magazine, and wherein a plurality of shaft walls for dividing the receiving space into individual shafts are formed and arranged within the receiving space. Furthermore, a tray emptying for emptying filled with rod-shaped products Schragen, comprising a feed device for feeding with products filled Schragen, an emptying magazine, arranged above or below the feeder Abtransporteinrichtung for transporting emptied Schragen, and a transfer device, by means of the product-filled Schragen of the feeding device in the area of the emptying magazine and the emptied trays are transported from the emptying magazine in the area of Abtransporteinrichtung, part of the invention.

Such devices or devices are used in particular in the tobacco processing industry. Cigarettes and in particular also filter rods or the like are stored for various reasons in containers, the so-called Schragen. Preferably, the trays are designed as shaft trays in which the products are located in several separate shafts. to Further processing of the products must be reintroduced into the production process or sent to further processing devices or machines.

From the prior art, different and above all separate devices and machines for emptying the Schragen on the one hand and for sending the products on the other hand known. So-called tray emptiers usually serve to introduce the products flowing out of the trays into a mass flow. For this, the receiving space is downwards, e.g. bounded by a conveyor belt or the like which transports the products from the tray unloader. The tray emptiers designed exclusively for emptying the trays have a transfer device, by means of which the trays filled with products can be transported from a feed device into the region of an emptying magazine and the emptied trays from the emptying magazine into the area of a removal device, wherein the transfer device is usually designed as a pivoting device and a closure member which holds the products during the coupling of the trays to the discharge tray in overhead movement in the tray. The one-piece closure member is then pivoted away to open the tray or moved to one side so that the products fall out of the tray disorderly and unevenly.

From the DE 2 025 657 An arrangement with a filling station and an emptying station is known. The layers filled with products in the filling station are fed via a transfer station, in which the casings are conveyed transversely (in the direction of their narrow side) to the emptying station, to a sending station which is arranged offset to the actual stripping station. The products in the tray are then released for emptying into the sending station.

Furthermore, there are so-called transmitting stations, by means of which products are sent to downstream devices or machines for further processing of the products. Such a device is for example the EP 0 241 789 B1 refer to. In this only for sending suitable transmitting device individual Schragen be placed manually on a pivoting device. By means of the pivoting device the trays are emptied overhead in a funnel-shaped magazine of the transmitting device and discharged through arranged at the exit of the magazine transmitting elements or fed to a downstream device.

The known devices, however, have the drawback that, on the one hand, they require a large amount of space and, in particular, if such devices are combined for emptying and sending, they lead to an unfavorable layout and a complex procedure. On the other hand, interfaces are necessarily formed in the combination of the two devices mentioned, which adversely affect process reliability. In other words, every interface in the process increases the risk of errors. Furthermore, the known devices have the disadvantage that they tend to so-called transverse flyers. In other words, the common emptying magazines and transmitting stations are designed in such a way, in particular in the area of the receiving space or the magazine, that the rod-shaped products can cross position during emptying, whereby the entire process comes to a standstill. The problem of the mentioned transverse flyers is further enhanced by the fact that known closing elements for the drawer to be emptied is designed such that the products unevenly, so in particular not aligned horizontally, can fall out of the trays.

An emptying magazine with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 41 27 283 A1 known. This emptying magazine also has the disadvantages mentioned above. In particular, an orderly transfer and forwarding of the products is problematic.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact discharge magazine or a compact tray emptiers that ensure an orderly transfer and forwarding rod-shaped products of Schragen to downstream units safely and reliably.

This object is achieved by an emptying magazine with the features mentioned in the fact that the transmitting station has a plurality of transmitting elements, and each transmitting element for receiving and separating the from the receiving space having flowing rod-shaped products is formed and a connection element for connecting the products forward-conducting pipes, lines or the like. The fact that the transmitting station is arranged within the emptying magazine and thus is part of the emptying magazine, a particularly compact unit for simultaneous emptying and sending the products can be provided. By integrating the transmitting station in the emptying magazine, the number of interfaces can be reduced, whereby the reliability is increased. The majority and design of the transmitting elements allows the direct and automatic loading of devices for further processing the stored products from the Schragen. In other words, the emptying of the trays and the forwarding of the products to downstream devices can be performed automatically in a single operation. The fact that the pipes, pipes or the like directly and directly connect to the discharge tray, the emptying and forwarding process is simplified and shortened.
The creation or formation of shafts within the receiving space of the emptying magazine means that the above-described cross-pilots are avoided, since an orderly and uniform emptying of the Schragen is ensured. The fact that a shaft wall section of each shaft wall is arranged in the input area of the receiving space, the products are controlled or guided during the transition from Schragen to the emptying magazine. The shaft wall portion of each shaft wall in the discharge area ensures that the products are routed safely and evenly to the sending station. The combination of the features mentioned ensures that the orderly transfer and forwarding rod-shaped products from Schragen to downstream units is guaranteed safe and reliable.

Preferably, each shaft wall is formed within the receiving space of two spaced bay wall sections and a shaft wall portion is in the input area and the other shaft wall portion is arranged in the output area. By interrupting the shaft wall balancing the products for equalization of the same within the receiving space is possible.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that each shaft wall section protrudes in the input area of the receiving space in the latter in the direction of the discharge area, such that the drop height of the products is covered by a change of the tray. This means that the shaft wall sections extend into the product reservoir located inside the receiving space. This reliably prevents individual products falling out of the Schrage from becoming transversal flyers.

A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that each shaft wall section protrudes in the output region of the receiving space in the latter in the direction of the input area, such that the transmission elements of adjacent shafts are completely separated from each other. Thus, the products are reliably and evenly routed to the individual transmission elements.

The object is also achieved by a tray emptier with the features mentioned in the fact that the emptying magazine is designed according to one of claims 1 to 8. The resulting from the inventive design of Schragenentleerers advantages have already been discussed in detail in connection with the emptying magazine. To avoid repetition, refer to the relevant sections.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Schragenentleerers mit angeschlossenen Rohren/Leitungen zur Weiterleitung der Produkte,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Entleermagazins mit integrierter Sendestation,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Übergabeeinrichtung mit geteiltem Schließelement in Schließstellung von schräg oben,

Fig. 4

die Übergabeeinrichtung gemäß Figur 3 mit dem Schließelement in geöffneter Stellung von schräg unten,

Fig. 5

ein Detail der Übergabeeinrichtung gemäß Figur 3,

Fig. 6

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Entleermagazins mit integrierter Sendestation,

Fig. 7

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Entleermagazins mit integrierter Sendestation, und

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Entleermagazins mit integrierter Sendestation.

Further expedient or advantageous features emerge from the subclaims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments and the method principle are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a Schrägenentleerers with connected pipes / lines for forwarding the products,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of an emptying magazine with integrated transmitting station,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a transfer device with shared closing element in the closed position obliquely from above,

Fig. 4

the transfer device according to FIG. 3 with the closing element in the open position obliquely from below,

Fig. 5

a detail of the transfer device according to FIG. 3 .

Fig. 6

a further embodiment of an emptying magazine with integrated transmitting station,

Fig. 7

a further embodiment of an emptying magazine with integrated transmitting station, and

Fig. 8

Another embodiment of an emptying magazine with integrated transmitting station.

The tray unloader shown in the drawing with the emptying magazine also shown is used for automatic emptying filled with filter rods Schragen and automatic transmission of the filter rods to downstream devices. Of course, the emptying magazine can also be integrated in other devices or machines. Also, other rod-shaped products can be emptied and forwarded. The transfer device shown serves to handle the Schragen within the Schragenentleerstation, but can also be used as a single device or in other devices or the like.

Based on FIG. 1 the tray unloader 10 is described, which essentially comprises a feed device 11 for feeding product-filled trays 12, a discharge magazine 13, a removal device 14 for transporting emptied trays 12 and a transfer device 15 by means of the product-filled trays 12 from the feed device 11 in the Area of the emptying magazine 13 and the emptied trays 12 are transported from the emptying magazine 13 in the area of the removal device 14. The feeder 11 and the removal device 14 are arranged one above the other. It does not matter which of the devices 11 and 14 is arranged above or below. In the illustrated embodiment, the feeder 11 is located at the bottom. The removal device 14 is arranged directly above and spaced apart by at least one inclined height. Both the feed device 11 and the removal device 14 are designed as belt conveyors and extend substantially horizontally. The feed device 11 and the removal device 14 may also be designed as chain conveyors or the like and extend depending on the view from the front or from the back into the area of the discharge magazine 13 and are designed and arranged such that a transfer of the tray 12 to the discharge tray 13 by means of Transfer device 15 can be realized. The feeding of the full trays 12 and the removal of the empty tray 12 takes place in a substantially horizontal and preferably linear direction.

The emptying magazine 13, which can also be used as a separate unit, serves for emptying the casings 12 filled with products and comprises a connection means 16 for adapting the drawer 12 to be emptied to the emptying hopper 13, an accommodating space 17 at least partially enclosed for the tray 12 flowing products, wherein the receiving space 17 in an input area 18 for the products is open at the top and limited in a discharge area 19 for the products down. At least partially enclosed means that the receiving space 17 does not have to be completely closed. In the embodiment shown, the receiving space 17 is defined by two side walls 20, 21 and a rear wall 22 and a boundary described below. Optionally, the receiving space 17 may also have a preferably transparent front wall. The opening of the receiving space 17 upward corresponds in cross-section approximately to the cross-sectional opening of the tray 12 is formed in the region of the connecting means 16. The connection means 16 may e.g. an adapter frame for at least one tray 12 be. Other conventional training for receiving and holding a tray 12 are of course possible.

The above-mentioned limitation of the receiving space 17 downwards is formed by a transmitting station 23. In the output area 19 of the receiving space 17, the transmitting station 23 is arranged for direct forwarding of the products flowing from the receiving space 17 products to downstream devices or machines. The fact that the transmitting station 23 is arranged quasi within the receiving space 17 or at its output area 19, the transmitting station 23 forms an integral part of the emptying magazine 13. The emptying magazine 13 with the transmitting station 23 is arranged frontally in front of the feeder 11 or Abtransporteinrichtung 14 , so that a supply directly in front of the emptying magazine 13 or a removal is made possible directly from the emptying magazine 13 away.

The receiving space 17 itself is divided in the vertical direction. Preferably, a plurality of shaft walls 24 for dividing the receiving space 17 into individual shafts 25 are formed and arranged within the receiving space 17. The shaft walls 24 may be formed continuously. This means that the shaft walls 24 in each case from the input area 18 to the transmitting station 23 in Output area 19 extend. Preferably, however, each shaft wall 24 is formed from two shaft walls 26, 27 arranged at a distance from one another. One of the shaft wall sections 26 is arranged in the input area 18. The other shaft wall section is arranged in the region of the output area 19. Between the two aligned well wall sections 26, 27 a distance is provided. In other words, each shaft wall 24 is interrupted in the middle. Alternatively, however, the shaft wall sections 26, 27 of a shaft wall 24 need not be aligned with one another. Rather, the shaft wall sections 26, 27 may be arranged offset to one another.

The emptying magazine 13 is basically suitable for emptying all embodiments of known trays 12. However, the emptying magazine 13 is particularly preferably designed and set up for emptying shaft trays 12. The shaft trays 12 also have a plurality of shafts 29 formed by spaced-apart shaft walls 28. The number of shafts 25 within the receiving space 17 of the emptying magazine 13 corresponds to the number of shafts 29 of the tray 12. The shaft wall sections 26, 27 of a shaft wall 24, which are preferably aligned with one another, are furthermore preferably aligned or aligned with a corresponding shaft wall 28 of the tray 12 ., So that the shaft wall sections 26 in quasi-input area 18 form an extension of the shaft walls 28. But the shaft walls 24 may be arranged offset to the shaft walls 28.

As already described above, each shaft wall 24 is formed in two parts. The shaft wall section 26 arranged in the input area 18 projects into the receiving space 17 from top to bottom. The length of the shaft wall section 26 may vary, but should be selected at least such that the shaft wall section 26 covers the drop height of the products when the tray 12 is changed. Usually, the receiving space 17 of the emptying magazine 13 is filled after a first filling with products, wherein the product supply on the one hand continuously discharged from the sending station 23 and on the other hand is continuously refilled from the trays. The upper shaft wall sections 26 then reach into the product supply. The length of the shaft wall sections 27 in the lower region of the Receiving space 17 is also variable. The shaft wall sections 27 protrude from bottom to top into the receiving space 17, whereby individual transmission elements (described further below) of the transmitting station 23 in adjacent shafts 25 are completely separated from one another. The shaft wall sections 27 serve quasi las guiding elements to the individual transmitting elements 31st

Each shaft 25 of the receiving space 17 may optionally be associated with a current regulating means 30. Each current regulating means 30 comprises in the described embodiment, for example, an elliptically shaped guide element, which may optionally be mounted or driven stationary or movable. The position of the current regulating means 30 may vary. In each case, a guide element is preferably arranged between two shaft wall sections 26, 27 of a shaft wall 24.

As already indicated, the transmitting station 23 has a plurality of transmitting elements 31. Each transmitting element 31 is designed to receive and singulate the products flowing out of the receiving space 17. For this purpose, each transmitting element 31 comprises a troughed drum, wherein the troughs are adapted to the corresponding shapes of the rod-shaped products. Each drum is assigned a scraper element. The drums are arranged in or at the bottom of each shaft 25. Furthermore, each transmitting element 31 has a connection element (not shown) for connecting pipes 32, lines or the like which forward the products. The tubes 32, conduits or the like preferably extend in the same direction as the supply and removal devices 11 and 14, respectively.

The transfer device 15 within the Schrageentleerers 10 can also be used as a separate unit. The transfer device 15 comprises a receptacle 33 for at least one stripping 12. The receptacle 33 can be designed and set up for exercising linear movements and / or pivoting movements. Preferably, the receptacle 33 is a pivoting device, by means of which the trays 12 are removed from the feeder 11, pivoted overhead to the emptying magazine 13 and deposited on the Abtransporteinrichtung 14. So that the products are held at the overhead pivoting movement in the trays 12, is the transfer device 15 associated with a closing element 34. In the event that the receptacle 33 is designed for two or more casings 12, correspondingly more closing elements 34 are provided.

Each closure element 34 is formed in two parts and has two closure elements 35, 36. The closure elements 35, 36 are designed to be movable. In addition to the design as pivoting flaps, the closure elements 35, 36 are preferably formed as plates movable toward one another and away from one another and the like. The oppositely movable closure elements 35, 36 are arranged parallel to the pivot axis of the pivoting device. The movement of the closure elements 35, 36 takes place in a common plane holding the products. This plane is preferably oriented horizontally and becomes (see FIG. 3 ) spanned by the X-axis and the Z-axis. The movement of the separately drivable closure elements 35, 36 thus takes place in the X direction or counter to the X direction. This direction also corresponds to the orientation of the products within the tray 12. The products are also in the X direction in their longitudinal extent.

The two closure elements 35, 36 are in their (in FIG. 3 shown) closed position preferably spaced from each other. However, the gap or the distance of the two closure elements 35, 36 is in any case less than the length of the products. These are usually with their opposite ends each on a closure element 35 and 36, respectively. From the closed position, the closure elements 35, 36 in the (in FIG. 4 shown) open position brought. For this purpose, the closure elements 35, 36 mounted on movable rotors 37 a linear unit 38 and driven by drive units. The movement of the closure elements 35, 36 can of course be realized in other conventional manner. Within the Schrageentleerers 10, the transfer device 15 may also be formed in a conventional manner.

The tray emptying device 10 may further be associated with a lifting device (not explicitly shown). This serves in the present embodiment to the fact that the height difference between the feeder 11 and the Abtransporteinrichtung 14 can be compensated. The lift device can as be formed separate or independent device. Preferably, the transfer device 15 and the lifting device are formed as an integral unit. In other words, the transfer device 15 is a pivoting / lifting device. In this case, the receptacle 33, for example by means of suitable drive means vertically up and down to be movable along guides or the like. Other constructive embodiments of the lift device are also possible.

In the in the FIGS. 6 to 8 shown emptying magazines 13 is essentially made to the above embodiments, since the structure is basically the same, so that the same reference numerals are used for the same parts. The embodiment according to FIG. 6 however, deviates from the in FIG. 2 shown embodiment, that the number of transmitting elements 31 is greater than the number of shafts 25 within the receiving space 17. This can be achieved, for example, that the width in the upper region of the receiving space 17 is less than in the lower region, being used as side walls 20, 21 serving baffles, limiting elements or the like from the top down funnel-shaped. As already mentioned, the shaft wall sections 26, 27 on the one hand and / or the shaft walls 24 to the shaft walls 28 can also be offset. Another embodiment formed according to the principle just described is also the FIG. 7 can be seen, wherein the different number of transmitting elements 31 and shafts 25 by omitting individual shaft walls 24 and shaft wall sections 26 is achieved.

The embodiment according to FIG. 8 is characterized in that the different number of transmitting elements 31 and shafts 25 is achieved in that are arranged in the region of the transmitting station 23 directly over at least one, but preferably over several transmitting elements 31 covers 41 or the like, so that the underlying transmitting elements 31st are out of order. The transmitting elements 31 can also be removed. Optionally, the covers 41 are detachable and thus retrofittable and changeable in particular in the position. The number, arrangement and design of the covers 41 may vary. The covers 41 are preferably at least partially provided with a downwardly sloping, such that the on the covers 41st falling products in the range of the function of transmitting elements 31 are passed. Other than the training shown are also possible.

The following is the principle of the method on the basis of FIG. 1 In more detail, casings 12 filled with rod-shaped products are automatically transported with their broad side in the linear direction by means of the feed device 11 into the region of the emptying magazine 13 or the transfer device 15. The transfer device 15 receives an upwardly open tray 12 in the receptacle 33 and pivots it over the top of the discharge tray 13 so that the tray is with the open side down over the connecting means 16 and is adapted to this. The closing element 34 holds the products lying on the underlying closure elements 35, 36 in the tray 12. At the same time or with a time lag, another filled tray 12 can be transported by means of the feed device 11 into the region of the discharge magazine 13.

To open the closure elements 35, 36 they are moved apart in the opposite direction, so that the products over the entire cross section of the opening evenly and in a horizontal orientation down to the receiving space 17. In this case, the shaft wall sections 26 in the input area 18 ensure that the products are arranged and flow into the receiving space 17 while maintaining their original orientation. Thus, the receiving space 17 is continuously filled from above. Down the receiving space 17 is continuously emptied by the transmitting elements 31 by the transmitting elements 31 singulate the products and submit via the pipes 32 or the like. As soon as the tray 12 is completely emptied, the closing element 34 is closed and the tray 12 is picked up by means of the transfer device 15 and deposited on the upper removal device 14. This transports the empty tray 12 in a linear direction away from the discharge tray 13. To overcome the height difference between the feeding device 11 and the removal device 14, the transfer device 15 is selectively moved when picking up the trays from the feeder 11 and / or when delivering the trays to the removal device 14 up and down. While the empty Schragen 12 is removed, the transfer device 15 can receive the next full tray 12 from the feeder 11.

The emptying and sending of the products is thus carried out in a single fully automated work step, which on the one hand reduces the error rate and on the other hand the costs. Due to the design and arrangement of the Schrageentleerers 10 all process steps are carried out automatically. By horizontally feeding and transporting away the tray 12 in the direction of its broad side, the transfer or otherwise aligning the tray 12 is avoided for emptying. By providing the trays in the position in which they are swiveled over the head in the region of the emptying magazine 13, the travel paths can be shortened and the method as a whole can be carried out in a time- and distance-optimized manner.

Claims (13)

1. A discharge hopper (13) for a tray discharger (10) for emptying trays (12) filled with rod-shaped products, comprising a connecting means (16) for adapting the trays (12) to be emptied to the discharge hopper (13), an at least partially enclosed receiving chamber (17) for the products flowing out of the trays (12), wherein the receiving chamber (17) is open at the top in a input area (18) for the products and is delimited at the bottom in a discharge area (19) for the products, wherein a feed station (23) delimiting the receiving chamber (17) at the bottom is assigned to the receiving chamber (17) in the discharge area (19) for directly forwarding the products to apparatuses arranged downstream, so that the feed station (23) is an integral component of the discharge hopper (13), and wherein a plurality of shaft walls (24) are designed and arranged within the receiving chamber (17) for subdividing the receiving chamber (17) into individual shafts (25), characterised in that the feed station (23) comprises a plurality of feed elements (31) and each feed element (31) is designed to receive and separate the rod-shaped products flowing out of the receiving chamber (17) and has a connecting element for connecting pipes (32), lines or the like forwarding the products.
2. Discharge hopper according to claim 1, characterised in that each feed element (31) comprises a drum provided with troughs having at least one scraper element.
3. Discharge hopper according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the discharge hopper (13) is designed and configured for emptying shaft trays (12).
4. Discharge hopper according to claim 3, characterised in that the number of shafts (25) in the receiving chamber (17) corresponds to the number of shafts (29) of a shaft tray (12).
5. Discharge hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each shaft wall (24) within the receiving chamber (17) is formed from two shaft wall portions (26, 27) arranged spaced apart from one another and one shaft wall portion (26) is arranged in the input area (18) and the other shaft wall portion (27) is arranged in the discharge area (19).
6. Discharge hopper according to claim 5, characterised in that the shaft wall portions (26, 27) of a shaft wall (24) within the receiving chamber (17) are aligned with one another and are aligned with a shaft wall (28) of the coupled shaft tray (12).
7. Discharge hopper according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that each shaft wall portion (26) in the input area (18) of the receiving chamber (17) protrudes therein in the direction of the discharge area (19) such that the drop height of the products is covered when changing the tray (12).
8. Discharge hopper according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that each shaft wall portion (27) in the discharge area (19) of the receiving chamber (17) protrudes therein in the direction of the input area (18), such that the feed elements (31) of adjacent shafts (25) are entirely separate from one another.
9. A tray discharger (10) for emptying trays (12) filled with rod-shaped products, comprising a feed unit (11) for feeding trays (12) filled with products, a discharge hopper (13), a carry-off device (14) arranged above or below the feed unit (11) for transporting empty trays (12) away as well as a transfer unit (15) by means of which the trays (12) filled with products are able to be transported from the feed unit (11) into the area of the discharge hopper (13) and the empty trays (12) are able to be transported from the discharge hopper (13) into the area of the carry-off device (14), characterised in that the discharge hopper (13) is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. Tray discharger according to claim 9, characterised in that a lifting device is additionally provided for compensating for the difference in height between the feed unit (11) and the carry-off device (14).
11. Tray discharger according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the feed unit (11) is arranged below the carry-off device (14).
12. Tray discharger according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the feed unit (11) and the carry-off device (14) are designed as belt conveyors, chain conveyors or the like for the substantially horizontal conveyance of the trays (12).
13. Tray discharger according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that the transfer unit (15) and the lifting device are designed as an integral unit.

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