EP2296983B1 - Method and device for cutting through a banderole encompassing a stack of blanks - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for severing a banderole surrounding a blank stack, wherein the banderole, preferably in the region of a banderole station, cut by a cutting means, in particular a knife, and subsequently removed from the blank stack, according to the preamble of the claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device, in particular for carrying out the above-mentioned method, according to the preamble of claim 9.

Blanks for the production of packaging from (thin) cardboard, in particular for the production of hinged-lid packs for cigarettes, are usually prefabricated in a cardboard factory and delivered as a blank stack. In order to secure the formation of the blank stacks, it is often customary to provide the blank stack with a surrounding strip-shaped band made of paper, foil or the like. In the area of the packaging machine, the banderole must then be severed and removed in order to be able to transfer the banderole-free blank stack of the packaging machine, in particular a blank magazine, to it for further processing.

A method and a device of the type mentioned are, for example, from EP 0 706 946 B1 known from the house of the applicant and have basically proven in practice.

Furthermore, from the DE 200 08 174 U1 a so-called auxiliary device for opening pressed fiber bales is known in which a strapping by exerting lateral pressure on the fiber bale thereof is separated and severed.

On this basis, the invention is based on the object of further developing methods and devices of the type mentioned, in particular with regard to a (still) gentler for the blanks opening the bands.

A method for achieving this object comprises the measures of claim 1. It is therefore provided that the blank stack is compressed in such a way that the band is at least partially spaced from the blank stack and that the band is then severed in the spaced area by the cutting means. In contrast to EP 0 706 946 B1 Thus, the blank stack is not compressed to spread the blanks in the stack so that a knife can dive into the blank stack and sever the band (column 4, lines 22 to 42), but the blank stack is compressed altogether, so that the band is exposed and can be cut to the side of the blank stack. In this way, any damage to the blanks can be avoided by contact with the cutting means when cutting the band. According to the invention it is further provided that the band is at least partially brought into abutment against at least one side surface of the blank stack at least during compression of the blank stack, such that the band by compressing the blank stack in one not on the at least one side surface of the Blank-stack adjacent portion thereof is separated and cut there by means of the cutting means. The term "held" is to be understood to mean that the position of the band is not or not substantially changed by the compression and concomitant compression of the blank stack in this area. This then leads to a spacing of the band in the other areas.

Preferably, this can be done in such a way that the blank stack during compression partially in the region of a side surface rests against a support wall, the investment wall has smaller dimensions, in particular a small height, as the corresponding side surface of the blank stack, such that the banderole is separated from the same by the compression of the blank stack in not applied to the abutment wall region of the side surface of the blank stack and cut there by means of the cutting means. In this way, the position of the spaced area can be brought about selectively, so that the knife can always be moved in a predetermined, constant cutting plane.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the abutment wall, preferably when compressing the blank stack, is brought by the stamp plate into a correct relative position with respect to a side surface, in particular the top of the blank stack, such that the abutment wall is independent of the respective dimension, in particular height of the blank stack one, preferably substantially constant height equal, not covered portion of the side wall of the blank stack. In this way, regardless of the height of the blank stack, the band can be spaced at a suitable location from the blank stack in order to always ensure the proper performance of the severing cut.

The pressure on the blank stack is preferably exerted by the blank stack resting in the band station on a base, in particular a platform, and the band by applying pressure, in particular by means of a stamp plate, on a side surface, in particular a Bottom and / or top of the blank stack is spaced therefrom. It should be emphasized that preferably the complete blank stack is compressed, for example by compression in the vertical direction.

The direction in which the pressure is exerted on the stack, on the one hand depend on which dimensions have the blanks and also whether the stack is or is. In the preferred embodiment, the stack is upright and the blanks are stacked (horizontally aligned) within the stack so that the pressure is directed across the top or bottom of the blanks. Correspondingly, in the case of a lying stack in which the blanks are arranged upright next to one another, the pressure can be exerted laterally on the stack, ie in turn transversely to the vertically oriented, large-area upper sides or lower sides of the blanks.

It is also conceivable that the pressure is exerted essentially parallel to the top or bottom of the blank. This leads to a deformation of the blanks in the manner of a curvature, whereby at one end of the stack, the band is spaced from the stack and can be severed. It is conceivable, for example, in a standing stack according to embodiment, the exercise of a lateral pressure on the blanks, such that they bulge approximately in the longitudinal center, so that in the region of the underside of the blank stack, the separating cut can be performed.

Preferably, the severing of the banderole is performed in the area spaced from the blank stack with (side) clearance from the blank stack or contour of the blank stack, such that the cutting means does not penetrate into the blank stack. In this way, damage to the blanks can be prevented by the cutting means.

The removal of the severed banderole from the blank stack is preferably carried out by first pulling off a transverse web of the banderole in the region of a side surface, in particular the top side of the blank stack, in particular by lifting, preferably by means of a suction member, and then cutting the blank. Stack is conveyed away from the banding station, wherein the band is deducted from the blank stack, in particular by a pulling member.

Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are given in the dependent claims and the description of the rest.

An apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 9.

Further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the description of the rest.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung zum Entfernen von Banderolen in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 beim Durchtrennen der Banderole,

Fig. 3

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 beim Abziehen der Banderole,

Fig. 4

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 beim Abschieben des Zuschnitt-Stapels,

Fig. 5 und Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung in Richtung Pfeil V in Fig. 2 zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten während des Abtrennens der Banderole.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a device for removing banding in a side view,

Fig. 2

the device according to Fig. 1 when cutting the banderole,

Fig. 3

the device according to Fig. 1 when removing the band,

Fig. 4

the device according to Fig. 1 when pushing out the blank stack,

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6

a side view of the device in the direction of arrow V in Fig. 2 at different times during the removal of the banderole.

In the embodiments of the drawings, it is about the handling of blank stacks 10 of blanks for the cigarette industry. These are elongated blanks with the characteristic for the production of hinged-lid packings contour. The blanks are made of thin cardboard. Within the blank stack 10, the blanks lie flat one above the other, wherein side edges of the blanks are aligned such that the blank stack 10 has linearly extending side edges.

Each blank stack 10 is surrounded by a strip-shaped band 11. This is designed as a finite, rectangular piece of hose with opposing upright legs 12, 13 and upper and lower transverse webs 14, 15. The band 11 is formed from a finite strip of material with a glued overlap in the region of the leg 13. The band 11 is preferably made Paper, but may also consist of a film or other suitable material.

The blank stack 10 provided with such a banderole 11 is supplied, for example, on a pallet (not shown). A suitable lifting conveyor, for example a robot with a lifting head, sets the blank stacks 10 individually or in groups, forming a continuous row on a feed conveyor. This can be used as a belt conveyor according to EP 0 706 946 B1 be educated. The feed conveyor may sequentially feed the blank stacks 10 into a banding station 19. In the area of the banderole 11 is severed and eliminated. The blank stack 10 freed from the band 11 are then transferred to a discharge conveyor, which feeds the blank stack 10 for further processing. The banding station 19 may for example be part of a packaging machine for producing folding boxes for cigarettes. Feeders and banding station 19 can, as in the case of EP 0 706 946 B1 be positioned in the area of the back of the packaging machine.

In the banding station 19, the blank stack 10 is conveyed by the feed conveyor onto a base, namely onto a platform 21. The blank stack 10 rests thereon during the severing of the band 11.

Above the platform 21 or the blank stack 10, a cutting device 22 which can be moved up and down is positioned. This is equipped with a knife 23 as a cutting means for cutting the band 11. The blade-like blade 23 is moved for this purpose in a horizontal plane relative to the blank stack 10 and the band 11 ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ).

The knife 23 is mounted for this purpose on a reciprocating knife holder 24 which is slidable like a carriage on a guide rail 25 of the cutting device 22. The elongate blade 23 or a cutting edge 26 thereof is obliquely directed away from the blank stack 10, so that when carrying out the severing cut the band 11 is automatically held taut.

To carry out the separating cut, the knife holder 24 is displaced along the guide rail 25. The knife 23 is thereby guided outside the area of the band 11 laterally next to the blanks until the upright leg 12 is detected and severed. This process is supported by a guide pin 28, which is formed in front of the cutting edge 26 of the blade 23 ( Fig. 5 ). The knife 23 slides during the cutting movement to the end of the blank stack 10th

To carry out a cutting operation, the cutting device 22 can be lowered by a lifting cylinder 27 in the cutting plane. On the blank stack 10, pressure is exerted from above by the severed, strip-shaped stamp plate 29 before the severing of the band 11. This is lowered by the cutting device 22 from above onto the blank stack 10 and acted upon by the lifting cylinder. Together with the cutting device 22, a suction member 30 is further lowered from above onto the blank stack 10, which is arranged in the present case in the region of the underside of the stamp plate 29 and serves to detect the transverse web 14 of the band 11.

The blank stack 10 is pressurized by the stamp plate 29 in such a way that the entire blank stack 10 is compressed, with the result that the band 11 no longer tightly encloses the blank stack 10, but is loosened. This then leads to the formation of, in particular, loop-like regions in which the band 12 is spaced from the blank stack 10, that is, at a distance from the contour of the blank stack 10. This is used to perform the separating cut in these areas. In this case, the knife 23 or the cutting edge 26 can be guided laterally next to the blank stack 10, so that there is no danger that the blank stack 10 is damaged by the knife 23.

After performing a separating cut, the knife 23 with the knife holder 24 back to the starting position and the cutting device 22 in the upper starting position according to Fig. 1 hazards. The severed band 11 is then removed. For this purpose, the band 11 is detected in the region of the leg 12 by a holder. This is assigned in the present case a plant wall 31, which also serves in the initial position of the exact positioning of the blank stack 10 on the platform 21. The blank stack 10 rests with the leg 12 of the band 11 on the abutment wall 31 ( Fig. 1 ).

However, the abutment wall 31 not only serves to remove the banderole 11 and the positioning of the blank stack 10, but also supports the performance of the separating cut. How out Fig. 1 As the blank stack 10 rests with the leg 12 on the abutment wall 31, the banderole 11 can bind a loop only in the area above the abutment wall 31, as well as the punch plate 29 extends approximately to the plane of the abutment wall 31. In this way, the arrangement of the abutment wall 31 provides for a specification of the area in which the band 11 is spaced from the blank stack 10. In this way, the separating cut can always be carried out in the same plane.

Another special feature is that the position of the abutment wall 31 can be adapted to the height of the blank stack 10. For this purpose, the Anagewand 31 is first in an upper position according to Fig. 1 hazards. In this position, the abutment wall 31 depending on the height of the blank stack 10 this also tower. With the lowering of the cutting device 22, the position of the abutment wall 31 is then adjusted in the vertical direction. For this purpose, a slider 33 is provided which is fixedly mounted on the cutting device 22 and protrudes from the underside of the punch plate 29. The slider 33 is positioned so that, when lowering the cutter 22, it moves the abutment wall 31 downwardly in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, this is achieved in that the slider 33 presses when lowering the cutting device 22 against the top of the abutment wall 31 and moves them down accordingly. As a result, this results in a defined spacing of the upper edge of the abutment wall 31 from the plane of the underside of the stamp plate 29 corresponding to the projecting dimension of the slider 33 with respect to the underside of the stamp plate 29, regardless of the height of the blank stack 10.

The lower end position of the abutment wall 31 and the stamp plate 29 is predetermined in the present case by the blank stack 10. Once this can not be further compressed, the lifting cylinder is turned off and carried out the separation cut. In this way, blank stacks 10 of different heights can be processed in the device.

The abutment wall 31 is further provided with holding members for detecting the banderole 11 after severing. These are a plurality of juxtaposed suction organs 32. These are positioned on the abutment wall 31 that they capture the severed leg 12 in the upper area. The investment wall 31 can for this purpose analogous as in EP 0 706 946 B1 be mounted with sliding guides on two spaced apart, upright guide rods 34. By a linear cylinder 37, the abutment wall 31 is moved up and down.

By downward movement of the abutment wall 31 from the upper position according to Fig. 1 and 2 in the lower according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the held by the suction members 32 leg 12 of the band 11 is moved downward. Since the blank stack 10 rests unchanged on the remaining part of the banderole 11, namely on the lower transverse web 15, the leg 12 initially forms a loop (FIG. Fig. 3 ).

The blank stack 10 is now moved out of the banding station 19 ( Fig. 4 ), wherein the severed band 11 is retained or conveyed away. The blank stack 10 passes without a band 11 on a discharge conveyor. In the present case, the blank stack 10 is pushed from the platform 21 directly onto a platform 39 of a vertical conveyor 40. The one-sided mounted on this vertical conveyor 40 platform extends during the recording of the blank stack 10 at the level of the platform 21. The transfer of the blank stack 10 from the platform 21 to the vertical conveyor 40 is effected by a slide unit 41, which EP 0 706 946 B1 can be trained.

For complete removal of the severed banderole 11 in the downward direction more tension members are effective. It is a Zugwalzenpaar with a first, stationary draw roller 49 and a second, pivotable counter roll 50. The latter is pivotally mounted on the abutment wall 31, above the suction members 32. The band 11 and the leg 12 is located after the separation of the Pull roller 49 on. By the pivoting movement in the position according to Fig. 4 the counter roll 50 comes against the draw roller 49. The counter roll 50 passes through an opening in the abutment wall 31 therethrough. Due to the joint action of the pair of rollers 49/50 then the band 11 is promoted total down. It is preferably provided that the draw roller 49 and the counter roller 50 exclusively during the in Fig. 4 shown time window are driven in rotation and stand still in the rest of the time. The finally completely deducted from the blank stack 10 Banderole 11th passes through a guide plate 52 in a collecting container, not shown below the platform 21st

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Blank stack

11

banderole

12

leg

13

leg

14

crosspiece

15

crosspiece

19

Stamps station

21

platform

22

cutter

23

knife

24

knife holder

25

guide rail

26

cutting edge

27

lifting cylinder

28

guide pin

29

stamp plate

30

suction element

31

plant wall

32

suction element

33

pusher

34

guide rod

37

linear cylinder

39

platform

40

vertical conveyor

41

slider unit

49

pulling roller

50

backing roll

52

baffle

Claims (13)

1. A method of severing a band (11) which encloses a blank stack (10), wherein the band (11), preferably in the region of a band station (19), is severed by a cutting means, in particular a knife (23), and is then removed from the blank stack (10), characterized by the following features:

   a) the blank stack (10) is pushed together such that the band (11) is spaced apart from the blank stack (10), at least in certain regions,

   b) the band (11), at least during the operation of the blank stack (10) being pushed together, is in certain regions brought into abutment against at least one side surface of the blank stack (10) such that the band (11), by virtue of the blank stack (10) being pushed together, is spaced apart from the blank stack (10) in a region which does not butt against the at least one side surface of the blank stack (10), and is severed there by way of the cutting means.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the blank stack (10), during the pushing-together operation, butts partially, in the region of a side surface, against an abutment wall (31), wherein the abutment wall (31) has smaller dimensions, in particular a lower height, than the corresponding side surface of the blank stack (10) such that the band (11), by virtue of the blank stack (10) being pushed together, is spaced apart from the blank stack (10) in that region of the side surface of the latter that does not butt against the abutment wall (31), and is severed there by way of the cutting means.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the abutment wall (31), preferably as the blank stack (10) is being pushed together, is moved by a ram plate (29) into a correct position relative to the region of action of the cutting means such that the abutment wall (31), irrespective of the height of the blank stack (10) in each case, does not cover a preferably essentially constant-magnitude portion of the side wall of the blank stack (10).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the blank stack (10) in the band station (19) rests on an underlying surface, in particular a platform (21), and the band (11) is spaced apart from the blank stack (10) by virtue of pressure being applied, in particular by means of a ram plate (29), to a side surface, in particular an upper side, of the blank stack (10).
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the blank stack (10) rests on a platform (21) and a ram plate (29) is used to apply pressure to a large-surface-area side surface of the blanks, in particular to an underside and/or upper side of the blank stack, in order to space apart the band.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the operation of severing the band (11) in the region spaced apart from the blank stack (10) is carried out at a (lateral) distance from the blank stack (10), or the contour of the blank stack (10), such that the cutting means does not penetrate into the blank stack (10).
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the band (11), following the severing operation, is removed from the blank stack (10), wherein in the first instance a crosspiece (14) of the band (11) is pulled off from the blank stack (10) in the region of a side surface, in particular of the upper side, in particular by being raised, preferably by means of a suction mechanism (32), and in that thereafter the blank stack (10) is conveyed away out of the band station (19), wherein the band (11) is pulled off from the blank stack (10) in particular by a pulling mechanism (49, 50).
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that a blank stack (10) enclosed by the band (11) is transported, in the band station (19), onto a platform (21) and brought into abutment against an abutment wall (31) by way of the forwardly oriented side surface, as seen in the transporting direction, and in that, beforehand, the abutment wall (31) is moved upward in the vertical direction, and in that, thereafter, a ram plate (29) is moved preferably vertically against a side surface, in particular the upper side, of the blank stack (10), while in the process the blank stack (10) is compressed and the abutment wall (31) is carried along by a pusher (33) which is coupled to the ram plate (29), wherein, by virtue of the blank stack (10) being compressed, the band (11) is spaced apart from the blank stack (10) outside the abutment wall (31), and therefore the knife (23) is moved along the band (11) in this region, in order to sever the same, without the knife (23) penetrating into the blank stack (10), the band (11) being pulled off from the blank stack (10) thereafter.
9. An apparatus for severing a band (11) which encloses a blank stack (10), having a band station (19) in which the blank stack (10) rests on its underside on an underlying surface, in particular a platform (21), and in which the band (11) can be severed by a cutting means, in particular a knife (23), characterized in that the blank stack (10), for the purpose of spacing the band (11) apart from the blank stack (10) at least in certain regions, can be pushed together by means of a ram plate (29) such that the band (11) can be severed in the spaced-apart region by way of the cutting means, and that an abutment wall (31), for the purpose of positioning the blank stack (10) in the band station (19), can be moved up and down such that the abutment wall (31), in dependence on the height of the blank stack (10), terminates at a distance from an upper side of the blank stack (10) such that the band (11), as the blank stack (10) is being pushed together, is exposed in the region outside the abutment wall (31) and can be severed by the cutting means.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the blank stack (10) can be pushed together by a ram plate (29), it being possible, preferably together with the ram plate (29), to actuate a pusher (33) for the purpose of positioning the abutment wall (31) in relation to the plane of the severing cut.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the pusher (33) is coupled to the ram plate (29) and projects beyond a side surface, in particular the underside, of the ram plate (29), and in that the pusher (33) is arranged such that the abutment wall (31), as the ram plate (29) is being moved, in particular lowered, can be displaced in a corresponding direction by the pusher (33), wherein the end position of the abutment wall (31) is predetermined by the minimum height of the compressed blank stack (10).
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the knife (23) is oriented in a plane which is directed obliquely in relation to the side surfaces of the blank stack (10) and of the band (11), and in that a cutting edge (26) of the knife (23) is directed away from the blank stack (10) such that, as the band (11) is being severed, a tensile force which is directed away from the blank stack (10) can be applied to the band (11).
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the band (11), prior to the severing operation, can be gripped by a suction arrangement (32) provided in the region of the abutment wall (31) and, following the severing operation, can be pulled part of the way off from the blank stack (10) by downward movement of the abutment wall (31), wherein the pulled-off part of the band (11) can be transported further by a pair of pulling rollers, with more of the band (11) being pulled off from the blank stack (10) in the process, wherein preferably a first pulling roller (49) of the pair of pulling rollers is arranged at a fixed location beneath the platform (21) and a further, second abutment roller of the pair of pulling rollers is mounted in a pivotable manner and can be brought into abutment against the first pulling roller (49) in order to transport the band (11).

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