EP2322434B1 - Device and method for unpacking cartons for the tobacco industry - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for unpacking cartons of the tobacco processing industry with, in particular highly compressed, tobacco material, comprising a feed device for the filled with tobacco material cartons, an unpacking device, a receiving device for the unpacked tobacco material, a folding device for the emptied cartons and a carton tray wherein the unpacking device comprises a carton gripping device which is rotatable about a horizontal axis. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for unpacking cartons of the tobacco-processing industry with, in particular highly compressed, tobacco material.

Tobacco material is often used for the production of cigarettes or cigars or similar smokable articles pressed up or highly compressed in boxes, especially cardboard boxes, delivered have different standard formats, for example, C48, C24, C60, C80, etc. A box of C48 format is cuboid and has edge lengths of 1,100 mm x 670 mm x 710 mm. In such boxes, tobacco, especially leaf tobacco or tobacco leaves, filled and compacted, so that the content of a C48 carton has a weight of about 200 kg to 300 kg. With such weight, machine unpacking is required. The compacted tobacco material is also referred to as "compact".

The boxes are in many cases telescopic boxes, i. two nested top and body boxes with a bottom side or a lid side. Each of the semi-boxes of these telescope boxes has at the top and the bottom tabs or flaps, which are opened for filling and emptying the boxes. The cartons also have at the bottom and the top, i. each at the flaps on the top and bottom of the carton, insert papers such as e.g. Thick cardboard paper, which is to prevent a trickling of the tobacco through the flap gaps, or oil on papers that protect the tobacco material and prevent it from sticking to the lid and bottom flaps. These inserts must be removed before emptying the box. Instead of telescopic cartons and one-piece boxes are used, which also have corresponding cover and bottom flaps.

For transporting, the filled cartons are wrapped in ribbons to prevent the lid and bottom flaps from being unfolded.

A corresponding device for unpacking tobacco boxes is out DE 33 20 459 C2 known. This document describes a device for removing a tobacco compact from a Top carton and body cardboard existing tobacco carton, in which initially the tobacco carton is conveyed to a device for exposing a base of the tobacco compact. In a turning device, the tobacco box is turned and the tobacco compact and the tobacco box are separated from each other. The turning device comprises a manipulator with a tobacco carton detecting, movable in the vertical direction jaw, which is directed by a rotation of 180 ° about a horizontal axis, the exposed base of the tobacco carton down and is set in a vertical direction in a shaking movement, which dissolves the tobacco compact from the inner surface of the tobacco carton, so that the tobacco compact falls out of the tobacco carton down. The jaw is vertically movable on a vertical axis and rotatable about the vertical axis, so that the empty carton is fed from the conveyor line to an empty pallet.

In DE 34 39 732 C1 Another device is described in which loose tobacco is emptied from cartons and the carton is then moved away to the side of the conveyor belt for the tobacco. The emptied carton is placed on a carton folder having folding members arranged in two diagonally opposite corners of the carton. These are rotatable about vertical axes, so that the cardboard is laid flat together with the twisted folding organs. A base of the paperboard holder is then tilted about a horizontal axis and the flattened paperboard container is inserted through a along a central mandrel movable driver in a storage device.

DE 33 20 459 A1 relates to a method and a device for emptying tobacco cartons, which are opened and brought into a position in which their opening is directed downwards. A jolting movement of the cardboard dissolves the tobacco compact from the inner walls of the carton and falls freely down where it can be collected and fed to further processing. The device comprises a manipulator having a vertical, rod-shaped stand on which a guide can be moved in the vertical direction and rotated about the stand. At the front of this guide a disc is attached, which is connected to another parallel disc. On the disc, a plate is attached, which carries a jaw on two rods.

In US 2,735,561 A a device for unloading fruit boxes is shown, in which the fruit boxes are grasped by a chain conveyor and emptied quickly but gently.

Out DE 41 09 461 C1 For example, a method and a device for transferring packages, in particular tobacco materials from a container, and for aligning such packages are known. The packages are transferred from a pivotable in the direction of travel container on a conveyor belt, wherein a holding device is provided to prevent premature slipping out of the packages from the container.

Out JP 58-216833 A a linear axis system is shown by means of which flat parts are lifted from a stack and placed on a treadmill.

Other known systems and devices for unpacking cartons of the tobacco processing industry use articulated arm robots and gripping frames around the filled boxes that have been delivered loosening tapes that hold the cartons closed and allow removal of the insert papers and then to empty the carton and move it to a carton folder away from the conveyor line.

These known devices have in common that they require a lot of floor space, which is to be secured by a security, so for example, protective grid, against entering by operating personnel or unauthorized people. In particular articulated robots have a very large radius of action, which is only consuming complicated by appropriate electrical or electronic circuitry safely.

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide a device for unpacking cartons of the tobacco processing industry and a corresponding method available with which high efficiency and security of the device in addition to a reduction of the required footprint for the Facility also the accessibility of the facility should be improved.

This object is achieved in a device for unpacking boxes of the tobacco processing industry with, in particular hochverpresstem, tobacco material, comprising a feed device for the stuffed with tobacco material cartons, an unpacking device, a receiving device for the unpacked tobacco material, a folding device for the emptied cartons and a A carton tray, wherein the unpacking device comprises a carton gripping device which is rotatable about a horizontal axis, achieved in that the unpacking device comprises a linear axis system by means of which the gripping device is arranged in a vertical axis and in a horizontal axis along a conveying direction the carton is movable, wherein the folding device and the carton tray, in particular without offset, are arranged above the feed device or the receiving device, wherein the gripping device has at least one holding device for at least one cardboard flap, wherein at the receiving device a holding element for closing at least one cardboard flap, in particular one Bracket is arranged, wherein the folding device and / or the carton tray is disposed above a security area, which includes the Entpackungsvorrichtung completely and the supply device and / or the receiving device at least partially, the carton tray is accessible from outside the security area.

This device according to the invention has a line construction or linear structure, i. all devices belonging to the device are arranged in a single line when viewed from above. The linear axis system is arranged laterally thereof, but has only a very small depth in the direction perpendicular to the main line or conveying direction of the cartons. Moving cartons away from the central line does not take place. This line construction has the advantage that only a small footprint is needed for the device which is to be protected, this base area to be protected being substantially smaller than in the known lift / rotary column systems and the systems which use an articulated arm robot , The corresponding security area according to the invention is significantly smaller.

There is an entrance for the boxes to be unpacked into the security area, an exit for the tobacco bale and an operator access. It is also possible that the conveyor tracks or conveyor elements are angled on the input side and output side outside the safety area.

The linear axis system used according to the invention permits a translational movement of the grasped cartons in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction along the conveying direction or counter to the conveying direction. In addition, there is one more

Rotation of the gripped cartons provided.

After emptying the cartons, the emptied cartons are fed to a folder which folds the cartons and places them in or on a carton tray from which the folded cartons can be removed in batches for recycling or disposal. The folding device and the cardboard tray are arranged above the feeding device or receiving device, which contributes to the small footprint required in accordance with the invention. Thus, the device is spread in the vertical dimension rather than spreading in the surface.

The carton tray is easily accessible from outside the security area by means of a forklift. The space saved in the base area also allows a better maneuvering, for example, of forklifts, so that the accessibility of the device is improved by the inventive device.

As gripping devices are in particular jaws or frame with gripping elements, in particular needle jaws, in question. In particular, roller conveyors or conveyor belts are advantageously used as a feed device.

In order to prevent the tobacco material from falling out of the carton uncontrolled after opening a carton, it is provided that the gripping device has at least one holding device for at least one carton flap. The consistency of the tobacco material is such that it adheres over a large area to the sidewalls of the carton, so that closing a bottom flap is generally sufficient to prevent the tobacco compact or high density tobacco material from falling out of the carton under its weight ,

In addition to a corresponding holding device is provided that at the receiving device, a holding element for closing at least one cardboard flap, in particular a bracket is arranged. This solution is advantageous when the tobacco carton is first rotated so that the flaps are arranged on a leading and a trailing side of the carton and the carton is moved toward the holding element in this orientation until an approach takes place under which the flaps, which indicate the retaining element, can no longer open completely. Subsequently, a rotation about a horizontal axis take place, with which the holding element facing side is rotated with the detained by the holding element flaps back to the bottom of the carton. If, after a corresponding 90 ° rotation, the cardboard is conveyed further in the conveying direction, the cardboard is conveyed out with its flaps over the retaining element until the flaps are no longer held by the retaining element. At this position, an emptying position, the carton can be emptied, for example by pulling up the carton and possibly shaking the carton appropriately.

As receiving device is preferably a table or a discharge device, in particular a pallet or a conveyor belt or a container, in particular roll container provided. This depends on how you want to proceed with the tobacco material. A pallet is transportable, a conveyor belt already procures a further promotion of the tobacco material. Even a pallet can be conveyed on a suitable conveyor belt.

According to the invention, the folding device and / or the cardboard tray is arranged above a safety area which completely encloses the unpacking device and at least partially encloses the feeding device and / or the receiving device, the cardboard tray being accessible from outside the safety area. With this measure, the invention is a small too protective surface as well as good accessibility of the device. According to the invention, the security area is the area which is protected, for example by a protective grid and light grid, and can only be entered through security gates, for example light grids, whereby all moving devices in the security area are shut down when they enter the security area.

• Fördern des mit Tabakmaterial gefüllten Kartons in oder auf einer Zufördervorrichtung in einer Förderrichtung zu einer Entpackungsvorrichtung, die eine Greifvorrichtung und ein Linearachssystem umfasst, mittels dessen die Greifvorrichtung in einer vertikalen Achse und in einer horizontalen Achse entlang der Förderrichtung der Kartons verfahrbar ist,
• Greifen des Kartons mit der Greifvorrichtung,
• Drehen des Kartons um eine horizontale Achse um 90°, so dass Deckel- und Bodenklappen des Kartons seitlich angeordnet sind,
• Öffnen der Deckel- und/oder Bodenklappen des Kartons,
• Bewegen und/oder Rotieren des Kartons in eine Entleerposition bei einer Empfangsvorrichtung, wobei bei dem Bewegen und/oder Rotieren des Kartons in die Entleerposition eine Haltevorrichtung an der Greifvorrichtung wenigstens eine Deckeloder Bodenklappe des Kartons wenigstens so weit schließt, dass ein Herausrutschen des, insbesondere hoch verpressten, Tabakmaterials verhindert wird,
• Entleeren des Tabakmaterials aus dem Karton in oder auf die Empfangsvorrichtung,
• Bewegen und/oder Rotieren des entleerten Kartons zu einer, insbesondere versatzlos, über der Zufördervorrichtung oder der Empfangsvorrichtung angeordneten Faltvorrichtung mit Übergabe an die Faltvorrichtung,
• Falten des Kartons in der Faltvorrichtung und Ablegen auf einer Kartonablage, die, insbesondere versatzlos, über der Zufördervorrichtung oder der Empfangsvorrichtung angeordnet ist

wobei die Faltvorrichtung und/oder die Kartonablage oberhalb eines Sicherheitsbereiches angeordnet ist, der die Entpackungsvorrichtung vollständig und die Zuführvorrichtung und/oder die Empfangsvorrichtung wenigstens teilweise einschließt, wobei die Kartonablage von außerhalb des Sicherheitsbereiches zugänglich ist.The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a method for unpacking a carton of the tobacco-processing industry with, in particular highly compressed, tobacco material, with the following method steps:

• Conveying the tobacco material filled carton in or on a feeder device in a conveying direction to an unpacking device comprising a gripping device and a linear axis system by means of which the gripping device is movable in a vertical axis and in a horizontal axis along the conveying direction of the cartons,
• Gripping the box with the gripping device,
• Turning the carton about a horizontal axis by 90 °, so that lid and bottom flaps of the carton are arranged laterally,
• Opening the lid and / or bottom flaps of the box,
• Moving and / or rotating the carton to an emptying position in a receiving device, wherein when moving and / or rotating the carton to the emptying position, a holding device on the gripping device at least one lid or Bottom flap of the carton closes at least so far that slipping out of, in particular highly compressed, tobacco material is prevented,
• Emptying the tobacco material from the carton into or onto the receiving device,
• Moving and / or rotating the empty carton to a, in particular offset, arranged on the feeder device or the receiving device folding device with transfer to the folding device,
• Folding the carton in the folding device and depositing on a carton tray, which, in particular without offset, is arranged above the feed device or the receiving device

wherein the folding device and / or the cardboard tray is arranged above a safety area which completely encloses the unpacking device and at least partially encloses the feeding device and / or the receiving device, the cardboard tray being accessible from outside the safety area.

The inventive method can be carried out with the device according to the invention described above. It offers the advantage that only a small base area to be protected is needed to carry out the method. The use of the linear axis system in conjunction with the line construction and the utilization of the vertical dimension for the arrangement of the device belonging to the device allows the consumption of a small footprint and the good accessibility of the device.

After opening the lid and / or bottom flaps of the carton, which can be done in particular by an operator, also inserts can be removed from the top and bottom of the carton. To open the lid and / or bottom flaps of the carton generally includes the removal of wrapped around a cardboard tapes.

Advantageously, the cartons are conveyed in stacks of two or more stacked cartons to the unpacking apparatus, which are sequentially gripped and emptied. This can be achieved in a particularly simple manner by the use of the linear axis system, since the gripping device can be moved vertically in a simple manner to a corresponding height. The height of the arrangement of the folding device and the cardboard tray are to be adapted to the height of the cardboard stack.

• Verfahren des Kartons, dessen Kartonklappen an den in Förderrichtung vorauseilenden und nacheilenden Seiten des Kartons angeordnet sind, auf ein Halteelement zu, insbesondere einen Bügel, wobei der Karton soweit an das Halteelement angenähert wird, dass die Klappen an der in Förderrichtung vorauseilenden Seite des Kartons im geöffneten Zustand durch das Halteelement in eine wenigstens teilweise Geschlossenstellung gedrückt sind oder werden,
• weiteres Verfahren des Kartons in der Förderrichtung unter gleichzeitiger Drehung des Kartons um 90° um eine horizontale Achse, die quer zur Förderrichtung ist, wobei die an das Halteelement gedrückten Klappen nach der Drehung um 90° nach unten ausgerichtet sind,
• weiteres Verfahren des Kartons in Förderrichtung bis zu der Entleerposition.

In a likewise advantageous embodiment, before or after opening the lid and bottom flaps of the carton, the carton moves to an emptying position at a receiving device with the following steps:

• Method of the carton, the cardboard flaps are arranged on the leading and trailing in the conveying direction sides of the carton, on a holding element, in particular a bracket, wherein the carton is so far approximated to the holding element, that the flaps on the leading in the conveying direction side of the carton in open state are pressed by the holding element in an at least partially closed position or are,
• further movement of the carton in the conveying direction with simultaneous rotation of the carton by 90 ° about a horizontal axis which is transverse to the conveying direction, wherein the flaps pressed against the holding element are oriented 90 ° downwards after rotation,
• further process of the carton in the conveying direction up to the emptying position.

In this way, a premature slipping out of the tobacco material from the cardboard is avoided by a simple structural measure, namely, that, in particular stationary, holding element, and a corresponding motion control.

Advantageously, it is also provided that after opening the lid and / or bottom flaps lid and / or bottom side inlaid paper, in particular insert paper is removed.

Preferably, folded cartons are removed from the carton tray during unpacking. This is possible because the corresponding device, for example by means of a forklift, is easily accessible from outside the safety zone or the safety area. The operation of the device need not be interrupted for this purpose.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitendarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Aufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Einrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Perspektivdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 in einem weiteren Verfahrensstadium.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic side view of the device according to the invention Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a schematic plan view of the invention Device according to Fig. 1 and

Fig. 4

a schematic perspective view of the device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in a further stage of the procedure.

In the following figures, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a corresponding renewed idea is dispensed with.

In Fig. 1 a device 1 according to the invention for unpacking cartons in a perspective view is shown schematically. The device 1 comprises a feed device 15, in the illustrated example a roller conveyor 16, on the cardboard stack 3 of an upper carton 4 and a lower carton 5 of the in Fig. 1 on the left side. Each carton 4, 5 of the stack 3 is provided with bands 8 which hold the respective carton 4, 5 closed.

Under a cardboard tray 45 and a folding device 40, the cardboard stacks on the roller conveyor 16 are conveyed to an unpacking device 20. In this case, the cardboard stacks 3 arrive in a security area 52, which is provided with an encircling protection 50 and in which the further devices of the device 1 are arranged.

The unpacking device 20 comprises a linear axis system 21, which in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Fig. 1 is linearly movable in an X-axis 22 and a Y-axis 23. In the X direction, ie parallel to the conveying direction of the cartons 4, 5 on the roller conveyor 16 and a subsequent receiving device 30 with a conveyor belt 31, For example, the linear axis system 21 also includes a guide bar 24 that is disposed and aligned parallel to the X-axis drive 22.

The linear axis system 21 also has a gripping frame 25 with not shown gripping elements, such as needle jaws, on. The gripping frame 25 is connected via a horizontal axis of rotation 26 with the vertical Y-axis 23 of the linear axis system 21.

In Fig. 1 FIG. 2 illustrates a situation in which a stack of two stacked boxes has been delivered just before the subsequent receiving device 30. At this point, the feed of cardboard stacks ceases. Subsequent stacks of cardboard pile up on a jam track.

The linear axis system 21 is guided with the gripping frame 25 over the stack of cartons, the gripping frame 25 is brought into a horizontal position and lowered vertically until it encloses the upper carton of the stack. In this illustrated position needle jaws or other gripping elements are actuated, so that the cardboard is securely gripped and held by the gripping frame 25. The gripping takes place according to Fig. 1 in the upper part of the carton, which is conducive to the subsequent emptying of the carton, as gripping the carton at the bottom would result in stabilization of the carton and the tobacco material compressed therein, which would make emptying the carton difficult.

Also in Fig. 1 schematically shown is a light grid 51 in the security 50 next to or in front of the receiving device 30. At this point, an access is created for an operator who manually removes the bands 8 from a gripped cardboard at this point, the flaps of the box opens and inserts away. The light curtain 51 interrupts any interruption by an operator any further movement of the devices within the security area 52, so that the operator is protected during handling of a carton. The continued operation of the device takes place when the operator has left the operating area, the light grid 51 is closed again and the operator has manually caused the restart of the device 1.

Downstream of a receiving device 30 in the form of a conveyor belt 31 is shown. At the location of the emptying position, beyond a holding device 33, the content of a carton, i. a bales of compressed tobacco material 35, emptied from the carton and placed on the conveyor belt 31, from where the bale 35 is further promoted for further processing. Further processing may be done in storage or in a feeder to a slicer, for example.

On the left in Fig. 1 a folding device 40 is shown, to which the linear axis system 21 promotes the empty cardboard. The folding device 40 has folding elements, one of which is provided with the reference numeral 41, on which the opened and emptied carton 7 is attached. A corresponding folding device is about DE 34 39 732 C1 known. Other folding devices can be used at this point. In Fig. 1 a situation is shown in which the carton 7 is already laid flat by the schematically shown, actually hidden by the carton 7 folding elements 41 and is pivoted about a horizontal axis, before it is deposited on a cardboard tray 45. On the cardboard tray 45 is already a previously stored there carton 6. It is also shown that boxes, such as the carton 7, have cover flaps 10 and bottom flaps 11. The folds are clearly visible in the flattened boxes 6, 7, respectively.

It is also in Fig. 1 shown that the cardboard tray 45 above the roller conveyor 16 is freely accessible from the side. A forklift truck can drive up at this point and stop with the forks of the forklift in the area of a protective plate 47. At this point, the tines of the forklift are raised vertically until the tines are slightly below the bottom carton, box 6. Once this position is reached, the forklift can move forward to move the tines under the stack of flattened cartons 6 and remove them. For this purpose, the device 1 in the security area 52 does not have to be switched off.

Entering the security area 52 is not necessary for this. In Fig. 2 is the inventive device 1 from Fig. 1 shown schematically in a side view. This view makes it clear that the folding device 40 and the cardboard tray 45 are arranged above the feeding device 15 with the roller belt 16. The cardboard stacks 3 are conveyed below the folding device 40 and the cardboard tray 45 in the direction of the unpacking device 20.

It can also be seen that the folding element 41 with the folded cardboard 7 is pivoted about a horizontal axis, which projects into the image plane. In the next train, a driver 43 is moved along a central mandrel or a folding element 41 in the direction of the cardboard tray 45, wherein the driver 43 detects the carton 7 and pushes in the direction of the cardboard tray 45. After the carton 7 is deposited on the cardboard tray 45, the folding device 40 is again pivoted to a vertical position.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the device according to the invention 1. In particular, it can be seen, which small base area must be enclosed as a security area 52 with a 50 protection to prevent the threat to operating personnel.

The first conveying the stack 3 of boxes on the feeder 15 with roller conveyor 16 takes place in a conveying direction 19, which is shown by an arrow. After unpacking, the bales of compressed tobacco material 35 are conveyed on a conveyor belt 31 in the same direction 19, the central axis of the conveyor belt 31 coinciding with the central axis of the roller conveyor 16. There is thus no lateral offset the promotion of cartons or bales 35 instead. It is not shown that outside the device 1, the promotion can also be present with changes in direction.

The linear axis system 21 with X-axis 22 and Y-axis 23 is laterally offset parallel thereto. However, since the gripping frame 25 is not pivoted to the side, as is the case in the prior art, the protection area 52 and the protection 50 can directly behind the linear axis system 21, ie in Fig. 3 shown above, end.

In Fig. 3 is also shown that the folding device 40 and the carton tray 45 is also arranged symmetrically, ie without lateral offset, on the central axis of the promotion of the cartons and the bale 35 on the feeder 15 and the receiving device 30. Since a lateral offset does not take place, are the use of simple and safe Linear axis system 21 and a corresponding saving of required footprint possible.

The carton 7 is inclined on the folding elements 41, 42. This is made clear by the fact that the middle part of the box 7 is shown hatched. After completion of rotation about a horizontal axis of the carton 7 is moved to the carton 6 on the cardboard tray 45.

The access to the cardboard tray 45 is laterally, ie in Fig. 3 from below, at the location of the fender 47.

It will also be seen that the gripping frame 25 in the corners each has nail jaws 27 which are inserted into the carton for gripping the carton. The nail jaws perforate the carton and thus ensure a secure hold of the carton. The boxes are reusable even after this treatment.

In Fig. 4 is again schematically a perspective view of the device 1 according to the invention Fig. 1 presented, but at a different stage of the procedure. Across from Fig. 1 has been changed so that the top box, which in Fig. 1 has been taken by the gripping frame 25, has now been rotated by 90 ° counterclockwise and has been transported in the direction of the emptying position 32 toward translational. Due to the 90 ° rotation, the upper and lower sides of the cardboard with their flaps in the conveying direction 19 shown previously are now at the leading and trailing sides of the cardboard. In Fig. 4 you can see the leading page 9 of the box. At this point, the device 1 is stopped. An operator 2 enters the light curtain 51 and interrupts the light curtain 51, so that all devices within the security area 52 are stopped and secured. The operator 2 approaches the gripping frame 25 and the gripped carton, severing the bands 8, opening the flaps on the leading side 9 and the trailing side 8, not shown, and removing the inserts.

After the operator 2 has done so, she leaves the device 1, the protection 52 and the light curtain 51 and puts the device 1 back into operation.

Before the picked cardboard is emptied, first at least one flap on the leading side 9 is secured. This is done by a holding device on the gripping frame, which in the example in Fig. 4 not shown. Alternatively or additionally, also the gripping frame 25 can be moved with the cardboard with the leading side 9 against a holding device 33 on the receiving device 30, so that the flaps are held on the leading side 9 by the holding device 33. As soon as it is ensured by the approach of the carton to the holding device 33 that the flaps on the leading side 9 can not unintentionally open, the carton with the gripping frame 25 is moved and rotated by the linear axis system 21 in such a way that a simultaneous movement in the conveying direction 19 ie towards the exit, and a clockwise rotation of the carton takes place so that the leading side 9 becomes the bottom. The simultaneous rotation and translational movement means that during the rotation, the flaps on the leading side 9 are secured by the holding device 33 continuously before unfolding.

When the gripping frame 25 with the cardboard ends the rotation by 90 ° has, the cardboard is at its new bottom, ie the side with the in Fig. 4 shown flaps down on the holding device 33 and is now conveyed purely translationally. In this case, the cardboard leaves the holding device 33, so that the flaps are no longer kept closed at the bottom of the carton. The carton can be pulled upwards by means of the gripping frame and the Y-axis 23 of the linear axis system 21, possibly with a slight shaking or shaking, so that the contents of the carton, a bale 35 of compressed tobacco material, fall onto the conveyor belt 31 and continue to be conveyed can be.

After emptying the carton, the carton is moved by means of the linear axis system 21 upwards and counter to the general conveying direction 19 to the folding device 40, which in Fig. 4 is shown in the state ready to receive, wherein the folding elements 41 and 42 are set up perpendicular to each other. The cardboard is placed on top of the folding elements 41, 42. As a result, the flaps of the lid and the floor are open. Thereafter, the folding members 41, 42 are rotated relative to each other and moved apart, so that the cardboard is folded. Subsequently, the folded cardboard, as in Fig. 1 shown pivoted about a horizontal axis in a horizontal position and pushed onto the cardboard tray 45.

After the linear axis system 21 with the gripping frame 25 has placed the carton on the folding device 40, the linear axis system 21 moves the gripping frame 25 to the remaining lower carton 5 of the stack and directs the corresponding emptying of the carton 5, as in FIGS FIGS. 1 and 4 shown, a. Subsequently, the procedure is similar with the on a jam track below the folding device 40 and the cardboard box 45 zugeförderten stacks of cardboard boxes.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features.

Bezuaszeichenliste

1

Device for unpacking cartons

2

operator

3

stack of cartons

4, 5

carton

6, 7

folded cardboard

8th

bands

9

anticipatory side

10

cover flaps

11

bottom flaps

15

supply device

16

roller conveyor

19

conveying direction

20

unpacking

21

linear axis

22

X axis

23

Y-axis

24

guide rod

25

spreader

26

Rotary axis of the gripping frame

27

brand shoes

30

receiving device

31

conveyor belt

32

emptying

33

holder

35

compressed tobacco material

40

folding

41

folding member

42

folding member

43

takeaway

45

cardboard tray

46

Access to the carton tray

47

mudguard

50

Verschutzung

51

light Curtain

52

security area

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus (1) for unpacking cardboard boxes (4 - 7) in the tobacco-processing industry with, in particular highly-compressed, tobacco material (35), comprising a supply device (15) for the cardboard boxes (4, 5) filled with tobacco material (35), an unpacking device (20), a receiving device (30) for the unpacked tobacco material (35), a folding device (40) for the emptied cardboard boxes (6 - 7) and a cardboard tray (45), wherein the unpacking device (20) comprises a gripping device (25), which can be turned on a horizontal axis (26), for the cardboard boxes (4 - 7), characterised in that the unpacking device (20) comprises a linear axis system (21), by means of which the gripping device (25) can move in a vertical axis (23) and in a horizontal axis (22) along a conveying direction (19) of the cardboard boxes (4 - 7), wherein the folding device (40) and the cardboard tray (45) are arranged, in particular non-offset, above the supply device (15) or the receiving device (30), wherein the gripping device (25) has at least one holding device for at least one cardboard flap (10, 11), wherein a holding element (33) for closing at least one cardboard flap (10, 11), in particular a frame, is arranged on the receiving device (30), wherein the folding device (40) and/or the cardboard tray (45) is arranged above a safety area (52) which completely encloses the unpacking device (20) and at least partially encloses the supply device and/or the receiving device (30), wherein the cardboard tray (45) is accessible from outside the safety area (52).
2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving device (30) is a table or a removal device, in particular a pallet or a conveyor belt (31), or a container, in particular a roll container.
3. Process for unpacking a cardboard box (4 - 7) in the tobacco-processing industry with, in particular highly compressed, tobacco material (35), with the following process steps:

   - conveying of the cardboard box (4 - 7) filled with tobacco material (35) in or on a supply device (15) in a conveying direction (19) to an unpacking device (20) which comprises a gripping device (25) and a linear axis system (21), by means of which the gripping device (25) can move in a vertical axis (23) and in a horizontal axis (22) along the conveying direction (19) of the cardboard box (4 - 7),

   - gripping of the cardboard box (4 - 7) with the gripping device (25),

   - turning of the cardboard box (4 - 7) on a horizontal axis (26) by 90° so that the cover flaps and bottom flaps (10, 11) of the cardboard box (4 - 7) are arranged laterally,

   - opening of the cover flaps and/or bottom flaps (10, 11) of the cardboard box (4 - 7),

   - moving and/or rotating of the cardboard box (4 - 7) into an emptying position (32) by a receiving device (30), wherein when the cardboard box (4 - 7) is moved and/or rotated into the emptying position (32), a holding device on the gripping device (25) closes at least one cover flap or bottom flap (10, 11) of the cardboard box (4 - 7) at least so far that slipping out of the, in particular highly compressed, tobacco material (35) is prevented,

   - emptying of the tobacco material (35) from the cardboard box (4 - 7) into or onto the receiving device (30),

   - moving and/or rotating of the emptied cardboard box (4 - 7) to an, in particular non-offset, folding device (40) arranged above the supply device (15) or receiving device (30), with delivery to the folding device (40),

   - folding of the cardboard box (4 - 7) in the folding device (40) and placing on a cardboard tray (45) which is arranged, in particular non-offset, above the supply device (15) or the receiving device (30),

   wherein the folding device (40) and/or the cardboard tray (45) is arranged above a safety area (52) which completely encloses the unpacking device (20) and at least partially encloses the supply device and/or the receiving device (30), wherein the cardboard tray (45) is accessible from outside the safety area (52).
4. Process according to claim 3, characterised in that the cardboard boxes (4 - 7) are conveyed to the unpacking device (20) in stacks (3) of two or more cardboard boxes (4, 5) stacked on top of one another, which are gripped and emptied one after the other.
5. Process according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that before or after opening of the cover flaps and bottom flaps (10, 11) of the cardboard box (4 - 7), moving of the cardboard box (4 - 7) into an emptying position (32) in a receiving device (30) proceeds with the following steps:

   - processing of the cardboard box (4 - 7), the cardboard flaps (10, 11) of which are arranged on the sides of the cardboard box (4 - 7) moving ahead and behind in the conveying direction (19), onto a holding element (33), in particular a frame, wherein the cardboard box (4 - 7) is brought closer to the holding element (33) until the flaps (10, 11) on the side (9) of the cardboard box (4 - 7) moving ahead in the conveying direction are or become pressed in the opened position into an at least partially closed state by the holding element (33),

   - further processing of the cardboard box (4 - 7) in the conveying direction (19) with simultaneous turning of the cardboard box (4 - 7) by 90° on a horizontal axis (26) which is transverse to the conveying direction (19), wherein the flaps (10, 11) pressed onto the holding element (33) are directed downwards after turning by 90°,

   - further processing of the cardboard box (4 - 7) in the conveying direction (19) up to the emptying position (32).
6. Process according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that after opening of the cover flaps and/or bottom flaps (10, 11), paper inserted on the top and/or bottom side is removed.
7. Process according to one of claims 3 and 6, characterised in that already folded cardboard boxes (6) are removed from the cardboard tray (45) during unpacking.

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