EP2422973B1 - Inspection module - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an inspection module for flat, sheet-like material made of paper, cardboard or the like according to the preamble of claim 1.

• Papierfehler wie z.B. Kartoneinschlüsse
• Fremde Partikel, z.B. Staub, unerwünschte Folienreste, Stanzabfälle, Aufkleber und Leimreste
• Farbabweichungen oder Lackfehler (fehlender Lack, Lack auf unerwünschten Flächen, Lackspritzer), unscharfe Konturen
• Registerversatz
• Textfehler
• Fehler in der Heißfolienprägung (Löcher in der Fläche, ausgefranste Kanten, fehlende Flächen)
• Kratzer und mechanische Fehler in der Bogenoberfläche (im unbedruckten Karton, im Druckbild, im Lack oder in der Folie)
• Matrixcodes
• Fehlende Fenster oder andere Applikationen aus vorgelagerten Produktionsschritten
• Sortenreinheit der Nutzen
• Übereinstimmung von Strichcodes und/oder Brailleprägungen mit der lesbaren Inhaltsangabe

u.s.w. notwendig.In the production of high-quality printed products, for example folding cartons for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, high demands are placed on the quality of the printed sheets as well as the die-cut folding carton blanks up to the finished folded and glued cartons, and in addition the pharmaceutical industry places high demands on accuracy the imprints of the produced cartons. This already makes an error control during production during the entire production workflow, for example:

• Paper defects such as cardboard inclusions
• Foreign particles, eg dust, unwanted film residues, punching waste, stickers and glue residues
• Color deviations or paint defects (missing paint, paint on unwanted surfaces, paint splashes), blurred contours
• register offset
• text error
• Errors in hot foil stamping (holes in the surface, frayed edges, missing surfaces)
• Scratches and mechanical defects in the sheet surface (in unprinted cardboard, in the printed image, in the paint or in the film)
• matrix codes
• Missing windows or other applications from upstream production steps
• Varietal purity the benefits
• Correspondence of barcodes and / or Braille embossings with the readable table of contents

etc necessary.

These checks are usually performed with line scan cameras located above the sheet transport plane. For the production of folding cartons, the sheets are first printed wide web in a printing press. On the sheets, several benefits of the cartons to be produced are printed in each case, which are then punched out in a punch. The punched-out folding box blanks are then fed to a folding box gluing machine and processed here into folding boxes.

• Einen Einleger, der die zu verarbeitenden Zuschnitte mit hoher Geschwindigkeit aus einem Stapel nacheinander abzieht und einzeln der nachfolgenden ersten Bearbeitungsstation zuführt,
• Ein Auftragwerk für Klebstoff, üblicherweise Leim, das auf die zu verklebenden Faltlappen einen Klebstoffstreifen aufträgt und
• Eine Faltstation, in der die mit einem Klebestreifen versehenen Zuschnittteile zur Herstellung einer Klebeverbindung um 180° umgelegt, also gefaltet werden.
• Im Anschluss an die Faltstation ist üblicherweise eine sogenannte Überleitstation angeordnet, in der die Schachteln gezählt, markiert und - falls schadhaft - ausgeschleust werden können.
• Danach folgt eine Pressstation, an deren Anfang ein Schuppenstrom aus gefalteten Zuschnitten gebildet wird, der in der Pressstation für einige Zeit unter Druck gehalten wird, damit die beiden Zuschnitte an der Klebenaht verbunden werden.

Folding box gluing machines for the production of folding boxes from folding box blanks are known to have at least the following modules as processing stations:

• A feeder, which pulls the blanks to be processed at high speed from a stack one after the other and feeds them individually to the subsequent first processing station,
• An applicator for glue, usually glue, which applies an adhesive strip to the folding flaps to be glued and
• A folding station in which the blank parts provided with an adhesive strip are folded by 180 °, ie folded, to produce an adhesive bond.
• Following the folding station usually a so-called transfer station is arranged, in which the boxes can be counted, marked and - if defective - can be discharged.
• This is followed by a pressing station, at the beginning of which a shingled flow of folded blanks is formed, which is held in the pressing station for some time under pressure, so that the two blanks are connected to the adhesive seam.

The individual processing stations have conveying means driven for transporting the folding box blanks. These consist, for example, each one arranged on the side of the machine upper and lower conveyor belt, the lower conveyor belt is guided in a roller cheek and the upper conveyor belt in a roller rail. The conveyor belts are arranged transversely adjustable and can thus be adjusted to the respective folding carton blank format. The blanks are transported printed side down between the top and bottom conveyor belts. From the DE 10 2004 022 344 A1 Such a folding box gluing machine is known.

Since the blanks are transported in the Faltschachtelklebemaschine with the printed side down from the transport device through the individual processing stations, the line scan camera must be located below the blank transport plane. Since the camera is to take a picture of the entire printed cut width, interfere with the lower continuous conveyor elements. From the DE 10 2005 050 040 A1 a device is known in which an inspection of a resting on a conveyor belt sheet on the back is possible. The camera is mounted in a gap of the conveyor belt below the sheet transport plane. For this purpose, the conveyor belt is placed over pulleys in a loop. A disadvantage of this solution is that the installation space for the camera is limited and the manufacturing costs for the transport device are quite high.

From the EP 0 668 577 A1 For example, a printed sheet inspecting apparatus having a plurality of upper and lower conveyors is known. The cameras for inspection are located between the conveyors.

From the EP 2 213 449 A1 An inspection device is known with a control system which consists of a camera and a light source, which is arranged below the sheet transport plane.

From the EP 0 675 466 A2 is a method and an arrangement for controlling the surface condition of, for example, bank notes. The device has a line camera, a light source and image processing and evaluation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection module in which there is enough space for the line scan camera and in which the transport of the blanks enables a reliable identification of errors.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

In a preferred embodiment for the inspection from below, the inspection module has a control system, which consists of a camera, a light source and a housing. The camera, light source and housing are disposed below the carton blank transport plane in a gap in the transport device. The transport device for the inspection module has at least one upper and one lower conveying device with contacting conveying means. At least one of upper and / or lower conveyors is connected to a drive. Between the contacting conveyors all sheets or folding carton blanks to be checked are transported. The lower conveyor is designed split and consists of at least two conveyors with a gap between these conveyors. The control system is placed in the gap between these lower conveyors. The housing of the control system is connected to a blast air connection, via which an air flow is guided into the housing, which emerges at the upper gap of the housing. As a result, a particularly quiet transport of the boxes is supported, which ensures a safe inspection. Of course, in addition, the upper conveyor can be carried out divided.

In advantageous embodiments, the light source is arranged either outside the housing or inside the housing. However, the light source may also be formed as part of the housing, preferably as the upper part of the housing. This has the particular advantage that the light source can be aligned very accurately with the camera inspection line without being obstructed by the housing.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the housing of the camera is connected to a blown air connection, via which an air flow is conducted into the housing, which exits at the upper gap of the housing, which is slit-shaped. Here, the upper gap is formed either by the housing itself or from the combination of housing and light source. By the upward flow of air through the housing and the slot-shaped gap on the one hand, the arcuate material, such as a box blank, pressed against the upper conveyor element, which significantly increases the smoothness of the carton blank in the camera and thus the inspection also possible with high resolution power. On the other hand, a turbulence within the housing is achieved by the blowing air, whereby the optics of the camera and the box blank is cleaned, and there is an overpressure in the housing, the occurrence of dust and punching remnants largely avoided. Furthermore, the light source of the control system is cooled by the blowing air, resulting in a longer life of the LEDs.

In a further particularly advantageous embodiment, the blown air is supplied to the housing via a blower or a side channel compressor or roller compressor.

The generation of the blowing air, for example by means of side channel compressor or roller compressor is much cheaper and more effective than the execution by means of compressed air or suction air. In addition, a larger volume flow, whereby larger cooling effects are achieved. Of course, a solution by means of suction belt with suction device as the upper conveyor is conceivable according to the invention, but this solution is more expensive.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the camera is mounted with housing on two circular guides and can be adjusted in a known manner, for example by means of a spindle transversely to the transport direction of the sheet or cartons. As a result, a control at any point across the product transport, even off-center, easily adjustable. Furthermore, several cameras can be arranged side by side and / or one behind the other in this way easily, whereby the inspection device can be adapted to different working widths and controls in a simple and cost-effective manner.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the gap between the two lower conveyors is variable in their distance. This can be achieved for example via telescopic lower belt conveyors. Thus, the gap is variable in their distance and can be set to different camera or housing dimensions.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the inspection module is integrated into an already existing processing module. This is a particularly cost effective solution. Alternatively, the print image control system can also be integrated into a separate inspection module, which is then installed between two existing processing modules within the machine group of Faltschachtelklebemaschine. This increases the flexibility with respect to the place of use.

In a further embodiment, the inspection module can also be used as offline device, and thus advantageously with the necessary for the specific application further modules such as investors, Outfeed device and boom are combined. Alternatively, a sorting device is useful for the discharge device when it comes to the sorting of various products.

Advantageously, the inspection module is arranged after the depositor or after the alignment module or after the Braille module, depending on the structure of the Faltschachtelklebemaschine and the control requirement for the carton to be produced. Depending on the requirements and future price development of the cameras, it is also conceivable to monitor each individual work step with an inspection module.

Figur 1

zeigt in einer perspektivischen Darstellung beispielhaft einzelne Bearbeitungsstationen einer Faltschachtelklebemaschine

Figur 2

zeigt die durchgehende Transportvorrichtung gemäß Stand der Technik in einer Bearbeitungsstation einer Faltschachtelklebemaschine

Figur 3

erfindungsgemäßes Inspektionsmodul

Figuren 4a-4d

zeigen in schematischer Darstellung Druckbildkontrolleinrichtungen mit Transportvorrichtungen in Form von Riemenförderern für ein Kamerainspektionssystem innerhalb eines Moduls

Figuren 5a-5e

zeigen in schematischer Darstellung Druckbildkontrolleinrichtungen mit Transportvorrichtungen in Form von Riemenförderern für ein Kamerainspektionssystem zwischen zwei Bearbeitungsmodulen

Figur 6

alternative Transportvorrichtung mit Saugband

Figuren 7a+7b

alternative Transportvorrichtungen mit Transportwalzen

Figur 8

alternative Transportvorrichtung mit Saugwalze

Figur 9

alternatives Inspektionsmodul

Figuren 10a, 10b

alternative Anwendungsmöglichkeit des Inspektionsmoduls

The invention will be explained with reference to various embodiments:

FIG. 1

shows in a perspective view by way of example individual processing stations a Faltschachtelklebemaschine

FIG. 2

shows the continuous transport device according to the prior art in a processing station a Faltschachtelklebemaschine

FIG. 3

Inspection module according to the invention

FIGS. 4a-4d

show in a schematic representation print image control devices with transport devices in the form of belt conveyors for a camera inspection system within a module

FIGS. 5a-5e

show in a schematic representation print image control devices with transport devices in the form of belt conveyors for a camera inspection system between two processing modules

FIG. 6

alternative transport device with suction belt

Figures 7a + 7b

alternative transport devices with transport rollers

FIG. 8

alternative transport device with suction roller

FIG. 9

alternative inspection module

FIGS. 10a, 10b

alternative application of the inspection module

All Faltschachtelklebemaschinen according to the embodiments include a plurality of processing stations, which are traversed by the box blanks sequentially.

FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, individual processing stations of such a folding box gluing machine.

The folder gluer starts in FIG. 1 bottom right with an insert 1, which pulls off the blanks to be processed at high speed from a stack one after the other and feeds them individually to the subsequent processing station. Following the insert 1 is followed by an alignment station 4, in which the blanks are individually aligned against a lateral stop. The alignment station is used to guide transversely positionable machine components in the form of two belt pairs, which serve as conveyor elements and can be transversely positioned via actuators.

This is followed by a primary crusher 6 and a first folding module 7. The machine components in the form of belt pairs, which can be positioned transversely in the form of belt pairs, both through the primary shredder 6 and through the folding module 7, are conveyed transversely and positioned with an actuator depending on the type of trimming.

On the folding module 7 follows a turning station 9. The turning station 9 includes for rotating the blanks about a vertical axis by 90 ° two parallel juxtaposed conveyor lines whose speed is adjustable separately. The blanks are on both conveyor lines, so that they are rotated at different speeds of the two conveyor lines. The two conveyor lines contain driven rollers as conveying elements.

Subsequent to the turning station 9 is followed by a further alignment station 10, which corresponds in its construction of the alignment station behind the insert 1. It thus again contains transversely positionable machine components in the form of pairs of conveyor belts as conveying elements.

The next processing station 13 serves to perform box-type dependent processing operations; For example, further score lines are pre-broken or special folds are performed. Also by the processing station 13 lead belt pairs as conveying elements, which can be positioned transversely with actuators.

This is followed by a folding station 14, in which the blank parts previously provided with an adhesive seam are folded over by 180 °. The folding station 14 includes pairs of belts as conveying elements and an adhesive applicator, which can be moved by means of actuators in their dependent of the cutting type transverse position. This is followed by a transfer station 15, from which the folded blanks, provided with not yet set adhesive seams, are exactly aligned in all parts with the subsequent collecting and pressing device 16. In the collecting and pressing device 16, a shingled stream of folded blanks is first formed, which is subsequently held under pressure for some time between conveying press belts, so that the adhesive seams set. The transfer station also contains pairs of belts, which can be transversely adjusted by means of actuators.

FIG. 2 shows by way of example a transport device 8, each with a left and right upper conveyor 3, 3 'and in each case a left and right lower conveyor 2, 2`, in the present example as a belt conveyor with corresponding conveyor belt as a conveyor 5, 5`, 12, 12` is trained. The conveyors 3, 3 `, 2, 2` are mounted on round trusses 11, so that they can be adjusted to the respective box cutting width.

In the following schematic illustrations, for better clarity, only one upper and one lower conveyor is shown.

FIG. 3 shows an inventive inspection module. The sheet material 24 to be checked, such as folding box blanks, is transported by means of a transport device 20 in the conveying direction 25 through the inspection module. In the embodiment shown, the transport device 20 has an upper conveyor 21 with an endless conveyor 23, which is guided around deflection rollers 26. Furthermore, two lower conveyors 22, 22 ', which form a gap with the distance width b to each other. Both lower conveyors 22, 22 'have also conveyor 23, which are guided around pulleys 26. The, as seen in the conveying direction 25, the second pulley, as seen in the conveying direction 25, first lower conveyor 22 is connected to a drive, not shown, and thus serves as a drive roller 27 for the conveyor 23 of the lower conveyor. The conveying means 23 in the present embodiment are designed as endless conveyor belts. The conveying means 23 of the upper and lower conveyors 21, 22, 22 'touch each other and clamp the sheets 24 to be transported between them. The upper conveyor is mounted in a known manner in a roller rail 29 and the lower conveyor means in roller cheeks 28. Below the sheet transport track control system 40 is mounted within the gap between the lower conveyor devices 22, 22 'such that the sheets transported over the gap can be tested from below by means of the control system 40. The control system 40 comprises a camera 41, a light source 42 and a housing 43, wherein the light source 42 may be disposed either inside or outside of the housing 43, or as may be part of the housing 43 in the present example. The housing 43 is provided with a blown air connection 44, via the blown air 45, which is guided, for example via a blower not shown in detail or even a side channel or roller compressor in the housing 43. The blown air flows around the camera and possibly the light source and exits from a gap 46 at the upper end of the housing 43, which is preferably slit-shaped, from, strikes the sheet-like material and presses it against the upper conveyor means 23. As a result, the smoothness of arcuate material in the control system positively influenced. The smoothness is further positively influenced by a hold-down element 47 optionally mounted above the arches.

Of course, the control system 40 according to the invention can also be formed with other transport devices 20 to form an inspection module. In the schematic representations in the FIGS. 4a to 4d such alternative transport devices are shown. The variants differ in each case only with regard to the drive rollers 27. For better clarity, only the camera 41 has been shown by the control system 40.

The FIGS. 5a to 5e show further variation possibilities with regard to the transport device 20. In these embodiments, the control system 40 according to the invention (only the camera 41 is shown) is arranged between two processing modules 50, 51, each having an upper transport device 21, 21 'and a respective lower transport device 22, 22'. exhibit. The differences between the individual embodiments are in the driven pulleys 27th

In the FIG. 6 For this purpose, an alternative option is shown. In the illustrated transport device 20, the conveying means 23 for the upper conveyor 21 is designed as a suction belt. The box blank is sucked via the suction box 31, which is connected to a suction air connection 30, via the holes 32 in the suction belt. The transport then takes place, as in the previous embodiments, in that at least one of the deflection rollers 26 of the upper conveyor 21 or the two lower conveyor devices 22, 22 'is connected to a drive. The control system 40 (only the camera 41 is shown) is arranged below the sheet transport plane in the gap between the lower conveyors 22, 22 '.

In the FIGS. 7a and 7b Two further alternative embodiments are shown. In Figure 7a the two lower conveyors 22 and 22 'with rollers 33 as s conveyor and the upper conveyor 21 as a belt conveyor with seen in the conveying direction 25 second guide roller 26 as a driven guide roller 27. In the FIG. 7b it is the other way around. The upper conveyor 21 is designed with rollers 33 as a conveyor and the lower conveyor means 22, 22 'each as a driven belt conveyor.

In the FIG. 8 a further alternative embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the transport device 20 has two driven lower conveyors 22, 22 'on. The upper conveyor 21 consists of rollers 33 and a suction roller 34 with a fixed suction head 35. The rotating suction roller 34 is located above the gap with the distance b between the two lower conveyors 22, 22 '. In the hollow chamber of the suction roll 34 is a Suction head 35, which sucks the folding box blanks 24. The suction area inside the roller is restricted in the lower area, whereby the blank is released again when leaving the gap.

Another alternative embodiment is in FIG. 9 shown. In this embodiment, the sheet transport is not supported by blowing air from below. The camera 41 is further arranged below the sheet transport plane in a gap between the lower conveyors 22, 22 '. The gap is covered below the sheets to be transported with a glass plate 49, so that the control from below by means of camera is still possible. Above the sheets to be transported, a guide plate 48 is arranged. Furthermore, located above the bends, a compressed air hose 54 with a compressed air connection 53. With a nozzle 52 at the end of the compressed air hose 54, air between the baffle 48 and the sheets 24 is blown. As a result, a negative pressure is generated on the surface of the guide plate 48 and sucked the sheets to be transported against the baffle.

In the FIGS. 10a and b is another application of the inspection module shown. It can be checked with the camera not only paper or printing errors, but also the alignment quality of the alignment module 4. The alignment quality is important for the subsequent production steps and for the folding quality of the produced folding box.
How out FIG. 10a As can be seen, the carton blank 56 should be inserted as exactly as possible with its creasing line 55 into the folding station, so that the foldable part 57 of the carton blank can be folded parallel to the other outer edge. A larger clockwise or counterclockwise rotation would result in non-parallel edges of the cartons, as shown FIG. 10b can be seen.
The alignment quality can be checked by means of the control system according to the invention. In operation, the deviation angle β is determined on the basis of the image taken with the camera 41 and the blank 56 is rotated until it is congruent with a stored reference image. This correction is performed up to a stored maximum deviation angle β _max of, for example, up to 2 °. In the event that the deviation angle β is greater than that stored maximum deviation angle β _max , the control system generates an error message and the box is ejected or there is an error message to the operator so that it adjusts the alignment module 4 of Faltschachtelklebemaschine accordingly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

depositors

2, 2 '

lower conveyor

3,3 '

upper conveyor

4

aligner

5.5 '

funding

6

primary crusher

7

folding module

8th

transport device

9

turning station

10

aligner

11

around Traverse

12, 12 '

funding

13

processing station

14

folding station

15

transfer station

16

Collecting and pressing device

20

transport device

21, 21 '

upper conveyor

22, 22 '

lower conveyor

23

funding

24

arched material

25

conveying direction

26, 26`

guide rollers

27

driven pulley

28

roller cheek

29

roll bar

30

suction air

31

suction box

32

Holes in the suction belt

33

roll

34

suction roll

35

suction head

40

control system

41

camera

42

light source

43

casing

44

air ventilation

45

blowing air

46

Gap in the upper housing part

47

Stripper plate

48

baffle

49

glass plate

50

processing module

51

processing module

52

jet

53

Compressed air connection

54

Compressed air hose

55

grooved line

56

A carton blank

57

to be folded over part of the box blank

b

Gap width

β

deviation angle

Claims (14)

1. Inspection module for flat, sheet-shaped material (24) made of paper, board or the like, in particular printed or unprinted sheets, folding box blanks, or folding boxes, including an inspection system (40) that consists of a camera (41), a light source (42), and a housing (43), which are arranged below the plane of sheet transport, a transport device for transporting the sheets that includes at least an upper (21) and a lower conveying device (22) with contacting conveying means (23) for transporting the sheets, at least one of the upper and/or lower conveying devices (21, 22) being connected to a drive, and the lower transport device being of divided construction and consisting of at least two conveying devices (22, 22') with a gap formed between the conveying devices, the control system (40) being arranged in the gap,
   characterized in
   that the housing (43) is connected to a blown-air connection (44) which guides a stream of air into the housing (43), the stream of air (45) exiting at the upper slot (46) of the housing (43).
2. Inspection module according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the light source (42) is part of the housing (43).
3. Inspection module according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in
   that the light source (42) is arranged inside the housing (43).
4. Inspection module according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in
   that the light source (42) is arranged outside the housing (43).
5. Inspection module according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the upper slot (46) of the housing (43) is slit-shaped.
6. Inspection module according to Claim 1 or 5,
   characterized in
   that the blown air (45) is fed to the housing by a blower or a side channel compressor or a roller compressor.
7. Inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the camera (41) is supported to be adjustable in a direction transverse to the direction of transport of the sheets or boxes.
8. Inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the control system (40) includes several cameras (41) that are arranged adjacent to each other and/or behind each other.
9. Inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the gap between the two lower conveying devices has a variable distance (b).
10. Inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that the inspection module is designed as an offline device.
11. Inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that the inspection module is part of a folding-box gluing machine.
12. Folding-box gluing machine including an inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that the inspection module is integrated into a processing module for producing folding boxes.
13. Folding-box gluing machine including an inspection module according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that the inspection module is embodied as a separate module of a folding-box gluing machine in its own inspection module that is arranged between two processing modules.
14. Folder gluer including an inspection module according to Claim 12 or 13,
    characterized in
    that the inspection module is provided downstream of the feeder (1) or downstream of the alignment module (4) or downstream of the Braille module.

Images