EP2466558A2 - Unpacking device - Google Patents

Abstract

Unpacking device automatically cuts open packaging placed around packaged goods and separates completely the packaged goods, which the packing is mechanically taken and clamped, and is sliced in shape. The packaging device comprises a clamping plate (3), on which the packaged goods are stored. The clamping plate is movable in a chip chamber (2), where packaged goods are oriented by contacting with walls of the chip chamber, and the packaging is clamped and tensioned in the protruding region laterally over the goods between the walls of the chip chamber and the clamping plate. Unpacking device, which automatically cuts open packaging placed around packaged goods and separates completely from the packaged goods, for which the packing is mechanically taken and clamped, and is sliced in shape. The packaging device comprises a clamping plate (3), on which the packaged goods are stored. The clamping plate is movable in a chip chamber (2), where the packaged goods are oriented by contacting with walls of the chip chamber, and the packaging is clamped and tensioned in the protruding region laterally over the goods between the walls of the chip chamber and the clamping plate. The chip chamber is rotatable with the clamped and tensioned goods. A non co-rotating knife is approach feasible at the lateral edge of the packaging, which separates the packaging into an upper part (10.1) and a lower part (10.2).

Description

The invention relates to an unpacking device, which automatically cuts open the packaging located around a packaged goods, and completely separates from the packaged goods.

Particularly advantageously, the unpacking device according to the invention can be used in food vending machines, in which food portions are kept in airtight packaged state and dispensed in a heated state, for which purpose the packaging must be removed before the heating process.

The DE 10 2004 09 813 A1 describes a machine for the delivery of fresh baked goods. In the device, dough blanks are stored frozen, shredded if necessary, finished baked and dispensed. The frozen dough blanks are arranged in foil bags one behind the other. To unpack the pocket web is moved in the longitudinal direction, cut open and wound up. The unpacking can be done so well. The disadvantage is that the required packaging of the dough blanks in foil pouches hampers the flexibility with regard to the selection of the products.

The EP 1 107 199 B1 describes a vending machine for dispensing hot pizzas. The pizzas are arranged in a refrigerated state in a memory of the machine, each pizza is packed separately. The package consists of a top film and a bottom film, which extend laterally beyond the edge of the pizza and are connected to each other in this area. For automatic unpacking, the lateral edge of the package is gripped at several points by a gripping device by pressure of finger-like parts from above and from below and stretched horizontally away from the pizza. A knife is lowered from the top of the package and moved along a circular line so that the top film of the package is cut around the pizza, with the top and bottom film still remaining connected to a small connector. A shovel-like moving surface drives the pizza over the bottom foil, lifts it out of the packaging and transports it away. The packaging is disposed of. The process seems to work robustly; However, the required mechanical effort is quite high.

The object underlying the invention is to provide an unpacking device which fully automatically geometrically defined packaging, consisting of interconnected upper and lower film opens, removes the packaged goods located therein and completely separates the packaging from the packaged. The device should be used in vending machines and therefore must work very robust. Equipping the device with good to be unpacked and disposal of the packaging and removal of the packaged goods should be able to be automated.

To solve the problem, it is assumed that a procedure in which the packaging is machined and stretched and cut in this state.

According to the invention, to put the packaged good on a clamping plate, to move it into a clamping chamber and thereby align by contact with the walls of the chamber and then pinch the packaging in the laterally over the good projecting area between walls of the chamber and the clamping plate and to tension, then the clamping plate and the clamping chamber and thus the packaged good together to rotate about a normal to the plane of the clamping plate axis and thereby bring a non-rotating knife so on the side edge of the package and thus cut the film around the Good around and to separate the packaging into an upper and a lower part. Following this cutting operation, the upper part of the packaging and the material located underneath are pushed by a pusher, which is moved linearly over the clamping plate by the lower film still held in the clamping chamber, onto a depositing surface of a transporting device.

This procedure can be implemented with relatively simple mechanical parts, with relatively little space and allows extremely high reliability.

Fig.1:

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht eine beispielhafte erfindungsgemäße Entpackvorrichtung in Ausgangsstellung bereit zum Bestücken mit dem verpackten Packgut.

Fig.2:

zeigt die Vorrichtung von Fig.1 in perspektivischer Ansicht ohne Spannelemente um unter diesen liegende Teile zu zeigen.

Fig.3:

zeigt Vorrichtung von Fig.1 in perspektivischer Ansicht, in bestücktem Zustand während des Schneidvorganges.

Fig.4:

zeigt die Vorrichtung von Fig.1 in perspektivischer Ansicht in dem Zustand wie in Fig.3 ohne Spannelemente und Packgut um unter diesen liegende Teile zu zeigen.

Fig.5:

zeigt die Vorrichtung von Fig.1 in perspektivischer Ansicht nach dem Schneidvorgang und während des Trennens von Packgut und oberem Teil der Verpackung vom unteren Teil der Verpackung.

Fig.6:

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht die nicht bestückte drehbare Einheit der Vorrichtung von Fig.1. Diese drehbare Einheit bestehend aus Spannteller, Spannkammer, Steuerkurve und Spanntellerführungen.

Fig.7:

zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht die Vorrichtung von Fig.1 in dem Zustand, in welchem gerade der noch vorhandene untere Teil der Verpackung abtransportiert wird.

Details and advantageous developments are explained with reference to drawings to an embodiment of an exemplary unpacking device according to the invention:

Fig.1:

shows a perspective view of an exemplary Unpacking device according to the invention in the starting position ready for loading with the packaged packaged goods.

Figure 2:

shows the device of Fig.1 in perspective view without clamping elements to show lying below these parts.

Figure 3:

shows device of Fig.1 in perspective view, in fitted state during the cutting process.

Figure 4:

shows the device of Fig.1 in perspective view in the state as in Figure 3 Without clamping elements and packaged goods to show below these parts.

Figure 5:

shows the device of Fig.1 in a perspective view after the cutting process and during the separation of packaged and upper part of the packaging from the lower part of the packaging.

Figure 6:

shows in perspective view the unequaled rotatable unit of the device of Fig.1 , This rotatable unit consisting of clamping plate, clamping chamber, control cam and clamping plate guides.

Figure 7:

shows a perspective view of the device of Fig.1 in the state in which just the remaining lower part of the packaging is removed.

With the device according to the invention packaging can be removed, which were packaged with commercially available packaging machines. It is therefore not necessary for the device to develop special packaging methods or packaging machines. Typically and advantageously, a so-called thermoformed packaging, which consists of an upper film and a lower film, is used as packaging of the packaged product. For packaging while the lower film is heated, and pulled by vacuum into a desired shape, then inserted the packaged, the air contained therein removed with vacuum and then sealed with the top film. If the packaged goods are a food, it can be back-gasified before sealing with a special air mixture, so that the shelf life of the food can be improved many times. However, this process requires gas-tight packaging, which is not a problem in this packaging technology.

• Das noch verpackte Packgut 10 wird auf den Spannteller 3 gelegt, wobei sich dieses in der in Fig.1 gezeigten Stellung im unteren Teil der Spannkammer befindet.
• Das Spannteller wird gemeinsam mit Hilfe des Spanntellerantriebes 13 nach oben (Z-Richtung) bewegt, dabei gleitet der seitliche Rand der Verpackung an Wänden der Spannkammer 2 womit Verpackung und Packgut 10 genau positioniert wird.
• Zwischen zwei seitlichen Rändern des Spanntellers 3 und der nur als Rahmen gegenständlich vorhandenen oberen Stirnfläche der Spannkammer 2 wird der seitliche Rand der Verpackung eingeklemmt.
• Die aus Spannteller 3, Spannkammer 2, Steuerkurve 8 und Spanntellerführungen 12 bestehende drehbare Einheit (dargestellt in Fig.6) wird um die Drehachse D1 um ca. 400° gedreht, wobei das parallel zur Ebene des Spanntellers linear (in Y-Richtung) auf einem beweglichen Messerhalter 4 befestigte Messer 5 die Verpackung rundherum aufschneidet.

The individual steps of a working cycle of the unpacking device shown are briefly discussed with reference to the drawings:

• The packaged packaged goods 10 is placed on the clamping plate 3, wherein this in the in Fig.1 shown position in the lower part of the clamping chamber is located.
• The clamping plate is moved together with the help of the clamping plate drive 13 upwards (Z-direction), while the lateral edge of the packaging slides on walls of the clamping chamber 2, which packaging and packaged goods 10 is accurately positioned.
• The lateral edge of the packaging is clamped between two lateral edges of the clamping plate 3 and the upper end face of the clamping chamber 2, which is only present as a frame.
• The consisting of clamping plate 3, clamping chamber 2, control cam 8 and clamping plate guides 12 rotatable unit (shown in FIG Figure 6 ) is rotated about the rotational axis D1 by about 400 °, wherein the parallel to the plane of the clamping plate linearly (in the Y direction) fixed on a movable blade holder 4 knife 5, the package cuts around it.

In order for the knife holder to assume the correct position changing with the angle of rotation, it is engaged via a control plate 9 and a guide pin with a cam 8 formed as a groove, which is located on the underside of the rotatable unit and represents the desired course of the cutting line ,

This is a simple, very reliable mechanical guidance of the knife tip realized by means of which even rectangular packages can be cut without hurting the packaged goods inside the package.

As in Figure 3 recognizable the knife blade 5 protrudes during the cutting process a few millimeters into the package.

To ensure that the package is actually cut all around, the rotatable unit is rotated by a greater angle than 360 °, typically about 400 °. As in Fig.2 and in Figure 5 recognizable, the control cam 8 has an area which - depending on

• Die Drehbewegung der drehbaren Einheit wird um den über 360° hinaus (typischerweise 400°) gedrehten Winkelbereich auf 360°, also auf die Ausgangsstellung zurück gedreht, wobei der Messerhalter durch den besagten Bereich der Steuerkurve von der Verpackung herausbewegt wird.
• Das Packgut wird gemeinsam mit dem oberen Teil 10.1 der Verpackung mit Hilfe des in Y-Richtung beweglichen, Abschiebers 6 auf eine vor der Entpackvorrichtung wartende Transporteinrichtung 11 geschoben.
• Das Spannteller 3 wird relativ zur Spannkammer 2 abgesenkt, womit der untere Teil 10.2 der Verpackung aus der gespannten Position befreit wird.
• der untere Teil 10.2 der Verpackung wird mit Hilfe der darunter einfahrenden Transporteinrichtung 11 vom Spannteller 3 entfernt. Auch der Abschieber 6 ist zu dieser Zeit wieder in seiner Ausgangsstellung angelangt. (Fig.7)

Movement state - leads to the cutting line on the packaging or away from it.

• The rotational movement of the rotatable unit is rotated back by the 360 ° beyond (typically 400 °) rotated angle range to 360 °, ie to the initial position, the knife holder is moved through the said portion of the control cam of the package.
• The package is pushed together with the upper part 10.1 of the package by means of the movable in the Y direction, pusher 6 on a waiting in front of the unpacking conveyor 11.
• The clamping plate 3 is lowered relative to the clamping chamber 2, whereby the lower part 10.2 of the package is released from the cocked position.
• the lower part 10.2 of the packaging is removed from the clamping plate 3 with the aid of the transport device 11 entering below. Also, the pusher 6 has returned to its original position at this time. ( Figure 7 )

When using the unpacking device according to the invention in vending machines for food, the packaged goods heated in an oven can be dispensed onto the very accurately cut lower part 10.2 of the packaging for serving to the customer. This leaves only the upper part 10.1 of the packaging as waste in the vending machine back. The lower part 10.2 of the packaging is disposed of by the customer of the vending machine.

The mechanics of the turning and cutting movement is on hand of Fig.2 and Figure 4 easy to understand. Fig.2 shows the to the axis D1 rotatable unit belonging control cam 8 and the moving through this knife holder 4 at the beginning and end of the cutting process. Figure 4 shows these parts during the cutting process. In Figure 4 also the clamping plate guides 12 and the clamping plate drive 13 are visible in the state in which packaging and goods contained therein are taken.

Claims (7)

Unpacking device, which automatically cuts open the packaging located around a packaged goods and completely separates them from the packaged goods, for which purpose the pack is mechanically gripped and stretched and cut open in this state,
characterized in that - The packaging device comprises a clamping plate (3) on which the packaged Good (10) can be stored, - wherein the clamping plate (3) in a clamping chamber (2) is movable, wherein the packaged good by contact with walls of the clamping chamber (2) is alignable and the packaging in the laterally over the good projecting area between walls of the clamping chamber (2) and the clamping plate (3) can be clamped and tensioned, - Wherein the clamping chamber (2) is rotatable with the clamped and clamped Good, - Wherein a non-rotating knife (5) can be moved to the lateral edge of the packaging so that the packaging in an upper part (10.1) and a lower part (10.2) is separable, Unpacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a pusher (6) through which the upper part (10.1) of the packaging and the material underneath are movable away from the clamping plate (3). Unpacking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the packaging between two lateral edges of the clamping plate (3) and the only present as a frame present upper end face of the clamping chamber (2) can be clamped. Unpacking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the knife (5) is held on a knife holder (4) which is normal to the axis of rotation (D1) around which the clamping chamber (2) is rotatable, guided linearly movable and with an example formed as a groove, with the clamping chamber (2) mitdrehbaren control cam (8) is engaged. Unpacking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a cutting operation, the clamping chamber is rotatable in one direction by more than 360 ° and then in the opposite direction of rotation back to 360 °, the knife (5) during the return travel with the packaging except Intervention can be brought. Unpacking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used in a vending machine, in the food portions in airtight stored in a packaged state and dispensed in a heated state, for which the packaging is to be removed before the heating process. Unpacking device according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower part (10.2) of the packaging part 10.2 can be dispensed for serving to the customer.

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