EP2490887B1 - Transfer device for transferring a folding box - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a transfer device for transferring a flat carton to a further conveying device with simultaneous erection, with a rotationally driven support member which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and with at least one rotationally driven further support member, which is rotatable coaxially to the support member about the axis of rotation wherein the supporting parts each carry at least one holding device and perform a rotational movement with a rotational speed changing during one revolution and a mutual relative rotation, wherein the folding box in a transfer station by the holding device takeover and transportable on a curved path to a transfer station and there transferable to the forwarding conveyor is.

Such a transfer device is used, for example, in a cartoning machine in which it is necessary, before feeding a product to be packaged, first to erect a folded box present in a flat folded state and to be available in a further conveying device, which is usually designed as a belt or chain conveyor put.

In a transfer device of known construction, as for example in the DE 198 01 194 A1 is shown lying the cartons in a stacked state in a magazine, wherein in each case the lower carton of the stack of a holding device, which is usually configured in the form of a suction device, taken and removed from the magazine. The holding device is attached to a support part, which forms a planetary part of a planetary gear, so that the holding device is fed on a cycloid path of the secondary conveyor and stored in a cell formed there. During the movement along the cycloid track, the carton is erected by stops and a Aufrichtfinger.

Compared to a pure circular movement, the formation of the cycloidal track has the advantage that during the cycloidal movement several reversal points are formed, in which the holding device is moved at a reduced speed. This is necessary to ensure an exact removal of the carton from the magazine, a precise erection of the carton and a correct filing of the carton on the secondary conveyor.

In practice, however, it has been shown that, in a further increase in the performance of the transfer device problems occur especially in the removal of the carton from the magazine, since the forces acting there bring with it the danger that the seized from the holding carton due to high withdrawal speed rips out several overlying cartons with the magazine, which then fall loose in the transfer device and can hinder their operation. In order for the carton a sufficient To reach the period for the acquisition by the holding device, a very complicated planetary gear with superimposed correction movements is necessary, which is very expensive in construction and thus costly.

From the DE 198 45 384 A1 a transfer device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. In such a transfer device, a plurality of independent support members are provided, each carrying a holding device in the form of a nipple. The support members are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and each have their own drive motor. In this way, the holding devices can be moved during a revolution with changing rotational speed and perform a mutual relative rotation, whereby the movements to the respective required function, ie adaptable to the takeover of the carton or its transfer to the secondary conveyor. However, the design effort is very high and the transfer device is relatively expensive, since each fixture requires its own drive motor. Also for reasons of space, the number of holding devices and thus the performance of the transfer device is severely limited.

The invention has for its object to provide a transfer device of the type mentioned, which has a structurally simple structure and ensures a reliable transfer of the carton to the conveyor even at high cycle rates.

This object is achieved by a transfer device having the features according to claim 1. It is intended that each support part carries a plurality of circumferentially distributed holding devices.

According to the invention, the basic idea is not to assign each holding device its own drive, but to subdivide the holding devices into several groups, the holding devices of each group being arranged on a common rotationally driven carrier part and rotating therewith. Thus, for example, it is provided that in addition to a rotationally driven support member, which carries a plurality of circumferentially arranged holding devices, in particular in the form of sucking a first group, at least one rotationally driven further support member is provided which also has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holding devices, in particular Form of suckers of a 2nd group carries and which can be rotated coaxially to the support member of the 1st group around the axis of rotation. Each of the two supporting parts carries out a rotary movement with a rotational speed which changes during one revolution. This makes it possible for a holding device, for example in the region of the transfer station in which it receives a folding box, to be moved at a substantially lower speed than during its movement between the individual work stations. So that the reduction of the rotational speed of a holding device does not lead to a reduction in the performance of the transfer device in certain sections of its rotary movement beacons, the two carrying parts can perform a mutual relative rotation. This means that the support member of the 1st group can be moved at high speed in the direction of rotation, while the other support member of the 2nd group at the same time has a reduced rotational speed, for example, to take or deliver a carton. Since the support parts are moved in sections with higher and lower rotational speed, this difference compensates over a complete revolution of the support parts again, so that after completion of a revolution, the support members and their holding devices again have the assumed position at the beginning of the rotation starting position.

In a possible embodiment of the invention can be provided that exactly two support members are provided, each carrying three to five holding devices and in particular four holding devices. Thus, six to ten and preferably eight holding devices are arranged on the two supporting parts, for which only two drive motors are necessary.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention exactly three support members may be provided, each carrying two to four holding devices and preferably three holding devices. In this way, a total of six to twelve and preferably nine holding devices are provided, for the three drive motors are necessary.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the holding devices of the supporting parts are arranged alternately successively in the circumferential direction. If two supporting parts are provided, the holding devices of the first carrying part alternate with the holding devices of the second carrying part, ie the arrangement follows a row 1-2-1-2-1-2 ....

If three supporting parts are provided, the arrangement of the holding devices of the first supporting part, the second supporting part and the third supporting part is preferably provided in the row 1-2-3-1-2-3.

In a possible embodiment of the invention can be provided that each support member is formed by a disc-like wheel, for example in the form of a circular plate, wherein the wheels or plates are preferably arranged parallel to each other and rotate about a common axis of rotation.

The support members are preferably driven independently by means of a drive device. The drive device is, in particular, a plurality of servomotors, wherein each support part is assigned a servomotor, so that the support parts can be rotated completely independently of each other.

Each support member should have at least three holding devices, which are preferably distributed uniformly over the circumference of the support member. In the arrangement of four holders per support member they are arranged in a mutual winding offset of 90 ° in the circumferential or rotational direction, so that always two holding devices are diametrically opposed. In particular, the holding devices should be arranged on the support member so that there is a holding device in the transfer station for delivering the carton to the secondary conveyor, if another holding device of this support member and in particular the diametrically opposite holding device of this support member in the transfer station to take over a carton As these two stations require a comparatively low rotational speed of the support member to ensure safe handling of the carton.

The supporting parts are rotated about a common axis of rotation. Preferably, the holding devices are fixedly connected to the respective support member, so that they also perform a pure rotational movement, i. be moved on a circular path. In addition, however, it may also be provided to additionally impose on each holding device a movement directed radially outwards, for example via a curved path, should this be necessary for the takeover of the folding box, its erection or its transfer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cartons are supplied to the transfer station in an isolated row and are taken over by the holding devices in each case already in an isolated form. It has been found that the takeover of an already separated folding box by the holding device can take place at a much higher speed than the removal from a magazine stack. In order to increase the efficiency of the transfer device, the cartons can already be separated from the transfer station and then fed in a row sequentially to the transfer station, the holding devices in each case takes over the front carton of the carton row.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that each holding device is associated with a Aufrichtorgan in the form of Aufrichtfingers, by means of a righting gear is movable. The erecting gear is preferably controlled via a curved path, so that the Aufrichtfinger during the rotational movement of the respective support member performs a defined pivotal movement and ensures that the carton is erected.

In known manner, a Aufrichtstation can be arranged between the transfer station and the transfer station, in which the folding box is still in the flat state against a stop or a counter sucker driven and then raised at least partially when pulling. In order to increase the efficiency of the transfer device, it is provided in a further development of the invention that the counter sucker follows the rotational movement of the folding box in sections. This can be achieved either by moving the counter sucker tangentially to the rotational movement of the supporting part or the respective holding device. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to store the counter sucker on a rotating support and to synchronize in its speed with the rotational movement of the holding devices, that the sucker and the carton carrying the holding device are arranged in a state of their movements immediately opposite each other.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer 1. Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Übergabevorrichtung in einem Ausgangszustand,

Fig. 2

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in einer 2. Phase der Übergabe,

Fig. 3

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in einer 3. Phase der Übergabe,

Fig. 4

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in einer 4. Phase der Übergabe,

Fig. 5

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in einer 5. Phase der Übergabe,

Fig. 6

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in einer 6. Phase der Übergabe,

Fig. 7

die Übergabevorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in der Endphase der Übergabe und

Fig. 8

eine schematische Ansicht einer 2. Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Übergabevorrichtung.

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a first embodiment of the transfer device according to the invention in an initial state,

Fig. 2

the transfer device according to FIG. 1 in a second phase of the transfer,

Fig. 3

the transfer device according to FIG. 1 in a third phase of handover,

Fig. 4

the transfer device according to FIG. 1 in a 4th phase of the transfer,

Fig. 5

the transfer device according to FIG. 1 in a 5th phase of handover,

Fig. 6

the transfer device according to FIG. 1 in a 6th phase of handover,

Fig. 7

the transfer device according to FIG. 1 in the final stages of the transfer and

Fig. 8

a schematic view of a second embodiment of the transfer device according to the invention.

The FIGS. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of a transfer device 10 according to the invention in different phases of the transfer process. The transfer device 10 has a base part 19 on which a first support part 11, which in the illustrated embodiment has the shape of a substantially circular plate or disc-shaped wheel, is rotatably supported by a pivot bearing 24 about a rotational axis D perpendicular to the plane of the drawing , In the peripheral region of the first support member 11 four brackets 13.1 are formed, on each of which a righting gear 14 and a radially outwardly facing Holding device 17 are mounted in the form of a nipple. The Aufrichtgetriebe 14 is associated with a Aufrichtfinger 16 and the control of Aufrichtgetriebes 14 a cam roller 15 is provided, which rolls in a groove-like cam track 18 which is formed in the base part 19.

The first support member 11 has four brackets 13.1 and a corresponding number of holding devices 17, Aufrichtgetrieben 14, Aufrichtfingern 16 and cam rollers 15, wherein for reasons of clarity, only two corresponding units are shown. The four brackets 13.1 are equally distributed over the circumference of the first support member 11, i. arranged in a mutual angular offset of 90 ° in the circumferential direction.

The transfer device 10 further comprises a second support member 12, which is also formed in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a substantially circular plate or a disc-shaped wheel and is rotatably supported about the pivot bearing 24 about the rotational axis D. The second support member 12 also has four circumferentially equally spaced, outwardly facing brackets 13.2 on which in each case a Aufrichtgetriebe 14 with a Aufrichtfinger 16 and a radially outwardly facing holding device 17 are arranged in the form of a sucker in the illustrated manner. Also, the brackets 13.2 and thus the components attached thereto are evenly distributed over the circumference of the second support member 12 and thus arranged in a mutual angular offset of 90 ° in the circumferential direction, for reasons of clarity in the figures, only one of the brackets 13.2 with a righting 14, a Aufrichtfinger 16 and a holding device 17 is shown.

In order to better follow the movement of the individual components during the various, shown in the figures phases of transfer, the brackets 13.1 of the 1st support member 11 with the numeral "1" and the brackets 13.2 of the 2nd support member 12 with the numeral " 2 "again marked extra.

As FIG. 1 shows, the brackets 13.2 of the second support member 12 are aligned in the initial state shown there in each case at an angular offset of 45 ° between two adjacent brackets 13.1 of the first support member 11, so that the holding devices 17 of the 1st and 2nd support member 11, 12 are arranged alternately sequentially in the circumferential direction or direction (sequence: 1-2-1-2-1-2 ...).

In the upper part of the transfer device 10, a transfer station 30 is provided. The transfer station 30, which is not shown in detail, flat-lying cartons FS are fed in a row in already isolated form, as indicated by the arrow Z. In the direction of rotation, ie in the counterclockwise direction by approximately 90 ° offset to the transfer station 30, a Aufrichtstation 31 is provided, of which only schematically a counter sucker 25 is shown, which rotates about a not shown bracket about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation D axis is stored and thus in a rotational position in which it faces the transfer device 10, with a carried by a holding device 17 folding box FS can come into abutment, which will be explained later in detail. The Rotary movement of the counter sucker 25 is indicated by the arrow F.

In the lower region of the transfer device 10 and thus relative to the rotation axis D substantially diametrically opposite to the transfer station 30, a transfer station 32 is provided. The transfer station 32 comprises a further conveying device 20, which is shown as a chain conveyor, wherein the chain in a conventional manner radially outwardly projecting fingers 21, between which cells 22 are formed, in each of which a folding box FS can be used in the erected state. In addition, the further conveying device comprises a guide 23 for the folding boxes arranged in the cells 22.

The first support member 11 and the second support member 12 are each rotationally driven by its own, not shown servomotors, wherein the two support members 11 and 12 during a transfer operation on the one hand each rotational movement with a changing during a revolution rotational speed and on the other hand, a mutual relative movement or turn.

The following is a transfer process based on the FIGS. 1 to 7 explained in individual phases. In the in FIG. 1 phase shown at the beginning of a transfer process is a holding device 17 of the 1st support member 11 in the transfer station 30 and comes on its radially outer side with a supplied folding box FS in Appendix. By action of a negative pressure on the holding device 17 designed as a sucker, the folding box FS is taken over. The accepted folding box FS then turns together with the 1st support member 11 in a counterclockwise direction and reaches the erection station 31, on which the outside of the carton comes into contact with the counter sucker 25 (see FIG. 4 ), whereby the folding box FS is pulled apart in a known manner by a small amount. During the further movement of the folding box FS supporting holding device 17 between the erection station 31 and the transfer station 32 of Aufrichtfinger 16 is effective. About the engagement of the cam roller 15 in the cam track 18, the righting gear 14 is driven so that the Aufrichtfinger 16, the folding box FS laterally to their desired shape (see Fig. 5 and 6 ). When the holding device 17 carrying the folding box FS reaches the transfer station 32, the folding box FS is completely erected and can be inserted into a cell 22 of the secondary conveying device 20. The holding device 17 then releases the folding box FS and returns to the upper transfer station 30 as a result of the further rotation of the first carrying part 11.

While the fixtures 17 of the first support member 11 are in the transfer station 30 or in the erecting station 31 or in the transfer station 32 (hereinafter referred to as workstations), the first support member rotates at a lower rotational speed than in the areas located between the workstations. As a result, the 1st support part makes a movement with changing rotational speeds during one revolution. Since the brackets 13.1 and the holding devices 17 mounted thereon of the first support member are arranged in pairs diametrically opposite each other and there as well as the transfer station 30 relative to the axis of rotation D diametrically opposite one another is arranged to transfer station 32, it is achieved that at a slowing down the rotational movement of a holder 13.1 and a holding device 17 mounted thereon in the transfer station 30 at the same time a corresponding reduction in the speed of the diametrically opposed holding device 17 is ensured in the transfer station 32.

The second support part 12 also carries out a corresponding rotary movement with a rotational speed which changes during one revolution and in particular a reduction in the rotational speed of the holding devices in the regions of the workstations. Since the holding devices 17 of the two support parts 11, 12 are always in different areas, which are traversed at different speeds, perform the two support members 11 and 12 during one revolution, a mutual relative rotation about the axis of rotation D.

In the in FIG. 1 phase shown, the brackets 13.1 of the 1st support member 11 and the brackets 13.2 of the 2nd support member 12 are arranged offset by 45 ° in the circumferential direction to each other. Since the first support member 11 and the second support member 12 rotate in this phase with approximately the same rotational speed, this also means that even after a rotation of about 30 ° in the circumferential direction nor the mutual distance of the brackets 13.1 and 13.2 of the two support members 11th and 12 are given as it is in FIG. 2 is shown.

As the brackets 13.2 of the second support part 12 and the holding devices 17 mounted thereon approach one of the workstations 30, 31, 32 in the further course of the rotation, the speed of the second support part 12 is approaching reduced, whereby the brackets 13.1 of the 1st support member 11 and the fixtures mounted thereon 17 accumulate due to their higher instantaneous speed on the brackets 13.2 of the 2nd support member 12, but without touching them. This condition is in FIG. 3 shown.

In the further course of the rotation, the rotational speed of the first support member 11 is reduced because its brackets 13.1 approach the workstations, while at the same time the speed of the second support member is increased again, since they leave the area of the workstations. In an intermediate position according to FIG. 4 in which the brackets 13.1 of the 1st support member and the holding devices 17 mounted thereon are located in the workstations, the 2nd support member 12 has again reached a position with an offset of 45 ° in the circumferential direction to the 1st support member 11 and then runs in turn due to the higher instantaneous speed on the brackets 13.1 of the 1st support member (see FIG. 5 ), which is then compensated again by increasing the rotational speed of the first support member 11.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the transfer device according to the invention 10. This differs from the first embodiment according to FIG. 1 in terms of the number of supporting parts and the holding devices. The 1st support member 11 according to FIG. 8 has three brackets 13.1 and a corresponding number of holders 17, Aufrichtgetrieben 14, Aufrichtfingern 16 and cam rollers. The three brackets 13.1 are equally distributed over the circumference of the first support member 11, that is arranged in a mutual angular offset of 120 ° in the circumferential direction.

The second support member 12 also has three circumferentially equally distributed, outwardly facing brackets 13.2, on each of which a righting 14 are arranged with a Aufrichtfinger 16 and a radially outwardly facing holding device 17 in the form of a sucker. The brackets 13.2 are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the second support member 12 and thus arranged in a mutual angular offset of 120 ° in the circumferential direction.

In addition to the first support member 11 and the second support member 12 is in the embodiment according to FIG. 8 a third support member 12a is provided, which is also formed in the form of a substantially circular plate or a disc-shaped wheel and is rotatably supported about the pivot bearing 24 about the rotational axis D. The third support member 12a also has three circumferentially equally spaced, outwardly facing brackets 13.3, to each of which a righting 14 are arranged with a Aufrichtfinger 16 and a radially outwardly facing holding device 17 in the form of a sucker. The brackets 13.3 are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the third support member 12a and thus arranged in a mutual angular offset of 120 ° in the circumferential direction.

To illustrate the mutual arrangement of the brackets in the circumferential direction, the brackets are 13.1 of the 1st support member 11 with the numeral "1", the brackets 13.2 of the 2nd support member 12 with the numeral "2" and the brackets 13.3 of the 3rd support member 12a specially marked with the number "3". As FIG. 8 shows, the brackets of the three support members 11, 12 and 12a in the circumferential direction are arranged so that in each case on the brackets 13.1 of the 1st support member 11th a holder 13.2 of the second support member 12 and on this a holder 13.3 of the 3rd support member 13.3 follows (consequence: 1-2-3-1-2-3 ...).

Each support member 11, 12 and 12a is driven by its own drive motor, so that the functionality substantially the functionality of the transfer device according to FIG. 1 corresponds to whose description reference should be made.

Between the support members 11 and 12 or 11, 12 and 12 a and the holding devices 17 mounted thereon is given by a time-staggered increase and decrease in the rotational speed, a mutual relative rotation. This configuration makes it possible to operate the holding devices 17 in the area of the workstations at a lower rotational speed than in the areas between the workstations and nevertheless to ensure high performance of the transfer device by the arrangement of at least two supporting parts.

Claims (12)

1. A transfer device for transferring a flat folding box (FS) to a succeeding conveyor device (20) during simultaneous erection, with a rotarily driven support part (11) which is pivotable about an axis of rotation (D), and with at least rotarily driven further support part (12, 12a) which is rotatable about the axis of rotation (D) coaxially to the support part (11), wherein the support parts (11, 12, 12a) each support at least one retaining device (17) and perform a rotary movement at a speed of rotation that varies during one rotation and during an opposing relative rotation, wherein the folding box (FS) can be received in a receiving station (30) by the retaining device (17), and can be conveyed on a curved track to a transfer station (32) and therefore transferred to the succeeding conveyor device (20), characterised in that each support part (11, 12, 12a) supports a plurality of retaining devices (17) arranged equally distributed along the circumference.
2. The transfer device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the retaining devices (17) of the support parts (11, 12, 12a) are arranged alternately and consecutively in the circumferential direction.
3. The transfer device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that two support parts (11, 12) are provided, each of which supports three to five retaining devices (17).
4. The transfer device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that three support parts (11, 12, 12a) are provided, each of which supports two to four retaining devices (17).
5. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each support part (11, 12, 12a) is formed from a disc-shaped wheel.
6. The transfer device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the wheels are aligned parallel with each other.
7. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the support parts (11, 12, 12a) are driven independently of each other by means of a driving device.
8. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the retaining devices (17) are arranged uniformly distributed along the circumference of the support part (11, 12).
9. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the retaining devices (17) are moved on a circular track.
10. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the folding boxes (FS) can be fed to the transfer station (30) separately.
11. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that an erecting finger (16), which can be moved by means of an erecting gear (14), is assigned to each retaining device (17).
12. The transfer device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that an erecting station (31) is arranged between the receiving station (30) and the transfer station (32), which erecting station has a counter suction device (25) which follows the rotary movement of the folding box (FS) in sections.

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