EP2760772A1

EP2760772A1 - Apparatus for handling blanks

Info

Publication number: EP2760772A1
Application number: EP12756118.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sven Ruthemeier
Original assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Focke and Co GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2011-09-26
Filing date: 2012-09-06
Publication date: 2014-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-06
Also published as: CN103987639A; EP2760772B1; WO2013045023A1; DE102011114240A1; CN103987639B

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for handling blanks (10), in particular (tax) stamps, coupons or the like, for (cigarette) packs, having a magazine (12) for receiving a stack (11) of blanks (10) and a removal element for removing individual blanks (10) from a removal opening (14) of the magazine (12), wherein the removal opening (14) is preferably formed in the region of an underside of the magazine (12). The invention is characterized in that the removal element is configured as a toothed belt (19) which is arranged so as to run in the region of the removal opening (14) and which has apertures (24) for loading blanks (10) in the region of the removal opening (14) of the magazine (12) with a vacuum for the individual removal of said blanks (10) from the magazine (12) and for the further preferably imbricated transport of said blanks (10) from the region of the magazine (12).

Description

Apparatus for handling blanks Description

The invention relates to a device for handling blanks, in particular (control) bands, coupons or the like, for (cigarette) packs, with a magazine for receiving a stack of blanks and a removal member for removing individual blanks from a removal opening of the magazine , wherein the removal opening is preferably formed in the region of an underside of the magazine, according to the preamble of claim 1.

From practice, for example, slide as removal organs for individual blanks from a stack in a magazine known. However, such slides do not allow shingled removal of the removed blanks, which is often desirable.

On this basis, the invention is based on the object of further developing devices of the type mentioned, in particular with regard to a powerful and versatile use of the blanks from the magazine.

To achieve the stated object, a device according to the invention has the features of claim 1. It is therefore provided that the removal member is designed as a toothed belt, which is arranged extending in the region of the removal opening and the openings as suction holes for applying blanks in the removal opening of the magazine with a vacuum for individual removal of the same from the magazine and on the other preferably shingled transport of the same from the area of the magazine. It has been shown that the timing belt with suction holes is particularly suitable for removing the blanks from the magazine at high speed of up to 600 St./min and beyond and also allows scaling of the removed blanks directly at the removal. In this way, additional facilities for subsequent scaling of the blanks are dispensable.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the toothed belt has a preferably central region which extends in the longitudinal direction of the toothed belt, wherein the toothed belt in this region preferably has teeth on the underside for engagement with corresponding gears, and wherein the apertures arranged outside the teeth are, preferably each side of the central area. Another special feature of the toothed belt may consist in that a (top) side of the toothed belt facing the removal opening of the magazine is inclined, preferably bevelled, in the region of the perforations to lateral flanks of the toothed belt. It has surprisingly been found that a reliable removal of the blanks is ensured by this measure.

According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a (top) side of the toothed belt facing the removal opening of the magazine has a substantially planar design in the central region having the teeth and is bevelled laterally in each case towards the flanks of the toothed belt.

Another special feature may be that a vacuum chamber is provided for transmitting the negative pressure to the toothed belt, wherein the effective range of the vacuum chamber with respect to the removal opening of the magazine by means of an adjusting device is variable to adjust a Schuppungsgrads the blanks. Additionally or alternatively, the shingling degree of the blanks can also be changed by holding the blanks in the magazine in the transport direction of the toothed belt by a holding member, the holding member preferably abutting the stack of blanks laterally, and the positioning of the holding member relative to the removal opening of the Magazine or the plane of the toothed belt by means of an adjusting device is changeable to adjust the Schuppungsgrads the blanks.

In order to enable easy maintenance of the device can be provided that the toothed belt is guided and driven by tooth edges, wherein the position of the toothed belt with respect to the removal opening by means of an adjusting device is adjustable.

In order to enable a simple change of the toothed belt can be provided that at least one gear is separately adjustable, in particular pivotable, is.

Further measures may relate to an adjusting device, with which the stack of blanks with respect to the removal opening or the toothed belt is spaced, for stopping the supply of blanks to the toothed belt.

According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the toothed belt guided over the toothed wheels extends in the region of the removal opening along an arc or in a radius, wherein the toothed belt is guided in the region of the vacuum chamber for specifying the arc of the toothed belt.

If the area of action of the vacuum chamber extends beyond the holding member in the transport direction of the toothed belt, it can be ensured that the blanks can be reliably pulled out under the holding member.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for blanks, which with their longitudinal extent transversely to the transport direction of the toothed belt in Magazine are arranged. It has surprisingly been found that such - otherwise very difficult to handle blanks - can be processed very safely and reliably. According to a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the toothed belt is continuously driven in the region of the removal opening, in particular with a small, preferably vertical distance from the same. Further details and preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the description in

Other.

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

Fig. 1 shows a device for handling blanks

2 shows a horizontal section through the device along section line II

II in FIG. 1,

3 is a vertical section through the device along section line III - III in Fig. 1,

4 shows a vertical section through the device along section line III-III in FIG. 1 when the device is taken out of operation;

5 is a detail of the device in an enlarged view corresponding to section V in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 shows a detail of the device in an enlarged view in

Area of a vacuum chamber in Fig. 1, 7 is a vertical section through the device along section line VII - VII in Figure 3 with low scaling of the blanks,

8 shows a vertical section through the device along section line VII-VII in FIG. 3 with larger scaling of the blanks, and FIG

Fig. 9 horizontal section through the device along cutting line

VIII in Fig. 8. The invention will be explained below with reference to a device for handling banderols. The device shown can be used within a cigarette packaging machine.

Banderols are often used in the form of tax stamps in the cigarette industry. However, since the invention is not limited to such tax stamps and in particular can also be used for coupons, the generic term blank is used below. The blank 10 may be made of a thin packaging material such as paper, foil or combinations thereof.

Several blanks 10 are held ready as a stack 11 in a magazine 12. The blanks 10 lie flat above one another within the stack 11.

The magazine 12 is upright or vertically aligned in the present case and has an upper feed opening 13 for blanks 10 or stack 11 thereof and a lower removal opening 14.

In the magazine 12, the blanks 10 and the stack 11 are aligned by two opposite magazine walls 15, 16. In addition, a recess is incorporated in the magazine wall 16 in the present case, which is adapted to the cross section of the stack 11, so that the magazine wall 16 is also guided in the region of transverse side walls. Longitudinal side walls of the blanks 10 are guided through the magazine walls 15, 16. In the area of the magazine wall 15, as in the present case, a pneumatic lock 17 can be arranged. With the help of the lock 17, a negative pressure on portions of the stack 11 in the region of the magazine wall 15 can be exercised, so that a lower part of the stack 11 is relieved. This can be helpful when separating the blanks 10.

Another special feature in the present case is that the blanks 10 are arranged in the magazine 12 such that the longitudinal extent of the blanks 10 are arranged transversely to the transport direction 18.

A first feature of the device relates to an organ for removing the blanks 10 from the magazine 12. The special removal member is disposed below the magazine 12, namely at a small distance to the removal opening 14. The removal member is a toothed belt 19. The toothed belt 19th is guided as an endless conveyor via gears 20, 21 and arranged such that an upper run of the toothed belt 19 extends below the magazine 12 for removal of the blanks 10 and for lateral removal thereof in the transport direction 18. The blanks 10 held in the magazine 12 are underside on the timing belt 19 subjected to a negative pressure or suction and pulled out in this way from the magazine and conveyed in the transport direction 18, wherein they rest in a shingled arrangement on the upper run of the toothed belt 19.

Of importance is the construction of the toothed belt 19. The toothed belt 19 has a central region 22 which is formed along the longitudinal center axis continuously in the toothed belt 19. In the central region 22, the toothed belt 19 has teeth 23 which are formed or formed on the inside on the toothed belt 19 and which serve to engage with the toothed wheels 20, 21. Furthermore, apertures 24 are formed as suction bores for acting on the blanks 10 with a negative pressure or suction air in the toothed belt 19. It is provided that the openings 24 are arranged outside of the teeth 23 having region 22. In the present case, the apertures 24 are each arranged laterally of the central region 22 along the toothed belt 19. In the embodiment shown, two openings 24 are arranged on both sides of the central region 22, which are positioned in a row. Several such rows are arranged distributed over the circumference of the toothed belt 19. Conceivable, however, are other patterns.

A further particular detail is with regard to the cross section of the toothed belt 19. An upper side of the toothed belt 19 is bevelled on both sides of the central region 22, namely inclined towards lateral flanks of the toothed belt 19. It has surprisingly been found that such a construction of the toothed belt 19 has a positive effect on a proper removal of the blanks 10 from the magazine 12. Overall, this results in a substantially trapezoidal cross-section of the toothed belt 19. Another special feature is the arrangement of a holding member 26 in the region of the magazine 12th The magazine wall 16 does not extend to the lower end of the magazine 12, but ends at a distance therefrom. In this area, the holding member 26 is disposed below the magazine wall 16. It is envisaged that the holding member 26 is formed such that it rests only laterally punctiform on the stack 11 of blanks 10, so that the blanks 10 are held counter to the transport direction 18 by the holding member 26 accordingly. In the present case, the holding member 26 is shaped so that a punctiform, central contact of the holding member 26 is given to the blanks 10 and the stack 11. For this purpose, the holding member 26 extends in the region of a lower end to a tip, with which the holding member 26 abuts.

Another special feature is with respect to an adjustability of the holding member 26 relative to the upper side of the toothed belt 19 and the Removal opening 14. The holding member 26 is height-adjustable mounted on the magazine wall 16. The adjustment of the holding member 26 can either be done manually or by means of an indicated in the drawings optional servomotor 27. In this case, the control of the position of the holding member 26, for example, by a (separate) control device or the machine control of the packaging machine can be made.

Another special feature relates to a device for transmitting the vacuum or negative pressure on the toothed belt 19. For this purpose, a so-called vacuum chamber 28 is provided. The vacuum chamber 28 is connected via a line 29 to a vacuum source, not shown. The line 29 opens into channels 30, which lead to the openings 24 of the toothed belt 19. Accordingly, the vacuum chamber 28 is disposed below the upper run of the toothed belt 19, namely in the region of the removal opening 14 of the magazine 12th

The effective range of the vacuum chamber 28 can be changed in the transport direction 18 with respect to the removal opening 14 of the magazine 12. For this purpose, an adjusting device to be described is used.

In the present case, the vacuum chamber 28 is essentially formed by two components, namely an outer cassette 32 and a slidably mounted therein sliding piece 33. The cassette 32 is fixedly disposed below the magazine 12, namely in the region of the removal opening 14. Upper side of the cassette 32 extends the toothed belt 19, which is guided over the cassette 32 and the link piece 33. Cassette 32 or gate piece 33 are arranged so that the toothed belt 19 is guided in a slight arc. In this way, height fluctuations of the toothed belt 19 are avoided. By the cartridge 32 and the gate piece 33, the vacuum chamber 28 is formed or limited.

The cassette 32 has upper-side openings 34, which correspond to the position of the openings 24 in the toothed belt 19. The openings 34 are formed as elongated holes, which extend in the transport direction 18. The Gate piece 33 is connected to the vacuum source via the line 29, to which channels 30 connect, each leading into the region of the openings 34 in the cassette 32. Furthermore, the sliding piece 33 has two projections 35 which project into the openings 34 and close these regions. Between gate piece 33 and cassette 32 seals 36 are arranged.

The position of the link piece 33 within the cassette 32 can be visualized on the outside by a position pointer 37. In the present case, the position indicator 37 is a rod which is arranged on the housing of the link piece 33 and passes through a slot 38 in the cassette 32. In the region of the slot 38, a scale 39 is provided on the outside of the housing of the cassette 32, which allows a determination of the position of the sliding piece 33 in the cassette 32.

To move the slide piece 33 within the cassette 32, an adjusting device, not shown, can be used. The adjustment of the sliding piece 33 can either be done manually or by means of an optional servomotor. In this case, the control of the position of the link piece 33 can be carried out, for example, by a (separate) control device or the machine control of the packaging machine.

Another device of the device is associated with the magazine 12. It is an adjusting member in the form of a holding fork 40, which can act on the underside of the stack 11. The holding fork 40 has two prongs 41, which protrude into the region below the magazine 12 and are adapted to lift the stack 11 and spaced from the toothed belt 19. Furthermore, the holding fork 40 can be lowered, so that the stack 11 can be required by the toothed belt 19. Both positions of the holding fork 40 and the tines 41 are shown in Fig. 5. In the left half of Fig. 5, the raised position of the holding fork 40 and the tines 41 is shown. In this position, the blanks 10 can not be removed by the toothed belt 19. In the right half of FIG. 5, however, the operating state with lowered holding fork 40 or tines 41 is shown. there are the prongs 41 in a kind of parking position in recesses 42 in the upper side of the cartridge 32nd

The adjustment of the holding fork 40 can either be done manually or by means of an optional adjusting device. For this purpose, Fig. 1 shows, as an example, a pneumatic cylinder 43. In this case, the control of the position of the holding fork 40 may be performed, for example, by a (separate) control device or the machine control of the packaging machine. Further details of the device relate to the maintenance thereof.

The cassette 32 of the vacuum chamber 28, and the toothed belt 19 and the gears 20, 21 are mounted on a base plate 44 which is adjustable relative to the magazine 12 in the vertical direction. For this purpose, the base plate 44 is mounted displaceably in the vertical direction on a frame 45. On the underside of the base plate 44, a lever 46 is articulated, which in turn is pivotally connected to a second lever 47, which is mounted on the frame 45 on the articulated. In which the two levers 46, 47 connecting joint 48, an actuating means 49 is also arranged, which has a grill 50. By pulling the handle, the base plate 44 is lowered in the vertical direction, so that the toothed belt 19 is spaced from the magazine 12. It is envisaged that this takes place together with the raising of the stack 11 by the holding fork 40, as shown in Fig. 4. It is further provided that the gear 21 is arranged on a pivotally mounted carrier 51 (Fig. 6). The carrier 51 is pivotable about an axis 52 which is arranged at a distance from the gear 21. In this way, the gear 21 can be pivoted on the support 51 about the axis 52, whereby the toothed belt 19 is loosened and can be changed. In the operating position, the carrier can be secured, for example by a locking pin 53 in a bore 54.

Following the magazine 12, a belt conveyor 55 is arranged above the toothed belt 19, wherein the blanks 10 are stowed between the lower run of the belt conveyor 55 and the upper run of the toothed belt 19 are promoted. At the end of the toothed belt 19, a further belt conveyor 56 is provided, the upper strand extends in extension of the upper run of the toothed belt 19, to continue the conveying path.

The device described so far in its essential parts operates as follows:

The blanks 10 are held ready as a stack 11 in the magazine 12 and removed by a bottom side formed in the magazine 12 removal opening 14 through the toothed belt 19 as a removal organ. For this purpose, the toothed belt 19 on openings 24 which are formed outside the range of the teeth 23 in the toothed belt 19 and through which the stack 11 is subjected to a negative pressure or suction. The toothed belt 19 is driven continuously and guided at a short distance to the magazine 12 and the removal opening, so that the blanks 10 are detected sequentially and held by the suction air on the upper run of the toothed belt 19. The holding member 26 is punctiform on the stack 11 in the region of the blanks 10 to be removed. In this way, a shingling of successively removed blanks 10 on the upper run of the toothed belt 19 is achieved overall.

In addition, the device allows control of scaling of the blanks 10. For this purpose, on the one hand, the position of the slide piece 33 in the cassette 32 and / or change the position of the holding member 26. By moving the slide piece 33 in the cassette 32, the length or position of the vacuum chamber 31 are changed. In a front end position of the gate piece 33 in the cassette 32 shown in FIG. 7, the vacuum chamber 31 extends only in the region below the holding member 26. By displacement of the sliding piece 33 in the cassette 32 against the transport direction 18, however, the vacuum chamber 28 can be increased, so it extends further into the region of the removal opening 14 (FIG. 8). In this way, the range of action of the vacuum organ is increased or shifted. Furthermore, the distance of the holding member 26 to the upper run of the toothed belt 19 can be changed. In this sense, Fig. 7 shows a vacuum chamber 28 with a small size and arrangement below the holding member 26 and a small distance between the holding member 26 and the upper run of the toothed belt 19, resulting in a large shingling of the blanks 10. Accordingly, the pitch S, so the horizontal distance from a vorvoriegenden in the transport direction 18 edge of a blank 10 to the vorvoriegenden in the direction of transport 18 edge of a subsequent blank 10, large. Fig. 8, however, shows the opposite case, namely a greater distance between the holding member 26 and the upper run of the toothed belt 19 and a longer vacuum chamber 28, which extends further below the magazine 12. This leads to a smaller pitch S.

*****

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Cutting 40 Holding fork

11 stacks of 41 prong

12 Magazine 42 recess

13 Feed opening 43 pneumatic cylinder

14 Removal opening 44 Base plate

15 magazine wall 45 frame

16 Magazine Wall 46 Lever

17 lock 47 lever

18 transport direction 48 joint

19 Timing belt 49 actuating means

20 gear 50 handle

21 gear 51 carrier

22 central area 52 axis

23 tooth 53 locking bolt

24 breakthrough 54 bore

25 flank 55 belt conveyor

26 holding member 56 belt conveyor

27 servomotor S pitch

28 vacuum chamber

29 line

30 channel

32 cassette

33 scenery piece

34 opening

35 lead

36 seal

37 position pointer

38 slot

39 scale

Claims

claims

1. Device for handling blanks (10), in particular (control) bands, coupons or the like, for (cigarette) packs, with a magazine (12) for receiving a stack (11) of blanks (10) and a removal member for removing individual blanks (10) from a removal opening (14) of the magazine (12), wherein the removal opening (14) is preferably formed in the region of an underside of the magazine (12), characterized in that the removal organ as toothed belt (19) is formed, which is arranged extending in the region of the removal opening (14) and the openings (24) for applying blanks (10) in the region of the removal opening (14) of the magazine (12) with a vacuum for individual removal of the same from the magazine (12) and for further preferably shingled transport of the same from the area of the magazine (12).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothed belt (19) has a preferably central region (22) which extends in the longitudinal direction of the toothed belt (19), wherein the toothed belt (19) in this region (22) preferably on the underside Teeth (23) for engagement with corresponding gears (20, 21), and wherein the openings (24) outside the teeth (23) are arranged, preferably in each case laterally of the central region (22).

3. A device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that one to the removal opening (14) of the magazine (12) facing (upper) side of the toothed belt (19) in the region of the openings (24) to lateral flanks ( 25) of the toothed belt (19) inclined towards, preferably beveled, is formed.

4. Device according to claim 3 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that a to the removal opening (14) of the magazine (12) facing (upper) side of the toothed belt (19) in which the teeth (23) having central region ( 22) is substantially planar and is formed laterally sloping towards the flanks (25) of the toothed belt (19).

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that for transmitting the negative pressure to the toothed belt (19) a vacuum chamber (28) is provided, wherein the effective range of the vacuum chamber (28) with respect to the removal opening (14 ) of the magazine (12) is variable by means of an adjusting device for adjusting a Schuppungsgrads the blanks (10).

6. The device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the blanks (10) in the magazine (12) in the transport direction (18) of the toothed belt (19) by a holding member (26) are held, wherein the retaining member ( 26) preferably punctiform laterally on the stack (11) of blanks (10) is present, and wherein the positioning of the holding member (26) relative to the removal opening (14) of the magazine (12) or the plane of the toothed belt (19) by means of an adjusting device changeable is for adjusting the shingling degree of the blanks (10).

7. Device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the toothed belt (19) via gears (20, 21) is guided and driven, wherein the position of the toothed belt (19) with respect to the removal opening (14). is adjustable by means of an adjusting device to ensure access to the removal opening (14).

8. The device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that at least one gear (20, 21) is separately adjustable, for changing the toothed belt (19).

9. Device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the stack (11) of blanks (10) by means of an adjusting device, in particular a holding fork (40), opposite the removal opening (14) or the toothed belt (19 ), for stopping the supply of blanks (10) to the toothed belt (19).

10. The device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that via the gears (20, 21) guided toothed belt (19) in the region of the removal opening (14) along an arc or in a radius, wherein the Toothed belt (19) in the region of the vacuum chamber (28) is guided to specify the arc of the toothed belt (19).

11. The device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the sphere of action of

Vacuum chamber (28) extends in the transport direction (18) of the toothed belt (19) beyond the holding member (26) addition.

12. The device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the blanks (10) with their

Longitudinal extent transverse to the transport direction (18) of the toothed belt (19) in the magazine (12) are arranged.

13. The device according to claim 1 or one of the further preceding claims, characterized in that the toothed belt (19) is driven continuously in the region of the removal opening (14) is arranged, in particular with a small, preferably vertical distance from the same.

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