EP2993135A2 - Inserter machine and an insertion method - Google Patents

Abstract

To be able to deposit marinated meat slices with high throughput speed automatically in trays (2), they are dropped at high speed on a fixed discharge edge (7 a) of the product conveyor (7), below the discharge edge (7 a) of the corresponding tray (2) in the direction of passage (10) is moved, and the upper edge (2 a) of the tray (2) is covered by a mask (4), the contamination of the edge (2 a) of the tray (2) by impinging liquid drops (6) prevents, so that the subsequent tight sealing of the sealing film (3) is easily possible.

Description

I. Field of application

The invention relates to an inserting machine and a loading method, by means of which products are placed in open top, mostly trough-shaped, trays and these trays are then sealed tightly by a sealed on the edge sealing film.

II. Technical background

In this way, a variety of products is packed, but just the insertion of pliable parts such as sliced meat is a problem, as well as such products must be accurately positioned in the tray.

It is already known, pliable products such as slices of meat - individually or fanned superimposed to portions - transport by means of a product conveyor and drop over the discharge edge in a tray that is below the discharge edge.

• Je langsamer das Produkt über die Abwurfkante bewegt wird, umso größer ist das Kippmoment, welches das Produkt erfährt, und damit die Gefahr, dass das Produkt nicht auf der ursprünglichen Unterseite im Tray aufkommt, sondern ganz oder teilweise gewendet,
• je größer die Geschwindigkeit ist, mit der das Produkt über die Abwurfkante schießt, umso geringer ist dieses unerwünschte Kippmoment, jedoch umso größer ist die Relativgeschwindigkeit gegenüber dem Tray beim Auftreffen auf dem Tray, wenn der Tray stillsteht oder nur relativ langsam in Richtung der sich bewegenden Produkte mitbewegt wird, und damit das Risiko, dass das Produkt nicht eben auf dem Boden des Trays aufliegt.
• In diesem Zusammenhang sind bereits sog. Sprungbänder bekannt, bei denen die Abwurfkante des Produktförderers in Förderrichtung sehr schnell vor- und zurückbewegt werden kann, sodass zum Abwerfen die Abwurfkante unter dem Produkt schnell zurückgezogen wird, sodass praktisch kein Kippmoment mehr auftreten kann, sondern das Produkt mit Vertikalbeschleunigung nach unten absinkt, aber natürlich dennoch seine Horizontalgeschwindigkeit, die es hatte, als der Kontakt mit dem Produktförderer verloren ging, weiterhin beibehält.
  Deshalb wird bei einem solchen Sprungband das Produkt kurz vor dem Verlassen des Produktbandes abgebremst und im Idealfall zum Stillstand gebracht.

There is the problem of the speed to be selected:

• The slower the product is moved over the discharge edge, the greater is the tilting moment that the product experiences, and thus the risk that the product does not arise on the original underside in the tray, but turned completely or partially,
• the greater the speed at which the product shoots over the discharge edge, the lower is this undesirable overturning moment, but the greater is the relative speed with respect to the tray upon impact with the tray when the tray is stationary or relatively slow in the direction of the moving one Moving products, and thus the risk that the product is not just resting on the bottom of the tray.
• In this context, so-called. Jumping bands are already known in which the discharge edge of the product conveyor can be moved very fast back and forth in the conveying direction, so that for throwing off the discharge edge is quickly withdrawn under the product, so that virtually no overturning moment can occur, but the product with vertical acceleration going down but of course still maintaining its horizontal speed which it had when contact with the product conveyor was lost.
  Therefore, in such a jump band, the product is braked shortly before leaving the product band and ideally brought to a standstill.

Obviously, all three solutions are superimposed to increase the efficiency of the device.

A particular problem in this case with a lot of liquid wetted products, such as marinated slices of fresh meat, because it can easily happen when inserting these products, that dripping from this liquid something on the edge of the tray and at this point no tight seal in the later Sealing the sealing film is achieved more if not previously this pollution is meticulously removed on the edge.

In this context, it is already known when inserting the products in the tray to protect the upper edge of the stationary tray by means of a mask covering from contamination. However, the mask is used over and over again and mechanically approximated and removed at each tray to approximate to the next tray.

There is still the danger that liquid plugs that have formed on the inner edge of the mask, drip during the relative movement to the tray and in turn impinge on the edge of the tray.

III. Presentation of the invention a) Technical task

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method and a related insertion machine, which avoids the contamination of the top of the edge of the tray by liquid derived from the products to be introduced, despite high loading speed.

b) Solution of the task

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 13. FIG. Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

With regard to the method , this object is achieved by the receiving tray is moved along with the product in the passage direction with the product during the discharge of the products from the product conveyor via its preferably fixed discharge edge, preferably at the same speed, which has the discarded product at the time of discharge - thereby the relative speed be reduced to zero in the direction of flow between product and tray, so that the most pliable product on the ground of the tray lands without being deformed or corrugated there by a relative speed.

As a result, the product to be thrown off or the portion of several products can also be thrown off the discharge edge at a very high speed, in particular more than 300 mm / s, which results in a high insertion rate and thus high efficiency of a corresponding insertion machine.

Nevertheless, with moist products, especially marinated meat slices, there is a high risk that drops of liquid from the product dissolve, either during the flight of the product in the direction of tray or only when the product on the bottom of the tray, and by spraying on the edge deposit the tray.

During the subsequent sealing of an occlusive sealing film on the edge of the tray, such liquid droplets present there can cause leaks in the sealed seam and, as a result, lead to spoilage of the product in the tray.

According to the invention, the edge of the tray is therefore covered by a mask arranged above it during the ejection, which prevents the impact of liquid droplets. The mask is located at such a small distance above the edge of the tray or is even on this that penetration of liquid droplets in between is not possible. Preferably, the mask covers the entire edge of the tray.

As the tray moves with the approaching product, the mask covering it is also moved with the tray.

In order for the product to be able to enter the tray, the mask-which likewise generally lies horizontally like the tray-has a passage opening, in particular, only slightly smaller than the upper opening of the tray. From the edges of this passage opening extending circumferentially walls down. When positioning the mask over the tray these walls protrude into the recess of the tray and can be formed so long in height that they contact the bottom of the tray with its lower edge, in particular an absorbent layer lying there.

The encircling walls have an outer circumference such that they can barely be inserted into the recess of the tray, whereby preferably the walls of the tray, which are generally slightly conically tapering downwards, are used for centering or, in contrast, the walls of the mask In the state inserted in the tray, maintain a distance to the walls of the tray at all points, albeit as small as possible, so that no dirt adhering to the walls of the tray can adhere to the outer sides of the circumferential wall of the mask.

Preferably, the mask is lowered before the drop in the tray into it, moved during the drop along with the tray in the feed direction and moved after stopping the filing of the product in the tray back up out of the tray and against the feed direction to the starting position moved back.

For the necessary relative movements between the tray and mask preferably the mask is moved back and forth at the same height in the feed direction, while the vertical relative movement is performed by the tray, which preferably rests on a liftable and lowerable lifting device.

The movement in the direction of passage can also be effected by means of the mask by the form-fitting immersed in the tray mask performs the movement in the feed direction and thereby takes the tray.

In order for the product to be thrown off or the portion to be thrown on the product conveyor to be conveyed in the correct rotational position about the vertical axis and at the correct transverse position on the product conveyor, they are positioned before the ejection with respect to the transverse position and preferably also with respect to the rotational position Aligned high axis, for which several methods are available :.

One is to run just above the product conveyor, so in the height range of the product lying on it or portion lying on both sides of the product bands, preferably with the speed of the product conveyor, these bands in the direction of passage of an initially large distance approach each other to a small distance, which corresponds to the transverse extent of the product to be positioned. Since this smallest distance between the moving bands is at the transverse position at which the product is to be located, the product is positioned transversely.

By projecting from the moving bands towards the center of the product conveyor paddles in the height range of the product through the direction of the leading edge or end edge of the product is also aligned with respect to the rotational position about the vertical axis by these are brought to the corresponding edge of the product to the plant. The side edges of the product lying in the direction of passage are also aligned in the direction of passage by such running bands.

Another possibility is to push through transversely to the center of the product conveyor out, both sides arranged cross slide the product on the product conveyor to the desired transverse position and thereby align the product also in terms of its rotational position about the vertical axis because of the system of cross slides on the side edges ,

The cross slides can be firmly positioned and thus not run along with the product on the product conveyor - because the transverse positioning should preferably be done in all described possibilities of lateral positioning with the product conveyor running, not to reduce the efficiency of the insertion machine - or a vertical axis, the remote from the contact surface of the cross slide to the product to be pivoted and thereby be limited to be movable with the product, in which case preferably the contact surface viewed in the plan view is convexly curved.

Another possibility is to arrange on both sides just above the product conveyor an approximately plate-shaped pivoting segment pivotable about an upright axis, whose upright narrow side is convexly curved, in such a way that when pivoting about the upright axis in the direction this upright narrow side, the contact surface towards the product, always protruding in the direction of the longitudinal center of the product conveyor. By pivoting in the direction of travel while the product is between the two pivoting segments, the product is thus displaced in the direction of the longitudinal center of the product conveyor.

Another possibility is to detect the transverse position of the product on the product conveyor only by a sensor, but not to prevent, but instead adjust the transverse position of the mask and / or tray at the discharge point to the transverse position of the product.

With regard to the device , the object is thus achieved in that initially a product conveyor is present, the individual products or products assembled to portions transported in the direction of flow and about its front end in the direction of flow, the discharge edge, which is preferably formed fixed passage direction.

Below the discharge edge, ie at a level lower than the discharge edge, the respective tray in which the at least one product is to be deposited, which is dropped over the discharge edge, moves below the discharge edge in the direction of passage with the horizontal speed of the discarded product, so When the product strikes the bottom of the tray, if possible, there is no horizontal relative velocity between the tray and the product.

This movement of the tray can be effected by means of a tray conveyor, which then preferably extends in the direction of travel from a point in front of the discharge edge to a point after the discharge edge.

Preferably, however, this movement of the tray is caused when dropped by the mask immersed in the tray is moved horizontally in the direction of passage by means of a mask conveyor and thereby entrains the tray, which does not fly at the beginning of this movement on a Trayförderer, but still on the Supporting plate of a lifting device, which can raise the tray to the mask, so that the tray conveyor begins in the direction of movement behind the discharge edge, but preferably extends into the range of movement of the mask conveyor.

The apparatus further includes a controller that can control the tray relative to the product conveyor so as to move the tray just below the product dropped by the discharge edge so that the product ultimately lies on the bottom of the tray.

For this purpose, there are usually sensors that detect the starting position of the tray or position the tray accordingly, before it is moved with the product. Instead of sensors, the tray can also be positioned in its initial position by being centered in its initial position by immersing the mask, which is in a fixed starting position.

Preferably, a pusher is also provided to reciprocate the support plate of the lifting device on which the tray is to rest between a pickup position in which it is loaded with a new tray and a picking position for picking up products in the transverse direction. The pusher is preferably part of the lifting device or vice versa.

Preferably, in addition, a movable in the direction of travel mask with a rim for covering the edge of the tray is present, which should be positioned when the product is dropped over the tray and moved with this.

This mask has a passage opening through which the at least one product can fall from top to bottom in the tray. The edge of the mask, which extends around the passage opening, is dimensioned such that, viewed in plan view, it can cover the upper peripheral edge of the tray, in particular it can completely cover it.

From the inner contour of the edge of the mask, so around the passage opening around, circumferential walls extend from the edge downwards, which dive into the recess of the tray when placing the mask on the tray.

For the immersion and moving out again, a relative vertical movement between the mask and tray is necessary, which is caused by a lifting device, which preferably raises the respective tray to the mask and preferably after lowering the products of the mask down to the tray is again out of engagement with the mask.

The mask itself is preferably only moved horizontally forward and backward and is not subject to any vertical movement, above all because in the opposite case, ie in a vertical movement of the mask, the vertical distance between the tray equipped with the mask and the discharge position, So the product conveyor, would be larger, which would be detrimental for the purposeful storage of the products in the tray.

As a tray conveyor, which moves the respective tray horizontally during the ejection with the product, the mask itself can also be used, which dips positively into the tray. Thus, by moving the mask in the direction of passage, for example by means of a mask transporter, it can take along the tray, which for this purpose only has to slide along a support plate, which may be part of the lifting device, for example.

The wet products passing through the mask will leave drops of liquid on the mask, whether on the upper edge or on the inside of the downwardly facing walls of the mask. These drops of liquid will flow down the walls and eventually drip down from the bottom edge of the wall.

In order to avoid that such a dripping drop of liquid dripping from the mask during the relative movement of tray and mask in the transverse direction on the upper edge of the tray, preferably hanging on the lower edge of the walls hanging liquid drops are actively eliminated.

For this purpose, either the mask is dimensioned with its walls so that the walls when immersed in the tray, the interior of which is usually conically sih upward, touching the insides of the walls of the tray and thereby adhering to the walls of the mask liquid removed from the tray.

Another or alternative alternative is that the bottom of the trays is covered with a suction material that absorbs liquid, and the downwardly projecting walls of the mask are formed so long that when immersing the mask in the tray, the lower edge of the walls the mask sits on the absorbent material of the floor and thereby existing liquid drops are absorbed by the absorbent material.

Thus, the falling through of the products through the through hole is as simple as possible, this should be designed as large as possible. The limitation lies in the fact that the walls running around the passage opening still have to fit into the recess of the tray.

A first solution is to dimension the passage opening and thus the outer circumference of the walls of the mask so large that when they are inserted into the tray, the walls thereof-which surround the conically tapering interior space-contact and the tray is used for centering ,

As a result, however, the outer sides of the walls of the mask come into contact with the tray, which on the one hand can remove liquid adhering to the mask, as stated above, but also contaminants could be transferred in the opposite direction from the tray to the mask.

It is therefore preferred that the mask is lowered accurately from above into the tray, however, even while moving with the tray, the walls of the mask always keep a small distance to the walls of the tray, which, however, reduces the passage opening through the mask naturally.

In this case, however, it is not possible to use the mask as a tray conveyor, but then the trays on the one hand and the mask on the other hand have to be moved synchronously separately via a conveyor.

In addition, from the edge of the mask on one side, namely the front side in the direction of passage, a stop rise up, in the event that a product to be deposited in the tray does not directly hit the passage opening of the mask but something flies too far. Such a product will then abut against the stop, thereby be braked abruptly and fall down into the through hole of the mask, since the stop is located directly on the edge of the through hole.

c) embodiments

Fig. 1a, b:

die Einlegemaschine in perspektivischen Ansichten von oben und von unten,

Fig. 2a:

die Maschine der Figuren 1a, b in der Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2b:

die Maschine der Figuren 1a, b in der Frontansicht und

Fig. 2c:

die Maschine der Figuren 1a, b in der Aufsicht,

Figur 3:

eine gegenüber den Figuren 1a, b erweiterte Einlegemaschine in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 4a-c:

vergrößerte Ausschnitte aus Figur 2c mit unterschiedlichen Möglichkeiten der Querpositionierung,

Fig. 5a-d:

den Ablauf des Einlegevorganges von der Seite her gesehen im Vertikalschnitt.

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. Show it:

Fig. 1 a, b:

the insertion machine in perspective views from above and from below,

Fig. 2a:

the machine of FIGS. 1 a . b in the side view,

Fig. 2b:

the machine of FIGS. 1 a . b in front view and

Fig. 2c:

the machine of FIGS. 1 a . b in the supervision,

FIG. 3:

one opposite the FIGS. 1 a . b extended insertion machine in perspective view,

Fig. 4a-c:

enlarged sections Figure 2c with different possibilities of lateral positioning,

Fig. 5a-d:

the sequence of the insertion process seen from the side in vertical section.

• Vor der Frontwand des schrankartigen Maschinengehäuses 30 sind die Handhabungseinheiten für die Produkte 1a, b, vor allem die diversen Förderer, offen montiert, sodass sie von einem Bediener, der vor der Maschine steht, gut einsehbar und zugänglich sind:

The structure of the machine is best left by the FIGS. 1a and 2a of course, beyond that, of course, the view of Figure 1 b from below as well as the front view of the FIG. 2b and the supervision of Figure 2c :

• In front of the front wall of the cabinet-like machine housing 30, the handling units for the products 1 a, b, especially the various conveyors, are mounted open, so that they are easily visible and accessible by an operator standing in front of the machine:

From the right, the products 1 a, b - either individually or already in portions 1 ', for example, laid one above the other as in the Figures 5 illustrated - transported on a first product conveyor 7 ", and even before reaching the mounted on this product conveyor 7" transverse positioning device 5 by means of a transverse position sensor 15, which is preferably mounted on the housing 30 of the machine, the position of the product 1 b or the transported Portion 1 ', which consists of several such products, determined in the transverse direction 11 on the product conveyor 7 " .

The transverse direction 11 is perpendicular to the passage direction 10 of the products, that is to say the conveying direction of the product conveyors 7, 7 ', 7 "and of the tray conveyor 8.

In the transverse positioning device 5, the product 1 b is pushed to the correct transverse position and aligned with respect to its rotational position about the vertical axis, ie especially for portions whose side edges are not aligned parallel to the direction of passage 10 .

From this first product conveyor 7 " , the product 1 b or the portion 1 'of products 1 a, b ... on a subsequent product in the direction of flow 10 product conveyor 7' and from this to the next in the direction of passage 10 subsequent product conveyor 7, the last product conveyor in the direction of passage 10, passed.

This last product conveyor 7 has in its end an obliquely downwardly facing course of the upper strand of this endlessly circulating product conveyor 7, which is a deflection roller with a very small diameter is deflected for the purpose of forming a discharge edge 7a as the end of this product conveyor . 7

A product 1 a, which is transported on the preferably at constant speed, at least during the ejection process running product conveyor 7 , runs at the end in the oblique area already obliquely down and continues due to its speed, this direction even after overflowing the discharge edge 7 a in free fall and should fall into an underlying Tray 2 , as in the following with reference to the FIGS. 5a , b is explained.

Such a tray 2 is only in FIG. 2a located, and rests on the support plate 24 of a lifting device 9 which is capable of the support plate 24 from the in FIG. 2 Lift shown lowered position until the mounted at a fixed height mask 4 dips with its walls in the tray 2 and covers its laterally encircling edge 2a, if the tray 2 was previously just below the mask 4 .

• Dadurch kann die Tragplatte 24 zum einen direkt an die Frontwand des schrankartigen Maschinengehäuses 30 herangefahren werden unter eine Öffnung in deren Frontwand, die als Trayauslass 23 (siehe Figur 2a ) dient, und aus der jeweils ein einzelner Tray 2 in Querrichtung heraus auf die unmittelbar anschließende, in der Aufnahmeposition befindliche Tragplatte 24 geschoben werden kann.

The lifting device 9 is also able to move the support plate 24 back and forth in the transverse direction 11 by means of a arranged on the lifting device 9 pusher 25, the best in Figure 1 b it is recognizable:

• As a result, the support plate 24 can be approached directly to the front wall of the cabinet-type machine housing 30 by means of an opening in the front wall thereof, which is in the form of a tray outlet 23 (see FIG FIG. 2a ) , and from each of which a single tray 2 in the transverse direction out on the immediately subsequent, located in the receiving position support plate 24 can be pushed.

From there, the support plate 24 can be moved away from the machine housing in a transverse position and longitudinal position exactly below the mask 4 , located in the FIGS. 1a , b and 2a . b is in the starting position for performing a discharge operation. The mask 4 can from this starting position in the direction of passage 10 by means of a mask conveyor 26 are moved horizontally with the over the discharge edge 7 a flying product 1 c, wherein the mask entrains the tray 2 in this direction because of the immersed in the tray 2 position. Here, the mask 4 move with tray 2 preferably at the same speed in the direction of passage 10 as the discharge edge 7a on the straight dropped product 1 c.

If the tray 2 is filled with a single dropping operation, with which a single product 1 c or a whole portion is dropped into the tray 2 , then the filled tray is lowered down until it disengages from the mask 4 , and via a first Trayförderer 8 and, if necessary. Another Trayförderer 8 'of the filled Tray 2 removed. The lowering of the tray 2 can also take place by means of a vertical movement of the right end portion of the tray conveyor 8 , if the tray 2 is then already on this.

FIG. 3 shows one opposite the FIGS. 1 a . b and 2a . b . c to the left extended insertion machine, which is shown without products and trays, but on which it can be seen that by means of the product conveyor 8, the filled trays are transported to a doubling in the direction of flow 10 sealing station 27 , in the top one around the upper opening 13 of Trays annular sealing film 3 is sealed to close the filled tray 2 , as better FIG. 5e to recognize.

In the cabinet-like machine housing 30, on the front side, the individual conveyors are mounted, located in the front view in the left part of the controller 50 with the display 50 a and a control unit 50 b and preferably also the whole machine with electrical power supply cabinet ,

In the right part of the housing of unspecified tray singler is housed, which is necessary because the cup-shaped trays 2 are usually supplied nested in each other and for use in the insertion machine must be separated so that then the isolated trays 2 in the middle part of the housing 30, namely to the tray outlet 23 can be transported and are available there.

• In der Ausgangsposition befindet sich der Tray 2 mit Abstand unterhalb der Maske 4, die in der Höhe auf einer festen Position angeordnet ist und nur in oder entgegen der Durchlaufrichtung 10 bewegt werden kann.

The FIGS. 5a -e show the process of filling and closing a tray 2 with the help of the insertion machine described above in detail:

• In the starting position, the tray 2 is at a distance below the mask 4, which is arranged in height at a fixed position and can only be moved in or against the direction of passage 10 .

Seen in the top view, the tray 2 is generally rectangular, and has one around its upper opening 13 all-round, horizontally outwardly projecting edge 2 a, obliquely downwardly inwardly extending walls and a bottom 2 b, on which a suction material 14 lie which can absorb liquid such as meat juice well.

The mask 4 has a continuous from top to bottom through opening 12, which is slightly smaller than the opening 13 of the tray 2. The through hole 12 of the mask 4 is also generally rectangular, from which also usually obliquely from top to bottom extend to the center inclined individual walls 4 b or a single ring extending around the passage opening 12 wall. The passage opening 12 of the mask 4 is also surrounded by a horizontally outwardly projecting edge 4 a.

The dimensioning of the mask 4 is adapted to the tray 2 such that - as in FIG. 5b represented by subsequent lifting of the tray 2 by means of a lifting device 9 of the tray 2 can be raised so far that the walls 4 b of the mask 4 dip into the opening 13 of the tray 2 and possibly also reach the bottom and the absorbent material 14 - or if such a suction material does not exist, the bottom of the tray - can contact if the walls of the mask are sufficiently high, which is not always the case.

The contact causes a possibly at the lower edge of the peripheral wall 4 b of the mask 4 forming liquid droplets 6 does not drip at any time, but targeted by zing. B. is absorbed by the absorbent material 14 .

Further, the horizontally protruding edge 4a of the mask 4 is so wide that it completely covers the edge 2 a of the tray. 2

As long as no product is transported on the product conveyor 7 just above it, there are - as in FIG. 5b visible - Mask 4 and Tray 2 inserted into each other as close as possible below the product conveyor 7, wherein preferably the discharge edge 7 a in the direction of passage 10 is above the left in the direction of passage from right to left end of the opening 12 of the mask 4 .

If, on the product conveyor 7 for example, a portion 1 'of three ranging partially superposed products 1 a, b, c is transported with the moving speed of the product conveyor 7 via the discharge edge 7 a diagonally is dropped downward, mask scroll 4 and Tray 2 together in the direction of passage 10 at a horizontal speed corresponding to the component of the horizontal speed of approaching portion 1 ', wherein the movement of mask 4 and Tray 2 - depending on the starting position in the direction of passage 10 FIG. 5b - If necessary, already used before the portion 1 'or the product 1 a protrude beyond the discharge edge 7 .

This movement of mask 4 and tray 2 is continued until the product 1 a or the portion 1 'rest on the bottom 2 b of the tray 2 .

In the event that the product 1 a or the portion 1 'when falling into the opening 12 of the mask 4 does not hit it exactly, but rather fly too far, is on the area of the peripheral edge 4 a of the mask 4, located in Passing direction 10 is located at the front, an upwardly projecting and extending in the transverse direction 11 stop 28 exists, against which the product 1 a or the portion 1 'possibly rebounds with its front edge and then falls down into the opening.

• Dort wird der gefüllte Tray 2 angehalten, und es wird über die Öffnung 13 des Trays 2 hinweg eine Siegelfolie 3 gelegt, sodass diese auf dem umlaufenden Rand 2a aufliegt und dort umlaufend mittels eines umlaufenden Siegelstempels 27a der Siegelstation 27 erhitzt und dadurch - da Siegelfolie 3 und/oder Tray 2 aus einem heißsiegelfähigen Material bestehen - mit der Oberseite des Randes 2a des Trays 2 dicht verklebt.

Once the tray 2 is completely filled - which can be done by one or more shedding operations - is done according to FIG. 5d the filled tray 2 moves downwards so that it comes out of engagement with the mask 4 and from a tray conveyor 8, which preferably has the same direction as the product conveyor 7, 7 ', 7 "- transported away, preferably to a sealing station 27 according to FIG. 5e :

• Where the filled tray 2 is stopped, and it is placed a sealing foil 3 over the opening 13 of the tray 2 away so that they rest on the peripheral edge 2a and heated there circulating means of a circumferential sealing stamp 27a of the sealing station 27 and thereby - as sealing foil 3 and / or Tray 2 are made of a heat-sealable material - sealed with the top of the edge 2a of the tray 2 .

Thus, the filled Tray 2 is sealed and can be further picking and processing supplied.

If, after the dropping of one or more products into the tray 2, the tray 2 is not yet completely filled, it is moved back together with the mask and with this engaged horizontally into the starting position for dropping off FIG. 5b , And it is a dropping of one or more products in the tray until it is completely filled.

• Figur 4a zeigt dabei die auch in den übrigen Figuren dargestellte Querpositioniervorrichtung 5 in der Version 5.1:

In the FIGS. 4a c are different embodiments of the transverse positioning 5 in the direction of the Figure 2c shown:

• FIG. 4a shows the transverse positioning device 5 shown in the other figures in version 5.1:

In each case, a side conveyor 17 with an endless belt, which is guided around deflection rollers which rotate about vertical axes, runs in the left and right edge regions of the product conveyor 7 " between the two oppositely directed runs of these endlessly circulating side conveyors 17, which thus have a running sideband 18 form, there is a distance 19, which decreases in the direction of passage 10 at the inlet and at the location of the smallest distance 19 at least corresponds to the extension of the transported product 1b in the transverse direction 11 or slightly larger.

Since the distance 19 in the direction of passage 10 at the beginning is significantly greater than the transverse extent of a product 1b, a product 1b , even if it does not lie in the transverse direction 11 at the correct transverse position on the product conveyor 7 " , by passing through the two circumferential side conveyors 17 pushed from their oppositely directed dreams to the correct transverse position.

Since each of the peripheral side conveyor 17 outwardly projecting paddles 29 are arranged at opposite positions of the belts of the side conveyor 17 , push these paddles 29 against the trailing edge of the product 1b and thereby align the product in the rotational position about the horizontal axis in the transverse direction if the side conveyor 17 to run slightly faster than the product conveyor 7 ". However, if the side conveyor 17 to run slightly slower than the product conveyor 7", the product 1b with its front side against a pair of paddles 29 is running, and is thereby also in its rotational position about aligned the vertical axis.

FIG. 4b shows another transverse positioning device 5.2, in which in both side edge regions of the product conveyor 7 " in the height range above, in which the continuous product 1 b is reached, depending on a cross slide 16 is arranged, the front end face extends approximately in the direction 10 , and which can be moved by means of a slide punch 20 in the transverse direction 11 .

The product 1 b passing through between the transverse slides 16 can be displaced and positioned in the transverse direction 11 by extension of one or both of the independently controllable sliding rams 20 by means of the respective transverse slide 16 .

Since the product 1 b thereby moves in the direction 10 , either as shown here, the slide punch 20 a limited distance in the direction 10 can be moved with the speed of the product 1 b or - which is not shown - are pivoted about an upright pivot axis, in which case, however, the product contacting end face of the cross slide 16 is preferably convex.

In FIG. 4b Furthermore, a transverse position sensor 15 , which determines the transverse position of the product 1 b passing by it, is arranged upstream of the transverse positioning device.

At the in FIG. 4 b This solution can serve to adjust the starting position of the cross slide 16 in the transverse direction 11 .

However, there is also another solution, in which the Querpositioniervorrichtung consists exclusively of such a transverse position sensor 15 , ie the transverse position of the product 1 b determined on the product conveyor, but not mechanically changed, but instead with the information of the transverse position of the tray 2 is set in the appropriate transverse position at the discharge point.

Figure 4c shows a further variant of a transverse positioning 5.3:

Here, both sides in the edge region of the product conveyor 7 "slightly above, ie in the height region of the lying thereon product 1 a lying in a horizontal plane b, plate-shaped pivot segment 31 present, which is swingable about an upright pivot axis 21st This pivot segment 31 includes the intermediate transported through product 1 b facing contact surface 31 a, which is one of the narrow sides of the plate, and which is curved so convex that its distance from the upright pivot axis 21 increases counter to the direction of passage 10 .

By pivoting such a pivoting segment 31, or even both pivot segments 31 synchronously, in the running direction 10 so reduces the distance 19 between the pivot segments 31 and positioned the product 1 b in the transverse direction 11th

The at the inlet is preferably carried out at such an angular velocity that the points of the two contact surfaces 31 a closest to one another move at the same speed in the direction of passage 10 as the product conveyor 7 ".

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 a, b

product

1 '

portion

2

tray

2 a

edge

2 b

ground

3

sealing film

4

mask

4 a

edge

4b

wall

5

Querpositioniervorrichtung

6

liquid drops

7

product conveyor

7a

discharge edge

8th

tray conveyor

9

lifting device

10

Throughput direction

11

transversely

12

Passage opening (mask)

13

Opening (tray)

14

Suction material

15

Cross position sensor

16

cross slide

17

side conveyors

18

accompanying side band

19

distance

20

sliding temple

21

swivel axis

22

Trayvereinzeler

23

Tray outlet

24

support plate

25

Pusher

26

Mask transporter

27

sealer

27a

seal

28

attack

29

paddle

30

casing

30a

front

31

tilting segment

31a

contact area

50

control

50a

display

50b

operating unit

Claims (16)

Method for inserting at least one product ( 1 a) into an open top tray (2),
characterized in that - The at least one product ( 1 a), in particular a plurality of products ( 1 a, b) in portions, on a in the direction of passage (10) running product conveyor ( 7) in the direction of passage (10) are transported and on whose in the direction of passage (10) in particular fixed Discharge edge (7a) are dropped, - The tray (2) during the discharge of the product ( 1 a) from the discharge edge (7a) underneath in the direction of passage (10) with the product ( 1 a) is moved until the product ( 1 a) on the floor (2b) of the tray (2) . Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the product ( 1 a) is discharged from the product conveyor (7) at a speed of at least 300 mm / sec via its discharge edge (7a) and / or
after removing the mask (4) from the tray (2), the filled tray (2) is sealed by sealing a sealing foil (3) on the edge (2a) of the tray (2) . Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
before the ejection, a mask (4) covering the edge (2a) of the tray (2), in particular completely, is positioned over the tray (2) and moved along with the tray (2)
and particularly
the mask (4) has a passage opening (12) , walls (4b) peripherally projecting from the edges thereof, and in particular the walls (4b ) projecting into the tray (2) during positioning above the tray (2) . Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the mask (4) is moved back and forth at the same height and the tray (2) is raised and lowered for positive interlocking of tray (2) and mask (4)
and particularly
the tray (2) by means of the mask (4) with the product ( 1 a) is moved. (Rather not) Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the mask (4) is lowered into the tray (2 ) so far that its walls (4b ) touch the bottom (2b) of the tray (2) .
(Centering) Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the positioned at least one product (1 a) on the product conveyor (7) in the transverse direction (11) and / or in the transverse direction (11) is compressed by in the passage direction (10) transversely against each other approximate, with the product conveyor (7) (in the direction of passage 10) and the product ( 1 a) optionally laterally contacting side bands (18) and / or
which is positioned at least one product (1 a) on the product conveyor (7) in the transverse direction (11) relative to the tray (2) by determining the transverse position of the product (1 a) on the product conveyor (7), positioning of the tray (2) in the transverse direction (11) under the discharge edge (7a) of the product conveyor (7) at the previously determined transverse position of the product transported thereon (1a). Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8,
characterized in that
the at least one product (1 a) on the product conveyor (7) in the transverse direction (11) positioned and / or in the transverse direction (11) is compressed moving by pushing it against the product in at least one transverse direction (11) in particular in in the direction of passage (10) Product (1a) by means of counter-directed, in the direction of passage (10) fixedly positioned cross slide (20)
and particularly
the transverse slides (20) are stationarily positioned in the passage direction (10) or run along the product conveyor (7) in the direction of passage (10) for a limited distance, in particular by the transverse slides around an laterally spaced from the product conveyor (7) , upright pivot axis with the product conveyor mitschwenken and in particular have a convex curved stamp surface. Device for inserting at least one product ( 1 a, b) in an open top tray (2), with - A product conveyor (7) for particular portion-wise transporting the at least one product ( 1 a) in the direction of passage (10) and dropping over the in the direction of passage (10) fixed discharge edge (7a) of the product conveyor (7), marked by - extending a in the direction of passage (10) transport device, to move the tray (2) on a Nivea below the discharge edge (7a) in the direction of passage (10), - a controller (50) which can control the tray (2) relative to the product conveyor (7) so that the tray (2) below that of the discharge edge (7a) discarded product ( 1 a) is moved until the product ( 1 a) on the bottom (2b) of the tray (2) is located. Device according to claim 13,
characterized in that
a in the direction of travel (10) movable, in particular approximately horizontally lying, mask (4) for covering the edge (2a) of the tray (2) is present, with a top edge (4a) which surrounds a through opening (12) and , viewed in the top view, can cover the upper peripheral edge (2a) of the tray (2), in particular completely, - From the inner contour of the edge (4a) from downwardly facing, circumferential walls (4b), in particular in the form of a single annular wall (4b) and particularly
a lifting device (9 ) movable in the direction of travel (10) for lifting and lowering the tray (2) is present for the purpose of vertical approach, in particular immersion, of mask (4) and tray (2). Device according to one of the preceding device claims,
characterized in that
a tray conveyor (8) for transporting the trays (2) is provided in the direction of passage and in particular the tray conveyor (8) is the transport device for the tray (2) below the discharge edge (7a)
or
the transport device in the direction of travel (10) movable mask (4) and its mask feed dog (26) . Device according to one of the preceding device claims,
characterized in that
the passage opening (12) of the mask (4) is so large that the walls (4b) of the mask (4) just fit into the opening (13) of the open-top tray (2) , in particular at least one of the walls (4b) the mask (4) laterally does not maintain a distance to the corresponding wall of the tray (2) , but contacts them, and this applies in particular to all walls and / or
the bottom (2b) of the tray (2) is covered by a suction material (14) suitable for absorbing liquid drops (6 ) hanging, for example, on the lower edge of a wall (4b) of the mask (4) .
(Centering) Device according to one of the preceding device claims,
characterized in that
on the product conveyor (7) a Querpositionier device (5.1) is arranged, the two on both sides of the product ( 1 a) arranged in the height range, in the passage direction (10) transversely approaching each other, with the product conveyor (7) running side bands (18 ), in particular endless, circumferential side conveyor (17) . Device according to claim 20,
characterized in that
the endless, circulating side conveyor (17) revolve around two upright in the direction of passage (10) spaced upright axes.
and or
the distance of the running side bands (18 ) in the direction of passage (10) at the end minimally corresponds to the dimension of the product ( 1 a) in the transverse direction (11)
and particularly
at least the distance (19) in the direction of passage (10) at the end of the two follower bands (18) is adjustable. Device according to one of the preceding device claims,
characterized in that
on the product conveyor (7) a Querpositionier device (5.2) is arranged, the two on both sides of the product ( 1 a)) arranged in the height range, mutually movable transverse slide (16), in particular only in the transverse direction (11) against each other movable transverse punch (16), comprises, in particular independently controlled against the product ( 1 b) are extendable. Device according to claim 23,
characterized in that
the transverse slide (16) in the direction of passage (10) a limited distance are movable, in particular with the speed of the product conveyor (7) or
the transverse slides (16) are fixedly positioned in the direction of passage (10) and in particular pivotable about an upright pivot axis (21) at the end facing away from the slide punch (20) , in particular so that the slide punch (20) in the passage direction (10) the speed of the product conveyor (7) has, and in particular the slide punch (20) has a convexly convexly curved end face. Device according to one of the preceding device claims,
characterized in that
a transverse positioning device (5.3) is present, which comprises a transverse position sensor (15) for the product ( 1 a) on the product conveyor (7) and a transversely movable (11) , controllable transport device for the tray (2), which is able to adjust the transverse position of the tray (2) depending on the determined transverse position of the product ( 1 a).

Images