EP3020287B1 - Arrangement and method for conveying and storing of rod-shaped and/or cuboid products of the processing industry, in particular of the tobacco-processing industry - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for conveying, filling and storing rod-shaped and/or cuboid-shaped products in the processing industry, in particular in the tobacco-processing industry, comprising at least one container filling unit for filling produced products, in particular intermediate products in containers, a container warehouse with a plurality of shelves for storage the container, a handling means for transporting the container and at least one container emptying unit for emptying the containers present in the shelves of the container store.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for conveying, filling and storing rod-shaped and cuboid products, in particular intermediate products, in particular in the tobacco processing industry.

Such arrangements and methods are used in the processing industry, for example to produce further intermediate or end products from several intermediate products. Using the example of filter production, this means that so-called white filter rods, for example, are produced and temporarily stored on a first production machine as an intermediate product of a first type, for example mono-acetate filters. On another production machine, for example, so-called black filters or filter rods are produced as an intermediate product of a second type, e.g. Charcoal filter produced and temporarily stored. The intermediate products are filled into trays on appropriate devices, the so-called tray fillers, and stored temporarily in a tray store. From the tray warehouse, the filled trays with the various intermediate products are made using devices that so-called tray emptiers and conveyed to the production machine for the production of mixed-type intermediate or end products. Corresponding to the multi-filter production outlined above as an example, as described in the European patent application EP 2 481 305 A1 is described in detail, tobacco rods with different tobacco blends or other rod-shaped articles or segments thereof can be produced in the same way with a corresponding arrangement.

From the WO 2009/145650 A1 For example, an arrangement is known in which a tray store is arranged centrally between the production machines and tray fillers on the one hand and the tray emptying devices and machines for further processing on the other. Specifically, filter manufacturing machines with corresponding tray fillers are arranged on one side of the tray storage and tray emptying devices and cigarette manufacturing machines are arranged on the other, opposite side of the tray storage.

However, this type of production cell has the disadvantage that it requires a lot of floor space and long transport routes. The free-standing tray fillers and tray unloaders are each equipped with their own IPC and/or PLC controls and display units, which is not only expensive but also requires additional communication effort between the controls. The central installation of the container storage prevents an overall overview of the production complex and makes it difficult for the operator to react quickly, especially in the event of faults in the tray storage(s). A significant disadvantage is that if the single handling device or storage and retrieval device in the tray storage fails, the entire production complex comes to a standstill after a short time and production comes to a standstill.

In addition, trays have the fundamental disadvantage that the height of a tray is a multiple of the depth. Due to the narrow base, there is always a risk that the tray could tip over during transport across the broadside, especially when accelerating and decelerating. When the trays are emptied overhead, so-called cross-flights can still occur, which at least impair the transport process, if not lead to an interruption.

From the DE 100 51 790 A1 a method for filling containers with rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry is known, with the steps: the containers are fed to a filling line, the articles are conveyed to the filling line, the containers are filled while passing through the filling section is filled. The articles are filled into the containers in a continuous mass flow. Furthermore, the method is reversible, so that the method and the corresponding device can also be used to empty containers.

In the tobacco processing industry, which also includes the processing, processing and manufacture of products not containing tobacco, rod-shaped products and/or intermediate products, in particular cigarettes and filter rods as well as multi-segment articles, are regularly conveyed as a product mass flow. Such multi-layered or multi-layered product mass flows are formed, for example, at the outlet of a production machine or a tray discharger. For the purpose of decoupling downstream processes, these product mass flows or sections thereof are to be discharged from the arrangement, temporarily stored and then reintroduced. For this purpose, the product mass flow is filled in sections in trays, which can be emptied again later.

A product mass flow in the sense of this application consists of a plurality of transversely axially conveyed rod-shaped objects, with at least three rod-shaped objects always lying in a loose association touching one another, in particular without a gap, and at least partially overlapping one another in the vertical direction. A product mass flow is characterized in particular in the case of curve-free conveyance in that the rod-shaped articles conveyed transversely and axially are moved in a hexagonal association of at least three layers without relative movement among one another.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a local, compact and user-friendly arrangement for conveying and storing rod-shaped or cuboid intermediate products in the processing industry. Furthermore, the task is to propose a corresponding method.

The invention is therefore also based on the object of creating a simple and cost-effective arrangement by means of which a product-friendly introduction and/or discharge of a section of a product mass flow into or out of a storage system is ensured. The task is also to propose a corresponding method.

These objects are initially achieved by a storage arrangement in that the storage arrangement is designed and set up for conveying and storing the product mass flow in sections or more precisely in portions while retaining the original structure and the original cross section of the supplied product mass flow. Maintaining relates furthermore, that in particular the level of the continuously conveyed product mass flow on the input-side conveyor element and the portioned/discretized product mass flow in the containers and on the output-side conveyor element is the same. In other words, the containers filled with products or intermediate products represent the continuous product mass flow that is supplied. In connection with the solution according to the invention, structure means that the position, the packing density, the pack height, the so-called stack height, the orientation of the articles and the arrangement in layers as article bundles of loose articles remain the same. With regard to further advantages and design details as well as technical features, reference is made to the German patent application DE 10 2014 116 578.0 referenced and referenced below.

These objects are achieved by the memory arrangement according to the invention as claimed in claim 1.

This is in connection with that in which DE 10 2014 116 578.0 disclosed and claimed, novel filling and emptying principle for containers, in particular a low stack height, which is less than a quarter compared to conventional trays, achieves a product protection that has not been achieved so far, which enables a particularly compact design. Due to the integration of the container filling unit and the container emptying in the storage arrangement, there are particularly short, low-transfer conveying distances.

The object is also achieved by the method according to the invention for conveying, filling and storing rod-shaped and cuboid products, in particular intermediate products of the processing industry, in particular the tobacco processing industry, while maintaining the original cross-section of the supplied product mass flow, in containers and storing these containers in a container store for storing a plurality of containers in a plurality of shelves according to claim 13.

The object is also achieved by the method according to the invention for emptying and conveying rod-shaped and cuboid products, in particular intermediate products from the processing industry, in particular the tobacco processing industry, from containers in a container store with a plurality of shelves, while maintaining the cross-section of the product portion in the container Formation of a product mass flow according to claim 14.

The containers filled with products are placed with their upwardly open side on a conveyor element of the container emptying unit in such a way that the longitudinal extension of the containers coincides with the conveying direction of the product mass flow to be formed and is subsequently conveyed in the longitudinal direction with a narrow end face first. A gap to a possibly preceding container is closed by accelerating the container by means of the or an additional conveying element. The containers lined up in a row are emptied continuously during the conveying movement via the containers that are immersed in them fork-like conveying elements which comb the products out of the container. After the products have been combed out of the containers, the empty containers are transported away transversely or longitudinally to the flow direction of the mass flow. The immersion of the fork-like conveying elements is made possible in that the end walls of the containers have vertical slots that are open at the top. The speed of the conveying elements for the containers can be regulated in order to react to changes in the discharged product mass flow.

A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that a mass flow feed device is arranged upstream of the container filling unit, the container filling unit being a conveying element, preferably a carrying conveyor chain and/or a conveyor belt in a first horizontal transport plane, and the mass flow feeding device being a conveying element, preferably a carrying conveyor chain and/or has a conveyor belt in a second horizontal transport plane, which is arranged upstream, above and adjacent to the conveying element in the horizontal first transport plane, and wherein the container filling unit and the mass flow feed device can be moved together vertically, in particular steplessly, from the first transport plane and second transport plane into other transport planes and are designed to be fixable, so that a step-free adjustment to the delivery height of a connecting machine arranged upstream, in particular to a cigarette manufacturing machine or he is a filter manufacturing machine, can be manufactured. This configuration according to the invention enables a mass flow feed from the production machine, which can be kept free of upward transport and deflections as well as curves in its exit area.

A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that a mass flow discharge device is arranged downstream of the or each container emptying unit, with the container emptying unit having a conveying element, preferably a carrying conveyor chain and/or a conveyor belt in a third horizontal transport plane, and the mass flow discharging device having a conveying element, preferably a carrying conveyor chain and /or has a conveyor belt in a fourth horizontal transport level, which lies downstream, above and adjacent to the horizontal third transport level, and wherein the container emptying unit and the mass flow discharge device are designed to be movable and fixable together from the third transport level and fourth transport level vertically, in particular steplessly, into other transport levels are, so a stepless adjustment to the entry height of a connecting machine arranged downstream, in particular to a packing machine, a multi-segment rod manufacturing machine or a filter rod transmitter unit. This configuration according to the invention enables a mass flow feed to a connecting machine, which is minimized in terms of upward transport and deflections as well as curves and is only due to the layout of the respective production cell or production line.

A particularly preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the second conveying element of the mass flow feed device in the second horizontal transport plane is followed by a downwardly inclined conveying element in an inclined transport plane at an angle of 15 to 60 degrees, which ends above the first horizontal transport plane of the container filling unit .

A particularly preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the conveying element of the mass flow discharge device in the fourth horizontal transport plane is preceded by an inclined conveying element in an inclined transport plane at an angle of 15 to 60 degrees, which ends above the third horizontal transport plane of the container emptying unit.

A particularly preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the container emptying unit is arranged above the container filling unit, with the container filling unit and the container emptying unit preferably being arranged essentially in the same vertical plane, resulting in a compact, easily accessible and clear arrangement with very little passive Storage volume is given.

A central advantage of the storage arrangement according to the invention is that the handling means comprises three freely programmable linear axes X, Y, Z, to which independently controllable servo drives are assigned, namely a vertical drive, a horizontal drive and a gripping means drive. The handling means has a gripping means which is designed and set up to grip and transport the containers in blocks, namely in the form of a full container block or an empty container block. In addition to a transparent logistics concept, there is a very low passive storage volume. Furthermore, due to an individually programmable access to selected shelves, the fastest possible Availability of the products at the storage exit even when an empty storage is being filled for the first time, as well as easy filling and emptying of the storage.

For a higher, in particular twice the throughput of products, an advantageous further development is proposed which provides a second multi-axis handling means. A preferred division of tasks between the multi-axis handling means is that the first handling means is assigned to the container filling unit and this supplies empty containers or more precisely empty container blocks and transports full containers or more precisely full container blocks away. The second handling means is assigned to the container emptying unit and feeds this full container or more precisely full container blocks and empty containers or more precisely empty container blocks away.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the storage arrangement has a control unit and a display unit which are designed and set up to control precise product tracking, i.e. container content accuracy and/or multi-brand operation and/or reliable brand change, i.e. without mixing, wherein the occupancy status of the shelves, in particular with regard to the dwell time and the contents of the containers, can be stored and managed in the control unit and can be displayed on the display unit. In particular, this ensures reliable brand separation in the brand change and multi-brand operation modes.

A particularly advantageous development of the invention is characterized by format flexibility that can be implemented extremely easily, in that the container is emptied above the container filling unit, in particular in the same vertical plane, and the accumulation belts, the shelves and the handling means are designed independently of the format. It is only possible and intended to move the lateral guide elements of the conveying paths apart or towards one another symmetrically to an imaginary center line, so to speak at the "push of a button".

An advantageous development of the invention is characterized in that the container filling unit is preceded by a cleaning station which includes a turning device for empty containers in order to ensure that no products from a previous production batch are left in the containers. Product residues, such as tobacco crumbs, which may have remained in the containers when they were emptied, are also removed from the containers immediately before the containers are filled.

A particularly advantageous development of the subject matter of the invention is characterized in that the mass flow feed device and the mass flow discharge device can be directly connected at least temporarily to an upward conveyor in order to implement throughput operation, and thus a bypass to the conveyor route for containers can be produced. In a first configuration, the mass flow feed device is initially extended as far as the output side of the storage arrangement. In this case, the container filling unit is supplied with products by a switch and/or branch which is directed obliquely downwards and is preferably switchable. In a second embodiment, the "bypass" elevator is can preferably be implemented as an inclined upward conveyor within the structure of the storage arrangement between the mass flow supply device and the mass flow discharge device.

A further advantageous development of the subject matter of the invention is characterized in that the storage arrangement has an entry conveyor for empty containers and an exit conveyor for full containers in order to transfer containers into and out of the storage arrangement. This additional possibility allows the storage arrangement according to the invention to be connected to other intralogistic systems, in particular storage, transport, filling and/or emptying systems for containers, container groups or container blocks. In addition, container-specific product removal for the purpose of quality testing and container-specific shot disposal are made possible in a simple manner.

A modification of the subject matter of the invention is characterized in that the container emptying unit described above—with continuous emptying of the containers—is replaced by a container emptying unit which enables the containers to be emptied in cycles by means of a turning drum.

The turning drum essentially performs the following functions: Pick up the filled containers, which are open at the top, in a transverse orientation across the broad sides, then turn the containers by 180° and place them on a conveyor element, preferably a carrying conveyor chain, and convey them away in the longitudinal direction with one front side first. In detail: The filled containers are transported on a driven conveyor in a transverse direction to the turning drum. At the end of the conveyor, the containers are separated, e.g. by means of pneumatically operated ratchets and pushed into the turning drum. The turning drum has two parallel conveyor belts whose transport direction corresponds to that of the mass flow to be formed and between which the container is pushed. In order to enable the container to be inserted between the belts, the upper belt is lifted and then lowered after insertion in order to fix the container. After the container has been pushed in, the turning drum rotates through 180° so that the open side faces downwards, with the axis of rotation running parallel to the conveying direction of the mass flow to be formed. In one embodiment, the turning drum can be rotated in a reversing manner, so that a simple supply of energy for the turning drum is possible. After turning the container by 180°, it will the parallel belts in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the mass flow conveying direction, out of the turning drum. A gap is created between successive bins behind the beater as the previous bin moves at the end of the mass flow and a new bin is pushed into the beater and rotated. This gap is closed by accelerating the following container accordingly, with the closing of the gap being monitored using a suitable sensor. As soon as the gap between two containers is closed, the container rotated in the previous cycle is gripped and lifted upwards, preferably by means of a pneumatically operated gripper means. The lifting takes place in the conveying movement at the mass flow rate, with the end of the mass flow formed being supported by the end face of the subsequent container. The empty, lifted container is delivered to a suitable position and finally transferred to a conveyor and returned to the empty container cycle.

It is also provided to integrate an ejection station in the mass flow feed device and/or in the mass flow discharge device in the conveying direction before and/or directly behind or within the storage arrangement according to the invention, as described, for example, in the European patent specification EP 1 743 856 B1 is revealed. The products can be separated from the actual mass flow to a desired or defined extent and conveyed away in a targeted manner through the opening that can be created there in the transport plane of the conveying element.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung in Verbindung mit einer Produktionsmaschine

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Rückansicht der ersten erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung aus Fig. 2

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht einer zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Rückansicht der zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung aus Fig. 4

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Behälterfülleinheit

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Vorderansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Behälterentleereinheit

Further expedient and/or advantageous features and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment is explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawing, which shows:

1

a perspective view of an arrangement according to the invention in connection with a production machine

2

a perspective front view of a first arrangement according to the invention

3

a rear perspective view of the first arrangement according to the invention 2

4

a perspective front view of a second invention arrangement

figure 5

a rear perspective view of the second arrangement according to the invention 4

6

a perspective front view of a container filling unit according to the invention

7

a perspective front view of a container emptying unit according to the invention

The one in the figure 1 The arrangement shown shows a cigarette manufacturing machine combination 1 of the type PROTOS-M from the applicant, which essentially consists of a distributor unit 2, a rod unit 3 and a filter tipping machine 4, in connection with the storage arrangement 10 according to the invention in a second embodiment, namely with two 3-axis handling means 40, 41, wherein the container filling unit 12, the container emptying unit 14, the mass flow supply device 32 and the mass flow discharge device 34 are arranged in the same vertical plane. In the 1 between the container emptying unit 14 arranged on an upper level and the container filling unit 12 arranged on a lower level, there is a switch cabinet for accommodating an operating and display unit and the control unit for the storage arrangement 10, which is not shown for the sake of clarity. As the Figures 1 to 5 can also be seen that the handling means 40, 41, the container filling unit 12, the container emptying unit 14, the mass flow supply device 32 and the mass flow discharge device 34 and the shelves 38 are detachably mounted on a common frame 30 of the storage arrangement according to the invention.

The in the Figures 2 to 5 Storage arrangements 10 shown are designed and set up for conveying and storing filter rods, multi-segment products, filter cigarettes in containers 16 . The storage arrangement 10 is also suitable for other rod-shaped and cuboid intermediate or end products, namely, for example, e-cigarettes, cardboard sleeves, tampons, tablet tubes, chocolate bars or similar rod-shaped or cylindrical products, as well as cigarette, dragee, cosmetic packs and blister strips or similar cuboid or strip-shaped products, to convey and store, the cuboid and strip-shaped products being advantageously conveyed in a single-layer mass flow.

the Figures 2 and 3 show a storage arrangement 10 according to the invention in a first embodiment, namely with only one 3-axis handling means 40, with the container filling unit 12, the container emptying unit 14, the mass flow feed device 32 and the mass flow discharge device 34 being arranged in the same vertical plane. As in the figures 2 and 4 is highlighted in each case by a dashed double arrow, the container filling unit 12 and the mass flow feed device 32 are designed to be movable and fixable together from the first transport level and second transport level vertically, in particular steplessly, into other transport levels, so that a step-free adjustment to the delivery height of a connecting machine arranged upstream, in particular to a cigarette making machine or a filter making machine.

As in the figures 2 and 4 is highlighted in each case by a dashed double arrow, the container emptying unit 14 and the mass flow discharge device 34 are designed to be movable and fixable together from the third transport level and fourth transport level vertically, in particular steplessly, into other transport levels, so that a step-free adjustment to the entrance height of a connecting machine arranged downstream, in particular to a packaging machine, a multi-segment rod making machine or a filter rod transmitter unit.

In the following, the functional groups and the principle of the process based on the Figures 2 and 3 explained.

With regard to the designation of the containers, the term "container" with the reference number 6 is used both neutrally and comprehensively, as well as the term "full container" with the reference number 16, which is equivalent to a filled "container" 6. Accordingly, an empty "container " 6 also used as "empty container" with the reference number 18.

Regarding the filling of the container is supplemental to the figure 6 referenced, which shows an enlarged view of the container filling unit 12 together with dust belts, wherein the conveying and transport directions are indicated by means of arrows T, Q1 and Q2.

A conveyor belt for empty containers 18, the so-called empty container accumulation belt 24, is arranged upstream of the container filling unit 12, the empty containers 18 being transported transversely, then temporarily stored and again isolated. The empty containers 18 are then fed individually transversely to a cleaning station 36 . In the cleaning station 36, the empty containers 18 are subsequently twice around their Longitudinal axis rotated by 180°, cleaned in the process and then transported transversely with the open side up into the container filling unit 12.

In the container filling unit 12, empty containers 18 are first transported longitudinally, with a gap being closed to a container 6 that may be in front. The containers 6 are continuously filled with products during the conveying movement. The full container 16 formed in this way is continuously transported further in the longitudinal direction and a gap to a subsequent full container 16 is created by means of a separate belt drive.

The container filling unit 12 is followed by a conveyor belt for full containers 16, the so-called full container accumulation belt 22, with the full containers 16 being pushed transversely from the downstream conveyor belt of the container filling unit 12 onto the full container accumulation belt 22, transported further transversely and temporarily stored. From the temporarily stored full containers 16, a full container block 26 is then formed for the takeover for the 3-axis handling means 40, also known as a 3-axis portal.

With regard to the emptying of the container is supplemental to the figure 7 referenced, which shows an enlarged representation of the container emptying unit 14 together with accumulation belts, the conveying and transport directions being indicated by means of arrows T, Q1 and Q2. A conveyor belt for full containers 16, the so-called full container accumulation belt 23, is arranged upstream of the container emptying unit 14, the full containers 16 being transported transversely, then temporarily stored and again separated. The full containers 16 are then individually transferred transversely into the container emptying unit 14 with the open side facing upwards.

In the container emptying unit 14, the full containers 16 are transported lengthwise, with a gap being closed to a full container 16 that may be running ahead. During the conveying movement, the containers are continuously emptied by means of a fork-shaped upward inclined conveyor 64 and fed to the mass flow discharge device 34 . The fork-shaped upward inclined conveyor 64 can have a preferably adjustable upper product guide for the product mass flow to be conveyed, particularly in the incline section. The upper product guide can be designed differently, in particular for different products.

Fixed top guides, fixed top guides with an articulated flap on the output side, fixed top guides with a flexible element on the output side, e.g. a so-called chain mail, a flexible self-adjusting top guide or a drivable flexible conveyor belt or output-side flexible element, e.g.

An empty container 18 formed in this way is transported further in the longitudinal direction and at the same time a gap to a subsequent empty container 18 is created by means of a separate belt drive.

A conveyor belt for empty containers 18, the so-called empty container accumulation belt 25, is arranged downstream of the container emptying unit 14, with the empty containers 18 being pushed transversely from the downstream conveyor belt of the container emptying unit 14 onto the empty container accumulation belt 25, immediately thereafter being transported further transversely and temporarily stored. From the intermediately stored empty containers 18, an empty container block 28 is formed directly for the 3-axis handling means 40 to take over.

The 3-axis handling means 40, which is also referred to as a 3-axis portal, is used to transport the empty container blocks 28 and the full container blocks 26 between the shelves 38 and the empty container accumulation belts 24, 25 and the full container accumulation belts 22, 23. The 3-axis handling means 40 comprises a gripping means which removes an empty container block 28 from the shelf 38 and feeds it to the empty container accumulation belt 24 of the container filling unit 12 . The gripping means then takes over, for example, a full container block 26 from the full container accumulation conveyor 22 of the container filling unit 12 and guides the full container block 26 either to a shelf 38 or to the full container accumulation conveyor 23 of the container emptying unit 14 . The large number of other possible transport orders is organized accordingly and will not be described at this point.

• Berücksichtigung des First-in-first-out-Prinzips für die Vollbehälterblöcke 26,
• Berücksichtigung des Prinzips "kürzester Transportweg",
• Berücksichtigung des Prinzips "kürzeste Transportzeit",
• Berücksichtigung des Füllgrades der Vollbehälterstaubänder 22, 23,
• Berücksichtigung der Massenstromabführgeschwindigkeit.

The empty container blocks 28 and the full container blocks 26 are transported between the shelves 38 and the empty container accumulation belts 24, 25 and the full container accumulation belts 22, 23 via a memory management system stored in the control unit, which in particular includes transport order control for container blocks. The memory management takes into account a large number of different criteria with different prioritization(s), examples are mentioned here:

• Consideration of the first-in-first-out principle for the full container blocks 26,
• Consideration of the principle of "shortest transport route",
• Taking into account the principle of "shortest transport time",
• Considering the degree of filling of the full container accumulation belts 22, 23,
• Consideration of the mass flow discharge speed.

the Figures 4 and 5 show a storage arrangement 10 according to the invention in a second embodiment, namely with two 3-axis handling means 40, 41, with the container filling unit 12, the container emptying unit 14, the mass flow feed device 32 and the mass flow discharge device 34 being arranged in the same vertical plane. The functional groups of container filling unit 12, cleaning station 36, container emptying unit 14, full container dust conveyors 22, 23, empty container dust conveyors 22, 23 work as already described above for the storage arrangement 10 in the first embodiment, namely with a single 3-axis handling means 40, so that it is not presented again becomes. The difference in the second embodiment lies in the fact that the first (rear) handling means 40 is assigned to the container filling unit 12 and feeds this empty container blocks and transports full container blocks away. The second (front) handling means 41 is assigned to the container emptying unit and feeds this full container blocks and empty container blocks away.

reference number list

1

cigarette making machine combination

2

distribution unit

3

strand unit

4

filter attachment machine

5

free

6

container

10

storage arrangement

12

container filling unit

14

container emptying unit

16

full tank

18

empty container

20

container storage

22, 23

full container dust belt

24, 25

empty container dust conveyor

26

full reservoir block

28

empty container block

30

framework

32

mass flow feeder

34

mass flow discharge device

36

cleaning station

38

shelf compartment

40, 41

handling means

42,

horizontal axis

44, 45

vertical axis

46

center axis of gripping

50

free

52

vertical drive

55

horizontal drive

60

free

62

downhill conveyor

64

incline conveyor

Claims (15)

1. Reservoir arrangement (10) for conveying, filling and storing rod-shaped and/or cuboid products or intermediate products of the processing industry, in particular the tobacco-processing industry, while maintaining the original cross-section of an infed product massflow comprising at least one container store (20) for storing a plurality of containers (6) in shelf compartments (38), at least one container filling unit (12) for filling products into the containers (6), at least one handling means (40, 41) for handling the containers (6) and at least one container emptying unit (14) for emptying the containers (6) stored in the container store (20), wherein the container (20) has a frame (30) on which the at least one handling means, the at least one container filling unit (12) and/or the at least one container emptying unit are mounted, and in that a plurality of shelf compartments (38) are arranged on the frame in at least eight, preferably at least ten horizontal storage levels, wherein a massflow feed device (32) is arranged upstream of the or each container filling unit (12), wherein the container filling unit (12) has a first conveying element in a first horizontal transport plane and the massflow feed device (32) has a second conveying element in a second horizontal transport plane which is arranged upstream, above and adjacent to the first conveying element in the first horizontal transport plane, wherein the first conveying element in the first transport plane is arranged below the second transport plane and with substantially the same transport direction as the product massflow for continuously conveying empty containers (6) in their longitudinal extension with an end face first in the horizontal transport direction, the second conveying element of the massflow feed device (32) is arranged in the second transport plane for continuously conveying the product massflow in the horizontal conveying direction T and wherein the arrangement includes a channel which connects the upper second transport plane to the lower first transport plane for filling the containers during continuous transport of the containers (6) and the product massflow, so that the product massflow is divided into approximately equal portions and filled into the containers (6).
2. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the container filling unit (12) and the massflow feed device (32) are jointly configured to be vertically movable, in particular steplessly, from the first transport plane and second transport plane into other transport planes and to be fixable, so that a stepless adaptation to the output height of a connecting machine arranged upstream can be made.
3. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a massflow discharge device (34) is arranged downstream of the or each container emptying unit (14), wherein the container emptying unit (14) has a third conveying element in a third horizontal transport plane and the massflow discharge device (34) has a fourth horizontal conveying element in a fourth transport plane which is arranged downstream, above and adjacent to the third conveying element in the third horizontal transport plane, and wherein the container emptying unit (14) and the massflow discharge device (34) are jointly configured to be vertically movable, in particular steplessly, from the third transport plane and fourth transport plane into other transport planes and to be fixable, so that a stepless adaptation to the input height of a connecting machine arranged downstream can be made.
4. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that a downwardly inclined conveying element is arranged, in an inclined transport plane at an angle of 15 to 60 degrees, downstream of the second conveying element of the massflow feed device (32) in the second horizontal transport plane, which conveying element terminates above the first horizontal transport plane of the container filling unit (12).
5. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that an inclined conveying element is arranged, in an inclined transport plane at an angle of 15 to 60 degrees, upstream of the conveying element of the massflow discharge device (34) in the fourth horizontal transport plane, which conveying element terminates above the third horizontal transport plane of the container emptying unit (14).
6. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the container emptying unit (14) is arranged above the container filling unit (12) and preferably the container filling unit (12) and the container emptying unit (14) are substantially arranged in the same vertical plane.
7. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to claim 6, characterised in that the massflow feed device (32) and the massflow discharge device (34) can be connected by means of a vertical conveyor for implementing continuous operation.
8. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that an empty-container accumulating conveyor (24) and a cleaning station (36) are arranged upstream of the container filling unit (12), the cleaning station comprising a turning device for empty containers (18).
9. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the reservoir arrangement (10) comprises a handling means (40) having a linear axis X which has a horizontal drive, a linear axis Y which has a gripping means drive, and a linear axis Z which has a vertical drive (52), each of which is associated with a separately controllable servo drive, wherein the handling means (40) has a gripping means which is configured and adapted to grip and transport the containers (6) block by block, in particular as a full container block (26) or an empty container block (28).
10. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the reservoir arrangement (10) comprises a first and a second handling means (40, 41) each having a linear axis X₁, X₂, which each have a horizontal drive (55), each having a linear axis Y₁, Y₂, which each have a gripping means drive, and each having a linear axis Z₁, Z₂, which each have a vertical drive (52), each of which is associated with a separately controllable servo drive, wherein each handling means (40, 41) has a gripping means which is configured and adapted to grip and transport the containers (6) block by block, in particular as a full container block (26) or an empty container block (28).
11. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the reservoir arrangement (10) comprises a control unit and an operating and display unit which is configured and adapted to control product tracking and/or multibrand operation and/or a brand change, wherein the occupancy status of each shelf compartment (38), in particular with regard to residence time and contents of the container (6) in the respective shelf compartment (38), can be stored in the control unit and displayed on the operating and display unit, wherein the control unit and the operating and display unit are preferably configured as a single unit.
12. Reservoir arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 8 to 10, characterised in that the reservoir arrangement (10) comprises an infeed conveyor for empty containers (18) and an output conveyor for full containers (16) in order to feed containers (6) into and out of the reservoir arrangement (10), in particular in the event of a format change.
13. Method for conveying, filling and storing rod-shaped and cuboid products, in particular intermediate products of the processing industry, in particular the tobacco-processing industry, while maintaining the original cross-section of the infed product massflow, in containers (6) and transferring the filled containers (6) into a container store (20) for storing a plurality of containers (6) in a plurality of shelf compartments (38), comprising the steps:

    - Continuously conveying empty containers (6) in their longitudinal extension with a face end first in the horizontal transport direction T on a first conveying element in a first transport plane below a second transport plane and with substantially the same conveying direction as the product massflow,

    - Continuously conveying a product massflow in the horizontal transport direction T on a second conveying element of a massflow feed device (32) in a second transport plane,

    - Filling the containers (6) during continuous transport of the containers (6) and the product massflow in a channel which connects the upper second transport plane with the lower first transport plane, so that the product massflow is divided into approximately equal portions and filled into the containers (6),

    - Accelerating the filled containers (6) so that a gap to the subsequent container (6) is created,

    - Slowing down the containers (6) filled with the products,

    - Conveying the containers (6) filled with the products with a sidewall first in the horizontal transport direction Q1 transverse to the transport direction T on a third conveying element, in particular on a first full-container accumulating conveyor (22),

    - Grouping the filled containers (6) into a block formation with at least two filled containers (6) to form a full container block (26),

    - Conveying the full container block (26) by means of a handling means (40) to a free shelf compartment (38) of the container store (20),

    - Conveying the full container block (26) by means of the handling means (40) from a shelf compartment (38) of the container store (20) to a fourth conveying element, in particular to a second full-container accumulating conveyor (23), in a third transport plane,

    - Separating the filled containers (6) from a full container block (26) in the horizontal transport direction Q2 transverse to the transport direction T, so that the sidewalls of the filled containers (6) are at least slightly spaced apart, and

    - Conveying the filled containers (6) transverse to the transport direction Q2 to a container emptying unit (14).
14. Method according to claim 13, characterised by the further steps:

    - Conveying the containers filled with products (6) in their longitudinal extension with an end face first in the horizontal transport direction T in a third transport plane to a container emptying unit (14),

    - Emptying the containers (6) during continuous transport of the containers (6) by means of an inclined vertical conveyor (64) and transferring the products to a product massflow of a massflow discharge device (34) in a fourth transport plane,

    - Accelerating the empty containers (6), so that a gap to the subsequent container (6) is created,

    - Slowing down the empty containers (6),

    - Conveying the empty containers (6) with a sidewall first in the horizontal transport direction Q1 transverse to the transport direction T on a fifth conveying element, in particular a first empty-container accumulating conveyor (25),

    - Grouping the empty containers (6) into a block formation with at least two empty containers (6) to form an empty container block (28),

    - Conveying the empty container block (28) by means of a handling means (40, 41) to a free shelf compartment (38) of the container store (20), or

    - Conveying the empty container block (28) by means of the handling means (40, 41) from a shelf compartment (38) of the container store (20) to a sixth conveying element, in particular to a second empty-container accumulating conveyor (24), in a fifth transport plane,

    - Separating the empty containers (6) from an empty container block (28) in the horizontal transport direction Q2 transverse to the transport direction T, so that the sidewalls of the empty containers (6) are at least slightly spaced apart, and

    - Conveying the empty containers (6) transverse to the transport direction Q2 to a container filling unit (12).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the method, before the step

    - Conveying the empty containers (6) transverse to the transport direction Q2 to a container filling unit (12),

    - has the further steps:

    - Conveying the upwardly open empty containers (6) transverse to the transport direction T to a cleaning station (36),

    - Turning the containers (6) through 180° about their longitudinal axis,

    - Cleaning the containers (6),

    - Turning the cleaned containers (6) through 180° about their longitudinal axis and

    - Transferring the upwardly open empty containers (6) onto a conveying element in the first transport plane.

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