EP3181500A1 - Device and method for supplying, providing and exchange of rolls with packaging material in a packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

It is a device and a method for conveying, providing and / or handling and / or replacement of rolls (12, 16) with flat and / or sheet material wound thereon and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, containers or similar article compositions disclosed. Used rolls (16) are removed from a packaging machine and replaced with new rolls (12) with flat and / or sheet material. At least one sensor (66) for detecting an axial position of the roller (12, 16) and / or for detecting the spatial positions is at least one of the installation positions (EB1, EB2) of the rollers (12, 16) to be unwound flat and / or sheet material associated with the respective outer layers of the unwound roll (12, 16). The output signals (72) of the sensor (66) are supplied to a control device (74) for generating control signals (76) for the axial adjustment (64) of the receiving mandrel (42) equipped with a roll (12, 16) to be unwound as a function of the detected and processed Sensor signals (72) of the sensor (66) provided.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for feeding, providing, handling and / or replacement of rolls with flat and / or sheet material wound thereon and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, containers or similar article assemblies within a packaging machine having the features of the independent claim 1. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for handling and / or replacement of such rollers with the features of independent method claim 6.

In a grouping and compilation of articles to containers, eg. Of beverage containers o. The like., These are often held together in practice by shrink film to prevent slipping or loosening of the compilation during further handling or during transport. Such containers, which may comprise, for example, four, six or more containers or bottles of PET plastic, serve in particular as easy-to-handle sales units for end consumers. In order to achieve a high throughput in packaging and / or in a subsequent palletizing, the fastest possible compilation of such containers without interruption of individual process steps is desirable.

In order to provide the packaging material used as outer packaging or the shrink film for partial or complete wrapping of containers available, devices and methods are known, which unwind the material of a roll or multiple roles to carry within a packaging machine and thus the individual containers or the respective articles which are to form the respective container, wrap with the packaging material. The unwinding of the packaging material from the roll is usually carried out by machine and in approximately continuous process. Devices are known in which the packaging material is withdrawn via rollers from the rotating roll. If a roll is unwound and the stock of packaging material of the roll is exhausted, an exchange of the respective roll or a replacement by a new roll must take place. The sheet material webs are usually joined together when replacing the rollers, for example. By a gluing and / or welding process.

A method and a device by means of which new rolls delivered and used rolls can be changed within a packaging machine are, for example, from the DE 40 40 545 A1 known. This known device has a plurality of supply rolls with strip material, which are arranged side by side. The core of the rollers is placed in each case on a common pin. A beginning of the strip material is previously connected to a roller, which pulls the strip material from the respective roll and leads away from the device in the downward direction.

Devices for automatically feeding material wound on rolls and exchanging for used rolls in processing or packaging machines are also known in different embodiments, such as. As devices for feeding and changing coils with strip material in a processing machine according to DE 32 02 647 A1 or according to DE 41 42 256 A1 , Various facilities for supplying packaging machines with consumable or packaging material are also from the EP 1 273 541 B1 as well as from the DE 10 2006 017 379 A1 known.

As a rule, the known handling methods and devices require exact positioning and feeding of new reels or reels with packaging material wound thereon. In addition, it is necessary for a smooth packaging operation that the webs of material when joining together largely aligned and transported without lateral offset in the packaging machine, otherwise an inadequate packaging quality due to uneven film overhang threatens.

If such an exact positioning can not be ensured, the smooth transport of flat packaging material after the exchange of used new rolls is at risk, whereby the functionality and quality of the packaging machine can not be guaranteed to the desired extent.

These problems also occur in incorrectly wound roles and used in the packaging machine film rolls heaped with protruding or staggered wound sections, since the previously used sensors for axial position determination of roles after their onset such quality defects in the delivered roles usually can not recognize ,

For this reason, an object of the present invention is seen to provide a device and a method with a high degree of automation for handling wound on rolls flat and / or sheet material available by means of which largely flat and / or sheet material can be provided without interruption , The device and the method should not only enable and support a fast and accurate roll feed to the packaging machine, but also at any time of material web conveying allow an exact positioning of the rollers to promote the conveyed into the packaging machine material webs in the desired alignment and the required packaging quality to be able to guarantee.

These objects of the invention are achieved with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

To achieve the above object, the invention proposes a device for conveying, providing and / or handling and / or replacement of roles with flat and / or sheet material wound thereon and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, containers or similar article compositions Features of independent claim 1 before. The supply, provision and / or handling of the rolls may be designed in the interest of an uninterrupted packaging operation in such a way that the packaging operation can continue to operate largely smoothly during the replacement of rolls. Optionally, however, the packaging company can be interrupted for a short time. In the apparatus according to the invention, at least approximately completely unwound and / or used up rolls for maintaining a continuous, a quasi-continuous or discontinuous packaging operation alternately from at least one installation position or depending on machine equipment also from two or more different mounting positions of a packaging machine removed and each new roles replaced with flat and / or foil material for the respective installation position. For this purpose, the device may in particular with means for providing new rolls for the packaging machine in a defined feed and take over the roles of the defined supply and for inserting the new roles in the respective installation position of the packaging machine and / or for the removal of used rolls from the be fitted in each installation positions of the packaging machine, these means, for example. By handling robot o. The like. can be formed. The at least one mounting position associated with the packaging machine is defined by a rotatable holding mandrel which is adjustable in its axial direction and together with the roller located thereon for rotatably receiving and centering the roll to be unwound in the packaging machine with flat and / or film material. At least one sensor for detecting an axial position of the roller and / or for detecting the spatial positions of at least the respective outer layers of the unwinding flat and / or foil material is at least one sensor for the respective installation position and / or on the mandrel in the respective installation position Assigned role. The output signals of the at least one sensor are provided to a control device, which generates control signals for the axial adjustment of the mandrel to be unwound, if necessary, so that depending on the detected and processed sensor signals of the at least one sensor, the roller with the aid of the adjustable mandrel can be brought into a precisely fitting position to ensure trouble-free packaging operation and allow. The adaptation of the axial position of the mandrel with the roll thereon can optionally during operation during unwinding of the flat and / or sheet material or after insertion of the roller for initial adjustment of the role before removing the wound thereon flat and / or Foil material done.

In the device according to the invention, the at least one sensor can be configured in a manner such that at least respective outer layers and / or a distance between at least one end face of the roll can be sensed by a predetermined sensor position of a new roll inserted into one of the installation positions. Thus, the scanning of the outer layers of the roll can be done on one of the front sides by means of the sensor or by means of several sensors. The at least one sensor may in particular be a distance sensor which can detect the distance from an end face of the roll or from a lateral material web edge of the unwound flat and / or film material and output analog sensor values as a function of the detected distances. In this way, the at least one sensor, depending on requirements and / or depending on its installation situation and its configuration, can detect an alignment of the flat and / or foil material unwound from the roll and / or a deviation from a desired course.

The at least one sensor may, for example, be an optical sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor or another suitable sensor. Optionally, it can also be provided that the at least one sensor is variable and / or adjustable at a distance from the roller which is in each case in the installed position. The sensor may, for example, also be formed by a camera with downstream image evaluation.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention also proposes a method for conveying, providing and / or largely uninterrupted handling and / or replacement of rolls having flat sheets wound thereon and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, packages or similar article compositions / or film material with the features of the independent method claim. Also in the method according to the invention, the feeding, provision and / or handling of the rolls in the interest of a continuous packaging operation can be designed in such a way that the packaging company can continue to run during the replacement of roles largely trouble-free. Optionally, however, the packaging company can be interrupted for a short time. In the method according to the invention, an at least approximately completely unwound and / or used up roll for maintaining a continuous, a quasi-continuous or even a discontinuous packaging operation is taken alternately from at least one installation position of a packaging machine and then each a new role with flat and / or sheet material in the each installation position used. Each new roll is provided to the packaging machine in a defined feed and used in the respective installation position, after there was previously taken a used-up roll. The installation positions are defined in the packaging machine in each case by rotatable receiving mandrels for rotatable receiving and centered holding of the rolls to be unwound in the packaging machine with flat and / or foil material. In addition, the respective rotatable mandrel is immediately after the insertion of a new role in one of the mounting positions and / or during ongoing packaging operation and during unwinding of the new roll for adjusting the axial positioning of the roll on the mandrel and / or adjusting the alignment of the roll unwound flat and / or sheet material adjusted in its respective axial direction.

In the method according to the invention, at least in each case outer layers of a roll newly inserted in one of the installation positions can be detected by sensors. In this case, a scan of at least the outer layers of each new in the Packing machine used role in the area of one of the end faces or both ends by means of sensor or sensors. The unwound from the roll flat and / or sheet material thus passes a sensor position, whereby the alignment of the unwound from the roll flat and / or sheet material and / or a deviation from a desired course can be detected. Thus, it can be provided that a distance between at least one end face of the roller is detected by a predetermined sensor position. Such a distance measurement can be done with a distance sensing sensor. For this purpose, for example, a so-called. Fork sensor can be used, between the legs of the flat and / or sheet material is guided so that it can detect a correct alignment by detecting the depth of immersion of the packaging material in the fork of the fork sensor. The unwound from the roll flat and / or sheet material thus preferably passes a sensor position, wherein the alignment of the unwound from the roll flat and / or sheet material and / or a deviation from a desired course can be detected.

A further option of the method provides that a distance of the at least one sensor is variable and / or adjustable to each located in the installed position role. As a result, the sensor position after a roll change, for example, can also be adapted to different material web widths or different roll widths and / or different roll diameters. In the case of all different measuring variants, it can be provided that the distance between at least one end face of the roller is sensed by a predetermined optical and / or variable sensor position. However, it is also conceivable that the distance between at least one end face of the roller is detected by a predetermined and / or variable sensor position by means of an ultrasonic sensor. Further physical measuring principles are conceivable and useful for the method according to the invention, optionally also a combination of the mentioned and / or further measuring principles. As a sensor can also be advantageously used a camera with downstream image analysis.

Furthermore, the method provides for an optional adjustment of an axial position of the mandrel immediately after the insertion of a new roll in one of the mounting positions. Thus, this adjustment of the axial position of the roller can optionally be done only after insertion, but not during operation, which simplifies the sensory detection and can reduce the control effort during operation. At the cost of an increased computational effort, however, in the process, the axial position of the mandrel during the current Packaging company can be adjusted based on the sensor values, which brings the advantage of a more accurate web guide for the unwound flat and / or sheet material with it.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention enable improved material web guidance with more exact connection conditions after a roll change within a packaging machine. As with film thorns with motorized positioning the film roll edge is usually detected when retracting the film mandrel into the machine by means of a sensor that provides a signal to the machine when detecting the edge of the film, this provides the position of the film roll on the mandrel, so based on the Control panel stored data on the film width, the film roll can be positioned in the middle of the machine, usually only exactly wound rolls and rolls of film with protruding core can be accurately positioned. For helically wound rolls or rolls with a protrusion, this sensor will fail and will not provide usable data to properly position the rolls. However, improperly positioned film rolls are sealed with an offset, resulting in improperly wrapped packages, which in turn may result in limitations on the customer's production equipment being processed and / or increased downtime.

In contrast, the invention provides an improved way to avoid these disadvantages. When passing the film roll, the measured distances are permanently detected by the sensor with downstream data processing. In the signal processing, it is evaluated in which position the minimum distance (relevant foil edge) has been set. In addition, it is advantageous to attach a suitable sensor, such as a fork sensor, which measures the lateral foil course, shortly after the foil mandrel. This ensures a faster and more accurate adjustment of the position of the film roll against the side of the film. The particular advantage of the method described is that even film rolls with supernatant and skew can be positioned exactly in the middle. As a result, not perfectly prepared rolls of film can be processed; In addition, machine downtime can be avoided.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsvariante einer Verpackungsmaschine, die eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung aufweist.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht zweier Einbaupositionen für Rollen innerhalb der Verpackungsmaschine.
• Fig. 3 zeigt in zwei perspektivischen Ansichten einen Handhabungsroboter beim Einsetzen einer neuen Rolle in die Verpackungsmaschine.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht auf einen Teil der Verpackungsmaschine mit zwei parallel angeordneten Rollen mit flächigem Verpackungsmaterial.
• Figur 5 zeigt in insgesamt fünf schematischen Ansichten verschiedene Rollenvarianten, deren unterschiedliche Wicklungsfehler mittels geeigneter Sensorik erkannt werden.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The size ratios of the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for ease of illustration.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a packaging machine having a device according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of two installation positions for roles within the packaging machine.
• Fig. 3 shows in two perspective views a handling robot when inserting a new roll in the packaging machine.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a part of the packaging machine with two parallel rollers with flat packaging material.
• FIG. 5 shows in a total of five schematic views different roles variants whose different winding errors are detected by means of suitable sensors.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the device or method of the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

The schematic perspective view of Fig. 1 shows a variant packaging machine 8, which is equipped with a device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 is used to handle flat packaging material such as shrink film or packaging films, which are wound on large, due to their weight usually not manually manageable rollers 12. The packaging machine 8 and the associated apparatus 10 can be supplied via a handling robot 14 respectively new rollers 12 when the rollers located in the device 10 are unwound and therefore need to be replaced. The handling robot 14 embodied as a stationary arranged multi-axis robot in the exemplary embodiment shown uses the respective new rollers 12 to be supplied to the packaging machine 8 in two different installation positions EB1 and EB2, which in the schematic representation of FIG Fig. 1 can only be seen to some extent and in the detailed view of Fig. 2 exemplified be clarified.

Like a synopsis of FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3 14, individual new rollers 12 are inserted into one of the two installation positions EB1 and EB2 by means of the handling robot 14, while in the further installation position EB2 or EB1 there is still a used or partially used roller 16, of which still during insertion of the each new roll 12 is further unwound thereon a web of material 18, which is processed in the packaging machine 8 as a packaging material. During the further unwinding of the material web 18 from the almost used up roll 16, a connection or welding of an outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 with the material web 18 takes place, whereby the device 10 can run in a continuous operation, without the packaging process for replacing a used-up roll 16 against a new roll 12 would have to be interrupted.

The new rolls 12 are each composed of the wound flat packaging material 18 or the packaging or shrink film and a core 22 on which the packaging material 18 and the shrink film is wound. To receive a new roll 12 from a in Fig. 1 indicated horizontal conveyor 24 dives the handling robot 14 via an end on its movable arm 26 movably arranged holding mandrel 28 frontally into the core 22 of a new roll 12 a. An arm section 30 of the handling robot 14 can for this purpose be rotated about a rotation axis. After immersing the retaining pin 28 in the core 22, the cross-sectional diameter of the retaining pin 28 is increased, so that the new roller 12 is fixed to the retaining pin 28 by clamping. The core 22 is hollow-cylindrical, the shape of the retaining pin 28 corresponding thereto, so that the retaining pin 28 is for clamping fixing the new roller 12 via its outer circumference with an inner circumferential surface of the core 22 in conjunction.

Via the horizontal conveyor 24 or via a pallet delivery not shown here or other suitable Zuführvarianten the handling robot 14 new rolls 12 are provided in an uninterrupted sequence available, so that when removing a new roll 12 of the horizontal conveyor 24, a further new role 12 in the direction of the handling robot 14 is moved further or moves in the direction of the handling robot 14. The horizontal conveyor 24 can be clocked as desired in the desired manner or operated continuously at a constant speed.

In Fig. 1 Furthermore, a manipulator 32 positioned in the region of the horizontal conveyor 24, which is operated by a user 34 and via which new rollers 12 can be placed standing on the horizontal conveyor 24, can be seen. The new rolls 12 can, for example, be delivered standing on a pallet 36, from which they can be received by the user 34 by means of the manipulator 32 that can be controlled by them and placed on the horizontal conveyor 24 by means of a holding mandrel 38 located there. A working area of the manipulator 32 therefore extends over the pallet 36 as well as over a section of the horizontal conveyor 24. However, this shown control and Zufördervariante represents only one example of numerous possible alternatives. Also possible are continuously working Zufördervarianten that require no supportive manual handling as they are based on the Fig. 1 is described. At the in Fig. 1 In the variant of the device 10 shown, it is the task of the user 34 to ensure the correct positioning of the rollers 12 on the horizontal conveyor 24, in particular with regard to their correct direction of rotation in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 (cf. Figures 2 and 3 ).

The Fig. 1 further shows an open-topped container 40, which is located in the working area of the handling robot 14. If the supply of packaging material or shrink film of a roll 12 or 16 placed in the packaging machine 8 is exhausted, the core 22 of an empty roll 16 is removed from the packaging machine 8 by means of the handling robot 14 and consists of cellulose, plastic, wood or cardboard Container 40 filed. Only after removal of the core 22, a new roll 12 can be used in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 of the packaging machine 8, so that the handling robot 14 first removes the core 22 and temporal nachauf following a new roll 12 in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 is used.

Preferably, the horizontal conveyor 24, the handling robot 14 and the packaging machine 8 or the device 10 contained therein are in communication with a control unit not shown here. This can in particular specify the clocked operation of the horizontal conveyor 24 and initiate insertion and removal of rollers 12 and 16 by the handling robot 14 from the two installation positions EB1 and EB2. In addition, it can control unrolling of packaging material or shrink film of the rolls 12 used in the packaging machine 8.

The schematic perspective view of Fig. 2 illustrates the previously mentioned mounting positions EB1 and EB2 for the rollers 12 and 16, which in the packaging machine 8 according to the in Fig. 1 indicated variant are defined. Each of the mounting positions EB1 and EB2 is defined by its own rotatable receiving mandrel 42. Each of these receiving mandrels 42, each associated with a separate drive for a controlled rotation of these mandrels 42, is also movable in the axial direction, in particular by means of motor drives, as shown of the Fig. 3 is explained in more detail. In each of these two horizontally aligned receiving mandrels 42 is in each case by means of the handling robot 14 (see FIG. FIGS. 1 and 3 ) attached a new roller 12 and fixed by clamping the diameter of the receiving mandrels 42 by clamping the roller core 22 on the respective mandrel 42 by clamping. The replacement of the rollers 12 and 16 can optionally be supported and facilitated by axial movements of the receiving mandrels 42.

The Fig. 2 In addition, a welding bar 44 can be seen, which is provided for connecting an outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 inserted into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 with the material web 18 located or remaining in the packaging machine 8 and is vertically lowered for this purpose. After joining the outer layer 20 with the material web 18 remaining in the packaging machine 8, the tempered welding bar 44 is raised vertically until it is needed again for the next welding operation.

In the presentation of the Fig. 2 is located on the mandrel 42 in the first mounting position EB1 a nearly spent roller 16 and is rotated by the mandrel 42 and by the removal of the web 18. In this case, the packaging material or the shrink film of the roll 16 located on the receiving mandrel 42 of the first installation position EB1 is unwound. In the second installation position EB2, a used roll 16 has already been completely unwound and its core 22 removed via the handling robot 14, so that the second installation position EB2 or the receiving mandrel 42 of the second installation position EB2 could already be fitted again with a new roll 12 with packaging material ,

Each of the installation positions EB1 and EB2 can also be assigned a separate sensor system or a camera, not shown here, by means of which at least approximately completely unwound and / or exhausted rollers 16 can be optically detected, so that prepared an exchange for a new roll 12 and initiated can be. So that at least approximately complete unwound and / or used up roller 16 can be removed from their respective installation position EB1 or EB2, a previously established between the respective roller 16 and the mandrel 42 clamping connection is solved. This is typically done by reducing the cross-sectional diameter of the respective mandrel 42, thereby allowing the roll core 22 to be peeled off. The release of the clamping connection or the reduction of the cross-sectional diameter of the mandrels 42 is determined by the aforementioned control unit, as well as the optional axial displacement of the mandrels 42 for better communication with the handling robot 14 and its retaining mandrel 28th

The device 10 can be operated in this way automated. For this purpose, a gripping bar 46 is used, with which the outer layer 20 of the new roller 12 inserted into the second installation position EB2 is gripped and pulled below the welding bar to the left in the direction of the first installation position EB1. The in Fig. 2 schematically shown gripping bar 46 may be part of a in the packaging machine 8 between the mounting positions EB1 and EB2 and the welding bar 44 movable gripping and / or handling device (not shown) and can grip the outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 and position below the welding bar 44 , This gripping bar 46, for example, the outer layer 20 of the roller 12 suck by means of vacuum and grip.

The schematic representations of FIGS. 3A and 3B show a part of the handling robot 14, which forms a gripping and / or handling device for handling the rollers 12 in the device 10. The gripping arm or the arm portion 30 of the handling robot 14 is around an in Fig. 3A horizontally disposed axis 48 pivotally, so that the retaining mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14 can be aligned for immersion in the core 22 of the respective new roll 12 with vertical orientation of its longitudinal axis. If the respective new roll 12 was detected by the handling robot 14 or by means of its retaining mandrel 28, the new roll 12 can be rotated about the axis 48 again by pivoting movement of the gripping arm 30 and into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 assigned to the roll 12 (cf. , Fig. 2 ) are used.

The Fig. 3B illustrates the positioning process of a new roll 12 in one of the intended installation positions EB1 or EB2 in the packaging machine 8. The new roll 12 with packaging material has already been pushed onto the receiving mandrel 42 in the packaging machine 8. Previously, she was the 28th of the holding mandrel Handling robot 14 separated, after which the holding mandrel 28 has been provided with a stamp attachment 50, which was temporarily fixed to the holding mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14 for the purpose of pushing the roller 12 on the mandrel 42 against an axial stop 52. This pushing operation, with which the stamp attachment 50 presses against the end face of the roller 12 until it is pushed against the axial stop 52 and thus into its intended installation position EB1 or EB2, is in Fig. 3B clarified. After reaching the installation position EB1 or EB2, the handling robot 14 can be released again from the roller 12 and fed to new tasks. The lowering of a spent or almost exhausted roll 16 from the mandrel 42 and the acquisition by the retaining mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14 is facilitated, however, by means of the displaceable axial stop 52 and by means of a displaceable mounting of the rotatable mandrel 42, which is not shown here.

Once the new roll 12 has been placed on the mandrel 42, typically by pushing against the axial stop 52, the outer layer 20 may move in accordance with FIG Fig. 2 withdrawn from the roll 12 and the packaging machine 8 are supplied to connect them by means of the welding bar 44 with the material web 18, which is still in the packaging machine 8. An electric drive unit 54 ensures the desired rotation of the receiving mandrel 42 together with the roller 12 located thereon. The drive unit 54 is assigned to a bearing block 56 which forms a bearing for the rotating mandrel 42 mounted on one side there. On its underside, the bearing block 56 is equipped with a slide guide 58, which allows a displacement of the bearing block 56 together with the receiving mandrel 42 and the drive unit 54 mounted there parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiving mandrel 42. By means of the same slide guide 58 and the axial stop 52 is displaced.

The possibility of displacing the bearing block 56 with the aid of the slide guide 58 may be necessary in particular for the exact positioning of the roller 12 with respect to the material web guide in the packaging machine 8. Thus, it is necessary to guide the material webs 18 when joining exactly aligned, which is why a proper positioning of the roller 12 is required. The respective possibilities of positioning the rollers 12 and 16 in their respective axial directions are in the Fig. 4 indicated schematically. Both the roller 16 located in the first installation position EB1, which has already been partially unwound, and the new roller 12 inserted in the second installation position EB2 are each assigned their own position sensor 60, which is used for the exact central positioning of the rollers 12 and 16 and, if necessary . With Help the control device for the axial displacement in the direction of arrow 62 and 64 can provide to the left or to the right. The film welding station with the welding bar 44 located between the two installation positions is in Fig. 4 merely hinted.

In this way, the new film rolls 12 can be positioned centrally in the machine 8, but this is only to be ensured in the desired manner with exactly wound rolls 12 and rolls of film with a protruding core 22. In helically wound rolls 12 or rolls 12 with a protrusion, the commonly used sensors 60 fail and do not provide useful data to properly position the rolls 12. Incorrectly positioned film rolls 12 can in these cases be welded with an offset, which leads to incorrectly wrapped containers, which in turn can lead to limitations in the production means to be processed for the customer and / or to increased service life.

The total of five schematic representations of FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate the operation of one of the respective mounting position EB1 and / or EB2 associated sensor 66, in contrast to the arrangement of the sensors 60 according to Fig. 4 is associated with at least one of the two end faces 68 and there detects a designated scanning zone 70 portion of the respective roller 12 and / or 16, not only after the establishment of a new roll 12, but also during the unwinding of the wound thereon sheet-like packaging material, so that a gradually unwound or almost used-up roller 16 can be detected by the sensor 66 in the region of the scanning zone 70. The sensor 66 which detects the scanning zone 70 on the end face 68 of the roller 12 or 16 can be formed, for example, by an optically operating sensor 66 or an ultrasonic sensor or the like. The sensor 66 provides an analog signal value 72, which depends on the frontal contour of the roller 12 and 16 respectively. Like the Fig. 5A can recognize the sensor 66 provides a stair-step-shaped signal value 72a, which shows a properly cylindrical roller contour with flat cylindrical end face 68 and therefrom outstanding roller core 22 of smaller diameter and subsequent cylindrical mandrel 42 with even smaller diameter.

The signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the end-face roller contour is evaluated in a control circuit 74 and processed to form a control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16. This axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 (see also Fig. 4 ) is usually done by means of a motor Movement of the mandrel 42 together with the stored there roller 12 and 16 bearing brackets 56 by means of the carriage guide 58, as shown in Fig. 3B is illustrated.

In this way, depending on the respectively detected and processed sensor signals 72 of the at least one sensor 66, the roller 12 or 16 can be brought into an exactly fitting position with the aid of the adjustable mandrel 42 in order to ensure a trouble-free packaging operation. The adjustment of the axial position of the mandrel 42 by means of the adjustable along the carriage guide 58 bearing block 56 may preferably during operation during unwinding of the flat and / or sheet material 18 or optionally only after the insertion of a new roll 12 for the first adjustment of the roller 12th take place before removing the wound on it flat and / or sheet material 18.

If the axial position correction 64 of the roller 12 or 16, however, constantly during operation, ie during unwinding of the flat and / or sheet material 18 in the packaging machine 8, so may also different deviations of the winding state newly inserted rollers 12 from the ideal state Fig. 5A be processed without causing disturbances or lateral deviations of the web course within the packaging machine 8. Such different deviations of the winding state newly supplied rollers 12 from the ideal state of the externally to the core 22 cylindrically wound rollers 12 with corresponding flat cylindrical end face 68 can be found in the following representations of FIGS. 5B to 5E described.

In the variant according to Fig. 5B the sensor 66 in turn provides an analog signal value 72, which depends on the frontal contour of the roller 12 and 16 respectively. Like the Fig. 5B The sensor 66 provides a not ideal stair-step shaped signal value 72b, but shows a ramped portion, not a properly cylindrical roller contour, but a unilaterally skewed roller 12 with a conical face 68 and resulting therefrom roller core 22 of smaller diameter and subsequent thereto cylindrical Recording mandrel 42 shows even smaller diameter. Again, the signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the conical end-face roller contour is evaluated in the control circuit 74 and processed to form the control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16. This axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 (see also Fig. 4 ) is carried out by means of a motorized movement of the mandrel 42 together with the roller 12 and 16 bearing there bearing bearing 56 with the help of Slide guide 58 ( Fig. 3B ). In this way, depending on the respective detected and processed sensor signals 72 of the sensor 66, the roller 12 or 16 can be brought by means of the adjustable mandrel 42 at any time in an exact matching position to ensure trouble-free packaging operation.

In the variant according to Fig. 5C In turn, the sensor 66 supplies an analog signal value 72, which maps the end-face contour of the roller 12 or 16. Like the Fig. 5C Again, the sensor 66 does not provide an ideal step-shaped signal value 72c, but shows a briefly rising section again, although signaling a properly cylindrical roller contour, but the core 22 has an unusual projection 78, the positioning 64 of the roller 12 for a ideal web course disturbing, if he did not recognize and the in Fig. 5C could be assigned to the indicated phenomenon. Again, the signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the detected roller contour is evaluated in the control circuit 74 and processed to form the control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16. This axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 (see. Fig. 4 ) takes place by means of a motorized movement of the bearing mandrel 42 together with the roller 12 or 16 bearing there bearing bearing 56 by means of the carriage guide 58 (FIGS. Fig. 3B ). In this way, depending on the respective detected and processed sensor signals 72 of the sensor 66, the roller 12 or 16 can be brought by means of the adjustable mandrel 42 at any time in an exact matching position to ensure trouble-free packaging operation.

Also at the in Fig. 5D shown variant of the signal value recovery, the sensor 66 in turn provides an analog signal value 72, which images the frontal contour of the roller 12 and 16 respectively. Like the Fig. 5D can recognize the sensor 66 also here does not provide an ideal staircase-shaped signal value 72 d, but shows an initially flat profile, which then drops sharply, indicating the diameter of the mandrel 42. Thus, the signal value 72d does not provide a representation of a regular cylindrical roller contour, because the outer material webs 20 have a pronounced projection 80, which initially requires a strong displacement of the roller 12 for an ideal material web course, which are corrected again in the further course of the development of the material web 18 got to. Again, the signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the detected roller contour is evaluated in the control circuit 74 and processed to form the control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16. The axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 takes place in the manner already described (see. Fig. 4 ).

At the in Fig. 5E shown variant of the signal value recovery, the sensor 66 finally provides another analog signal value 72, which images the frontal contour of the roller 12 and 16 respectively. Like the Fig. 5E The sensor 66 does not provide an ideal step-step-shaped signal value 72e here, but instead shows a first flat profile, which then drops significantly in order to fall off again after a further step. Thus, the signal value 72e does not provide a representation of a regular cylindrical roller contour, because one or more material web layers 18 in the central region of the roller end face 68 have a pronounced projection 82 which approximately after the unwinding of the half roller 12 a strong displacement of the roller 12 for an ideal Material web course requires that must be corrected in the course of the development of the web 18 again. Again, the signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the detected roller contour is evaluated in the control circuit 74 and processed to form the control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16. The axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 takes place in the manner already described (see. Fig. 4 ).

In addition to the winding errors shown combinations of several of these deviations from a standard wound coil 12 are conceivable, however, by means of the sensors shown - optionally formed by a sensor 66 or more sensors 66 - detected and with the help of the downstream control 74 by moving the roller 12 in axial direction (arrow 64) can be balanced if necessary. In this way, film rolls with overhang and / or inclined windings different cone angle can be positioned exactly in the middle. As a result, not perfectly prepared rolls of film can be processed; In addition, machine downtime can be avoided.

As mentioned, the at least one sensor 66 may, for example, be an optical sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor or another suitable sensor. Optionally, it may also be provided that the at least one sensor 66 is variable and / or adjustable at a distance from the roller 12 respectively located in the installed position or at its end face 68. The sensor 66 may, for example, also be formed by a camera with downstream image evaluation.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

8th

Packaging machine, machine

10

contraption

12

Role, new role

14

handling robots

16

Roll, used roll, partially wound roll, partially used roll, empty roll

18

Material web, packaging material, flat material, film material

20

outer layer, outer material web

22

Core, roll core

24

Horizontal conveyor

26

Cantilever arm, swivel arm

28

holding mandrel

30

Arm section, gripper arm

32

manipulator

34

User, operator

36

palette

38

holding mandrel

40

Container

42

Thorn, mandrel, retaining pin

44

Welding bar, foil welding station

46

cross bar

48

Rotary axis, swivel axis, horizontally oriented axis

50

stamp unit

52

axial stop

54

Drive unit, electric drive unit

56

bearing block

58

carriage guide

60

position sensor

62

axial displacement (of the roller), axial position correction

64

axial displacement (of the roller), axial position correction, axial adjustment, axial position

66

sensor

68

Front side (of the roll)

70

scanning

72

Signal value, sensor value, analog signal value, output signal, sensor signal

72a

first signal value

72b

second signal value

72c

third signal value

72d

fourth signal value

72e

fifth signal value

74

Control circuit, evaluation circuit, control device

76

control signal

78

Supernatant, nuclear supernatant

80

Overhang (the outer material web, several outer material webs)

82

Supernatant (one middle material web, several middle material webs)

EB1

first installation position (for a roll)

EB2

second installation position (for a roll)

Claims (14)

Device (10) for conveying, providing and / or handling and / or exchanging rolls (12, 16) with flat and / or sheet material (18) wound thereon and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, containers or similar article compositions. , wherein at least approximately completely unwound and / or used up rollers (16) for maintaining a packaging operation alternately from at least one installation position (EB1, EB2) of a packaging machine (8) and removable by a respective new roll (12) with flat and / or sheet material (18) for the respective installation position (EB1, EB2) are replaceable, wherein the at least one mounting position (EB1, EB2) in the packaging machine (8) by an adjustable in its axial direction rotatable receiving mandrel (42) for rotatably receiving and centered mounting of in the packaging machine (8) to be unwound roll (12, 16) with flat and / or sheet material (18) is defined, and wherein the respective installation position (EB1, EB2) and / or on the mandrel (42) in the respective installation position (EB1, EB2) located roller (12, 16) with unwinding flat and / or sheet material (18) at least one sensor (60, 66) for detecting an axial position of the roller (12, 16) and / or for detecting the spatial positions of at least the respective outer layers (20) of the unwound roll (12, 16) is assigned output signals (72) of the at least one sensor (60, 66) of a control device (74) for generating control signals (76) for the axial displacement (64) of the receiving mandrel (42) equipped with a roll (12, 16) to be unwound in dependence on detected and processed sensor signals (72) of the at least one sensor (60, 66) are provided. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (60, 66) at least respective outer layers (20) and / or a distance between at least one end face (68) of the roller (12, 16) from a predetermined sensor position of a newly into a the inserted positions (EB1, EB2) inserted role (12, 16) detected by sensors. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the at least one sensor (60, 66) detects an alignment of the flat and / or foil material (18) unwound from the roll (12, 16) and / or a deviation from a desired course. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one sensor (60, 66) is an optical sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one sensor (60, 66) at a distance to each in the installed position (EB1, EB2) located roller (12, 16) and / or the end face (68) variable and / or or is adjustable. Method for conveying, providing and / or handling and / or replacement of rolls (12, 16) with flat and / or sheet material (18) wound thereon and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, containers or similar article compositions, in which an at least approximately completely unwound and / or used-up roll (16) for maintaining a packaging operation alternately taken from at least one installation position (EB1, EB2) of a packaging machine (8) and then each a new roll (12) with flat and / or sheet material ( 18) is inserted into the respective installation position (EB1, EB2), wherein new rolls (12) of the packaging machine (8) are provided in a defined feed and inserted into the respective installation position (EB1, EB2), after there has previously been a spent roll (16 ), wherein the mounting positions (EB1, EB2) in the packaging machine (8) in each case by rotatable Receiving mandrels (42) for rotatably receiving and centering the rolls (12, 16) to be unwound in the packaging machine (8) are defined with flat and / or sheet material (18), and wherein the respective rotatable receiving mandrel (42) immediately after insertion a new roll (12) in one of the installation positions (EB1 or EB2) and / or during the current packaging operation and during the unwinding of the new roll (12) for adjusting the axial positioning of the roll (12) on the mandrel (42) and / or is adjusted in its respective axial direction for adjusting the alignment of the flat and / or sheet material (18) unwound from the roll (12). Method according to Claim 6, in which at least outer layers (20) of a roller (12) newly inserted in one of the installation positions (EB1, EB2) are detected by sensors. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein an axial position (64) of the mandrel (42) is adapted immediately after the insertion of a new roll (12) in one of the mounting positions (EB1, EB2). Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a distance between at least one end face (68) of the roller (12, 16) is detected by a predetermined sensor position. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the unwound from the roll (12, 16) flat and / or sheet material (18) passes a sensor position, wherein the alignment of the unwinding of the roll (12, 16) flat and / or film material (18) and / or a deviation from a desired course is detected. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a distance of the at least one sensor (60, 66) to each in the installation position (EB1, EB2) located roller (12, 16) and / or the end face (68) variable and / or adjustable is. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein an axial position of the mandrel (42) during the current packaging operation is adjusted based on the sensor values (72). Method according to one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the distance between at least one end face (68) of the roller (12, 16) is detected by a sensor by optical means from a predetermined and / or variable sensor position. Method according to one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the distance between at least one end face (68) of the roller (12, 16) is detected by a predetermined and / or variable sensor position by means of an ultrasonic sensor.

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