EP3181500B2 - Device and method for supplying, providing and exchange of rolls with packaging material in a packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for conveying, providing, handling and/or exchanging rolls with film material wound thereon and serving as packaging material for packaging piece goods, bundles or similar item combinations within a packaging machine, having the features of independent claim 1. The invention relates also a corresponding method for handling and/or exchanging such rolls with the features of the independent method claim 6.

When items are grouped and combined into bundles, for example beverage containers or the like, these are often held together in practice by shrink film in order to prevent them from slipping or becoming detached from the combination during further handling or transport. Such bundles, which can include, for example, four, six or more containers or bottles made of PET plastic, serve in particular as easily manageable sales units for end users. In order to achieve a high throughput during packaging and/or subsequent palletizing, it is desirable to assemble such bundles as quickly as possible without interrupting individual process steps.

In order to provide the flat packaging material used as outer packaging or the shrink film for the partial or complete wrapping of containers, devices and methods are known which unwind the material from a roll or from several rolls, transport it within a packaging machine and thus the individual containers or wrap the respective articles, which are to form the respective container, with the packaging material. The packaging material is usually unwound from the roll by machine and in an almost continuous process. Devices are known in which the packaging material is pulled off the rotating roller via rollers. If a roll has been unwound and the supply of packaging material for the roll is exhausted, the respective roll must be exchanged or replaced with a new roll. When the rolls are exchanged, the flat material webs are normally joined together, for example by means of a gluing and/or welding process.

A method and a device by means of which new rolls can be delivered and used rolls can be changed within a packaging machine, for example DE 40 40 545 A1 or. DE 20 2014 102 816 U1 known. This known device has a plurality of supply rolls of strip material which are arranged next to one another. The core of each roll is placed on a common pivot. A beginning of the strip material is previously engaged with a roller which pulls the strip material from the respective roll and guides it in a downward direction away from the device.

Devices for the automatic feeding of material wound up on rolls and for exchanging used rolls in processing or packaging machines are also known in different variants, for example 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 consumables or packaging material are also from the EP 1 273 541 B1 as well as from the DE 10 2006 017 379 A1 known.

The known handling methods and devices generally require precise positioning and feeding of new bobbins or rolls with packaging material wound on them. In addition, it is necessary for smooth packaging operation that the material webs are largely aligned with one another when they are joined and are transported in the packaging machine without any lateral offset, since otherwise there is a risk of inadequate packaging quality due to uneven film overhang.

If such an exact positioning cannot be guaranteed, the smooth further transport of flat packaging material is endangered after replacing used rolls with new ones, which means that the functionality and the processing quality of the packaging machine cannot be guaranteed to the desired extent.

These problems also occur frequently with incorrectly wound rolls and with film rolls inserted into the packaging machine with protruding or offset wound sections, since the sensors used to date for determining the axial position of the rolls after they have been inserted cannot usually detect such quality defects in the rolls supplied .

For this reason, one aim of the present invention is to provide a device and a method with a high degree of automation for handling film material wound onto rolls, by means of which film material can be made available largely without interruption. The device and the method should not only enable or support fast and precise roll feeding to the packaging machine, but also allow exact positioning of the rolls at any point in time during the conveyance of the material web, in order to convey the material webs conveyed into the packaging machine in the desired alignment and with the required packaging quality to be able to guarantee.

These objects of the invention are achieved with the subject matter of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

In order to achieve the stated objective, the invention proposes a device for feeding, providing and/or handling and/or exchanging rolls with film material wound thereon and serving as packaging material for packaging piece goods, bundles or similar item combinations, with the features of independent claim 1 before. In the interest of an uninterrupted packaging operation, the conveyance, provision and/or handling of the rolls can be designed in such a way that the packaging operation can continue to run largely trouble-free while the rolls are being exchanged. Optionally, however, the packaging operation can also be interrupted for a short time. In the device according to the invention, at least approximately completely unwound and/or used up rolls are removed alternately from at least one installation position or, depending on the machine equipment, from two or more different installation positions of a packaging machine and replaced with new rolls in order to maintain continuous, quasi-continuous or discontinuous packaging operation replaced with foil material for the respective installation position. For this purpose, the device can be equipped in particular with devices for providing new rolls for the packaging machine in a defined feed and for taking over the rolls from the defined feed and for inserting the new rolls in the respective installation position of the packaging machine and/or for removing used rolls from the respective installation positions of the packaging machine, these devices being formed by handling robots. The at least one installation position assigned to the packaging machine is defined by a receiving mandrel that can be adjusted in its axial direction and rotated together with the roll on it for rotatably receiving and centered holding of the roll of film material to be unwound in the packaging machine. At least one sensor for detecting an axial position of the roll and/or for detecting the spatial positions of at least the respective outer layers of the roll to be unwound is assigned to the respective installation position and/or to the roll of film material to be unwound located on the receiving mandrel in the respective installation position. The output signals of the at least one sensor are made available to a control device which, if necessary, generates control signals for the axial adjustment of the holding mandrel equipped with a roll to be unwound, so that, depending on the detected and processed sensor signals of the at least one sensor, the roll can be moved using the adjustable holding mandrel can be brought into an exactly fitting position in order to ensure and enable a trouble-free packaging operation. The axial position of the mandrel with the roll on it can be adjusted either during operation while the film material is being unwound or after the roll has been inserted for the first adjustment of the roll before the film material wound on it is pulled off.

In the device according to the invention, the at least one sensor can be configured in such a way that at least the outer layers and/or a distance between at least one end face of the roll can be detected by sensors from a predetermined sensor position of a roll newly inserted into one of the installation positions. Thus, the outer layers of the roll can be scanned on one of the end faces by means of the sensor or also by means of a plurality of sensors. The at least one sensor can in particular be a distance sensor that detects the distance from a front side of the roll or from a lateral material web edge of the unwound film material and can output analog sensor values depending on the detected distances. In this way, the at least one sensor can detect an alignment of the film material unwound from the roll and/or a deviation from a target course, depending on the need and/or depending on its installation situation and its configuration.

The at least one sensor can be, for example, 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 that is in the installed position. The sensor can also be formed, for example, by a camera with downstream image evaluation.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned goal, the present invention also proposes a method for conveying, providing and/or for largely uninterrupted handling and/or for exchanging rolls with film material wound thereon and serving as packaging material for packaging piece goods, bundles or similar item combinations with the Features of the independent method claim before. In the method according to the invention, too, the feeding, provision and/or handling of the rolls can be designed in the interests of uninterrupted packaging operation in such a way that the packaging operation can continue to run largely trouble-free while the rolls are being exchanged. Optionally, however, the packaging operation can also be interrupted for a short time. In the method according to the invention, an at least approximately completely unwound and/or used up roll is used to maintain a continuous, a quasi-continuous or also of a discontinuous packaging operation, taken alternately from at least one installation position of a packaging machine and then inserting a new roll of foil material into the respective installation position. Each new roll is provided to the packaging machine in a defined feed and inserted into the respective installation position after a used roll has been removed from there. The installation positions are each defined in the packaging machine by rotatable receiving mandrels for the rotatable receiving and centered holding of the rolls of film material to be unwound in the packaging machine. In addition, the respective rotatable receiving mandrel is used immediately after a new roll has been inserted into one of the installation positions and/or during the ongoing packaging operation and while the new roll is being unwound to adjust the axial positioning of the roll on the receiving mandrel and/or to adjust the alignment of the film material unwound from the roll is adjusted in its respective axial direction.

In the method according to the invention, at least the respective outer layers of a roll newly inserted into one of the installation positions can be detected by sensors. In this case, at least the outer layers of the roll newly inserted into the packaging machine are scanned in the region of one of the end faces or both end faces by means of a sensor or sensors. The film material unwound from the roll thus passes a sensor position, as a result of which the alignment of the film material unwound from the roll and/or a deviation from a desired course can be detected. Provision can thus be made for a distance between at least one end face of the roll to be detected by a predetermined sensor position. Such a distance measurement can take place with a sensor that detects the distance. For this purpose, for example, a so-called fork sensor can be used, between the legs of which the film material is guided, so that it can detect correct alignment by detecting the immersion depth of the packaging material in the fork of the fork sensor. The film material unwound from the roll thus preferably passes a sensor position, whereby the alignment of the film material unwound from the roll and/or a deviation from a desired course can be detected.

A further option of the method provides that a distance between the at least one sensor and the roller in the installation position is variable and/or adjustable. As a result, the sensor position can also be adapted to different material web widths or different roll widths and/or different roll diameters after a roll change, for example. In all of the different measurement variants, it can be provided that the distance between at least one end face of the roll is optically detected by sensors from a predetermined and/or variable sensor position. However, it is also conceivable that the distance between at least one end face of the roll is detected by a predetermined and/or variable sensor position by means of an ultrasonic sensor. Other physical measurement principles are conceivable and useful for the method according to the invention, possibly also a combination of the above and/or other measurement principles. A camera with downstream image evaluation can also advantageously be used as a sensor.

Furthermore, the method provides for an optional adjustment of an axial position of the receiving mandrel immediately after inserting a new roll in one of the installation positions. This adjustment of the axial position of the roller can optionally only take place after insertion, but not during operation, which simplifies sensory detection and can reduce the control effort during operation. With the method, however, the axial position of the receiving mandrel can also be adjusted during the ongoing packaging operation on the basis of the sensor values, at the expense of increased computing effort, which has the advantage of more precise web guidance for the unwound film material.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention enable improved material web guidance with more precise connection conditions after a roll change within a packaging machine. Because the foil mandrels with motorized positioning usually detect the foil roll edge when the foil mandrel enters the machine by means of a sensor, which, when the foil edge is detected, sends a signal to the machine, which supplies the position of the foil roll on the mandrel, so that based on the im The film roll can be positioned in the middle of the machine based on the film width data stored on the control panel, normally only precisely wound rolls and film rolls with a protruding core can be positioned exactly. In the case of rolls wound at an angle or rolls with an overhang, this sensor fails and does not provide usable data to position the rolls correctly. However, film rolls that are not correctly positioned are welded with an offset, which leads to incorrectly wrapped containers, which in turn can lead to restrictions in the means of production to be processed for the customer and/or to increased downtimes.

In contrast, the invention provides an improved way of avoiding these disadvantages. When the film roll passes, the measured distances are permanently recorded by the sensors with downstream data processing. The signal processing evaluates the position in which the minimum distance (relevant foil edge) has occurred. It is also advantageous to have a suitable sensor such as a fork sensor, which measures the lateral film run, to be attached shortly after the film mandrel. In this way, a faster and more precise adjustment of the position of the film roll against the film running laterally can be guaranteed. The particular advantage of the method described is that film rolls with overhang and skew winding can also be positioned exactly in the middle. This means that film rolls that are not perfectly prepared can also be processed; in addition, machine downtimes 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, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are shown in simplified form and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment variant of a packaging machine having a device according to the invention.
• 2 shows a schematic perspective view of two installation positions for rolls inside the packaging machine.
• 3 shows in two perspective views a handling robot when inserting a new role in the packaging machine.
• 4 shows a schematic top view of part of the packaging machine with two parallel rolls of flat packaging material.
• figure 5 shows different roll variants in a total of five schematic views, the different winding errors of which are detected by means of suitable sensors.

Identical reference symbols are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments only represent examples of how the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be designed and do not represent any final limitation.

The schematic perspective view of the 1 shows a variant embodiment of the packaging machine 8, which is equipped with a device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 is used for handling flat packaging material such as shrink film or packaging foils, which are wound up on large rolls 12 which, because of their weight, cannot usually be handled manually. New rolls 12 can be supplied to the packaging machine 8 and the device 10 assigned to it via a handling robot 14 when the rolls in the device 10 have been unwound and therefore have to be replaced. The handling robot 14, designed as a stationary multi-axis robot, sets the new rolls 12 to be fed to the packaging machine 8 in two different installation positions EB1 and EB2, which are shown in the schematic representation of FIG 1 are only partially recognizable and in the detailed view of the 2 be illustrated by way of example.

Like a synopsis of figures 1 , 2 and 3 can be seen, individual new rolls 12 are inserted into one of the two installation positions EB1 or EB2 by means of the handling robot 14, while there is still a used or partially used roll 16 in the other installation position EB2 or EB1, from which still during the insertion of the each new roll 12 is further unwound a material web 18 located thereon, which is processed in the packaging machine 8 as packaging material. During the further unwinding of the material web 18 from the almost used up roll 16, an outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 is connected or welded to the material web 18, as a result of which the device 10 can run in continuous operation without the packaging process for replacing a used up role 16 would have to be interrupted for a new role 12.

The new rolls 12 are each composed of the rolled-up flat packaging material 18 or the packaging or shrink film and a core 22 on which the packaging material 18 or the shrink film is wound. To receive a new roll 12 from an in 1 In the indicated horizontal conveying device 24, the handling robot 14 dips into the core 22 of a new roll 12 via a holding mandrel 28 which is movably arranged at the end on its movable cantilever arm 26. For this purpose, an arm section 30 of the handling robot 14 can be moved in a rotating manner about an axis of rotation. After the holding mandrel 28 has entered the core 22, the cross-sectional diameter of the holding mandrel 28 is increased, so that the new roll 12 is clamped to the holding mandrel 28. The core 22 is designed as a hollow cylinder, the shape of the holding mandrel 28 corresponding thereto, so that the holding mandrel 28 is connected via its outer circumference to an inner lateral surface of the core 22 for the clamping fixation of the new roll 12 .

About the horizontal conveyor 24 or a pallet delivery, not shown here, or other suitable supply variants can the handling robot 14 new roles 12 in uninterrupted Consequence are made available, so that when a new role 12 is removed from the horizontal conveyor 24, another new role 12 is moved further in the direction of the handling robot 14 or in the direction of the handling robot 14 moves up. Depending on requirements, the horizontal conveyor device 24 can be clocked in a desired manner or operated continuously at a constant speed.

In 1 A manipulator 32 positioned in the area of the horizontal conveyor device 24 can also be seen, which is operated by a user 34 and via which new rolls 12 can be placed standing on the horizontal conveyor device 24 . The new rolls 12 can, for example, be delivered standing on a pallet 36, from which the user 34 can take them by means of the manipulator 32, whose movements can be controlled by him, and can place them on the horizontal conveyor device 24 by means of a holding mandrel 38 located there. A working area of the manipulator 32 therefore extends over the pallet 36 and over a section of the horizontal conveyor 24. However, the control and conveying variant shown represents only one example of numerous conceivable alternatives. Continuously operating conveying variants that do not require any supporting manual handling are also possible , how to use the 1 is described. At the in 1 In the variant of the device 10 shown, it remains the task of the user 34 to ensure that the rollers 12 are correctly positioned on the horizontal conveyor device 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 1 FIG. 12 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 on a roll 12 or 16 placed in the packaging machine 8 is exhausted, the handling robot 14 is used to remove the core 22, which is made of cellulose, plastic, wood or cardboard, from an empty roll 16 from the packaging machine 8 and places it in the Container 40 discarded. Only after the core 22 has been removed can a new roll 12 be inserted into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 of the packaging machine 8, so that the handling robot 14 first removes the core 22 and subsequently places a new roll 12 in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 starts.

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

The schematic perspective view of the 2 clarifies the above-mentioned installation positions EB1 and EB2 for the rollers 12 and 16, which are installed in the packaging machine 8 according to FIG 1 indicated variant are defined. Each of the installation positions EB1 and EB2 is defined by its own rotatable receiving mandrel 42. Each of these receiving mandrels 42, each of which is assigned a separate drive for a controlled rotation of these mandrels 42, can also be moved in the axial direction, in particular by means of motor drives, as is shown below the 3 is explained in more detail. On each of these two horizontally aligned receiving mandrels 42, the handling robot 14 (cf. figures 1 and 3 ) a new roll 12 is put on and fixed by clamping the roll core 22 on the respective mounting mandrel 42 by increasing the diameter of the mounting mandrels 42 . The replacement of the rollers 12 or 16 can optionally be supported and facilitated by axial movements of the receiving mandrels 42.

The 2 also shows a welding bar 44 which is provided for connecting an outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 inserted in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 to the material web 18 located or remaining in the packaging machine 8 and is lowered vertically for this purpose. After connecting the outer layer 20 to the material web 18 remaining in the packaging machine 8, the temperature-controlled sealing bar 44 is raised vertically until it is required again for the next sealing process.

In the representation of 2 an almost used-up roll 16 is located on the receiving mandrel 42 in the first installation position EB1 and is moved in a rotating manner by the mandrel 42 or by the removal of the material web 18 . Here, 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 has been removed by the handling robot 14, so that the second installation position EB2 or the receiving mandrel 42 of the second installation position EB2 can already be loaded with a new roll 12 of packaging material .

Each of the installation positions EB1 and EB2 can also be assigned its own sensor system or camera (not shown here), by means of which at least approximately completely unwound and/or used up rolls 16 can be optically detected, so that an exchange for a new roll 12 is prepared and initiated can be. So that the at least approximately completely unwound and/or used up roll 16 can be removed from its respective installation position EB1 or EB2, a roll 16 and the clamping mandrel 42 produced dissolved. This is typically done by reducing the cross-sectional diameter of the respective receiving mandrel 42, as a result of which the roll core 22 can be pulled off. The release of the clamping connection or the reduction of the cross-sectional diameter of the receiving mandrels 42 is specified by the control unit already mentioned, as well as the optional axial displacement of the mandrels 42 for better communication with the handling robot 14 and its holding mandrel 28.

The device 10 can be operated automatically in this way. A gripper bar 46 is used for this purpose, with which the outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 inserted in the second installation position EB2 is grasped and pulled to the left below the sealing bar in the direction of the first installation position EB1. the inside 2 The gripping bar 46 shown schematically can be part of a gripping and/or handling device (not shown) that can be moved in the packaging machine 8 between the installation positions EB1 and EB2 and the sealing bar 44 and can grip the outer layer 20 of the new roll 12 and position it below the sealing bar 44 . This gripping rod 46 can suck in and grip the outer layer 20 of the roll 12, for example by means of a vacuum.

The schematic representations of Figures 3A and 3B 12 show part of the handling robot 14, which forms a gripping and/or handling device for handling the rolls 12 in the device 10. The gripping arm or arm section 30 of the handling robot 14 is rotated by an in Figure 3A horizontally lying axis 48 pivotable, so that the holding mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14 can be aligned for immersion in the core 22 of the respective new roll 12 with a vertical orientation of its longitudinal axis. If the respective new roll 12 has been gripped by the handling robot 14 or by means of its holding mandrel 28, the new roll 12 can be rotated about the axis 48 by a renewed pivoting movement of the gripping arm 30 and placed in the installation position EB1 or EB2 assigned to the roll 12 (cf . 2 ) are used.

The Figure 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. Beforehand, it was separated from the holding mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14, after which the holding mandrel 28 was provided with a stamp attachment 50, which was temporarily fixed to the holding mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14 against an axial stop 52 for the purpose of pushing the roll 12 onto the receiving mandrel 42. This pushing process, 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 Figure 3B clarified. After the installation position EB1 or EB2 has been reached, the handling robot 14 can be detached from the roller 12 again and given new tasks. The sliding of a used or almost used up roll 16 from the receiving mandrel 42 and taking it over by the holding mandrel 28 of the handling robot 14 is made easier by means of the displaceable axial stop 52 and by means of a displaceable mounting of the rotatable receiving mandrel 42, which is not shown here in detail.

Once the new roll 12 is placed on the arbor 42, typically by sliding against the axial stop 52, the outer ply 20 can be rotated according to FIG 2 are drawn off the roll 12 and fed to the packaging machine 8 in order to connect them to the material web 18 by means of the sealing bar 44, 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 roll 12 located thereon. The drive unit 54 is associated with a bearing block 56 which forms a bearing for the rotating receiving mandrel 42 mounted there on one side. On its underside, the bearing block 56 is equipped with a carriage guide 58 which enables the bearing block 56 together with the arbor 42 mounted there and the drive unit 54 to be displaced parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arbor 42 . The axial stop 52 can also be displaced by means of the same carriage guide 58 .

The ability to move the bearing block 56 with the aid of the carriage guide 58 can be necessary in particular for the exact positioning of the roll 12 in relation to the material web guide in the packaging machine 8 . It is therefore necessary to guide the webs of material 18 exactly in alignment when they are joined together, which is why a suitable positioning of the roll 12 is required. The respective possibilities for positioning the rollers 12 and 16 in their respective axial directions are in FIG 4 indicated schematically. Both the roll 16 located in the first installation position EB1, which has already been partially unwound, and the new roll 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 rolls 12 and 16 and, if necessary, with the help of the control device for the axial displacement in the direction of arrow 62 or 64 to the left or to the right. The film sealing station with the sealing bar 44 located between the two installation positions is in 4 only hinted at.

In this way, the new film rolls 12 can be positioned centrally in the machine 8, although this can only be guaranteed in the desired manner in the case of precisely wound rolls 12 and film rolls with a protruding core 22. In the case of rolls 12 wound at an angle or rolls 12 with an overhang, the commonly used sensors 60 fail and do not provide any usable data to position the rollers 12 correctly. In these cases, foil rolls 12 that are not positioned correctly can be welded with an offset, which leads to bundles that are not correctly wrapped, which in turn can lead to restrictions in the means of production to be processed for the customer and/or to increased downtimes.

The total of five schematic representations of the Figures 5A to 5E illustrate the mode of operation of a sensor 66 assigned to the respective installation position EB1 and/or EB2, which, in contrast to the arrangement of the sensors 60 according to FIG 4 is assigned to at least one of the two end faces 68 and detects there an area of the respective roll 12 and/or 16 referred to as scanning zone 70, not only after a new roll 12 has been set up, but also during the unwinding of the flat packaging material wound onto it, see above that even a gradually unwound or almost used up roll 16 can be detected by the sensor 66 in the scanning zone 70 . The sensor 66 detecting the scanning zone 70 on the end face 68 of the roll 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 or 16. Like it the Figure 5A can be seen, the sensor 66 supplies a stair-step-shaped signal value 72a, which shows a properly cylindrical roll contour with a flat-cylindrical end face 68 and a roll core 22 with a smaller diameter protruding therefrom, as well as an adjoining cylindrical receiving mandrel 42 with an even smaller diameter.

The signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the roll contour at the end is evaluated in a control circuit 74 and processed to form a control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roll 12 or 16 . This axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 (cf. also 4 ) is normally carried out by means of a motorized movement of the bearing block 56 carrying the receiving mandrel 42 together with the roller 12 or 16 mounted there, with the aid of the carriage guide 58, as is shown in Figure 3B is illustrated.

In this way, depending on the respectively recorded and processed sensor signals 72 of the at least one sensor 66, the roll 12 or 16 can be brought into an exactly fitting position with the aid of the adjustable receiving mandrel 42 in order to ensure trouble-free packaging operation. The adjustment of the axial position of the receiving mandrel 42 with the help of the bearing block 56, which can be adjusted along the carriage guide 58, can preferably be carried out during ongoing operation while the film material 18 is being unwound, or optionally only after the insertion of a new roll 12 for the first adjustment of the roll 12 before the roll 12 is pulled off coiled foil material 18 take place.

If, however, the axial position correction 64 of the roll 12 or 16 is constantly carried out during operation, ie during the unwinding of the film material 18 in the packaging machine 8, then different deviations in the winding state of newly used rolls 12 from the ideal state can also occur Figure 5A be processed without causing disruptions or lateral deviations in the course of the material web within the packaging machine 8 . Such different deviations in the winding state of newly delivered rolls 12 from the ideal state of the rolls 12 wound cylindrically from the outside to the core 22 with a correspondingly flat-cylindrical end face 68 can be found in the following illustrations of FIG Figures 5B through 5E described.

In the variant according to Figure 5B the sensor 66 in turn supplies an analog signal value 72 which depends on the front-side contour of the roller 12 or 16. Like it the Figure 5B can be seen, the sensor 66 delivers a signal value 72b that is not ideally in the form of a stair step, but instead shows a ramp-shaped section, which does not have a properly cylindrical roll contour, but rather a roll 12 wound at an angle on one side with a conical end face 68 and a roll core 22 of smaller diameter protruding from it and a cylindrical core connected to it Mandrel 42 shows with an even smaller diameter. Again, the signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the conical roller contour at the end 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 (cf. also 4 ) takes place by means of a motorized movement of the bearing block 56 carrying the receiving mandrel 42 together with the roller 12 or 16 mounted there, with the aid of the carriage guide 58 ( Figure 3B ). In this way, depending on the respectively recorded and processed sensor signals 72 of the sensor 66, the roll 12 or 16 can be brought into an exactly fitting position at any time with the aid of the adjustable receiving mandrel 42 in order to ensure trouble-free packaging operation.

In the variant according to Figure 5C the sensor 66 in turn supplies an analog signal value 72 which depicts the front-side contour of the roller 12 or 16. Like it the Figure 5C can be seen, the sensor 66 again does not provide an ideal stair-step-shaped signal value 72c, but instead shows a section that rises again briefly, which signals a properly cylindrical roll contour, but the core 22 has an unusual overhang 78 that prevents the positioning 64 of the roll 12 for a could interfere with the ideal course of the material web if it is not recognized and the in Figure 5C indicated phenomenon could be assigned. Again, the signal value 72 generated by the sensor 66 from the detected roller contour is evaluated in the control circuit 74 and used to form the control signal 76 for the axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 processed. This axial displacement 64 of the roller 12 or 16 (cf. 4 ) takes place by means of a motorized movement of the bearing block 56 carrying the receiving mandrel 42 together with the roller 12 or 16 mounted there, with the aid of the carriage guide 58 ( Figure 3B ). In this way, depending on the respectively recorded and processed sensor signals 72 of the sensor 66, the roll 12 or 16 can be brought into an exactly fitting position at any time with the aid of the adjustable receiving mandrel 42 in order to ensure trouble-free packaging operation.

Also at the in Figure 5D In the variant of obtaining the signal value shown, the sensor 66 in turn supplies an analog signal value 72 which depicts the front-side contour of the roller 12 or 16. Like it the Figure 5D can be seen, the sensor 66 does not provide an ideal stair-step-shaped signal value 72d here either, but shows an initially flat course which then drops sharply, which indicates the diameter of the receiving mandrel 42 . The signal value 72d thus does not provide an image of a regular cylindrical roll contour, because the outer webs of material 20 have a pronounced overhang 80, which initially requires a strong displacement of the roll 12 for an ideal course of the web of material, which must be corrected again as the unwinding of the web of material 18 continues must. 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 (cf. 4 ).

At the in Figure 5E In the variant of obtaining the signal value shown, the sensor 66 finally delivers a further analog signal value 72, which depicts the front-side contour of the roller 12 or 16. Like it the Figure 5E can be seen, the sensor 66 does not provide an ideal step-like signal value 72e here either, but instead shows an initially flat course which then drops significantly, only to drop again after a further step. The signal value 72e therefore does not provide an image of a regular cylindrical roll contour, because one or more material web layers 18 in the middle area of the roll end face 68 have a pronounced overhang 82, which approximately after half the roll 12 has been unwound results in a strong displacement of the roll 12 for an ideal Material web course requires that must be corrected again in the further course of the development of the material web 18. 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 (cf. 4 ).

In addition to the winding errors shown, combinations of several of these deviations from a roll 12 wound in accordance with the standard are also conceivable, which, however, are detected by means of the sensors shown - optionally formed by one sensor 66 or several sensors 66 - and with the help of the downstream control 74 by shifting the roll 12 in axial direction (arrow 64) can be compensated if necessary. In this way, film rolls with overhang and/or skew windings with different cone angles can also be positioned exactly in the middle. This means that film rolls that are not perfectly prepared can also be processed; in addition, machine downtimes can be avoided.

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

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

Reference List

8th

packaging machine, machine

10

contraption

12

role, new role

14

handling robot

16

Reel, used reel, partially unwound reel, partially used reel, empty reel

18

Material web, packaging material, flat material, foil material

20

outer layer, outer web of material

22

core, roll core

24

horizontal conveyor

26

Boom arm, swing arm

28

retaining mandrel

30

arm section, gripping arm

32

manipulator

34

user, operator

36

palette

38

retaining mandrel

40

Container

42

Mandrel, receiving mandrel, holding mandrel

44

Sealing bar, film sealing station

46

gripping stick

48

Axis of rotation, pivot axis, horizontally oriented axis

50

stamp attachment

52

axial stop

54

Drive unit, electric drive unit

56

bearing block

58

carriage guidance

60

position sensor

62

axial displacement (of the roll), axial position correction

64

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

66

sensor

68

face (of the roll)

70

scan zone

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, core supernatant

80

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

82

Overhang (of a middle web of material, several middle webs of material)

EB1

first installation position (for one roll)

EB2

second installation position (for one roll)

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus (10) for the feeding, supply, and/or handling, and/or for the replacement of rolls (12, 16) with film material (18) wound thereon and serving as packaging material for the packaging of piece goods, packs, or the like item sets, wherein, for the purpose of maintaining a packaging operation, rolls (16), which are at least approximately completely unwound and/or depleted, are alternately removable from installation positions (EB1, EB2) of a packaging machine (8) and are in each instance replaceable by a new roll (12) of film material (18) for the particular installation position (EB1, EB2), wherein, for the purpose of rotatably receiving and centrally holding the roll (12, 16) with film material (18) to be unwound in the packaging machine (8), the installation positions (EB1, EB2) in the packaging machine (8) are defined by a rotatable receiving mandrel (42), which is adjustable in its axial direction, wherein the particular installation position (EB1, EB2) or the roll (12, 16) with film material (18) to be unwound and situated on the receiving mandrel (42) in the particular installation position (EB1, EB2) is assigned at least one sensor (60, 66) for the detection of an axial position of the roll (12, 16) and/or for the detection of the spatial positions of at least the in each instance outer layers (20) of the roll (12, 16) to be unwound, wherein output signals (72) of the at least one sensor (60, 66) are provided to a control apparatus (74) for generating control signals (76), which are based on the detected and processed sensor signals (72) of the at least one sensor (60, 66), for the axial adjustment (64) of the receiving mandrel (42) equipped with a roll (12, 16) to be unwound, characterised in that the apparatus (10) comprises a handling robot (14) designed as stationarily arranged multi-axis robot for the purpose of mounting individual new rolls (12) into one of the two installation positions (EB1, EB2), wherein the handling robot (14) has a holding mandrel (28) movably arranged at the end of its movable cantilever arm (26), which holding mandrel (28) is dippable from the front side into a hollow cylindrical core (22) of a new roll (12), wherein the handling robot (14) has an arm section (30), which is rotatingly movable about an axis of rotation for this purpose, and wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the holding mandrel (28) is enlargeable after the dipping of the holding mandrel (28) into the core (22) such that the new roll (12) is fixable in a clamping manner to the holding mandrel (28) and the holding mandrel (28) is in contact with an inner lateral surface of the hollow core (22) by the form of the holding mandrel (28) corresponding to the hollow cylindrical core (22) in order to fix the new roll (12) in a clamping manner via the outer circumference of the holding mandrel (28).
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the at least one sensor (60, 66) sensor-detects at least in each instance outer layers (20) and/or a distance between at least one front side (68) of the roll (12, 16) and a specified sensor position of a roll (12, 16) newly mounted into one of the installation positions (EB1, EB2).
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which the at least one sensor (60, 66) detects an alignment of the film material (18) unwound from the roll (12, 16) and/or a deviation from a desired course.
4. The apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, in which the at least one sensor (60, 66) is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.
5. The apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 4, in which the at least one sensor (60, 66) is variable or adjustable in distance to the roll (12, 16) situated in each instance in the installation position (EB1, EB2) and/or in distance to the front side (68) of the roll (12, 16).
6. A method for the feeding, supply, and/or handling, and/or for the replacement of rolls (12, 16) with film material (18) wound thereon and serving as packaging material for the packaging of piece goods, packs, or the like item sets, in which method, for the purpose of maintaining a packaging operation, a roll (16), which is at least approximately completely unwound and/or depleted, is alternately removed from at least one installation position (EB1, EB2) of a packaging machine (8) and in each instance a new roll (12) with film material (18) is hereupon mounted into the particular installation position (EB1, EB2), wherein new rolls (12) are supplied to the packaging machine (8) in a defined feed and are mounted into the particular installation position (EB1, EB2) after a used-up roll (16) has previously been removed from there, wherein, for the purpose of rotatably receiving and centrally holding the roll (12, 16) with film material (18) to be unwound in the packaging machine (8), the installation positions (EB1, EB2) in the packaging machine (8) are in each instance defined by rotatable receiving mandrels (42), and wherein, for the purpose of adjustment of the axial positioning of the roll (12) on the receiving mandrel (42) and/or for the purpose of adjustment of the alignment of the film material (18) unwound from the roll (12), the particular rotatable receiving mandrel (42) is adjusted in its particular axial direction immediately after the mounting of a new roll (12) into one of the installation positions (EB1 or EB2) and/or during the ongoing packaging operation and during the unwinding of the new roll (12), and wherein individual new rolls (12) are mounted into one of the two installation positions (EB1, EB2) by means of a handling robot (14) designed as stationarily arranged multi-axis robot, while a used-up or partly used-up roll (16) is still situated in the other installation position (EB1, EB2), from which roll (16) a film material web (18) situated thereon still continues to be unwound and processed as packaging material in the packaging machine (8) during the mounting of the particular new roll (12), and wherein, for the purpose of receiving a new roll (12) from a horizontal conveyor (24), the handling robot (14) dips from the front side into a core (22) of a new roll (12) via a holding mandrel (28) that is movably arranged at the end of the handling robot's (14) movable cantilever arm (26), wherein an arm section (30) of the handling robot (14) is rotatingly moved about an axis of rotation for this purpose, and the cross-sectional diameter of the holding mandrel (28) is enlarged after the dipping of the holding mandrel (28) into the core (22) such that the new roll (12) is fixed in a clamping manner to the holding mandrel (28), and wherein the core (22) is designed to be hollow cylindrical and the form of the holding mandrel (28) is designed correspondingly thereto such that the holding mandrel (28) is in contact with an inner lateral surface of the core (22) via the outer circumference of the holding mandrel (28) in order to fix the new roll (12) in a clamping manner.
7. The method according to claim 6, in which at least the in each instance outer layers (20) of a roll (12) newly mounted in one of the installation positions (EB1, EB2) are sensor-detected.
8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, in which an axial position (64) of the receiving mandrel (42) is adapted immediately after the mounting of a new roll (12) into one of the installation positions (EB1, EB2).
9. The method according to one of the claims 6 to 8, in which a distance between at least one front side (68) of the roll (12, 16) is detected from a specified sensor position.
10. The method according to one of the claims 6 to 9, in which the film material (18) unwound from the roll (12, 16) passes a sensor position, wherein the alignment of the film material (18) unwound from the roll (12, 16) and/or a deviation from a desired course is detected.
11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, in which a distance of the at least one sensor (60, 66) from the roll (12, 16) situated in each instance in the installation position (EB1, EB2) and/or a distance from the front side (68) of the roll (12, 16) is variable and/or adjustable.
12. The method according to one of the claims 6 to 11, in which an axial position of the receiving mandrel (42) is adapted based on the sensor values (72) during the ongoing packaging operation.
13. The method according to one of the claims 6 to 12, in which the distance between at least a front side (68) of the roll (12, 16) and a specified or variable sensor position is sensor-detected in an optical manner.
14. The method according to one of the claims 6 to 12, in which the distance between at least a front side (68) of the roll (12, 16) and a specified or variable sensor position is sensor-detected by means of an ultrasonic sensor.

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