EP3212550B1 - Method and device for handling flat and/or film material which is wound onto reels - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling flat and / or sheet material wound on rolls.

In a grouping and compilation of articles, such as beverage containers or the like, these are often held together by shrink film in practice, in order to prevent slippage or disengagement from the assembly during transport. For example, containers which comprise four, six or more containers are known from the prior art. Such containers are still one of the most common variants of sales units for beverage containers or bottles made of PET plastic. The fastest possible compilation of such containers without interruption of individual process steps is therefore desirable in order to achieve a high throughput.

In order to provide the packaging material or shrink film for containers, devices and methods are already known which unwind the material from one or more rollers. Following this, then the individual containers or the respective articles which are provided for the container, are wrapped with the packaging material. The unwinding of the packaging material from the roll can be done by machine. For example, devices are known which pull off the packaging material via rollers from the roller, wherein the respective roller is thereby moved in rotation. If the stock of packaging material of a role is exhausted, then an exchange of the respective role or a replacement by a new role must be done. An undesirable interruption of the process of assembling containers is associated with this.

A method and a device by means of which new roles delivered and used roles can be changed, for example, from 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. To the device according to DE 40 40 545 A1 to operate and the material of the Roll unwind, the role must be placed with its core in the direction of rotation on the pin. The strip material or the first layer of the strip material must descend from above in the direction of the rolls. If the roller with opposite direction of rotation placed on the pin, the strip material could not or only with difficulty be removed from the roll, resulting in complications in the settlement. A manual and rotatable placement is in devices according to the DE 40 40 545 A1 therefore necessary to ensure trouble-free operation.

A device with a film splicing station, in which the film web of a roll newly inserted into a packaging machine with the assistance of a holding device is fed to a welding device, is furthermore known from US Pat DE 10 2004 026 312 A1 known. The holding device can be designed in particular as a manually operable terminal block, with the aid of a film beginning of a new role and a transfer device is provided, which can provide a feeding of the film beginning to a welding device, by means of which the beginning of the film with an already in the Wrapping machine located film web is welded. The terminal strip is referred to there as a manually easy to handle tool, with which the film web can be brought into a suitable position. However, the terminal block is loose, that is not connected to the machine or the welding device.

An at least teilautomatisierbarees process for changing roles and a corresponding device is from the DE 10 2013 110 944 A1 known. There, the new rolls of film to be supplied to a packaging machine are respectively mounted on differently configured exchange carrier units, which can be alternately inserted into the packaging machine in different installation positions. Manual feeding of a free film end of the new rolls is unnecessary in this case, since the Wechselträgereinheiten are configured in a manner that the film sections in the machine can be automatically connected to each other. A further method and apparatus, each of which is considered to be the closest prior art, are disclosed in U.S.P. EP 1 157 952 A2 disclosed.

In view of the known state of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for handling sheet and / or sheet material wound on rolls, by means of which the susceptibility to failure of a packaging machine can be reduced. In addition, in the device according to the invention and in the method according to the invention, handling of flat and / or foil material is to be simplified.

The above objects are achieved by an apparatus and a method comprising the features in claims 1 and 9. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the subclaims.

The invention relates to a method for handling wound on rolls and as a packaging material of piece goods, containers or similar article compositions serving flat and / or sheet material. The flat and / or sheet material may therefore be formed as a shrink film. The rollers may have a core whose geometric shape corresponds to a hollow cylinder and which may consist at least partially of cellulose-containing material. Advantageously, the respective new roll can hereby be placed on a pin corresponding to the core of the packaging machine and rotating upon removal or removal of packaging material from the roll rotating on the pin.

As part of a first option of the method, at least partially unwound and / or used-up rolls for maintaining an approximately continuous or discontinuous packaging operation are taken from at least one installation position of a packaging machine and replaced in each case by new rolls of flat and / or film material. However, the method can also provide that the rolls, which are at least partially developed and / or used up to maintain a continuous packaging operation, are taken alternately from at least two different installation positions of a packaging machine and then each new roll with flat and / or sheet material are inserted into the respective installation position , The at least one mounting position or each of the at least two mounting positions can, as previously mentioned, have a pin on which the new roll is placed and on which the respective roll rotates to unwind its respective flat and / or sheet material. In particular, the rollers can be fixed in a clamping manner on the journal of their respective installation position. The pin can be driven in rotation and transmit torque to the respective seated roller so that the roller is moved in rotation about its pin to unwind its flat and / or sheet material. Each pin can be assigned a drive over which the respective pin is rotated. In addition, it should be mentioned that the at least one installation position for the rolls with flat and / or sheet material wound thereon or the typically two installation positions with their rotatable holding means for the rolls with flat and / or sheet material can be designed to be adjustable in height about an adaptation To be able to make different roll diameter and / or a correction of the delivery paths with gradually depleted material supply of a developed and therefore gradually reducing in diameter role.

The drives can be connected to a control unit described in more detail below or can be controlled via a control unit described in more detail below for rotating the pins. Before removing a roll of at least partially unwound and / or used packaging material from its respective installation position, the clamping connection between the pin and the roller can be released, so that the roller is then no longer firmly connected to the pin and can be removed from the pin , The rotating movement of the pin can be interrupted until a new roll is placed on the pin or inserted into the corresponding installation position.

Typically, in the context of the method, the rolls, which are at least partially developed and / or used up to maintain an approximately continuous packaging operation, can be taken alternately from at least two different installation positions of the packaging machine and then a new roll with flat and / or sheet material can be inserted into the respective installation position. Each of the at least two mounting positions can, as previously mentioned, have a pin on which the new roller is placed and on which the respective roller rotates to unwind its respective flat and / or sheet material. The packaging company can be interrupted during the roll change or possibly continue uninterrupted. However, the above-mentioned variant with only one installation position for a roll allows only a continuous packaging operation during a roll change, if an additional storage for flat and / or sheet material is provided from which this material transported out during the roll change and made available to the packaging company can be. With the method, in principle, an uninterrupted handling of rolls wound on and serving as packaging material of piece goods, containers or similar article compositions flat and / or sheet material is made possible, so that so that a continuously running packaging operation can be maintained. For this purpose, however, at least two different mounting positions for each roll with flat and / or sheet material are required so that the roller located in an installed position can be continuously unwound, while the other installation position for a roll change and for the provision of new Flat and / or sheet material is available, so that depending on the configuration of the change and connection, bonding or welding process when reel change a continuous or a quasi-continuous packaging operation can be maintained. The inventive method equally relates to such uninterrupted handling as well as a brief interrupted handling of wound on rolls flat and / or sheet material within a packaging process. Since the method also relates to a handling method using only one installation position within the packaging machine, it becomes clear that a continuous or uninterrupted packaging operation is only possible with the aid of an intermediate store or other auxiliary measure, since at least during the roll change the conveying process of film or flat material must be interrupted.

After each insertion of a new roll in its respective installation position, an outer layer of the respective new roll in the vicinity or in the region of its free end is withdrawn and connected to form a continuous web of material with a portion of a material web guided in the packaging machine. The removal can be effected mechanically, for example via negative pressure and / or clamping and a fixing rod, which engages the outer layer of the respective new role and moves away from the respective new role. The fixing rod can be moved back and forth relative to the installation position for the roller or between the at least two installation positions. Further, a welding rod may be provided, which is moved in the downward direction and in this case the outer layer of the respective new roll welded to the guided in the packaging machine material web. About the fixing rod, the respective outer layer can be moved into a working area of the welding rod. The welding rod can thus, in cooperation with the associated welding device, move the outer layer of the respective new roll against the material web guided in the packaging machine. Within the welding device, the material web sections can be tempered and welded in this way. Embodiments of welding devices have proven effective in which the welding rod is moved vertically up and down, thereby introducing and positioning the material webs in the welding device, wherein, after a vertical lowering movement of the welding rod, the respective outward position of a new roll with one in the packaging machine guided material web to be welded.

Moreover, during or after insertion of the new roll, its direction of rotation and / or orientation in conformity with the direction of rotation is detected and / or checked by means of a detection device. In practice, in particular embodiments have proven in which the determination and / or checking the direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation conforming orientation by means of optical detection. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments, so that, for example, haptic and / or other mechanisms may be provided to check the direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation conforming orientation of the respective new role. A sensory recognition can optionally also with the aid of tactile detectors or a tactile, i. touching detection system, which can be arranged in the region of at least one mounting position. The detection system or the tactile or touching detector and the handling device can be in communication with a control unit. Furthermore, a sensory recognition can also take place with the aid of ultrasound detectors or an ultrasound detection system, which can be arranged in the region of the installation positions for the rollers with flat and / or foil material wound thereon. The detection system or the ultrasonic detector and the handling device can in turn be in communication with the mentioned control unit.

If the detected direction of rotation and / or rotational direction-compliant orientation match or corresponds to a predetermined desired orientation and / or desired direction of rotation, the respective new roller can be inserted into its assigned installation position or remain in its respective assigned installation position. If an incorrect direction of rotation and / or a wrong rotational direction-compliant positioning determined by the detection device, an alignment correction of the respective new role is made or selected another new role with appropriate direction and / or direction of rotation orientation for insertion and inserted into the respective mounting position.

For example, it may be that a direction of rotation and / or positioning in conformity with the direction of rotation of a new roll already inserted into its respective installation position is checked and / or determined by means of the detection device. If an incorrect direction of rotation and / or an incorrect positioning in accordance with the direction of rotation has been detected by means of the detection device, then the respective new roller can be removed from the packaging machine, oriented in the direction of rotation or aligned with a suitable direction of rotation, and then returned to their respective installation position can be used. The direction of rotation conforming orientation or the orientation with the appropriate direction of rotation and the re-insertion of the role in their respective installation position can then be done before connecting or welding their outer layer with the remaining material in the packaging machine web.

It is also conceivable that a direction of rotation and / or rotational direction-compliant positioning of a new roll is checked and / or determined prior to insertion into its respective installation position. Was then detected a wrong direction of rotation and / or a wrong direction of rotation compliant positioning by means of the detection device, it is possible to check the direction of rotation and / or directionally correct positioning another roll or determine and this with the appropriate direction of rotation and / or directionally compliant positioning in insert the installation position. Alternatively, the new roller can be brought into a suitable direction of rotation conforming orientation or suitable direction of rotation and then be used in the respective installation position.

Alternatively, however, an additional deflection roller can be used, which makes it possible to leave roles that would normally have to be reversed in place and to run the flat and / or sheet material unwound from this optionally usable deflection roller to the flat track guide to adapt to the required processing direction in the packaging machine. If, however, the roll with the flat and / or foil material wound thereon has been used in the appropriate direction of rotation, this additional deflection roll is not required, so that it can be moved or deactivated or removed from its place by machine.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the at least partially wound and / or spent rolls can be removed independently by means of a handling device operatively connected to the detection device and new rolls of flat and / or sheet material in the intended installation position or in the optional two or more installation positions are used. The receipt of a new role with direction of rotation conforming orientation or appropriate direction of rotation over the handling device and the subsequent insertion into their respective mounting position and / or the optional activation of said additional deflection roller to correct the direction of rotation of a newly used role can thus be carried out fully automatically. For example, the handling device can be coupled to the detection device via a control unit.

Optionally, it may be provided that the rollers for unwinding the packaging material in all of the at least two installation positions - if the packaging machine is equipped with more than one installation position for roles - are rotated with the same direction of rotation. Depending on the web guide, the rollers may also rotate in different directions of rotation. Depending on the embodiment of the device according to the invention, the material webs can be pulled off from below or from above in the case of the rollers, after which the directions of rotation of the rollers are then also directed.

It is also conceivable that in each case at least one marking, in particular an optical marking and in particular at least one reflective marking is applied to a lot of new roles, by means of which the detection device detects the direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation of the new role and / or checked. The optical marking can be designed as an adhesive mark and glued to the lot of new roles in the region of their free ends or attached by means of surface adhesion. In particular, at least two optical markings or reflective markings can be provided for each free end of a new roll. If other than optical detection systems are used, it may be useful to attach such recognizable markings on the rollers, for example. Such markings that can be detected by means of ultrasonic detection devices or by means of tactile detection devices.

Furthermore, it may be that the at least one marking or the at least one optical marking is applied to the respective new roll prior to insertion into its respective installation position in such a way that the free end of the respective new roll is at least substantially immovable at the respective new one by means of the marking Roll is fixed. Since hereby the free end is fixed immovably to the respective new role, after their respective insertion of the new role their external position in the vicinity or in the region of its free end can be easily removed. The removal can, as already mentioned, for example via a fixing rod, which preferably mechanically fixes or grips the outer layer of the new role in the region of its free end and then moves away from the new role to the outer layer of the subtract new roll. When Particularly suitable variant of the fixation rod, pneumatic gripper or squeegee have been found that have a variety of suction points or holes or grooves on which a variable or fixed set vacuum is applied, so that so that the material webs can be reliably detected and gripped; In addition, such pneumatic suction pads are also able to deduct the webs of material from the rollers, possibly supported by a motor drive of the respective roller bearing, which can provide a corresponding rolling movement of the roller when the suction pad or fixing rod pulls off the material web.

Furthermore, the optical detection device can have an optical detector, which is moved via the handling device into the area of the respective new roll and recognizes its respective optical marking for checking and / or determining the direction of rotation and / or positioning of the new roll in conformity with the direction of rotation. In particular, the optical detector can be designed as a camera system which is connected to a control unit. If other sensor systems or sensor principles are used, the detector used in each case can be moved via the handling device into the region of the respective new roll and recognize its respective detectable marking there for checking and / or determining the direction of rotation and / or positioning of the new roll. In particular, the detector may be designed as an ultrasound detection system or as a tactile detection system which is connected to a control unit.

In addition, in conceivable embodiments, the handling device may have a retaining mandrel, which dips into the front side designed as a hollow body new role, its maximum cross-sectional diameter enlarged and hereby fixes the respective new role by clamping the handling device. The optically or otherwise operating detection system can be arranged in the region of the retaining mandrel, so that in a timely successive steps, first a review or a determination of the direction of rotation and / or directionally correct positioning of a respective new role can be performed and hereafter the respective new Role is taken at the appropriate direction of rotation and / or rotationally compliant positioning on the retaining pin of the handling device by increasing its maximum cross-sectional diameter.

The longitudinal extent of the retaining mandrel can be made smaller with respect to a longitudinal extension of the hollow core of the new rolls, so that the respective new Roll can be pushed under engagement of the retaining mandrel in the core on one of the respective installation position of the packaging machine associated pin. The cross-sectional diameter of the retaining pin can be reduced in time thereto, so that the clamping connection between the retaining pin and the respective new role is solved. The handling device or the retaining pin of the handling device can then be guided in the direction of another new role, while the new roller inserted via the handling device into the respective installation position is seated in a rotationally fixed manner on the pin assigned to the respective installation position. For non-rotatable connection between the pin and the respective seated on the pin role is also possible to increase the cross-sectional diameter of the pin.

Further, the new rollers can be used in their respective installation position such that after insertion their free ends are oriented in the direction of an opposite of the at least two mounting positions. For example, it may be provided for this purpose that the at least one optical marking which has been applied to a lot of the new rolls in the area of their free ends is recognized by the optical detector or the optical detection system, an information item for this purpose is transmitted to a control unit and the Control unit controls the handling device such that after insertion, the free ends of the new rollers are oriented in the direction of a respective opposite of the at least two mounting positions. The same applies in principle to other measuring principles that do not work with optical detection, so for example for tactile detection variants or for ultrasonic measurements o. The like. More.

In further embodiments, it is conceivable that the detector or the optical detector or the optical or otherwise operating detection system is arranged in the region of at least two mounting positions and after insertion of a respective new role orientation of the at least one label (eg the optical label or the tactile detectable label or ultrasound detectable label) recognizes and transmits information to the control unit. The control unit may further cause a rotation of the pins on which the new rollers seat, so that after rotation, the free ends or the optical markings of the new rollers point in the direction of the respective opposite of the at least two mounting positions.

In addition, it may be that the new rollers are moved via a horizontal conveyor in the area of the handling device and the handling device are provided. The horizontal conveyor may be formed as a revolving endless conveyor belt. At the beginning or laterally of a section of the horizontal conveyor, a manipulator can be positioned, with the help of which new rollers are preferably placed upright on the horizontal conveyor. The handling device may possibly accept new rolls directly from the horizontal conveyor and insert them into the packaging machine or into the at least two installation positions of the packaging machine. The manipulator may also have a retaining pin, which is frontally introduced into new roles or in a core of the new roles and engages by enlarging its cross-sectional diameter, the new roles. In particular, it can be provided that the manipulator is manually operated and a placement of new roles by means of the manipulator via a user.

The invention furthermore relates to a device for handling flat and / or film material wound on rolls and used as packaging material for packaging piece goods, containers or similar article compositions. It should be noted that various features which were previously mentioned as embodiments of the method according to the invention can also be provided in imaginable embodiments of the device according to the invention. Furthermore, features which are referred to below as conceivable embodiments of the device according to the invention may be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

The device comprises a packaging machine with at least one installation position, which are provided for the rotational recording of rolls with flat and / or sheet material. Optionally, however, the device may also comprise a packaging machine having at least two different mounting positions, each provided for rotationally receiving rolls of flat and / or sheet material. Part of the packaging machine are further one or more coupling means for aligning and connecting free end portions of flat and / or sheet material used in the installed position new role or in the at least two mounting positions respectively inserted new roles with a guided already in the packaging machine Material web are executed. The guided already in the packaging machine web can from a roll be deducted, which is already arranged at the onset of the new role in their respective installation position in the packaging machine. Thus, flat and / or sheet material can be continuously unwound from at least one in the packaging machine or at least one roll of the at least two installation positions, whereby a continuous packaging operation can be ensured. However, it should again be emphasized at this point that the uninterruptible or continuous packaging operation represents a special case of the packaging machine by using two or more installation positions for two or more rolls, while the device according to the invention likewise relates to the case of the packaging operation temporarily interrupted for the roll change. in which the packaging machine is equipped with only one installation position for a single roll of flat and / or sheet material for packaging purposes.

Component of the one or more coupling means may be, for example, a welding rod and a fixing rod, as they have already been described above, so that their function and configuration will not be mentioned again for this reason.

The device according to the invention also has at least one detection device which is preferably formed by means of an optical detection system or an optical detector for checking and / or determining a direction of rotation and / or direction of orientation of respective new rollers provided for the at least two installation positions. The optical detection system or the optical detector may comprise at least one camera system. Optionally, however, the device according to the invention may also be equipped with detection devices for other sensory recognition. Thus, the detection can optionally also be carried out with the aid of tactile detectors or a tactile, ie touching, detection system, which can be arranged in the region of the at least one installation position. The detection system or the tactile or touching detector and the handling device can be in communication with a control unit. Furthermore, a sensory recognition can also take place with the aid of ultrasound detectors or an ultrasound detection system, which can be arranged in the region of the installation positions for the rollers with flat and / or foil material wound thereon. The detection system or the ultrasonic detector and the handling device can in turn be in communication with the mentioned control unit.

Furthermore, the device has a control unit coupled to the detection device, by means of which information about the direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation can be output and / or by means of which an insertion of new roles with the appropriate direction and / or appropriate direction of rotation orientation for the installation position can be initiated.

It is conceivable, for example, that the device has an optical and coupled to the control unit display unit, such as a display or the like, via which information on the direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation orientation are displayed. For example, it may be that in case of wrong direction of rotation or incorrect direction of rotation conforming orientation of new roles via the visual display unit an indication is issued to a user. It is also conceivable that information on the direction of rotation and / or direction-oriented orientation are output as an acoustic signal.

An initiation can take place under the operative connection of the control unit with a handling device or the handling device can be actuated with a suitable direction of rotation and / or rotational direction-conforming orientation of new rolls for inserting a respective new roll with a suitable direction of rotation and / or direction of orientation. For example, it can be provided that the handling device receives the respective new role and moves in the direction of one of the at least two mounting positions with a suitable detected and / or checked direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation.

In particular, it may be that the control unit is in communication with a handling device, by means of which rollers with at least partially unwound and / or used roles independently from the respective installation position removed and new roles with appropriate direction and / or appropriate direction of rotation compliant orientation independently in the at least two mounting positions can be used. In this case, an algorithm can be stored on the control unit, whereby a specific control of the handling device is effected via the algorithm, taking into account the direction of rotation determined by the detection device and / or orientation of the respective new roller in conformity with the direction of rotation.

Instead of a need-based removal of non-compliant used new roles can optionally use an additional pulley come, which makes it possible to leave roles that would normally be reversed in place and to run the unwound flat and / or sheet material on this optional usable pulley to adapt the flat track guide to the required processing direction in the packaging machine. If, however, the roll with the flat and / or foil material wound thereon has been used in the appropriate direction of rotation, this additional deflection roll is not required, so that it can be moved or deactivated or removed from its place by machine.

In addition, the handling device for clamping fixation of the new rollers designed as a hollow body may comprise a preferably cylindrically shaped retaining mandrel with an adjustable maximum cross-sectional diameter. The adjustment of the cross-sectional diameter can be made via the control unit or be specified by the control unit. The handling device may have a movable gripper arm, wherein the retaining pin is arranged at the free end of the gripper arm.

In particularly preferred embodiments, it may be that the handling device is preceded by a trained for transporting new rolls horizontal conveyor, which extends into a working area of the handling device. In further embodiments, it is conceivable that the handling device can be provided with new rolls on pallets or the like. It is also possible to place new rolls in a container or the like, which is located in the working area of the handling area and over which the handling device new roles are provided. The new rolls can be placed in a random manner or with any orientation in the container, wherein by means of the detection device, the direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation-compliant orientation can be checked and / or determined.

The detection device can also have an optical detector or an optical detection system which is mechanically coupled to the handling device and can be moved via the handling device in the direction of the respective new rollers provided for the at least two installation positions. The optical detector or the optical detection system can in this case be arranged in the region of a free end of a gripping arm of the handling device. Furthermore, the holding mandrel already described can be arranged in the region of a free end of a gripping arm of the handling device. The optical Detection system or the optical detector and the retaining mandrel can thus be moved together by the handling device to the respective new role. The optical detector or the optical detection system can also be designed as a camera system in conceivable embodiments of the device according to the invention.

In addition, the detection device can have at least one detection system or a fixed detector fixed in the region of the at least two installation positions, whereby the direction of rotation and / or orientation of the respective new rollers inserted in the at least two installation positions can be detected via the detection system or the fixed detector. or verifiable. The fixed detection system or the fixed detector can also be designed as a camera system. It is conceivable here that the device has at least one fixed detection system or a fixed detector in the region of the at least two installation positions and also has a detector mechanically coupled to the handling device or a detection system coupled to the handling device. In further embodiments, the device may only have a fixed detection system or a fixed detector or a detection system mechanically coupled to the handling device or a detector mechanically coupled to the handling device.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung. Zudem verdeutlicht Fig. 1 eine denkbare Umsetzung einer Ausführungsform für das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren;
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung. Zudem verdeutlicht Fig. 2 eine weitere denkbare Umsetzung einer Ausführungsform für das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren;
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht zweier Einbaupositionen, wie sie für eine Vorrichtung gemäß den Ausführungsbeispielen aus Figuren 1 und 2 vorgesehen sein können;
• Fig. 4 zeigt die Einbaupositionen der Fig. 3 mit eingesetzter neuer Rolle für die zweite Einbauposition;
• Fig. 5 zeigt die Einbaupositionen der Figuren 3 und 4 mit abgezogener äußerer Lage der in die zweite Einbauposition eingesetzten neuen Rolle;
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Handhabungseinrichtung, wie sie für denkbare Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und zur Umsetzung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein kann;
• Fig. 7 zeigt die Handhabungseinrichtung aus Fig. 6 nach Entgegennahme einer neuen Rolle mit drehrichtungskonformer Orientierung von einer Palette.

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

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention. In addition clarifies Fig. 1 a conceivable implementation of an embodiment of the inventive method;
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention. In addition clarifies Fig. 2 Another conceivable implementation of an embodiment of the inventive method;
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of two mounting positions, as for a device according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be provided;
• Fig. 4 shows the installation positions of the Fig. 3 with inserted new role for the second installation position;
• Fig. 5 shows the installation positions of the Figures 3 and 4 with deducted outer layer of the inserted in the second mounting position new role;
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a handling device, as may be provided for conceivable embodiments of the device according to the invention and for implementing the method according to the invention;
• Fig. 7 shows the handling device Fig. 6 after receiving a new roll with directional orientation from a pallet.

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 first embodiment of an inventive device 1 for handling wound on rolls flat and / or sheet material. In addition, the clarifies Fig. 1 a possible implementation of an embodiment of the inventive method.

The device 1 is used to handle packaging material or shrink film, which is wound on rollers 5. To recognize are in Fig. 1 a packaging machine 3, the new rollers 5 are fed via a handling device 7. The handling device 7 sets the respective new rollers 5 in two different installation positions EB1 and EB2, which in Fig. 1 Only rudimentary to recognize and in the detailed view of Fig. 3 exemplified be clarified.

Like a synopsis of FIGS. 3 to 5 With Fig. 1 shows, is used on the handling device 7, a new role 5 in one of the two installation positions EB1 and EB2, while still in the other installation position EB1 or EB2 a roll 5 is located, from which during the onset of the new roll 5 a web of material MB is unwound. During the further unwinding of the material web MB from the almost applied roll 5, a welding of the outer layer 15 takes place (cf. Fig. 5 ) of the new roll 5 with the material web MB, so that in this way the device 1 can be operated continuously without having to interrupt the process for replacing an applied roll 5.

The new rollers 5 are composed of packaging material or shrink film and a core 6, on which the packaging material or the shrink film is wound. To receive a new roll 5 from the horizontal conveyor 13, the handling device 7 dives over a retaining pin 17 on the face side into a core 6 of the new roll 5. A gripper arm 8 of the handling device 7 can this purpose about a rotation axis 16, as they Fig. 6 The present invention description shows by way of example, be moved in rotation. After immersing the retaining pin 17 in the core 6, the cross-sectional diameter of the retaining pin 17 is increased so that the new roll 5, as well as in Fig. 7 shown on the retaining pin 17 is fixed by clamping. The core 6 is hollow cylindrical, the shape of the retaining pin 17 corresponding thereto, so that the retaining pin 17 is to be clamped fixing the new roll 5 on its outer circumference with an inner circumferential surface of the core 6 in conjunction.

By means of the horizontal conveyor 13, the handling device 7 is provided with new rollers 5 in such a way that when a new roller 5 is removed from the horizontal conveyor 13 a further new roller 5 is moved further in the direction of the handling device 7 or moves in the direction of the handling device 7. The horizontal conveyor 13 can thus be clocked or continuously operated at a constant speed. Their operation is specified by the control unit S.

Also visible is a manipulator 12 positioned in the region of the horizontal conveying device 13, which is operated by a user 30 and via which new rollers 5 are placed standing on the horizontal conveying device 13. It is conceivable here that the user 30 already places the new rollers 5 with a specific direction of rotation or specific orientation on the horizontal conveyor 13, wherein a subsequent check or determination of suitable direction of rotation and / or orientation of the new rollers 5 in order to avoid Insertion with wrong direction of rotation or rotation direction compliant Orientation accompanying disorders of the packaging machine 3 is used. In further embodiments, it is also conceivable that the new rollers 5 are placed on the horizontal conveyor 13 by the user 30 with any direction of rotation or direction of rotation and the handling device 7 selects new rollers 5 with a suitable direction of rotation or direction of rotation and moves into the respective installation position EB1 or EB1 ., EB2 of the packaging machine 7 is used. The new rollers 5 rest on a pallet 9, from which the user 30 receives them by means of the manipulator 12 and places them on the horizontal conveyor 13. A working area of the manipulator 12 therefore extends over the pallet 9 as well as a section of the horizontal conveyor 13.

Shown is also a container 20, which is located in the working area of the handling device 7. Is the supply of packaging material or shrink film of a placed in the packaging machine 3 roles 5 exhausted, is removed by means of the handling device 7 made of cellulose or plastic core 6 an empty roll 5 from the packaging machine 3 and stored in the container 20. Only after removal of the core 6, a new roll 5 can be used in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 of the packaging machine 3, so that the handling device 7 first removes the core 6 and temporal nachauf following a new role 5 in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 is used.

The horizontal conveyor 13, the handling device 7 and the packaging machine 3 are in communication with a control unit S. In the present case, the control unit S the clocked operation of the horizontal conveyor 13, initiates insertion and removal of rollers 5 by the handling device 7 from the two mounting positions EB1 and EB2 and controls, as described in more detail below, a unrolling of packaging material or shrink film of the rollers 5 used in the packaging machine 7.

The control unit S has or is also connected to a display, not shown, via which information about the direction of rotation or rotational direction-compliant orientation of new rollers 5 for a user 30 are displayed. The direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation of the new rollers 5, as follows for the FIGS. 3 to 7 described, detected by a detection device 23 and / or checked, which is in communication with the control unit S. Since the handling device 7 can remove the respective core 6 of an empty roll 5 from the packaging machine 7 and with the aid of the detection device 23 independently uses new rollers 5 with suitable direction of rotation or direction of rotation in the packaging machine 3, the device 1 can be operated completely automatically from the horizontal conveyor 13 at least from the beginning of receipt of new rollers 5.

The schematic perspective view of Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention 1. In addition clarifies Fig. 2 Another conceivable implementation of an embodiment of the inventive method.

Compared to the embodiment of the device 1 according to Fig. 1 are in the embodiment accordingly Fig. 2 no manipulator 12 and no horizontal conveyor 13 is provided. The handling device 7 and the packaging machine 3 have an identical structure to the embodiment Fig. 1 , Furthermore, a control unit S is present, which communicates with the handling device 7 and the packaging machine 3.

In Fig. 2 takes the handling device 7 new rollers 5 directly from a pallet 9 and sets this, if they have a matching direction of rotation or direction of rotation-compliant orientation, in the respective mounting position EB1 and EB2 (see. FIGS. 3 to 5 ) of the packaging machine 3. It is also conceivable here that the direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation of the new rollers 5 is already present on the pallet 9 and the detection device 23 (see. FIGS. 3 to 7 ) only the direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation of the rollers 5 checked to avoid disturbing the packaging machine 3 due to the insertion of new rollers 5 with the wrong direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation. It may also be that new rollers 5 with any direction of rotation or rotational direction-compliant orientation get up on the pallet 9, wherein the handling device 7 recognizes new rollers 5 with the appropriate direction of rotation or rotational direction-compliant orientation via the detection device 23 and into the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 the packaging machine 3 is used. The pallets 9 with new rollers 5 can by a user 30 (see. Fig. 1 ) or placed in the working area of the handling device 7.

The direct receipt of the new rolls 5 from the respective pallet 9 also takes place in Fig. 2 by engagement of the retaining pin 17 in the hollow cylindrical core 6 of the respective new roll 5. The respective core 6 of used rolls 5 is also placed in a container 20.

The schematic perspective view of Fig. 3 illustrates two mounting positions EB1 and EB2, as for a device 1 and a packaging machine 3 according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be provided. Each of the mounting positions EB1 and EB2 has its own pin 27, on which pin 27 new rollers 5 on the handling device 7 (see. FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and fixed by clamping the diameter of the pin 27 at the respective pin 27 by clamping.

Also, a welding bar 25 is shown, which for connecting an outer layer 15 (see. Fig. 5 ) of the new roller 5 inserted in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 (cf. Fig. 4 ) is provided with the remaining material in the packaging machine 3 MB and this is lowered vertically. After joining the outer layer 15 with the material web MB remaining in the packaging machine 3, the welding bar 25 is lifted vertically and into the in Fig. 3 shown position brought.

In Fig. 3 In the first installation position EB1, a roller 5 sits on the journal 27 of the first installation position EB1 and is moved in rotation by the journal 27. Here, the packaging material or the shrink film of the seated on the pin 27 of the first installation position EB1 roller 5 is unwound. In the second installation position EB2, a roll 5 has already been completely unwound and the core 6 removed via the handling device 7, so that the second installation position EB2 or the pin 27 of the second installation position EB2 is ready to receive a new roll 5 with packaging material.

Also shows Fig. 3 a detection device 23, which in the present case consists of two cameras 19. Thus, the first mounting position EB1 and the second mounting position EB2 each own camera 19 is assigned. The embodiment according to Fig. 3 is merely to be understood as an example, so that further embodiments are conceivable, in which two mounting positions EB1 and EB2 is assigned only a camera 19, whose detection range extends over the two mounting positions EB1 and EB2.

The detection device 23 or the two cameras 19 are connected to a control unit S and are used for detection and / or checking a respective direction of rotation and / or direction of rotation conforming orientation of new roles. 5

The schematic perspective view of Fig. 4 shows the installation positions EB1 and EB2 of Fig. 3 with inserted new role 5 for the second mounting position EB2. Starting from Fig. 3 was with regard to Fig. 4 by means of the handling device 7 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2 ) pushed a new roll 5 on the pin 27 of the second mounting position EB2. Furthermore, packaging material or shrink film is unwound from the roll 5 of the first installation position EB1, so that the packaging machine 3 (see FIG. FIGS. 1 and 2 ) can be operated even when replacing the roller 5 from the second mounting position EB2. If a new roll 5 is inserted into the first installation position EB1, then packaging material or shrink film can still be unwound from the roll 5 of the second installation position EB2, thus enabling a continuous and uninterrupted operation of the packaging machine 3.

The new roll 5 of the second installation position EB2 Fig. 4 has a reflective adhesive mark 22, which is applied to the outer layer 15 of the new roll 5 in the region of its free end. The detection device 23 or the camera 19 assigned to the second installation position EB2 is now able to check by means of the adhesive marking 22 whether the new roller 5 has been pushed onto the journal 27 with a suitable direction of rotation or with a direction-conforming orientation. A synopsis of FIGS. 4 and 5 clarifies that with a new roll 5 of the second mounting position EB2, the outer layer 15 is guided from above over the roller 5 and descends in the downward direction. If the roller 5 with the wrong direction of rotation or incorrect direction of rotation conforming orientation placed on the pin 27 of the second mounting position EB2, the outer layer 15 would point away in the downward direction of the roller 5 and would be difficult or impossible for this reason. Aligning below the welding bar 25 would thus not be possible. A rotational direction-compliant positioning of new rollers 5 or insertion of new rollers 5 in the respective installation position EB1 or EB2 with a suitable direction of rotation is thus essential in order to be able to ensure trouble-free operation of the device 1 or the packaging machine 3.

If the adhesive marker 22 has been detected via the detection device 23, then the pin 27 is moved in rotation until the adhesive marker 22 points in the direction of the opposite installed position EB1. Only after this orientation of the Adhesive marking 22 can be used only in Fig. 5 illustrated guide rod 14, the outer layer 15 of the new roll 5 engage and position below the welding bar 25.

Furthermore, embodiments are conceivable in which the new rollers 5 have no reflective adhesive mark 22 and in which the detection device 23 and the cameras 19 an outer layer 15 of new rollers 5 and the free end portions of new rollers 5 without additional optical identification of recognize new roles 5.

The installation positions EB1 and EB2 of Figures 3 and 4 with deducted outer layer 15 of the inserted into the second mounting position EB2 new role 5 shows Fig. 5 , It can be seen again very clearly here that the outer layer 15 of the roller 5 positioned in the second installation position EB2 descends from above in the downward direction, while the outer layer or material web MB of the roller 5 of FIG is coming below. Both rollers 5 rotate on their respective associated pin 27 with the same direction of rotation or counterclockwise. A rotationally correct insertion of the new rollers 5 is necessary to ensure a trouble-free and functioning operation of the device 1 or packaging machine 3 (see. FIGS. 1 and 2 ).

In addition, with reference to the Figures 3 . 4 and 5 mentions that the two installation positions EB1 and EB2 for the rollers 5 with flat and / or foil material wound thereon or at least one of the installation positions EB1 and / or EB2 with their rotatable holding means in the form of rotatable pins 27 for the rollers 5 with flat and / or film material can be designed to be adjustable in height, in order to be able to make an adaptation to different roll diameters and / or a correction of the conveying paths with gradually consumed material supply of a developed and therefore gradually reducing diameter roll 5. For this purpose, in particular the frame, on which the horizontally arranged pins 27 are rotatably supported and mounted, have suitable means for adjusting the height of the rotatable pins 27.

The perspective view of Fig. 6 shows a handling device 7, as it can be provided or used for conceivable embodiments of the device 1 according to the invention and for implementing the method according to the invention.

The gripping arm 8 of the handling device 7 is pivotable about the horizontally oriented axis 16, so that the retaining pin 17 of the handling device 7 can be aligned for immersion in the core 6 of the respective new roll 5 with vertical orientation of its longitudinal axis. If the respective new roll 5 has been grasped by means of the handling device 7 or by means of the holding mandrel 17, the new roll 5 can be rotated about the axis 16 by a renewed pivotal movement of the gripping arm 8 and chronologically thereafter moved into its respective assigned installation position EB1 or EB2 (cf. , FIGS. 3 to 5 ) are used.

In particular shows Fig. 6 a camera 21 or a detection device 23. The detection device 23 or the camera 21 is fixedly coupled to the gripping arm 8 so that it is guided together with the gripping arm 8 during a movement of the gripping arm 8. If the gripper arm 8 is pivoted about the axis 16, a direction of rotation or direction of rotation of one or more new rollers 5 can be determined by means of the camera 21 or the detection device 23. The detection device 23 or the camera 21 is in communication with the control unit S, which brings about acceptance of a new roller 5, which has a suitable direction of rotation or direction of rotation, by means of the handling device 7 from the pallet 9.

The new rollers 5 of the pallet 9 can be identified by optical markings 22 as exemplified in FIG Fig. 5 have, in order to facilitate the camera 21 and the detection device 23, the respective checking or determining a respective direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation of the new rollers 5. However, it is also conceivable that the new rollers 5 have no optical marking 22 and the camera 21 or the detection device 23 the respective checking or determining a respective direction of rotation or direction of rotation conforming orientation of the new rollers 5 without additional optical marking 22 of the new roles. 5 accomplish. For this purpose, the camera 21 or the detection device 23 can detect the position of the outer layer 15 of the new rollers and, in operative connection with the control unit S, make a statement about the appropriate or wrong direction of rotation or orientation of the respective new roller 5.

The perspective view of the Fig. 7 shows the handling device 7 according to Fig. 6 upon receipt of a new roll 5 with direction of rotation conforming orientation of a pallet 9 (see. Fig. 6 ). As in Fig. 7 to recognize the gripping arm 8 was starting from the position Fig. 6 about the axis 16, which in Fig. 7 in the direction of the image plane, pivoted. The new roller 5 now has an at least approximately horizontal orientation and can be used in their respective assigned installation position EB1 or EB2.

Since the detection device 23 or the camera 21 is mechanically firmly coupled to the gripping arm 8, the detection device 23 or the camera 21 was pivoted together with the gripping arm 8. The in Fig. 6 illustrated retaining pin 17 is in Fig. 7 completely immersed in the core 6 of the new roll 5 and holds the new roll 5 by clamping on the gripper arm 8 or on the handling device 7.

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

1

contraption

3

packaging machine

5

role

6

core

7

handling device

8th

claw arm

9

palette

11

holding mandrel

12

manipulator

13

Horizontal conveyor

14

Guide rod, coupling device

15

outer layer, outer layer

16

Rotary axis, horizontal axis

17

holding mandrel

19

camera

20

Container

21

camera

22

Reflective adhesive marking, optical marking

23

detector

25

Welding bar, coupling device

27

spigot

30

User, operator

EB1

installation position

EB2

installation position

MB

web

S

control unit

Claims (15)

1. A method for handling flat material and/or film material that is wound onto rolls (5) and that serves as packaging material for the packaging of piece goods, bundles, or the like sets of articles, in which method, for the purpose of maintaining a packaging operation, rolls (5), which are at least partially unwound and/or depleted, are removed from at least one installation position (EB1; EB2) of a packaging machine (3), and in each case a new roll (5) of flat material and/or film material is hereupon mounted in the particular installation position (EB1; EB2), wherein, after each mounting, an externally arranged layer (15) is extracted from the particular new roll (5) near or in the area of its free end and, for the purpose of forming an uninterrupted material web, is attached to a section of a material web (MB) being guided in the packaging machine (3), characterized in that the direction of rotation and/or the rotation-direction-conforming orientation of the new roll (5) is determined and/or verified by means of a capture device (23) before, while, or after the new roll (5) is mounted, and, if a wrong direction of rotation and/or a non-rotation-direction-conforming orientation is determined by means of the capture device (23), an alignment correction of the particular new roll (5) is performed or a further new roll (5) with an appropriate direction of rotation and/or rotation-direction-conforming orientation is selected for mounting and is mounted in the particular installation position (EB1; EB2).
2. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the partially unwound and/or depleted rolls (5) are autonomously removed by means of a handling device (7), which is in operative connection with the capture device (23), and new rolls (5) of flat material and/or film material are autonomously mounted in the at least one installation position (EB1, EB2).
3. The method as recited in claim 1 or claim 2, in which in each case at least one marker, particularly an optical marker (22), and more particularly at least one reflective marking, is applied onto a section of the new rolls (5) in the area of their free ends, by means of which marker (22) the capture device (23) determines and/or verifies the direction of rotation and/or the rotation-direction-conforming orientation of the new rolls (5).
4. The method as recited in claim 3, in which the at least one marker (22) is applied onto the particular new roll (5) before the new roll (5) is mounted in its particular installation position (EB1, EB2) such that the free end of the particular new rolls (5) is at least largely immovably fastened to the particular new roll (5) by means of the marker (22).
5. The method as recited in the claims 1 to 3 or 1 to 4, in which the capture device (23) has a detector, in particular an optical detector, which is moved into the area of the particular new roll (5) by way of the handling device (7), and there detects the particular marker (22) of the new roll (5) for the purpose of verifying and/or determining the direction of rotation and/or the rotation-direction-conforming orientation of the new roll (5).
6. The method as recited in one or more of the claims 2 to 5, in which the handling device (7) has a retaining mandrel (17), which dips into the face side of the new roll (5), which is designed as hollow body, increases its maximum cross-sectional diameter and hereby clampingly fixes the particular new roll (5) to the handling device (7).
7. The method as recited in one or more of the claims 1 to 6, in which the new rolls (5) are mounted in their particular installation positions (EB1, EB2) such that, after mounting, their free ends are oriented toward an oppositely located installation position (EB1, EB2) of at least two installation positions (EB1, EB2).
8. The method as recited in one or more of the claims 2 to 7, in which new rolls (5) are moved by way of at least one horizontal conveying device (13) into the area of the handling device (7) and are supplied to the handling device (7).
9. An apparatus (1) for handling flat material and/or film material that is wound onto rolls (5) and that serves as packaging material for the packaging of piece goods, bundles, or the like sets of articles, having

   - a packaging machine (3) with at least one installation position (EB1, EB2), which is provided for the rotating reception of rolls (5) of flat material and/or film material, and with a coupling means (14, 25) or with a plurality of coupling means (14, 25), which are designed for aligning and attaching free end sections of flat material and/or film material of the new roll (5), which is in each case mounted in the at least one installation position (EB1, EB2), to a material web (MB) already being guided in the packaging machine (3), characterized by having

   - at least one capture device (23), which is preferably designed for verifying and/or determining by means of an optical detection system a direction of rotation and/or a rotation-direction-conforming orientation of particular new rolls (5) provided for the at least two installation positions (EB1, EB2), and comprising

   - a control unit (S) coupled with the capture device (23), by means of which control unit (S) information on the direction of rotation and/or on the rotation-direction-conforming orientation is outputable and/or by means of which a mounting of new rolls (5) with an appropriate direction of rotation and/or an appropriate rotation-direction-conforming orientation for the at least two different installation positions (EB1, EB2) is initiatable.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, in which the control unit (S) is linked to a handling device (7), by means of which rolls (5) with at least partially unwound and/or depleted flat material and/or film material are autonomously removable from the particular installation position and new rolls (5) with an appropriate direction of rotation and/or an appropriate rotation-direction-conforming orientation are autonomously mountable in the at least one installation position (EB1, EB2).
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 or 10, in which, for the purpose of the clamping fixation of the new rolls (5), which are formed as hollow bodies, the handling device (7) comprises a preferably cylindrically formed retaining mandrel (17) with an adjustable maximum cross-sectional diameter.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which the rotatable cylindrical retaining mandrel (17) associated with the at least one installation position (EB1; EB2) for the reception of the rolls (5) is designed to be adjustable in its height within the packaging machine (3).
13. The apparatus as recited in one or more of the claims 9 to 12, in which a horizontal conveying device (13) designed for the transport of new rolls (5) is arranged upstream from the handling device (7), which horizontal conveying device (13) extends into an operating range of the handling device (7).
14. The apparatus as recited in one or more of the claims 10 to 13, in which the capture device (23) has an optical detector, which is in a mechanically coupled connection to the handling device (7) and which is movable by way of the handling device (7) toward the particular new rolls (5) provided for the at least one installation position (EB1, EB2).
15. The apparatus as recited in one or more of the claims 10 to 14, in which the capture device (23) has at least one optical detection system, which is stationary in the area of the at least one installation position (EB1, EB2), wherein the direction of rotation and/or the rotation-direction-conforming orientation of the particular new rolls (5) mounted in the at least two installation positions (EB1, EB2) is determinable and/or verifiable by way of the optical detection system.

Images