EP3546205A1 - Device for transferring a folding box to a transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (12) for transferring a folding box (50) to a transport device (62). The device (12) has a first holding unit (30) and a second holding unit (40), through which a flat folding carton blank can be erected to form a folding box (50). The flat folded carton blank and the erected folding box (50) are held by the first holding unit (30) and the second holding unit (40) respectively on opposite side surfaces. According to the invention, the first holding unit (30) can be moved in a first direction, while the second holding unit (40) can be moved in a second direction. In particular, the first holding unit (30) in the horizontal direction and the second holding unit (40) can be moved in the vertical direction.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a device by means of folding cartons can be transferred to a transport device. As a rule, folding cartons present as flat blanks in a supply magazine are first removed from the magazine by such a device, then opened and finally transferred through the device to a transport device. The transport device then transfers the opened folding boxes into a filling station, in which the folding boxes are filled and closed with one or more products.

STATE OF THE ART

Device for transferring a carton to a transport device are, for example, from DE 10 2005 017 962 A1 or the DE 10 2007 023 964 A1 known. Such devices usually have one or more arms on which holding devices for the cartons are mounted. The holding devices can be designed in particular as suction devices. By the holding devices, the flat carton blanks can be removed from a storage magazine and transported. Depending on the size and format of the carton blank, a suction device may have a single or multiple suction cups.

The arms of the device are driven continuously by a motor drive, so that a uniform rotational movement is performed. After removing a carton blank, the carton is replaced by other devices that are around the actual Transfer device are placed around, unfolded. The opening can be done in the simplest case by a stop element; For example, in the case of folding cartons that are harder to open, counter-suckers can be used for this purpose. The opened carton can then be further processed by, for example, a spreading of the side, glue or licking flaps takes place. Finally, the carton is transferred to a transport device. This is done in the simplest case by dropping the carton, causing it falls into a compartment of the transport device and is collected there. Subsequently, a new carton blank can be removed. The removal of the carton blank, the opening of the carton and the transfer of the carton to the transport device takes place during a single revolution of each arm.

During a format change, the supply magazine must be regularly adjusted in height or even in an inclined plane, which requires a complex construction structure. In addition, the entire transfer device must be adapted to the maximum size of the folding cartons to be processed. As a result, processing of smaller carton formats results in longer paths and thus reduced performance.

The known in the art transfer devices are usually not or only with a very high cost in a position to process both cartons with leading voltage and cartons with lagging voltage. Also, cartons, which have compared to the width of only a very small amount, often very difficult to process, since they can make difficulties when opening the blank.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide an improved device for Passing a carton to specify a transport device with which a variety of different carton formats can be processed with different voltages.

The inventive device for transferring a carton to a transport device is given by the features of the main claim 1. A cartoning machine according to the invention with such a transfer device is given by the features of the independent claim 10. Useful developments of the invention are the subject of further claims that follow these claims.

The device according to the invention for transferring a folding box to a transport device has a first and a second holding unit, by means of which a flat folding carton blank can be erected to form a folding box. In this case, the flat folding carton blank as well as the erected carton is held by the two holding units each on opposite side surfaces. According to the invention, the first holding unit can be moved in a first direction, while the second holding unit can be moved in a second direction.

In principle, it is possible to move the two holding units in a linear or in a slightly curved direction. The two directions are at an angle to each other, in particular, the two directions can be perpendicular to each other. Preferably, the first holding unit in the horizontal and the second holding unit can be moved in the vertical direction.

By using two holding units, which can be moved independently, it can be ensured that the opened carton is always in the right place to be optimally transferred to the transport device. This facilitates the transfer to the transport device and at the same time ensures an increased machine speed.

In addition, it is possible by the independent movement of the two holding units to process both folding carton blanks with a leading and folding carton blanks with a trailing tension. Depending on the tension of the folding carton blanks, only the horizontal movement of the first holding unit needs to be adjusted and programmed accordingly. In problematic folding carton blanks - for example, blanks that are comparatively wide and flat at the same time - the carton can also be completely broken before the actual opening of the blank takes place. This breaking of the blank reduces the tension in the blank so that the opened carton can not collapse again.

Preferably, the first holding unit can be rotatably mounted about an axis. In a preferred embodiment, the axis of rotation of the first holding unit may be designed to be movable in the linear direction of movement of the first holding unit. As a result of this rotatability of the first holding unit, the removal of the folding carton blanks from the storage magazine can take place directly through the first holding unit. The first holding unit can preferably be rotatably mounted both clockwise and counterclockwise. Thus, in a clockwise rotation, the first holding unit may remove the carton blanks from a magazine located at about 9 o'clock. In addition, the counterclockwise rotation of the first holding unit allows the folding carton blanks to be removed from an alternative magazine located at about 3 o'clock. The magazines for the folding carton blanks can therefore now be arranged either right or left. Moreover, it is now possible to provide two storage magazines for the carton blanks, both of which can be operated by the first holding unit. Depending on the selected programming of the first holding unit, the removal of the folding box blanks can optionally only one the two supply magazines or alternately made from both magazines.

Preferably, the first holding unit can be designed to be height adjustable. In this way, a simple adaptation of the device according to the invention to different formats of folding carton blanks is possible. For smaller formats, the paths to be traveled can be selected to be short, so that a high machine speed can be achieved. Even with larger formats, the paths to be covered can be optimally adjusted in this way. At the same time, adjustment of the height of the storage magazine for the folding carton blanks does not necessarily have to be possible with a height adjustability of the first holding unit in order to adapt the device to different folding carton blanks.

In order to allow the most gentle opening of the folding boxes, the first holding unit and / or the second holding unit may preferably each have at least one suction unit. This suction unit may preferably be designed as a vacuum suction. Depending on the size of the folding box blanks to be processed, a single suction unit or even several suction units can be provided per holding unit.

The transfer device according to the invention can be used in particular in a cartoning machine for packaging a product into a folding box. Such a cartoning machine according to the invention has, in addition to the transfer device according to the invention, a storage magazine for the flat folding carton blanks and a transport device to which the opened folding carton is transferred by the transfer device.

The storage magazine for the flat carton blanks can preferably be designed adjustable in height. In this case, the storage magazine together with the first holding unit of the transfer device or can be adjusted separately from this first holding unit in height.

In a first embodiment, a first and a second storage magazine may be present, which are arranged on both sides of the first holding unit. The removal of the carton blanks from the storage magazine takes place in this case by the first holding unit.

In a second embodiment, a separate removal device for removing the flat carton blanks from the supply magazine may be present. By this removal device, the carton blanks can first be removed and stored on a transport device. In this case, the folding box blanks are lifted by the second holding unit of the transfer device and pressed against the first holding unit. As soon as the folding box blanks are fixed by both the first and the second holding unit, the folding box can be opened. The open carton can then be stored again in the transport device. By means of this embodiment of the cartoning machine according to the invention, a further processing of the flat folded carton blanks is possible before the folding carton is opened. Such processing can be done for example by printing the carton blanks. In this way, for example, an internal batch or control number or even a best-before date can be printed on the carton.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be found in the claims further specified features and the following embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Kartoniermaschine mit erfindungsgemäßer Übergabe-Vorrichtung, bei der die erste Halteeinheit für die Entnahme eines Faltschachtel-Zuschnitts aus dem Vorratsmagazin bereitsteht,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, während der Entnahme des Faltschachtel-Zuschnitts durch die erste Halteeinheit,

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 2, bei der der flachliegende Faltschachtel-Zuschnitt von der ersten und der zweiten Halteeinheit gehalten wird,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3 während des Öffnen des Faltschachtel-Zuschnitts zur Faltschachtel,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 4 mit geöffneter Faltschachtel,

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 mit teilweise überbrochenem Faltschachtel-Zuschnitt,

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 6 mit vollständig überbrochenem Faltschachtel-Zuschnitt,

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 7 während des erneuten Öffnens des Faltschachtel-Zuschnitts,

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 8 während des Ablegens der geöffneten Faltschachtel in die Transportvorrichtung,

Fig. 10

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Kartoniermaschine mit erfindungsgemäßer Übergabe-Vorrichtung, bei der eine separate Entnahmevorrichtung für die Entnahme der Faltschachtel-Zuschnitte aus dem Vorratsmagazin vorhanden ist,

Fig. 11

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 10, bei der sich die erste Halteeinheit und die zweite Halteeinheit in ihrer Ausgangsposition befinden,

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 11, mit von der zweiten Halteeinheit angehobenem Faltschachtel-Zuschnitt,

Fig. 13

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 12 während des Öffnens des Faltschachtel-Zuschnitts zur Faltschachtel,

Fig. 14

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 13 mit geöffneter Faltschachtel und

Fig. 15

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 14, bei der die geöffnete Faltschachtel in die Transportvorrichtung abgelegt wurde.

The invention will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the cartoning machine according to the invention with transfer device according to the invention, in which the first holding unit for the removal of a folding carton blank from the storage magazine is ready,

Fig. 2

a side view of the device according to Fig. 1 during the removal of the folding carton blank by the first holding unit,

Fig. 3

a side view of the device according to Fig. 2 in which the flat folding carton blank is held by the first and second holding units,

Fig. 4

a side view of the device according to Fig. 3 during the opening of the folding box blank to the folding box,

Fig. 5

a side view of the device according to Fig. 4 with opened carton,

Fig. 6

a side view of the device according to Fig. 5 with partially broken folding carton blank,

Fig. 7

a side view of the device according to Fig. 6 with completely broken folding carton blank,

Fig. 8

a side view of the device according to Fig. 7 during reopening of the carton blank,

Fig. 9

a side view of the device according to Fig. 8 during the placing of the opened carton into the transport device,

Fig. 10

a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the cartoning machine according to the invention with transfer device according to the invention, in which a separate removal device for the removal of the folding carton blanks from the storage magazine is present,

Fig. 11

a side view of the device according to Fig. 10 in which the first holding unit and the second holding unit are in their starting position,

Fig. 12

a side view of the device according to Fig. 11 with folded carton blank raised by the second holding unit,

Fig. 13

a side view of the device according to Fig. 12 during the opening of the folding box blank to the folding box,

Fig. 14

a side view of the device according to Fig. 13 with opened carton and

Fig. 15

a side view of the device according to Fig. 14 in which the opened carton was placed in the transport device.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the cartoning machine 10 according to the invention with the transfer device 12 according to the invention is in the Fig. 1 to 9 shown schematically. The cartoning machine 10 has a first storage magazine 20 and a second storage magazine 22. In the two storage magazines 20, 22 is in each case a plurality of flat folded carton blanks 24 stored. The folding carton blanks are each stored standing behind each other in the present example case.

Between the two storage magazines 20, 22, the first holding unit 30 of the transfer device 12 according to the invention is arranged. The first holding unit 30 has a suction unit 32, through which the folding box blanks 24 can be sucked on a side surface and thus held. The first holding unit 30 is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis 34. In this case, the first holding unit 30 - as in Fig. 1 shown - are rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise to remove the carton blanks 24 from the second storage magazine 22. If the folding box blanks 24 are to be removed from the first supply magazine 20, the first holding unit 30 must be rotated by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction. The first holding unit 30 is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction (arrow 36). The axis of rotation 34 is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction 36.

During removal of the carton blank 24 (see Fig. 2 ), the first holding unit 30 moves a distance in the horizontal direction 36 of the supply hopper 22 away. At the same time, the first holding unit 30 rotates clockwise about the axis of rotation 34 until the folding box blank 24 is aligned horizontally (see Fig. 3 ). Meanwhile, the second holding unit 40 of the transfer device 12 moves in the vertical direction (arrow 42) until the holding unit 40 can engage from below on the folding carton blank 24. The second holding unit 40 also has a suction unit 44, through which the folding carton blanks 24 can be sucked on a side surface and thus held.

The first holding unit 30 and the second holding unit 40 are positioned so that they both in the flat folding carton blank as well as in the opened carton 50 (see Fig. 5 ) in each case on opposite side surfaces 52, 54 attack. In the present example, these are the longer side surfaces 52, 54, so that the opened folding box 50 is quasi in landscape format. In contrast, the two holding units 30, 40 could also attack each of the narrower side surfaces, so that the opened carton would be quasi in portrait format. The orientation of the opened folding box 50 can thus be freely selected, depending on the products to be filled and with regard to the other processing steps to be carried out.

In order to open the folding box blank 24, the second holding unit 40 is moved slightly downwards in the vertical direction 42 (see FIG Fig. 4 ). At the same time, the first holding unit 30 is moved a corresponding distance in the horizontal direction 36 to the right. Once the carton 50 is fully open (see Fig. 5 ), this can be released from the first holding unit 30. The second holding unit 40 can then deposit the opened folding box 50 by a vertical downward movement in a free compartment 60 of a transport device 62 (see FIG Fig. 9 ). Subsequently, a new carton blank 24 may be provided by the first holding unit 30.

If the folding box 50 to be opened has a problematic dimension, it may be necessary to first completely break the folding box (see Fig. 7 ), before it is actually opened and stored in the transport device 62. For this purpose, according to the first opening of the carton 50 accordingly Fig. 5 a further movement of the two holding units 30, 40 take place. For this purpose, the first holding unit 30 moves further in the horizontal direction 36 to the right, while the second holding unit 40 is moved back again in the vertical direction 42 upwards (see Fig. 6 ). As a result, according to Fig. 7 again a flat folded carton blank 24 'present, but which has the opposite voltage to the original carton blank 24. If the carton blank 24 'accordingly Fig. 8 reopened, the tension in the opened carton 50 is reduced, making it easier to process further is. For this purpose, the second holding unit 40 is again moved in the vertical direction 42 down, while the first holding unit 30 is moved back in the horizontal direction 36 to the left. Subsequently, the folding box 50 accordingly Fig. 9 are stored in the compartment 60 of the transport device 62. In the meantime, the first holding unit 30 can already remove a new folding carton blank 24 from the supply magazine 22.

At the in Fig. 1 to 9 illustrated embodiment, the carton 50 before the complete breaking on a trailing voltage. In contrast, by the cartoning machine 10 according to the invention or by the transfer device 12 according to the invention, a folding box with anticipatory tension could also be processed. In this case, the first holding unit 30 would move in the horizontal direction to the left to erect the flat carton blank to the carton.

In the 10 to 15 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the cartoning machine 10.2 according to the invention with the transfer device 12.2 according to the invention. The cartoning machine 10 has a storage magazine 20.2 in which a plurality of flat folding carton blanks 24 is mounted. The folding carton blanks are each stored standing behind each other in the present example case.

The individual folding carton blanks 24 are removed from a removal device 70 and laid flat in a compartment 64 of a conveyor belt 66. During transport of the flat carton blanks 24 through the conveyor belt 66, a further processing of the carton blanks 24 can take place. For example, the folding carton blanks 24 can be printed during transport by a printing unit, not shown here.

The conveyor belt 60 has for this purpose front dog 72 and rear dog 74. During transport of the flat folding carton blanks 24, the rear dog 74 serve the forward movement. In the area of the transfer device 12.2, the rear carriers 74 of the conveyor belt 66 dive, since these are generally no longer needed for the transport of the erected folding box 50.

The second holding unit 40.2 of the transfer device 12.2 raises the flat folded carton blanks 24 and pushes them from below against the first holding unit 30.2. The first holding unit 30.2 is displaceably mounted in this case only in the horizontal direction 36, but has no moving axis of rotation. The second holding unit 40.2 is slidably mounted in the vertical direction 42 as well as the second holding unit 40.

The first holding unit 30.2 and the second holding unit 40.2 are positioned so that they both in the flat folded carton blank 24 and in the opened carton 50 (see Fig. 14 ) in each case on opposite side surfaces 52, 54 attack. In order to open the folding box blank 24, the second holding unit 40.2 is moved slightly downwards in the vertical direction 42 (see FIG Fig. 13 ). At the same time, the first holding unit 30.2 is moved a corresponding distance in the horizontal direction 36 to the right. Once the carton 50 is fully open (see Fig. 14 ), the carton 50 is released from the second holding unit 40.2 (see Fig. 15 ). By contrast, the first holding unit 30.2 continues to move in some direction with the opened folding box 50 in the horizontal direction 36 until the folding box 50 is taken over by the drivers 80 of an upper runner 82. The top rotor 82 and the conveyor belt 66 are part of the transport device 62.2 of the cartoning machine 10.2. In this way, the carton 50 can be stored again exactly and safely in a compartment 60.2 of the cartoning machine 10.2. The drivers 80 of the upper rotor 82 ensure the forward movement of the opened carton 50.

Claims (14)

Device (12, 12.2) for transferring a folding box (50) to a transport device (62, 62.2) with a first holding unit (30, 30.2) and with a second holding unit (40, 40.2), through which a flat folding carton blank (24) can be erected to form a folding box (50), - wherein the flat-lying folding box blank (24) and the erected folding box (50) by the first holding unit (30, 30.2) and the second holding unit (40, 40.2) each on opposite side surfaces (52, 54) is durable, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30, 30.2) in a first direction (36) is movable, - The second holding unit (40, 40.2) in a second direction (42) is movable. Device according to claim 1, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30, 30.2) in a first linear direction (36) is movable, - The second holding unit (40, 40.2) in a second linear direction (42) is movable. Device according to claim 2, - characterized in that - The second holding unit (40, 40.2) in a first direction (36) perpendicular to the second linear direction (42) is movable. Device according to claim 3, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30, 30.2) in the horizontal direction (36) is movable, - The second holding unit (40, 40.2) in the vertical direction (42) is movable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30) is rotatably mounted about an axis (34). Device according to claim 5, - characterized in that - The axis of rotation (34) of the first holding unit (30) in the linear direction of movement (36) of the first holding unit (30) is moved along. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30) is rotatably mounted both clockwise and counterclockwise. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30, 30.2) is designed adjustable in height. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - The first holding unit (30, 30.2) and / or the second holding unit (40, 40.2) at least one suction unit (32, 44). Cartoning machine (10, 10.2) for packaging a product into a carton (50) - With a supply magazine (20, 20.2, 22) for the flat folded carton blanks (24), - With a transfer device (12, 12.2) according to one of the preceding claims for receiving the flat folding carton blanks (24) and for transferring the opened carton (50) to a transport device (62, 62.2), - With a transport device (62, 62.2) for transporting the opened carton (50). Cartoning machine according to claim 10, - characterized in that - The storage magazine (20, 20.2, 22) is designed adjustable in height. Cartoning machine according to claim 10 or 11, - characterized in that a first supply magazine (20) and a second supply magazine (22) are present, - The two supply magazines (20, 22) on both sides of the first holding unit (30) are arranged. Cartoning machine according to claim 10 or 11, - characterized in that - a removal device (70) for removing the flat folding carton blanks (24) and for storing the folding carton blanks (24) on the transport device (62.2) is present, - By the second holding unit (40.2) of the transfer device (12.2) of the carton blank (24) of the transport device (62.2) can be raised and against the first holding unit (30.2) can be pressed, - The opened carton (50) is again in the transport device (62.2) can be stored. Cartoning machine according to claim 13, - characterized in that - A printing unit for printing the flat folded carton blanks (24) on the transport device (62.2) is present.

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