EP3658366B1 - Device for dispensing a padding material for packaging purposes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for providing a padding material for packaging purposes according to the preamble of claim 1.

US 2016/0151991 A1 already discloses using a sensor to detect when a user pulls on a section of padding material.

Devices of the type mentioned are also from DE 10 2012 218 679 A1 as well as the US 2016/0257474 A1 known. From the first publication is a Device is known, which includes a provision device, can be produced with the padding from crumpled paper. A device is known from the second-mentioned publication, which comprises a supply device with which cushioning material can be produced from bags filled with air. Other devices known from the market include supply devices which provide cushioning material made of foam, for example in the form of chips or pellets ("Loose Fill") or in the form of bags filled with a self-foaming material.

The state of the art also includes the EP 0 776 760 B2 as well as the EP 0 889 779 B1 . The first-mentioned publication describes a device for providing cushioning material, in which a sensor device is provided which detects the removal of a cushioning material from an outlet of the device. The latter publication discloses providing a signal to produce another dunnage after a dunnage is removed at an exit position.

From the U.S. 6,416,451 B1 it is also known to arrange a sensor, for example an infrared sensor or a capacitive sensor, in a removal area and to prevent the operation of a cutting device if the sensor detects, for example, the presence of a hand.

Proceeding from the prior art mentioned, the present invention has the object of providing a device in which, on the one hand, a high level of operational reliability is ensured and, on the other hand, a largely automatic production of cushioning materials at the request of a user ("on-demand mode") is possible.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims. Furthermore, important features for the invention can be found in the following description and in the drawing. These features can be essential for the invention both on their own and in different combinations, without explicit reference to this again.

According to the invention, a device for providing a cushioning material for packaging purposes is proposed, which comprises a delivery device which provides the cushioning material. The device also includes a removal area where a user can remove the provided and removable cushioning material. The device comprises at least one sensor device, which at least indirectly detects an attack by the user on the padding provided. Alternatively or additionally, there is a sensor device, preferably in or on the removal area, which detects the presence and/or absence at least one area of a hand of the user in the removal area or in a detection area immediately adjacent to the removal area. The provision device provides a cushioning means depending on the detected gripping of the user on the cushioning means provided and/or depending on the presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the removal area or in the detection area. It is provided that a transport device or a control and regulation device is only activated after a specified time interval has elapsed after the user has detected gripping the cushioning material provided and/or after it has detected the presence and/or non-presence of at least one area of a hand of the user in the transport is initiated in the removal area or in the detection area, and/or that the provision device only initiates after a specified time interval has elapsed after the user has detected gripping the provided cushioning material and/or after a detected presence and/or non-presence of at least one area of a hand of the user providing a cushioning means in the extraction area or in the detection area. This makes the operation of the device even safer and more convenient.

The device according to the invention depends on whether the user of the device attacks the cushioning material provided for removal or for Removing the padding provided engages in the device. On the one hand, the sensor device provided according to the invention increases the safety and reliability of the device according to the invention. The sensor device enables the provision of cushioning to be interrupted or terminated when it is detected that a user is gripping the padding provided and/or at least part of a user's hand is present in the removal area. Analogous to this, the sensor device only allows cushioning to be provided in the removal area when it is detected that the user is not gripping the padding provided and/or a user's hand is no longer present in the removal area. A jam in an area upstream of the removal area is thereby avoided.

It is also easier for the user to grip a cushioning means, since the cushioning means provided is stationary at the moment it is gripped, ie it does not move. However, it is also possible that the provision of cushioning material is initiated in the first place when the user grips the padding provided and/or the presence of a user's hand in the removal area or in the detection area immediately adjacent to the removal area is detected, so that after attacking the user on the cushioning means and / or after Moving at least one area of the user's hand into the removal area or into the detection area immediately adjacent to the removal area provides a cushioning means in the removal area that can be grasped.

Overall, this enables operation of the device depending on whether the user grips the padding provided for removal and/or the presence or absence of at least one area of a user's hand in the removal area, which on the one hand increases operational reliability and on the other hand an "on-demand mode" can be realized, in which the user can influence the production of cushioning material by a movement of his hand, which can significantly increase productivity.

By the provision device providing a cushioning means depending on the detected gripping of the user on the cushioning means provided and/or depending on the presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the removal area or in the detection area, automated operation of the device is made possible, which clearly increases the efficiency elevated.

In a first development, it is proposed that the provision device provides the cushioning material in such a way that a first removable area of the cushioning material is detachably connected to a second area of the cushioning material, and that the Sensor device detects an at least indirect effect by the user on the second area of the cushioning material when removing the first area of the cushioning material. This is based on the consideration that the padding means can be provided, for example, in the form of an initially coherent strand of individual areas, which are connected to one another, for example, by material weaknesses, for example in the form of perforations. In this way, a first area, which is intended for removal, can be releasably connected to a second area, which is not yet intended for removal. In principle, however, it is not absolutely necessary for a perforation to be present. Another weakening of the material is also conceivable, or no weakening of the material at all, but rather an aid that can separate the two adjacent areas. For example, a tool can be a cutting device.

If the user separates the first area from the second area, for example by tearing it off, this acts on the second area to the extent that a tensile force is exerted on the second area, for example. The sensor device can now at least indirectly detect this tensile force or any other parameter of the second region that changes when the first region separates from the second region. The term "indirectly" is intended to indicate here that the parameter can also be tapped off, for example, on a component of the provision device, which experiences an impact when the first area separates from the second area.

This development has the advantage that it can be used to specifically detect a separation (or at least an attempt at separation) of the first area from the second area. This allows a very precise and safe control of the device and thus a safe and precise production and supply of cushioning material.

In a further development of this, it can be provided that the supply device comprises a motor drive and that the sensor device detects a change in the state of the motor drive due to the at least indirect influence of the user on the second area of the padding means. Such a change of state can be present, for example, in the case of a torque or a force which occurs on a rotor or on a stator or a mount of the motor drive, or in the case of a current value which is picked off by a corresponding sensor. This is very easy to implement and can even be retrofitted under certain circumstances.

A further variant provides that the sensor device changes a signal state when at least one area of a hand enters the removal area or the detection area. In this way, the sensor device can reliably and easily detect when a user puts a hand in the removal area or in the moved into the detection area. The at least temporary presence of at least one area of the hand is detected (it can be seen that the term "detecting the presence of a hand in the removal area or in the detection area" also means according to the invention that moving the hand into the removal area or in the detection area is detected).

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the sensor device to change a signal state when a hand leaves the removal area or the detection area. In this way, the sensor device can reliably and easily detect when a user moves a hand out of the removal area or out of the detection area. The at least temporary absence of the hand is therefore detected (it can be seen that the term "detection of the absence of a hand in the removal area or in the detection area" also means according to the invention that moving the hand out of the removal area or out of the detection area is detected).

Especially when a hand of the user is to be detected, a simple and, in this respect, particularly inexpensive implementation of such a sensor device consists in the sensor device having a light barrier, an image recognition device, an infrared detector and/or an ultrasonic detector, each in or on the removal area or the Detection area includes. Included an image recognition device offers the advantage that it can provide additional information that is important for controlling the device. For example, it can be detected whether the hand is open in the removal area or in the detection area, or it can be detected whether the hand in the removal area or in the detection area has a specific size, and depending on this, a corresponding number and/or size of cushioning means is provided, or the number of outstretched fingers of the hand can be detected so that a corresponding number and/or size of cushioning means is provided.

A further implementation of a sensor device consists in the sensor device comprising a torque sensor, a force transducer and/or a current sensor, each on the motorized drive of the provision device, particularly when the user is trying to detect the cushioning means. These are sensors that are easy to implement and that can detect a "manipulation", that is, for example, a separation, of the first area mentioned above from the second area.

It is also possible for the removal area to be arranged directly on the supply device. This results in a very compact device.

As an alternative to this, it is proposed that the removal area be removed from the provision device is arranged, and that a transport device is arranged between the delivery device and the removal area, which transports a provided by the delivery device cushioning means to the removal area. This allows the cushioning material that has been provided to be transported, for example, to a packing station without the space for a complete delivery device being required at the packing station.

It is particularly preferred if the transport device transports a cushioning means depending on the user's grip on the cushioning means provided and/or depending on the detected presence and/or absence of at least one area of a hand of the user in the removal area or in the detection area.

It is also proposed that the removal area or the detection area extends over a length and the sensor device, which detects the presence and/or absence of at least one area of a hand of the user in the removal area or in the detection area, is arranged and designed in such a way that it acts over the entire length of the sampling area or the detection area. This is particularly advantageous in the case of an area that extends linearly, for example extraction area or detection area. The operation of the device can thus be influenced by a user's hand, regardless of the location within the removal area at which the user's hand enters the removal area or is moved out of it.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung eines Polstermittels für Verpackungszwecke;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung eines Polstermittels für Verpackungszwecke;

Figur 3

eine perspektivische detaillierte Darstellung eines möglichen Entnahmebereichs einer dritten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung eines Polstermittels für Verpackungszwecke; und

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer vierten Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zur Bereitstellung eines Polstermittels für Verpackungszwecke.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show in the drawing:

figure 1

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device for providing a cushioning material for packaging purposes;

figure 2

a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a device for providing a cushioning material for packaging purposes;

figure 3

a perspective detailed representation of a possible removal area of a third embodiment of a device for providing a cushioning material for packaging purposes; and

figure 4

a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device for providing a cushioning material for packaging purposes.

In the following, in different embodiments, those elements and areas which have equivalent functions to elements and areas of an embodiment already described above bear the same reference symbols. Normally, they are not explained again in detail.

A device for providing a cushioning material for packaging purposes is disclosed in figure 1 overall reference numeral 10. It is indicated schematically by a box drawn in dot-dash lines. The device 10 comprises a provision device 12 which provides the cushioning agent. In the present case, the supply device 12 converts a flat web-shaped starting material 16 provided on a roll 14 into a three-dimensional cushioning material, which is figure 1 is indicated only schematically and overall by an arrow 18. Alternatively, the starting material 16 could also be provided in the form of a zigzag-folded stack.

In principle, in many of the exemplary embodiments of devices 10 explained below, very different types of cushioning means 18 and corresponding provision devices 12 are conceivable. For example, the cushioning means can consist of crumpled paper. In this case, the starting material 16 would consist of web-shaped paper, and the supply device 12 would be a crumpler, which feeds the web-shaped paper into crumpled paper converts, and a cutter which cuts the crumpled paper into individual pillow-like cushioning means.

However, it is also possible for the cushioning means 18 to be an air-filled bag made from a plastic film. In this case, the starting material 16 would initially also consist of a web-shaped and flat tubular film, and the supply device 12 would comprise a filling device and a sealing device which fills the web-shaped tubular film with air or seals it after filling. Such a tubular film usually has perforations so that the user can tear off one or more bags filled with air.

In the present example, it is assumed that the figure 1 shown providing device 12 such air-filled bags 18a, 18b, ... provides. These individual bags 18a and 18b are each detachably connected to one another by a perforation 19, so that a type of string of bags 18a, 18b, . . . is formed. In this respect, the first "protruding" bag 18a forms a first area of the cushioning means 18 that is intended for removal or can be removed, whereas the second bag 18b forms a second area of the cushioning means 18 that is not yet intended for removal.

A tear-off device, which makes it easier for the user to tear off a bag 18, is in figure 1 implied. It bears the reference number 20. The above-mentioned filling device bears the reference number 22 and the above-mentioned sealing device bears the reference number 24. A motor drive in the form of a feed motor, which conveys the starting material 16 through the filling device 22 and the sealing device 24, carries figure 1 the reference number 25.

From a machine outlet 26 of the supply device 12, the padding means 18 arrives in a removal area 28, which is indicated here by a dot-dashed oval. In the present case, the removal area 28 is therefore arranged directly on the supply device 12 . A cushioning material 18 present in this removal area 28 can be removed by a user. To do this, the user inserts a hand, as shown by an arrow 30 , from the side or, not shown, from below into the removal area 28 .

A sensor device 32 is present in the area of the motor drive 25 . This is designed in such a way that it detects an at least indirect effect by a user on the second area 18b of the padding 18 when the first area 18a of the padding 18 is removed. For this purpose, the sensor device 32 can detect a change in the state of the motor drive 25 due to the at least indirect effect of the user on the second region 18b of the cushioning means 18 . For example, the sensor device 32 can include a torque sensor, a force sensor and/or a current sensor. In the case of a torque sensor or a force sensor, the sensor device 32 would preferably be arranged in the region of a mounting (not shown) for the motor drive 25 on a housing (not shown) of the supply device 12 . In the case of a current sensor, the sensor device 32 would be arranged, for example, on an electrical supply line to the motorized drive 25 .

The device 10 also includes an operating terminal 36 with which the user can select different operating modes of the device 10, for example. The device 10 also includes a control and regulating device 38, which includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a memory (not shown). This control and regulation device 38 receives, among other things, a signal from the sensor device 32, and it controls the supply device 12, for example the motor drive 25 for the starting material 16 as well as the filling device 22 and the sealing device 24.

The device 10 works as follows: at the operating terminal 36, the user selects the number of air-filled bags 18a, 18b, . The number of Bag 18 to be made available present 1. Then the making available device 12 is set in motion and the bag 18a already mentioned above is made available in the removal area 28 . This bag 18a thus hangs out of the machine outlet 26. It is still connected via the above-mentioned perforation 19 to the other bag 18b that has already been produced but has not yet fully reached the removal area 28 .

After said bag 18a has been made available in the removal area 28, the control and regulation device 38 automatically stops the making available device 12. The bag 18a is therefore motionless and stationary in the removal area 28. The user now reaches into the removal area 28 with his hand 30 from the outside, grasps the bag 18a and tears it off the bag 18b at the perforation 19. The user thus takes hold of the cushioning means 18 provided. This leads to a tensile force on the bag 18b and on the other bags which are connected to the bag 18b via corresponding perforations and which have already been produced and which extend to the motor drive 25, which in figure 1 is indicated by a dashed double line.

This tensile force thus ultimately also acts on the motor drive 25, which in the present case is, for example, an electric motor with a stator and a rotor, and leads to a corresponding "change of state" there. This tensile force causes a Change in signal state. However, the tensile force can also lead to a (slight) movement of the rotor relative to the stator, which induces a current that is detected by the current sensor mentioned above or causes a change in the signal state in it.

This change in the signal state is transmitted from the sensor device 32 to the control and regulation device 38, and a timer of the control and regulation device 38 is thereby set in motion. A predetermined time interval is defined by the timer. The user can set the length of the time interval on the operator terminal 36 . Alternatively, the time interval can also be fixed. In general, the time interval is a few seconds. In principle, however, the time interval can also be 0. After the time interval has elapsed, the supply device 12 is controlled by the control and regulation device 38 in such a way that the next bag (in this case the bag 18b) is provided in the removal area 28 .

An alternative embodiment is shown figure 2 . This differs from the embodiment of FIG figure 1 primarily due to the type and arrangement of the sensor device 32.

In the embodiment of figure 2 the sensor device 32 is present at the lower outer edge of the machine outlet 26 . This can be used to detect the presence and absence of a hand 30 of the user in the removal area 28 . At the In the present case, sensor device 32 is an ultrasonic detector 33 which generates an ultrasonic range 34 . In the present case, this extends vertically downwards from the ultrasonic detector 33 like a curtain. When the user's hand 30 breaks through the ultrasonic range 34 of the ultrasonic detector 33 by the hand 30 entering the sampling area 28, a signal state of the ultrasonic detector 33 changes. When the user's hand 30 leaves the ultrasonic range 34 of the ultrasonic detector 33 again by the hand 30 is removed from the removal area 28, the signal state of the ultrasonic detector 33 also changes.

In an embodiment that is not shown, the sensor device can also include an image recognition device, for example a camera. In a further embodiment that is not shown, the sensor device can comprise an infrared detector or a light barrier.

The device 10 of figure 2 works initially identical to the device 10 of figure 1 . After the bag 18a has been made available in the removal area 28, the control and regulating unit 38 automatically stops the making available device 12. The bag 18a is therefore motionless and stationary in the removal area 28. The user now reaches into the removal area 28 with his hand 30 from the outside, grasps the bag 18a and tears it off the bag 18b at the perforation 19. He breaks through the ultrasonic range 34, whereby the signal state of the ultrasonic detector 33 changes, for example from a state 0 to a state 1. This change in the signal state is transmitted to the open-loop and closed-loop control device 38 . This change in the signal state has the effect in the control and regulation device 38 that initially any fresh provision of bags 18 is prevented.

The user now grasps the bag 18a present in the removal area 28 with his hand 30 and moves his hand 30 together with the bag 18a in the opposite direction of the arrow in FIG figure 1 back out of the removal area 28 . The bag 18a is separated from the remaining bag 18b still present in the machine outlet 26 by means of the tear-off device 20 at the perforation 19 .

If the hand 30 moves out of the ultrasonic range 34, this also leads to a change in the signal state of the ultrasonic detector 33, in the present example from a state 1 to a state 0. This change in the signal state causes a timer of the control and regulation device 38 set in motion. A predetermined time interval is defined by the timer. The user can set the length of the time interval on the operator terminal 36 . Alternatively, the time interval can also be fixed. In general, the time interval is a few seconds. In principle, however, the time interval can also be 0. After the time interval has expired, the provisioning device 12 is controlled by the control and regulation device 38 in such a way that three bags 18 are again made available in the removal area 28 .

The user can now reach into the removal area 28 with his hand 30 again, so that the process described above can be carried out again.

It goes without saying that in this embodiment it is fundamentally also conceivable that the padding means 18 is chips or pellets ("Loose Fill") made of foamed plastic, or plastic bags that are filled with a self-foaming material.

Another embodiment of an apparatus 10 for providing cushioning means 18 for packaging purposes is now described with reference to FIG figure 3 explained.

In this embodiment, a light barrier 39 forming the sensor device 32 is located behind a separating aid 40 as seen from the user, whereas the removal area 28 is located in front of the separating aid 40 as seen from the user. When viewed from the front, the separating aid 40 is an approximately U-shaped sheet metal construction with two lateral legs 40a running approximately vertically and a base 40b running transversely and approximately horizontally. The two legs 40a have an L-shaped cross section, each with a front wall 40c and a side wall 40d. Between A slit-like opening 41 is present on the two legs 40a, which connects the removal area 28 in front of the separating aid 40, as viewed by the user, with a detection area 42, which is present behind the separating aid 40 as viewed by the user. The light barrier 39 forms a linear light curtain 44 in the form of a beam between the two side walls 40d.

The cushioning material 18 is conveyed from a delivery area 46 downwards into the removal area 28 . The cushioning means 18 reaches the delivery area 46 through a delivery device, which is not shown here, however, and which can basically be constructed in a similar way to the one above in connection with FIGS figures 1 and 2 provision device 12 explained. However, it is also fundamentally conceivable for a buffer device to be arranged between the provision area 46 and the provision device, for example in the form of a silo. Again, the cushioning means 18 is symbolized by an arrow. After the end of the conveyance, the cushioning means 18 hangs down in the removal area 28 .

In the present case, the cushioning means 18 is again an air-filled bag which is detachably connected to one another via a perforation indicated by points 19 in the figure. In order to remove the bags 18 located in the removal area 28, the user again grasps his hand, which is also in figure 3 is symbolized by an arrow 30, from the front into the opening 41 of Separating aid 40 inside. During this movement, it pierces the perforation 19 so that the bags present below the perforation 19 can be severed and grasped by the user's hand. During this movement, however, some of the outstretched fingers of the hand also pass through the opening 41 into the detection area 42 arranged behind the separation aid 40 and into the light curtain 44 of the light barrier 39 present there.

As a result, the light barrier 39 is interrupted, as a result of which the presence of a region, namely a few fingers of the user's outstretched hand 30 , is detected in the detection region 42 immediately adjacent to the removal region 28 . Analogous to above, this results in a signal change, which is transmitted from the light barrier 39 to the control and regulation device. If the user pulls his hand 30 back again together with the separated bags 18, the interruption of the light barrier 39 ends, which in turn results in a signal change, which is transmitted to the control and regulation device. After this last signal change, a new quantity of padding material 18 is made available in the removal area 28 either immediately or again only after a time interval has elapsed.

A fourth embodiment of an apparatus 10 for providing a cushioning means 18 for packaging purposes will now be described with reference to FIG figure 4 explained.

At the in figure 4 Device 10 shown, the removal area 28 is arranged away from the delivery device 12 . The removal area 28 is formed in a line and directly above a conveyor belt 48 so that it extends over a length L. A transport device in the form of a chute 50 is arranged between the supply device 12 and the conveyor belt 48, which, during operation, uses a cushioning material provided by the supply device 12 (in figure 3 not shown) transported to the conveyor belt 48.

A sensor device 32 in the form of a light barrier 39 is arranged to the side of the removal area 28, which generates a light curtain 44 over the entire length L of the removal area 28 figure 4 is indicated by vertical lines. It goes without saying that the light curtain 44 does not necessarily have to be two-dimensional, but can also consist of just a single linear light beam.

In the figure 4 The device 10 shown works as follows: first, ie at the start of operation, the supply device 12 produces cushioning material, which reaches the conveyor belt 48 via the chute. This is in operation and transports the cushioning material on the conveyor belt 48 to figure 4 to the left. When the first cushioning material produced reaches the left-hand end of the conveyor belt 48, this is detected by a sensor (not shown) present there. detected, whereby the conveyor belt 48 is stopped. The provision of cushioning material by the provision device 12 is also terminated. In this state, the conveyor belt 48 is covered over its entire length L with padding.

The cushioning means can be the air-filled plastic bags mentioned above, or individual cushions made of crumpled paper. Such bolsters may be tubular, star-shaped, or butterfly-shaped in cross-section. In the following, it is assumed, for example, that the padding material consists of individual padding pads made of crumpled paper.

If a user now grabs his hand again, which is also in figure 4 symbolized by an arrow 30, enters the removal area 28 from the side and grasps a cushion lying on the conveyor belt 48, thereby breaking through the light curtain 44, which leads to a first signal change, as already mentioned above in connection with the other two exemplary embodiments became. The user now withdraws his or her hand along with the bolster, creating a gap on the conveyor belt 48 at that point. Because the hand 30 leaves the light curtain 44 again, a second signal change is caused, which in turn is transmitted to the open-loop and closed-loop control device 38 . This causes the supply device 12 to be controlled first by the control and regulation device 38 is, so that this produces a new cushion, which then arrives via the chute 50 on the conveyor belt 48.

However, the control and regulating device 38 also controls the conveyor belt 48, as a result of which this is set in motion for a predetermined time. In the figure 4 Upholstery cushions to the left of the resulting gap cannot, however, be moved any further even when the conveyor belt 48 is moving, since the in figure 4 leftmost cushion pad at one on in figure 4 left end of the conveyor belt 48 existing stop (not shown) is present. Only the in figure 4 Upholstery cushions present to the right of the resulting gap are moved further so that the gap is closed and the newly produced upholstery cushion can pass from the chute 50 onto the conveyor belt 48 . The conveyor belt 48 is thus again completely, ie "completely" covered with cushions.

At the in figure 4 The embodiment shown is the transport device, which connects the delivery device 12 and the removal area 28, designed as a chute 50, which in this respect works "passively" by gravity and cannot be controlled. In an embodiment that is not shown, the transport device could also be an "active" transport device, for example a conveyor belt, which could then also be controlled depending on the detection of part of the user's hand in the detection area. and possibly also only after a time interval has elapsed.

In the embodiments described above Figures 2-4 Both the signal change generated when the user's hand entered the removal area or detection area and the signal change generated when the user's hand left the removal area or detection area were recorded. It goes without saying that, in principle, only one of these signal changes can also be used to control the provision device and/or the transport device in such a way that the user is provided with a new cushioning means.

Claims (11)

1. Device (10) for supplying a padding material (18) for packaging purposes, having a supply apparatus (12) which supplies the padding material (18), and a removal region (28) from which a user can remove the padding material (18) supplied, said apparatus comprising at least one sensor apparatus (32) which at least indirectly detects a user gripping the padding material (18) supplied and/or a presence and/or absence of at least one region of the user's hand (30) in the removal region (28) or a detection region (42) adjacent to the removal region (28), the supply apparatus (12) supplying a padding material (18) depending on whether the user gripping the padding material (18) supplied is detected and/or depending on the presence and/or absence of the user's hand (30) in the removal region (28) or in the detection region (42), characterized in that a transport apparatus (50) or an open-loop and closed-loop control apparatus (38) only initiates transport after a predetermined time interval has elapsed after the user gripping the padding material (18) supplied is detected and/or after a presence and/or absence of at least one region of the user's hand is detected in the removal region or in the detection region, and/or in that the supply apparatus (12) only supplies a padding material (18) after a predetermined time interval has elapsed after the user gripping the padding material (18) supplied is detected and/or after a presence and/or absence of at least one region of the user's hand (30) is detected in the removal region (28) or in the detection region (42).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply apparatus (12) supplies the padding material (28) such that a first removable region (118a) is detachably connected to a second region (18b) of the padding material (18), and in that the sensor apparatus (32) detects an at least indirect action by the user on the second region (18b) of the padding material (28) when the first region of the padding material (28) is removed.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the supply apparatus (12) comprises a motor drive (25), and in that the sensor apparatus (32) detects a change in state of the motor drive (25) due to the at least indirect action by the user on the second region (18b) of the padding material (28).
4. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor apparatus (32) changes a signal state when at least one region of a hand (30) reaches into the removal region (28) or into the detection region (42).
5. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor apparatus (32) changes a signal state when at least one region of a hand (30) leaves the removal region (28) or the detection region (42) .
6. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor apparatus (32) comprises a photoelectric sensor (39), an image recognition apparatus, an infrared detector and/or an ultrasound detector, in each case in or at the removal region or the detection region.
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor apparatus (32) comprises a torque sensor, a force transducer and/or a current sensor, in each case on the motor drive of the supply apparatus.
8. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal region (28) or the detection region (42) is arranged directly at the supply apparatus (12).
9. Device (10) according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the removal region (28) is remote from the supply apparatus (12), and in that the transport apparatus (50) is arranged between the supply apparatus (12) and the removal region (28) and transports a padding material supplied by the supply apparatus (12) to the removal region (28).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the transport apparatus (50) transports a padding material depending on the user gripping the padding material (18) supplied and/or on whether the presence and/or absence of the user's hand is detected in the removal region or in the detection region.
11. Device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal region (28) or the detection region extends over a length (L) and the sensor apparatus (32), which detects the presence and/or absence of at least one region of the user's hand (30) in the removal region (28) or in the detection region, is arranged and designed such that it acts at least over part of the length (L), preferably over the entire length (L), of the removal region (28) or the detection region.

Images