EP4650308A1

EP4650308A1 - Supply system for replenishing a loading store with a stack of packaging blanks

Info

Publication number: EP4650308A1
Application number: EP25174553.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Apolonius Jacobus VAN BEKKUM; Tijs Petrus Cornelis BROSENS
Original assignee: C Tech BV
Current assignee: C Tech BV
Priority date: 2024-05-17
Filing date: 2025-05-06
Publication date: 2025-11-19
Also published as: BE1032621B1; BE1032621A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a supply system (1) for replenishing a loading store (2) of a processing system with a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks, comprising: a displacement device (5) for displacing the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the displacement device (5) is movable back and forth between a starting position and a discharge position; and a rotatable take-up unit (6) which is provided to take up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at the starting position and to rotate this stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at the starting position about a vertical axis of rotation (A) to a desired orientation direction. The displacement device (5) further comprises a pivotable frame (51) which is designed to take up the oriented stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks from said rotatable take-up unit (6), and the pivotable frame (51) is movable between the starting position and the discharge position by means of one or more combined displacement and rotational movements.

Description

The present invention relates to a supply system for replenishing a loading store of a processing system with a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, comprising a displacement device for displacing the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the displacement device is movable back and forth between a starting position and a discharge position, and a rotatable take-up unit which is provided to take up the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks at the starting position and to rotate this stack at the starting position about a vertical axis of rotation to a desired orientation direction. In addition, the present invention relates to a production device comprising such a supply system. The present invention also relates to a method for replenishing a loading store of a processing system with sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like.
In the manufacture of packagings, use is usually made of flat packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, which are often cut into a specific template in advance using, for example, a stamp or a punch. These sheet-like packaging blanks can be used as an intermediate product, or can be further processed using one or more processing systems. The packaging blanks may, for example, receive a surface treatment or a print, and are usually folded and glued to form a packaging. This folding and gluing is usually carried out in a generally known folder-gluer.
As standard, it is customary for these packaging blanks for further processing to be stacked in order to be sorted and displaced more efficiently, especially if the further processing of the blanks is not effected in the same production device as the production of the blanks. In this case, it is customary for these flat packaging blanks to be positioned staggered on a pallet, alternatingly in a first orientation and a second orientation which mirrors the first orientation, such that optimal use can be made of the amount of space on a pallet, especially if the flat packaging blanks have a highly irregular template. Customarily, multiple staggered stacks lie on a pallet, separated by partitions.
In order to thereafter further process these stacks in the further procedure on a processing system, such as a folder-gluer, it is necessary for the stacked flat packaging blanks to be retrieved from the pallet and fed to the folder-gluer using a supply system. However, this supply system must meet a series of requirements: it has to be able to pick up the stack of blanks without damaging or bending the blanks and it has to position the stack of blanks accurately in a loading store of the folder-gluer. The loading store of the folder-gluer or any other processing system is often of inclined form, making accurate positioning of the stack in the loading store more complex. The known solution to this is a robot arm which picks up the stack of blanks from the pallet without damaging the blanks using a gripper as described in GB 2 205 300 , tilts this stack of blanks according to the inclination of the loading store and then positions this stack in the loading store of the folder-gluer. It is additionally necessary for the correct operation of the folder-gluer that each flat packaging blank is positioned with the same orientation in the loading store. Thus, in the known processes, the robot arm will displace the stack of flat packaging blanks in two parts to the loading store, the stack being divided into the flat packaging blanks which lie, on the one hand, in the first orientation, and, on the other hand, in the second orientation.
However, the robot arm cannot simply position the stack lying in the second orientation into the loading store, but has to rotate it to the first orientation. This is a quite complex movement to carry out with the robot arm on its own, not only because the latter has to rotate the stack 180° but also because the gripper of the robot arm ultimately has to grasp a second side, opposite a first side where the gripper initially grasps the second orientation, in order to position the stack correctly according to the inclination in the loading store. The current solution that is least expensive and most compact is to use a rotary element such as a rotary cross in combination with the robot arm. The robot arm grasps the part which is positioned in the second orientation on the pallet quite firmly on the first side and places this part in the rotary cross. After the rotation of the stack by the rotary cross, the robot arm picks the stack back up with the gripper on the second side in order to position said stack accurately according to the inclination in the loading store. However, this method has the disadvantage that the robot arm in each case has to wait for the rotation of the rotary cross in the movement of the part which lay in the second orientation. It is thus not possible for the robot arm to already start collecting the next stack from the pallet before this part has been completely displaced, resulting in the loss of a lot of time and efficiency.
American patent publication US 2020/361729 A1 describes a device for feeding sheet-like products into an infeed device for a digital printer, comprising a displacement device for displacing the sheet-like products and a rotatable take-up unit which is provided to take up the sheet-like products and to rotate them about a vertical axis of rotation to a desired orientation direction.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact supply system which can efficiently feed a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks to a processing device designed to further process the supplied blanks. In this case, it is also important that this supply system does not bend or damage the packaging blanks during the displacement thereof.
This aim of the invention is achieved by providing a supply system for replenishing a loading store of a processing system with a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, comprising:

a displacement device for displacing the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the displacement device is movable back and forth between a starting position and a discharge position; and
a rotatable take-up unit which is provided to take up the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks at the starting position and to rotate this stack at the starting position about a vertical axis of rotation to a desired orientation direction;

Due to the fact that the supply system according to the invention provides a rotatable take-up unit in combination with a displacement device comprising a pivotable frame which carries out one or more combined displacement and rotational movements, it is possible to always displace a stack of correctly oriented sheet-like packaging blanks from the starting position to the discharge position. Using the pivotable frame, it is also possible to tilt the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks at a tilt angle, such that these can be positioned accurately and correctly in the loading store of a processing system. In addition, this solution is more compact, simpler and provides a major gain in time and efficiency compared with the known solution: it is now in particular possible for a next stack of packaging blanks to, if required, already be rotated to a correct orientation direction, while the previous rotated stack is being displaced by the displacement device to the discharge position.
Preferably, the supply system is also provided to allow a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks to pass through to the loading store without this stack being rotated by the rotatable take-up unit of the supply system. This makes it possible to use the same supply system to also supply the stacks of sheet-like packaging blanks which do not need to be rotated.
Preferably, the rotatable take-up unit is provided with clamping elements in order to firmly clamp the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks during the rotation about the vertical axis of rotation. This clamping also ensures that large stacks of sheet-like packaging blanks do not sag. The rotatable take-up unit is further preferably configured as a known rotary unit.
Preferably, the displacement device further comprises a base frame, wherein the base frame is provided with the pivotable frame. The base frame is further preferably linearly displaceable. The use of the base frame makes it possible to provide the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks with further support during the displacement and makes it possible for the pivotable frame to carry out more complex combined displacement and rotational movements, especially in the case that the base frame is linearly displaceable. In a preferred embodiment, the base frame is provided to move vertically upwards and downwards.
The pivotable frame is preferably linearly displaceable with respect to the base frame. This makes it possible for the supply system to be positioned further away from the loading store such that the loading store can be more easily adjusted, and makes it possible to manually feed sheet-like packaging blanks to the loading store when the supply system is not used. In a preferred embodiment, the pivotable frame is horizontally displaceable with respect to the base frame such that the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks can be brought horizontally in the direction of the discharge position at the loading store without the entire displacement device needing to be displaced. The pivotable frame is further preferably secured in an articulated manner to the base frame. This makes it possible for the pivoting movements to be carried out efficiently by means of the articulated arrangement with respect to the base frame and without the entire displacement device needing to be tilted.
Preferably, the supply system further comprises detection elements in order to detect a defined vertical distance between a bottom side of the pivotable frame and a top side of the sheet-like packaging blanks in the discharge position, and the displacement device further comprises control means in order to control, on the basis of the defined vertical distance, the displacement device to a new discharge position. It is important that the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks is positioned accurately in the loading store without falling from the supply system. The detection elements and control means make it possible to adapt the supply system to the correct height and/or orientation of the sheet-like packaging blanks that is required by the loading store, since the number of sheet-like packaging blanks already positioned in the loading store is variable.
Preferably, the pivotable frame comprises drivable conveyor belts for taking up the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks from said rotatable take-up unit at the starting position and for discharging the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks at the discharge position. The driving of these conveyor belts makes it possible to carefully and accurately discharge the stack of blanks at the discharge position with as little damage as possible. These drivable conveyor belts can also provide extra grip on the stack of blanks during the displacements and rotations of the pivotable frame.
Another object of the present invention relates to a production device for processing a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the production device comprises a processing system which is provided with a loading store and comprises a supply system for supplying the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks to the loading store of the processing system, characterized in that the supply system is as described above. This processing system preferably comprises a folder-gluer. Preferably, the loading store of the processing system is provided with receiving means in order to receive the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks. These receiving means also ensure that the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks is damaged as little as possible when it is received in the loading store.
A further object of the present invention relates to a method for replenishing a loading store of a processing system with a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, wherein this method comprises:

bringing the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks into a starting position of a supply system, wherein this supply system is as described above;
rotating the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks to the desired orientation in the rotatable take-up unit of the supply system;
taking up the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks from the rotatable take-up unit using the pivotable frame; and
displacing the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks from the starting position to the discharge position using one or more combined displacement and rotational movements of the pivotable frame.

Preferably, the method further comprises displacing the drivable conveyor belts forwards in order to discharge the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks at the discharge position at a specific speed, and simultaneously displacing the pivotable frame away from the discharge position at the same specific speed. Displacing the conveyor belts forwards at the same speed as the pivotable frame is pulled away brings the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks very carefully into the loading store such that there is less damage to the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks.
The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of a possible embodiment of a supply system according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to give illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of the supply system, and can thus not be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.
Reference numerals are used in this detailed description to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a production device according to the invention;
Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of the production device from Figure 1 , a stack of sheet-like packaging blanks having been taken up in the rotatable take-up unit prior to rotation;
Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the production device from Figure 1 after rotation;
Figure 4 depicts a perspective view of the production device from Figure 1 after a linear displacement of the pivotable frame;
Figure 5 depicts a perspective view of the production device from Figure 1 after the articulated pivoting of the pivotable frame;
Figure 6 depicts a perspective view of the production device from Figure 1 after the base frame has been displaced downwards;
Figure 7 depicts a perspective view of the production device from Figure 1 after the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks has been discharged into a loading store; and
Figure 8 depicts a front view of part of the production device from Figure 1 during the discharge of the stack of sheet-like packaging blanks into a loading store.

Figures 1 to 8 show a specific preferred embodiment of a production device (9) for processing a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks according to the present invention. This stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks can be manufactured from paper, cardboard, plastic or the like and can be cut into a simple template or into a complex template. Each sheet-like packaging blank in the stack (4) is preferably stacked in the same orientation. The production device (9) in each case comprises a processing system which is provided with a loading store (2). In the figures, only the loading store (2) of the processing system is depicted. The processing system is preferably a folder-gluer. The loading store (2) is provided to receive stacks (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks in a specific orientation, at a specific tilt angle. This tilt angle is usually between 10° and 30° with respect to a horizontal axis. To this end, the loading store (2) of the processing system is preferably provided with receiving means (21) in order to receive these stacks. These receiving means (21) may, for example, be projecting needles as depicted in the figures, but may alternatively or additionally comprise a stop and/or height and orientation sensors. The projecting needles may be provided so as to be extended further in height, depending on how many sheet-like packaging blanks are positioned in the loading store (2).
The production device (9) shown in the figures further comprises a supply system (1) for replenishing the loading store (2) of the processing system with a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like. At the starting position, the supply system (1) comprises a rotatable take-up unit (6) which is provided to take up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks and to rotate this stack (4) about a vertical axis of rotation (A) to a desired orientation direction. This rotatable take-up unit (6) is preferably provided with clamping elements (61), as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, in order to firmly clamp the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks during the rotation about the vertical axis of rotation (A). These clamping elements (61) may, for example, comprise pneumatic clamps. This rotatable take-up unit (6) rotates the stacks (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks preferably 180°, as can be seen between Figures 2 and 3, but this may alternatively also be a different angle of rotation. The arrow on the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks that is visible in the figures indicates the orientation direction of the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks. The rotatable take-up unit (6) may also be provided to only take up and not rotate the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks. This rotatable take-up unit (6) may be configured as a rotary unit, as is visible in the figures, but may alternatively also be configured as a different type of rotatable take-up unit (6).
This supply system (1) further comprises a displacement device (5) for displacing the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the displacement device (5) is movable back and forth between a starting position and a discharge position. This displacement device (5) comprises a pivotable frame (51) which is designed to take up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks that is oriented in the desired orientation direction from the rotatable take-up unit (6), as can be seen in Figure 3. The pivotable frame (51) will move between the starting position and the discharge position using one or more combined displacement and rotational movements. Figures 2-7 show a very specific forward movement, which is described in more detail below, the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks being displaced from the starting position to the discharge position using a displacement device (5) with a pivotable frame (51). Of course, the reverse movement, which is not depicted in the figures, is also possible. In embodiments with a loading store (2) as in the figures, the discharge position is preferably in the loading store (2). Depending on how many sheet-like packaging blanks are already stacked in the loading store (2), the exact discharge position in the loading store (2) can vary. The supply system (1) may be provided to supply one stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks, but may alternatively also be provided with multiple stacks (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at various positions in the supply system (1). It is for example possible for a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks to be displaced by the displacement device (5) and at the same time a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks to be rotated by the rotatable take-up unit (6).
The displacement device (5) further preferably comprises a base frame (52), wherein this base frame (52) is provided with the pivotable frame (51), as can be seen in the figures. The base frame (52) preferably moves linearly. Between Figures 2 and 3, it is possible to see how the base frame (52), on which the pivotable frame (51) rests, moves upwards such that the pivotable frame (51) can receive the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks from the rotatable take-up unit (6), at the starting position. In the figures, it is also possible to see how the pivotable frame (51) preferably comprises drivable conveyor belts (511). These are provided to take up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks from the rotatable take-up unit (6) at the starting position and to ultimately discharge it at the discharge position. In Figure 3, it is possible to see how the stack is positioned on a number of such drivable conveyor belts (511). It is preferable for the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks to remain on these drivable conveyor belts (511) during the displacement of the displacement device (5), as can be seen in Figures 3-6.
The pivotable frame (51) is further preferably linearly displaceable with respect to the base frame (52). Between Figures 3 and 4, it is possible to see how this pivotable frame (51) moves horizontally away from the base frame (52) and thus displaces the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks. Between Figures 4 and 5, it is possible to see how the pivotable frame (51) articulates with respect to the base frame (52) and tilts the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks to the desired tilt angle for the loading store (2). Between Figures 5 and 6, it is possible to see how the base frame (52) moves back downwards, such that the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks is positioned in the loading store (2). To this end, the supply system (1) preferably also further comprises detection elements, which are not depicted in the figures and can measure, at a position as in Figure 5, the height and/or angle of the sheet-like packaging blanks already present in the loading store (2) by detecting a defined vertical distance between a bottom side of the pivotable frame (51) and a top side of the sheet-like packaging blanks at the discharge position. Using control means, which are also not depicted in the figures, the displacement device (5) can be controlled in order to vary the discharge position. This discharge position may, for example, be varied by moving the base frame (52) less far downwards and/or bringing the pivotable frame (51) in an articulated manner to a different angle of inclination. The movements between Figures 3 and 6 may be carried out successively as in the figures, but may alternatively also be carried out at least partially simultaneously. The detection elements preferably comprise measurement means with lasers and the control means preferably comprise servomotors.
Between Figures 6 and 7, it is possible to see how, in this specific embodiment, the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks is discharged into the loading store (2) using the drivable conveyor belts (511). Preferably, the forward displacement of the drivable conveyor belts (511), at a specific speed V, is combined with the pulling back of the pivotable frame (51), at the same specific speed V, as can be seen in Figure 8. This specific speed V is preferably in the order of 1 m/s. By discharging the stack in this way, it is not damaged.

Claims

Supply system (1) for replenishing a loading store (2) of a processing system with a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, comprising:
- a displacement device (5) for displacing the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the displacement device (5) is movable back and forth between a starting position and a discharge position; and

- a rotatable take-up unit (6) which is provided to take up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at the starting position and to rotate this stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at the starting position about a vertical axis of rotation (A) to a desired orientation direction;
characterized in that the displacement device (5) comprises a pivotable frame (51) which is designed to take up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks that is oriented in the desired orientation direction from said rotatable take-up unit (6), and wherein the pivotable frame (51) is movable between the starting position and the discharge position by means of one or more combined displacement and rotational movements.
Supply system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable take-up unit (6) is provided with clamping elements (61) in order to firmly clamp the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks during the rotation about the vertical axis of rotation (A).
Supply system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the displacement device (5) further comprises a base frame (52), wherein the pivotable frame (51) is pivotably connected to said base frame (52).
Supply system (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the base frame (52) is displaceable upwards and downwards.
Supply system (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pivotable frame (51) is linearly displaceable with respect to the base frame (52).
Supply system (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the pivotable frame (51) is fastened in an articulated manner to the base frame (52).
Supply system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply system (1) further comprises detection elements in order to detect a defined vertical distance between a bottom side of the pivotable frame (51) and a top side of the sheet-like packaging blanks in the discharge position, and in that the displacement device (5) further comprises control means in order to control, on the basis of the defined vertical distance, the displacement device (5) to a new discharge position.
Supply system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivotable frame (51) comprises drivable conveyor belts (511) for taking up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks from said rotatable take-up unit (6) at the starting position and discharging the taken-up stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at the discharge position.
Production device (9) for processing a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks, wherein the production device (9) comprises a processing system which is provided with a loading store (2) and comprises a supply system (1) for supplying the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks to the loading store (2) of the processing system, characterized in that the supply system (1) is as described in one of Claims 1 to 8.
Production device (9) according to Claim 9, wherein the processing system comprises a folder-gluer.
Production device (9) according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the loading store (2) of the processing system is provided with receiving means (21) in order to receive the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks.
Method for replenishing a loading store (2) of a processing system with a stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks made of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like, characterized in that this method comprises:
- bringing the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks into a starting position of a supply system (1), wherein this supply system (1) is according to one of Claims 1 to 8;

- rotating the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks to the desired orientation in the rotatable take-up unit (6) of the supply system (1);

- taking up the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks from the rotatable take-up unit (6) using the pivotable frame (51); and

- displacing the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks from the starting position to the discharge position using one or more combined displacement and rotational movements of the pivotable frame (51).
Method according to Claim 12 using a supply system (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the method further comprises displacing the drivable conveyor belts (511) forwards in order to discharge the stack (4) of sheet-like packaging blanks at the discharge position at a specific speed (V), and simultaneously comprises displacing the pivotable frame (51) away from the discharge position at the same specific speed (V).