ES2879692T3 - Device for processing packaging material, as well as procedure - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for processing packaging material, in particular cardboard blanks, comprising: a first folding device (40) for folding and/or folding a packaging material and a second folding device (50) for folding and/or folding the packaging material, and at least one transport device (60, 70) for transporting a packaging material relative to the first and/or the second folding device (40, 50), wherein the first and second devices Folding devices (40, 50) are adjustable independently of one another, preferably transversely to the direction of passage, characterized in that the device has a control device, which is designed to adjust the first folding device (40), in particular transversely to the flow direction, while the second folding device (50) processes a folded and/or folded packaging material by the first folding device (40).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device for processing packaging material, as well as procedure

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device for processing packaging material, such as cardboard blanks. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method. Merely by way of example, such a device or method is used to process packaging material that is used to package, for example, plate-shaped workpieces, such as parquet boards, shelves, panel fronts. furniture, etc.

State of the art

Devices for folding and / or folding cartons are already known in the state of the art, with which cartons sized in different ways can be flexibly processed. For example, DE 202010 009048 U1 should be mentioned in this context. The known device comprises a feeding unit, as well as a folding device. A stop of the feeding unit and the folding device can be adjusted to each other in such a way that the cartons can be inserted centrally into the folding device.

As a further document DE 3021 442 A1 is known which relates to a folding box gluing machine.

Document DE 198 03 820 A1 discloses a machine for producing folded containers, in particular foldable boxes, from blanks.

Object of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for processing packaging material, which has increased flexibility compared to the state of the art. In addition, a corresponding procedure is required. The object of claim 1 provides such a device. Further preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims. In this regard, it is preferred that the device is used to shape folded packaging material or boxes from cardboard blanks.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a method with the features of claim 8. In this regard, the dependent device claims may be combined with the method according to claim 8.

In this regard, an idea of the present invention is to provide a device that makes it possible to individually process packaging materials of different dimensions. However, the device according to the invention, as well as the method according to the invention, make it possible to achieve a relatively high efficiency.

The device according to the invention and / or the method according to the invention is / are suitable for handling "packaging material". In this regard, the term "packaging material" comprises in particular cardboard which is present first as cardboard blank and is further processed by the device or the method. In particular, it is envisaged to form from the packaging material, in particular the cardboard blank, a box / a folded packaging material for receiving objects.

In this regard, a cardboard blank, as a preferred example of packaging material, may already be configured with cut-out tabs. Also, the fold lines may have already been incorporated.

"Width direction" or "width" means, in relation to a folding device, a direction transverse, in particular perpendicular, to a direction of passage.

According to a first objective of the present invention, there is provided a device for processing packaging material, in particular cardboard blanks, a device comprising: a first folding device for folding and / or folding the packaging material and a second folding device to fold and / or fold the packaging material. In particular, the first folding device and the second folding device are arranged successively in a direction of passage.

Furthermore, the device comprises at least one transport device for transporting a packaging material (preferably in a direction of passage) in relation to the first and the second folding device. The transport device can be, as described below, a transport device that grabs the packaging material from a lower side (suction cup (s)). The transport device according to a further alternative can also refer to a robotic arm that moves the packaging material in relation to the first and / or the second folding device, in particular from the first folding device towards the second.

The device described is characterized in that the first and the second folding device are adjustable independently of each other, in particular transversely to a direction of passage.

The invention is further characterized in that the device has a control device that is configured to adjust the first folding device transversely to the direction of passage while the second folding device processes a packaging material. Consequently, downtimes are avoided and high performance with high flexibility is possible.

By "adjustable" it is preferably meant that the first and second folding devices can be adapted independently of each other to a dimension of a packaging material to be folded and / or folded.

In a further preferred embodiment, the folding devices are adjustable perpendicular to a direction of passage.

The direction of passage can be a straight or curved direction.

Since the folding devices described above are adjustable independently of each other, the device can be used especially flexibly for packaging materials or boxes produced therefrom of different sizes, in particular width. Consequently, with one device it is possible to produce boxes of different widths, without requiring complicated set-up work or having to stop the production process.

The second folding device can adapt to the dimension to be folded and / or bent of the packaging material and the first folding device (40) can adapt to a dimension to be folded and / or bent of a following packaging material in processing.

It is preferred that the first and / or the second folding device present (are) in each case at least one folding element, preferably two or more folding elements, in which the at least one folding element is / are adjustable ( s), preferably transversely to the direction of passage, to adjust the first and / or the second folding device. For example, the folding element can be a folding element that can be folded upwards, or in the case of several folding elements, it can be folding elements that can be folded upwards. Through adjustability, the claimed device is especially flexible.

In particular, the first and / or the second folding device have beams on which a folding element is mounted in each case, the beams being adjustable transversely to the direction of passage. Accordingly, a flexible and robust construction is provided.

It is preferred that the folding elements or the beams can move relative to a central axis running in the direction of passage, in particular at the same time. The centered alignment makes it possible to process packaging material of different dimensions in an advantageous way.

It is preferred that the device comprises a first transport device and a second transport device which are arranged in such a way that the packaging material, after being transported with the first transport device, can be received by the second transport device. In this way, performance can be increased.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the first transport device is configured to transport the packaging material at least in sections along the first folding device, and the second transport device is configured to transport the packaging material to the less by sections along the second folding device. Accordingly, a high processing rate can be enabled.

It is preferred that the first transport device and / or the second transport device are arranged in such a way that the packaging material when transported in the width direction is taken essentially in a centered manner. The centered alignment makes it possible to process packaging material of different dimensions in an advantageous way.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the at least one transport device, preferably the first transport device and / or the second transport device, is configured to grip the packaging material from a lower side.

The device may comprise an extraction unit (which is arranged in the downstream direction of the second folding device), in which the extraction unit is preferably configured to move, in particular push, the packaging material against a device stationary alignment, aligned transversely to the direction of passage. With regard to the advantages of an extraction unit of this type, reference is made to the following explanations.

Furthermore, provision may be made for a device to be provided, in particular adjacent to the extraction unit. transport device, that in particular a conveyor belt or a belt conveyor is arranged, and that the extraction unit is configured to deposit the packaging material on the transport device in selectable positions.

The device can be configured in such a way that the transport device moves at a constant speed, and a control device is configured to choose the depositing position of the packaging material on the transport device in such a way that the gaps between materials successive packages remain the same or essentially the same.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method that preferably uses a device according to one of the aforementioned aspects. In this regard, the method comprises the steps of: moving a packaging material towards a first folding device and folding and / or folding the packaging material with the first folding device, and moving the packaging material towards a second folding device. folding and folding and / or folding the packaging material with the second folding device. In this regard, the first folding device is adjusted, preferably transversely to the direction of passage of the packaging material, while the packaging material is moved towards or folded with the second folding device. It is preferred that the first and second folding devices can be adapted independently of each other to a dimension of a packaging material to be folded and / or folded.

Consequently, it is possible to produce boxes of different widths without the production process having to stop. Therefore, despite the flexibility described, the process is suitable for high throughput production.

Furthermore, the invention may relate to a use of one of the aforementioned devices.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail by means of the attached figures. The additional modifications mentioned in this context of certain particular characteristics can in each case be combined with each other, to configure additional embodiments.

In the plan view shown in figure 1, an embodiment of the device according to the invention is represented which has several sections. In particular, the device comprises a first feeding zone 10, as well as a second feeding zone 20 opposite the first feeding zone 10. According to a modification of the present embodiment, the device can, however, also have only one of the supply zones.

The first feed zone 10 and the second feed zone 20 are arranged in each case to receive packaging material (in the present embodiment a cardboard blank / cardboard blanks) in a respective stack M1, M2. The cardboard blank can be individually separated and delivered to a delivery unit 30.

A gantry 11 extends through the first feed zone 10, along which receiving units 12, 13 are displaced in a displaceable manner, aligned laterally in each case. The receiving units 12, 13 comprise receiving devices, such as suction cups, which are aligned in the vertical downward direction to grasp from above a cardboard blank found in the stack M1.

With the receiving units 12, 13 cardboard blanks can be received in each case alternately from the first stack M1 and moved to a delivery device 30 described in more detail later (see arrow 1). While one of the receiving units moves a cardboard blank in the direction of the delivery unit 30, the other receiving unit in each case can be moved from the delivery unit 30 in an area above the stack M1.

The gantry 11 further extends through the second feeding zone 20. The receiving units 12, 13 can also move along the gantry 11 in the second feeding zone. Accordingly, packaging materials can be removed from both the first stack M1 and the second stack M2.

Two protection walls 14, 15 are mounted on the portico 11, a first protection wall 14 being located in the zone of the first feeding zone 10 and a second protection wall 15 in the zone of the second feeding zone 20. The protection walls 14, 15 can be moved along the gantry 11 and serve as a protection device in case new cardboard blanks are fed to the first or second feeding zone 10, 20. For this, the respective protective walls 14, 15 can be moved in the direction of the delivery unit 30, so that a worker cannot access the area of the delivery unit 30.

The receiving units 12, 13 take cardboard blanks from the first or second stack M1, M2 in an edge area of the cardboard blanks, so that the position shown in figure 1 of the protective walls 14, 15 it does not affect the operation of the receiving units 12, 13.

The delivery unit 30 comprises a support table 31 that extends transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the portal 11. The support table 31 of the delivery device 30 has a large number of longitudinal grooves 32. According to a further embodiment, the support table 31 can, however, also comprise only one longitudinal slot 32.

Through the longitudinal grooves 32, starting from the lower side of the supporting table 31, claws can move in the vertical direction upwards. The claws are positioned in a raised position, so that the claws extend in sections across the bearing surface of the bearing table 31, so that the claws, with a movement along the longitudinal grooves 32, can move along the support table 31 a cardboard blank that was previously supported on the support table 31.

In this regard, the movement of the cardboard blank along the delivery unit 30 is effected in such a way that the cardboard blank after a movement along the support table 31 is centered in alignment relative to a central axis X1.

The central axis X1 is an imaginary axis that extends transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the direction of movement of the cardboard blank along the support table 31 and that runs along the devices 40, 50 folding described below.

Along the central axis X1 there is a guide, by means of which the cardboard blank moves along or through a first folding device 40 and a second folding device 50. The folding devices 40, 50 are configured to perform different folding operations on the cardboard blank.

To move the cardboard blank along the central axis X1, the device comprises a first transport device 60, with which the cardboard blank is received from the delivery unit 30 and moves along or through the first folding device 40. In this regard, the cardboard blank moves through a straightening device 41 which is configured to fold the cardboard blank (previously present as a flat-shaped element) in such a way that it has a bottom as well as two walls. longitudinal sides.

Furthermore, a second transport device 70 is provided which is configured to receive the cardboard blank that was moved with the first transport device 60 along the central axis X1, and to move the cardboard blank through the second device 50 of folding and guiding the same towards an extraction unit 80.

The first folding device 40 is configured to fold up a front transverse side wall (in the direction of passage) of the cardboard blank. The second folding device 50 is configured to fold up a rear transverse side wall (in the direction of passage) of the cardboard blank. However, according to a modification, the first folding device can also fold up the rear transverse side wall and the second folding device the front transverse side wall.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a section of the device represented in Figure 1. The first folding device 40 and the second folding device 50 are provided in this area.

On a support 200 a guide rail 220 is provided for the first transport device 60 and the second transport device 70, the guide rail 220 extending along the central axis X1. The guide rail 220 is fixed to the bracket 200, for example, screwed. The first and second transport devices 60, 70 are movable along the guide rail 220.

Along a common guide rail 220, the first transport device 60 and the second transport device 70 can move, in which the first transport device 60 is located in the area of the delivery unit 30 not shown in FIG. Figure 3 and, consequently, in this position it can receive a cardboard blank.

The first transport device 60 and the second transport device 70 can move through travel paths arranged in parallel with each other, so that their travel paths can overlap along the central axis X1.

The first and second folding devices 40, 50 are received by a support 200. The support 200 comprises several guide rails 201, 202, 203 arranged transversely to the transport direction, which allow or lead to adjustability described in detail below of the folding devices 40, 50. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, two drive elements 204, 205 are provided.

In the present embodiment, the drive elements 204, 205 are designed as a toothed belt.

The first folding device 40 comprises a first beam 42a and a second beam 42b which extend in a direction parallel to the central axis X1. On the beams 42a, 42b the straightening unit 41 is mounted.

Furthermore, on each beam 42a, 42b a folding element 45a, 45b of the first folding device 40 is provided, which can be folded in the vertical upward direction (in FIG. 3 perpendicular to the drawing plane). In this respect, the upward folding is carried out opposite to the direction of passage. If the folding elements 45a, 45b are folded up, a transverse side of the cardboard blank can thus be folded up.

The first beam 42a and the second beam 42b can be moved by the drive element 204 along the guide rails 201, 202. The drive for this is effected by means of the motor 210, which is also received in the support 200. After the beams 42a, 42b are engaged in each case with the drive element 204, a simultaneous movement of the beams 42a takes place. , 42b relative to the center line X1 (or relative to the guide rail 220). Accordingly, the width of the folding device 40 is adjusted.

The second folding device 50 further comprises a first beam 52a and a second beam 52b movable along the guide rail 203.

Furthermore, the second folding device 50 comprises a first folding element 55a and a second folding element 55b which are mounted in each case on a beam 52a, 52b. The folding elements 55a, 55b can be pivoted in the vertical upward direction, in which the pivoting movement of the folding elements 55a, 55b is in the direction of the passing direction, while the elements 45a, 45b described above folding mechanisms of the first folding device 40 are pivoted against the direction of passage.

Accordingly, by means of the first folding device 40 a front transverse side in the direction of passage of the cardboard blank can be straightened, while by means of the second folding device 50 a rear transverse side of the cardboard blank can be straightened.

The first beam 52a and the second beam 52b can be adjusted by the actuating element 205, so that the width of the second folding device 50 can be adjusted by a movement of the beams 52a, 52b relative to the central axis x 1. A in this regard, the drive element 205 is driven similarly to the drive element 204 by a motor not explicitly shown in the figures.

In the area of the extraction unit 80 there is a transport device 90, which according to the embodiment described in this case is a conveyor belt. In the present embodiment, two conveyor belts arranged consecutively are provided as the conveying device 90, however, it is clear that the number of the conveyor belts is not limited to a certain number. In the following, therefore, reference is made only to a conveyor belt 90.

Laterally relative to the conveyor belt 90 an aligner 100 is provided, which runs along an alignment axis X2. The alignment axis X2 is arranged offset from the central axis X1.

The extraction unit 80 comprises a longitudinal beam 81 which extends laterally with respect to the conveyor belt 90, and specifically in a direction parallel to the central axis X1 or the alignment axis X2. Longitudinal beam 81 forms a guide for an extension arm 82 that is movable along longitudinal beam 81. The extension arm extends at least in sections along the conveyor belt 90, and specifically transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the direction of extension of the longitudinal beam 81.

For this purpose, the extension arm 82 is further adjustable with respect to movement along the longitudinal beam also transversely, in particular perpendicular.

Provided at an end section of the extension arm 82 is a receiving element 83 which extends in a direction essentially parallel to the longitudinal beam 81. The receiving element 83 is configured to receive a box B (a cardboard blank formed by the straightening unit 41 and the folding devices 40, 50) by a side wall of the box B and guide the box B against the aligner 100 and / or align it in it. To this end, the receiving element 83 in the present embodiment has several suction cups, the receiving element 83 also being able to have, in a modification, only one suction cup or other receiving elements, for example, one or more tweezers, pliers, or similar.

In the present embodiment, a retaining member 84 is provided on the extension arm 82 in a position adjacent the receiving element 83, which is configured similarly or correspondingly to the receiving element 83 to retain a box B. Without However, the retaining element 84 is untied transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the receiving element 83. If the retainer 84 is released, it extends in a direction of the receiving member 83. By the combined use, longer B-boxes can be retained. Consequently, due to the configuration described above, the extraction unit 80 is configured to receive, in particular by means of the reception element 83, a box B (a cardboard blank formed by the straightening unit 41 and the devices 40, 50 folding) along a side wall of box B and guiding box B against and / or aligning therein with aligner 100.

In this regard, the movement of the extraction unit 80 in the direction of the aligner 100 can be controlled either by knowing the machine control element the dimensions of the box B, or by using a probe that completes a movement of the unit 80 of extraction in the direction of the aligner 100, when the box B is pressed against the aligner 100.

After the laterally arranged aligner 100 is used, boxes of different dimensions, in particular of different widths, can be aligned.

The receiving element 83 of the extraction unit 80 holds the box B until a command is made from the machine control element to release the box B. Thereafter, the box B can be further conveyed with the conveyor belt 90. After the release of box B is carried out in a delayed manner if necessary, it is possible to adjust the spaces between successive boxes B to a certain measure.

In the following, an exemplary process sequence according to the present embodiment is described.

First, in a first process step, a cardboard blank is removed either from stack M1 or stack M2 and moved to the delivery unit 30 (step S1). In this regard, the cardboard blank is gripped by suction cups of one of the receiving units 12, 13 from above and pulled onto the supporting table 31 of the delivery unit 30.

After the cardboard blank has rested on the support table 31 of the delivery unit 30, the claws move up through the longitudinal slots 32 of the support table 31. The claws are then moved along the longitudinal grooves 32, and consequently the cardboard blank on the support table 31 moves along the delivery unit 30 (step 2). In this regard, the cardboard blank is displaced in such a way that it is arranged centrally with respect to the central axis X1.

The claws can now be made to lower again and move back in the direction of the gantry 11. There the claws can receive an additional cardboard blank.

The cardboard blank aligned on the central axis X1 is now received by a first conveying device 60 and moves along the central axis X1 (step S3). In this regard, the movement of the cardboard blank is effected to the first folding device 40. During the movement with the first transport device 60, the cardboard blank is formed by the straightening unit 41 along fold lines. Consequently, the cardboard blank to be formed into a box now comprises a bottom and two longitudinal side walls.

By means of the first folding device 40, a first transverse side of the cardboard blank is folded up (step S4), so that the cardboard blank to be formed into a box additionally has a transverse side wall (front in the direction of movement).

Next, the cardboard blank is received from the second transport device 70 and is further moved along the central axis X1 (step S5). In this connection, the cardboard blank reaches the area of the second folding device 50, with which a second transverse side (rear in the direction of passage) of the packaging material is folded upwards (step S6).

Accordingly, the cardboard blank to be formed into a box now comprises a bottom, two longitudinal side walls, and two transverse side walls. The lid of the packing material is facing up in the vertical direction.

The box is then removed by the extraction unit 80. In the area of the extraction unit 80, the cardboard blank of the extraction unit 80 is received and aligned in the aligner 100, which runs along the alignment axis X2 arranged offset from the central axis X1, and at the end it is extracted from the device (step S7).

In this regard, the transport device 90 moves at a constant speed, and the extraction unit 80 positions the box B on the conveyor belt 90 in such a way that the spaces between successive boxes B remain the same or essentially the same.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used to process packaging material, such as cardboard blanks. In this regard, a cardboard blank is produced from stabilized paper types.

Boxes produced from cardboard blanks can be used to pack a wide variety of products or merchandise. The dimensions of the boxes differ, although some standard sizes are known in the field of packaging technology.

Since the folding devices 40, 50 described above are adjustable in width (transverse to the direction of passage), the embodiment shown for boxes of different width can be used particularly flexibly. In other words, it is possible to produce boxes of different widths with one machine without requiring complicated set-up work or having to stop the production process.

Furthermore, the extraction unit 80 makes it possible to choose the depositing position of the boxes / packaging material in the transport device 90 in such a way that the spaces between successive packaging materials remain the same or essentially the same. Accordingly, the embodiment according to this objective can be used flexibly for boxes that differ in their dimensions (observed in the direction of passage).

Although the described folding devices 40, 50 and the extraction unit 80 in the embodiment described above are preferably used together, the folding devices 40, 50 and the extraction unit 80 according to further modifications may also be received from individually on one device.

Claims (8)

i. Device for processing packaging material, in particular cardboard blanks, comprising: a first folding device (40) for folding and / or folding a packaging material and a second folding device (50) for folding and / or folding the packaging material, and at least one transport device (60, 70) for transporting a packaging material in relation to the first and / or second folding device (40, 50), in which the first and second folding devices (40, 50) are adjustable independently of each other, preferably transversely to the direction of passage, characterized in that the device has a control device, which is configured to adjust the first folding device (40), in particular transversely to the direction of passage, while the second folding device (50) processes a packaging material folded and / or folded by the first folding device (40). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and / or second folding device (40, 50) have (n) in each case at least one folding element (45a, 45b; 55a, 55b), preferably two or more folding elements, wherein the at least one folding element (45a, 45b; 55a, 55b) is / are adjustable (s), preferably transversely to the direction of passage, to adjust the first and / or the second folding device (40, 50). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and / or second folding device (40, 50) have beams (42a, 42b; 52a, 52b) on which an element (45a is mounted in each case , 45b; 55a, 55b) folding, in which the beams are adjustable transversely to the direction of passage. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the folding elements (45a, 45b; 55a, 55b) can move relative to a central axis (X1) running in the direction of passage, in particular at the same time. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a first transport device (60) and a second transport device (70) which are arranged in such a way that the packaging material, after being transported with the first transport device (60), can be received by the second transport device (70). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first transport device (60) is configured to transport the packaging material at least in sections along the first folding device (40), and the second folding device (70) Transport is configured to transport the packaging material at least in sections along the second folding device (50). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises an extraction unit (80) which is arranged in the direction of passage downstream of the second folding device (50), in which the extraction unit (80) Extraction is preferably configured to move, in particular push, the packaging material against a stationary alignment device (100) or alignment axis (X2). 8. Process for processing packaging material, in particular cardboard blanks, in particular using a device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: moving a packaging material towards a first folding device (40) and folding and / or folding the packaging material with the first folding device (40), moving the packaging material towards a second folding device (50) and folding and / or folding the packaging material with the second folding device (50), wherein the first folding device is adjusted, preferably transversely to a direction of passage, while the packaging material is moved towards or folded by the second folding device (50).