WO2010091855A2

WO2010091855A2 - Wicket pin for collecting plastic bags, especially bags for vending machines, on stacking sleeves

Info

Publication number: WO2010091855A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/000838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Hetzler; Helmut Heuchert; Hartmut Odenthal; Daniel Schega
Original assignee: Lemo Maschinenbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-02-12
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2010-08-19
Also published as: DE102010007819A1; WO2010091866A1; WO2010091855A3; DE102010007818A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wicket pin for collecting plastic bags, especially bags for vending machines, on stacking sleeves (1) in a wicked pin station. The wicket pin according to the invention comprises a cylindrical lower part (2.1) provided with an attachable foot and an upper part (2.2) which is disposed concentrically to the lower part (2.1) and terminates with a free conical tip. The lower part (2.1) has the shape of a hollow cylinder and the upper part (2.2) can be displaced into the lower part (2.1) against the force of a spring (2.4).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Stacking pin for collecting plastic bags, in particular automatic bags, on stacking sleeves

The invention relates to a stacking pin for collecting plastic bags, in particular automatic bags, on stack sleeves in a pen stacking system.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming bag pacts from plastic bags, in particular from machine bags, in which (the) formed from plastic bags stack are folded into bag packets, which is then stored in outer packaging, as described in EP 1 107 865 B1 are described.

In the production of stacks of plastic bags, especially vending bags, are known to be off

Plastic film webs produced by cross-cut welding bag transferred from a transfer device to a pin pile conveyor device, where they are collected into stacks. The pin stack conveyor includes a step-by-step circulating pin stack chain, to which upstanding stack pins are attached, into which individual bags are successively hung, having stacked, suitably punched stack openings. Typically, each bag has on one side two stacking apertures spaced from one another, which corresponds to the spacing of the stacking pins on the pin stacking chain. When the desired number of bags are collected in a stack, the bags are locked together or onto others Way fixed against each other, for example via wire hanger or by means of stacking sleeves and associated sealing plug. The finished bag stacks are then packed in boxes. This process is described both in EP 1 107 865 B1 and in EP 1 078 874 A2, to which reference is made. In both devices described treatment steps of the stack carried by means of a controllable multi-function hand, which is attached to a robot arm.

The invention is based on the object to provide a stacking pin, which makes it possible to automatically apply a stopper to a deferred stacking sleeve to fix a bag package ready for use in clothing machines directly on the stacking chain.

This object is achieved with a stacking pin having the features of claim 1.

Another object is to provide a method for storing bag packages of plastic bags, as it allows the simplest possible means the formation of a stable and compact packing unit of plastic bags.

This object is achieved with the feature combination of claim 5.

This method has the further advantage that the bag opening and the bag opening side can be protected against mechanical damage by external influences.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to simplified drawings. Showing:

Figures 1 - 4 the pushing of stacking sleeves on stacking pins FIGS. 5 to 14 show the folding and curling of bag stacks into a bag package, which is finally placed in an outer packaging,

FIGS. 15-18 show an advantageous stacking pin for receiving a stacking sleeve,

Figures 19 and 20 an embodiment of a stacking pin with adapter, and

FIG. 21 shows a stacking pin with a further adapter which is intended for use with particularly short stacking sleeves.

The device according to the invention partially shown in the figures is suitable for stacking plastic bags, in the example it is part of a clothing machine for automatic bags, which are collected in the manner described above on a pen stacker. The bags are stacked directly onto two previously supplied stacking sleeves to form a stack of bags.

For this purpose, stacking sleeves 1 are pushed fully automatically onto the stacking pins 2 in a first station, as shown in FIGS. 1-4:

The stacking sleeves 1 and the associated sealing plugs 3 are first sorted in an automatic process, for example by vibration, in a magazine and brought into position (FIG. 1). Subsequently, a suitably equipped handling system 4, which is preferably attached to the end of a robot arm, takes over the stacking sleeves 1 and sealing plugs 3 (FIG. 2). The handling system 4 pushes the stacking sleeves 1 - in the embodiment, there are two - each position exactly on a stacking pin 2 (Figure 3). If the predetermined number of bags is stacked to a bag stack 5, this bag stack 5 is closed by means of the sealing plug 3 in a subsequent station. For this purpose, the handling system 4 adds a sealing plug 3 to each one located on a stacking pin 2 Stacking Sleeve 1. Since the stacking sleeves 1 at the bottom and the sealing plugs 3 at the top each have a protruding edge, the bags of a stack 5 are fixed and held together.

FIGS. 5-14 show a particularly advantageous method of folding a finished stack of bags twice by means of a handling device 6, 7 attached to the end of a robot arm and thus rolling it into a bag package. The bag stacks 5 are then stored to save space in outer cartons 15, as shown in Figure 14.

As shown in Figure 10, the bag stack 5 is now rolled by means of the gripper 12, 13 together with the folding pins 10 to a bag package 5a. For this purpose, the grippers 12, 13 rotatable about an axis parallel to the fold line rotate the bag package 5a and roll it. The rolled bag package 5 is clamped by means of a punch 14 (FIGS. 11, 12). After that, the grippers 12, 13 are released and the folding pins 10 are moved out of the bag package 5a, while the punch 18 prevents it from rolling up as a clamping element. Subsequently, the robot grasps the rolled bag package 5a and places it in an outer packaging, in the example a carton 15, from.

Figures 5-12 show the principle of the folding and rolling process. The attached to a robot arm handling device 6, 7 contains to gripping elements 7, which make it possible to take a bag stack 5 to the stacking sleeves 1. Preferably, the gripping elements 7 grip the stack 5 on the side with the bag openings.

FIG. 5 shows the starting position of a stacked stack of bags 5 which is still on the pin stacking system but has already been gripped by the gripping elements 7 of the robot arm. First, the bag stack 5 is laid flat by the robot on a folding table 8 (FIG. 6). The folding table 8 supports the stack 5 over its entire length and width. Next, the stack 5 is smoothed and straight drawn. For this purpose, a doctor rod 9 moves under contact pressure over the stack 5 (FIG. 7).

For a first folding at least one, preferably two folding pins 10 from the side parallel to the folding table 8 along a fold line on the

Bag pile 5 and fix so the fold line, around which the folding is to be performed. For folding, the robot moves the gripped

Stacking part on the folding pins 10 and places this part on the other part of the stack 5 from. Preferably, a shorter stacking part is folded over a longer stacking part, as shown in FIG. The stacking sleeves 1 are each located inside between the two package parts.

The folding pins 10 are part of a separate folding device 11, from which a second folding is performed. For this purpose, first take two lateral, each arranged in the region of one longitudinal side of the folding table 8 gripper 12, 13, the bag package 5 and fix it. Subsequently, the gripping elements 7 of the robot arm detach from the stacking sleeves 3. The robot arm is moved away.

The method according to the invention has the advantage that the bag opening and the bag opening side are protected from mechanical damage by external influences, since the bottom of the bag is used as a protective shield. Furthermore, a stable and compact packing unit is formed, which is particularly suitable for automated packing.

FIGS. 15-21 show a particularly advantageous stacking pin 2 which serves to receive a stacking sleeve 3. The stacking pin 2 is fixed in a pen stacking up to a pin pile chain 16 and is cyclically guided by this individual processing stations. On a stacking pin 2 stacking sleeves 1 are pushed onto the succession hung individual bags and are stacked to form a bag package 5. When a bag package 5 is completed, the stacking sleeves 1 are each with a closure plug 3 closed to fix the package 5. As shown in Figure 16, has a stacking sleeve 1 at its lower end, with which it sits on the pin stacking chain 16, a circumferential broadening 1.1, so that at this end no bag can slip out. The sealing plug 3 has a plug-in part 3.1 adapted to the cylindrical inner opening of the stacking sleeve 1 and a conical widening 3.2 which, after being placed on the stacking sleeve 1, prevents the bag from slipping out on this side.

As shown in Figure 17, a stacking sleeve 1 is pushed over a stacking pin 2, which is then in the continuous inner opening. After completion of the package 5, the sealing plug 3 is attached.

A stacking pin 2 consists of two parts 2.1, 2.2, which are axially movable against each other. The lower part 2.1 is cylindrical and contains a foot with which it can be fastened upright on a stacking chain 16, as shown in FIG. On the lower part 2.1, an upper part 2.2 is concentrically attached, that initially also has a cylindrical shape and ends up in a free conical tip.

At least the lower part 2.1 has the shape of a hollow cylinder in which the upper part 2.2 against the force of a spring 2.4 in the lower part 2.1 is movable. The length of the two parts 2.1, 2.2 are dimensioned so that the tip of the upper part 2.2 of an area in which they are above the lower part 2.1. protrudes until it can be moved completely into the lower part 2.1. As shown in FIG. 18, when a sealing plug 3 is supplied, the upper part 2.2 is pressed by the sealing plug 3 into the lower part 2.1. In this case, the stacking sleeve 1 adapted insertion 3.1 clamped to this firm when removing a sleeve 1 with the sealing plug 3, the conical tip of the upper part 2.2 moves back outward. Preferably, a circumferentially projecting ball piece 2.3 is arranged in the outer surface of the lower part 2.1 that a deferred stacking sleeve 1 clamps. The ball piece 2.3 can be pressed back against the force of a spring in the lower part 2.1.

Due to the spring-loaded tip, it is possible, when using stacking sleeves 1, to apply the associated sealing plug 3 directly to the latter. The closure plug 3 is designed in its lower part 3.1 so that it is fixed in the sleeve 1. The conical tip also allows for better stacking, as this easily enters the stacking openings of the bag. Thus, when using the stacking pins 2 on clothing machines, a bag package 5 can be fixed directly on the stacking chain 16 by machine. This was only possible manually with the previous stacking pins.

In the figures 19, 20 and 21 stacking pins 2 are shown, which additionally have adapters 20, 21. The adapters 20, 21 are each pushed over the foot of the lower part 2.1 of the stacking pin 2 removably. The adapters 20, 21 each sit on a link of the stacking chain 16.

The adapters 20, 21 each contain a support surface 22 which extends at a distance from the foot end of the stacking pin 2 and thus at a distance from the stacking chain 16. The support surface 22 thus also extends parallel to the underside of a bag stack 5a and serves to improve the support of a bag stack 5 in the area of the pin stacker chain 16. The support surface is designed so that a folding of the corners of the bag stack 5 is prevented. In addition, can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the support surface 22 and the pin stack chain 16, the length of a stacking pin 2 at different lengths of a stacking sleeve 1, since the effective length of a stacking pin 2 can be shortened by the adapter 20, 21.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 21, the adapter 21 has such a great height that particularly short stacking sleeves 1 can be used. The adapter 21 is designed block-shaped with an upper support surface 22 on which the stacking sleeves 1 touched down. The adapter 21 includes a bore so that it can be pulled over the stacking pin 2. With its lower edge it locks in a member of the pin stacking chain 16.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 19 and 20, the pin stacking chain contains in each case two bores into which the supports 23 engage, on the upper side of which two legs, which are arranged in a D-shape, are fastened, of which the support surface 22 is formed. At its end, a leg has a bore with which it can be pulled over the stacking pin 2. The adapters 20 according to FIGS. 19, 20 serve to improve the support of a stacking bag 5. At the same time, the gripping of the bag stack 5 with the grippers 7 of a robot arm becomes safer.

In the embodiments according to FIGS. 19-21, too, the stacking pins 2 each have a ball piece 2.3 that protrudes circumferentially under the force of a spring and with which a pushed-on stacking sleeve 1 is clamped.

Claims

1. stacking pin for collecting plastic bags, in particular vending machine bags, on stacking sleeves (1) in a pen stacking tray, with a cylindrical lower part (2.1) with a fastenable foot and a concentric with the lower part (2.1) arranged upper part (2.2), in a free tapered tip, characterized in that the lower part (2.1) has the shape of a hollow cylinder and that the upper part (2.2) against the force of a spring (2.4) in the lower part (2.1) is movable.

2. stacking pin according to claim 1, characterized in that in the outer surface of the lower part (2.1) under the force of a spring circumferentially protruding ball piece (2.3) for clamping a stacking sleeve (1) is arranged.

3. stacking pin according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that over the foot of the lower part (2.2), an adapter (20,21) is removably pushed, which at a distance from the foot end a support surface (22) for supporting the bag stack (5) ,

4. stacking pin according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adapter (20,21) is clamped by means of the lower part located sprung ball piece on the lower part of the stacking pin.

5. A method for storing bag packages (5a) from plastic bags, in particular from machine bags, in which formed from plastic bags stack (5) are folded into bag packages (5a), which are then stored in outer packaging (15), characterized in that the bag stacks (5) be folded and rolled up before being placed in outer packagings (15) by the following steps: a. a bag stack (5) is grasped on one side, preferably on the side with the bag openings, and flat on a folding table

(8) filed, b. at least one, preferably two, folding pins (10) are placed along a folding line and fix the stack of bags (5) on the folding table (10), c. a part of the bag stack (5), preferably the shorter part, is grasped to fold the folding pins (10) and placed on the other part of the stack (5), i. the bag stack (5) is on both sides of a gripper

(12, 13) and rolled into a bag package (5a), e. the grippers (12, 13) are released and the rolled up

Bag package (5a) placed in an outer packaging (15).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the bag stacks (5) when placed on the folding table (8) are smoothed and pulled straight.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bags in a bag stack (5) by means of stacking sleeves (1) are fixed, which are arranged lying inside during folding and curling.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that the bag package (5a) is rolled together with the folding pins (10) by a gripper (12, 13).

9. The method according to any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that the rolled bag package (5a) during the release of the gripper (12, 13) and the retraction of the folding pins (10) is kept clamped to prevent curling.

10.Verfahren according to any one of claims 5-9, characterized in that the depositing of the bag stack (5) on the

Falttisch (8), the first folding and storage of the rolled bag package (5a) in the outer package (15) by means of a robot having a correspondingly shaped gripping arm (6, 7).

11.Verfahren according to any one of claims 5-10, characterized in that the rolling of the bag packages (5a) by means of the robot independently operable gripper (12, 13).

12. An apparatus for performing one of the methods according to claims 5-11 with the following features:

a robot with a gripping arm (6, 7) for gripping the

Sheet pile,

a folding table for the bag stacks (5),

at least one, preferably two, folding pins (10) which can be placed on a stack of bags (5) on the table along a folding line,

- And two other grippers (12, 13) which are each arranged in the region of a longitudinal side of the folding table (8) and rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the fold line.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by a clamping element for clamping a rolled bag package (5).

14. The apparatus of claim 8 or 9, characterized by a above the folding table (8) arranged and under contact pressure over a bag stack (5a) movable smoothing element, in particular a rackar rod.