EP1357037A1 - Apparatus and method for feeding packaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

Feed arrangement (1) for feeding packaging material used in the packaging of small objects comprises a feed wheel (2). A number of object-receiving units (10) and a number of packaging-receiving units (20) are arranged on the feed wheel. Each packaging-receiving unit has at least one first holding device (25, 26) for a first packaging material and at least one second holding device (26, 27) for a second packaging material. An Independent claim is also included for a process for feeding packaging material used in the packaging of small objects. Preferred Features: The feed wheel is a rotating head rotating about a main axis of rotation. A number of object-receiving units are arranged alternately with the same number of packaging-receiving units on the feed wheel around the main axis of rotation.

Description

The invention relates to a feeding device of a packaging device and a Method of feeding packaging material for packaging small items.

Wherever a large number of identical or different items are individually packaged before they are transported to their destination the need for effective packaging equipment and processes available with the help of articles that are also to be packed in short quantities Time can be packed or wrapped.

Packaging machines or devices are conventionally used for this purpose, in which so-called feeding devices are integrated or upstream, which separates the items to be packaged and / or their delivery to the take over the actual packaging device. It is also common here that the same or other supply devices provide the packaging material, in that the articles are inserted or wrapped.

Especially if articles from the consumer or food sector or others small items are to be packed, it may be necessary to use the items with to wrap several layers of packaging. However, there can also be optical reasons speak for a product with several layers of the same or different To wrap packaging material.

This has traditionally been done in several separate steps, at which on a first packaging machine with a first packaging material wrapped product in a second step of another packaging machine was fed, in which the already simply wrapped product with a second packaging material was wrapped again.

However, this procedure is very costly and space-consuming, because of the corresponding To ensure lead times, two complete packaging lines in a row had to be switched.

It has also been proposed that the packaging process be carried out in a single pass Perform packaging machine, the packaging machine already a multi-layer packaging material was supplied, which then in one step was wrapped around the item to be packaged.

However, this procedure has the decisive disadvantage that if the individual Layers of packaging material are not glued to each other, none defined Position of the individual layers to each other with sufficient accuracy can be. There is in particular the possibility that the individual Layers of the multilayer packaging material slip relative to one another, so that, for example, the inner packaging material over the outer packaging material protrudes.

The individual layers cannot be processed in different dimensions become. A safe and even containment of the item to be packaged is therefore not to be carried out with sufficient security and repeatability.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a feeding device for a packaging device and a method for feeding packaging material for packaging to create small-piece articles that have a defined feeding of particular enable multilayer packaging materials with sufficient accuracy.

This object is achieved according to the invention with regard to a feed device a feeding device of a packaging device for feeding packaging material for packaging small items, with a feed wheel on which a plurality of article receiving units and a plurality of packaging material receiving units are arranged, wherein each of the packaging material receiving units at least a first Has holding device for a first packaging material, and at least a second Holding device for a second packaging material.

Furthermore, the task for a method for feeding packaging material for packaging small items according to the invention, solved by a method, comprising the steps of: picking up and holding an article to be packaged in an article receiving unit, and hold and hold a first packaging material in a first packaging material holding device, and holding and holding a second packaging material in a second packaging material holding device, put both packaging materials on at least an outer area of the item to be packaged and deliver the item and the packaging materials to a packaging device for packaging the article the packaging materials.

By supplying a packaging device in addition to an article receiving unit, in which an article to be packaged is fed to a packaging machine can also have at least two holding devices, by means of which one the first and a second packaging material can be held separately from each other, can be guaranteed be that each of the two packaging materials in a defined position with respect of the article to be packed fed to the actual packaging machine becomes.

Unlike before, it is possible to use either of the two needed to package the item Hand over packaging materials individually to the feeder and then individually a specific place to hold defined, causing an individual to slip Packaging material relative to the other packaging material and the one to be packaged Items can be excluded with reasonable certainty.

In contrast to the past, in the case of packaging material consisting of two or there are more layers of packaging material, the packaging material no longer has multiple layers is fed to the feed device, but each packaging material layer individually and separately is fed to the feed device, each of the invention can also Packaging material layers have a different size or dimension and in a defined one Location to be passed on to the actual packing device without moving or slipping or otherwise changing the position of the different large layers of packaging material to fear each other or to the article to be packaged would.

Furthermore, since the merging of individual packaging materials into a multilayer Packaging material to be combined is only defined in the feeder done, it is possible to use a wide variety of different packaging materials with different properties or colors or structures at low cost realize.

Since there is no prior stacking or joining of the individual packaging materials before Feeding is more necessary, the packaging process can be cheaper and space-saving than before.

Especially when different materials are used as individual packaging materials should be, such as metal, cellulose and / or plastic films, which are then combined into a multilayer packaging material, can by the feed device according to the invention and the inventive Process an exact layer positioning of the individual packaging materials to each other be ensured.

According to the invention, this leads in particular to the fact that in the case of multilayer packaging also different lengths and sizes of the individual packaging materials Packaging device can be supplied. This ensures in particular that that an outer wrap, that is, as an outer layer on an article applied packaging material an inner wrap, that is, between the Article and the outer wrapping wrapped around the article covered safely.

The feed device according to the invention is preferably as a about a main axis of rotation rotatably arranged turret so that the supply of the packaging items and the packaging materials required for the actual packaging device continuously and essentially without interruption can.

For this purpose, a plurality of article receiving units are preferably alternating with an equal number of packaging material receiving units in a ring around the main axis of rotation arranged on the transport device, that is, the rotary head. Preferably there are five units in a ring on such a rotary head.

While the article receiving units preferably have a first and a second article holding element have, between each of which an article to be packaged can be held the packaging material receiving units, each of which has a packaging material receiving unit is assigned to an article receiving unit, in each case a first and a second holding device, by means of which a first and a second packaging material can be held independently of the other.

In a preferred embodiment of the feed device according to the invention an article to be packaged is picked up by the article holding elements of the article receiving unit in each case the same for all article receiving units Rotary position or position of the feed wheel during the rotation of the feed wheel is carried out one after the other by the article receiving units. As well the respective packaging material is taken up by the first and second Holding device of the packaging material receiving unit at a (different) rotational position of the Feed wheel.

The individual packaging materials are defined as the feed wheel is turned brought into contact with an outside of the article to be packaged and then together with this at a further rotational position on the actual packing device, to hand over.

Regarding the method of feeding packaging material for packaging small-piece article, it is particularly advantageous that the supply of the packaging materials (and the items to be packaged) by means of a feeder of the above Kind is done.

In this case, the feed takes place by way of a rotary movement exerted by the feed wheel continuously and essentially uninterrupted, with the individual Process steps are carried out at different rotational positions, which are offset from each other by a predetermined angle of rotation.

In this case, the item and to be packaged are preferably taken up of the individual packaging materials provided for this article in the feed device individually, whereas the delivery of the article and the packaging materials from the feed device to the packing device.

Further advantages of the invention and preferred embodiments of the device and the procedure are the subject of the subclaims.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführeinrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer solchen Zuführeinrichtung, und

Fig. 3

eine weitere, teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer solchen Zuführeinrichtung in Relation zu einer Einpackvorrichtung.

The invention is explained below with reference to a schematic drawing, for example and with further details. Here show:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a feed device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a partially sectioned view of such a feed device, and

Fig. 3

another, partially sectioned view of such a feed device in relation to a packing device.

In Fig. 1 is a feeding device according to the invention of a packaging machine or device, shown in a perspective view, as follows will be described in more detail.

The feed device 1 comprises a transport device, preferably as a Feed wheel 2 rotatable about a main axis 7 is formed (see FIGS. 2 and 3). On an end 3 of the feed wheel 2 which is of normal design with respect to the axis of rotation 7 is shown in of the preferred embodiment described here essentially in a ring shape the axis of rotation 7 a plurality of article receiving units 10 alternating with packaging material receiving units 20 arranged.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each change here five article holding units 10 and five packaging material holding units 20 in their Arrangement from.

The basic structure of the article receiving units 10 is best seen in FIG. 1. Each article receiving unit 10 has two article holding elements 11 and 12, which are opposite one another and at a distance from one another Direction parallel to the main axis of rotation 7 of the feed wheel 2 are adjustable.

The article receiving units 10 serve to receive and hold individual items packaging item or products. The articles are included in cooperation with a conveying or separating device (not shown), which delivers the items or products to be packaged and positions them in which they can be picked up by the article holding elements.

However, it is also conceivable that the article 4 with the help of an intermediate conveyor be picked up by the conveyor or separating device and then are passed to the article receiving units 10.

The articles 4 are held by the article holding elements 11 and 12 at a first rotational position of the feed wheel 2, received or received and as long as held in a position relative to the feed wheel until it is in a further position, which is designated in FIG. 3 with C, are delivered to a packing device 14.

As already described, are on the front side 3 of the feed wheel 2 between the article receiving units 10, the packaging material receiving units respectively assigned to them 20 arranged. While the article receiving units 10 are preferably stationary are attached to the feed wheel 2 on this, the packaging material receiving units 20 each about its own pivot axis 24 with respect to the feed wheel 2 pivoted on this. The pivot axis 24 is also parallel to the main axis of rotation 7 of the feed wheel 2 is formed.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the packaging material receiving unit 20 comprises several essentially identical pairs of lever devices, between which a Clamping rod 26 and first and second clamping jaws 25, 27 are arranged such that they in turn extend essentially parallel to the pivot axis 24. Of the respective pairs of levers extending normally to the pivot axis 24 is shown in FIG 2 and 3 each only show the part closer to the front side 3 of the feed wheel 2 lies.

The following is the mode of operation and the arrangement of the packaging material receiving unit 20 and their lever pairs explained in more detail, with reference to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 Reference is made.

Two of the preferably five packaging material receiving units 20 are shown in FIG. 2, each of which has an identical structure, but only if it is due to the rotation of the feed wheel 2 at different rotational positions of the feed wheel reach different positions. The control can of the individual positions or pivot positions about the pivot axis 24 of the Packaging material receiving units 20 via a mechanical coupling with the rotation the feed wheel 2 (in particular planetary or lever gear) or electronically via a rotary or position sensor.

Each of the preferably five identically constructed packaging material receiving units 20 has a pair of clamp bar levers 30 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 2), between which the clamping rod 26 is arranged. The clamp bar levers 30 are around the pivot axis 24 is rotatable relative to the feed wheel 2.

A jaw lever axis extends parallel to the pivot axis 24 and the clamping rod 26 21, via which a first pair of jaw levers 22 and a second pair of jaw levers 23 rotatably hinged to the clamping bar lever 30 are. The jaw lever axis 21 is also parallel to the pivot axis 24th

Between the first jaw levers 22 extends parallel to the clamping bar 26 a first clamping jaw 25, between which and the clamping rod 26 a first packaging material 5 can be held or clamped. This is done by the first Jaw lever 22 via a first adjusting lever 28 about the jaw lever axis 21 is rotated. The first adjustment lever 28 is about the pivot axis 24 rotatably mounted. The first jaw lever 22 is here with that of its two Ends rotatably supported on the first adjusting lever 28, which is opposite the end, on which the first jaw 25 is arranged.

The packaging material receiving unit 20 also has a second lever arrangement, which essentially one of the first lever arrangement just described in construction and Functionality corresponds. Here drives a rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 24 second adjustment lever 29 a second via a rotary slide connection Clamping jaw lever 23, at the connection-free end of a second clamping jaw 27 is arranged between the and the clamping rod 26, a second packaging material can be pinched or held.

The first packaging material is preferably that layer of packaging material, which forms the inside wrap, i.e. the layer that is in direct contact with the Article 4 arrives when it is packed. The second packaging material 6 is preferred correspondingly the outer wrap, that is the layer of packaging material, which completely shields the inside wrap from the outside.

2, at a first rotational position of the feed wheel 2, the is denoted by A, the first packaging material (inner wrapping) from a separate (not shown) take-off roller and a cutting device downstream of this fed essentially continuously rotating feed wheel 2.

In contrast to the prior art, the take-off roller is independent according to the invention driven and controlled by a servo motor because of the higher Item throughput the dynamic load on the packaging material otherwise too great would. The packaging material feed speed is approx. 2.7 m / sec.

Here, an idle cycle control is provided, with between the take-off roller and the actual packaging material feed (e.g. two or more controlled in time with the feed Conveyor shafts) a sensor device is provided which determines whether Packaging material was delivered (normal case) or not (empty stroke).

The sensor device is preferably designed as a rocker arm, which transmits a signal forwards the servomotor to the take-off roller and stops it or slows it down moved, if it is determined that no packaging material has been released because in the Article holding device was not an article, which e.g. on an unfilled bag can be traced back in an upstream item separation device.

In this position, the packaging material receiving unit 20 takes over the supplied first one Packing material 5 (inside wrapping) and clamps it along one to the pivot axis 24 parallel line between one side of the clamping rod 26 and the first jaw 25 fixed in a predetermined position, what about a rotation of the first Adjustment lever 28 and the first jaw lever 22 takes place.

While the continuously rotating feed wheel 2 continues in the direction shown in FIG. 2 (arrow direction) shown direction of rotation rotates clockwise about the main axis of rotation 7, the packaging material receiving unit 20, when it has reached a rotational position that in Fig. 2 with the letter B has reached, the second packaging material 6 (outer wrap) of another and essentially the same as the first separate (not shown) take-off roller with downstream cutting device fed. Then the second adjustment lever 29 of the packaging material receiving unit 20 and the second jaw lever 23 rotated, whereby the second Clamping jaw 27 is moved towards the clamping rod 26 and the second packaging material (outer wrap) clamps between itself and the clamping rod 26. The clamping area is here essentially as described with respect to the first packaging material 5, linear however, essentially on the opposite side of the first clamping area Positioned the side of the clamping rod 26. Instead of the one clamping rod 26 on which both packaging materials are clamped, are also completely separate Clamping devices conceivable for those of the packaging materials. This also applies if more than two packaging materials (3 or more layers) from the feed device 1 to Will be provided.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first and of the second packaging material in a rotating position of the packaging material receiving unit 20 about the pivot axis 24 relative to the feed wheel 2, in which the clamping jaws 25, 27 and the clamping rod 26 each in its radially outermost position with respect to the main axis of rotation 7 of the feed wheel 2.

The first or the second packaging material is then preferably used at the latest of the rest of the packaging materials on the take-off rollers, not shown separated by means of the cutting devices if the first or the second Packing material clamped in the rotary positions A, B in the packaging material receiving unit 20 are.

Here it is due to the separate feeding of the individual packaging materials (inside wrapping, Outer packaging) and their individual brackets possible, the packaging materials to be delivered in different dimensions according to their use and to hold and fix them in a suitable mutual assignment. Of course, the feed device according to the invention is described in the or in a modified embodiment also suitable for packaging that consist of only one layer.

Then are the first packaging material 5 (inside wrapping) and the second packaging material 6 (outside wrapping) recorded with different assignment and section length and between the clamping devices (25,26,27) are held, the clamping devices by means of the clamping rod lever 30 around the pivot axis 24 of its furthest external position during the continuous orbital movement of the feed wheel 2 swiveled in (counterclockwise) so that in front of the in the article receiving unit 10 held article 4 are in a precisely defined assignment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the feed wheel 2 has reached a rotational position, as designated by C in Fig. 3 is the article 4 between a packing stamp 15 and a packing counter stamp 16 clamped, the first packaging material 5 and the second packaging material 6 in a precisely predetermined position relative to one another and relative to the article 4 between this and the packing counter stamp 16. As soon as Article 4 and the packaging materials 5, 6 between packing stamp 15 and packing counter stamp 16 the first and the second article holding element move 11, 12 of the article receiving unit 10 apart and pass between them previously held articles free.

This is taken over by the packing device 14 and in the following by means of the Packing stamp 15 together with the packing counter stamp 16 through a packing sleeve 17 (rotating folding shaft) pressed while the packing device 14 continuously rotates counterclockwise around a packing wheel axis 18.

By the interaction of the packing die 15 with the packing sleeve 17 and the packing counter stamp 16 is the article 4 according to its dimensions exactly and essentially simultaneously in the first and in the second packaging material 5, 6 packed. Since the first and the second packaging material when the item is handed over 5.6 are precisely set in their respective position, it is ensured that the external impact (second packaging material 6) securely covers the inside wrapping (first packaging material 5).

At the time when the article holding elements 11, 12 release the article 4, give the clamping jaws 25, 26 also free the packaging materials 5, 6 while the feed wheel 2 continues to revolve clockwise.

In the following, the packaging material receiving unit 20 swings back outwards, then, as soon as it reaches the rotational position A, a new piece of the first packaging material 5.

The packaged articles 4 are from the packing device 14 to a delivery device or forwarded to another intermediate conveyor from where they are then individually or in groups of another joint packaging or one direct delivery.

It is possible in every single step before and after the feed wheel and / or to provide the packing device with a quality or packing control which checks whether the items to be packed or the packaging materials to be used here or the partially or fully packaged items meet the required quality standards correspond. Such a check can be carried out by means of optoelectric sensors or the like.

By means of the above-described feed device, it is therefore possible according to the invention to that different packaging materials or packaging material sections from different Materials and dimensions, preferably as external and internal wrapping continuously rotating feed wheel are created and supported by it, whereby the application preferably at different rotational positions of the feed wheel he follows.

The packaging materials are preferably picked up at each of the two rotational positions by means of a clamping lever combination, opposite to the feed wheel and to each other are relatively movable, the packaging material receiving units the packaging material exactly in position to a one also received and held by the feed wheel Position the article before the article and packaging material together on a packing device be handed over.

The packaging materials preferably consist of different materials, in particular from metal, plastic, cellulose and / or other foil elements.

The individual packaging materials are preferably each more suitable but different Width individually fed to the feed device 1 and taken over by this and held. Here is preferably a first packaging material between an article to be packed and a second packaging material is to be arranged, dimensionally smaller than the second packaging material.

Claims (17)

Feeding device of a packaging device for supplying packaging material for packaging small items, with a feed wheel (2) on which a plurality of article receiving units (10) and a plurality of packaging material receiving units (20) are arranged, each of the packaging material receiving units (20)
has at least one first holding device (25, 26) for a first packaging material (5), and
has at least one second holding device (26, 27) for a second packaging material (6). Feed device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed wheel (2) is designed as a rotating head which is arranged so as to be rotatable about a main axis of rotation (7). Feed device according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of article receiving units (10) are arranged alternately with an equal number of packaging material receiving units (20) in a ring around the main axis of rotation (7) on the feed wheel (2). Feed device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the article receiving unit (10) has a first and a second article holding element (11, 12), between which an article (4) to be packaged can be held. Feed device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the spacing of the article holding elements (11, 12) is adjustable at least in the direction of the main axis of rotation (7). Feed device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each of the packaging material receiving units (20) is pivotably connected to the feed wheel (2) about a pivot axis (24) parallel to the main axis of rotation (7). Feed device according to claim 6, characterized in that the packaging material receiving unit (20) has a clamping rod (26) parallel to the pivot axis (24), the length of which in the direction of the pivot axis (24) corresponds at least to the maximum distance between the article holding elements (10, 12). Feed device according to claim 7, characterized in that the packaging material receiving unit (20) has a first clamping unit (25) which can be pressed against one area of the clamping bar (26) and a second clamping unit (27) which can be pressed against another area of the clamping bar ( 26) can be pressed. Feed device according to claim 8, characterized in that the first clamping unit (25) and the second clamping unit (27) can be controlled independently of one another. Feed device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the clamping units (25, 27) are designed as clamping jaws on first and second clamping jaw levers (22, 23) which are designed to be rotatable about a common clamping jaw lever axis (21) parallel to the pivot axis (24) , Feed device according to claim 10, characterized in that the clamping units (25, 27) can be actuated via first and second adjusting levers (28, 29), which in turn are designed to be rotatable about the pivot axis (24). Feed device according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the first and second article holding elements (11, 12) can each be controlled depending on a respective rotational position of the feed wheel (2). Feed device according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the first and the second holding device (25, 26, 27) can each be controlled as a function of a respective rotational position of the feed wheel (2). Method for feeding packaging material for packaging small items with the following steps: Receiving and holding an article to be packaged (4) in an article receiving unit (10); Receiving and holding a first packaging material (5) in a first packaging material holding device (25, 26); Receiving and holding a second packaging material (6) in a second packaging material holding device (26, 27); Applying both packaging materials (5, 6) to at least one outer area of the article (4) to be packed; and Dispensing the article (4) and the packaging materials (5,6) to a packaging device (14) for packaging the article (4) with the packaging materials (5,6). Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the article (4) and the individual packaging materials (5, 6) are each individually taken up in the feed device (1), and the article (4) and the packaging materials (5, 6) from the feed device (1) to the packing device (14). Method according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the feeding takes place by means of a rotary movement carried out by a feeding device (1), the individual method sections being carried out in each case at different rotational positions which are each offset from one another by a predetermined rotational angle. Method according to one of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the articles (4) to be packaged and the packaging materials (5, 6) are fed by means of a feed device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13.

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