Packaging machine with at least a partial housing and lighting effects on the housing to provide guidance for the operating personnel.

Abstract

Packaging machine (1) with at least one partial housing with frame (2), with a plurality of stations (3) for processing products and / or packaging, for receiving products into packaging and a discharge area leaving an interior of the packaging machine (1), wherein the frame (2) is designed at a front and at a rear of the packaging machine (1) as a freestanding portal consisting of a horizontal support (4) and two vertical supports (5), which in their extent encompass all machine parts of the packaging machine (1), wherein both portals are connected in a lower area by an internal frame structure (6), wherein in an upper area of ​​the portals and between the portals around the entire packaging machine (1) lighting elements (8) are arranged, which are assigned to stations (3) located sectionally behind or below them,wherein the lighting elements (8) are designed as LED light strips (12) which can emit different colors as continuous light, at specific intervals or in a kind of directional movement and whose length is adapted to the associated station (3), wherein the packaging machine (1) is configured such that it is possible to signal, on the basis of the respective light strip (12), at which of the stations (3) an error or a warning has occurred.

Description

[0001] Packaging machine with at least a partial housing and light effects on the housing for guidance for the operating personnel, preferably in the form of differently colored light strips.

[0002] Rotating beacons are currently used to signal stationary machines due to errors or special conditions on the machine that require intervention by the operating personnel.

[0003] Otherwise, the use of light signals in packaging machines is limited to monitoring individual work steps. For example, in DE 101 14 201 A1, LEDs are used to indicate the end of a heating element's preheating time.

[0004] German patent DE 10 2008 022 155 A1 describes, among other things, a method that uses light beams to project information onto the packaging, indicating, for example, whether additional contents need to be added. A similar packaging machine is described in German patent DE 10 2012 004 565 A1, which, for example, uses LEDs as a display to show how the quantity of packaging must be adjusted if there is an incorrect quantity. All these solutions serve to indicate potential defects within the machine.

[0005] German patent DE 10 2005 038 718 B3 describes a packaging machine that is very large and equipped with multiple input units, thus enabling the operator to observe and evaluate the effect of their actions. A further, highly preferred embodiment is characterized by the inclusion of sensors, cameras, or detectors for monitoring the operating status of the stations and controlling the workflows and products. The data from these sensors is fed into the processing unit and can be displayed on a screen. This allows fault messages to be displayed directly at the point of occurrence, giving the operator an overview of the process, the sensor, or the data recorded by the sensor. Defective products can also be visualized on the screen, particularly from a perspective that would otherwise be unavailable to the operator.This should significantly reduce the distances traveled by operating personnel.

[0006] The object of the invention is to guide the operating personnel quickly and safely, both outside and inside a packaging machine, to the point on the packaging machine where a fault has occurred or a warning has been triggered, by using light effects on the packaging machine, and at the same time to create the advantageous design solutions on the packaging machine for this purpose.

[0007] The advantages achievable with the invention lie particularly in the fact that, for operating personnel who have to supervise several packaging machines, a visual indication on the packaging machine is useful, showing which machine is stopped due to a fault and at which station of that machine the fault occurred, or giving warnings, e.g., to replenish running low material. According to the invention, this is achieved by the illumination of one or more light strips on the packaging machine. For example, a light strip around the perimeter of the packaging machine signals a stoppage, with the light strip at the station where the fault occurred illuminating intermittently. The illumination of different colored light strips can indicate specific fault situations.Warnings can be issued, for example, a yellow light strip at the corresponding station indicating low packaging material, and a red light strip at the faulty station indicating a standstill of the packaging machine. By combining different colored light strips, a variety of specific instructions can be given to the operating personnel. According to the invention, the lighting elements are designed as light strips, preferably LED strips. The light strips can emit different colors as continuous light, at specific intervals, or in a directional movement; that is, individual points of light can move in one direction, or the light strip can increase in length at intervals in one direction. The length of the light strips is advantageously adapted to the associated station.

[0008] The packaging machine according to the invention and advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in claims 1 to 7.

[0009] According to claim 2, the freestanding portals of the packaging machine can have connecting elements at their two corners in the upper area of ​​both portals.

[0010] By dividing the horizontal support of the portal on the housing into several individual supports according to claim 3, cavities are created that can be used for a wide variety of machine details, such as cable trays. These supports are advantageously provided with cover plates on the outer side of the machine. The lighting elements and / or light strips can be attached to these cover plates. However, it is also conceivable that the lighting elements or light strips are attached to the lowest horizontal supports.

[0011] According to claim 4, transparent and / or opaque, planar covers and transparent doors are provided between the portal supports, wherein the transparent surfaces and doors have laterally radiating LEDs. With appropriate engravings on the covers, differently colored and planar illumination can be achieved.

[0012] The internal frame construction according to the invention is, as claimed in claim 5, smaller in area than the base area between the two portals. Connecting profiles lead from the internal frame construction to the portals and to all hinge sides of the doors. Due to the recessed internal frame construction, clear walking surfaces are created, particularly in the door areas, for the operating personnel. These surfaces are additionally illuminated by the lighting elements on the horizontal supports or cover plates when the door is opened. This provides additional safety for the operating personnel. Furthermore, it avoids the need to bend far over with the upper body to perform necessary tasks.

[0013] According to claim 6, connecting profiles extend from the internal frame structure to machine parts of the packaging machine, which can be illuminated by lighting elements. These connecting profiles contribute to the machine's stability but also represent potential hazards for the operating personnel. Illuminating these parts serves to draw attention to these danger points.

[0014] In the embodiment according to claim 7, the doors have a rectangular profile stiffener in the lower third and a handle extending from the upper to the lower edge. The handle has a protrusion in the operating area, preferably such that it rises at an angle of 20 degrees to the door surface, then runs parallel to the door surface, and subsequently returns to the door surface at an angle of 20 degrees. The protrusion of the handle has contact elements, and the entire handle incorporates internal light strips. These contact elements can, for example, activate additional lighting elements that further illuminate corresponding areas within the machine. The light strips in the handle have the same function as the previously described light strips.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1. Side view of a packaging machine with a frame in the form of a portal and the packaging machine divided into four stations, Fig. 2. Top view of a packaging machine with frame and internal frame construction and Fig. 3 the section through the horizontal support in the form of three square profiles, cable ducts and a cover plate with lighting elements.

[0016] The packaging machine 1 has at least a partial housing in the form of a portal and light strips 12 attached to the housing, preferably with different colored light effects for locating machine downtime causes or general machine conditions. A freestanding portal is located at the front and rear of the packaging machine 1. Each portal consists of a horizontal support 4 and two vertical supports 5. In the upper area, both portals may have connecting elements 7 at their two corners. Both portals encompass all parts of the packaging machine. An internal frame structure 6 is located between the two portals in the lower area. Lighting elements 8, preferably light strips 12, are arranged in the upper area of ​​the portals and between the portals around the entire packaging machine 1. The light strips 12 are preferably partially located behind or...The stations below were adapted and assigned.

[0017] The internal frame structure 6 has a smaller surface area than the area between the two portals. Connecting profiles 13 extend from the internal frame structure 6 to the portals and to all hinge sides of the doors. This creates clear walking surfaces 14 for the operating personnel, particularly in the door areas. When a door is opened, these walking surfaces 14 are illuminated by the lighting elements 8 on the horizontal supports 4 or square profiles 9, or on the cover plates 11. These walking surfaces 14 make it easier for the operating personnel to rectify errors on the packaging machine 1, as they can get closer to the fault. Furthermore, the risk of striking machine parts with their shins is largely avoided.

[0018] The horizontal support 4 can also consist of two, preferably three, square profiles 9. These square profiles 9 are advantageously arranged in a triangular formation relative to each other. At intervals, these square profiles 9 are connected to each other by plates or hollow profiles. The square profiles 9 support cable ducts 10 and, towards the outside of the packaging machine 1, cover plates 11. These cover plates 11 support lighting elements 8 or light strips 12.

[0019] The light strips 12, preferably LED strips 12, can emit different colors as continuous light, at specific intervals, or in a directional pattern. Their length is adapted to the corresponding station 3. Due to their arrangement around the entire packaging machine 1, these light strips 12 are easily visible to the operating personnel, even from a distance, and indicate specific machine states. For example, a yellow light strip 12 serves as a warning signal indicating that the packaging machine 1 has very little packaging material remaining. The yellow light strip 12 flashes in the area of ​​the packaging material station. In the event of a fault that brings the packaging machine 1 to a standstill, such as an incorrect filling of the packaging, a red light strip 12 indicates the fault, with the red light strip 12 flashing at the station 3 where the fault occurred.

[0020] The light effect of the light strips 12 can also be implemented in the form of a direction of movement. For this purpose, new LEDs are repeatedly switched on in the direction of the faulty station 3, or the missing light effect of a switched-off LED moves in the direction of the faulty station 3 or a station 3 with a warning message.

[0021] The light strips 12 can be configured so that 12 different colors can be selected and emitted within a single strip. Alternatively, the light strips 12 can be configured to emit only one color. In this case, several light strips 12 are mounted in parallel on the machine housing.

[0022] Between girders 4 and 5 of the portals, transparent and / or clear, flat covers and, in particular, transparent doors can be provided. All transparent surfaces and doors can have laterally shining LEDs that illuminate engravings / symbols in the covers, thus also providing information about the machine's condition.

[0023] All doors have a rectangular profile reinforcement in the lower third and a handle that runs continuously from the top to the bottom edge. The handle in the operating area has a protrusion. Contact elements can be arranged on this protrusion, which can switch on additional lighting elements 8 when the handle is actuated. The entire handle can have an internal light strip 12, which illuminates in a specific machine condition and can thus provide information to the operating personnel. List of reference symbols 1 packaging machine 2 frame 3 Station 4 horizontal beams 5 vertical beams 6 internal frame construction 7 connecting elements 8 lighting elements 9 square profiles 10 cable ducts 11 Cover plate 12 light strips, LED strips 13 connection profiles 14 treads

Claims

Packaging machine (1) with at least one partial housing with frame (2), with a plurality of stations (3) for processing products and / or packaging, for receiving products into packaging and a discharge area leaving an interior of the packaging machine (1), wherein the frame (2) is designed at a front and at a rear of the packaging machine (1) as a freestanding portal consisting of a horizontal support (4) and two vertical supports (5), which in their extent encompass all machine parts of the packaging machine (1), wherein both portals are connected in a lower area by an internal frame structure (6), wherein in an upper area of ​​the portals and between the portals around the entire packaging machine (1) lighting elements (8) are arranged, which are assigned to stations (3) located sectionally behind or below them,wherein the lighting elements (8) are designed as LED light strips (12) which can emit different colors as continuous light, at specific intervals or in a kind of directional movement and whose length is adapted to the associated station (3), wherein the packaging machine (1) is configured such that it is possible to signal, on the basis of the respective light strip (12), at which of the stations (3) an error or a warning has occurred. Packaging machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that both portals have connecting elements (7) at their two corners in the upper area. Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the horizontal support (4) consists of two or three square profiles (9) arranged in a triangular shape relative to each other, connected at intervals by plates or hollow profiles, carrying cable ducts (10) and the horizontal support (4) is clad with cover plates (11) in the direction of an outside of the packaging machine (1) and these cover plates (11) carry the lighting elements (8) and additionally the square profiles (9) carry the lighting elements (8). Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that transparent and / or opaque planar covers and transparent doors are provided between the supports (4, 5) of the portal, wherein the transparent surfaces of the planar cover and doors have laterally radiating LEDs and the transparent surfaces and doors have symbol engravings. Packaging machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the inner frame construction (6) is smaller in area than a base area between the two portals and connecting profiles (13) lead from the inner frame construction (6) to the portals and to all hinge sides of the doors and thus form free walking surfaces (14) for operating personnel in door areas, which can be additionally illuminated by the lighting elements (8) on the horizontal supports (4) and cover plates (11) when the door is opened. Packaging machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that connecting profiles (13) lead from the inner frame construction (6) to machine parts of the packaging machine (1) which can be illuminated by the lighting elements (8). Packaging machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the doors have a rectangular profile stiffener in the lower third and a handle extending from an upper edge to a lower edge, wherein the handle has a protrusion in a grip area of ​​the operating personnel in the form that the handle lifts off at an angle of 20 degrees to a door surface, then runs parallel to the door surface and subsequently returns at an angle of 20 degrees to the door surface, wherein the protrusion of the handle has contact elements and the entire handle has internal light bands (12).

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