UNSTACKER

Abstract

Denester (1) for trays, comprising at least two denester screws (3) and a transport device (2), wherein the transport device (2) has a carrier chain (6) or at least one conveyor belt, wherein the denester (1) comprises an anti-tilt device (8) for trays (4), which is arranged below the denester screws (3) and above the transport device (2), characterized in that the anti-tilt device (8) is designed such that the anti-tilt device (8) has anti-tilt protection on two or three sides, wherein no anti-tilt protection is provided in the conveying direction (F) of the transport device (2), and in that the anti-tilt device (8) has a contact contour (11) oriented transversely to the conveying direction (F) of the transport device (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a denester according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] For example, denesters are known from DE 20 2014 008 161 U1 and EP 2 186 760 A1 in which individual trays are separated from a stack downwards using denester screws. In this way, individual trays are gradually dropped onto a transport device and transported away by a transport device to make room for the next tray to be destacked. The tray is guided along its tray edge to the lower end by the denester screws. The tray is released at the lower end of the denester screws and then falls freely onto the transport device. On impact, depending on the height of the fall, the tray weight and / or the design of the tray base, the tray may occasionally tumble or, in the worst case, tip over, causing a malfunction.To facilitate uncoupling, the feed movement for transporting the tray can only be delayed after the tray is safely positioned on the transport device. This leads to a reduction in the denester's performance.

[0003] A destacker according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in DE 20 2018 100 795 U1. US 2014 / 0 020 334 A1 does not describe a destacker, but rather a device for handling bouquets.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an improved denester which no longer has the disadvantages of the prior art or at least reduces them.

[0005] This object is achieved by a denester having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0006] A method for operating a denester is disclosed for individually stacking trays onto a transport device by means of at least two denester screws. The tray, after being separated by the denester screws, is located both on the transport device and in an anti-tilt device arranged below the denester screws and above the transport device. The anti-tilt device limits tipping and / or wobbling of the tray after it has impacted the transport device. This has the advantage that the tray cannot tip over and any wobbling movement is limited, allowing the tray to come to a safe stop more quickly. This allows the performance of the denester to be significantly increased, even with trays of unfavorable shapes and dimensions.

[0007] According to the invention, the denester for trays comprises at least two denester screws and a transport device, wherein the transport device has a carrier chain or at least one conveyor belt. The invention is characterized in that the denester comprises an anti-tilt device for trays, which is arranged below the denester screws and above the transport device and is designed such that the anti-tilt device has anti-tilt protection on two or three sides, wherein no anti-tilt protection is provided in the conveying direction of the transport device. The anti-tilt device prevents the tray from tipping and limits the wobbling movement of the tray, whereby the tray comes to a safe stop more quickly. In this way, the performance of the denester can be greatly increased, even with unfavorable tray shapes and dimensions.

[0008] According to the invention, the anti-tilt device has a contact contour aligned transversely to the conveying direction of the transport device in order to prevent or limit wobbling and / or tipping counter to the transport direction.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the anti-tip device is height-adjustable in order to be able to adapt it to trays of different heights.

[0010] Advantageously, the anti-tilt device is arranged with its upper side between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm, below a tray edge of a tray located on the transport device in order to catch the tray at its tray edge and prevent it from tipping over.

[0011] The anti-tip device preferably has two opposing contact contours to prevent or limit lateral wobbling and / or tipping in the transport direction. At the same time, unhindered, smooth further transport is enabled once the tray has reached a largely secure position on the transport device.

[0012] The two opposing contact contours preferably each have at least one section aligned parallel to a conveying direction of the transport device, which facilitates the transport of the trays out of the anti-tilt device.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the anti-tip device is designed as a sheet metal construction, which enables a cost-effective construction.

[0014] Preferably, the anti-tip device is designed in one piece, which represents a cost-effective construction.

[0015] Preferably, the anti-tilt device is at least partially U-shaped in order to adapt to the shape of round trays or cups as congruently as possible, for example.

[0016] Tilting refers to the inclination of the tray relative to a vertical axis. Tumbling refers to the at least partially rotating movement of the tray around a vertical axis.

[0017] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 a view of a denester according to the invention, Fig. 2 a side view of an anti-tip device with a stationary tray and Fig. 3 a side view of an anti-tip device with a tilted tray.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a denester 1, which is arranged above a transport device 2 by means of a device not shown in detail. The denester 1 comprises two denester screws 3 for transferring trays 4 individually downwards onto the transport device 2. The transport device 2 has support rails 5, and the stacked trays 4 are transported further, preferably intermittently, to a subsequent work station by means of a carrier chain 6 with a plurality of carriers 7 in a conveying direction F. Alternatively, a conveyor belt is conceivable instead of the carrier chain 6 and the support rails 5. The denester 1 has an anti-tilt device 8 fastened below the denester screws 3 to prevent or at least mitigate tipping or tumbling of the tray 4 after the tray 4 has hit the support rails 5 of the transport device 2.

[0019] The anti-tilt device 8 has a first and a second contact contour 9, 10 aligned parallel to the conveying direction F, as well as a third contact contour 11 aligned transversely to the conveying direction F. In the illustrated embodiment of the anti-tilt device 8, this is designed as a one-piece and U-shaped sheet metal construction and is fastened to a frame 12 of the denester 1 by means of two optionally height-adjustable holding elements. The first and second contact contours 9, 10 or their inner sides have a horizontal distance A from one another in the area of ​​the tray 4, wherein this distance A is smaller than the corresponding outer dimension of a tray edge 13 and at the same time a greater distance A than the outer dimension of the trays 4 between the contact contours 9, 10. This prevents the tray 4 from tipping in all directions, since the tray edge 13 (see Fig. 2) rests against the contact contours 9, 10, 11 during tipping and is prevented from tipping further. Tray 4 then tilts back and comes to a stop very quickly, thus resting securely on the transport device 2.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the anti-tip device 8, wherein the stacked tray 4 is already resting on the support rails 5 and can be transported further to the right in the conveying direction F by the carrier 7 in order to make space for the next tray 4 to be stacked. This side view shows that the anti-tip device 8 is arranged at a vertical height H below the tray edge 13. This height H is preferably low, for example 1 mm to 2 mm, on the one hand to keep the tilting or wobbling movement as small as possible and on the other hand to avoid friction due to contact of the tray edge 13 with the contact contours 9, 10 for the subsequent onward transport.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows the side view as Fig. 2 with a tray 4 in a tilted position. The positive technical effect of the tilt limitation of the tray 4 via the contact between the tray edge 13 and the contact contours 9, 10 is clearly visible.

Claims

[1] Denester (1) for trays, comprising at least two denester screws (3) and a transport device (2), wherein the transport device (2) has a carrier chain (6) or at least one conveyor belt, wherein the denester (1) comprises an anti-tilt device (8) for trays (4) which is arranged below the denester screws (3) and above the transport device (2), characterized by that the anti-tilt device (8) is designed such that the anti-tilt device (8) has anti-tilt protection on two or three sides, wherein no anti-tilt protection is provided in the conveying direction (F) of the transport device (2), and that the anti-tilt device (8) has a contact contour (11) oriented transversely to the conveying direction (F) of the transport device (2). [2] Denester according to claim 1, characterized by that the anti-tip device (8) is height adjustable. [3] De-stacker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the anti-tilt device (8) is arranged with its upper side between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm, below a tray edge (13) of a tray (4) located on the transport device (2). [4] De-stacker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the anti-tip device (8) has two opposing contact contours (9, 10). [5] Denester according to claim 4, characterized by that the opposing contact contours (9, 10) each have at least one section aligned parallel to a conveying direction (F) of the transport device (2). [6] Denester according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the anti-tip device (8) is designed as a sheet metal construction. [7] Denester according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the anti-tip device (8) is made in one piece. [8] De-stacker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the anti-tip device (8) is at least partially U-shaped.

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