Feeding device and container therefor as well as feeding method

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a feeding method according to the preamble of claim 1. The feeding device used in the method accordingly serves to feed a number of elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies corresponding to a large container into at least one processing device, in which each elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper body can only be processed when it is in a defined processing position. The required processing position comprises at least the position and orientation of the paper body to be processed. In a position / position / orientation deviating from the processing position, processing of the paper body in the processing device is not possible or only possible with errors. A large container comprises several thousand, several tens of thousands or several hundred thousand paper bodies, depending on the paper body dimensions or shape.

[0002] The elongated, particularly rod-shaped, cardboard or paper bodies can be formed, for example, as paper rods, tubes, or sticks, or as paper or cardboard plates. Such paper bodies are manufactured in large quantities (bulk packages) by a production facility and regularly require mechanical finishing or further processing after production. In the case of cotton swabs, for example, one processing step consists of attaching cotton wool to the end of the elongated paper body (stick). In the case of spatulas or plates, for example, subsequent rolling or forming is appropriate. A further processing step can involve printing, labeling, or marking the manufactured paper bodies. Such processing steps are implemented in suitable processing facilities.The feeding device is used to feed the finished paper bodies to one or more processing devices.

[0003] A reusable container is also described. Accordingly, the container serves to transport elongated, particularly rod-shaped, paper bodies of a number corresponding to a large container from a first device, particularly a production device, to a second device configured as a feed device. The use of a reusable container is also described.

[0004] The invention relates to a method for feeding at least one processing device for processing elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies with a number of paper bodies corresponding to a large container according to claim 1.

[0005] Finally, a distribution system is also described.

[0006] Accordingly, the distribution system serves to distribute elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies of a number of paper bodies corresponding to a large container to several processing devices, in which the paper body can only be processed if it is in a defined processing position (position / orientation). TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0007] After the elongated, particularly rod-shaped, paper bodies have been produced, they are packed in large containers, for example, cartons containing approximately a few thousand, a few tens of thousands, or a few hundred thousand, or a few hundred thousand,000 paper bodies. The packaged paper bodies are then transported in the packaging cartons to a processing facility. Since a defined processing position or orientation of the paper bodies is required during processing, the elongated paper bodies are packaged in an orderly or aligned manner, i.e., the paper bodies are placed in the packaging in a specific, defined direction. This is time-consuming and error-prone, so that it often happens that individual paper bodies arrive in the packaging crooked and out of order.

[0008] For (further) processing of the paper bodies, the filled large container packaging cartons with the (properly) packaged elongated paper bodies are first opened and then placed in a processing facility where the elongated paper bodies are to be removed from the packaging cartons in an orderly manner.

[0009] US3389436 relates to a processing machine for paper rods.

[0010] Deviations from the sorting and / or ordering of the paper bodies within the packaging regularly lead to delays in the processing of the elongated paper bodies. For example, a manual correction is required if a paper body is positioned crookedly in the packaging and then cannot be processed or can only be processed incorrectly in the processing device because the paper body is not in the required processing position or processing orientation. Processing can only continue after the crooked or deviated paper body has been manually restored to its defined processing orientation within the processing device. This is where the invention comes in. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The problem to be solved is therefore to simplify the handling of elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies, in particular with regard to improved feeding of the paper bodies into processing devices. This problem is solved by a method for loading according to claim 1. The feeding device used in the method comprises at least one alignment device with which individual or all of the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies of the number of paper bodies corresponding to a large container can be aligned such that the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies are already in the defined processing position when they reach or enter the processing device. Manual alignment is eliminated. Pre-sorting or orientation of the elongated paper bodies before feeding the paper bodies into the processing device is also eliminated.

[0012] Preferably, the elongated, particularly rod-shaped, paper bodies can be conveyed into the alignment device of the feed device via a conveying device, particularly a conveyor belt. The transport of the elongated paper bodies on the conveyor belt can be undirected, i.e., without any preferred orientation of the paper bodies, since the alignment or orientation of the elongated paper bodies takes place in the alignment device arranged behind the conveying device.

[0013] At least one reusable container is provided with which the elongated, particularly rod-shaped, paper bodies are fed into the feed device, particularly as bulk material. This completely eliminates the need for packaging boxes for the elongated paper bodies on their way to the processing facility. Accordingly, there is no need to procure and keep cartons on hand, nor do the empty cartons need to be disassembled and disposed of. This reduces costs and environmental impact. Preferably, the reusable container can be stackable.

[0014] If the reusable container is large enough to accommodate several tens of thousands or several hundred thousand elongated paper bodies, an emptying station is appropriate, in which the reusable container is emptied so that the elongated, particularly rod-shaped, paper bodies reach the feed device. Emptying can be carried out using at least one, particularly hydraulic, lifting and / or tilting device, which is a component of the emptying station.

[0015] The paper bodies can be in the shape of a rod or stick, i.e., essentially cylindrical with a substantially round cross-section. The paper bodies can be hollow, for example, in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The paper bodies can be formed as elongated, flat plates or small pieces, for example, with a substantially rectangular or oval cross-section.

[0016] A simplification of the handling of elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies, in particular with regard to an improved feeding of the paper bodies into processing devices therefor, is also achieved by a reusable container .

[0017] The container serves to transport elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies from a first device, in particular a production device, to at least one second device configured as a feed device, in particular to a feed device described herein. The reusable container is suitable for transporting up to several thousand, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of paper bodies, i.e., for transporting corresponding large containers.

[0018] A simplification of the handling of elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies, in particular with regard to an improved feeding of the paper bodies into processing devices therefor, further results from a use of a reusable container, in particular as described herein.

[0019] The reusable container makes disposable packaging, especially cardboard boxes, unnecessary for transporting the elongated, especially rod-shaped, paper bodies.

[0020] A simplification of the handling of elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies, in particular with regard to an improved feeding of the paper bodies into processing devices therefor, is also achieved by a method for feeding at least one processing device for processing elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies with a number of paper bodies corresponding to a large container, according to claim 1.

[0021] In the method, the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies are fed by means of at least one reusable container, in particular as described herein, to at least one feed device, in particular as described herein. The elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies are aligned in the feed device such that the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies are brought into a defined processing position, so that the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies can be fed to at least one processing device in the defined processing position.

[0022] It can be provided that the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies pass from the reusable container into the feed device in at least one emptying station. The elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies can be conveyed via at least one conveying device to at least one alignment device that aligns the elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies.

[0023] A simplification of the handling of elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies, in particular with regard to an improved feeding of the paper bodies into processing devices therefor, also results from a distribution system for distributing elongated, in particular rod-shaped, paper bodies to a plurality of processing devices.

[0024] The distribution system comprises a feeding device as described herein, wherein a feeding method as described herein is carried out in the system.

[0025] The aforementioned components to be used according to the invention as well as those claimed and described in the exemplary embodiments are not subject to any special exceptional conditions in terms of their size, shape, material selection and technical conception, so that the selection criteria known in the field of application can be applied without restriction.

[0026] Further details, features, and advantages of the subject matter of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, as well as from the following description and the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of a distribution system with a feed device. Individual features of the claims or embodiments can also be combined with other features of other claims and embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0027] In the drawing show Fig. 1 is a diagram of a distribution system according to the prior art and Fig. 2 is a diagram of a distribution system with a feed device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] In the industrial production of paper swabs, for example for cotton swabs, it is not uncommon for quantities of several tens of thousands of pieces to be produced per batch and then sent for further processing. The state of the art ( Fig. 1 ), to pack the finished sticks in (cardboard) boxes 1. The boxes 1 are, as in Fig. 1 shown schematically, carried to a processing device 2, opened there and inserted into the processing device 2 - approximately every 10 minutes. A similar procedure is followed if not sticks but flat or hollow cardboard or paper bodies are to be manufactured and further processed.

[0029] Carrying and inserting the packaging cartons 1 is laborious, especially when a carton 1 contains, for example, several tens of thousands of finished paper bodies (sticks). Due to the machine dimensions, work must frequently be carried out above head height.

[0030] The finished sticks or paper bodies are sorted after production and filled into cartons 1 in the correct orientation so that the sticks / bodies can be fed to the processing device 2 in a defined processing position. A crookedly packaged stick, i.e., a stick that is not in the defined processing position, is identified as a malfunction in the processing device 2 or causes a malfunction there, and manual intervention is then required, for example, by a technician 13. Correcting the malfunction caused by the "extraordinary" stick always requires practice and patience on the part of the intervening technician 13. During manual intervention, the position or orientation of the crooked stick is sometimes corrected so that the stick subsequently returns to the desired and defined processing position.This correction slows down the processing within processing facility 2 and makes the entire manufacturing and processing process cost-intensive.

[0031] According to the invention, pre-sorting and sorting of the finished sticks / paper bodies is no longer necessary. The sticks are, as in Fig. 2 shown schematically, after production as bulk material 3 into a reusable container 4, which is brought, for example with a lifting truck or forklift 5, to an emptying station 6 of a distribution system 7 with a feeding device 15. There, the reusable container 4 is emptied and the unsorted and non-oriented sticks are placed on a conveyor belt 8 of a conveyor device 9. From there, the sticks / paper bodies are sent to at least one processing device 2, wherein according to Fig. 2 two processing devices 2 are shown schematically. Further processing devices 2 can be provided in the distribution system 7, such as those shown in Fig. 2 The dashed conveyor line 10 is intended to symbolize this.

[0032] With respect to the conveying direction, an alignment device 11 is provided behind the emptying station 6 and in front of the processing device 2, in which the conveyed paper bodies are aligned so that the paper bodies enter the processing device 2 in the defined processing position.

[0033] With regard to an emergency supply 12 of the processing equipment 2, a receptacle for conventional packaging cartons 1 can be provided, for example in case the emptying station 6 or the conveyor device 9 should experience technical malfunctions.

[0034] With the Fig. 2 The provided distribution system 7 ensures that manufactured sticks no longer require laborious pre-sorting and packaging before they can be further processed. The labor-intensive packaging in boxes 1 is no longer necessary. There is also no longer any need for labor-intensive inspection during the packaging process. Thus, boxes 1 do not have to be ordered and kept on hand, nor do the boxes 1 have to be disposed of after loading the processing equipment 2. By eliminating the cardboard packaging 1, production and (further) processing become more sustainable from an ecological point of view. It is also no longer necessary to insert the sometimes heavy boxes 1 (overhead) into the processing equipment(s) 2 and adjust them there. Manual intervention in the case of crookedly packaged sticks / paper bodies is also no longer necessary, since the distribution system 7 uses the alignment device 11 to align each stick into the defined processing position.The need for manual corrections and constantly repetitive operations by one or more experienced technicians 13 is significantly reduced, which makes the entire manufacturing and processing process faster and more efficient, also in terms of costs.

[0035] The paper body production and the paper body processing can take place at different locations. In this case, the reusable containers 4 are stacked on pallets 14 and transported from the production site to the (further) processing site, for example by a freight forwarder. At the destination, i.e. the processing site, the reusable containers 4 are opened and the unsorted paper bodies contained therein are placed in the Fig. 2The paper is poured into the schematically illustrated distribution system 7. In such a process sequence, the supply of paper bodies lasts for several hours, so that the processing device(s) 2 achieve noticeably shorter (down)times. Finally, the use of the distribution system 7 shown and the implementation of the feeding processes taking place therein allow the paper body supply to be centrally organized for several factories, each of which operates paper body processing facilities, for example, at several locations. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0036] 1(Cardboard) box 2Processing equipment 3Bulk material 4Container 5Forklift 6Emptying device 7Distribution system 8Conveyor belt 9Conveyor device 10Conveyor line 11Alignment device 12Emergency supply 13Technician 14Pallet 15Feeding device

Claims

1. A method for supplying at least one processing apparatus (2) for the processing of elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies of a number of paper bodies corresponding to a large receptacle, wherein the number comprises at least several thousand paper bodies, wherein in the method the elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies are fed by means of at least one reusable container (4), in which the elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies are arranged as unsorted and non-oriented bulk material, to at least one feeding device (15) of the processing apparatus (2), wherein the elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies of the number of paper bodies corresponding to a large receptacle are oriented by means of at least one emptying station via at least one conveying apparatus (9) in an orienting apparatus (11) of the processing apparatus (2) so that the elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies are brought into a defined processing position comprising position and orientation of each elongate, rod-shaped paper body, so that the elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies are able to be fed in the defined processing position to the processing apparatus, in which each elongate, rod-shaped paper body can be processed only if it is situated in the defined processing position, and wherein individual or all elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies of the number of paper bodies corresponding to a large receptacle are oriented in the orienting apparatus (11) so that the elongate, rod-shaped paper bodies are already in the defined processing position when they reach or enter the processing apparatus (2).