METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING (HYGIENE) PRODUCTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for handling (hygiene) products, in particular diapers, wherein the products are transported by a feeder in a first transport direction into compartments of a discharge conveyor, in particular a grouping conveyor, which transports the products in a second transport direction, wherein the second transport direction is transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the first transport direction, and wherein at least one intermediate conveyor is arranged between the feeder and the discharge conveyor, which serves to reduce the transport speed of the products in the first transport direction, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The invention further relates to a corresponding device according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0003] In the production of multipacks for (hygiene) products, the products are often fed into a fan conveyor. From the fan conveyor, the products are then fed in groups to a corresponding packaging machine and wrapped in a common covering. With fan conveyors commonly used in practice, the products are placed directly into the compartments. The products' transport path is slowed by a stop against which they collide as they enter the fan conveyor.

[0004] EP 0 709 315 A1, which is considered the closest prior art, discloses a device which uses a velocity reduction unit to slow down fed products and transfer them into a first fan conveyor. The velocity reduction unit is configured as a further fan conveyor inclined relative to the first fan conveyor. EP 0 709 315 A1 discloses the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 8.

[0005] One disadvantage of this approach is that the products change their orientation when transferred from the speed reduction unit to the fan conveyor. This increases the risk of the products tipping over relative to the fan conveyor compartments and causing problems in the subsequent production process.

[0006] Based on this, the invention aims to further develop methods and devices of the type mentioned above, particularly with regard to eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] A method for solving this problem has the features of claim 1. It is therefore provided that areas of the products protruding from the compartments are stabilized by at least one further compartment conveyor, in particular by restraint of the products against partition walls of the further compartment conveyor, wherein the or each further compartment conveyor is continuously driven in the second transport direction and is preferably arranged above the intermediate conveyor and / or the discharge conveyor.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the intermediate conveyor runs at least substantially parallel to the second transport direction.

[0009] The delay can be achieved by reducing the transport speed of the products in the first transport direction by temporarily placing the products on the intermediate conveyor or its components.

[0010] In other words, it may be provided that the transport speed of the products in the first transport direction is reduced by friction between the products and the intermediate conveyor or its components.

[0011] Preferably, the intermediate conveyor and the discharge conveyor are driven continuously and at the same speed in the second transport direction, and both conveyors are designed as fan conveyors and have partitions to separate compartments of the respective conveyor, wherein the two conveyors are driven in such a way as to be aligned with each other, so that the respective compartments and partitions are at least partially aligned, so that the products are transported one after the other by the feeder through a compartment of the intermediate conveyor into a compartment of the discharge conveyor, wherein the products are slowed down with respect to their transport speed in the first transport direction by partial contact or friction with the partitions of the intermediate conveyor and the discharge conveyor.

[0012] Preferably, in the constellation according to the invention, it can also be provided that the further fan conveyor(s) run at an angle to the transport plane of the intermediate conveyor and / or discharge conveyor, so that the partition walls of the further fan conveyor(s) are gradually pulled away from the products during the transport of the products in the second transport direction.

[0013] Another special feature may be that a diverter is arranged between the intermediate conveyor and the discharge conveyor, with which the products are preferably pushed completely onto the discharge conveyor and / or aligned on the discharge conveyor during transport in the second transport direction.

[0014] A device for solving the aforementioned problem has the features of claim 8. Accordingly, it is provided that areas of the products protruding from the compartments are stabilized by at least one further compartment conveyor, in particular by restraint of the products against partition walls of the further compartment conveyor, wherein the or each further compartment conveyor is continuously driven in the second transport direction and is preferably arranged above the intermediate conveyor and / or the discharge conveyor.

[0015] Preferably, the device is configured to drive the intermediate conveyor and the discharge conveyor continuously and at the same speed in the second transport direction, and both conveyors are designed as compartment conveyors and have partitions to separate compartments of the respective conveyor, wherein the device is configured to drive the two conveyors in such a way that the respective compartments and partitions are at least partially aligned, so that products are transported successively through the feeder, through a compartment of the intermediate conveyor, into a compartment of the discharge conveyor, wherein the products are slowed down with respect to their transport speed in the first transport direction by partial contact with the partitions of the intermediate conveyor and the discharge conveyor.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the compartments are dimensioned such that they are only slightly wider than the respective product, so that the product is supported by the compartment or its partitions transversely to the first transport direction.

[0017] In the constellation according to the invention, it can further be provided that the additional fan conveyor(s) run at an angle to the transport plane of the intermediate conveyor and / or discharge conveyor, so that the partition walls of the additional fan conveyor(s) are gradually pulled away from the products during the transport of the products in the second transport direction, in particular before the products enter a deflection area of ​​the additional fan conveyor.

[0018] Preferably, a diverter is arranged between the intermediate conveyor and the discharge conveyor, for the preferably complete diversion of the products during transport in the second transport direction onto the discharge conveyor and / or for aligning the products on the discharge conveyor.

[0019] Another special feature may be that the intermediate conveyor in the second transport direction is designed with a shorter extension than the discharge conveyor and preferably extends only in a transfer area for the products.

[0020] A preferred detail of the invention may consist in that several partitions are combined to form compartment segments with several spaced-apart partitions.

[0021] Furthermore, it may be provided that the compartment segments are coupled to the corresponding conveyor via a quick-release system, in particular with a toothed belt of the respective conveyor.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that an additional fan conveyor is arranged above the intermediate conveyor and above the discharge conveyor, which is driven in the second transport direction.

[0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a device for handling (hygiene) products in a schematic spatial representation, Fig. 2 a vertical section through the device along section line II - II in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a horizontal section through the device along section line III - III in Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 a vertical section through the device along section line IV - IV in Fig. 2 , and Fig. 5 a detail of the device in area V in Fig. 2 .

[0024] The in Fig. 1 The device shown in its essential parts is used for handling diapers. It is understood that the device is also suitable for handling similar hygiene products, so the following discussion will refer generally to product 10.

[0025] The products 10 are fed to a discharge conveyor 11. A feed conveyor 12 serves this purpose. An intermediate conveyor 13 is arranged between the feed conveyor 12 and the discharge conveyor 11. Above the discharge conveyor 11 and the intermediate conveyor 13 are two further fan conveyors 14 and 15.

[0026] The conveyors are driven continuously. Accordingly, the products are also moved continuously.

[0027] The intermediate conveyor 13, the discharge conveyor 11, and the two further conveyors 14, 15 are all designed as compartment conveyors, i.e., partitions 16 are arranged around the circumference of the preferably endless conveying section of the conveyors. These partitions are preferably perpendicular to the conveying section and serve to form compartments 17 of the conveyors, each of which preferably holds one product 10, but possibly also several products 10. It is understood that the conveyors do not necessarily have to be designed as compartment conveyors, but that the term also encompasses similar configurations in which compartments are formed that are suitable for holding the products 10 to be conveyed.

[0028] The device essentially has two transport directions. A first transport direction 18 is determined by the feeder 12. The second transport direction 19 runs transversely, preferably essentially perpendicular to this. The second transport direction 19 corresponds to the longitudinal extent of the intermediate conveyor 13, the discharge conveyor 11, and the two fan conveyors 14, 15.

[0029] The feeder 12 is designed in two parts and initially comprises a pair of twist belts 20, followed by a pair of infeed belts 21. The products 10 are fed flat to the twist belts 20 and erected during transport by the twist belts 20. The products 10 are then transferred to the infeed belts 21, which serve to feed the products 10 sequentially to the discharge conveyor 11.

[0030] The products 10 are fed from the infeed conveyors 21 to the discharge conveyor 11 via the intermediate conveyor 13 and its compartments 17. The discharge speed of the infeed conveyors 21 is selected such that the products 10 are transported through the compartments 17 of the intermediate conveyor 13 into corresponding compartments 17 of the discharge conveyor 11. In doing so, the products 10 inevitably come into contact with the partitions 16 of the intermediate conveyor 13 and are slowed down by the resulting friction.

[0031] The width of the compartments 17 transverse to the first transport direction 18 is selected to ensure a suitable braking effect. The partitions 16 of the conveyor 11 can also be used to brake the products 10, so that the products 10 ultimately land properly in the compartments 17 of the conveyor 11 or, at most, collide at a low speed with a stop 23 arranged for safety reasons downstream of the conveyor 11, without any significant deformation of the products 10 occurring.

[0032] Since the intermediate conveyor 13 and the discharge conveyor 11 are continuously driven during the transport of the products 10, the downstream end of the infeed conveyors 21 is designed to pivot laterally and move in sync with the compartments of the intermediate conveyor 13. This prevents the products 10 from colliding with the partition walls 16 of the intermediate conveyor 13.

[0033] The partition walls 16 of the intermediate conveyor 13 and the discharge conveyor 11 are aligned with each other, so that aligned compartments 17 are formed on the intermediate conveyor 13 and the discharge conveyor 11.

[0034] Furthermore, a diverter 22 is provided in the course of the conveyor 11, which may push the products 10 onto the conveyor 11 and / or align the products 10 located there in a row.

[0035] At the end of the conveyor 11, the products 10 are pushed out in groups from the compartments 17 of the conveyor 11 and further processed.

[0036] Another special feature concerns the arrangement and orientation of the additional fan conveyors 14, 15. In plan view, the additional fan conveyors 14, 15 are located above the intermediate conveyor 13 and the discharge conveyor 11, respectively. Furthermore, the additional fan conveyors 14, 15 are arranged at an inclination relative to the transport plane of the intermediate conveyor 13 and the discharge conveyor 11.

[0037] The additional compartment conveyors 14, 15 serve to support the upper edge of the products 10 standing in the compartments 17, thus preventing them from buckling. On the other hand, it must be ensured that the area in which the additional compartment conveyors 14, 15 can provide support ends before the products 10 reach the deflection area of ​​the additional compartment conveyors 14, 15. Otherwise, the products 10 would be bent over by the partitions 16 of the first and second compartment conveyors 14, 15 in the deflection area. Accordingly, the additional compartment conveyors 14, 15 are inclined slightly upwards in the transport direction, so that the products 10 are no longer laterally supported by the partitions 16 of the additional compartment conveyors 14, 15 before reaching the deflection point of the two conveyors.

[0038] How Fig. 5As shown, several partition walls 16 are grouped together to form a compartment segment 24. Compartment segments 24 with two partition walls 16 and, by way of example, a compartment segment with five partition walls 16 are shown. The compartment segments 24 are connected to the conveyor section via a quick-release system.

[0039] In summary, the operation of the device can be described in other words as follows: The products 10 come flat from a converter and are conveyed to a twisted conveyor belt 20. In the twisted conveyor belt 20, the products 10 are positioned vertically and conveyed at high speed to a stacker.

[0040] The stacker consists of four fan belts 11, 13, 14, 15. The lower guidance of the products 10 is provided by the fan segments 24 of the two fan belts 11, 13, and the upper guidance of the products 10 is provided by the fan segments 24 of the two fan belts 14, 15.

[0041] After the products 10 are immersed in the compartments 17, they lose speed and come to a standstill in the area between the front compartment conveyors 13, 14 and the rear compartment conveyors 11, 15. They have a particularly long run-out path and generally do not collide with the stop 23. This makes the device particularly gentle on the products. This means that the braking force is applied solely by friction against the side surface of the product 10 and no deformation occurs due to the stop 23.

[0042] Once the deceleration process of the products 10 is complete, the upper compartment conveyors 14, 15 are pulled upwards during the lateral movement. They serve only to guide the products on both sides during the infeed process, so that no products 10 come to a standstill in unassigned compartments 17.

[0043] In order for the fan segments 24 of the front and rear fan conveyors 14, 15 to pivot in the deflection without colliding with the upper edge of the product, they must be pulled out of the product area. This is achieved by tilting the fan conveyors 14, 15.

[0044] Because the position of the products 10 in the compartments 17 is undefined when they come to a standstill, they are aligned by a switch 22 during the lateral movement. After this leveling, they are fed to an excavator by the conveyor 11.

Claims

1. A method for handling (hygiene) products (10), in particular diapers, the products (10) being transported by way of a feed conveyor (12) in a first transport direction (18) into compartments (17) of a discharge conveyor (11), in particular of a grouping conveyor, which transports the products (10) in a second transport direction (19), the second transport direction (19) running transversely, in particular perpendicularly, with respect to the first transport direction (18), and wherein at least one intermediate conveyor (13), which serves to decrease the transfer speed of the products (10) in the first transport direction (18), is arranged between the feed conveyor (12) and the discharge conveyor (11), characterized in that regions of the products (10) which protrude out of the compartments (17) are stabilized by way of at least one further compartment conveyor (14, 15), in particular by way of contact of the products (10) with dividing walls (16) of the further compartment conveyor (14, 15), the or each further compartment conveyor (14, 15) being driven continuously in the second transport direction (19) and preferably being arranged above the intermediate conveyor (13) and / or the discharge conveyor (11).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate conveyor (13) runs at least substantially parallel to the second transport direction (19).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport speed of the products (10) in the first transport direction (18) is decreased by way of temporary contact of the products (10) with the intermediate conveyor (13) or members thereof.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the transport speed of the products (10) in the first transport direction (18) is decreased by way of friction between the products (10) and the intermediate conveyor (13) or members thereof.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that intermediate conveyor (13) and discharge conveyor (11) are driven continuously and at the same speed in the second transport direction (19), and in that the two conveyors are configured as compartment conveyors and have dividing walls (16) for dividing compartments (17) of the respective conveyor, the two conveyors being driven in a manner which is oriented with respect to one another in such a way that the respective compartments (17) and dividing walls (16) are arranged so as to be aligned at least partially, with the result that the products (10) are transported one after another by way of the feed conveyor (12) through a compartment (17) of the intermediate conveyor (13) into a compartment (17) of the discharge conveyor (11), the products (10) being braked with regard to their transport speed in the first transport direction (18) by way of partial contact or friction with the dividing walls (16) of the intermediate conveyor (13) and of the discharge conveyor (11).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the compartment conveyor or the further compartment conveyors (14, 15) run obliquely with respect to the transport plane of the intermediate conveyor (13) and / or discharge conveyor (11), with the result that the dividing walls (16) of the compartment conveyor or the further compartment conveyors (14, 15) are withdrawn gradually from the products (10) during the transport of the products (10) in the second transport direction (19).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that a diverter (22) is arranged between the intermediate conveyor (13) and the discharge conveyor (11), by way of which diverter (22) the products (10) are preferably pushed completely onto the discharge conveyor (11) and / or are aligned on the discharge conveyor (11) during the transport in the second transport direction (19).

8. An apparatus for handling (hygiene) products (10), in particular diapers, with a feed conveyor (12) for transporting the products (10) in a first transport direction (18) into compartments (17) of a discharge conveyor (11), in particular of a grouping conveyor, the discharge conveyor (11) being configured to transport the products (10) in a second transport direction (19), and the second transport direction (19) running transversely, in particular perpendicularly, with respect to the first transport direction (18), and wherein at least one intermediate conveyor (13) is arranged between the feed conveyor (12) and the discharge conveyor (11), for decreasing the transport speed of the products (10) in the first transport direction (18), characterized in that regions of the products (10) which protrude out of the compartments (17) are stabilized by way of at least one further compartment conveyor (14, 15), in particular by way of contact of the products (10) with dividing walls (16) of the further compartment conveyor (14, 15), the or each further compartment conveyor (14, 15) being driven continuously in the second transport direction (19) and preferably being arranged above the intermediate conveyor (13) and / or the discharge conveyor (11).

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the apparatus is configured to drive the intermediate conveyor (13) and the discharge conveyor (11) continuously and at the same speed in the second transport direction (19), and in that the two conveyors are configured as compartment conveyors and have dividing walls (16) for dividing compartments (17) of the respective conveyor, the apparatus being configured to drive the two conveyors in a manner which is aligned with respect to one another in such a way that the respective compartments (17) and dividing walls (16) are arranged so as to be aligned at least partially, with the result that products (10) are transported one after another by way of the feed conveyor (12) through a compartment (17) of the intermediate conveyor (13) into a compartment (17) of the discharge conveyor (11), the products (10) being braked with regard to their transport speed in the first transport direction (18) by way of partial contact with the dividing walls (16) of the intermediate conveyor (13) and the discharge conveyor (11).

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the compartments (17) are dimensioned in such a way that they are only slightly wider than the respective product (10), with the result that the product (10) is supported transversely with respect to the first transport direction (18) by way of the compartment (17) or its dividing walls (16).

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims 9 to11, characterized in that the compartment conveyor or the further compartment conveyors (14, 15) run obliquely with respect to the transport plane of the intermediate conveyor (13) and / or discharge conveyor (11), with the result that the dividing walls (16) of the compartment conveyor or the further compartment conveyors (14, 15) are withdrawn gradually from the products (10) during the transport of the products (10) in the second transport direction (19), in particular before the products (10) pass into a deflecting region of the further compartment conveyor (14, 15).

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that a diverter (24) is arranged between the intermediate conveyor (13) and the discharge conveyor (11), for the preferably complete pushing of the products (10) onto the discharge conveyor (11) during the transport in the second transport direction (19) and / or for aligning the products (10) on the discharge conveyor (11).

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the intermediate conveyor (13) is configured in the second transport direction (19) with a shorter extent than the discharge conveyor (11), and preferably extends only in a transfer region for the products (10).

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or one of the other preceding claims 8 to 13, characterized in that a plurality of dividing walls (16) are combined to form compartment segments (24) with a plurality of dividing walls (16) which are spaced apart from one another.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or one of the other preceding claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the compartment segments (24) are connected via a quick release fastener system to the corresponding conveyor, in particular to a toothed belt of the respective conveyor.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims 8 to 14, characterized in that in each case one additional compartment conveyor (14, 15), which is driven in the second transport direction (19), is arranged above the intermediate conveyor (13) and above the discharge conveyor (11).