METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HANDLING HYGIENE PRODUCTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for handling flexible hygiene products, in particular sanitary towels, wherein the hygiene products are continuously transported along a transport path and are thereby rotated, in particular erected, according to claim 1.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device according to claim 5.

[0003] Numerous variations of methods and devices of the type mentioned above are known from practice. For example, in the manufacture of sanitary pads, it is known that these are taken from a manufacturing machine (converter) and transferred to a grouping device (stacker). Typically, the pads emerge from the converter lying flat and are fed to a subsequent fan-shaped conveyor belt by conveyor belts attached to both sides of the pads. During transport, they are straightened. This can be achieved, for example, by conveyor belts whose deflection rollers are offset by 90° (so-called "twist belts"), as is known from DE 10 2006 045087 A1.

[0004] The disadvantage of such a solution is the space required. Due to the technology used, these conveyor belts can be up to two meters long, depending on the product to be handled. This results in a large machine layout, even though only simple conveying tasks are required.

[0005] Hygiene products are also very lightweight and therefore have relatively low kinetic energy. Since the transport path is usually horizontal due to space constraints, there is also no potential energy. Consequently, there is a risk of machine malfunctions due to blockages in the conveyor line when transporting hygiene products.

[0006] Furthermore, EP 2 522 603 A1 discloses a sorting device configured to sort a web-shaped workpiece formed by stacking a plurality of nonwoven fabrics to a predetermined transport destination. A belt conveyor 10 of the sorting device comprises guide elements 100F and 100R. The guide elements 100F and 100R are arranged between endless belts 13A and 13B. The belt conveyor 10 has a suction box 81 and a blower 91 and is capable of sucking air through the conveying surface 10A, which is the workpiece holding surface. With the aid of the pivotable guide means 100F and 100R, the workpieces are redirected to alternative conveying paths.

[0007] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further developing methods and devices of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular with a view to eliminating the disadvantages known from the prior art.

[0008] A method according to the invention for achieving this object has the features of claim 1. It is accordingly provided that the hygiene products are rotated by means of a rotating device arranged in the transport path, wherein a conveyor for the hygiene products is preferably arranged directly in front of and behind the rotating device and the rotating device has a dimension that is shorter than the products in the transport direction of the hygiene products in the transport path, so that the hygiene products are each transported by at least one of the two conveyors while they are rotated by means of the rotating device. Furthermore, it is provided that the hygiene products are rotated in the rotating device, preferably by approximately 90°, namely about a longitudinal axis of the hygiene products, which runs essentially parallel to the transport direction or the transport path.

[0009] Because the hygiene product is always in engagement with one of the two conveyors, it cannot happen that the hygiene product gets stuck in the rotating device.

[0010] Preferably, it can further be provided that the rotating device has guides against which the hygiene products rest during transport by the rotating device and with which the rotation of the hygiene products is effected during transport of the hygiene products by the rotating device.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the hygiene products are fed lying flat between elements of the first conveyor of the rotating device and are erected in the rotating device and then transported away from the rotating device in an upright position between elements of the second conveyor, wherein the hygiene products are in engagement with at least the elements of the first conveyor or the elements of the second conveyor due to a shorter dimension of the rotating device in the transport direction in relation to the corresponding dimension of the hygiene products.

[0012] Furthermore, it can be provided that the hygiene products coming from a converter are fed to the rotating device by means of the first conveyor, rotated there and transported towards a stacker or excavator by means of the second conveyor.

[0013] A device for achieving the object mentioned at the outset has the features of claim 5. It is accordingly provided that the device has a rotating device arranged in the transport path for rotating the hygiene products, wherein a conveyor for the hygiene products is arranged, preferably immediately in front of and behind the rotating device, and the rotating device has a dimension in the transport direction of the hygiene products in the transport path that is shorter than the hygiene products, so that the device is designed to transport the hygiene products with at least one of the two conveyors while the hygiene products are rotated by means of the rotating device. Furthermore, it is provided that the rotating device is designed to rotate the flexible hygiene products within itself, in particular by approximately 90°, namely about a longitudinal axis of the hygiene products, which is essentially parallel to the transport direction ordirected towards the transport path, in particular in such a way that the upstream and downstream ends of the hygiene products are arranged in the rotating device rotated by approximately 90° to one another.

[0014] Furthermore, it can be provided that the rotating device has guides against which the hygiene products rest during transport by the rotating device and which are designed to cause the rotation of the hygiene products during transport of the hygiene products by the rotating device.

[0015] In particular, it can be provided that the device is designed to feed the hygiene products lying flat between elements of the first conveyor to the rotating device and to erect them in the rotating device and then to transport them upright between elements of the second conveyor from the rotating device, wherein the hygiene products are in engagement with at least the conveyor belts of the first conveyor or the conveyor means of the second conveyor due to the shorter dimension of the rotating device in the transport direction in relation to the corresponding dimension of the hygiene products.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the rotating device has a housing which has walls along which the hygiene products slide at least during transport by the rotating device for rotating the hygiene products, wherein the course of the walls in the transport direction determines the rotation of the hygiene products.

[0017] In this case, it can further be provided that the walls of the housing form a rigid channel, preferably closed laterally in the transport direction, through which the hygiene products are transported.

[0018] A special feature may be that the housing is formed from an upper half-shell and a lower half-shell, wherein the half-shells can be detachably connected to one another, and wherein it is preferably provided that the half-shells can be connected to one another by means of a quick-release fastener in the position forming the housing.

[0019] It is also conceivable that the rotating device has a housing which has a slot running in the transport direction and which is designed to enable transport disturbances in the rotating device to be eliminated from the outside.

[0020] Preferably, it can be provided that the rotating device is manufactured using a 3D printing process.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a device for handling sanitary towels in a schematic spatial representation, Fig. 2 a partial side view of the device according to arrow II in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a vertical section through the device along section line III - III in Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 a vertical section through the device along section line IV - IV in Fig. 2 , Fig. 5 a vertical section through the device along section line V - V in Fig. 2 , Fig. 6 a vertical section through the device along section line VI - VI in Fig. 2 , and Figs. 7 and 8 two alternative embodiments in a representation according to Fig. 5

[0022] The invention relates to the handling of hygiene products 10. Within the scope of this invention, hygiene products 10 are understood to mean products such as (sanitary) pads or the like. In particular, it concerns the handling of flat, flexible hygiene products 10. The hygiene products 10 are preferably processed unfolded.

[0023] The hygiene products 10, for example, coming from a converter, are continuously transported along a first transport path 11 in a first transport direction 12. In this case, the hygiene products 10 are transported lying flat and spaced apart from one another.

[0024] Following the first transport path 11, the hygiene products 10 are transported along a second transport path 13 in a second transport direction 14. The second transport path 13 and the second transport direction 14 run transversely to the first transport path 11 and the first transport direction 12.

[0025] A compartment conveyor 15 is provided along the second transport path 13, which has compartments 16 for receiving one or more hygiene products 10. The compartments 16 are delimited transversely to the second transport direction 14 by partition walls 17. The hygiene products 10 are arranged upright in the compartments 16 of the compartment conveyor 15. Consequently, it is necessary for the hygiene products 10, which are fed flat, to be erected accordingly.

[0026] For erecting the hygiene products 10, a rotating device 18 is provided, which is located in the first transport section 11. During transport, the hygiene products 10 are rotated from a flat to an upright position by the rotating device 18. For this purpose, the rotating device 18 has a correspondingly shaped channel 19 through which the hygiene products 10 are transported and rotated as desired by contacting the walls 20 of the channel 19. The walls 20 thus serve as guides for the hygiene products 10.

[0027] As can be seen from the figures, the hygiene products 10 are also rotated in themselves, in particular in such a way that an inlet-side end of a hygiene product 10 is arranged flat, whereas the outlet-side end of the hygiene product 10 is arranged upright.

[0028] As a result, the hygiene products 10 can be rotated by 90° using the rotating device 18. It is understood that larger or smaller angles of rotation are also possible through appropriate design of the rotating device 18. Of course, rotation from a flat to an upright position is not necessarily required. Other relative positions, including combinations with different angles of rotation, are also conceivable.

[0029] A further special feature results from the dimension of the rotating device 18 along the first transport path 11 in relation to the corresponding dimension of the hygiene product 10.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows that the dimension of the hygiene product 10 in the first transport path 11 or in the first transport direction 12 is greater than the corresponding dimension or length of the rotating device 18. This enables the hygiene products 10 to protrude upstream and downstream from the rotating device 18 and to be transported by appropriately arranged conveying means 21, 22. In particular, the construction can be set up such that the hygiene product 10 is in engagement with at least one of the two conveying means 21, 22 during transport by the rotating device 18. For this purpose, the distance 23 between the conveying means 21, 22 can be set up accordingly. Accordingly, the distance between the conveying means 21, 22 before and after the rotating device 18 is less than or equal to the product length.The advantage of this solution is that even very light hygiene products can be transported with relatively low kinetic energy and, due to the horizontal orientation of the transport path 11, also with low potential energy, without there being a high risk of blockages or machine malfunctions.

[0031] The rotating device 18 or the walls 20 can be designed in the form of a housing 24. Preferably, the housing 24 is formed in two parts, with an upper half-shell 25 and a lower half-shell 26. This allows the housing 24 to be opened to clean the channel 19 or to correct transport problems.

[0032] At the Fig. 7 In the second variant of the rotating device 18 shown, the housing 24 is formed in one piece and has a slot 27 running in the longitudinal direction through which access to the channel 19 is possible, for example for the purposes mentioned above.

[0033] The Fig. 8 The third variant of the rotating device 18 shown has a pivotably mounted upper half-shell 25, which can be secured to the lower half-shell 26 by means of a quick-release fastener 28.

[0034] It is understood that the slot 27 and / or the quick-release fastener can also be provided in combination with the first embodiment.

[0035] Preferably, the housing is manufactured using a 3D printing process. The housing 24 can be designed to be closed, except for an inlet opening and an outlet opening, as shown. However, it is also conceivable that the housing 24 or its walls 20 are formed only by web-like guides against which the hygiene products 10 then rest.

[0036] Returning to Fig. 1 bis 3 It should also be noted that the first conveyor 21 is formed by a pair of driven rollers, whereas the second conveyor 22 is formed by a pair of endless conveyor belts. The hygiene products 10 are positioned between the two rollers or between the two conveyor belts. It is understood that other suitable transport means could also be considered as the first and second conveyors 21, 22.

[0037] Continue to show Fig. 1 and 2 an ejection station 29 for defective products. The hygiene products 10, which are fed flat between two conveyor belts 30, are transported via a pivoting switch 31. Defective products can be ejected by pivoting the switch 31, as shown in Fig. 2 shown, into an ejection container 32 located below the transport path 11.

[0038] Above the compartment conveyor 15 there is a second compartment conveyor 33, which additionally secures the hygiene products 10 against bending.

[0039] At the end of the compartment conveyor 15, the hygiene products 10 are pushed out in groups 34 and can be fed to a packaging process, for example in an excavator. List of reference symbols

[0040] 10Hygienic product 11First transport route 12First transport direction 13Second transport route 14Second transport direction 15Compartment conveyor 16Compartment 17Partition wall 18Rotating device 19Channel 20Wall 21First conveyor 22Second conveyor 23Gap 24Housing 25Upper half shell 26Lower half shell 27Slot 28Quick release 29Ejection station 30Conveyor belt 31Switch 32Ejection container 33Compartment conveyor 34Group

Claims

1. Method for handling flexible hygiene products (10), in particular sanitary pads, wherein the hygiene products (10) are transported continuously along a transport path (11) and in the process are rotated, in particular placed upright, and wherein the hygiene products (10) are rotated by means of a rotating apparatus (18) arranged in the transport path (11), wherein a conveying means (21, 22) for the hygiene products (10) is arranged preferably directly in front of and behind the rotating apparatus (18) and the rotating apparatus (18) has shorter dimensions in the transport direction (12) of the hygiene products (10) in the transport path (11) than the hygiene products (10) so that the hygiene products (10) are transported in each case at least by one of the two conveying means (21, 22), while they are rotated by means of the rotating apparatus (18), characterized in that the hygiene products (10) are twisted in the rotating apparatus (18), preferably by approximately 90°, namely about a longitudinal axis of the hygiene products (10) which runs in a manner directed substantially parallel to the transport direction (12) or to the transport path (11).

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rotating apparatus (18) has guides against which the hygiene products (10) bear during transport through the rotating apparatus (18) and with which the rotation of the hygiene products (10) is brought about during transport of the hygiene products (10) through the rotating apparatus (18).

3. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hygiene products (10) are supplied to the rotating apparatus (18) lying flat between elements of a first conveying means (21) and are placed upright in the rotating apparatus (18) and then transported away from the rotating apparatus (18) standing upright between elements of a second conveying means (22), wherein the hygiene products (10) are in engagement at least with the elements of the first conveying means (21) or the elements of the second conveying means (22) as a result of smaller dimensions of the rotating apparatus (18) in the transport direction in comparison with the corresponding dimensions of the hygiene products (10).

4. Method according to Claim 1 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the hygiene products (10) are supplied to the rotating apparatus (18) coming from a converter by means of the first conveying means (21), rotated there and transported by means of the second conveying means (22) in the direction of a stacker or bagger.

5. Device for handling hygiene products (10), in particular sanitary pads, wherein the device is configured to transport the hygiene products (10) continuously along a transport path (11) and in the process rotate them, in particular place them upright, and wherein the device has a rotating apparatus (18) arranged in the transport path (11) for rotation of the hygiene products (10), wherein a conveying means (21, 22) for the hygiene products (10) is arranged, preferably directly, in front of and behind the rotating apparatus (18) and the rotating apparatus (18) has shorter dimensions in the transport direction of the hygiene products (10) in the transport path than the hygiene products (10) so that the device is configured to transport the hygiene products (10) in each case with at least one of the two conveying means (21, 22) while the hygiene products (10) are rotated by means of the rotating apparatus (18), characterized in that the rotating apparatus (18) is configured to twist the flexible hygiene products (10), in particular by approximately 90°, namely about a longitudinal axis of the hygiene products (10) which runs in a manner directed substantially parallel to the transport direction (12) or to the transport path (11), in particular in such a manner that ends of the hygiene products (10) located upstream and downstream in the rotating apparatus (18) are arranged rotated to one another by approximately 90°.

6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the rotating apparatus (18) has guides against which the hygiene products (10) bear during transport through the rotating apparatus (18) and which are configured to bring about the rotation of the hygiene products (10) during transport of the hygiene products (10) through the rotating apparatus (18).

7. Device according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the device is configured to supply the hygiene products (10) to the rotating apparatus (18) lying flat between elements of a first conveying means (21) and place them upright in the rotating apparatus (18) and then transport them away from the rotating apparatus (18) standing upright between elements of a second conveying means (22), wherein the hygiene products (10) are in engagement at least with the elements of the first conveying means (21) or the elements of the second conveying means (22) as a result of the shorter dimensions of the rotating apparatus (18) in the transport direction in comparison with the corresponding dimensions of the hygiene products (10).

8. Device according to Claim 5 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that that the rotating apparatus has a housing (24) which has walls (20) on which the hygiene products (10) slide along at least during transport through the rotating apparatus (18) for rotating the hygiene products (10), wherein the profile of the walls (20) in the transport direction specifies the rotation of the hygiene products (10).

9. Device according to Claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the walls (20) of the housing (24) form a rigid duct (19) which is preferably closed transversely to the transport direction (12), through which duct (19) the hygiene products (10) are transported.

10. Device according to Claim 8 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (24) is formed from a preferably upper half-shell (25) and a preferably lower half-shell (26), wherein the half-shells (25, 26) can be detachably connected to one another, and wherein it is preferably provided that the half-shells (25, 26) can be connected to one another by a quick-release fastener (28) to one another in the position which forms the housing (24).

11. Device according to Claim 5 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating apparatus (18) has a housing (24) which has a slot (27) which runs in the transport direction and which is configured to enable transport faults in the rotating apparatus (18) to be resolved from outside.

12. Device according to Claim 5 or one of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating apparatus (18) is produced using a 3D-printing process.