PACKAGING TRANSPORT DEVICE

Description

State of the art

[0001] From DE 10 2005 017 159 A1, a packaging transport device with a support unit is already known, which has a first support surface defining a first section and at least one second support surface defining a second section, which is tilted relative to the first support surface about a tilting axis running in a transport direction, wherein the packaging transport device has a propellant and drivers connected to the propellant, which are mounted so as to be movable about the tilting axis.

[0002] Furthermore, packaging transport devices with a support unit which has a first support surface defining a first section of track and at least one second support surface defining a second section of track, which is tilted relative to the first support surface about a tilting axis running in a transport direction, are already known from US 5 791 451 A and DE 11 20 360 B, which disclose the features of the preamble of claim 1, wherein the packaging transport devices have a driving means and drivers which are connected to the driving means and are mounted so as to be movable about the tilting axis. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The invention is based on a packaging transport device according to claim 1 with a support unit which has a first support surface defining a first section of track and at least one second support surface defining a second section of track, which is tilted relative to the first support surface about a tilt axis running in a transport direction, wherein the packaging transport device has a drive means and drivers connected to the drive means which are mounted so as to be movable about the tilt axis, wherein the drive means is formed by a belt, in particular a toothed belt, wherein the support unit has a bearing unit which is provided for mounting at least one of the support surfaces in a way that is adjustable in terms of its tilt angle.

[0004] It is proposed that the parts of the support unit forming support surfaces be connected via longitudinal elements mounted so as to be movable relative to one another. The longitudinal elements have a significantly greater extension in their longitudinal direction than in their transverse extension, the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal elements running essentially parallel to the transport direction. The longitudinal elements, viewed transversely to the transport direction, are arranged next to the propellant and form support surfaces for the product containers and the carriers. Carriers should preferably be understood as elements provided for securing the position of a product to be conveyed and / or in particular a product container, in particular on the propellant.The inventive design of the packaging transport device allows for particularly simple tilting of products and / or product containers, as well as precise and reproducible transport. A transition between the support surfaces can be easily implemented.

[0005] The drivers can be mounted so that they can be tilted relative to the propellant about the tilting axis, for example via special bearing points on the propellant, and / or, particularly advantageously, the propellant itself is designed to be rotatable, preferably about the tilting axis, and is rotated between the track sections. This allows for simple mounting of the drivers on the propellant. Particularly advantageously, the drivers can be formed from individual rods. The rods can be connected to the propellant by means of various connections that appear appropriate to those skilled in the art, but particularly advantageously via plug-in connections.

[0006] Preferably, the propellant is rotated between the track sections about an axis extending within the propellant, which axis is at a significant distance from both edges of the propellant. "Significant" is understood to mean greater than 10% and preferably greater than 20% of a maximum overall width of the propellant. Most preferably, the axis runs at least substantially coaxially with a core of the propellant, whereby in this context, "at least substantially coaxial" is understood to mean a deviation of less than 20% and particularly preferably less than 10% relative to a maximum overall width of the propellant. By appropriately designing the propellant, a loss of position caused by the rotation of the propellant can be at least largely reduced and, particularly advantageously, completely avoided.

[0007] The propellant can be formed by various means deemed appropriate by those skilled in the art, such as chains. According to the invention, however, the propellant is formed by a belt, in particular a toothed belt, whereby advantageous mounting of the carriers and also advantageous support surfaces for products can be realized by the propellant itself.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the propellant be designed at least partially separate from the support unit, extend in the transport direction over the track sections, and pass through them during operation. Advantageous support surfaces, in particular those that are wide independently of the propellant, can thereby be easily achieved, and the propellant can be designed cost-effectively, in particular by being narrower than at least one of the support surfaces, which also allows for easy rotation. The support surfaces can be designed to be at least partially continuous and / or can be formed by at least partially interrupted support sections.

[0009] The propellant can be arranged at various positions relative to the support surfaces, viewed transversely to the transport direction. However, the propellant is particularly advantageously arranged at least substantially centrally relative to at least one of the support surfaces, preferably centrally relative to both support surfaces, viewed transversely to the transport direction. "At least substantially centrally" is understood to mean that a center axis of the propellant is spaced from a center axis of the support surface, running in the transport direction, by a distance that is less than three times, preferably less than twice, a maximum overall width of the propellant. By appropriate design, a simple tilting of the propellant, particularly advantageously around its core, can be achieved, and simple drivers, advantageously mirror-symmetrical to a center axis of the propellant, can be achieved.In principle, however, it is also conceivable that the drivers, viewed transversely to the transport direction, protrude further over one side of the propellant than over the opposite side.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that a pitch defined by the drivers be adjustable, thereby achieving a high degree of flexibility. For this purpose, various predefined positions on the propellant can be specified, into which the drivers can be positioned to achieve different pitches. However, it could also be conceivable that continuous adjustment is possible, for example, by fixing the drivers at any point on the propellant via a frictional connection.

[0011] Furthermore, the flexibility of the device can be increased by the support unit comprising a bearing unit, which is provided for mounting at least one of the support surfaces in an adjustable manner with respect to its tilt angle. The support surface can be configured to be manually adjustable or, preferably, adjustable by means of an actuator provided for adjusting the tilt angle of the support surface.

[0012] The packaging transport device according to the invention is not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the invention also relates to a production machine, in particular a food filling and / or food packaging machine, with a corresponding packaging transport device and to a method for operating a corresponding packaging transport device. Furthermore, in order to fulfill a function described herein, the packaging transport device according to the invention can have a number of individual elements, components and units as well as method steps that differs from the number stated herein. Furthermore, in the value ranges specified in this disclosure, values ​​lying within the stated limits are also to be considered disclosed and can be used as desired. drawing

[0013] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination.

[0014] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a section of a production machine with a packaging transport device according to the invention and Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional representation along a line II-II in Figure 1 . Description of the embodiment

[0015] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a section of a production machine, namely a food packaging machine, with a packaging transport device.

[0016] The packaging transport device has a support unit 10, which has a first support surface 12 defining a first section 11, a second support surface 14 defining a second section 13, and a third support surface 25 defining a third section 24. The second support surface 14 is tilted relative to the first support surface 12 and relative to the third support surface 25 about a tilt axis 16 extending in the transport direction 15.

[0017] The packaging transport device has a drive means 17 formed by a toothed belt and drivers 18 formed by individual rods which are connected to the drive means 17 via plug connections and which are movably mounted about the tilting axis 16, in that the drive means 17 itself is designed to be rotatable about the tilting axis 16 and is rotated about the tilting axis 16 in particular between the track sections 11, 13.

[0018] The propellant 17 is rotated between the track sections 11, 13 about an axis running in the propellant 17, namely about the tilting axis 16, which is spaced apart from two edges 19, 20 of the propellant 17 and runs coaxially to a core of the propellant 17.

[0019] The propellant 17 is formed separately from the support unit 10, extends in the transport direction 15 over the track sections 11, 13, 24, and passes through them in one operation. The propellant 17 runs with the carriers 18 on the support surfaces 12, 14, 25.

[0020] During operation, product containers (not shown in detail) are placed in the section 11, in which the first support surface 12 is designed to run horizontally. If one considers a specific section of the propellant 17 that has passed through the section 11 during operation, this specific section is first rotated in a first direction about the tilt axis 16, whereby the product containers placed on it are tilted. In the second section 13, in which the second support surface 14 is tilted relative to the first support surface 12, the product containers are loaded. Once the specific section of the propellant 17 has passed through the second section 13, this section is rotated in a second direction back to its starting position about the tilt axis 16, whereby the product containers placed on it are tilted back into a horizontal orientation.In the third section 24, in which the third support surface 25 is aligned horizontally, the product containers are again aligned horizontally and can be advantageously removed. This allows for a simple transition from the first section 11 with the horizontal first support surface 12 to the second section 13 with the tilted second support surface 14. The product containers advantageously remain positioned between the carriers 18 according to a pitch 21 predetermined by the carriers 18. Error-prone infeed can be avoided.

[0021] A drive (not shown in detail) for the propellant 17 and a housing accommodating the drive are arranged in a fixed orientation relative to a schematically indicated support unit 26 of the packaging transport device and are not tilted with the propellant 17. The support unit 10, with its support surfaces 12, 14, 25, is supported on a floor via the support unit 26. Furthermore, schematically illustrated deflection rollers 27, 28, via which the propellant 17 is deflected, are supported on the floor via the support unit 26. A tilting mechanism that is complex to synchronize, such as, in particular, synchronizing spindles and servo motors, can be avoided.

[0022] The propellant 17 is narrower than the support surfaces 12, 14, 25 and, viewed transversely to the transport direction 15, is arranged at least substantially centrally to the support surfaces 12, 14, 25.

[0023] The pitch 21 defined by the carriers 18 is adjustable; individual carriers 18 can be removed, so that a pitch can be achieved in which the distance between two carriers 18 is many times greater than the pitch 21 in which no carriers 18 are removed. This advantageously allows adaptation to product containers of different sizes.

[0024] Furthermore, the support unit 10 has a bearing unit 22 ( Fig. 2), which is provided to adjustably mount the second support surface 14 in its tilt angle. In order to enable at least partially automated adjustment, the packaging transport device has an actuator 23, which is provided for adjusting the tilt angle of the second support surface 14. In order to enable adjustability of the second support surface 12 of the support unit 10 relative to the first support surface 12 of the support unit 10 and to the third support surface 25, the parts of the support unit 10 forming the support surfaces 12, 14, 25 are connected via longitudinal elements 29 mounted so as to be movable relative to one another. The longitudinal elements 29 are characterized in that they have a significant, i.e., many times greater, extension in their longitudinal direction than in their transverse extension. The longitudinal direction of the longitudinal elements 29 runs essentially parallel to the transport direction 15.The longitudinal elements 29 are arranged next to the propellant 17, viewed transversely to the transport direction 15, and also form support surfaces for the product containers and the carriers 18. The longitudinal elements 29 are formed by rods, but could also be formed by other longitudinal elements that appear appropriate to the person skilled in the art, such as, for example, tensioned, flexible elements such as ropes.

Claims

1. Packaging transport device comprising a support unit (10) which has a first support surface (12) defining a first track portion (11) and at least one second support surface (14) defining a second track portion (13), which second support surface is tilted relative to the first support surface (12) about a tilt axis (16) extending in a transport direction (15), and comprising a drive means (17) and carrier elements (18) which are connected to the drive means (17) and mounted so as to be movable about the tilt axis (16), the drive means (17) being formed by a belt, in particular a toothed belt, the support unit (10) having a bearing unit (22) provided for mounting at least one of the support surfaces (14) in an adjustable manner with respect to its tilt angle, characterized in that the parts of the support unit (10) that form the support surfaces (12, 14, 25) are connected via longitudinal elements (29) which are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another, the longitudinal elements (29) having a substantially greater extension in their longitudinal direction than in their transverse extension, the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal elements (29) extending substantially in parallel with the transport direction (15), the longitudinal elements (29) being arranged next to the drive means (17), when viewed transversely to the transport direction (15), and forming support surfaces for the product containers and the carrier elements (18).

2. Packaging transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means (17) is designed to be rotatable, and is rotated between the track portions (11, 13).

3. Packaging transport device at least according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive means (17) is rotated between the track portions (11, 13) about an axis extending in the drive means (17), which axis is at a not-insignificant distance from the two edges (19, 20) of the drive means (17), the not-insignificant distance being greater than 10% of a maximum total width of the drive means (17).

4. Packaging transport device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (17) is designed to be at least partially separated from the support unit (10), extends in the transport direction (15) over the track portions (11, 13) and passes through them during operation.

5. Packaging transport device according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive means (17) is narrower than at least one of the support surfaces (12, 14).

6. Packaging transport device according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive means (17) is arranged at least substantially centrally with respect to at least one of the support surfaces (12, 14), when viewed transversely to the transport direction (15).

7. Packaging transport device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spacing (21) defined by the carrier elements (18) is adjustable.

8. Packaging transport device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by an actuator (23) which is provided for adjusting the tilt angle of the support surface (14).

9. Packaging transport device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal elements (29) are designed as rods or as tensioned, flexible elements, such as ropes.

10. Production machine, in particular a food filling and / or food packaging machine, comprising a packaging transport device according to any of claims 1 to 9.

11. Method for operating a packaging transport device according to any of claims 1 to 9.