PACKAGING LINE AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system comprising at least one packaging line, for example an FFS line (FFS = Form-Fill-Seal), with a conveyor system for transporting filled packaging units, for example bags filled with bulk material, between processing stations of the packaging line. The packaging line has a plurality of processing stations connected to one another by means of the conveyor system, which processing stations comprise at least one packaging station, for example a filling station (FFS machine, rotary filling machine, in-line filling machine). The conveyor system has at least one fixed part and at least one mobile part, the mobile part having a plurality of continuous conveyor segments connectable to one another and / or to the fixed part and / or the processing stations to form a conveyor section. Such a packaging line is known from Behn + Bates: "FFS 600 - A look at a filling line", 6.March 2017 (2017-03-06), https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=3Q3nlI6oLt7A.

[0002] A packaging line for bagging bulk material from a silo farm is known from the prior art. The filling stations are movable between the multiple silos of the silo farm. The movement of the filling stations is controlled remotely by an operator. The filled bags are conveyed away for palletizing via belt conveyors. Each time the filling stations are moved, the belt conveyors must be manually adjusted to the new position of the filling station and locked in place, including the establishment of a data and power connection. A silo is emptied in approximately 4-8 hours, which means that each filling station must be moved once or twice per shift, requiring considerable personnel effort just to reconfigure the conveyors. Additional personnel effort is required to position the belt conveyors around obstacles such as columns or other machinery, etc.Unused conveyors, which arise, for example, when the conveyor distance from a currently used silo is short, are left standing between the silos or must also be manually moved to a storage location. However, conveyors standing between the silos reduce the available space in the work area, and moving unused conveyors to the storage location ties up additional personnel resources.

[0003] It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop a system in such a way that, on the one hand, it can be reconfigured more easily and cost-effectively and, on the other hand, it can be better utilized and that machine downtimes can be avoided or intercepted.

[0004] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are also specified in the subclaims.

[0005] Accordingly, it is provided that the system further comprises a plurality of bulk material silos arranged in a grid, wherein the at least one packaging station of the packaging line is movable between the plurality of bulk material silos and the packaging line has a connection point located outside the grid of the fixed part of the conveyor system of the packaging line extending downstream therefrom, wherein the mobile part is connected to the connection point and the packaging station and forms a conveyor section between them which has a predeterminable layout. Furthermore, the packaging line has at least one discontinuous conveyor, for example an AGV, which is designed to transport the continuous conveyor segments, wherein the discontinuous conveyor is controlled such that by means of it the conveyor section can be configured according to a predeterminable layout.It can be provided that the discontinuous conveyor arranges a number of continuous conveyor segments intended for the conveyor section in a pattern and with a corresponding alignment. It can be provided that the individual continuous conveyor segments form a continuous conveyor section. The packaging station can be a filling machine, in particular an FFS machine, which is designed to produce, fill, and seal bags.

[0006] The invention has the advantages that the mobile part of the conveyor system enables variable restructuring of conveyor segments of a packaging machine, while at the same time providing a permanently installed part of the conveyor system for sections where it is clear from the outset that there is no need for reconfiguration. This makes it possible to address the situation, particularly in packaging systems, that, on the one hand, frequent reconfiguration of the system section in the filling area is necessary, and, on the other hand, a system section is provided, particularly in the palletizing and load securing areas, whose location does not need to be varied.The invention further combines the respective advantages of continuous conveyor technology, such as belt conveyors or roller conveyors, and discontinuous conveyor technology, such as AGVs, for the temporary mobilization of continuous conveyor technology for the removal of filled bags from a filling machine. In the context of the invention, discontinuous conveyors or discontinuous conveyor technology are understood to mean conveyor systems used to transport goods, piece goods, or parts, for example, continuous conveyor segments. In contrast to continuous conveyors or continuous conveyor technology, they are only active when goods, piece goods, or parts are being transported. Examples of discontinuous conveyors are forklifts, cranes, or mobile transport systems, for example, AGVs (= automated guided vehicles), FTFs (= driverless transport vehicles), FTS (= driverless transport systems), shuttles, mobile or movable robots, preferably with rollers or wheels, etc.

[0007] The layout can be coordinated via a central control center or decentrally. The layout can include information about the course of the conveyor section, its connection points with the conveyor system and / or the processing stations, and the number of continuous conveyor segments required for the conveyor section. The layout can also include information about the orientation of the segment for each continuous conveyor segment used and, if different segment types are planned, the type of continuous conveyor segment in question. For example, different segments can be provided for straight sections, left or right turns, inclines and declines, and / or segments for connecting the mobile conveyor to permanently installed conveyor components or to processing stations.Alternatively or additionally, the permanently installed parts of the conveyor system and / or the processing stations can have coupling devices for connecting a continuous conveyor segment. It can be provided that the conveying directions at the coupling points of the conveyor section and the connection point on the packaging line are different, e.g., perpendicular to each other. It can be provided that a device for completely transferring packaging units from the mobile conveyor section to the packaging line is provided at such a coupling point. For example, a pusher can be provided. Alternatively, the conveyor section can have a gradient before reaching the packaging line.Furthermore, a rotating device can be provided at coupling points with different conveying directions, which is designed to rotate packaging units conveyed on the conveyor section in the target conveying direction of the packaging line in order, for example, to be able to correctly align elongated bags before reaching the packaging line.

[0008] The layouts of the conveyor sections can be designed in such a way that intersections between the mobile part of the conveyor system and elements of the mobile part or the permanently installed part of the conveyor system are avoided, especially when multiple packaging lines are operated in parallel. The layouts also take into account silos that will be accessed in the future, so that the route planning of conveyor sections is optimized with regard to subsequent conveyor sections. This can include minimizing the travel times of packaging stations as well as the sum of the travel times of the individual continuous conveyor segments. The battery charge level of one or more continuous conveyor segments can also be incorporated into the layout planning.

[0009] For example, the conveyor section can be used to connect at least one additional packaging station located outside the packaging line downstream of the packaging station of the packaging line to the packaging line. This allows for better and sustained utilization of the packaging line when the capacity of the packaging line is not fully utilized by feeding packaging units to another packaging station.

[0010] In addition, the conveyor section can be used, for example, to create a bypass between the packaging line and another packaging line, particularly between the permanently installed parts of their respective conveyor systems. This avoids the need for complete shutdown of one of the packaging lines in the event of a failure, such as a processing station. Instead, the bypass allows the part of the packaging line located upstream of the failure point to be transferred to the adjacent packaging line, allowing the packaging line affected by the failure to continue operating at least partially.Providing a bypass between two or more packaging lines can also be useful if they are temporarily at different levels of capacity utilization, so that in the event of a backlog of packaging units in one of the lines, the surplus of packaging units can be transferred to one of the other packaging lines for further processing.

[0011] It can be provided that the plurality of processing stations further comprise a palletizer arranged downstream of the packaging station. The packaging station and the palletizer can be connected to each other by at least one fixed part and at least one mobile part of the conveyor system, wherein the fixed part is coupled to the mobile part.

[0012] The mobile part can be connected to the packaging station and the fixed part to the palletizer. Alternatively, the mobile part of the conveyor system can extend to the palletizer, and the fixed part of the conveyor system can be connected to the palletizer downstream of the palletizer.

[0013] The processing stations of the packaging line can also include a load securing station (e.g., stretch hood machine, shrink hood machine, stretch wrap machine, shrink wrap machine, or a packaging robot), which is connected to the palletizer by a permanently installed part of the conveyor system. In the load securing station, the stacks of unit loads palletized in the palletizer can be covered or wrapped with film. The film serves to stabilize the stack of unit loads and to protect them from the elements and during transport.

[0014] The packaging line can also include a storage area for storing unused continuous conveyor segments and / or discontinuous conveyors. The advantage of storing unused elements in a separate location is that more space is available in the production area or that it is free of obstructions. Furthermore, maintenance of the segments and discontinuous conveyors is simplified, and a redundant number of segments and / or discontinuous conveyors can be maintained, ensuring a certain buffer is always available.

[0015] The continuous conveyor segments can be belt conveyor segments and / or roller conveyor segments. Each belt conveyor segment can have its own belt and drive. Each roller conveyor segment can have its own drive for the rollers.

[0016] The discontinuous conveyor(s) can be designed to raise and lower one or more continuous conveyor segments. Multiple discontinuous conveyors can also be used to lift a continuous conveyor segment and be synchronized for this purpose. Alternatively, multiple discontinuous conveyors can be used as a unit to jointly transport at least one continuous conveyor segment. For transport, the discontinuous conveyor can move underneath a continuous conveyor segment and lift it from the ground using a lifting device. At the destination, the discontinuous conveyor can set down the transported segment again and move out from under the segment again. As a safety precaution when transporting the continuous conveyor segments, they can be locked onto the discontinuous conveyor during transport.Alternatively, it is conceivable for the continuous conveyor segments to be supported on swivel casters so that the discontinuous conveyor can simply pull or push the continuous conveyor segment and is positioned centrally beneath the conveyor; this does not require carrying the load. Alternatively, each continuous conveyor segment can be movable and have a steering linkage or be connectable to such a linkage, with the opposite end of the steering linkage being connectable to the discontinuous conveyor for transport. Alternatively, the continuous conveyor segments can also be attached directly to a discontinuous conveyor. Another alternative is for the continuous conveyor segment or belt conveyor or roller conveyor and the discontinuous conveyor or AGV to form a single unit. It is conceivable for the continuous conveyor segments to be locked in a first, standard state, and for the locking to be released mechanically upon contact with the discontinuous conveyor.

[0017] It can be provided that the continuous conveyor segments are configured to automatically establish a mechanical and / or electrical and / or data connection with a connecting element if they are located within mutual access range with the connecting element. At least one connecting element can be present on a continuous conveyor segment and / or on a permanently installed part of the conveyor system and / or on a processing station and / or on a stationary attachment of the infrastructure of the production area (e.g. floor of the production area, hall supports, etc.). With the aid of the connecting elements, the continuous conveyor segments can be coupled / connected to one another and / or to the processing stations and / or the permanently installed parts of the conveyor system and / or to a stationary attachment of the infrastructure of the production area to form a conveyor section.It can be provided that the mechanical locking of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element takes place electromagnetically and / or pneumatically and / or electrically and / or by an electromagnetically and / or pneumatically and / or electrically operated hook. It can be provided that the mechanical locking of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element takes place by moving the continuous conveyor segment into its final position. Alternatively, it is conceivable that a continuous conveyor segment is coupled to a connecting element via a mechanical linkage. Furthermore, it can be provided that the continuous conveyor segments interlock with one another according to the concert chair principle. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the coupling of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element takes place automatically by lowering and the decoupling by raising the continuous conveyor segment.It can be provided that the coupling of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element takes place by horizontal and / or vertical approach. It can be provided that the coupling of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element takes place via a locking device in the floor of the production area. All of the alternatives mentioned that relate to the locking of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element also apply analogously to the unlocking or unlocking of a continuous conveyor segment from a connecting element. It can be provided that the connection and disconnection of power and data lines between the individual segments takes place via a plug contact that is also connected or separated during the mechanical connection / disconnection, i.e. via a cable. Alternatively, it is conceivable that at least the data connection is established wirelessly. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the power transmission takes place without contact.Alternatively, it can be provided that the continuous conveyor segments are locked directly above the floor of the production area and / or the data or energy connection is made via the floor of the production area in the sense of a smart floor.

[0018] It may be provided that several discontinuous conveyors are provided, which are coordinated with each other via a central control center or decentrally. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the several discontinuous conveyors can be used as a unit for the joint transport of at least one continuous conveyor segment. When coordinating several AGVs to transport a conveyor, an important aspect is the avoidance of collisions.

[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to the following figures. Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an exemplary course of two parallel packaging lines; Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of an exemplary course of two parallel packaging lines according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic top view of an exemplary course of two parallel packaging lines according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of an exemplary packaging line according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 5 is a schematic top view of a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] In Fig. 1 The course of two packaging or filling lines 10 operated in parallel is shown as an example. Both filling lines 10 are designed identically and each consist of three processing stations and a conveyor system 20 connecting them. On the input side, the packaging lines 10 have a filling station 11, which can be designed as an FFS machine, in which bags 30 are first produced, filled with bulk material and then sealed. For this purpose, the filling station 11 can be arranged below an outlet of a bulk material silo. The bags 30 are conveyed by means of the conveyor system 20 in a conveying direction X from the filling station 11 to a downstream palletizer 12, in which the bags 30 are stacked on pallets to form so-called piece goods stacks 31, which are then transported further by means of the conveyor system 20 to a downstream stretch hood processing station 13.There, the pallet and the bags 30 that have been loosely stacked on it up to this point are wrapped in film, thereby fixing the bags 30 on the pallet to form a packaged stack of items 32.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows two parallel packaging lines 10 with the same as in Fig. 1 shown flow diagram. In the embodiment shown, the stations 11, 12, 13 are interconnected by means of permanently installed conveyor sections 21. It can be seen that one of the stretch hood processing stations 13 is temporarily out of service and the upper packaging line 10 would normally have to be completely stopped. However, by providing a mobile conveyor system part 22, a bypass could be created between the sections of the permanently installed conveyor 21 connecting the palletizer 12 with the stretch hood processing station 13, so that palletized bags 30 from the upper packaging line 10 can be fed into the lower line 10 and fed to the load securing station 13 there for further processing.In the example shown, the bypass is formed from two belt conveyor segments 23 which are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they form a common conveyor section 24 with a conveying direction directed from the upper to the lower packaging line 10. Fig. 2 further shows a warehouse 50 for storing unused or redundant continuous conveyor segments 23 or for unused AGVs 40. The AGVs can have driven to the warehouse 50 in time to charge the on-board battery or can be serviced in the warehouse 50 due to defects or regular maintenance intervals.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows how Fig. 2 two parallel packaging lines 10 with the same as in Fig. 1 shown flow diagram. In the embodiment shown, the stations 11, 12, 13 are connected to each other by means of permanently installed conveyor sections 21. The bypass from Fig. 2 In the embodiment shown, however, this is realized by a section of permanently installed conveyor technology 21. Furthermore, both load securing stations 13 are in operation. In the embodiment shown, however, a further filling station 11.1 is connected to the lower of the packaging lines 10 via a mobile conveyor section 24. In the embodiment shown, this leads directly into the palletizer 12, which has a corresponding coupling device for this purpose. The mobile conveyor section 24 shown has four continuous or belt conveyor segments 23 in the example shown. Since the route has a curve, a curved conveyor segment, which can be designed as a roller conveyor segment, is used at the corresponding point.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows an exemplary course of a packaging line 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. On the input side, a filling station 11 is provided, connected to a silo 61, in which bags 30 are first produced, filled with bulk material, and then sealed. Via a first

[0024] Conveyor section 24, which is designed as a mobile part 22 of the conveyor system 20, transports the bags 30 in the conveying direction X toward the downstream processing stations. A fixed conveyor system section 21 is connected to the mobile part 22 of the conveyor system 20. As shown, this section has an incline, followed by an elevated conveyor section, beneath which underpasses 80 are provided for forklifts. It is clear that fixed conveyor technology is significantly better suited for the incline and the elevated section than providing a mobile solution in this area as well. A palletizer 12, in which the incoming bags 30 are palletized, is arranged behind the underpasses 80 in the conveying direction X.The palletized piece goods stacks 31 are then fed to a load securing station 13 and the packaged piece goods stacks 32 are then made available for collection in a loading zone 90.

[0025] Fig. 5shows a system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. This system has a total of ten parallel packaging lines 10, which are provided for filling bulk goods from a silo farm 60. The illustrated silo farm 60 has three rows and ten columns of silos 61, thus thirty silos 61. A total of thirteen filling stations 11 are arranged in the area of ​​the silo farm 60. These are each connected to downstream palletizers 12 via mobile conveyor sections 22, 24, wherein the layouts of the conveyor sections 24 are adapted to the current position and orientation of the filling stations 11. Downstream of the palletizers 12 are load securing stations 13, from which the packaged stacks of piece goods 32 are subsequently transferred to loading zones 90.The conveyor sections 24 are configured so that they do not cross each other and are guided along the shortest path towards the associated palletizers 12, avoiding obstacles such as columns or other existing machines in the production area. The packaging lines 10 each have a connection point 70, indicated by the dashed line, at which the mobile conveyor sections 21 are each connected to permanently installed conveyor sections 23. Thus, the conveyor sections 22 shown in the upper part of the image are all mobile and reconfigurable, whereas the conveyor sections 21 shown in the lower part of the image are permanently installed and thus stationary. The filling stations 11 can be moved automatically within the silo grid, so that the silos 61 can be emptied gradually via the filling stations 11.The layout of the mobile conveyor sections 22, 24 can be adapted to the new filling station position and the required belt conveyor segments 23 can be moved to the respective target position by means of AGVs. List of reference symbols:

[0026] 10Packaging line 11Filling system 12Palletizer 13Load securing station 20Conveyor system 21Fixed conveyor technology 22Mobile part of the conveyor system 23Belt conveyor segments 24Conveyor section 30Bag 31Unit stack 32Packaged unit stack 40AGV 50Warehouse 60Sil farm 61Silo 70Connection point 80Forklift underpass 90Loading zone 100System XConveyor direction

Claims

1. System (100) having at least one packaging line (10), for example an FFS line, having a conveyor system (20) for transporting filled packaging units, for example bags filled with bulk material (30), between processing stations of the packaging line (10), having: a plurality of processing stations which are connected to one another by means of the conveyor system (20), and which comprise at least one packing station (11), for example a filling station, wherein the conveyor system (20) has at least one fixedly installed part (21) and at least one mobile part (22), wherein the mobile part (22) has a plurality of continuous conveyor segments, which are connectable to one another and / or to the fixedly installed part (21) and / or the processing stations for forming a conveyor section portion (24); at least one discontinuous conveyor, for example an AGV (40), which is designed for transporting the continuous conveyor segments, wherein the discontinuous conveyor is actuated in such a manner that by means of the latter the conveyor section portion (24) is able to be configured according to a predeterminable layout; characterized in that the system furthermore has a plurality of bulk material silos (61) disposed in a grid, wherein the at least one packing station (11) of the packaging line (10) is displaceable between the plurality of bulk material silos (61), and the packaging line (10) has a connection point (70), which lies outside the grid, of the fixedly installed part of the conveyor system of the packaging line disposed downstream of said connection point (70), wherein the mobile part (22) is connected to the connection point (70) and the packing station (11) and forms therebetween a conveyor section portion (24) which has a predeterminable layout.

2. System (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the layout comprises items of information about the course of the conveyor section portion (24), its connection points to the conveyor system (20) and / or the processing stations as well as the number of continuous conveyor segments required for the conveyor section portion (24).

3. System (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the layout is coordinated via a central control centre or in a decentralized manner.

4. System (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one further packing station (11.1), located outside the packaging line (10), by means of the conveyor section portion (24) is able to be coupled to the packaging line (10) downstream of the packing station (11) of the packaging line (10).

5. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a diversion from the packaging line (10) to a further packaging line (10), in particular between its fixedly installed parts (21) of the respective conveyor systems (20), is able to be established by means of the conveyor section portion (24).

6. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of processing stations furthermore comprise a palletizer (12) disposed downstream of the packing station (11), wherein the packing station (11) and the palletizer (12) are preferably connected to one another by at least one fixedly installed part (21) and at least one mobile part (22) of the conveyor system (20), wherein the fixedly installed part (21) is coupled to the mobile part (22).

7. System (100) according to Claim 6, wherein the mobile part (22) is connected to the packing station (11), and the fixedly installed part is connected to the palletizer (12).

8. System (100) according to one of Claims 6 and 7, wherein the processing stations furthermore comprise a load securing station (13) which is connected to the palletizer (12) by a fixedly installed part (21) of the conveyor system (20).

9. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, furthermore comprising a storage (50) for depositing non-required continuous conveyor segments and / or non-required discontinuous conveyors.

10. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous conveyor segments are belt conveyor segments (23) and / or roller conveyor segments.

11. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the discontinuous conveyor is designed for lifting and lowering one or a plurality of continuous conveyor segments.

12. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous conveyor segments are configured for automatically establishing a mechanical and / or an electrical and / or a data connection to a connecting element, when said continuous conveyor segments and the connecting element are located in a region of mutual access.

13. System (100) according to Claim 12, wherein the power supply and / or data connection of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element takes place by wire or in a contactless manner.

14. System (100) according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein the coupling of a continuous conveyor segment to a connecting element is effected automatically by lowering and decoupling by lifting the continuous conveyor segment.

15. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of discontinuous conveyors are provided, which are coordinated amongst one another via a central control centre or in a decentralized manner.

16. System (100) according to Claim 15, wherein the plurality of discontinuous conveyors are able to be used as a unit for conjointly transporting at least one continuous conveyor segment.