Device for handling trays

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling trays (10) comprising a handling device (19) which is designed to transfer a tray (10) between different stations of the device, namely from a tray feed station (11) for trays (10) filled with rod-shaped products (20) to a tray emptying station (12) and from the tray emptying station (12) to a tray transfer station (17) for emptied trays (10). The handling device (19) is designed to hold the tray (10) during the transfer and to align it according to the individual stations. According to the invention, the handling device (19) is designed to hold the tray (10) in the region of edges of the tray (10), in particular in the region of lateral narrow edges (58) of the tray (10).

Description

[0001] The cigarette industry increasingly demands highly powerful packaging machines that can be operated efficiently and with high efficiency. This includes hinge-lid packers, which place rod-shaped products into outer packaging at high speeds. As the speed of the hinge-lid packer increases, the packer's supply with the required quantity of products must be ensured. Typically, the products are fed in so-called trays.

[0002] Trays are storage containers for the products to be packaged, in which the products are arranged or stacked in a tight position. A special feature of trays is that at least one side of the tray is open. Typically, two sides of the tray are open: one large side and one end.

[0003] The trays can be fed to the packer manually. However, these days, the trays are usually fed to the packer via a magazine by an automatic tray unloader. Conventional tray unloaders reach their limits at the speeds currently achieved by packers, so the speed of the packer must be reduced by the machine control system or adjusted to the available quantity of product. One problem, therefore, is that the cycle rate of conventional tray unloaders is no longer sufficient to supply the packer at consistently high speeds.

[0004] It is known from practice that an automatic tray loading unit is used in a packaging line for the provision of rod-shaped products to supply the packer with a sufficient flow of products. In the tray loading unit, the trays filled with products are fed individually by a conveyor belt to a gripping station, where the tray is gripped by gripping mechanisms. The open side of the tray is closed, and the contents of the tray are then transferred completely into an intermediate reservoir of the tray unloader at an emptying station by a tilting movement of the tray. The empty tray is then transferred to a discharge belt for transport to a removal station.

[0005] From DE 10 2007 047 562 A1 a handling device for picking up, emptying and removing trays is known, whereby two robot units are provided which can carry out multi-axis movements in order to be able to carry out as many unloading cycles as possible in a short time.

[0006] According to EP 34 84 313 B1, the trays are held by a gripping element throughout the entire movement process, from the pickup of the full tray to the release of the empty tray. Furthermore, the gripping element is designed to accommodate two different types of trays (four- and five-walled).

[0007] The cigarette industry uses a variety of trays, each designed to suit the size of the products. These trays are mostly made of plastic and are structurally more or less rigid. In most cases, the trays are gripped and clamped at the large side surfaces, which leads to deformation of the side or rear wall of the tray. This deformation affects the ordered contents of the tray, which can then experience unwanted displacement within the tray and, in the worst case, lead to undesired rotation in the transverse direction. The trays warp to a greater or lesser extent, resulting in an unsafe and uncontrollable gripping and tipping movement of the load. This makes emptying the tray even more difficult.

[0008] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further developing devices of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular with regard to improved handling of the trays.

[0009] A device according to the invention has the features of claim 1. It is accordingly provided that the handling device is designed to hold the tray (only) in the region of edges of the tray, in particular in the region of narrow lateral edges of the tray.

[0010] This solution can have the advantage that the tray is not pressed in by the handling device, so that the problems described above cannot occur in this context.

[0011] Furthermore, it can be provided that the handling device is designed to tilt the tray held in the region of edges of the tray, in particular from a head-up position into an overhead position, in order to feed it to the tray emptying station.

[0012] Preferably, it can be provided that the handling device is designed to move, in particular to lift, the tray in a vertical direction during transfer to the tray emptying station.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the handling device is designed to tilt the tray held in the region of edges of the tray during feeding to the tray transfer station, in particular from an overhead position into a lying position.

[0014] Furthermore, it can be provided that the tray transfer station is designed to receive the emptied tray from the handling device and to erect it, in particular in a head-up position, and to feed it to a discharge conveyor.

[0015] A special feature may be that the handling device is designed to hold and tilt the trays held in the area of ​​edges of the tray regardless of format, in particular without changing format parts or the like.

[0016] In particular, it can be provided that the handling device is designed to close an open side of the tray by means of a closure means, in particular a closure plate, essentially over its entire surface, and that the handling device is designed to release the side of the tray at least in the tray emptying station, in particular also in the tray transfer station, by removing the closure means.

[0017] An advantage of this solution can be that it prevents the products from falling out of the tray.

[0018] Furthermore, it can be provided that the device is designed to support the tray in the tray emptying station on side edges of narrow sides of the tray.

[0019] An advantage of this solution can be that the tray can be secured in this way.

[0020] In particular, it can be provided that the tray is held in the tray emptying station between a stop of the tray emptying station and a stop, in particular a stop arm, of the handling device.

[0021] An advantage of this solution may be that the tray can be easily clamped.

[0022] Preferably, the handling device is designed to tilt the tray by means of a servo drive.

[0023] In this case, it can also be provided that the clamping of the tray in the handling device is ensured during a tilting movement and in the event of a pressure drop by a pneumatic cylinder, which leads to a self-locking clamping movement.

[0024] One advantage of this solution is that if the pneumatic cylinder's pressure drops, the clamping is secured by self-locking. This counteracts any loss of the clamping force.

[0025] A special feature may be that elastic elements are used on clamping blocks of the handling device for self-locking of the clamping, which rest against a bottom wall of the tray.

[0026] In particular, it can be provided that the handling device has a clamping device for the tray, wherein the clamping device is adaptable to different dimensions of the tray.

[0027] In this way, adaptation to different tray formats can be achieved.

[0028] Another special feature can be that the tray emptying station has a platform that can be moved up and down, and that a conveyor belt on the platform can be locked as the lower support for the products to be picked up when the platform is moved up and down and serves to transport the products away to the side in a lower end position of the platform.

[0029] This solution can offer the advantage of allowing products to be placed directly on the belt, preventing them from falling into the discharge station. Ultimately, this prevents products from being placed sideways in the mass flow, which could cause disruptions.

[0030] Preferably, it can be provided that the tray emptying station has a wall as a stop for the filled tray, which wall covers an open side of the tray, in particular an open broad side.

[0031] This solution can have the advantage of preventing uncontrolled movement of the products during the tipping and emptying process.

[0032] Furthermore, it can be provided that the tray emptying station serves as an intermediate storage for the products to be filled, wherein the storage is delimited laterally by a rear wall plate and, opposite the rear wall plate, by a stop wall as well as a slide and lock walls opposite the slide, and wherein the lock walls are laterally displaceable transversely to the direction of movement of the slide.

[0033] This solution can have the advantage of allowing controlled emptying of the storage tank.

[0034] Furthermore, it can be provided that the handling device is designed to convey the products out of the tray emptying station by means of the slider and the belt of the platform after the tray has been completely emptied.

[0035] Another special feature is that the tray transfer station is equipped with its own drive and can be adjusted to the format of the tray.

[0036] This solution can have the advantage that no changing of format parts is required.

[0037] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 a device for handling products in a schematic spatial representation, Fig. 2 a first side view of the device according to arrow II in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 to 5 a second side view of the device according to arrow III in Fig. 1in successive phases of the movement sequence, Fig. 6 a vertical section through the device along section line VI - VI in Fig. 5 , Fig. 7 and 8 a detail of the representation according to Fig. 3 to 5 in successive phases of the movement sequence, Fig. 9 a vertical section through the device along section line IX - IX in Fig. 8 , Fig. 10 to 12Continuation of the Fig. 3 to 6 and 7 and 8, and Fig. 13 the device according to Fig. 8 during the removal of the products.

[0038] The Fig. 1 shows the overall structure of an automatic device for handling trays 10, with a feed station 11 for filled trays 10, an emptying station 12 for trays 10, with an ascending and descending platform 13 with a stop wall 14, a lock 15 and a slide 16, a transfer station 17 for emptied trays 10, a push-off station 18 for emptied trays 10 and a handling device 19, which is used to transport filled trays 10 from the feed station 11 to the emptying station 12 and to transport emptied trays from the emptying station 12 to the transfer station 18.

[0039] In this case, the trays 10 serve to transport products 20, for example, cigarettes or other products of the cigarette industry. For the purposes of this application, products of the cigarette industry are understood to include tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarillos, and the like, but also novel tobacco products, such as heat-not-burn products or liquid carriers for e-cigarettes. Of course, other rod-shaped products 20 can also be arranged in the trays 10.

[0040] In the following, the rough structure of the device and its basic functionality are described, before individual construction details are explained afterwards.

[0041] Fig. 3shows the overall view of the system. At the lower feed station 11, trays 10 filled with products 20 are fed by a feed belt 24 to a collection station 21, where the trays 10 are moved into a buffer and held by a locking or stopping device 22.

[0042] Above the feed station 11 is a push-off station 18 for empty trays 10. A transfer station 17 is located upstream of the push-off station 18, where the empty trays 10 are erected and transferred to a push-off belt 23 of the push-off station 18. On the left-hand side is the emptying station 12, where the trays 10 are emptied in the upper area.

[0043] The handling device 19 is arranged between the feed station 11, the push-off station 18 and the emptying station 12, which grips a single tray 10 from a transfer position in the feed station 11 and closes the upper open side of the tray 10 and then transports it in a tilting movement to an upper area of ​​the emptying station 12.

[0044] To feed a tray 10 from the collection station 21 to the transfer position, the tray 10 is first released by the locking or stopping device 22 and then transported toward the transfer position in the area of ​​a left end of the feed belt 24. The trays 10 are guided by lateral guides 25. Sensors 26 monitor the feed of the trays 10, the operational readiness of the trays 10, and the position of the trays 10 for gripping by the handling device.

[0045] The Fig. 4 to 12show the function of the handling device 19 from the capture of a tray 10 in the feed station 11 to the transfer of the tray 10 to the transfer station 17 as well as the function of the platform 13 during the emptying process of the tray 10.

[0046] The Fig. 4 shows the ready position of the handling device 19 at the transfer position of the feeding station 11. At the same time, the platform 13 on the left side is set in upward movement. Fig. 5 shows the gripping of the tray 10 with the handling device 19 in the feed station 11, wherein the upper open side of the tray 10 is simultaneously closed with a closure plate 28 of the handling device 19. The tray 10 is held in the handling device 19 by a clamping action triggered by a pneumatic cylinder 27. At the same time, the left side of the platform 13 is moved upwards.

[0047] The Fig. 6shows the handling device 19 in cross-section. The tray 10 is clamped to an upper edge of the narrow side walls 31 by adjustable clamping holders 29 and to a bottom wall 30 by adjustable clamping blocks 32. Self-locking of the clamping is achieved by means of elastic elements (rubber buffers) on the lower clamping blocks 32.

[0048] In Fig. 7 The pivoting movement of the handling device 19 is shown in order to feed the tray 10 upside down to the emptying station 12. The tray 10 is moved at one side edge against a stop 33 of the emptying station 12, whereby the tray 10 is clamped between the stop 33 and a stop arm 34 of the handling device 19. The platform 13 has already reached a topmost position in the waiting position and is waiting for the emptying process.

[0049] In Fig. 8The clamping of the tray 10 by the handling device 19 is released, and at the same time the closure plate 28 releases the lower opening of the tray 10, thereby triggering the emptying process. The products 20 land on a conveyor belt 38 of the platform 13. The platform 13 is then moved downwards, with the lock 15 and the slide 16 serving as lateral limits for the products 20 on the lowering platform ( Fig. 9 ). When the platform 13 has reached a certain low position, which corresponds to the distance slightly greater than the load height, the tray 10 is again gripped or clamped by the handling device 19 ( Fig. 10 ).

[0050] Subsequently, a pivoting movement of the handling device 19 to the transfer station 17 is triggered ( Fig. 11 ). As compared with Fig. 8 As can be seen, a tray holder 35 of the transfer station 17 is pivoted into a receiving position. Fig. 10 The takeover position of the tray holder 35 is shown. When the clamped tray 10 reaches the transfer station 17, the clamping of the tray 10 is released again at the transfer station 17 ( Fig. 11 ), here too, the locking plate 28 simultaneously releases the opening of the tray 10, which subsequently triggers a return movement of the tray holder 35. The tray 10 slides onto the L-shaped holder, is thereby erected and placed on the push-off belt 23 ( Fig. 12 ).

[0051] After erecting the empty tray 10, the handling device 19 is pivoted to the transfer station 17 of the feeding station 11 to start the next cycle.

[0052] Fig. 2shows the side view of the emptying station 12 of the device. The ascending and descending platform 13 serves to collect the products 20 falling during the emptying process of the tray 10 in the upper position in the manner of an intermediate storage device. During the emptying process, the platform 13 is moved downwards to completely collect the load while the tray 10 is being emptied, and to subsequently push the load onto a removal belt 36 when the load or platform 13 reaches the lowest position ( Fig. 13 ).

[0053] The platform 13 has a stop wall 14 that laterally limits the load, and a conveyor belt 38 that is locked when the platform 13 is raised and lowered (to prevent unsteady movement of the products 20 during emptying). In the lowest position, for pushing off the products 20, it is connected to the main drive 46 by a snap-in coupling 39, whereby the lock is released. The platform 13 is driven on one side by a linear unit 40 and guided on the opposite side in a lateral guide 41 along a slot into which a roller 62 engages. On both sides of the platform 13 are a lock 15 and a slide 16, which serve as vertical limiting walls during emptying.

[0054] After emptying the tray 10, the lock 15 or its lock walls 63 are opened, and the passage for the removal of the products 20 is released. The entire load is then pushed transversely into a mass flow 42 by means of the pusher 16 and the driven conveyor belt 38 in a downward movement of the conveyor belt 38 until the pusher 16 reaches the lock 15 ( Fig. 13 ). The lock 15 is then closed and the slide 16 returns to its original position. The closing and opening of the lock 15 is triggered by a pneumatic cylinder 43 and a coupling mechanism ( Fig. 7 ). The movement of the slide 16 is triggered by a linear unit 44 (toothed belt axis) located on the rear of the emptying station 12. The linear unit 44 is fed by the main drive 46 via a chain 45.

[0055] After the basic structure and the corresponding functionality have been described in essential parts, we now come to the description of individual construction details.

[0056] According to Fig. 1 The transfer station 17 has its own drive 47 for the tray holders 35. Furthermore, it can be seen that a storage belt 48 is provided on the side of the lock 15, which limits the mass flow 42 upwards (see also Fig. 13 ). Fig. 1 and 13 also show a rear wall plate 49, which delimits the intermediate storage at the rear and which extends laterally into the area of ​​the storage belt 48. Furthermore, a frame 50 is part of the device in this area.

[0057] Fig. 3 ff, which show the handling device 19, show that it has its own drive 51 for the handling device 19.

[0058] A crank 53 and a pull rod 54 are arranged on a console 52 of the handling device 19. These are connected to a coupling mechanism 55, which has coupling links 56 and levers 57, as well as stop arms 34 for the rear of the tray 10. After clamping the tray 10, the rear of the tray 10 rests against two spaced-apart stop arms 34. The clamping blocks 32 and the locking plate 28 are actuated via the coupling mechanism 55 and the pneumatic cylinder 27.

[0059] While the clamping blocks 32 are positioned on the underside of the tray 10 or its bottom wall 30, the clamping holders 29 engage in the area of ​​side edges 58 at the opposite end of the tray 10, namely in the area of ​​side edges 58 of narrow side walls 31 of the tray 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the clamping holders 29 are L-shaped in cross section, so that they rest in the area of ​​the side edge 58 on the top side of the narrow side wall 31 and the narrow side wall 31 itself.

[0060] The distance between the clamp holders 29 can be adjusted by moving them along cross members 59 in order to be able to adapt the handling device 19 to different sized trays 10 ( Fig. 6). The position of the clamping blocks 32 can also be adjusted for this purpose. The figures show that the clamping blocks 32 are arranged in pairs in the illustrated embodiment and can be individually adjusted via a thread in order to adapt to different trays 10. Adjustment to different distances between the clamping blocks 32 of a pair is also conceivable.

[0061] Furthermore, stops 60 for the crank 53 are provided on the bracket 52.

[0062] The tilting movement of the handling device 19 is controlled by a servo motor as drive 51 ( Fig. 6). The servo motor transmits the movement or force to a downstream gear, which is directly connected to the crank 53 of the handling device 19. Between the servo motor and the gear is a safety device that acts as a backstop, preventing the tray 10 and its holder from returning uncontrollably to its original position, for example, in the event of a servo motor failure.

[0063] The backstop allows free rotation in both directions during normal operation. In the event of a pressure loss, one direction of rotation is blocked. This can be achieved by a locking disc located on the motor shaft, with at least one lug in conjunction with a pneumatically retractable locking pin, ensuring secure support of the device and any loads resting on it (falling filled trays). As an alternative to the pneumatically retractable locking pin, other mechanisms are also conceivable, such as hydraulic, mechanical, or electromagnetic actuation mechanisms or drives. A locking pawl can also be used instead of a locking pin.

[0064] The backstop can be switched on and off. The locking is achieved via a locking pin located in the housing and an attached roller, which blocks the lugs of the locking disc in the active position. The interposition of the backstop between the servo motor and the gearbox ensures reduced forces and movements on the gearbox output side. The backstop is designed redundantly: When the system is depressurized, the backstop is active. In addition, the locking pin is held in contact with the locking disc by a compression spring. The passive position is achieved by pressurizing the cylinder, and the locking pin is pushed upwards, enabling both directions of rotation. The interposition of the narrow backstop between the motor and the gearbox creates a compact safety system with minimal installation space.

[0065] Fig. 3shows that the stop wall 14 can be swung open sideways to gain access to the buffer. A handle 61 on the outside of the stop wall 14 can be used for this purpose ( Fig. 2 ). List of reference symbols: 10 Schragen 38 Conveyor belt (stage) 11 Feed station 39 Snap-in coupling (stage) 12 Emptying station 40 Linear unit (stage) 13 stage 41 Side guide (stage) 14 Stop wall (emptying station) 42 mass flow 15 Lock (emptying station) 43 Pneumatic cylinder (lock) 16 Slide valve (emptying station) 44 Linear unit (slider) 17 transfer station 45 Chain 18 Push-off station 46 Main drive (device) 19 Handling device 47 Drive (tray holder) 20 product 48 Storage belt 21 Collection station (feed station) 49 Rear panel (drainage) 22 Stop device (feed station) 50 Frame (emptying station) 23 Push-off belt (push-off station) 51 Drive (handling device) 24 Feed belt (feed station) 52 Console (handling device) 25 Side guide (feed station) 53 Crank (handling device) 26 Sensor (feed station) 54 Drawbar (handling device) 27 Pneumatic cylinders (handling devices) 55 Coupling gear (handling device) 28 Locking plate (handling unit) 56 Coupling link (handling device) 29 Clamp holder (handling device) 57 Lever (handling device) 30 Floor wall (slope) 58 Side edge (narrow side wall) 31 Narrow side wall (slope) 59 Traverse (handling device) 32 Clamping blocks (handling equipment) 60 Stop (console) 33 Stop (emptying station) 61 Bow handle (stop wall) 34 Stop arm (handling device) 62 role 35 Tray holder (transfer station) 63 Lock wall (lock) 36 removal belt

Claims

1. Device for handling trays (10) with a handling device (19) which is designed to transfer a tray (10) between different stations of the device, namely from a tray feed station (11) for trays (10) filled with rod-shaped products (20) to a tray emptying station (12) and from the tray emptying station (12) to a tray transfer station (17) for emptied trays (10), wherein the handling device (19) is designed to hold the tray (10) during the transfer and to align it according to the individual stations, characterized in that the handling device (19) is designed to hold the tray (10) in the region of edges of the tray (10), in particular in the region of lateral narrow edges (58) of the tray (10).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe handling device (19) is designed to tilt the tray (10) held in the region of edges of the tray (10), in particular from a head-up position into an overhead position, in order to feed it to the tray emptying station (12).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the handling device (19) is designed to move, in particular to lift, the tray (10) in a vertical direction during transfer to the tray emptying station (12).

4. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the handling device (19) is designed to tilt the tray (10) held in the region of edges of the tray (10) during feeding to the tray transfer station (17), in particular from an overhead position into a lying position.

5. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in thatthe tray transfer station (17) is designed to receive the emptied tray (10) from the handling device (19) and to erect it, in particular in a head-up position, and to feed it to a discharge conveyor.

6. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the handling device (19) is designed to hold and tilt the trays (10) held in the region of edges of the tray (10) regardless of format, in particular without changing format parts or the like.

7. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in thatthe handling device (19) is designed to close an open side of the tray (10) essentially over its entire surface by means of a closure means, in particular a closure plate (28), and that the handling device (19) is designed to release the side of the tray (10) at least in the tray emptying station (12), in particular also in the tray transfer station (17), by removing the closure means.

8. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the device is designed to support the tray (10) in the tray emptying station (12) on side edges (58) of narrow sides of the tray (10).

9. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in thatthe tray (10) is held in the tray emptying station (12) between a stop (33) of the tray emptying station (12) and a stop, in particular a stop arm (34), of the handling device (19).

10. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the handling device (19) is designed to tilt the tray (10) by means of a servo drive (47), wherein it is preferably provided that the clamping of the tray (10) in the handling device (19) is ensured during a tilting movement and in the event of a pressure drop by a pneumatic cylinder which leads to a self-locking clamping movement, wherein it is particularly provided that elastic elements on clamping blocks (32) of the handling device (19) are used for the self-locking of the clamping, which clamping blocks rest against a bottom wall (30) of the tray (10).

11. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the handling device (19) has a clamping device for the tray (10), wherein the clamping device is adaptable to different dimensions of the tray (10).

12. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the tray emptying station (12) has a platform (13) that can be moved up and down, and wherein a conveyor belt (38) of the platform (13) can be locked as a lower support for the products (20) to be picked up when the platform (13) is moved up and down and serves to transport the products (20) away laterally in a lower end position of the platform (13).

13. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in thatthe tray emptying station (12) has a wall (14) as a stop for the filled tray (10), which wall covers an open side of the tray (10), in particular an open broad side.

14. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in thatthe tray emptying station (12) serves as an intermediate storage device for the products (20) to be filled, the storage device being delimited laterally by a rear wall plate (49) and, opposite the rear wall plate (49), by a stop wall (14) and a slide (16) and lock walls (63) opposite the slide (16), and the lock walls (63) being laterally displaceable transversely to the direction of movement of the slide (16), it being preferably provided that the handling device (19) is designed to convey the products (20) out of the tray emptying station (12) by means of the slide (16) and the belt of the platform after the tray (10) has been completely emptied.

15. Device according to claim 1 or any of the other preceding claims, characterized in that the tray transfer station (17) is equipped with its own drive (47) and can be adjusted to the format of the tray (10).

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