Method and device for filling a container with stacked, flat products

Abstract

In a method for filling a container (2) with stacked, flat products (3, 3'), an open container (2) is positioned in a loading position (26) in which the container base (15) has a slope which extends from an upper to a lower end wall (16, 17) of the container (2). A manipulator (5) is provided comprising a gripper (21) which has gripper jaws (22) which can be moved between an open position and a closed position. A product stack (20) having a predetermined number of the flat products (3') is provided at a provision position (13). The product stack (20) is picked up with the aid of the gripper (21) and transferred by means of the manipulator (5) from the provision position (13) to a free depositing point in the container (2) in such a way that the surfaces spanned by the products (3) located in the product stack (20) are arranged orthogonally to the container base and face the end walls (16, 17). The gripper (21) is then brought into a delivery position and removed from the transferred product stack (20) in such a way that the product stack (20) comes to rest against the lower end wall (17) and is spaced apart from the upper end wall (16) by a free space. A device (1) for carrying out the method is also specified.

Description

[0001] Method and device for filling a container with stacked, flat products

[0002] The invention relates to a method for filling a container with stacked, flat products, in particular with paper products, comprising the following steps: a) providing at least one open container which has at least one container base, opposing end walls and opposing side walls running transversely to the end walls, b) positioning the container in a loading position, c) providing a manipulator which has a gripper with gripper jaws which can be moved towards and away from one another between an open and a closed position.d) Providing at least one product stack comprising a predetermined number of flat products at a provision position, e) Positioning the gripper at the provision position in a receiving position in which the product stack is arranged between the gripper jaws in the open position, f) Picking up the product stack by adjusting the gripper jaws to the closed position, g) Transferring the product stack from the provision position to a free storage location in the container in such a way that the surfaces spanned by the products in the product stack are arranged orthogonally to the container base and face the end walls, h) Adjusting the gripper to a delivery position and removing the gripper from the transferred product stack in such a way that the product stack comes to rest against one end wall and is spaced from the opposite end wall by a free space.Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for filling a container with stacked, flat products, in particular with paper products, comprising: a feed device for feeding product stacks, each having a predetermined number of the flat products, to a ready position, a holding device for positioning an open container in a loading position, a manipulator which has a gripper with gripper jaws which can be moved towards and away from one another and is designed to pick up a product stack at the ready position of the feed device, transfer it to the holding device and deposit it at a deposit location, and a control device connected to the feed device and the manipulator.

[0003] Such devices are used as connecting modules to paper folding machines for the mechanical folding of paper and are used for the automated packaging of multiple folded paper products, such as brochures and the like, in appropriate containers. The folded brochures are often printed papers, as produced in printing companies. Complex folds are common, for example, in the pharmaceutical sector in the production of package inserts. The brochures are either folded open or sealed with a label or banderol. The individual brochures are laid out by the folding machine in the form of a continuous stack. This sequence of brochures, also known as delivery, takes different forms depending on the folding machine.Typical delivery formats are known as "shingled" delivery formats, in which the brochures are delivered horizontally, lying down, and partially overlapping from a folding machine. Alternatively, the brochures can be delivered vertically and in continuous stacks. Such devices are referred to in this context as vertical stackers. Vertical stackers have suitable features to prevent individual or multiple brochures from accidentally tipping over during transport.

[0004] Fundamentally, the packaging process should be synchronized with the folding process to ensure that the folded brochures can be packed into appropriate containers for removal and further transport without line downtime. This requires a process that is as smooth as possible and simultaneously adaptable to different brochure formats and / or container sizes and types.

[0005] EP 3 530 576 B1 discloses a device and a method of the type mentioned above, by means of which brochures can be packaged in a container. The device has a platform for the containers and a manipulator arm with a gripper for depositing the brochures picked up from a feed device into the container. The position in the container at which the brochures are deposited is achieved by the further transport of the container using a brochure stuffer and a sleeve holder. To guide the container, the platform has container sleeves into which the container slides during loading. For this purpose, the container sleeve must be precisely adapted to the dimensions of the containers to be filled. This circumstance is disadvantageous with regard to the flexibility of the device to accommodate different container sizes, since the platform must be laboriously converted for each container format.The device's flexibility is also limited when it comes to loading brochures of different sizes, as both the sleeve holder and the brochure stuffer must be adapted to the brochure format. A further disadvantage of the proposed device is that neither multi-layer loading nor parallel stacking of the container with brochures is possible.

[0006] WO 2012 / 034591 A1 discloses a device and method in which the brochures are divided into a predetermined number at regular intervals by support elements and transported to a packaging position by a conveyor device, clamped between two support elements each. A reciprocating feed element then presses the stack of clamped brochures into a container provided below. This device also suffers from the aforementioned disadvantages in terms of flexibility and multi-layer filling, as well as filling with parallel stack rows.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset, by means of which product stacks can be reliably transferred from a supply position into a container in a simple manner and with little effort.

[0008] This object is achieved with regard to the method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the gripper is positioned in step e) in the receiving position such that the surfaces spanned by the products in the product stack face the gripper jaws, and that the container is arranged in the loading position such that the container base has a gradient that extends from an upper end wall to a lower end wall of the container. Since the gripper jaws face the surfaces spanned by the products in the product stack in the receiving position, the product stack can be compressed when picked up with the gripper by the gripper jaws moving towards one another. This shortens the length of the product stack, allowing it to be transferred into the container in a space-saving manner. This enables the product stacks to be tightly packed between the lower and upper end walls of the container.Since the container bottom has a slope, the product stack transferred into the container advantageously comes to rest on the lower end wall of the container due to gravity after the gripper has been removed from the product stack, thereby easily preventing the products in the product stack from tipping into the free space.

[0009] In a further development of the invention, the container has several free storage locations for depositing product stacks, and the method comprises the following further steps: i) arranging a further product stack at the provision position, j) positioning the gripper at the provision position in a receiving position in which the further product stack is arranged between the gripper jaws in the open position and the surfaces spanned by the products in the further product stack face the gripper jaws, k) picking up the further product stack by adjusting the gripper jaws to the closed position, l) transferring the further product stack from the provision position to the next free storage location in the container, wherein this storage location is arranged either between the product stack previously transferred into the container and the upper end wall or between this product stack and a side wall of the container,and wherein the transfer is carried out in such a way that the surfaces spanned by the products in the product stack are arranged orthogonally to the container bottom and facing the end walls, m) adjusting the gripper to the delivery position and removing the gripper from the transferred further product stack, and n) if necessary, repeating steps i) to m) for at least one and preferably each further free storage location in the container.

[0010] In this way, the space between the lower and upper end walls can be continuously filled with stacked products.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the method, it is provided that a hold-down device is provided which is arranged parallel to the plane spanned by the lower end wall of the container arranged in the loading position and is movable towards and away from the container bottom by means of a positioning device and is displaceable parallel to the container bottom between the lower and upper end walls, o) that the hold-down device is positioned, in particular between step h) and step l), with the aid of the positioning device in the space between the product stack transferred into the container and the upper end wall of the container and is then displaced parallel to the container bottom towards the lower end wall to compress this product stack, and p) that the hold-down device is removed from the compressed product stack during and / or after step m) with the aid of the positioning device,and / or q) that during at least one execution of step n) before repeating step i), the hold-down device is positioned with the aid of the positioning device in the space between the last product stack deposited in the container and the upper end wall of the container and is then displaced parallel to the container bottom towards the lower end wall in order to compress this product stack and at least one further product stack arranged between it and the lower end wall, and r) that the hold-down device is removed from the compressed product stacks during and / or after step q) with the aid of the positioning device.

[0012] The compression of the product stack makes it possible to arrange the products in the container with a high packing density. Advantageously, while at least one product stack transferred into the container is being compressed by means of the hold-down device, the gripper can be transported back from the container to the ready position in order to grip another product stack there and transfer it into the container. This enables the container to be filled with product stacks more quickly than with a device in which the gripper is positioned with one of its gripper jaws against the upper end of a transferred product stack remote from the lower end wall of the container, is then moved towards the lower end wall of the container to compress this product stack and only then is it transported back to the ready position in order to grip another product stack there.

[0013] In a practical embodiment of the method, at least two product stacks are successively transferred from the processing point into the container in the loading position with the aid of the manipulator in such a way that they are arranged offset from one another in the direction of a straight line running parallel to the end walls and parallel to the container base, and that the hold-down device is dimensioned such that when it is moved towards the lower end wall in step o) and optionally in step q), all product stacks in the container are compressed simultaneously. This enables a uniform filling level of the container with the product stacks arranged next to one another in the container.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the gripper is moved into the delivery position in step h) and / or step m) by moving the gripper jaws away from each other. This allows the product stacks to be deposited into the container easily and particularly gently.

[0015] In a further development of the method, the gripper has a feed element that is adjustable relative to the gripper jaws between a rest position, in which it is retracted from the space between the gripper jaws, and a working position, in which it engages in the space between the gripper jaws. The feed element is brought into the dispensing position in step h) and / or in step m) by moving the feed element from the rest position relative to the gripper jaws toward the container bottom into the working position while the gripper jaws are moved away from the container bottom. This requires very little space for depositing the product stack in the container.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, a first layer of product stacks is first placed in the container, covering the container base. Then, at least one further layer of product stacks is placed on top of the first layer. It is even possible to stack more than two layers of product stacks on top of each other in the container. This makes it possible to accommodate a large number of products in a container with compact dimensions. In another embodiment of the method, a first layer of product stacks is first placed in the container, covering the container base, after which a separating sheet is applied to the first layer, and a further layer of product stacks is placed on the separating sheet. The separating sheet enables a clean separation of the individual product stack layers, and the individual products cannot slip between the different layers and move into a different position in the container.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the method, the following further steps are carried out: i) a continuous stack of stacked, flat products is produced, ii) a spreading arm adjustable between a rest position and a spread position is provided, iii) the predetermined number of products is added to the continuous stack, and the continuous stack is moved along a transport path in a conveying direction by the predetermined number of products toward the provision position, iv) the spreading arm in the rest position is positioned transversely to the conveying direction between two adjacent products of the continuous stack such that the continuous stack has the predetermined number of products behind the spreading arm in the conveying direction, v) the spreading arm is then spread open in the conveying direction to position a product stack having the predetermined number of products at the provision position,vi) and, if necessary, the spreading arm is removed from the endless stack to provide additional product stacks and returned to the rest position, and steps iii) to vi) are repeated. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plane spanned by the container base in the loading position forms an angle of inclination with a horizontal plane of between 20° and 70°, in particular between 30° and 60°, and preferably between 40° and 50°.

[0018] In a variant of the method, the container is arranged on the holding device in the loading position in such a way that the intersection line between the plane spanned by the container bottom and the plane spanned by the lower end wall forms an angle with a horizontal line lying in the plane spanned by the container bottom.This method is preferably used when at least a first and a second product stack are transferred one after the other with the aid of the manipulator from the processing point into the container located in the loading position in such a way that they are arranged offset from one another in the direction of a straight line running parallel to the end walls and parallel to the container bottom in the container, and when after the transfer of the first product stack and before the transfer of the second product stack, a separating strip is to be arranged between the deposit point of the first product stack and the deposit point of the second product stack orthogonal to the container bottom.Due to the angle between the intersection line of the plane spanned by the container base and the plane spanned by the lower end wall with the horizontal line in the plane spanned by the container base, the separator strip—when positioned in the container between the storage locations—is tilted toward the first product stack. This causes it to rest against the first stack due to gravity. This measure prevents the separator strip from tilting toward the storage location of the second product stack as long as the second product stack has not yet been placed in the container.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the method, a holding device with an inclined surface having a gradient is provided, and the container base is positioned on the inclined surface in the loading position. This allows the method to be easily carried out with containers of different dimensions.

[0020] The container is expediently moved, in particular shifted, by means of a transport device along the inclined surface transversely to the direction of the gradient from a receiving position to the loading position and from there to a discharge position. This allows a large number of containers to be easily filled with product stacks one after the other. Upon reaching the loading position, the container is then already positioned so that the container base has the gradient. This allows the container to be immediately loaded with a product stack without the risk of the products in the product stack tipping into the free space after the gripper is removed from the transferred product stack.

[0021] With regard to the device of the type mentioned at the outset, the above-mentioned object is achieved in that the holding device has an inclined surface with a gradient on which the container can be positioned in the loading position, and in that the manipulator is designed such that the surfaces spanned by the gripper jaws are arranged orthogonally to the inclined surface and are inclined in the downward direction of the gradient when the gripper is positioned at the depositing point for depositing the product stack in the container.With the aid of the device, the product stack can be transferred into the container in such a way that, after the gripper has been removed, the transferred product stack comes to rest against a lower end wall of the container due to gravity, thereby preventing the products in the product stack from tipping over, even if there is a free space between the product stack and an upper end wall of the container for depositing another product stack.

[0022] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0023] It shows:

[0024] Fig. 1 A schematic view of a device for filling a container with stacked, flat products,

[0025] Fig. 2 to

[0026] Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through a container arranged on a holding device in a loading position, during loading with a stack of products, wherein the individual figures show various steps during the execution of the method,

[0027] Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but where two layers of product stacks are arranged one above the other in the container when filling the container,

[0028] Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the product stacks being placed in two rows and two columns on the container bottom, with the product stacks placed in the container only being partially shown, and

[0029] Fig. 16 is a schematic view of a holding device having an inclined surface with a gradient sloping towards its lower horizontal edge, a container resting on the inclined surface in such a way that the lower edge of the container base forms an angle ß with the lower edge of the inclined surface.

[0030] A device for filling open containers 2 with stacked, flat products 3, designated as a whole by 1 in Fig. 1, has a feed device 4 for the products 3, a manipulator 5 for transferring the products 3, a holding device 6 for positioning the container 2, a hold-down device 7 for the products 3, a positioning device 8 for the hold-down device 7, and a transport device 9 for transporting the containers 2. In addition, the device has a control device 10, shown only schematically in the drawing, which is in control connection with the feed device 4, the manipulator 5, the positioning device 8 and the transport device 7. The products 3 can in particular be paper products, such as brochures or folded package inserts.

[0031] The feed device 4 has a transport path for a continuous stack 11 with stacked, flat products 3, which are fed as a delivery to an upstream system of the device 1. The feed device 4 has conveyor means (not shown in detail in the drawing), by means of which the continuous stack 11 can be moved along the transport path in the conveying direction 12 towards a preparation position 13. The products 3 are fed in a timed manner such that the continuous stack is moved further in the conveying direction 12 by the thickness of a product 3 at each time. The feed device 4 further has a spreading arm 14, which can be positioned transversely to the conveying direction 12 between two adjacent products 3 of the continuous stack 11 from a rest position, in which it is pushed together and arranged outside the transport path, into a working position. In the working position, the spreading arm 14 can be spread open in the conveying direction 12.

[0032] The containers 2 each have a container bottom 15, two opposing end walls 16, 17 and two opposing side walls 18, 19 running transversely to the end walls 16, 17. The end walls 16, 17 and the side walls 18, 19 are each arranged parallel to one another.

[0033] The feed device 4 is designed such that, depending on a machine cycle predetermined by the control device 10, it provides a product stack 20 at a provision position 13, each product stack comprising a predetermined number of the flat products 3. In the product stack 20, the products 3 are stacked in vertical planes running essentially parallel to one another.

[0034] The manipulator 5 is designed as an articulated-arm robot, the articulated arm of which carries a gripper 21 having two gripper jaws 22 that can be moved toward and away from each other between an open and a closed position. Furthermore, the gripper 21 has a feed element 23 that can be adjusted between a rest position, in which it is retracted from the space between the gripper jaws 22 provided for receiving the product stack 20, and a working position relative to the gripper jaws 22, in which it engages in the space between the gripper jaws 22.

[0035] As can be clearly seen in Fig. 1, the holding device comprises a plate 24 having a sloped, in-plane inclined surface 25 on its upper side. The container 2 can be positioned on the inclined surface 25 in a loading position 26 within the working area of ​​the manipulator 5. The angle of inclination that the inclined surface 25 forms with a horizontal plane is designated by a in the drawing. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it is approximately 45°.

[0036] The aforementioned hold-down device 7 can be moved toward and away from the inclined surface 25 by means of the positioning device 8, which is only schematically shown in the drawing, and can be displaced parallel to the inclined surface in and against the direction of the gradient of the inclined surface 25. The positioning device 8 is connected to the control device 10 for control purposes.

[0037] With the help of the transport device 9, the containers 2 can be transported along the inclined surface 25 in a transport direction 25 running transversely to the direction of the gradient, from a receiving position to the loading position 26 and from there to a discharge position. To synchronize the transport movement with the cycle of the product stacks 20 provided at the preparation position 13, the transport device 9 is in control communication with the control device 10. The transport device 9 has cam belts 28 which run around via deflection means and engage in slots in the plate 24 which extend in the transport direction 28. The cams of the cam belts 28 project beyond the inclined surface 25 and serve as drivers for the containers 2. The transport device 9 also has vacuum suction cups 29 which are movable in the transport direction 27.In the position of use, the vacuum suction cups 29 come into contact with the side wall 18 of the container 2 to be transported, said side wall 18 pointing in the transport direction 27.

[0038] The individual process steps for filling the container 3 with the product stacks 20 are explained in more detail below.

[0039] First, the endless stack 11 is positioned so that its front end is arranged in a straight extension of the spreading arm 14, which is in the rest position. The endless stack 11 is then transported further along the transport path in the conveying direction 12 by the predetermined number of products 3. The retracted spreading arm 14 is now positioned parallel to the planes spanned by the products 3 contained in the endless stack 11 between two adjacent products 3 of the endless stack 11. For this purpose, the spreading arm 14 is connected to a counting device for the products 3 delivered by the endless stack 11.

[0040] When the spreading arm 14 is positioned between the products 3 of the continuous stack 11, a counter of the counting device, which counts the products 3, is reset to a starting value. A product stack 20, which has the predetermined number of products 3, is now located in front of the spreading arm 14 in the conveying direction 12. The spreading arm 14 is then spread open in the conveying direction 12 to separate the product stack 20 from the continuous stack 11 and position it at the staging position 13.

[0041] In a further method step, with the aid of the transport device 9, a container 2 is positioned on the holding device 6 in the loading position 26 such that the container base 15 rests on the inclined surface 25 of the plate 24 and has a gradient extending from an upper end wall 16 to a lower end wall 17 of the container 2. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the positioning device 8 has a strip-shaped stop 30 at the lower edge of the inclined surface 25, against which the lower end wall 17 of the container 2 is positioned in the loading position 26.

[0042] In a further method step, the gripper is positioned at the provision position 13 in a receiving position in which the product stack 20 is arranged between the gripper jaws 22 in the open position and the surfaces spanned by the products 3 located in the product stack 20 face the gripper jaws 22. The product stack is then picked up by the gripper 21 by adjusting the gripper jaws 22 to the closed position. The product stack 20 is held between the gripper jaws 22 by a clamping force.

[0043] The product stack 20 is then transferred from the provision position 13 to a free storage location in the container 2 such that the surfaces spanned by the products in the product stack 20 are arranged orthogonally to the container bottom 15 and face the end walls 16, 17. The products 3 are arranged with their lower edge approximately parallel to the container bottom 15. The free storage location is located on the container bottom 15 adjacent to the lower end wall 17, but is spaced from the lower end wall 17 by a working space required for adjusting the lower gripper jaw 22 (Fig. 2).

[0044] As can be seen in Fig. 3, in a further method step the gripper jaws 22 are moved away from each other in order to bring the gripper 21 into a dispensing position. In addition, the feed element 23 is moved from the rest position into the working position (Fig. 4). For this purpose, the feed element 23 is moved relative to the gripper jaws 22 towards the container bottom 15, while at the same time the gripper jaws 22 are moved away from the container bottom 15. The gripper 21 is then removed from the product stack 20 transferred into the container 2. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the product stack 20 now comes to rest on the lower end wall 17 and is spaced from the opposite upper end wall 16 by a free space which serves to deposit a wide product stack 20 in the container 2.

[0045] In a further method step, the hold-down device 7 is positioned in the space between the product stack 20 transferred into the container 2 and the upper end wall 16 of the container 2 such that the plane spanned by the hold-down device 7 is arranged approximately parallel to the planes spanned by the products 3 contained in the product stack 20 (Fig. 6). The hold-down device 7 is then moved parallel to the container bottom toward the lower end wall 17 in order to clamp and compress the product stack 20 between the lower end wall 17 and the hold-down device 7 (Fig. 7).

[0046] Subsequently, with the aid of the feed device 4, a further product stack 20' is arranged at the provision position 13. The gripper 21 is then positioned at the provision position 13 in a receiving position in which the further product stack 20' is arranged between the gripper jaws 22 in the open position and the surfaces spanned by the products 3' located in the further product stack 20' face the gripper jaws 22. By moving the gripper jaws 22 to the closed position, the further product stack 20' is picked up by the gripper 21.

[0047] The additional product stack 20' is then transferred from the provision position 13 to the next free storage location in the container 2, which is arranged between the hold-down device 7 and the upper end wall 16. As can be seen in Fig. 8, the additional product stack 20' is again transferred such that the surfaces spanned by the products 3 located in the additional product stack 20' are arranged orthogonally to the container bottom 15 and face the end walls 16, 17. The gripper 21 is then moved into the delivery position and removed from the transferred additional product stack 20' (Figs. 9 to 11).In a further method step, the hold-down device 7 is positioned in the space between the additional product stacks 20' transferred into the container 2 and the upper end wall 16 of the container 2 such that the plane spanned by the hold-down device 7 is arranged approximately parallel to the planes spanned by the products 3 contained in the additional product stack 20' (Fig. 12). The hold-down device 7 is then moved parallel to the container bottom toward the lower end wall 17 in order to compress the product stacks 20, 20' located between the hold-down device 7 and the lower end wall 17 (Fig. 13).

[0048] The above steps are repeated until the entire space between the lower product stack 20 and the upper end wall is filled with products 3.

[0049] After a product stack has been transferred to the top free storage location in container 2, to move the gripper into the delivery position, only the feed element 23 is moved relative to the gripper jaws 22 toward the container bottom 15, while simultaneously moving the gripper jaws 22 away from the container bottom 15. Moving the gripper jaws toward each other is prevented. This allows for a high filling level of the container 2 with the products 3.

[0050] As can be seen in Fig. 14, the product stacks 20, 20' can also be deposited in multiple layers 31, 32 in the container 2. For this purpose, a first layer 31 with product stacks is first deposited on the container base 15 such that the first layer 31 completely covers the container base 15. A separating sheet 33 is then deposited on the first layer 31. A further layer 32 with product stacks is applied to the separating sheet 33, completely covering the separating sheet 33. If necessary, further layers with product stacks can be transferred into the container 2 in a corresponding manner, provided the container has a corresponding height.

[0051] In the embodiment according to Fig. 15, the product stacks 20, 20' are arranged in a matrix in the container 2 in several rows and columns. A first product stack 20 is initially deposited on the first side wall 18 and the lower end wall 17. A further product stack 20' is then positioned between the first product stack 20 and the second side wall 19. The hold-down device 7 is then positioned between the product stacks 20, 20' and the upper end wall 16 in the container 2 and then moved towards the lower end wall 17 in order to compress both product stacks 20, 20'. The dimensions of the hold-down device 7 are selected such that it extends over both product stacks 20, 20'. This ensures that both columns of the container 2 have exactly the same filling height with products 3, 3' after compressing.

[0052] Now, another product stack is placed between the first product stack and the upper end wall to completely fill the first column of container 2 with products. Finally, another product stack is positioned between the last product stack positioned in container 2 and the second side wall 19 to completely fill the second column of container 2 with products. The hold-down device 7 is then removed from container 2.

[0053] It should also be mentioned that in the embodiments according to Figs. 1 and 15, the product stacks, when viewed from above, are placed in the container 2 rotated by an angle of approximately 90° relative to the conveying direction 12 of the continuous stack 11. This allows for compact dimensions of the device 1.

[0054] In Fig. 16 it can be seen that the container 2 in the loading position 26 can also be arranged on the inclined surface 25 such that the intersection line between the plane spanned by the container base 15 and the plane spanned by the lower end wall 17 forms an acute angle ß with a horizontal line lying in the plane spanned by the container base 15. This is particularly advantageous if several columns with product stacks are to be deposited next to one another in the container 2 and a separating strip, for example made of paper or cardboard, is to be arranged between each column.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for filling a container (2) with stacked, flat products (3, 3'), in particular with paper products, comprising the following steps: a) providing at least one open container (2) which has at least one container base (15), opposing end walls (16, 17) and opposing side walls (18, 19) extending transversely to the end walls (16, 17), b) positioning the container (2) in a loading position (26), c) providing a manipulator (5) which has a gripper (21) with gripper jaws (22) which can be moved towards and away from one another between an open and a closed position, d) providing at least one product stack (20) comprising a predetermined number of the flat products (3') at a provision position (13), e) positioning the gripper (21) at the provision position (13) in a recording position,in which the product stack (20) is arranged between the gripper jaws (22) in the open position, f) picking up the product stack (20) by adjusting the gripper jaws (22) to the closed position, g) transferring the product stack (20) from the ready position (13) to a free deposit location in the container (2), such that the surfaces spanned by the products (3) in the product stack (20) are arranged orthogonally to the container bottom and face the end walls (16, 17), h) adjusting the gripper (21) to a delivery position and removing the gripper (21) from the transferred product stack (20), such that the product stack (20) comes to rest against one end wall (17) and is spaced from the opposite other end wall (16) by a free space, characterized in that the gripper (21) is positioned in step e) in the receiving position such that the surfaces spanned by the products (3) located in the product stack (20) face the gripper jaws (22), and in that the container (2) is arranged in the loading position (26) such that the container base (15) has a gradient which extends from an upper end wall (16) to a lower end wall (17) of the container (2).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (2) has several free depositing locations for depositing product stacks (20, 20'), and in that the method comprises the following further steps: i) arranging a further product stack (20') at the provision position (13), j) positioning the gripper (21) at the provision position (13) in a receiving position in which the further product stack (20') is arranged between the gripper jaws (22) in the open position and the surfaces spanned by the products (3') located in the further product stack (20') face the gripper jaws (22), k) picking up the further product stack (20') by adjusting the gripper jaws (22) to the closed position, l) transferring the further product stack (20') from the provision position (13) to the next free depositing location in the container (2), wherein this depositing location is either between the previously inserted into the container (2) implemented product stack (20,20') and the upper end wall (16) or between this product stack (20, 20') and a side wall (19) of the container (2), and wherein the transfer takes place in such a way that the surfaces spanned by the products (3') located in the product stack (20') are arranged orthogonally to the container bottom (15) and face the end walls (16, 17), m) adjusting the gripper (21) to the delivery position and removing the gripper (21) from the transferred further product stack (20'), and, n) if necessary, repeating steps i) to m) for at least one and preferably each further free storage location in the container (2).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that a hold-down device (7) is provided which is arranged parallel to the plane spanned by the lower end wall (17) of the container (2) arranged in the loading position (26) and is movable towards and away from the container bottom (15) by means of a positioning device (8) and is displaceable parallel to the container bottom (15) along the gradient, o) that the hold-down device (7) is positioned between step h) of patent claim 1 and step l) of patent claim 2 with the aid of the positioning device (8) in the space between the product stack (20) transferred into the container (2) and the upper end wall (16) of the container (2) and is then displaced parallel to the container bottom towards the lower end wall (17) for compressing this product stack (20), and p) that the hold-down device (7) is removed from the compressed product stack during and / or after step m) with the aid of the positioning device (8). (20) is removed,and / or q) that during at least one execution of step n) of claim 2, before repeating step i), the hold-down device (7) is positioned with the aid of the positioning device (8) in the space between the last product stack (20, 20') deposited in the container (2) and the upper end wall (16) of the container (2) and is then displaced parallel to the container bottom (15) towards the lower end wall (17) in order to compress this product stack (20') and at least one further product stack (20, 20') arranged between it and the lower end wall, and r) that the hold-down device (7) is removed from the compressed product stacks (20, 20') with the aid of the positioning device (8) during and / or after step q).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that at least two product stacks (20, 20') are transferred one after the other with the aid of the manipulator (5) from the processing point (13) into the container (2) located in the loading position (26) in such a way that they are arranged offset from one another in the direction of a straight line running parallel to the end walls (16, 17) and parallel to the container bottom (15) in the container (2), and in that the hold-down device (7) is dimensioned in such a way that when it is moved towards the lower end wall (17) in step o) and optionally in step q) of claim 3, all the product stacks (20, 20') located in the container (2) are compressed simultaneously.

5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the gripper (21) is brought into the delivery position in step h) of claim 1 and / or in step m) of claim 2 by moving the gripper jaws (22) away from each other.

6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the gripper (21) has a feed element (23) which is adjustable relative to the gripper jaws (22) between a rest position in which it is retracted from the space between the gripper jaws (22, 22) into a working position in which it engages in the space between the gripper jaws (22), and in that the feed element (23) is brought into the dispensing position in step h) of patent claim 1 and / or in step m) of patent claim 2) by moving the feed element (23) from the rest position relative to the gripper jaws (22) towards the container bottom (15) into the working position while the gripper jaws (22) are moved away from the container bottom.

7. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that in the container (2) initially a first layer (31) of product stacks (20, 20') is deposited, which covers the container bottom (15), and that then at least one further layer (32) of product stacks (20, 20') is deposited on the first layer (31).

8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that a first layer (31) of product stacks (20, 20') is first deposited in the container (2), which layer covers the container bottom (15), that a separating sheet (33) is then applied to the first layer (31), and that a further layer (32) of product stacks (20, 20') is deposited on the separating sheet (33).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that i) an endless stack (11) with stacked, flat products (3, 3') is produced, ii) a spreading arm (14) adjustable between a rest position and a spread position is provided, iii) the predetermined number of products (3, 3') is added to the endless stack (11) and the endless stack (11) is moved along a transport path in a conveying direction (12) by the predetermined number of products (3, 3') towards the provision position (13), iv) the spreading arm (14) in the rest position is positioned transversely to the conveying direction (12) between two adjacent products (3, 3') of the endless stack (11) such that the endless stack (11) has the predetermined number of products (3, 3') behind the spreading arm (14) in the conveying direction, v) that the spreading arm (14) is then spread in the conveying direction (12),to position a product stack (20, 20') having the predetermined number of products (3, 3') at the provision position (13), vi) and that, if necessary, the spreading arm (14) for providing further product stacks (3, 3') is removed from the endless stack (11), brought into the rest position and steps iii) to vi) are repeated.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the plane spanned by the container bottom (15) encloses an angle of inclination (a) between 20° and 70°, in particular between 30° and 60° and preferably between 40° and 50°, with a horizontal plane.

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container (2) is arranged in the loading position (26) such that the intersection line between the plane spanned by the container bottom (15) and the plane spanned by the lower end wall (17) encloses an angle (ß) with a horizontal line lying in the plane spanned by the container bottom (15).

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a holding device (6) with an inclined surface (25) having a gradient is provided, and that the container base (15) is positioned on the inclined surface (25) in the loading position (26).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the container (2) is moved and in particular displaced by means of a transport device (27) along the inclined surface (25) transversely to the direction of the gradient from a receiving position into the loading position (26) and from there into a discharge position.

14. Device (1) for filling a container (2) with stacked, flat products (3, 3'), in particular with paper products, comprising: a feeding device (4) for feeding product stacks (20, 20'), each having a predetermined number of the flat products (3, 3'), to a preparation position (13), a holding device (6) for positioning an open container (2) in a loading position (26), a manipulator (5) having a gripper (21) with gripper jaws (22) that can be moved toward and away from each other and is designed to pick up a product stack (20, 20') at the ready position (13) of the feed device (4), transfer it to the holding device (6) and place it at a depositing point, and a control device (10) connected to the feed device (4) and the manipulator (5), characterized in that the holding device (6) has an inclined surface (25) with a gradient on which the container (2) can be positioned in the loading position, and in that the manipulator (5) is designed such that the surfaces spanned by the gripper jaws (22) are arranged orthogonally to the inclined surface (25) and are inclined in the downward direction of the gradient when the gripper (21) is positioned at the depositing point for depositing the product stack in the container (2).

15. Device (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the plane spanned by the inclined surface (25) of the holding device (6) encloses an angle of inclination (α) between 20° and 70°, in particular between 30° and 60° and preferably between 40° and 50°, with a horizontal plane.

16. Device (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the holding device (6) for compressing at least one product stack (20, 20') deposited in the container (2) has a hold-down device (7) which can be moved towards and away from the inclined surface (25) by means of a positioning device (8) which is in control connection with the control device (10) and can be displaced parallel to the inclined surface (25) in and against a displacement direction which has at least one component oriented in the direction of the gradient.

17. Device (1 ) according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the gripper (21 ) has a feed element (23) which is arranged between a rest position in which it is retracted from the space between the gripper jaws (22) into a working position in which it engages in the space between the gripper jaws (22) for depositing a product stack (20, 20') held between the gripper jaws (22), and is adjustable relative to the gripper jaws.

18. Device (1) according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the device (1) has a transport device (9) for transporting the container (2) along the inclined surface (25) in a transport direction (27) running transversely to the direction of the gradient, from a receiving position to the loading position (26) and from there to a discharge position, and that the transport device (9) is in control connection with the control device (10).

19. Device (1) according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the transport device (9) for transporting the container (2) has at least one cam belt (28) and / or at least one movable vacuum suction device (29).

20. Device (1) according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the positioning device (8) has a mechanical stop (30) at the lower edge of the inclined surface (25), against which the container (2) can be positioned, and that the stop (30) is preferably designed as a bar extending in the transport direction (27) of the transport device (9).

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