Magazine and method for storing and providing flat consumable material for a packaging process

Abstract

The invention relates to a magazine (10) for storing and providing flat consumable material (54) for a packaging process within a packaging machine (12), and to a corresponding method for providing flat consumable material (54) for a packaging process. The magazine (10) in each case has at least two mobile magazine locations (16; 16.1, 16.2) for separate storage units for consumable material (54), wherein at least one of these magazine locations (16; 16.1, 16.2) forms an active magazine location (16.1) having a storage unit located therein which is connected to the packaging process and supplies the latter with the required consumable material (54). The at least one further magazine location (16; 16.2) forms a passive magazine location (16.2) separate from the packaging process. Free spaces (20) of non-occupied active or passive magazine locations (16; 16.1, 16.2) can be shielded from external interventions by means of movable covers (22), the positions of which are each coupled to the mobile magazine locations (16; 16.1, 16.2).

Description

[0001] Magazine and method for storing and providing flat consumables for a packaging process

[0002] The present invention relates to a magazine for storing and providing sheet-like consumables for a packaging process within a packaging machine. The invention also relates to a method for providing sheet-like consumables for a packaging process within a packaging machine.

[0003] There are various packaging types for processing, assembling, grouping, and packaging items such as beverage containers. One common method involves combining several similar items or containers into portable, relatively manageable units or packaging units. Several methods exist for grouping individual items or containers into these units or packaging units. For example, beverage containers are typically grouped and packaged in bundles of four, six, or more using shrink film. Mechanical cohesion of the items or beverage containers can be achieved by wrapping and holding them together with shrink film material. In addition to the widely used film bundles or shrink wrap bundles, there are also so-called...Strapping packages, adhesive packages, and combinations of these package types. For transport, the packages can be further grouped into larger units and / or stacked in layers and palletized.

[0004] While individual items or containers in the production of adhesive packaging are joined directly to each other using adhesive bonds, remaining in this configuration, in strapping packaging, the containers are held together by horizontally stretched strapping bands. To fix the items or containers in position and, in particular, to prevent individual containers from tipping within the package, it can also be advantageous to apply two or more horizontal strapping bands at different heights, spaced apart from each other. In simpler versions of such strapping bands, the bands can be made of thin strips of cellulose material such as paper or plastic, which, for the sake of the desired package stability, must be relatively wide.

[0005] Plastic strapping bands generally have higher strength and can therefore usually be pre-tensioned more than those made of paper or thin plastic material. Such pre-tensioning of the strapping bands allows for a relatively precise definition of the strapping tension, especially with thin-walled PET containers that have flexible and not very dimensionally stable walls. This prevents the strapped containers, held together by the strapping, from being deformed or even damaged due to excessive pre-tensioning.

[0006] In order to make these strapping bands available in continuous packaging processes at an uninterrupted and rapid pace, it has proven effective to take the starting material, which consists of a band-like and flat packaging material, from an endless supply located in a magazine designed for this purpose, e.g. in coiled form on a roll which can rotate around a horizontal axis of rotation when the packaging material is pulled off.

[0007] Subsequently, this continuous material can be divided into suitable sections and processed into bands, i.e., closed strapping rings or strapping bands, which can also be considered pre-assembled strapping bands or bands, and which can be prepared and handled in a suitable manner to be pulled over a previously grouped number of individual items, such as beverage containers, during the packaging process, resulting in the packaging units or containers to be produced.

[0008] Especially for the continuous operation of a packaging machine, it is advantageous to provide an application device with a sufficient quantity of packaging material at all times for pre-assembling a large number of bands or strapping bands, thus ensuring the continuous packaging process can be maintained uninterrupted for as long as possible. This requirement can be easily met if the stock rolls of packaging material in the magazine are sufficiently large. However, larger magazines for stored packaging material require more effort to refill them after the stored packaging blanks have been used up, or to replace them with a full magazine. Furthermore, such an exchange or refilling of a magazine involves an interruption of operation if only a single magazine is available.

[0009] Furthermore, larger magazines require more space within a packaging machine, whereas the goal of many machine layouts is to make the individual system modules as compact as possible.

[0010] Interchangeable magazines, which can be swapped while the packaging machine continues to operate, are at least suitable for eliminating the disadvantage of the unavoidable downtime required with a single magazine for the short period during which the magazine needs to be replaced or refilled. However, even with interchangeable magazines, the problem can arise that the packaging operation must be interrupted when replacing an empty magazine with a filled one, as any magazine access must prevent personnel from coming into contact with moving machine or robot components that are still in operation.

[0011] For safety reasons, such interventions or access by a person should only be permitted when parts of the system are at a standstill. To prevent such interventions and to ensure operational safety, swing doors can be installed in the area of ​​such magazines. These doors can be opened by an operator to change consumables, but are locked and cannot be opened when the packaging machine is running and the magazine station is activated.

[0012] Numerous individual steps, usually performed manually, must be carried out for each magazine access and for the necessary processes when changing consumables. Manually operated swing doors can also lead to space problems due to their swing radius and can obstruct automated magazine loading. Furthermore, there are the requirements for joining the material webs when a used roll of material needs to be removed and its web, previously fed into a packaging process, seamlessly joined with the web of a new roll inserted into the magazine.

[0013] German patent DE 102023103032 A1 discloses a packaging machine for bundling and packaging articles using paper or cardboard strapping rings. In this machine, the strapping material used for the rings is unwound from continuous supply units wound on rolls and processed in a timed manner by producing pre-assembled, closed strapping rings and then pulling them over prepared groups of articles. The rolls of continuous material are located in two magazine drawers, which can be loaded alternately, with only one of the two magazine drawers being active at any given time to supply the packaging process. Even with this known packaging machine, numerous handling steps are still necessary each time a continuous supply of strapping material is changed, most of which require manual assistance.

[0014] All the process steps described above, as well as the changeover steps of the packaging machines known from the state of the art, can only be automated with considerable conversion effort and, if such automation is desired, require some modifications in the material belt guidance as well as in the handling of the material webs and, last but not least, in the layout of the magazine.

[0015] In view of these identified disadvantages, the primary objective of the invention can be considered to be to create a magazine design for a packaging machine that enables automated changeover processes for packaging processes when replacing consumables and packaging materials without additional dangers to persons in the vicinity, and where possible, only short interruptions of an ongoing packaging operation should be necessary.

[0016] This objective is achieved through the respective subject matter of the independent claims. Features of advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the respective dependent claims.

[0017] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention proposes a magazine with the features of the independent claim, which is designed for storing and providing sheet-like consumables for a packaging process within a packaging machine. The sheet-like consumables are used in particular for the production of packaging units or containers formed by several articles grouped and held together by means of packaging material provided by the consumables. The articles of such packaging units or containers can be, for example, beverage containers or the like.

[0018] The magazine according to the invention comprises at least two movable magazine positions for separate supply units of consumables, distinguishing between active and inactive or passive magazine positions. Since large quantities of packaging units are produced in rapid succession in packaging processes such as those considered here, this can only be achieved with a continuous supply of the packaging material processed as consumables. Therefore, the magazine containing the stored packaging material must be designed accordingly. Of the multiple magazine positions of the magazine according to the invention, the one designated here as active is connected to the packaging process in that a supply unit located there provides the packaging process with the required consumables.

[0019] In contrast, at least one additional magazine slot forms a passive storage location, separate from the packaging process. Its storage unit is either depleted, meaning it is due for removal at a suitable opportunity, or it has already been replaced, so a new storage unit is available in the passive storage location for future packaging processes. This new unit can be activated later, namely after the storage unit in the active storage location is exhausted. At this point, the active storage location can then switch to a passive state, allowing its own depleted storage unit to be removed and replaced with a new one.

[0020] In the magazine according to the invention, it is provided that free spaces of unoccupied active or passive magazine positions are shielded against external interference by means of movable covers, the positions of which are coupled to the movable magazine positions.

[0021] What is referred to as consumable material in this context can consist, in particular, of flat packaging material that is unwound from the supply units located in the magazine slots. These supply units can therefore be, in particular, supply rolls or similar items on which the flat packaging material is wound, allowing it to be pulled off with minimal resistance while the supply rolls are rotating, in order to be made available for the packaging process.

[0022] When we speak of consumables or sheet-like consumables, we generally mean a roll or stock unit containing a continuous sheet of the packaging material. As mentioned above, this sheet-like packaging material can be made of a suitable packaging film, a cellulose material such as paper or cardboard, or a composite material with the desired mechanical properties. The use of cellulose material offers the particular advantage of recyclability in paper recycling, which is increasingly perceived as a benefit in packaging handling.

[0023] The magazine slots of the magazine according to the invention can, in particular, each serve to hold magazine cassettes containing storage units of packaging material. Preferably, these magazine cassettes are movable in a horizontal direction and can, in particular, be moved by means of linear guides or a rail system, between a position pushed into the magazine slot of the magazine, in which they can occupy either the active or the passive magazine slot, and a position pulled out of the magazine slot, in which it is possible to exchange a previously used storage unit of packaging material for a new storage unit.

[0024] In order to perform the latter, the magazine cassettes must be at least partially moved out of the magazine, because the supply units cannot normally be replaced with a magazine cassette still in the magazine.

[0025] Within the magazine, the magazine cassettes can also be moved together between horizontal end positions or positions, e.g. by sliding them using suitable horizontal rail systems that form part of the magazine according to the invention and allow the respective exchange of the magazine cassettes between active and passive magazine positions by sliding them back and forth.

[0026] During these position changes, the at least two magazines can also be advantageously coupled to each other, allowing them to be moved or shifted together. The magazine slots with their magazine cassettes thus abut each other laterally, even when the magazine cassettes are shifted between their end positions. This is particularly advantageous because the aforementioned movable covers, whose positions are linked to the movable magazine slots, do not need to be located between the magazine slots or between laterally adjacent magazine cassettes, but can simply be arranged on both sides of a group of at least two magazine cassettes to effectively shield the unoccupied magazine slots from any external interference.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the magazine according to the invention, covers can each be formed by blinds, so that the magazine slots can be bounded on both sides by blinds that move with them. These blinds are located on both sides of the magazine cassettes at the edges and define the respective open spaces. The blinds are preferably movable vertical barriers whose joints between the individual blind segments run essentially vertically and are arranged parallel to each other. Thus, the magazine cassettes together with the blinds can be moved horizontally, with the blinds, in any position of the magazine cassettes, providing screens for the respective lateral open spaces that could arise from unoccupied magazine slots.Thus, even with differently used magazine spaces, the magazine remains protected against external interference, thereby ensuring operational safety at every stage of magazine use.

[0028] Depending on the design of the magazine, the blinds can also be deflected, although the joints between their segments remain vertical and parallel to each other. In a cuboid magazine, for example, one blind can be deflected laterally by 90° and guided accordingly in upper and lower track systems or guides. Alternatively, both blinds can each be deflected laterally by 90° or another practical angle and guided accordingly in upper and lower track systems or guides.

[0029] As already clarified in the description of the design options above, the blinds do not necessarily have to be rolled up when the magazine cassettes are moved laterally. Instead, the movement or sliding of the magazine cassettes can create gaps on both sides, which the blinds can then cover and shield against unauthorized access as needed. Furthermore, it would also be conceivable for the blind to be rolled up and, for example, fit into a defined small space, instead of being deflected by, say, 90° (or at another angle). A combination of the described deflection (e.g., by 90° or at another practical angle) and rolling up would also be a viable option. Which of these generally possible options is chosen in a given case depends primarily on the available space at the magazine and in its immediate vicinity.

[0030] A well-designed magazine layout can ensure that only the magazine in the middle position contains the active magazine cassette, as this position typically also houses the unit for connecting the remaining material in the machine with the new consumable. This unit allows the loose material strip ends to be joined and secured together in an overlapping or butted manner. In this way, an uninterrupted material web can be supplied to the packaging process whenever one of the supply units, previously located in the active magazine position and unwound from there, is exhausted and replaced by a new material web.

[0031] In this context, however, it can be advantageous to remove the splice after cutting the material strip sections required for the bands or packaging process, as the splice is usually visually unappealing and / or unsuitable for use in the packaging process due to other functional concerns. Removing these sections from the material web can be achieved, for example, via a suitable diverter located along the conveyor.

[0032] The necessary joints between the material webs of the supply units can be created by fixing the beginning of a newly inserted and / or newly positioned material web to the material web still within the packaging machine and entering the packaging process, for example, within the movable magazine cassette. This can be achieved, for example, by using controllable suction and / or mechanical clamping. The provision of the material web ends and the creation of this joint can be performed manually, for example, by an operator placing the beginning of the material at the designated point, allowing the material webs to be welded, glued, and / or clamped together.However, automated processes that eliminate the need for manual intervention are also conceivable.

[0033] It goes without saying that the magazine cassette located at the active magazine position cannot be removed from the magazine during this time, as its supply unit is currently linked to the packaging process. Only when the consumables in the supply unit of this magazine cassette located at the active magazine position are exhausted can this magazine cassette be moved laterally and removed from the magazine, as described above.

[0034] The at least one additional magazine cassette, located not in the active magazine position but in one of the passive magazine positions, can be removed from the magazine and from the passive magazine position. This is done, for example, to replace the supply unit used in this magazine cassette during previous packaging processes with a new cassette containing a fresh supply unit, or to insert a new supply unit so that this magazine cassette can be used as an active magazine cassette at a later point in the packaging process. As explained above, it is not practical to be able to remove the magazine cassettes located in the active magazine position from the magazine, as their material web is connected to the packaging process. Therefore, only those magazine cassettes that are currently in a passive position can be removed from their respective magazine positions.

[0035] Alternatively, the magazine cassettes can be manually pulled out of the magazine and pushed back in by a user when a new supply unit needs to be inserted or has already been inserted.

[0036] However, it can also be advantageous to use a motor to move the magazine cassettes out of or into the magazine, particularly with automated or semi-automated reloading of the magazine cassettes when the current supply unit is detected as depleted. Semi-automated reloading can be understood, in particular, as a user-initiated motorized movement of the magazine cassettes out of or into the magazine after the user has been notified that a supply unit has been used up and needs to be replaced.

[0037] In this way, a magazine cassette at a passive magazine location with exhausted consumables can be detected as empty by sensory means and automatically or semi-automatically removed from the magazine, preferably in combination with suitable sensors for room monitoring, in order to reliably avoid contact or collisions with people.

[0038] The magazine according to the invention avoids the disadvantages resulting from previously used magazine configurations. The louvers located on the sides of the magazine cassettes ensure reliable shielding of any gaps that might arise from unoccupied magazine slots. The previously used swing doors, with their larger space requirements, can therefore be dispensed with, since the magazine cassettes are shielded against external access as soon as they are inserted into the magazine and positioned in their designated slots. Consequently, additional doors or flaps can be eliminated.

[0039] The described configurations are all suitable for a higher degree of automation, which is generally desirable in the operation of packaging machines, but often cannot be achieved to the desired extent due to various obstacles. This is different with the magazine according to the invention, because the arrangement of the two or more magazine cassettes, which move in different directions within the magazine and can be pulled out of and pushed back into their magazine positions, is particularly well suited to automated and motor-assisted magazine loading.

[0040] The defined movement paths for the magazine cassettes also ensure that the often indispensable supply and signal lines to the individual magazine positions and the magazine cassettes located there can run in a well-protected manner, which is not always the case with magazines used in the prior art. Further problems can arise there due to the sometimes poor accessibility of individual modules, for example, if damage occurs to the drag chains and the lines running along them.

[0041] Furthermore, it was found that with the magazine modules used so far, with the storage units stored there, the cutting quality when separating the respective end of the strip during the roll change often did not meet the requirements, which is partly due to the high cutting forces that must be applied because of tolerances occurring in the strip positions.

[0042] All of these problems mentioned can be solved to varying degrees with the different variants of the magazine according to the invention.

[0043] For example, an automated system can activate a vacuum-based holding device to secure the beginning of a strip of material, enabling the ends to be joined during a roll change. This automated control of the holding device can utilize sensor signals that detect the beginning of the strip; optical or ultrasonic sensors are suitable for this purpose. Such automated control allows the necessary steps for joining the strip sections to be performed automatically, without requiring manual intervention from an operator. The vacuum-based holding device can be deactivated when not needed.

[0044] Alternatively, instead of such a vacuum-based holding device, a mechanical fixation and / or an adhesion-based fixation can be used. These variants can also be automated, so that the entire roll change process during reloading of the magazine cassettes can be automated.

[0045] Furthermore, automatable preparatory measures can be implemented, such as transporting the roll material to the magazine cassettes using automated guided vehicles or other suitable transport equipment, making it available for the possible replacement of used rolls. Various options are available for such automated transport and handling solutions, from which those best suited to meet the different requirements can be selected.

[0046] The strip sections to be joined can be joined using suitable adhesive technology. Adhesive tape, which can also be used for forming and shaping the band rings, is suitable for this purpose. Hot melt or cold glue techniques are also suitable, as are various mechanical joining methods, such as stapling or riveting. For the gluing or joining unit used, it can be advantageous to decouple it from the magazine and instead integrate it into an existing machine frame of the packaging machine, which can be beneficial for transferring the forces that occur. A support strip can prove advantageous for the gluing or joining unit, as it can largely prevent the transmission of the resulting cutting forces into the drawer structure of the magazine.

[0047] During the necessary cutting operations when changing rolls, a spring-loaded support surface can prove advantageous, as it can yield to the resulting cutting force in a defined manner, ensuring reliable and reproducible execution of the cutting operations. Furthermore, an advantageous option is to movably position a movable punch for fixing and, if necessary, for suctioning the band ends, thus making the entire cutting and joining process more error-tolerant.

[0048] In this context, it has also proven advantageous that the magazine containing the consumables available there, formed, for example, by the bands unrolled from an endless supply, is a machine module that can be easily integrated and installed in a machine frame of the packaging machine.

[0049] It is also advantageous that the supply and / or signal lines can be routed between the magazine modules and the packaging machine using a defined cable chain variant, which allows for three-dimensional motion patterns with just one cable chain. These motion patterns are known and result from the shifting and removal movements of the magazine cassettes. The cable chains used for this purpose can be, in particular, the same ones that are widely used in industrial robots and are frequently employed due to their mechanical reliability.

[0050] Furthermore, this can result in advantages regarding the accessibility and ease of maintenance of the power supply of the drawers, as well as reduced installation effort.

[0051] The ejection and return movements for the magazine cassettes, which are to be refilled with new consumables, can be performed with motor assistance as described above, particularly with electric or hydraulic drives. Suitable options include rack and pinion drives, toothed belt drives, spindle drives, traction drives with roller chains or similar systems, as well as linear motor drives operating with hydraulic cylinders. Whether the drive is located within the magazine cassette and, for example, mounted on the moving drawer, or whether it is arranged in a machine frame of the magazine, is not crucial for the functionality of the respective motor drive used, allowing for a sensible selection from the available drive options.

[0052] Alternatively, a single drive can be used for more than one magazine cassette, which can lead to a cost-saving reduction in the number of drives required.

[0053] Another useful embodiment of the magazine according to the invention can provide pneumatically activated holding or clamping mandrels for the material rolls, which are pushed onto them and rotatably mounted, with the bands or other packaging material wound on them. Preferably, a compressed air supply for the holding or clamping mandrel, on which a roll is rotatably held, can be routed through a bearing. This may necessitate a rotary air feedthrough, which, although it increases the design complexity, offers advantages in handling the rolls to be replaced, particularly with regard to the degree of automation that can be achieved.

[0054] All the components described above enable advantageous interaction and demonstrate that they create improved conditions for automating the regularly scheduled changeover processes for consumables, particularly roll changes. These components and measures include, for example, the automatable clamping and unclamping capability via the appropriately controlled receiving and holding mandrel. In addition, there are the motorized and automatable extension and traverse movements of the magazine cassettes, which can be moved into an active or passive position within the magazine, or into an extension and changeover position, as required.

[0055] The catching processes and necessary fixing of each band end to be joined can also be automated, significantly reducing potential errors in the preparation processes. If the same joining technique is used for creating a band joint as for forming the band rings, the number of variations is reduced, and the use of additional adhesive tape can be eliminated. By integrating a suitable method for identifying the respective band end on the roll, completely autonomous and fully automated changeover processes for the consumables are even possible, which can be supported, for example, by suitable optical markings at the band end.

[0056] Furthermore, a more reliable roll-changing process is achieved through improved cutting quality. This is ensured, among other things, by using a stable and preferably stationary cutting base, which simultaneously prevents the movable magazine cassettes from shifting, as they are protected from cutting forces. In addition, the described method compensates for more positional deviations during the cutting process, resulting in greater tolerance for errors and positional deviations.

[0057] According to an advantageous embodiment, the magazine according to the invention can be equipped with a connecting module for bonding adjoining webs of consumable material. This connecting module incorporates a single actuator for lifting a cut web of consumable material and for pressing it together after the webs to be bonded have been joined. Compared to known and previously used connecting modules, this eliminates the need for one actuator, which is usually a pneumatic cylinder. The bonding unit or connecting module can advantageously be operated using such a common actuator.

[0058] The pneumatic cylinder can be simplified with regard to the number of components. The unwound band or used roll of packaging material, which has been cut off, can preferably be handled by the same actuator or...

[0059] Pneumatic cylinders are raised, which also press the strip sections to be bonded together. This simplifies processes and the control of the necessary actuators. Furthermore, it reduces the number of components required in the joining module.

[0060] In addition to the magazine described in numerous variations, the present invention further proposes a method for providing flat consumables for a packaging process within a packaging machine in a way that is as uninterrupted or as low-interruption as possible, in order to achieve the above-mentioned goal. This consumable material is kept in a magazine of the packaging machine with at least two magazine positions that can be moved.

[0061] The inventive method provides that each of these magazine locations can contain a separate supply unit with consumables, wherein at least one of these magazine locations forms an active magazine location, the supply unit of which is connected to the packaging process and supplies it with the consumables required, while the at least one further magazine location forms a passive magazine location separate from the packaging process, since there is no direct material and supply connection to the packaging process.

[0062] Finally, the procedure provides that free spaces of unoccupied active or passive magazine locations are shielded against external interference by means of movable covers, the positions of which are linked to the movable magazine locations.

[0063] It should be expressly mentioned here that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the magazine according to the invention for storing and providing flat consumables for a packaging process equally relate to or can constitute partial aspects of the method according to the invention for providing the consumables for the described packaging process. Therefore, whenever certain aspects, relationships, and / or effects are mentioned in the description or in the claim definitions for the magazine according to the invention, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. Conversely, the same applies, so that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the method according to the invention equally relate to or can constitute partial aspects of the magazine according to the invention.Therefore, if at any point in the description or in the claim definitions for the inventive method certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned, this applies equally to the inventive magazine.

[0064] Finally, it should be clarified at this point that the present invention also includes, and shall be deemed disclosed, a packaging machine comprising such a magazine, as described above in various embodiments. This packaging machine serves for the secondary packaging of primary packaging, in particular by bundling it together using pre-made bands made of paper, cardboard, another cellulose material, plastic, or a composite material. These pre-made bands are prepared and pre-assembled within the packaging machine for processing in the aforementioned packaging process, namely, in particular, by mechanically bundling previously grouped articles or primary packaging, which may, for example, be formed by beverage containers or the like.

[0065] The secondary packaging or bands pre-assembled within the packaging machine are supplied from the magazine, which can be designed according to one of the specifications described above. This magazine, with its at least two variable magazine positions and the magazine cassettes located therein, therefore forms a component of the packaging machine according to the invention.

[0066] Finally, it should be noted that the described control processes of the packaging machine and / or its magazine, as well as the described process steps, can preferably be carried out automatically. Therefore, the packaging machine is equipped with a control unit that can control at least the described processes related to magazine use in all their process phases. Furthermore, the control unit can also be responsible for controlling other components of the packaging machine. The control unit thus forms an integral part of the packaging machine according to the invention, as it controls its components and / or receives sensor signals from the components. An electronic, and in particular a programmable logic controller (PLC), is preferably suitable as such a control unit.The control unit can selectively receive and process various sensor signals for the precise control of all successive process steps during the conversion and exchange operations carried out in the magazine, but also for maintaining proper control of all machine components in the normal operation of the packaging machine; however, this is not explained in more detail here.

[0067] The following exemplary embodiments of the invention and its advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual relative sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged for better illustration.

[0068] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a magazine according to the invention, which serves to provide consumables for a packaging process within a packaging machine.

[0069] Fig. 2A shows a perspective detail view of the magazine according to Fig. 1, which has two movable magazine cassettes arranged side by side.

[0070] Fig. 2B shows another perspective detail view of the magazine, in which some parts have been omitted to illustrate three-dimensionally movable drag chains for cable routing.

[0071] Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of a variant embodiment of a connecting module, which serves to connect sections of the flat consumable material after changing a supply unit.

[0072] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals necessary for describing the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the magazine or the method according to the invention for providing flat consumables for a packaging process may be designed and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation.

[0073] The schematic perspective view in Fig. 1 shows a variant embodiment of a magazine 10 according to the invention, which serves to store and provide flat consumables for a packaging process within a packaging machine 12 (not shown in detail here). In the schematic representation of Fig. 1, only some sections of a machine frame 14 of the complex packaging machine 12 are visible, in which the magazine 10 is anchored and fixed in relation to the packaging machine 12. Since no further details of the packaging machine 12, which continues in the background, or of the machine frame 14 are shown, only the corresponding reference numeral 12 is shown in Fig. 1, indicating the space that the packaging machine 12 normally occupies.The magazine 10 shown comprises several movable magazine positions 16 for separate supply units of consumables (not visible here). According to the invention, one of these magazine positions 16 forms an active magazine position 16.1, the supply unit located there of which is connected to the packaging process and supplies it with the required consumables. According to the schematic representation in Fig. 1, the active magazine position 16.1 is located in the middle of a total of three possible magazine positions 16, which result from the overall width of the machine frame 14 for the magazine 10.

[0074] Additionally, in the view from the front left at an angle, next to the centrally located active magazine position 16.1, there is another magazine position 16, which, according to the definition used here, constitutes a passive magazine position 16.2. This position is separate from the packaging process, and any consumables stored there are not connected to the packaging processes taking place within the packaging machine 12. The consumables stored there are not visible; instead, they are concealed from the front by a flat housing front 18, which also serves as a front cover and panel for the occupied magazine positions 16. This is not merely for aesthetic reasons; the housing fronts 18 completely enclose magazine positions 16, 16.1, and 16.2. They prevent foreign bodies, contamination and dust from entering and, last but not least, provide reliable protection against any manual intervention in the ongoing packaging process, in which components of the magazine 10 may rotate and / or otherwise move, making contact or manual intervention potentially hazardous.

[0075] The magazine slots 16 also have covers visible on the top side, but this is not of further interest here, because above the magazine 10, in the specific design of such a packaging machine 12, there may be different other components, optionally also a front housing cover or the like, which is not shown here.

[0076] Furthermore, in the oblique front view of Fig. 1, to the right of the centrally located active magazine slot 16.1, there is another magazine slot 16, which, according to the definition used here, could form a second passive magazine slot 16.2. However, this slot is not occupied and has remained unoccupied. Since such an unoccupied magazine slot 16 would create a potentially hazardous open space 20, accessible from the front and the right side of the magazine, but which is unacceptable for safety reasons, the drawing of the magazine 10 shows a movable cover 22. This cover is designed to shield the unoccupied magazine slot 16 located to the right of the active magazine slot 16.1 and its open space 20 from external interference.

[0077] As will be shown in more detail below with reference to Figures 2A and 2B, the magazine positions 16, i.e., the active magazine position 16.1 and the at least one passive magazine position 16.2, are each designed to hold drawer-like magazine cassettes 24. Each of these magazine cassettes 24 contains a continuous supply unit with the flat packaging material wound on it, which can be unwound by rotation around a horizontal axis of rotation to convey the packaging material into the packaging machine 12 and make it available for the packaging process carried out in the packaging machine 12.

[0078] As already indicated above with reference to Fig. 1, the machine frame 14 is designed above and below the magazine slots 16 in such a way that the magazine cassettes 24 can be moved horizontally along the front of the machine frame 14, as indicated by a double arrow drawn on a lower front horizontal rail of the machine frame 14. This double arrow, marked with the reference numeral 26, is intended to illustrate the simultaneous horizontal movement of all magazine cassettes 24 as well as the movable cover 22 coupled to them.

[0079] This shared horizontal displacement of the magazine cassettes 24 between the available magazine positions 16 is not only a special feature of the magazine 10 described here, but also determines the functionality of the magazine cassette located in an edge or in the middle position, because only the middle magazine position 16 represents the active magazine position 16.1 for the magazine cassette 24 located there, while the edge magazine positions 16 can only be the passive magazine positions 16.2 for the magazine cassettes 24 positioned there.

[0080] In the illustrated embodiment of the magazine 10, however, there are only two magazine cassettes 24, which can be moved together and in a connected manner between a total of three magazine positions 16 along the double arrow 26. In addition, the drawer-like magazine cassettes 24 can only be moved out of the magazine 10 individually and only at the passive magazine positions 16.2 on the outer edges in a horizontal direction towards the viewer (see Figures 2A and 2B) in order to make their receiving area accessible for the consumable material on the continuous roll and thus to remove a used roll and insert a new one.

[0081] This possible horizontal extension movement 28, which is oriented perpendicular to the horizontal displacement 26, is indicated in Fig. 1 by a corresponding arrow protruding from the left housing front 18 and drawn with a broken line because its extension movement is not realized there. In contrast, no such arrow is shown on the central magazine cassette 24, which is located in the active magazine position 16.1, since this magazine cassette 24 is normally locked against being pulled out in this central position, i.e., during operation of the magazine 10, because its roll containing the consumable material is currently needed for the packaging process taking place in the packaging machine 12.

[0082] For maintenance purposes or, for example, during commissioning of the module, it may be possible, depending on the configuration of magazine 10, to remove the central magazine cassette 24 of the active magazine position 16.1. In this case, it is advisable to switch off the media and power supply to magazine 10. Inserting the magazine cassette 24 usually requires manual intervention to connect the consumables to the packaging process.

[0083] Figure 1 clearly shows one of the two possible arrangements of the two existing magazine cassettes 24 of the magazine 10. With their sides facing each other, these two magazine cassettes 24 are adjacent to one another, and together, according to their horizontal displacement 26, they are positioned at the left edge of the resulting displacement area. This allows the right magazine cassette 24 to occupy the active magazine position 16.1, while the left magazine cassette 24 must occupy a passive magazine position 16.2. The remaining free space 20, resulting from the right unoccupied magazine position 16, is shielded to the front and to the right side by the movable cover 22, thus protecting the free space 20 from tampering.

[0084] This cover 22, which adjoins the magazine cassette 24 located at the active magazine position 16.1 on the right side without leaving an opening, is formed by a louver 30. The louver is held in guide grooves 32 on both its upper and lower sides. These guide grooves define the movement range of the louver 30 and hold it in place when it is moved. As illustrated in Fig. 1, this right-side louver 30 can form a movable vertical barrier. On the one hand, it can move parallel to the direction of movement 26 of the magazine cassettes 24. On the other hand, it can also form a side wall at the right edge of the magazine 10 by means of a 90° deflection. This allows the louver 30 to close off the free space 20 on two sides by means of a vertical barrier if no magazine cassette 24 is located there.

[0085] The joints between the blind sections run vertically and are all parallel to each other, thus enabling the blind 30 to move along the guide groove 32. The guidance of the blind 30 in the lower and upper guide grooves 32 creates a track system that is deflected laterally by 90°.

[0086] As explained above, the two magazine cassettes 24 can be moved together horizontally (direction of arrow 26) between the left end position shown in Fig. 1 and a right end position not shown here. When they are in the left end position, the right magazine cassette 24 is in the center position and occupies the active magazine slot 16.1. The shutter 30, which forms the movable cover 22, closes the resulting right-hand opening 20, which is not occupied by the magazine cassette 24, against external access. The shutter 30 is partially located next to the housing front 18 of the right magazine cassette 24 and abuts it laterally, so that no gap remains. The upper and lower guide grooves 32 allow this movement of the articulated shutter 30.

[0087] The guide grooves 32 also enable the blind 30 to be moved completely to the right via the 90° deflection, thereby being removed from the front of the magazine 10 and largely covering only the right side area adjoining the front of the magazine 10, which is clearly visible to the viewer in the perspective view of Fig. 1.

[0088] If, on the other hand, the two magazine cassettes 24 are in their right end position (not shown here), the left magazine cassette 24 moves into the central position and occupies the active magazine slot 16.1. The right magazine cassette 24 then occupies the previously vacant right passive magazine slot 16.2. The shutter 30 is thereby shifted towards the side wall and, in this case, only covers the side wall of the passive magazine slot 16.2 occupied by the magazine cassette 24, so that the previously existing free space 20 is now occupied by the magazine cassette 24.

[0089] On the left side of the magazine 10 is a similar louver 30, which is also held and guided in the same upper and lower guide grooves 32. This left louver 30 is barely visible in the illustration of Fig. 1 because it is almost completely concealed by the left magazine cassette 24. The guide grooves 32 preferably extend across the front of the magazine 10 to both side areas, which each adjoin the front at a 90° angle, so that separate louvers 30 can, in the manner described, shield the resulting open spaces 20 to the left or right from the outside when no magazine cassette 24 is located there.

[0090] In the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, after shifting the two magazine cassettes 24 to the right in the direction of arrow 26, the almost completely concealed left shutter 30 can be moved in the guide grooves 32, thereby shielding the front area of ​​the magazine 10, where the left clearance 20 is now located, from the outside. Again, the left shutter 30 is partially adjacent to the housing front 18 of the left magazine cassette 24 and abuts it laterally, so that no gap remains. The illustrated course of the upper and lower guide grooves 32 also allows this movement of the articulated left shutter 30.

[0091] Furthermore, it would also be conceivable, in principle, for the blind 30 to be rolled up and, for example, fit into a defined small space, instead of being deflected by, for example, 90° (or at another angle). In addition, a combination of the described deflection (e.g., by 90° or at another suitable angle) and rolling up would also be a viable option. Which of these generally possible options is chosen in a given case depends primarily on the available space at and around the magazine 10. However, in the present embodiment, the variant with the 90° deflection is primarily described and illustrated in Fig. 1, not the variants in which the blind 30 can be at least partially rolled up.The two schematic perspective views of figures 2A and 2B illustrate a possible configuration of two magazine slots 16 of the magazine 10 with the two magazine cassettes 24 located there, as can also be seen in Fig. 1 and whose basic functionality is described above.However, while the magazine cassettes 24 are not shown there with their drawer-like functionality because their housing fronts 18 lie next to each other and are aligned with each other, since the magazine cassettes 24 are not pulled out of the magazine 10, figures 2A and 2B show a maintenance and loading situation in which one of the two magazine cassettes 24 has been pulled out of the magazine 10 for the purpose of removing a used roll of continuous packaging material and / or inserting a new roll, while the adjacent magazine cassette 24 remains in the inserted position in which the roll with the consumable or

[0092] Packaging material can feed the packaging process in the packaging machine 12 (not shown here) in the manner described above.

[0093] The perspective views of Figures 2A and 2B show that in each of the two frame elements 34, which can be pulled out horizontally according to the extension movement 28 shown and which constitute the essential component of the magazine cassettes 24 and also occupy essentially the entire cuboid space enclosed by their respective outer dimensions, there is a rotatable and, in particular, motor-driven holding and clamping mandrel 36, which rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation and is used to receive a roll (not shown here) with consumable material wound on it.

[0094] Packaging material is provided. A roll, rotatably held on the respective holding and clamping mandrel 36 of one or both magazine cassettes 24, can thus rotate in a precisely defined position around the horizontal axis of rotation, so that the consumable or packaging material wound on it can be unwound towards the left, towards the packaging machine 12, as can be seen in Fig. 1. However, the conveying direction of the consumable or packaging material unwound from the roll is to the right.

[0095] On the rear sides 38 of the cuboid frame elements 34 of the two magazine cassettes 24, which are oriented opposite and parallel to the housing fronts 18, there are each electromechanical drive units 40 with rotatably driven gears. These drive units, in conjunction with racks 44 arranged horizontally on a base surface 42 of the magazine 10, can provide controlled and thus automatable extension movements 28 (see arrow direction) and opposing retraction movements of the respective frame elements 34 of the magazine cassettes 24. Since the longitudinal directions of the racks 44 attached to the base surface 42 of the magazine 10 run horizontally and parallel to the respective extension directions of the magazine cassettes 24, the horizontal extension movements 28 of the frame elements 34 of the magazine cassettes 24 are also predetermined.

[0096] Furthermore, Figures 2A and 2B show guide rails 46 mounted on a base plate 48, which is connected to the machine frame 14 (not shown here, but see Fig. 1). The stationary base plate 48, firmly anchored in the machine frame 14, forms the fixed part of the magazine 10, while the floor surface 42, which is horizontally and transversely to the extension direction 28, namely in the lateral direction 26 (see Fig. 1), enables the lateral and simultaneous movement of the two magazine cassettes 24 between the available magazine positions 16, thus allowing switching between the active and passive magazine positions 16.1 and 16.2. The drives coupled to these guide rails 46 for this purpose are not visible in Figures 2A and 2B.

[0097] For the horizontal lateral displacements specified by the guide rails 46, pneumatic cylinders, for example, can be used as actuators, although these are not shown in detail here. As a special design of such pneumatic cylinders, rodless band cylinders, for example, can be used, as these are particularly well suited for the intended application.

[0098] Since these two described movement possibilities for the magazine cassettes 24 in the mutually perpendicular horizontal directions 26 and 28 place increased demands on the cable routing for the affected supply and / or signal lines of all drives and other electrical components, sensors, etc., Fig. 2B shows a variant of movable drag chains 50 that can form a flexible sheath for all lines running between stationary areas of the magazine 10 and the respective magazine cassettes 24. These drag chains 50 are dimensioned such that they provide a stress-free suspension of these lines within the scope of all conceivable movements of the magazine cassettes 24 and ensure that no line can be kinked or pinched.Another advantageous configuration, which enables an automated changeover process for a used roll of packaging material by pulling out a magazine cassette 24 and retracting it after inserting a new roll, can consist of an air guide (not shown here) within the bearing flanges of the holding and clamping mandrels 36, which are rotatably mounted in the frame elements 34 of the respective magazine cassettes 24 and are shown in Figures 2A and 2B. Since these holding and clamping mandrels 36 are usually equipped with externally adjustable strips that allow for radial clamping of a roll core pushed onto them when the roll is to be firmly fixed on the mandrel 36, but which are retracted radially into the outer circumference of the mandrel 36 to release the roll core, it is necessary to control these adjustable strips appropriately.

[0099] Such control and drive for the radial adjustability of these strips can be achieved pneumatically, which, however, requires a compressed air supply. This compressed air supply can advantageously be routed through the rotary drive for the holding and clamping mandrels 36, in particular by means of an integrated compressed air supply in the bearing flange, e.g., by means of a central bore through the rotating hub of the respective holding and clamping mandrel 36 (not shown here).

[0100] By appropriately designing the bearings, the necessary space can be created to ensure an integrated compressed air supply to the strips, which in turn allows for their automated control in conjunction with a semi-automatic or fully automatic roll change. Such a design can be implemented due to the robust construction of the existing bearings for the rotatably driven holding and clamping mandrels 36, without requiring any increase in the bearings' bulk. A typical distance of approximately 25 mm between the front face of a free end of a holding and clamping mandrel 36 and the rear of the bearing cover of the adjacent magazine cassette 24 can easily be maintained, thus preserving the compact design of the magazine 10 shown.

[0101] Finally, the schematic side view of Fig. 3 shows a detailed representation and the function of a connecting module 52, which serves to create connection points between sections of the planar consumable or packaging material 54 to be joined together, as soon as a used roll has been replaced and removed from one of the two magazine cassettes 24 and replaced by a new roll, after which the magazine cassette 24 in question has been moved into the active magazine position 16.1 in order to continue to provide the resumed packaging process with the required consumable or packaging material 54 taken from the fresh roll.

[0102] The illustration shows the horizontally guided consumable or packaging material 54, which is guided by the connecting module 52 that engages the upper and lower sides. A spring-mounted support surface 56 located on the underside simultaneously provides a counter-cutting strip 58 for a vertically retractable cutting blade 60, which serves to cut off protruding strip sections. A pressure and suction plate 62 is located on the upper side and opposite the support surface 56. This plate is responsible for fixing the end of a used roll of tape, with the retractable cutting blade 60 located there cutting off any remaining sections of the consumable or packaging material that are no longer needed.

[0103] Packaging material 54 can be cut off. The pressure and suction plate 62 can optionally be connected by means of a ball joint or the like.

[0104] In this context, it may be advantageous to structurally combine the actuator responsible for controlling and guiding the movement of the cutting blade 60, formed, for example, by a pneumatic cylinder, with the actuator required for pressing down the pressure and suction plate 62, which can offer advantages in terms of the reduced complexity of the connection module 52 and the simplified control of such an actuator (not shown here).

[0105] The adhesive unit or connection module 52 can thus be simplified in terms of the number of components. The unwound band or used roll of packaging material 54, which is cut by means of the cutting blade 60, can preferably be connected using the same actuator or...

[0106] A pneumatic cylinder is raised, which also presses the strip sections to be bonded together, a process initiated by activating the pressure and suction plate 62. This simplifies processes and the control of the necessary actuators. Furthermore, it reduces the number of components required in the joining module.

[0107] The connection module 52 shown represents another component that is necessary within the magazine 10 to enable the automated change of the rolls without the need for manual intervention or support actions.

[0108] Although not apparent in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, and 3, and not described in detail above, the magazine 10 can be used in a more complex packaging machine 12 and integrated accordingly. In this case, the magazine 10 can interact with the packaging machine 12 as described above. Such a packaging machine 12 can, for example, be part of a filling and / or packaging system not shown here. Several system components can be arranged upstream of such a packaging machine 12, which, for example, can be used to form primary packaging and transport it to the packaging machine 12. The primary packaging can, for example, consist of beverage containers that can be filled with a beverage, sealed, and labeled in a filler.For this purpose, the filled beverage containers, which form the primary packaging, can pass through a labeler located downstream of the filler and subsequently be grouped into container groups in connection with their further transport, in particular by means of a suitable grouping module that can be located downstream of the labeler.

[0109] The container groups thus formed can subsequently be conveyed to the packaging machine 12, where they are preferably fitted with bands and further processed into packaging units. In addition, the packaging machine 12 can also process other secondary packaging materials, e.g., plastic or cardboard packaging blanks that can be snapped onto the beverage containers, or packaging materials of various other types.

[0110] The packaging machine 12, which thus forms part of such a filling and / or packaging system, can have further conveying sections downstream, which can transport the secondary packaging comprising the primary packaging, formed, for example, by strapped and / or banded packaging units, to a layer formation station and from there to a palletizer, whereby individual palletizable layers with packaging units can optionally be subdivided by flat interlayers. For this purpose, an interlayer inserter can be assigned to the palletizer, which can ensure the feeding and positioning of interlayers. Thus, the palletizer, the layer formation station arranged upstream of the palletizer, and the optional interlayer inserter can each form part of the filling and / or packaging system.

[0111] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable to a person skilled in the art that modifications or alterations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims. (List of references)

[0112] 10 Magazine

[0113] 12 packaging machines

[0114] 14 machine frames

[0115] 16 magazine space

[0116] 16.1 Active magazine space

[0117] 16.2 Passive magazine space

[0118] 18 Front of Case

[0119] 20 free space, unoccupied magazine space

[0120] 22 movable covers

[0121] 24 magazine cassette

[0122] 26 horizontal displacement

[0123] 28 horizontal extension movement

[0124] 30 Venetian blinds, movable Venetian blinds

[0125] 32 Guide groove

[0126] 34 frame element

[0127] 36 Holding mandrel, clamping mandrel

[0128] 38 Back

[0129] 40 drive unit

[0130] 42 floor area

[0131] 44 Rack and pinion

[0132] 46 Guide rail

[0133] 48 Base plate

[0134] 50 tow chain

[0135] 52 Connection module

[0136] 54 Consumables, packaging material 56 Contact surface

[0137] 58 Counter cutting edge

[0138] 60 cutting blades

[0139] 62 Pressure and suction plate

Claims

Claims 1. Magazine (10) for storing and providing flat consumables (54) for a packaging process within a packaging machine (12), which magazine (10) has at least two movable magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) for separate storage units of consumables (54), wherein at least one of these magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) forms an active magazine position (16.1), the storage unit located therein being connected to the packaging process and supplying it with the consumables (54) required, while the at least one further magazine position (16; 16.2) forms a passive magazine position (16.2) separate from the packaging process, and wherein free spaces (20) of unoccupied active or passive magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) are provided by means of movable covers (22), the positions of which correspond to the movable magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) are coupled and shielded against external interference.

2. Magazine (10) according to claim 1, wherein the magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) each serve to receive magazine cassettes (24) with each of them containing storage units of packaging material (54), wherein the magazine cassettes (24) are each mounted to be movable in horizontal directions and are in particular movable by means of linear guides or rail system.

3. Magazine (10) according to claim 2, wherein the magazine cassettes (24) can be moved together in horizontal directions between different magazine locations (16; 16.1, 16.2).

4. Magazine (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the magazine slots (16; 16.1, 16.2) and / or the free spaces (20) not occupied by magazine cassettes (24) are shielded against external interference on both sides by louvers (30) moving with them, the louvers (30) forming the movable covers.

5. Magazine (10) according to claim 4, wherein the blinds (30) each form vertical barriers that are movable in horizontal directions, each bordering the magazine slots (16; 16.1, 16.2) with the magazine cassettes (24) located thereon and covering the free spaces (20).

6. Magazine (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one of the blinds (30) is laterally deflectable by approximately 90° and wherein the blinds (30) are guided in upper and lower guide grooves (32).

7. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein only the magazine cassette (24) supplies the packaging processes in the packaging machine (12) which is located at the middle magazine position (16, 16.1).

8. Magazine (10) according to claim 7, wherein the magazine cassette (24) located at the active magazine position (16.1) is secured against removal from the magazine (10), wherein at least one further magazine cassette (24) located at a passive magazine position (16.2) can be moved at least partially out of the magazine (10).

9. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the magazine cassettes (24) can be moved out of and into the magazine (10) manually or by means of motor drives (40).

10. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, which is equipped with a connecting module (52) for bonding adjoining webs with consumable material (54), in which connecting module (52) a single actuator is provided for lifting a cut web of the consumable material (54) and for pressing after the webs to be joined have been bonded.

11. Method for providing planar consumable material (54) for a packaging process within a packaging machine (12), wherein the consumable material (54) is kept in a magazine (10) of the packaging machine (12) with at least two movable magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2), wherein each of these magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) can contain a separate storage unit of consumable material (54), wherein at least one of these magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) forms an active magazine position (16.1), the storage unit of which is connected to the packaging process and supplies it with the consumable material (54) required, while the at least one further magazine position (16, 16.2) forms a passive magazine position (16.2) separate from the packaging process, and wherein there are free spaces (20) of unoccupied active or passive magazine positions (16; 16.1, 16.2) are shielded against external interference by means of movable covers (22), the positions of which are each coupled to the movable magazine locations (16; 16.1, 16.2).

Images