CN104816860B

CN104816860B - Apparatus and method for preparing a container for removal from a tray enclosed by a tray

Info

Publication number: CN104816860B
Application number: CN201510058626.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·克莱姆; K·布卢门施托克; F·米勒
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Xingdeke Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-04
Filing date: 2015-02-04
Publication date: 2020-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-04
Also published as: CN104816860A; DE102014201961A1; DE102014201961B4

Abstract

An apparatus and method are presented for preparing a container (10) for removal from a tray (14) enclosed by a tray (12). Here, the device comprises at least one transport means (22, 34, 50) which moves at least one tray (14) and at least one tray (12) surrounding the container (10), wherein provision is made for moving the said container (10). At least one holding means (32) for fixing the tray (12) or tray (14) with respect to said tray (14) or tray (12), and wherein at least one operating device (34) is provided for holding the tray (14) or tray (12) 12) and the tray (14) relative movement for separating the tray (12) from the tray (14).

Description

Device and method for preparing the removal of containers from a tray closed by a tray

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device and a method for handling discs enclosed by a tray.

Background

It should be possible for a pharmaceutical filling and sealing machine to provide welded, pre-sterilized containers that stand on a tray and are secured by the tray. This makes it possible for the pharmaceutical worker to dispense with the complicated positioning of the containers to be filled for sterilization. Such a welded, pre-sterilized container is known, for example, from US 8100263B 2. However, such welded, pre-sterilized containers must be opened in a suitable manner and prepared for subsequent processing. Such a device is known, for example, from DE 102011080289 a 1. This device comprises a needle unit with a hollow needle for penetrating into the film bag, a gas connection on the needle unit for blowing gas through the needle into the film bag, a cutting device for cutting the film bag, holding means for holding the film bag and removal means for removing an object from the film bag. However, other measures are also required in order to remove the container from the tray.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, a device for preparing the removal of containers from a tray closed by a tray is proposed, wherein the containers are fixedly and protectively received inside the tray, the device comprising:

at least one conveying means which moves at least one tray and at least one tray, which surround the container, wherein at least one holding means is provided for fixing the tray or the tray relative to the tray or the tray, wherein at least one handling device is provided for producing a relative movement between tray and tray for separating the tray from the tray, wherein the handling device transfers the tray together with the container onto a guide and/or a fixing means for separating the tray from the container.

According to the invention, a method is also proposed for preparing a container for removal from a tray closed by a tray, wherein the container is fixedly and protectively received inside the tray, comprising at least the following steps: feeding at least one tray, a tray and a container surrounded by said tray and said tray, characterized in that the tray and/or the tray is fed to at least one holding means, which holds the tray or the tray stationary with respect to the tray or the tray, and that a relative movement is generated between the tray and the tray for separating the tray and the tray, wherein, after the tray is secured, the handling means moves the tray together with the container with respect to the tray by means of the holding means.

The invention aims to realize full-automatic subsequent processing. This object is achieved by the features of the above-mentioned solution.

In the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, it is possible to carry out fully automatic subsequent processing of, in particular, welded, pre-sterilized containers, which stand on a pallet and are fixed by the pallet. According to the invention, at least one holding means is provided for fixing the tray or the disk relative to the disk or the tray. In particular when the tray is fixed, the lower part of the container rests on the tray, and the operating device can produce a relative movement between tray and tray in a particularly simple manner. I.e. the container can be moved with the tray side being fixed, while the container can remain in the same (horizontal) plane. In particular, this makes it possible to dispense with the rotation of the disk in the device. This facilitates a particularly careful handling of the container. Furthermore, the containers can remain protected in the tray for as long as possible until they are separated from the tray at a suitable location.

In a suitable development, it is provided that the holding means and/or the handling device comprise at least one suction opening and/or suction machine or finger and/or vacuum plate and/or gripper for fixing the tray and/or the plate. This allows a particularly simple way of carefully and reliably fixing the disks and/or trays. The control is particularly simple.

In a preferred refinement, it is provided that the holding means are arranged in alignment with the conveying means and/or the transfer plate and/or the guide device or the holding means arranged thereon for holding the containers in the tray. In this way, the tray and the tray can be moved essentially in one plane only in the transport direction, which simplifies the construction of the transport device or handling device.

In a preferred embodiment, the handling device transfers the plate together with the container to the guide device and/or to a holding device for holding the container for separating the plate from the container. It is thereby ensured that the containers remain in position and do not touch each other even when they are removed from the tray. Thereby avoiding scratching. Furthermore, a constant air flow around the container can be created. The fixing also makes it possible to reliably remove the container by means of a further operating unit. The fastening means are preferably designed as vacuum panels. The vacuum opening of the holding device can be adapted particularly easily to different container sizes.

Further suitable modifications are given in the other relevant matters and the description.

Drawings

Embodiments of an apparatus and method for removing sterilized containers from a tray are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail below.

The figures show:

figure 1 pre-sterilized containers arranged on a pallet,

fig. 2 a tray holding containers, not shown, standing on a tray, and surrounded by a film and a bag,

figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus when the container is removed from the tray,

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device in a state in which the containers are removed from the tray and have been transported further for subsequent processing,

figure 5 is a side view of the device in a state corresponding to the illustration according to figure 4,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus, wherein the containers have been removed from the tray and the tray is returned to the film for disposal,

fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus, before the tray and tray reach the retaining means,

fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device according to fig. 7, wherein the disc and tray have been placed on the holding means,

fig. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to fig. 7 and 8, wherein the disc has been separated from the tray,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a holding means on which the containers are arranged for removing them from the tray, and

fig. 11 is an alternative embodiment of the apparatus for removing trays and trays from a film in different steps as shown in fig. 11a to 11 f.

Detailed Description

A plurality of containers 10 are arranged on a tray 12. The container 10 is held in a predetermined position by a tray 14 which surrounds the container 10 from above. The container is erected with its opening facing upward. The opening of the container 10 is covered by a tray 14. The downwardly open tray 14 is closed at the bottom by the tray 12. The container 10 has been pre-sterilized and is sealed in a film 16 and evacuated together with the tray 14 and the tray 12. The film 16 surrounds the tray 14 and the underside of the tray 12 so that no bacteria or the like can enter into the interior and thus reach the container 10. The entire unit enclosed by the film 16 is in turn enclosed by a bag 18. The tab 17 of the film 16 projects on the left for easier opening.

To remove the container 10 from the tray 14, it is contemplated that the tray 14, tray 12, and container 10 would have been fed without the film 16. A tray 14 is understood in general as a packaging enclosure, such as a shell, a cup or a container open on at least one side and having a suitable geometry. The tray 14 preferably has a geometry such that the container 10 is well secured and protectively received within the interior of the tray 14. As tray 12 is understood a cover of the surrounding package or another part of the opening of the closing tray 14. The tray 12 or lid is first removed prior to removal of the container 10 from the tray 14.

The apparatus 20 for preparing the removal of the preferably sterilized containers 10 from the tray 14 includes a conveyor 22. The conveyor 22 is configured, for example, as a conveyor belt. The tray 12, tray 14 and container 10 surrounded by the film 16 are on a conveyor 22. The apparatus 20 is surrounded by a housing 21, which is illustrated in fig. 3, in order to achieve the desired cleanliness requirements. Outside the device 20, the tray 14 with the tray 12 and the container 10 is removed from the bag 18 in a film-enclosed manner and fed to the device 20. The cells (tray 12, tray 14, container 10) surrounded by film 16 are inserted through slot-shaped openings 23 into the interior of device 20. At least one needle 26 is disposed above carriage device 22. The needle 26 is designed to be movable at least in the vertical direction.

Above the film 16 or the conveyor 22, a holding device 24 is present. Another holding device 30 is disposed on an end of conveyor 22. The further holding device 30 is preferably embodied as a clamping device, for example as a roller-type pressing device. The further holding device 30 is designed to hold the projecting tab 17 of the film 16 in order to facilitate the opening of the film 16 and/or the holding open of the opened film bag 16. The holding devices 30, 24 also serve to hold the opened film 16 open in the desired manner, so that the unit of containers 10, trays 12, trays 14 in the film can be removed from the film 16 and/or waste (i.e. trays 12 and empty trays 14) can be inserted into the film 16 or film bag 16 afterwards. The holding devices 24, 30 may be configured, for example, as suction machines, vacuum openings, grippers, clamping means or the like.

In the state shown in fig. 3, the membrane 16 has been opened. The trays 14 have been transported further to the left without the trays 12 into a removal position in which the containers 10 have been removed from the trays 14, as shown in fig. 3.

The disk 14 lies flat on the guide 36. The guide 36 has a longitudinal guide with a medial side that maintains the tray 14 in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the guide 36 has an opening 33 (best seen in fig. 6) in this horizontal plane, which is so large that the container 10 can be removed downwards from the tray 14. The opening 33 of the guide 36 can be filled by a fixing means 38 ending flush with the guide 36. The container 10 is fixedly arranged on the fixing means 38. The fastening means 38 is plate-shaped, for example designed as a vacuum plate. The handling device 34 guides the tray 14 onto a guide 36 via a holding means 32 and a transfer plate 37, which will be described later. After removing the containers 10 from the trays 14, the handling device 34 can transfer the empty trays 14 back to the film 16 or film bag for subsequent disposal. The fixing means 38 are moved by a transfer unit 40.

The apparatus 20 also has a machine frame 46. For example, the machine frame 46 can be arranged lowerly on the rollers 48, so that the apparatus 20 can be used in a particularly flexible manner and method at different stations. For a better understanding, the assembly according to fig. 3 is now shown in perspective in fig. 4, in which the containers 10 have been rotated by 90 ° in a horizontal plane by the transfer unit 40, with respect to the removal position from the tray 14.

Furthermore, the operating device 34 is shown in detail in fig. 3 and 4. The end of the arm of the handling device 34 has an end piece oriented perpendicular to the transport direction of the trays 14, on the end of which a plurality of

fingers

31, 35 are arranged. The end piece with the horizontally oriented fingers 35 arranged thereon extends over the entire width of the tray 14. The end side of the plate 14 is sucked in by means of a horizontally oriented finger 35. For example, four horizontally oriented fingers 35 may be provided which secure the tray 14 to the forwardly projecting outer profile. The end piece of the operating device 34 also has fingers 31 oriented in the vertical direction, which project downwards. The vertically oriented fingers 31 are arranged in such a way that they can engage in grooves 41 of the transfer plate 37 or of the guide 36 (shown in detail in fig. 6 or 9).

The part of the actuating device 34 which moves the end piece is preferably arranged on the side of the tray 14 so as not to cover the open container 10. The operating device 34 can preferably be equipped with a suction machine, for example in the form of a suction arm. The handling device 34 is generally used to bring the trays 14 into the desired position, in particular to remove (full) trays 14 and/or to bring empty trays 14 back into the film 16. Accordingly, pusher shoes, grippers, manipulators or similar mechanisms may also be used.

In the illustration according to fig. 5, the containers 10 on the holding means 38 have been rotated by 90 ° relative to the removal position from the tray 14 and are brought into position for subsequent processing. The tray 14 is again in the removal position on the guide 36. The operating device 34 is in contact with the disc 14. Depending on the production volume, it is also possible not to rotate 90.

Fig. 6 now shows the device 20 in an operating state in which the containers 10 are removed from the tray 14, but the tray 14 has already been pushed back into the film 16 or film bag together with the tray 12. This helps to better clean out components that are no longer needed, namely the tray 12, the tray 14, and the film 16. In the position shown in fig. 6, the waste, i.e. the tray 12, the tray 14 and the membrane 16, can in turn be brought outside the device 20 via the opening 23 in the housing 21. Thus, the garbage removal can be achieved in only one single step. The transfer plate 37 is arranged in alignment between the guide 36 and the holding means 32. The surface of the transfer plate 37 or the guide 36 comprises at least one slot 41. In the embodiment according to fig. 6, the plurality of grooves 41 extends parallel to the transport direction of the trays 14. When an empty tray 14 is moved to the tray 12, the vertically oriented fingers 31 of the operating device 34 engage in these slots 41. These fingers 31 can preferably act on the tray 12 in order to push the tray 12 together with the empty tray 14 back into the opened film 16 or film bag (see also fig. 8 for this purpose).

Now, it is shown more precisely in fig. 7 to 9 how the tray 12, which is situated below the disc 14, is separated from the disc. The membrane 16, the upper holding device 24, the needle 26 and the cutting unit 28 are not shown for clarity. The conveyor 22 is embodied, for example, in the form of a laterally arranged belt drive and moves the fed assembly (comprising the containers 10 surrounded by the

trays

14 and 12, surrounded by the film 16) from right to left.

In surface alignment with conveyor 22, a retaining device 32 is provided on the left end of conveyor 22. The holding means 32 is preferably plate-shaped, in particular a vacuum plate. The holding means 32 has at least one opening 54, in the present exemplary embodiment two openings 54, which are designed, for example, as suction machines. They serve to hold the tray 12 covering the open underside of the tray 14. To this end, a suction machine sucks the tray 12 through the opening 54 and holds it fixedly so that the tray 14 can be moved relative to the tray 12.

The fixing of the tray 12 relative to the tray 14 may alternatively be performed by means of a further retaining means 32. Instead of the solution described with the aid of the suction machine 54, it is also possible to provide a plate with holes through which the trays 12 can be sucked. Alternatively, the fixing of the tray 12 can be effected, for example, by mechanical clamping devices or grippers or similar mechanisms. In a suitable manner, the holding means 32 is situated in a plane with the

conveyor

22 or 50, so that an additional movement of the tray 14 can be dispensed with.

As shown in detail in fig. 8, a conveyor means 50, which is embodied as a conveyor chain or a link belt with an ejector 52, is located between the two belt drives of the conveyor 22. The ejector 52 is arranged on the upper side of the conveyor means 50 in such a way that it projects slightly upward and can thus act on the end face of the tray 12 or the plate 14. By means of the transport device 22, the film 16 is brought into the desired position, in which the projecting tab of the film 16 is clamped by the holding means 30. And the conveyor means 50 are used to push the tray 12, with the trays 14 and containers 10, out of the retained, open film bag or film 16. To this end, carriage device 50 moves relative to carriage device 22. The

trays

12 and 14 are indexed onto the holding devices 32 by the carriage devices 50. Alternatively, a pusher can be used to transfer the

trays

12 and 14 to the holding device 32. The tray 12 is sucked and fixed by the suction machine 54 of the holding means 32. A conveying device in the sense of the present invention is to be understood as a conveying device which can transfer the trays 12 and/or the trays 14 onto the holding device 32, for example the handling device 34, the pusher shoe, the suction arm or the conveying device 22.

According to fig. 8, after the tray 12 has been fixed, the end piece of the operating device 34 is brought onto the end side of the tray 14. A forwardly projecting finger 35 with a suction opening is in contact with the end side of the tray 14. By applying an underpressure and a corresponding leftward movement of the operating device 34, the tray 14 is moved into the position shown in fig. 9 relative to the tray 12 secured by the holding means 32. In this position, the tray 12 and the disc 14 are completely separated from each other. To continue removal from the tray 14, the containers 10 are therefore placed exposed downward on a transfer plate 37 or a guide 36 with a securing means 38 arranged in the opening 33. The operating device 34 in the sense of the present invention is to be understood as a suitable means for generating a relative movement between the tray 12 and the plate 14.

The separation of the tray 14 and the tray 12 may be performed automatically. In the proposed solution, the tray 14 and the container 10 do not have to be turned or swung through 180 °. Furthermore, no other movements are required. Further, separate removal and cleaning of the tray 12 may be omitted. The handling of the containers 10 is careful in that they are kept protected for as long as possible by the tray 14.

Alternatively, the holding means 32 may be configured such that a fixation of the tray 14 relative to the tray 12 is achieved, while the conveying means and/or the handling unit move the tray 12 after the fixation of the tray 14 relative to the tray 12.

The securing means 38 are shown in detail in fig. 10, the container 10 being secured when it is removed from the tray 14 after the tray 12 on the underside of the tray 14 has been removed. The fixing means 38 feature a number of suction openings 39. Depending on the containers 10 used, the suction openings 39 are arranged such that the bottom of each container 10 can be fixed in the desired position by the suction openings 39. As is indicated on the right, the suction openings 39 of the containers 10 in a row can be connected to one another by a common suction opening. The arrangement of the suction openings 39 can be varied. What is important is the fixation of the container 10. This may also be the case by fastening only the outer container 10 or only every other container 10 or the like. Instead of the illustrated solution with the aid of the suction opening 39, the fastening means 38 can also be realized by a mechanical clamping device or a gripper or the like.

After the container 10 has been fixed by the fixing means 38, the fixing means 38 together with the fixed container 10 is lowered. The disc 14 remains in the guide 36. The container information continues to be held together as arranged in the tray 14 by the securing means 38. Alternatively, the separation of the container 10 and the tray 14 can take place in that the tray 14 is removed by an upward movement, but the container 10 remains fixed by the fixing means 38. The vacuum on the holding means 38 embodied as a vacuum plate can be used for each suction opening 39, for each row or completely disconnected. The breaking of the vacuum can be achieved by a vacuum pump, by a valve, by a rotary valve or by a moving pin.

The suggested fixing of the containers 10 avoids that the containers 10 touch each other. This also makes it possible, for example, to avoid scratching of the plastic containers. In addition, a laminar flow around the vessel 10 may be maintained. The components of the container 10 are also retained during the rotational or driving movement, as arranged in the plate 14. The arrangement of the suction openings 39 can be individually adapted to different container information and container geometries. This enables rapid and reliable processing.

After the container 10 has been separated from the tray 14, the empty tray 14 and the tray 12 are removed together with the film 16 or film bag, see in particular fig. 5 and 6. The handling device 34 grips, fixes or sucks the empty disk 14 (fig. 5). After the gripping or suction process, the handling device 34 moves the empty tray 14 in the direction of the transport device 22. As already explained, two vertically oriented fingers 31 are arranged, for example, on the end piece of the operating device 34. After the end piece of the handling device 34 has reached the transfer plate 37 or the slot 41 already present in the guide device 36, the handling device 34 moves the end piece slightly lower (e.g. 5mm) and the finger 31 is inserted into the slot 41 in the guide device 36 or the transfer plate 37. The vacuum plate 32 holding the tray 12 interrupts the vacuum so that the tray 12 is no longer sucked and can thus be carried along by the fingers 31 on the handling device 34. Thus, the vertically oriented fingers 31 help to purposefully continue transporting the trays 12, while the horizontally oriented fingers 35 directly move the trays 14.

The tray 14 and the tray 12 are pushed back into the film 16 or film bag which is kept open by the holding devices 24, 30. The holding devices 24, 30 then release the film 16, so that the transport device 22 forces the film 6 or the

trays

14, 12 in the film bag out of the interior of the device 20 via the opening 23. Similarly, the urging is accomplished with an ejector (i.e., ejector 52), changing only the direction of rotation of the carriage device 50. The ejector/pusher moves the tray 14, the tray 12 and the film 16 out of the opening 23. For this purpose, the pusher/pusher shoe is arranged on the opposite side (left side). Additional movements or drive means for removing parts of the empty package can be dispensed with. A compact construction of the device 20 can be achieved. Furthermore, no additional station (structural assembly) is required for removing the components. This helps to reduce costs.

The illustrated apparatus 20 operates as follows. The assembly consisting of the tray 14, tray 12 and container 10, surrounded by the film 16, is fed to the apparatus 20 through an opening 23(RABS: regulated Access Barrier System, restricted Access System) of the housing 21. The opening 23 in the housing 21 can preferably be embodied like a letter box slot and is provided with a flap. The housing 21 surrounds the apparatus 20 so that subsequent processing of the containers 10 can be performed under desired clean space conditions. The film 16 has a projecting tab on one side so that the film can be completely separated or opened simply by the opening means 28. The film 16 or tab is used for fastening. The container 10 is oriented with the opening facing upward in the tray 14.

The conveyor 22 receives the fed assembly 19 and brings it into the sensing area of the opening device 28. For example, mechanically correct positioning is achieved by mechanical stops or stops. If the tray 14 and tray 12 with the film 16 are in the desired position, the conveyor 22 stops. The holding device 24 is above the fed assembly without hindering its transport. The further holding device 30, which is embodied as a roller-type hold-down device, is open and is already used to receive the webs 17 of the film 16. The mechanical stop is open. The needles 26 are lowered downwards and penetrate the film 16 at the exposed points in the rear region between the protruding outer contours. Alternatively, two or more needles 26 may be provided in order to accelerate the air blowing process in time. The film 16 is then blown through the needle 26 with sterile air into the film bag 4. The holder 24 is moved in the vertical direction up to about 15 to 30mm above the tray 14. The rollers of the further retaining means 30 are also opened.

The projecting tabs 17 are aligned by the air blowing of the film 16 and brought between the rollers of the further holding device 30. The rollers of the further holding device 30 close and grip the tabs 17 of the film 16. The upper retaining means 24 secures the upper side of the membrane 16. The holding device 24 preferably comprises a vacuum pump for this purpose. Subsequently, the needle is moved out of the film 16 or the film bag.

The further retaining means 30 tension the projecting tab 17. The opening means 28 completely separate the central portions of the projecting tabs 17 so that the tray 14 and tray 12 can then be pushed out of the film 16. The film 16 surrounds the pan 14 and is held further upward by the holding means 24. The underside of the cut-out bag 18 is also secured downwards by a further holding device 30 which is lowered downwards and tensioned by a pneumatic rotary movement. This secures and holds open the membrane 16.

The trays 14 and trays 12 are pushed out of the film 16 by the conveyor means 50 via the push-out member 52 and onto the holding means 32. While the conveyor 22 remains stationary, so that the film 16 or film bag remains in the stationary position.

Alternatively, the pushing out from the film 16 may be accomplished by a pusher or the like. Alternatively, the handling device 34 may also be in contact with the tray 14 and/or the tray 12 inside the film 16, for example by suction or gripping. The handling device 34 removes the tray 14 together with the tray 12 from the film 16.

The tray 12 is secured by the retaining means 32 after it has been pushed out of the film 16. The manipulator 34 then secures the disc 14. For this purpose, horizontally oriented fingers 35 suck the end faces of the disks 14. The handling device 34 pulls the tray 14 onto the guide 36, while the tray 12 is fixed and held stationary by the holding means 32. The disc 14 and the tray 12 are separated by this relative movement.

In an alternative embodiment according to fig. 11, the holding means 32, for example a vacuum plate, is fixed in the guide 36 and is held in a predetermined position by a retaining means 56, for example a pin. The operating device 34 is positioned by the holding means 32 (fig. 11 a). The vertically movable pin 56 is brought up into this position. Thereby mechanically interconnecting the operating device 34 and the holding means 32 (fig. 11 b). The pin 56 now no longer secures the guide 36 and the holding means 32. The actuating device 34 and the holding means 32 are then moved together along the stationary guide 36 in the direction of the opened film pocket or film 16. The handling device 34 grips the disk 14 on the end side. The holding means 32 fixes the tray 12, for example by means of a suction machine 59 (fig. 11 c). The suction machines 59 are oriented in such a way that they come into contact with the underside of the tray 12 for fastening purposes. The handling device 34 and the holding means 32 move the tray 14 and the tray 12 out of the opened film 16. Thereby causing the tray 14 and tray 12, with the built-in container 10, to be removed from the film 16 (fig. 11 d). The pin 56 is again lowered vertically. The holding means 32 is thus no longer connected to the operating unit, but to the guide 36 (fig. 11 e). The tray 12 remains in this position together with the holding means 32. Thereby enabling relative movement of the disc 14 with respect to the tray 12. For this purpose, the handling device 34 moves the tray 14 together with the container 10 located therein further to the left, while the holding means 32 hold the tray 12 in place. The disc 14 is transferred to the guide 36 without the tray 12. The following working mode is identical for both embodiments.

The surface of the holding means 38 is aligned with the guide 36, so that the tray 14 with the containers 10 located therein can be transferred by means of the handling device 34. The tray 14 is in a defined position in which all containers 10 are in this position on the fixing means 38. The upwardly open suction opening 39 of the fastening means 38 interacts in this position with a corresponding base of the container 10, which is now exposed after separation from the tray 12. In this position, a vacuum is applied to the holding means 38 in the respective suction opening 39, so that the container 10 is securely held. The securing means 38 are movably arranged.

In a next step, the holding means 38 is lowered together with the container 10 arranged thereon. The disc 14 remains in the guide 36. Thereby separating the container 10 from the tray 14. The securing device 38 holds the container 10 in the desired position. During the lowering of the holding means 38 with the container 10, the handling device 34 holds the disc 14. The actuating device 34 of the holding tray 14 is preferably designed such that it does not cover the container 10. For this purpose, the arms of the actuating device 34 are embodied at right angles.

During the movement of the container 10 by the securing means 38, the handling device 34 remains stationary or moves over the tray 14, whereby the open/open container 10 does not have to move past the handling device 34. The securing means 38 is then rotated by 90 ° and moved in the direction of the transfer plate 44. Thereby enabling the output efficiency of the apparatus 20 to be improved. Suitable transfer units 40 are provided for the movement of the fixing means 38, by means of which lifting and/or rotating movements can be carried out in a desired manner.

After the fixing means 38 have been rotated, the operating unit 42 starts to stand the containers 10 side by side on the transfer plate 44 and for example into the inlet of the filling machine. The operating unit 42 may alternatively transfer the containers 10 directly into the inlet wheel of the filling machine. The transfer plate 44 may be embodied as a vacuum plate in order to ensure that the container 10 is fixed. A transfer plate 44 is in the apparatus 20. The transfer plate 44 is a connection unit to further units, for example filling machines. The handling unit 42 is embodied, for example, as a robot with a gripper or the like. The operating unit 42 is an integral part of the device 20.

After the holding means 38 has been brought into the desired position with the container 10, in particular away from the handling device 34 or the tray 14, the handling device 34 moves the empty tray 14 and the pallet 12 back into the opened film bag or film 16. Here, the vertically oriented fingers 31 of the operating device 34 engage in the slots 41 when the empty disk 14 is moved toward the tray 12. These fingers 31 can better act on the tray 12 to move the tray 12 back into the opened film 16 or film bag together with the empty tray 14. The retaining means 24 and the further retaining means 30 continue to retain the membrane 16 in the open position. The retaining device 24 is then released from the upper side of the film 16. The conveyor means 50 or the conveyor device 22 moves the trays 14, the film 16 and the trays 12 in the opposite direction back into the outer region of the apparatus 20 through the open slit 23 in the housing 21 again. At this point, the film 16 may be removed as a complete unit with the tray 12 and tray 14 in the film.

This way of clearing is particularly advantageous, since no additional movement (drive) is required for clearing the components. A compact construction can be achieved. Additional stations for removing the components can likewise be dispensed with. This helps to reduce costs.

The roller 43 is movable out of the machine frame 46 by a mechanism to allow movement of the apparatus 20. This makes it possible to dock the device 20 particularly flexibly on any other machine (filling machine, etc.). Because the feet can be adjusted or calibrated in a stable manner, the adjusted machine height is reached after each movement of the device 20. The device 20 is fixed by two pins arranged in a matching manner, which are mounted on the floor in the respective placement position of the device 20.

As already mentioned, the trays 14 and trays 12 may already be fed to the apparatus without the film 16. The respective holding means 24, 30 or opening means 28 are no longer required at this time.

In summary, different work steps can be obtained, which can also be partly discarded:

the

trays

14 and 12 with the containers 10 arranged therein are fed in surrounded by a film 16, and/or

-opening the film 16 and,

blowing the film 16 with the needle 26 and/or

Opening the film 16 by means of an opening device 28, and/or

Separating the tray 14 and the tray 12 from the film 16,

pushing out the tray 14 and the tray 12 with the containers 10 arranged therein from the opened film 16, and/or

Separating the tray 14 with the containers 10 arranged therein from the tray 12

Holding trays 14 and/or trays 12, preferably by holding means 32 and/or

Producing relative movement between the tray 14 with the container 10 and the tray 12, preferably by means of the handling device 34, and/or

-separating the tray 14 from the container 10,

transfer of the tray 14 with the containers 10 arranged therein onto the guide 36 and/or

Arranging the container 10 on the fixing means 38 and/or

Fixing the containers 10, preferably by means of fixing means 38, in particular by means of suction openings 39, which act on the containers 10, preferably on their container bottoms, so that the containers 10 remain in the fixed position, and/or

Relative movement between the tray 14 and the container 10 held, preferably by means of the holding means 38 in conjunction with lowering of the container 10 relative to the tray 14, the tray remaining on the guide 36, and/or

The fixed container 10 is moved into a subsequent processing region, preferably outside the handling device 34, in particular by a preferably 90 ° rotation by the fixing means 38, and/or

Subsequent treatment of the container 10

Transferring containers 10 to transfer plate 44, in particular taking containers 10 out in parallel by operating unit 42, and/or

Transfer to the filling machine, in particular by means of the operating unit 42, and/or

The stripper disk 14, the tray 12 and the film 16

Keeping the film 16 open, in particular by the holding device 24 and/or the further holding device 30, and/or

Pushing the tray 14 and/or the tray 12 back into the opened film 16, in particular by the operating device 34, and/or

The

trays

12 and 14 arranged in the film 16 are removed from the device 20, in particular by a conveyor 22, and/or

Remove the tray 12, tray 14, and film 16 from the apparatus 20.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing to remove a container (10) from a tray (14) enclosed by a tray (12), wherein the container (10) is fixed and protected inside the tray (14) , the device includes:

at least one transport device (22, 34, 50) that moves at least one tray (14) and at least one tray (12) surrounding the container (10), wherein , is provided with at least one holding device (32) for fixing the tray (12) or the tray (14) relative to the tray (14) or the tray (12), characterized in that at least one holding device (32) is provided An operating device (34) for generating relative movement between the tray (12) and the tray (14) to separate the tray (12) from the tray (14), wherein the operating device (34) causes all The tray (14) is transferred together with the container (10) onto guides (36) and/or fixing means (38) for separating the tray (14) from the container (10).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating device (34) produces a relative movement between the tray (12) and the disc (14) in such a way that the operating device (34) The tray (14) is removed from the tray (12) while the retaining means (32) hold the tray (12) in place.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding means (32) and/or the handling device (34) comprise at least one suction opening (54) and/or a gripper for securing the said tray (12) and/or said tray (14).

4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding means (32) and/or the handling device (34) comprise a suction machine for fixing the tray (12) and/or the plate (14).

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding means (32) and/or the handling means (34) comprise a vacuum plate (32) for fixing the tray (12) and/or the disc (14).

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the suction machine is configured as a finger (35).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying means (22, 50) comprise a conveying belt, a pusher or the operating device (34).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pusher is an ejector (52).

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport means (22, 34, 50, 52) cause the trays (14) and the trays (12) to be fed into the The holding means (32) are arranged such that the tray (12) is in contact with the holding means (32).

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding means (32) are combined with the transport means (22) and/or the transfer plate (37) and/or the guide (36) or Said fixing means (38) arranged in the guide means for fixing the container (10) in the tray (14), the transfer plate (37) in the guide are arranged in alignment The device (36) and the holding means (32) are arranged in alignment, and the handling means (34) guide the disc (14) to the on the guide (36).

11. Method for preparing a container (10) for removal from a tray (14) enclosed by a tray (12), wherein the container (10) is fixed and protected inside the tray (14) , the method comprises at least the following steps: feeding at least one tray (14), a tray (12) and a container (10) surrounded by said tray (14) and said tray (12), characterized in that the tray (12) ( 14 ) and/or trays ( 12 ) are fed to at least one holding means ( 32 ) which hold the tray ( 12 ) or tray ( 14 ) relative to the tray ( 14 ) or tray ( 12 ) ) is fixed, and a relative movement is produced between the tray (12) and the tray (14) for separating the tray (12) and the tray (14), wherein, after the tray (12) is fixed, the operating device (34) is held by holding Means (32) move the tray (14) together with the container (10) relative to the tray (12).

12. The method of claim 11, characterized by the additional step of:

a. Transfer the tray (14) with the container (10) arranged in the tray onto the guide (36),

b. arranging the container (10) on the fixing means (38),

c. Fixing the container (10) so that the container (10) remains in the fixed position,

d. Relative movement is created between the disc (14) and the container (10) being secured,

e. Moving the secured container (10) into the subsequent processing area.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the container (10) is fixed by the fixing means (38).

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the container (10) is fixed by means of a suction opening (39) which acts on the container (10).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the suction opening (39) acts on the container bottom of the container (10).

16. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that by means of the lowering of the fixing means (38) together with the container (10) relative to the disc (14) remaining on the guide (36), Said relative movement between the disc (14) and the fixed container (10) is produced.

17. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the post-processing area is located outside the operating device (34).

18. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the fixed container (10) is moved into the subsequent processing area by the rotation of the fixing means (38).

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the fixed container (10) is moved into the subsequent processing area by means of the fixing means (38) being rotated by 90[deg.].