DE102020129212B4 - Packaging plant and packaging process - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging system for packaging flat objects in outer packaging (30), with a first filling station (31) for inserting the flat objects in an outer packaging (30), a second filling station (32) for inserting protective elements in the outer packaging (30), and a conveyor line ( 14) for conveying the overwraps (30) to the first and the second filling station (31, 32), characterized in that the conveyor line (14) is adapted to convey the overwraps (30) in a bi-directional manner between the first and the second filling station (31, 32) back and forth.

Description

In the packaging industry there is a need for fully automatic systems for packing production goods in transport packaging so that the production goods can be delivered safely and without damage. In addition to the production goods, the system must also be able to place one or more protective elements, in particular protective layers or insert sheets made of cardboard or plastic, in the transport packaging. These protective elements are intended to protect the production goods from one another or from contact with the inner wall of the transport packaging, in particular the flaps on the bottom and lid of a transport box.

Such packaging systems are known for packaging folding boxes, which come as ready-glued and ready-to-use folding boxes in the folded state from a so-called folding box gluing machine and must be inserted into an outer packaging for transport before being sent to the customer. Depending on the type and shape of the outer packaging box, a cardboard insert sheet is placed under, between and on top of the stacked folding boxes in the outer packaging in order to protect the folding boxes from direct contact with the cardboard base, the cardboard lid or contact between the bundles of folding boxes .

According to a conventional solution, the packaging system comprises a conveyor belt system on which the outer packaging runs through a ring-shaped conveyor line in a kind of roundabout. At a first filling station of the conveyor line, the folding boxes are placed in the outer packaging by a first insertion device, and at a second filling station of the conveyor line, the insert sheets are placed in the outer packaging by a second insertion device. The outer packaging runs through the conveyor line until all the insert sheets and all the folding boxes have been inserted.

An example of such a conventional packaging line is in U.S. 2019/0161223 A1 disclosed. Other conventional packaging systems are in DE 199 30 368 A1 , DE 10 2017 004 095 A1 , EP 3 395 507 A1 , DE 11 2018 001 016 T5 , WO 2020/174508 A1 , CN 111 792 097 A and U.S. 4,815,251 A described.

The second insertion device can only place the insert sheets correctly in the outer packaging if there is virtually no relative movement between the outer packaging and the second insertion device. The disadvantage of this conventional solution is therefore that the outer packaging has to be stopped briefly on the conveyor line, while the second long packaging takes a long time. Furthermore, the relatively large footprint of the ring-shaped conveyor line is a problem, especially with these smaller systems.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages and to create an economical and space-saving packaging system which, at least for certain packaging orders, is even superior to conventional systems in terms of processing speed.

The present invention solves this problem with the packaging system having the features of present claim 1. The remaining claims relate to preferred exemplary embodiments and an associated packaging method.

Unlike conventional systems with a circular conveyor line (also called a waiting station), the packaging system of the present invention has a bidirectional conveyor line that moves the outer packaging back and forth between a first filling station for inserting the flat objects and a second filling station for inserting protective elements . Preferred embodiments are described below, to which the invention is not limited.

While the flat objects, i.e. in particular the folding boxes from a folding box gluing machine, are inserted by a fully automatic insertion device at the first filling station, the protective elements can be inserted at the second filling station either manually by an operator or automatically by a second insertion device.

The operator or the second insertion device is positioned in such a way that they can insert protective elements, in particular the protective layers or insert sheets mentioned, not only at the second filling station of the conveyor line, but also at an infeed path and/or outfeed path, with which the outer packaging is placed in the Conveyor road are introduced or discharged. A protective element can be inserted into the still empty outer packaging box on the feed path before it reaches the conveyor line. In this way, the first protective element can already be inserted while the second filling station is still occupied by another outer packaging. Likewise, the uppermost protective element can be placed on an outer packaging box that has already been filled on the exit route, while the second filling station is still occupied by another outer packaging. In this way, packaging times can be minimized overall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second insertion device reaches the second filling station and the corresponding filling stations on the infeed path and/or outfeed path by rotating about a vertical axis oriented perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor line. A design is particularly preferred in which the insertion device comprises a robotic arm which is set up to insert the protective elements into the outer packaging and whose range is so large that it can reach the different filling stations by rotating about the vertical axis.

The use of a robot with a swivel arm that can be swiveled about the vertical as the second insertion device has proven to be particularly advantageous in many respects. In this way, the different filling stations can be reached in an easily controllable manner by setting different rotary positions. In addition, the robot can also transfer the outer packaging onto and off the conveyor line, change or correct the orientation of outer packaging boxes and even label and close the outer packaging boxes after filling. By moving the robot arm, the robot can also fill outer packaging to a certain extent, which is not stationary but is moving at a certain speed. This leads to a further increase in the overall speed of the packaging process.

The range of the second insertion device preferably covers such a wide area of the feed path and/or the outfeed path that several positions on these paths can be considered for the third or fourth filling station. This is particularly advantageous because then, even if the conveyor line, including the first and second filling station, is translated in the plane of the conveyor line, the second insertion device can still reach the second filling station, as well as suitable points on the outfeed route or the infeed route, which fourth or third filling station can be used. Such a translational displacement of the conveyor line is sometimes necessary in order to feed folding boxes from a folding box gluing machine in a different orientation to the first filling station.

Cardboard boxes are typically used as outer packaging, preferably open cardboard boxes with lid flaps for closing. Flat structures made of cardboard or plastic or foils are preferably used as protective elements, protective sheets, protective layers or insert sheets, which offer good protection of the packaged goods against impact contact with one another or with the inner walls of the outer packaging. The protective layers can be arranged horizontally under, on or between layers of production goods or folding boxes and also vertically next to or between rows of production goods or folding boxes. The protective elements can have different shapes, in particular they can be flat, U-shaped enclosing the folding boxes, U-shaped with a web-like central fold between two rows of folding boxes, or also have the shape of a cross, which is two layers and two rows of folding boxes separates. They can also be in the form of bags and enclose the production goods or folding boxes.

• 1 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Verpackungsanlage gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,
• 2A eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Verpackungsanlage gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer ersten Translationsposition, und
• 2B eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Verpackungsanlage gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel in einer zweiten Translationsposition.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the figures. It shows:

• 1 a schematic plan view of a packaging system according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• 2A a schematic plan view of a packaging system according to a second embodiment of the invention in a first translation position, and
• 2 B a schematic plan view of the packaging system according to the second embodiment in a second translational position.

the 1 shows a plan view of the packaging system according to the first embodiment of the invention. Two so-called carton erectors 11A, 11B can be seen, which automatically erect the folded outer packaging and which serve as the source of the outer packaging 30 to be filled. The carton erectors 11A, 11B guide the outer packaging cartons 30, which have been erected and open at the top, one after the other onto a respective feed path 12A, 12B. In the example shown, the empty outer packaging 30 is conveyed on two feed paths 12A, 12B by a carton erector 11A, 11B at right angles to a junction point 13. However, more than two feed paths/carton erectors can also be provided, or only one carton erector 11 and one feed path can be provided (see that in Figs 2A and 2 B second embodiment shown).

The two feed paths 12A, 12B converge at the junction 13 and can be placed on the conveyor line 14 by the operator 22, which then transports the outer packaging 30 back and forth between the two filling stations 31, 32 in a bidirectional manner. At the junction 13, the outer packaging 30 can also be automatically introduced onto the conveyor line 14, for example via correspondingly coupled conveyor belts.

At the end of the conveyor line 14 opposite the operator 22 there is a junction 15, from which the outer packaging 30 is forwarded via a first exit route 16A to a first destination station 17A or via a second exit route 16B to a second destination station 17B. However, more than two destination stations/exit routes can also be provided, or only one destination station and one exit route. Several supply routes 12A, 12B or several exit routes 16A, 16B have the advantage that protective elements can already be inserted into several outer packaging 30 on the infeed and/or exit routes, while the second filling station 32 is still occupied by another outer packaging 30 .

Devices for closing and labeling the completely filled outer packaging 30 are located at the destination stations 17A, 17B. Carton erectors 11A, 11B, feed path 12A, 12B and junction 13 are also collectively referred to as the lock-in section. Junction 15, exit paths 16A, 16B and destination stations 17A, 17B are also collectively referred to as the discharge section. The transfer from the conveyor road 14 can also (as in the case of the junction 13) take place without a direct connection of the conveyor belts at the junction 15. In particular, the outer packaging 30 can also be placed by a gripper arm from the conveyor line 14 onto the exit routes 16A, 16B.

The folding box gluing machine (not shown) delivers the finished folding boxes (as the production goods to be packaged in this embodiment) in a glued and cut to size, but still folded flat, transport state from one side to the first insertion device 23 on the conveyor line 14. This side is in the schematic representation of the 1 marked exit 19 on the right. A so-called turning station 18 is arranged between the first insertion device 23 and the folding box gluing machine, with which the desired orientation of the folding boxes can be produced before they are placed in the outer packaging 30 by the first insertion device 23 . The turning station 18 comprises a so-called right-hand turning unit 18A, a so-called left-hand turning unit 18B and a straight feed-through unit 18C, each of which can be selectively connected to the output 19 of the folder-gluing machine. In the 1 the clockwise rotating unit 18A is connected. In the 2 B connection to the left turn unit 18B will also be described later. If the folding boxes are to be inserted without being rotated (so-called placement on the closing flap), then the middle feed-through unit 18C is connected. In this case, the turning station 18 could of course also be omitted entirely and the folding boxes could go directly from the exit 19 to the first insertion device 23, especially when the special spatial orientation of the folding boxes is not important for the packaging process for other reasons.

The first insertion device 23 removes the folding boxes from the end of the turning station 18 and places them in packages in individual layers and/or rows in an outer packaging 30 which is located at the first filling station 31 of the conveyor line 14 . This filling process is already an industrial standard and is therefore not explained in more detail in the present description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention. The decisive difference from the prior art is the design and control of the conveyor line 14, so that outer packaging 30 is conveyed back and forth on a bidirectional conveyor belt between the first and second filling station 31, 32 as often as is necessary for the packaging process. Another difference from the prior art is the positioning and setup of the second filling station 32 on the conveyor line 14. Both are described in more detail below.

In contrast to conventional packaging systems, in which the conveyor line is a kind of roundabout made up of conveyor belts connected in a ring, a simple straight conveyor belt that can be operated bidirectionally, ie in the forward and reverse direction, is sufficient for the present invention. The drive takes place via an electrical control unit (not shown), which is controlled automatically or by control inputs from the operator 22 . As in 1 as can be clearly seen, the conveyor line 14 can have a relatively short length. It only has to be at least as long as the distance between the first filling station 31 and the second filling station 32 so that it can reliably move outer packaging 30 back and forth between these two stations. As a result, the structure and the space required are significantly simpler and more cost-effective compared to a conventional ring-shaped conveyor line. In addition, the transport time on the conveyor line 14 is shorter overall and the packaging process is therefore faster, at least at this point.

Furthermore, the operator 22 is positioned at the junction 13 in such a way that, while standing, he can easily reach both part of the feed paths 12A, 12B and part of the conveyor line 14 in order to place protective elements from the stack 21 into outer packaging 30 . To put it more precisely, the operator 22 reaches the second filling station 32 on the conveyor line 14 and a third filling station on the feed paths 12A, 12B in the area of the junction 13. As a result, the lowermost protective sheet can already be on the feed at the third filling station because of 12A, 12B are placed below in the outer packaging 30, which is still empty. Since the feed paths 12A, 12B do not have to be synchronized with the conveyor line 14, the lowermost protective sheet can already be inserted on the feed lines 12A, 12B when the preceding outer packaging 30 is still being filled at the second filling station 32 on the conveyor line 14. As a result, the processing speed of the packaging system can be increased overall.

In addition, at least one of the exit paths 16A, 16B could be shaped (eg with a 90° curve) or arranged such that the operator 22 can move a portion of the exit path 16A, 16B from her in the 1 can easily be reached from the marked location. In other words, at least one of the exit routes 16A, 16B could have a fourth filling station within the radius of action of the operator 22 so that he can place a protective sheet from the stack 21 as the uppermost protective sheet in the outer packaging already filled with folding boxes. The fourth filling station would thus also be decoupled from the conveyor line 14, so that the processing speed of the packaging system can be increased overall in this respect as well. Even if this configuration is not shown in the figures of exemplary embodiments 1 and 2, it is nevertheless a preferred example of the disclosed invention and is included in the subject matter of the claims.

the 2A and 2 B show a second embodiment of the invention, in which the operator 22 is replaced by an automatically controllable second insertion device 24.

The second insertion device 24 is a robot device with at least one robot arm 25 which serves as a swivel arm. The range or range of action of the robot arm 25 is illustrated by the radius 26 in the figures. It is easy to see that both the second filling station 32 on the conveyor line 14 and the third filling station on the feed path 12 are within the reach radius 26 of the second insertion device 24 . The robot of the second insertion device 24 can reach both filling stations by turning around the vertical plane perpendicular to the conveyor line 14 by setting different rotational positions with the swivel arm 25 .

The second insertion device 24 can also be positioned or the arrangement of the infeed and outfeed paths 12, 16 can be adjusted in such a way that parts of the outfeed path 16 are also within the radius 26 of the robot arm 25 (not shown). Then, by adjusting the rotational position of the robot 24, the robot arm 25 can also reach a fourth filling station on the exit paths 16A, 16B. Then both the protective sheets can be inserted on the bottom of the outer packaging 30 at the third filling station, and the intermediate sheets can be inserted as protection between the folding boxes at the second filling station 32, and the cover sheets can be inserted as the top layer at the fourth filling station by the second insertion device 24. by controlling different rotational positions for the robot arm 25 in each case.

Like in the 2A shown schematically, there are several positions of the outer packaging 30 on the feed path 12 within the radius of movement 26 of the robot arm 25. These other positions can also be considered as an alternative third filling station for the insertion of protective sheets, so that the second insertion device 24 can react flexibly to this in this regard can wait how many outer packages on the feed path 12 and can operate them in a time-saving manner. However, the robotic device 24 can also take on other tasks at these positions; such as turning or correcting the orientation of the outer packaging.

As from a comparison of 2A and 2 B As can be seen, the conveyor line 14 together with the first insertion device 23 and the turning station 18 can be moved with respect to the otherwise stationary system. This shift option already exists for the in the 1 shown first embodiment, but has not been described in detail there for the sake of clarity.

the 2A shows the first sliding position, in which the output 19 of the folding box gluing machine is connected to the clockwise rotating unit 18A.

If the folding box does not need to be turned before it is placed in the outer packaging 30, the straight feed-through unit 18C can be connected instead by moving the turning station 18. By moving to the in the 2 B In the position shown, the system can in turn be converted from the right-hand turning unit 18A to the left-hand turning unit 18B without it being necessary to move the second insertion device 24 or even the carton erector 11 or the target stations 17A, 17B and the associated transport routes 12, 16A, 16B.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second insertion device 24 connects the feed path 12 to the conveyor line 14 , in that the robot arm 25 translates the outer packaging 30 onto the conveyor line 14 at the junction 13 . This is a further advantage of the versatility of the robotic device as the second insertion device 24 according to the present invention. But it can The connection to the conveyor line 14 can also be made by a flexible extension or conveyor belt connection as part of the feed path 12 .

The radius 26 of the robot arm 25 is large enough to also move in the sliding position on the left-turning unit 18B according to FIG 2 B to achieve each outer packaging 30 at the second filling station or on the feed path 12 (third filling station). This makes it possible to insert the protective elements, protective sheets, protective layers or insert sheets into the outer packaging 30 (between the folding boxes or next to, below and on top of them) without the position of the second insertion device 24 having to be changed.

The sliding option reduces set-up times when the packaging system is to be converted for different purposes, as shown in the example based on the change from clockwise rotating unit 18A to counterclockwise rotating unit 18B. The spatial translation required for this corresponds approximately to a displacement of 2 meters (from top to bottom in the drawing).

In summary, the present invention relates to a packaging system and a packaging method to pack folding boxes for transport in outer packaging 30 and at the same time to protect them from transport damage by additionally inserting suitable protective elements. The outer packaging 30 can be conveyed back and forth on a bidirectionally controllable conveyor line 14 between a first filling station 31 for inserting the flat objects to be packaged and a second filling station 32 for inserting the protective elements. As a result, packaging times, costs and space requirements can be reduced compared to conventional ring roads.

Reference List

11, 11A, 11B

carton erector

12, 12A, 12B

feed path

13

confluence

14

conveyor road

15

junction

16A, 16B

export route

17A, 17B

Destination station (locking and labeling device)

18

turning station

18A

clockwise rotation unit

18B

left turning unit

18C

feedthrough unit

19

Output folder gluer

21

Shields Stack

22

operator

23

first insertion device

24

second insertion device (robot)

25

swivel arm (robot arm)

26

Swivel arm action area (radius of robot arm)

30

outer packaging

31

first filling station

32

second filling station

Claims (10)

Packaging system for packaging flat objects in outer packaging (30), with a first filling station (31) for inserting the flat objects in an outer packaging (30), a second filling station (32) for inserting protective elements in the outer packaging (30), and a Conveyor line (14) for conveying the outer packaging (30) to the first and the second filling station (31, 32), characterized in that the conveyor line (14) is designed to convey the outer packaging (30) in a bidirectional manner between the first and the second filling station (31, 32) to convey back and forth. packaging plant claim 1 , with a first loading device (23) arranged next to the first filling station (31) for automatically loading the flat objects into an outer packaging (30) which is located at the first filling station (31) on the conveyor line (14). packaging plant claim 1 or 2 , wherein the insertion of protective elements into the outer packaging (30) at the second filling station (32) by hand by an operator (22) positioned next to the second filling station (32). packaging plant claim 1 or 2 , with a second insertion device (24) arranged next to the second filling station (32) for the automated insertion of the protective elements into an outer packaging (30) which is located at the second filling station (31) on the conveyor line (14). packaging plant claim 3 or 4 , with an inward transfer section for inward transfer of outer packaging (30) via a feed path (12A, 12B) onto the conveyor line (14), and an ejection section for ejecting outer packaging (30) from the conveyor line (14) via an exit path (16A, 16B), with the operator (22) or the second insertion device (24) also being next to the feed path (12A, 12B) and/or the exit path (16A, 16B) and is able to place a protective element in the outer packaging (30) not only when this is at the second filling station (32) on the conveyor line (14), but also when when the outer packaging (30) is located at a third filling station on the supply path (12A, 12B) and/or at a fourth filling station on the output path (16A, 16B). packaging plant claim 5 , wherein the second insertion device (24) comprises a pivoting arm (25) which, as a result of a pivoting movement of the second insertion device (24), has an action area (26) within which the second filling station (32) on the conveyor line (14) and the third filling station on the supply path (12A, 12B) and/or the fourth filling station on the output path (16A, 16B). packaging plant claim 6 , the second insertion device (24) being rotatable, in whole or in part, about a vertical axis which is oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the conveyor line (14), and the second insertion device (24) being designed to both the second filling station (32) on the conveyor line (14) as well as the third filling station on the feed path (12A, 12B) and/or the fourth filling station on the outfeed path (16A, 16B) each in different rotational positions about the vertical axis through the swivel arm (25). Packaging system according to one of Claims 4 until 6 , wherein the second insertion device (24) has both the second filling station (32) and a suitable position for the third filling station on the supply path (12A, 12B) and/or a suitable position for the fourth filling station on the output path (16A, 16B) also achieved when the first filling station (31) together with the conveyor line (14) is translationally displaced in the plane of the conveyor line (14). Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor line (14) is a bidirectional conveyor belt, and/or the flat objects are folding boxes folded flat and ready for use, fed from a folder-gluing machine output (19), and/or the outer packaging (30) is empty cardboard, and/or the protective elements are flat or U-shaped insert sheets or bags made of cardboard or plastic. Method for inserting flat objects in outer packaging (30) in which Flat objects are placed in an outer packaging (30) at a first filling station (31), Protective elements are placed in the outer packaging (30) at a second filling station (32), and the outer packages (30) are conveyed back and forth in a bi-directional manner at least once between the first and the second filling station (31, 32).

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