DE20316979U1 - Intermediate store for tablet blisters and suchlike has endless revolving conveyor between two production units, vacuum generator acting on conveyor to hold products thereupon, and product transfer device located below conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The intermediate store (110) for tablet blisters (124) and suchlike has an endless revolving conveyor device (116) between two production units (112,114), a vacuum generator (135) acting on the conveyor so that the products are held thereupon, and at least one product transfer device (138) located below the conveyor device and in which products fallen or pushed from the conveyor are stored one on top of the other and/or are drawn from the stack onto the conveyor again.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a buffer for tablet blisters, Plastic cases, boxes and the like products that are not particularly or difficult on top of each other stack it. In terms of production, such a buffer is between two production facilities interposed. He puts one Kind of buffer in the case of malfunctions in the downstream production facility from the first production facility incoming products temporarily stored and vice versa, in the event of faults in the upstream production facility, products outsourced again can be.

STATE OF THE ART

From the German utility model G 94 08 634 is a temporary store for chocolate bars and the like Food particles known. These products are forced always passed through the memory, even if there is no interference in the upstream or downstream production facilities are. The individual products are worn out during transport the memory on individual trays, the several in so-called Gondolas are transported together through the storage. With such a nacelle storage different production speeds of the upstream and downstream production facilities become. In order to make this possible, are separated in both the memory input and the memory output Motor drives working from each other for the endlessly rotating in the memory conveyor belt available. A carriage is arranged in the store, which is from the conveyor belt is kept looping. By adjusting this slide The conveyor belt in its one area, which is equipped with the products, bigger or smaller available be put. Provided more products in memory per unit of time be initiated as removed from the memory per unit of time the slide is adjusted so that it is for the products to disposal standing memory content becomes larger. At the same size The sled remains practical for both loading and unloading in peace. Such a store is in constant use since the products always have to walk through it. Thereby can the drive devices for the conveyor belt that circulates endlessly in the store, even with a trouble-free conveyor Operation of the upstream and downstream production facilities is not switched off in terms of energy become. The energy requirement of the storage system is therefore comparatively high high.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Based on this state of the art the object of the invention, an economically advantageous To specify intermediate storage of the type mentioned.

This invention is through the features of the main claim. Useful developments of the invention are the subject of others following this claim Claims.

The buffer according to the invention has the Advantage that its transfer device and its additional if necessary at the transfer station Connected magazine facility into which products are stored in the event of a fault and can be outsourced if necessary, with trouble-free Operation of the upstream and downstream production facilities is not needed become. requires is only the between the upstream and downstream production facilities as a bridging transport device provided conveyor.

This is the rule for trouble-free operation is an economically favorable facility, with the immediately, in the event of a malfunction, products temporarily stored or stored from such a buffer Products can be outsourced and thus a downstream or upstream disturbance in its effect on the further production process can be made ineffective.

The two production facilities, which are upstream or downstream of the buffer are in generally means of transport such as endless circulation Conveyor belts.

Between these two downstream means of transport can be used as a bridging means of transport conveyor be arranged in the form of a so-called vacuum belt. At a such a vacuum belt can Products sucked in from one funding to another funding be transported.

After one also in the drawing illustrated embodiment the vacuum belt has two endless conveyor belts, which in are arranged at a mutual constant distance. A suction device acts in the area next to the conveyor belts so that from it the product to be transported is sucked on the two belts and can be kept sucked in. This suction device can be effectively present in the area between the two conveyor belts.

If a product is to be temporarily stored, a discharge device can be present in the transport direction, for example, transversely next to the two conveyor belts. A product sucked in on the two belts can be moved so far away from the conveyor belts by this ejection device that the suction power is interrupted and the product can fall down from the conveyor belts and fall into the transfer device. The ejection device can then be used to drop the product if the transport speed of the product in question is not present.

The product can be stopped using a stopping device upstream of the ejection device. This stopping device can be arranged next to the conveyor belts and from the level of the conveyor belts movable pins can be realized. One sucked in on the conveyor belts held product that bumps against such pens will move in its transport stopped and then from the ejection device, which in the form of, for example, strips, from the level of the conveyor belts can be moved downwards, at least from the conveyor belts sometimes moved so far away that the product sucks on the conveyor belts holding force becomes too small to continue the product on the conveyor belts to keep. As a result, the product will fall down from the conveyor belts.

In the one positioned under the conveyor belts or in the conveying direction Several transfer devices arranged one behind the other can optionally Products are stored.

You can also at each transfer device Magazine facilities are provided, which also include products can be stored and removed. In the present case, each of these magazine devices can be one Own series of magazines. Each of these magazines can have a specific one Number of products to be stored. More details about the construction such magazine devices and for the control of the on and Outsourcing products to the magazines is the drawings and the related Figure description can be seen.

With a magazine device, for example As shown in the drawing, products can optionally be in each of their magazines to be stored. Conversely, can the magazine device or from the respectively available magazine the products available there are also outsourced and that in each case top product of such a product group again in succession the conveyor belts and thus the suction device and the further removal of these products through the conveyor allows become.

In addition, it is possible with one in the conveying direction for example first transfer device Caching products and simultaneously from one direction of transport downstream second transfer device outsource a comparable number of products. The transfer facilities are used, although there is no interference in the upstream or downstream Production facilities exist. This can be useful for products such as blisters on their flawless Check condition. This the Production process temporarily removed products can Buffer can be removed without the products to be checked Would interrupt product flow; a disturbance in operations related to manufacturing and for example the packaging of the products, caused by the products to be checked, would not enter. When checking as Products identified as good products can again be used for further production supplied by, for example, returning them to incompletely filled transfer devices or magazines are stored.

Further advantageous configurations and developments of the invention are the other features of Expectations and the embodiment below refer to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained below of the embodiment shown in the drawing and explain. Show it:

1 a schematic, partially sectioned side view of the buffer according to the invention,

2 a partially sectioned schematic plan view of the intermediate storage 1 .

3 2 shows a perspective partial view of the buffer store according to the invention,

4 a partial top view of the buffer,

5 a partial front view of the cache.

WAYS TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION

A cache 110 is between the discharge belt 112 a blister making machine and the feed belt 114 a processing machine such as a so-called wallet machine or cartoning machine.

The cache 110 has a so-called vacuum belt 116 that with its -left- inlet area 118 over the discharge belt 112 and with its -right- outlet area 120 above the feed belt 114 is positioned. From the outfeed conveyor 112 in the direction of transport 122 the vacuum belt 116 supplied products, the tablet blister in the present example 124 are in the lead-in area 118 from the vacuum belt 116 sucked in and in the outlet area 120 due to the no longer existing suction force on the feed belt 114 transferred and from there in the direction of transport 122 For example, a wallet machine, not shown, or the cartoning machine or some other further production device.

The pill blister 124 have such a shape that they cannot be stacked one on top of the other.

The vacuum belt 116 has a left and right endless conveyor belt 126 . 128 , These two conveyor belts are at a mutual distance 130 ( 3 ). At that distance 130 is a suction gap 132 educated. This suction gap 132 represents the bottom opening one in the suction belt 116 trained vacuum chamber 134 in the over with a vacuum source 135 connected suction ports, of which in 1 a suction port 136 is shown, a negative pressure can be produced. As a result of such a vacuum, the discharge belt 112 supplied tablet blister 124 from the two conveyor belts 126 . 128 sucked in and on the discharge belt 112 be handed over.

In the outlet area 120 one loses on the conveyor belts 126 . 128 aspirated blister 124 its contact with those inside the chamber 134 deflected conveyor belts 126 . 128 and comes on the upper run of the feed belt 114 to lie so that it is off the feed belt 114 in the direction of transport 122 can be transported further.

With such a vacuum belt 116 the tablet blisters can be used if the upstream or downstream production facilities operate faultlessly 124 from the discharge conveyor 112 to the feed belt 114 be transported continuously.

Below the vacuum belt 116 is a single transfer device in the present example 138 with a magazine facility 140 available. The magazine facility 140 owns several magazines in a row 144 , The magazines 144 are along a travel rail 150 traversable. The travel rail 150 is in the transverse direction in the present case 154 that are perpendicular to the direction of transport 122 is present, below the vacuum belt 116 aligned.

Along the rail 150 is a sled 156 movable on which the magazines 144 are firmly attached.

Every magazine 144 has two side walls 160 . 162 that are in the transverse direction 154 such a clear distance 164 have a tablet blister stored between them 124 can be framed by them with play on the side. On the side walls 160 . 162 are wall stubs 165 . 166 firmly attached. On one wall stub each 165 and a wall stub 166 stores one tablet blister at a time 124 on . The wall stub 165 have a mutual distance from each other, so that stored blisters 124 do not touch. The same applies to the wall stub 166 , The wall stub 165 . 166 have a chamfer 167 for easier storage of blisters 124 from the upstream transfer device, as will be described in more detail below.

The magazines on the back 144 through one in the transverse direction 154 extending wall 161 be locked, which is stationary and not with the magazines 144 connected is. Such a wall 161 is not in the area of the transfer facility 138 available to swap out blisters 124 from a ready magazine.

The transfer device 138 has two endless conveyor systems 210 . 212 with two endless revolutions, each around an upper pulley 214 and a lower pulley 216 revolving conveyor belts 213 , The two pulleys 214 . 216 every conveyor 210 . 212 are laterally offset below the two conveyor belts 126 . 128 arranged. On every conveyor belt 213 are at equal intervals 211 Kragböden 215 attached. The two conveyor belts 213 have such a mutual clear distance 218 , which is roughly the clear distance between opposite wall stubs 165 . 166 of a magazine 144 corresponds to that of the two conveyor belts 126 . 128 down to the respective, opposite cantilever floors 215 tablet blister striking from above 124 in the transfer facility 138 stored and in the opposite, synchronous rotation of the two conveyor belts 213 with their conveyor belt sections facing each other one after the other on the cantilever floors 215 stored, stored tablet blister 124 downwards or when stacking again in the direction of the conveyor belts 126 . 128 to be able to transport together upwards, so that this tablet blister 124 then back to the conveyor belts 126 . 128 can be sucked in.

Once a group of pill blisters 124 in the transfer facility 138 is stored, the number of tablet blisters stored 124 is no bigger than that of a magazine 144 This group of tablet blisters can be included 124 by means of a transport direction 122 movable slide 220 from the area of the cantilever floors 215 of the two conveyor belts 213 pushed out and onto the wall stub 165 . 166 one in the direction of transport 122 available magazine 144 postponed. In the opposite direction, one can be found in this magazine 144 standing group of blister packs 124 on the back of the magazine 144 existing slide 222 back to the cantilever floors 215 of the two conveyor belts 213 be pushed. Using the two sliders 220 . 222 can be a group of pill blisters 124 from the transfer device 138 in a magazine that is always available 144 pushed or from such a magazine back into the transfer device 138 be pushed back.

It would be possible to have two magazine facilities 144 to be arranged in parallel next to each other so that then for example by means of the slider 220 a group of pill blisters 124 not in a magazine of the single magazine device shown in the drawing 140 , but - with a roughly double displacement path - into a magazine parallel to the magazine device 140 arranged further magazine device can be inserted. Such a second magazine device could also - based on the 3 and 4 - on the left side of the transfer device 138 to be ordered. The slides would then have to be designed to be movable not only in one direction but also in the direction perpendicular thereto, so as not to impede the pushing back and forth.

The storage of blisters 124 takes place by means of a discharge device 180 and one of the same upstream stop device in the transport direction 182 , The ejector 180 is above the transfer device 138 available.

The ejector 180 consists of a right and left discharge bar 184 . 186 in the direction of transport 122 outside next to the right conveyor belt 128 or laterally on the outside next to the left conveyor belt 126 available. In front of these two discharge bars in the direction of transport 184 . 186 are two stop pins 188 . 189 available from the level of the conveyor belts 126 . 128 can be extended downwards. In the extended state, the conveyor belts collide 126 . 128 attached blister 124 with its front end against these pins 188 . 189 , Then the discharge bars 184 . 186 moved out of the level of the conveyor belts and thereby a blister 124 either entirely or partially from the conveyor belts 126 . 128 pulled the trigger. As a result, the suction power can no longer be on the blister 124 hold with the result that the same down on the two cantilever floors 215 can fall. This falling in can be supported by the thrust of the discharge bars, so that in addition to falling independently, more or less bumping can also take place.

By driving the two conveyor belts in opposite directions 213 there can be an upper free space between the two conveyor belts 213 for storing a next blister 124 to be provided.

Once the between the two conveyor belts 213 for the interim storage of blisters 124 existing alley with a group of blisters 124 is full, the number of blisters 124 a group up to the maximum capacity of a magazine 144 corresponds to this group of blisters 124 by means of the slider 220 in a waiting magazine 144 pushed. The back of the magazine ready 144 existing slider 222 prevents the blisters from moving during this push 124 backwards out of the magazine 144 can fall out.

After filling a magazine 144 all magazines 144 this magazine device in the transverse direction 154 so far moved that another empty magazine 144 for filling in the conveying direction 122 aligned with the transfer device 138 ready. After moving the slider back 220 in his in 3 and 4 position shown can then new, further blister 124 into the transfer facility 138 be cached into it.

For outsourcing the in the magazines 144 stored blister 124 becomes a magazine filled with such blisters 144 so on the travel rail 150 move the magazine in question in the direction of transport 122 aligned to the transfer device 138 is aligned. In this position, the in 3 and 4 is shown, the wall which otherwise borders the magazine at the rear 161 no longer available, so by means of the slider 222 this group of blisters 124 from the magazine in question 144 back to the transfer facility 138 and there on the cantilever floors 215 can be postponed. By now driving the two conveyor belts opposite to the storage process 213 can then in the transfer facility 138 existing blister 124 successively back up against the two conveyor belts 126 . 128 of the vacuum belt 116 transported there by this 126 . 128 sucked in and in the direction of transport 122 be transported further.

The transfer device 138 and the magazine facility 140 rest with the travel rail 150 on a box-shaped base 200 in which the required drive and control units are housed. With a motor drive 202 driven vacuum belt 116 can also be attached to the substructure using a support structure 200 resting of.

The transfer device 138 with the at least one magazine device 140 can also - based on the representation of the 3 - Rotated 90 degrees below the two conveyor belts 126 . 128 to be ordered.

Claims (17)

Buffer ( 110 ) for tablet blisters ( 124 ), Plastic cases, boxes and similar products that are in the transport direction ( 122 ) between a first and a second production facility in the direction of production ( 112 . 114 ) can be interposed, characterized in that - an endlessly rotating conveyor device ( 116 ) between the two production facilities ( 112 . 114 ) is present, - a vacuum generator ( 135 ) so on the conveyor ( 116 ) that Pro products ( 124 ) on the conveyor ( 116 ) can be kept suckable, - at least one transfer device ( 138 ) for products ( 124 ) below the conveyor ( 116 ) is present, - in the of the conveyor device ( 116 ) dropped or rejected products ( 124 ) can be stored one on top of the other and / or - from the respective stored products ( 124 ) back to the conveyor ( 116 ) can be transferred by suction. Buffer according to claim 1, characterized in that - the two production facilities each have a means of transport ( 112 . 114 ) for the products included - the conveyor ( 116 ) between the two modes of transport ( 112 . 114 ) is functionally interposed. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor device comprises a vacuum belt ( 116 ) on which the products ( 124 ) can be sucked in by the first production facility. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the vacuum belt ( 116 ) two endless conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) which has a mutual lateral constant distance ( 130 ), - a discharge device ( 180 ) in transport device ( 122 ) across the two conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) is available, through which a product ( 124 ) from the conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) can be moved downwards so that the product ( 124 ) on the conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) suction holding force becomes ineffective, - a stopping device ( 182 ) in the direction of transport ( 122 ) in front of the discharge device ( 180 ) that exists from the level of the conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) can be moved down so far that further transport of one on the conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) sucked hanging product ( 124 ) is interruptible. Buffer according to claim 4, characterized in that - a suction device ( 132 ) is present transversely next to the two conveyor belts in the transport direction. Buffer according to claim 4, characterized in that - the stopping device ( 182 ) extendable and retractable pins ( 188 . 189 ) has. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a plurality of transfer devices arranged one behind the other in the transport direction ( 140 ) are available - in each transfer device ( 140 ) Products can be stored or retrieved independently of one another. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the products of a transfer device ( 140 ) in magazines ( 144 ) can be stored, which can be positioned individually so that products from the transfer device can be pushed into each magazine, and vice versa, products from each magazine can be pushed back into a transfer device. Buffer according to claim 8, characterized in that - the magazines ( 144 ) each transfer device ( 138 ) along a travel rail ( 150 ) are adjustable together. Buffer according to claim 9, characterized in that - each magazine ( 144 ) on a carriage ( 156 ) is fixed, - the carriage ( 156 ) along a travel rail ( 150 ) is adjustable. Buffer according to claim 9, characterized in that - each Magazine designed as a carriage and adjustable along a track is. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a magazine ( 144 ) superimposed supports ( 165 . 166 ), which are available so that there are two supports ( 165 . 166 ), which are directed towards each other, a product can be stored in a supportable manner at its two edge regions. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a transfer device ( 138 ) two around pulleys ( 214 . 216 ) endless conveyor belts with at least one straight section ( 213 ) in the direction of transport ( 122 ) below the conveyor ( 116 ) is present, - each conveyor belt ( 213 ) cantilevered cantilevered floors ( 215 ), - a drive device for synchronous orbital movement of the two conveyor belts ( 213 ) is present in both directions of rotation, - a slide device ( 220 . 222 ) between the two opposite conveyor belts ( 213 ) a transfer device ( 138 ) is present in such a way that between the straight straight sections of these two conveyor belts ( 213 ) located on their cantilever floors ( 215 ) resting pro products, as a product group from the area of the transfer device ( 138 ) in a first slide movement into a magazine ( 144 ) or in a second slide movement from the magazine ( 144 ) back to a transfer facility ( 138 ) can be pushed. Intermediate store according to claim 13, characterized in that - a slide device two slides ( 220 . 222 ), of which one slide ( 220 ) Products from a transfer facility ( 138 ) in a magazine ( 144 ) can be pushed in, and of which by the other slider ( 222 ) Products from a magazine ( 144 ) back to the transfer device ( 138 ) can be pushed in. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - parallel to the adjustment direction ( 154 ) the magazines ( 144 ) side walls at least on one side ( 161 ) that are available in the magazines ( 144 ) frame the stored products on the side. Buffer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the conveyor belts ( 213 ) a transfer device ( 138 ) can be controlled in such a way that the top two of each of the cantilever floors facing each other in their straight sections ( 215 ) a predetermined distance from the conveyor device, in particular from the conveyor belts ( 126 . 128 ) exhibit. Buffer according to one of claims 8 to 16, characterized in that - transfer device ( 138 ) and magazine equipment ( 140 ) are aligned so that the sliding direction with which products from a transfer device ( 138 ) in a magazine facility ( 140 ) can be pushed, parallel or transverse to the transport direction ( 122 ) is aligned.