DE29613276U1 - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Gerhard Schubert GmbH
44695 Al/s

31.07.1996

Packaging machine

The invention relates to a packaging machine, such as can be provided, for example, in the form of an entire packaging line, in which, for example, chocolates or other individual products must be delivered individually and randomly from the manufacturing machine and placed in an intermediate package, and these intermediate packages must then in turn be placed in an outer carton, etc.
15

Due to the variety and different sequence of individual tasks such as sorting, intermediate storage, transferring, transporting, etc. of such packaging machines, especially in the form of packaging lines, a variable structure of such machines is desirable.
20

It is therefore the object of the invention to create a packaging machine which can be constructed in a modular manner according to the specific task.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

With such a construction of the machine bed, the inherently stable, individual bed modules, which are preferably available in a few different dimensions, e.g. lengths, can be assembled to form machine beds of almost any size, both in terms of the extension in the longitudinal direction, but also in the transverse direction by using different

long cross braces. This also makes the production of the individual bed modules using the casting process, especially the die-casting process, efficient.

The bed modules are in particular box profiles with a closed cross-section, which offer a particularly high torsional rigidity, and yet can have large assembly openings on the outside, which in practice are closed by covers, without the torsional rigidity decreasing too much.

By accommodating the machine bed's support feet, which are usually provided with a thread, exclusively in the cross braces, preferably in the cross braces consisting of vertical steel plates, the machine bed can be very easily assembled and adjusted horizontally.

At the same time, the interior of the bed modules offers sufficient space for the accommodation of a wide variety of installations for the packaging machine, be it electrical, pneumatic or possibly hydraulic installations, in particular electrical controls, pneumatic pumps and the like.

For this purpose, the two rows of bed modules running parallel to each other are each opened over a large area on the contact surfaces facing each other. The contact surface preferably consists only of the surrounding box profile of the bed module with holes arranged in it for screwing. In particular, the cross braces consisting of vertical steel strips extend between two bed modules lined up next to each other and preferably reach to the outer edge of the respective row of bed modules. This means that during assembly, the respective adjacent bed module only needs to be screwed to the vertical cross brace, and not directly from bed module to bed module.

The vertical cross brace is located in the lower part of the \

bed modules and preferably does not reach more than half, preferably one;

j third, the height of the bed modules. ,

In the area of the individual bed modules, the upper edge of these vertical cross braces also slopes from the inside to the outside. This means that cables and other supply lines that run lengthways within the row of bed modules will slide outwards on this sloped plane, i.e. to the outer inner wall of the bed modules. This means that the inner inner wall of the bed modules remains freely available for accommodating fastening devices, in particular for permanently mounted installations such as electrical control boards, pumps, etc., without there being a risk that the installation lines will touch and damage these sensitive parts due to the vibrations that occur when the packaging machine is in operation, and also without these installation lines having to be secured in position individually and at great expense using cable ties etc.

Because the vertical cross braces only require approximately the lower third of the height of the box profiles, the free space above them of approximately two thirds of the bed modules in the area between the two rows can be used for other parts of the packaging machine, in particular for the conveyor devices running in the longitudinal direction of the packaging machine, etc.

In addition to the cross braces consisting of vertical steel plates, cross tubes are also used as cross braces, which, however, preferably do not or only slightly protrude into the cross section of the bed modules, but rather extend between them.

For this purpose, in the bed modules on one inner side wall facing the opposite row of bed modules, transverse openings are arranged in the end areas adapted to the cross section of the cross tubes, which are in particular round, and which either form such a cross tube for

Connection with the opposite cross opening of the other row of bed modules can be attached or inserted, or which is closed by means of a corresponding cover when not required.

A mixed form consists in not making the cross braces screwed between the individual modules from vertical sheet metal panels, but rather from hollow profiles, in particular hollow box profiles, and creating the passage from the left row to the right side of bed modules for the various supply lines and control lines via the interior of these box profiles of the cross braces.

Cables and supply lines can also exit from the transverse openings 24, which lead from there to components of the packaging machine in the free space between the rows of bed modules, such as sensors or motors on the conveyor elements, etc.

Since robots are now very often used in such packaging machines or entire packaging lines, these robots are optimally integrated into the packaging machine according to the invention by the following measures:

In conventional robots, which are used in particular as picking robots for picking up and moving products, the gripper arm usually consists of an upper arm and a lower arm, with the upper arm being aligned more vertically and the lower arm more horizontally. These robots have a relatively large overhang in the gripping direction and are therefore usually arranged at a distance from the actual packaging machine.

In order to keep the footprint of the packaging machine as small as possible and to avoid having to extend the stable machine bed from the bed modules, a robot type is used in this case in which the upper arm is essentially horizontal and the lower arm is essentially

are aligned vertically, which is why the upper arm is hinged to a relatively high, tower-shaped robot housing.

This robot housing is adapted to the width of the bed modules in terms of its width when viewed from above and, in terms of its longitudinal extension, is preferably adapted to the length of one of the available bed modules.

This makes it possible to insert the robot housing into the row of bed modules instead of one of the bed modules, i.e. instead of screwing one bed module to the adjacent bed modules or the cross braces placed between them.

This means that the robot is optimally integrated into the bed of the entire machine, not only in terms of area, but also in terms of its rigidity. The robot arm can be positioned laterally and on one side of the tower-shaped robot housing, be spaced further or further away from it, and can grip either in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the packaging machine.

It is also possible to arrange two robot housings next to each other and accommodate a robot arm between them by means of two-sided support on the two robot housings arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of a row of bed modules.

The extensive electrical controls, pneumatic devices, especially pneumatic valves, etc. required for such a robot can be easily accommodated in the robot housings themselves as well as in the adjacent bed modules.

Another problem is the safety doors required on a packaging machine, which prevent people from reaching into the machine during operation.

the packaging machine due to the risk of injury.

Since these safety doors have to completely close the entire circumference of the packaging machine, individually designed packaging machines always require complex adaptation or redesign of these safety doors.

In the present packaging machine, openings are provided in the upper side of the bed modules in the outer corner areas for attaching pivoting brackets that support these safety doors.

These swivel mounts are located inside the bed modules, and only the essentially vertical swivel axis mounted in the swivel mounts, on which an acrylic glass plate is arranged as a safety door on one side, extends so high out of the bed module through the opening in the top of the bed module that it is not possible to reach into the packaging machine over the safety doors attached to it.

In the swivel mount inside the bed module, the rotational position of the swivel axes is determined by sensors using appropriate devices and, in the closed position of the swivel axis and thus the safety door, is also positively locked.

Preferably, each swivel mount has two swivel axes, whereby the swivel mount is preferably installed in such a way that the two swivel axes are located one behind the other in the longitudinal direction. This means that two consecutive safety doors can be operated and controlled by one swivel mount, and depending on the angle of attachment of the safety door to the swivel axis, two safety doors connected to one another in the longitudinal direction

or - if the swivel mount is located at the end of a row of bed modules - two safety doors extending at right angles to each other.

Preferably, the swivel mounts inside the bed modules are arranged so close to each other that, on the one hand, it is no longer possible to reach into the packaging machine above the bed modules between the two swivel axes that protrude next to each other and, on the other hand, by milling on the circumference of the swivel axes or sleeves that are attached to the swivel axes in a rotationally fixed manner within the box modules, it is possible to insert a locking bolt between the two swivel axes of a swivel mount when the swivel axes are in the position for closed safety doors.

This makes it possible to achieve a positive-locking and preferably self-locking fixing of the safety doors in the closed position.

Determining whether the safety doors are in the closed position (which is checked by the machine control system, since the machine can only be started when all safety doors are closed) is usually achieved via an additional sensor on the swivel mounts inside the bed modules.

The sensor usually consists of a button, preferably with a button rod at the front end of the button, which is pre-tensioned into the gap between the two adjacent swivel axes and also interacts with the milled recesses there in such a way that this button can assume a further advanced position when both swivel axes are in the position for closed safety doors, and the button is pushed back into another position as soon as one of the swivel axes is swiveled out of this position.

In addition, a pre-locking mechanism can be provided, for example, at the lower front end of the swivel axis, whereby the swivel axis in the closed

Position engages in a fixed projection etc. In this case, swinging the safety doors out of this closed position is only possible by actively retracting the tactile projection or by lifting the safety door before swinging. This prevents the safety doors from swinging open unintentionally, even when the locking bolts are retracted.

An embodiment according to the invention is described in more detail below by way of example.

Fig.] a packaging machine viewed in the longitudinal direction, Fig. 2 the packaging machine according to Fig. 1 in plan view,

Fig. 3 a panning shot in detail and
15

Fig. 4 shows the swivel shot of Fig. 3 in top view.

In the front view of Fig. 1 and the top view of Fig. 2, the two rows A and B of bed modules 2, 2' and 2", 2"' arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction 3 can be seen, which are kept at a distance in the transverse direction by the cross struts 4 screwed between the modules, which consist of vertical steel plates. The leveling and support against the ground is carried out by adjustable feet 8, which are arranged in the plate-shaped cross struts 4 and in a known manner by means of threaded screw connections enable height adjustment and thus setting of the entire machine bed to the horizontal.

As the top view of Fig. 2 shows, there are bed modules with different lengths, but the height and width of the closed box profiles are always the same, as can be seen in Fig. 1.

Since the bed modules 2 to 2"' are largely open at the contact surfaces 6, 6' etc. facing each other, i.e. they only consist of the surrounding box profile of the bed module with a closed cross-section, cables, supply lines etc. can be laid continuously in the bed modules 2 in the longitudinal direction 3.

The plate-shaped cross struts 4 reach between the bed modules 2 and 2' and up to their outer edges, but extend at the lower edge of the bed modules 2 only up to a maximum of the middle, preferably only a third of the height of the bed modules 2, 2", and beyond that the upper edge of these cross struts 4 slopes outwards in the area inside the bed modules 2 up to almost the lower edge of the bed modules 2, 2'.

In the remaining triangular part of the cross braces 4 within the bed modules 2, there is a large opening to allow cables and supply lines etc. to be routed through. However, the majority of the lines are placed on the upper edge of the cross braces 4 and thus slide along the slope to the outer side wall 3 of the bed modules 2 or 2".

Furthermore, the outer side walls 23 of the bed modules 2 to T" are open over a large area and essentially consist only of a surrounding frame. These large openings are necessary for accessibility when assembling units, supply lines, etc. inside the bed modules. These outer side walls 23 of the bed modules 2 to T" are closed by attached, removable covers or doors 10.

In the inner side walls 22 of the bed modules 2 there are transverse openings 24 with a preferably round shape and preferably in the lower third of the bed modules, in particular in the end areas in the longitudinal direction of the bed modules. ,

These transverse openings 24 can be used universally, either for !

Inserting a cross tube 5, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 2, so that through the cross tube 5 from one row A to the other row B of the bed modules 2

Cables can be led across. But also as a simple exit for cables and supply lines into the central free space 11 of the packaging machine and the conveyor belts, storage chains etc. arranged there (not shown), wherein in this case the transverse openings 24 are closed by corresponding inner covers 25, which are preferably made of plastic, and individual holes are made to fit the individual cables to be led through.

Another possibility of using the transverse openings 24 is to install control cabinet fans if the installations arranged inside this bed module 2 or 2", in particular electrical circuits and controls, require such forced ventilation.

In the upper side 26 of the bed modules 2 to T", in the corner areas of the outer edge, upper openings, preferably with a round contour, are arranged, in which pivoting mounts 12 for the safety doors 13 can be mounted.

These safety doors 13 enclose the entire outer edge of the packaging machine, with one safety door 13 closely adjoining the next, both on the long sides and at the beginning and end of the packaging machine on the transverse sides.

In the top view of Fig. 2, the safety doors 13 are shown only symbolically and thus in abbreviated form for reasons of clarity.
25

In practice, for example, the safety doors 13 on the left, lower bed module 2, which face each other, reach almost touching each other with their free ends.

Such a swivel mount 12 will be described in detail later with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

A robot 15 is integrated into row B of bed modules 2.

The robot 15 has a robot head 15a, which can be rotated about a vertical axis relative to the robot housing 16 located underneath, and the essentially horizontal upper arm 18 is attached to the robot head 15a so that it can pivot about a horizontal axis. At the free end of the upper arm 18, the essentially vertical lower arm 17 is arranged so that it can pivot about a horizontal axis. At the free end of the lower arm 17, the grippers, suction cups, etc. adapted for the specific packaging task are attached.

etc. arranged.

The orientation of the robot’s arms, which is the exact opposite of the usual design, minimizes the lateral overhang.

The robot housing 16 is tall and slim in the shape of a tower with a width corresponding to the width of the bed modules 2", 2'", but significantly higher. The robot housing 16 is also a closed box profile when viewed from above with a large opening on the outside and the top, as well as cross openings 24 on the inside. The robot housing 16 is inserted like a bed module 2 in row B between the bed modules or cross struts 4 and screwed to them, thus reaching down to the lower edge of row B of bed modules and does not protrude laterally from them.

Instead of the movement of the upper arm 18 and lower arm 17 of the robot 15 via parallogram-like lever formations as shown in Fig. 1, the pivoting can also be effected directly with the aid of pneumatic cylinders.

Fig. 3 and 4 show a swivel mount 12 in detail for the security doors 13 in side view and in plan view;

Yl

The top view of Fig. 4 shows in the upper half the interaction of the locking bolt 19 with the associated milling 33, and the lower half of Fig. 4 shows the interaction of the probe head 36 with the milling 34, although the millings 33 and 34 are of course present on both sleeves 27a, 27b, but arranged one above the other, as can be seen in Fig. 3, and the locking bolt 19 and probe head 36 with probe roller 37 are also designed symmetrically to the center plane between the pivot axes 14a and 14b.

The swivel mount 12 is preferably located between a top plate 29 and a bottom plate 30, which are held together by vertically running screw connections 31, preferably in the four corners of the rectangular plates 29, 30, and are fastened inside the bed module 2, namely below its top side 26 .

The two pivot axes 14a, 14b protruding from the top 26, into which the safety doors 13 can be inserted and fastened in a groove, each laterally extending, extend down into the pivot mount 12, i.e. into the interior of the bed module 2.

There, transversely to the direction of the pivot axes 14a, 14b and aimed at the gap between the pivot axes 14a, 14b, a locking bolt 19 on the one hand and a feeler roller 37 on the other hand can be moved one above the other, which interact with corresponding millings on the circumference of the pivot axes 14a, 14b.

However, for reasons of ease of manufacture, these millings are not made in the outer circumference of the swivel axes 14a, 14b themselves, but in the outer circumference of sleeves 27a, 27b, which are pushed onto the swivel axes 14a, 27b in the area of the swivel mount 12, i.e. preferably in the area between the upper plate 29 and the lower plate 13, with a precise fit and are secured against relative rotation with respect to them by means of cross screws 28a, 27b.

For the locking bolt, tangential millings 33 are made on the sleeves 27a, 27b, the surfaces of which run opposite and parallel to each other when the pivot axes 14a, 14b are in the closed position of the safety doors 13a, 13b.

The locking pin 19 has a width corresponding to the distance between the milled recesses 33, so that the locking pin 19, which is connected to the piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 32, which is supplied with compressed air via a pneumatic hose 35, can be pushed into the gap between the milled recesses 33 of the sleeve 27a, 27b. In this position, the locking mechanism is self-locking, i.e. by rotating the sleeve 27a, 27b, the locking pin 19 cannot be pushed out of the gap between them, provided that the locking pin 19 reaches or even exceeds the connecting line between the centers of the pivot axes 14a, 14b.

Preferably offset vertically relative to these milled recesses 33, a touch sensor interacts with the sleeves 27a, 27b, which also points to the gap between the sleeves 27a, 27b and has a touch head 36 which is movable in this transverse direction and which has a touch roller 37 at its front free end. The touch head 37 is preferably pre-tensioned by means of spring force in the direction of the sleeves 27a, 27b, so that the touch roller 37 rests on their outer circumference.

In this height range, millings 34 are made on the sleeves 27a, 27b for the tactile 37, which - viewed in the top view of Fig. 4 over both sleeves 27a, 27b - result in a V-shaped contour with a rounding radius at the base of the V equal to or greater than the radius of the tactile 37.

However, the flanks of the V do not run exactly tangentially to the center of the sleeve 27a or 27b, but rather move away from the center points of the sleeves 27a, 27b from the base of the V towards its free ends.

If the sleeves 27a, 27b are in the closed position of the safety doors attached to them, the milled recesses 34 form the V that is half visible in Fig. 4, and the sensing roller 37 basically lies on the V contour due to its pre-tension. The sensing head 36 of the sensing sensor 20 is in its advanced position and transmits the signal "both safety doors closed" to the control of the packaging machine via the cable 38.

However, as soon as one of the safety doors of this pivot mount 12 is opened, the associated sleeve 27a or 27b is pivoted.

If one considers the sleeve 27b in Fig. 4 as an example, a pivoting movement in the clockwise direction causes the sensing roller 37 and thus the sensing head 36 to be pushed back into the touch sensor 20, since one half of the base of the V-contour pushes the sensing roller 37 back.

If the sleeve 27b is pivoted anti-clockwise, the sensing roller 37 is also pushed back against the touch sensor 20 due to the flank of the milled section 34 which does not run tangentially but obliquely outwards, which also tries to push the sensing head primarily towards the middle between the two pivot axes 14a, 14b and, due to the wedging effect, also against the touch sensor 20.

In practice, starting the packaging machine is only possible if the touch sensors 20 of all swivel mounts 12 of the packaging machine report that all swivel doors 13 are in the closed position and, as a result, all swivel doors 13 are secured in this position by means of locking bolts 19.

An additional safety device is arranged at the lower end of the sleeve 27a, 27b:

There, a nose protrudes from the base plate 30, which, when the safety latches are in the closed position, engages in a corresponding recess 40 in the sleeve 27a or 27b. The nose 39 is bevelled.
5

To open a security door, it is therefore first necessary to lift the security door slightly in order to remove the nose 39 from the recess 40. Accordingly, the milled recesses 33 and milled recesses 34 on the sleeves 27a, 27b must be designed to be higher in the vertical direction by this movement possibility than the height of the associated locking bolt 19 or the probe head 36.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Machine bed 2 Bed mode! 3 Longitudinal direction 4 Cross brace 10 5 Cross tube 6 Contact surface 7 Passage opening 8th Adjustable feet 9 Mounting opening 15 10 · - Lid &Pgr; free space 12 Panning shots 13α, b- Security door 14α, b- Swivel axis 20 15 robot 16 Housing 17 forearm 18 upper arm 19 Locking bolt 25 20 Touch sensor 21 Milling 22 inner side wall 23 outer side wall 24 Cross openings 30 25 Inner lid 26 Top

27 Sleeve 28 - Cross screw 28&agr; - Cross screw 28b - Cross screw 5 29 - Top plate 30 -- Base plate 31 Screw connections 32 Pneumatic cylinder A Row 10 B Row 33 - Milling 34 Milling 35 Pneumatic hose 36 Probe 15 37 Touch roller 38 - Cable 39 - Nose 40 Recess

Claims (11)

• ·· ·»♦· ·♦■ *« PROTECTION CLAIMS 1. "Packaging machine with a machine bed characterized in that the machine bed (1) consists of two spaced rows (A, B) of hollow bed modules (2) connected one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (3), which are kept at a distance by cross struts (4). 2. Packaging machine according to claim 1,
characterized in that the cross braces (4) are vertical flat irons and are arranged in the lower area of the bed modules (2,"'..). 3. Packaging machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the packaging machine rests on adjusting feet (8) which are arranged exclusively in the cross struts (4). 4. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that When using vertical flat irons as cross braces (4), these extend between the bed modules (2) and are screwed to the opposing contact surfaces (6, 6') of two bed modules (2, T) arranged one behind the other. 5. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ·· tit ·*· the bed modules (2) are box profiles with a closed cross-section and have large-area assembly openings (9) on at least one side surface, in particular the outer side surface (23), which are closed with covers (10).
5 6. -Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the bed modules (2) have through-openings (7) for electrical cables and other lines on the contact surfaces (6, 6') facing each other and the electrical and, if applicable, pneumatic control components (K) are arranged in the bed modules (2). 7. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that in the free space (11) between the two rows (A, B) of bed modules (2) and above the cross struts (4) or cross tubes (5), other parts of the machine, in particular those running in the longitudinal direction (3) of the packaging machine, in particular conveyor belts, transport chains, etc., are arranged. 8. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the bed modules (2) in the area of the outer corners a swivel mount (12) for at least one swivel axis (14) of a Safety door (13) of the packaging machine.
25 9. Packaging machine according to claim 8, characterized in that each swivel mount (12) has two swivel axes (14a, 14b) for two Safety doors (13a, 13b) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (3)
30 18 10. Packaging machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the two pivot axes (14a, 14b) with a round cross-section have milled recesses (33) directed towards one another in the area of the pivot mount (12), which are arranged in such a way that a positive pivot locking of the pivot axes (14a, 14b) is provided by means of a common locking bolt (19) inserted transversely between the pivot axes (14a, 14b). 11. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the packaging machine comprises at least one robot (15), whose in particular tower-shaped robot housing (�I&oacgr;) is arranged in at least one of the rows (A, B) between successive bed modules (2", 2'") and is firmly connected to them.