WO2002022349A1 - Assembly and/or monitoring device for folding containers and method for operation of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly and/or monitoring device (1) and a method of operating the same for folding containers (2), in particular made from plastic formed pieces with a base section (3) and fixable longitudinal and transverse side walls (4, 5), with a transport device (11) for the transport of the folding container (2). Assembly devices (17) and fixing devices (24) are provided in a positioning and/or assembly station (14). A monitoring device (26) is arranged after the positioning and/or assembly station (14) in the transport direction (13) of the folding container (2). The fixing device (24) and/or monitoring device (26) is/are arranged on a support device (18). Said device may be adjusted by means of a vertical guide device (19) and a height adjustment device (20), from a transport plane (16) formed by the transport device (11) to a direction perpendicular to the above.

Description

Erecting and / or testing device for folding containers and method for operating such a container

The invention relates to an erection and / or testing device, as described in the preamble of claim 1, and a method for operating the erection and / or testing device according to the invention, as described in the preamble of claim 33.

From DE 299 05 588 UI a device for erecting boxes made of cardboard blanks is known, in which a conveyor belt feeds blanks into an erector and the

Blanks are positioned in this and the blanks are shaped into boxes by erecting side parts by means of a die and the position of the side parts is fixed by means of a gluing device.

The object of the invention is to provide an erection and / or testing device and

Determine measures to achieve the erection and testing of folding containers with different heights of the longitudinal and transverse side walls without the need for time-consuming retrofitting of the erecting and / or testing device. This object of the invention is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1 for the device and the measures in claim 33. The surprising advantage here is that by arranging a locking device and / or the test device on a height-adjustable carrying device, which can be positioned in different vertical positions in relation to the transport plane specified by the transport device, folding containers of this type which have a different holding volume in successive containers Batches can be set up and checked, the changeover process being carried out by specifying the required height distance of the carrying device from the transport level.

An advantageous embodiment is also possible, as described in claim 2, because it provides technically mature and less susceptible devices.

However, an embodiment according to claim 3 is also advantageous because this achieves an exact position coordination of the devices arranged in the erection station and required for the ready-to-use erection of the folding containers. A further advantageous embodiment is described in claim 4, which eliminates subsequent stations and thus time-consuming further positioning.

According to the advantageous embodiment according to claim 5, short cycle times are achieved by superimposing adjustment measures.

An embodiment according to claim 6 is advantageous, as a result of which a direct movement is carried out without further mechanical components.

According to the advantageous development, as described in claim 7, a free entry of the folding containers into the erection station is achieved.

An embodiment is also possible, as described in claim 8, because this prevents mutual influencing or blocking of the actuators in the case of overlapping longitudinal side walls.

According to the advantageous developments, as described in claims 9 and 10, storage is achieved in which a pivot axis for pivoting the pivot arms with a pivot axis of a pivot arrangement, in which the transverse side wall is pivotally mounted on the base part, is congruent and thus Relative movements or stresses in the components can be avoided.

According to the advantageous embodiment as described in claim 11, individual drives are avoided and simultaneous driving of the swivel arms is achieved.

However, an embodiment according to claim 12 is also possible, as a result of which simple drive elements are used.

According to the advantageous developments, as described in claims 13 to 15, a short changeover time for erecting folding containers equipped with walls of different heights is achieved.

Due to the advantageous designs, as described in claims 16 and 17, the coupling devices connecting the longitudinal and transverse side walls are reliably locked, with pre-positioning by an intermittent movement of the pliers of coupling elements and in the case of a further, preferably abrupt pliers movement, the coupling elements are properly engaged.

Further advantageous developments are described in claims 18 to 20, because the erection and / or testing device can thereby be quickly adapted to folding containers provided with longitudinal and transverse side walls of different heights.

However, training according to claims 21 to 24 is also advantageous, because it enables a quick and reliable check of the ready-to-use condition of the folding containers.

Advantageous further developments are also possible, as described in the claims 25 to 27, as a result of which any labels remaining in receptacles on the transverse sides are reliably removed from the previous use and the folding containers are thus prepared for re-labeling.

The formation of a central supply device, as described in claim 28, is also advantageous, since it can minimize the equipment outlay required for maintaining the function of the individual parts, in particular storage points and / or guide points.

According to the advantageous solution described in claim 29, a positively driven control is achieved which ensures short cycle times for erection in the range of a few seconds.

However, training according to claims 30 and 31 is also advantageous because additional functions, e.g. Monitoring of individual processes and their redesign, but also logging is simplified.

Finally, an embodiment according to claim 32 is also advantageous, as a result of which it is possible to operate and monitor several such erection and / or testing devices in parallel with one operating and / or monitoring device.

However, the object of the invention is also to specify a method for operating an erection and / or testing device according to the invention, which has a short throughput time for the erection walls of a collapsible container and a reliable final check for the operational readiness of the collapsible container.

This object of the invention is achieved by the characterizing measures of claim 33. The surprising advantage here is that in a fully automated process

Pass the containers upright and leave the erection and / or testing facility ready for use without a final inspection to be carried out manually.

For a better understanding of the invention, this will be explained in more detail using the exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a fiction, contemporary erection and / or testing device in side view.

2 shows a detailed view of the erecting and / or testing device according to the invention;

3 shows a detailed view of a locking device in view;

4 shows a detailed view of an erecting device for the longitudinal side wall;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of an erecting device for the transverse side wall.

As an introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component names. The position information selected in the description, such as, for example, top, bottom, side, etc., are also related to the figure described and illustrated immediately, and are to be transferred analogously to the new position when the position changes. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions. 1 and 2, an erection and / or testing device 1 for so-called folding containers 2, in particular made of molded plastic parts, is shown. These consist of a base part 3 and longitudinal side walls 4 and transverse side walls 5 which are connected to this in an articulated manner. The erecting and / or testing device 1 has a riot! Surface 6 supported machine frame 7, in which, in a preferred embodiment, a control device 10, which is operated via a central drive motor 8 and is designed as a link control 9, is arranged. A transport device 11, for example chain conveyor, belt conveyor etc., is arranged on the machine frame 7, which is also driven by the central drive motor 8 via an intermediate gear 12 and a chain drive or belt drive, and the cyclical feed of the on the transport device 11, for example from a not further illustrated

Unstacking device or separating device delivered folding container 2 in a conveying direction - according to arrow 13 - causes. The folding containers 2 are in the collapsed state, that is to say that the longitudinal side walls 4 and transverse side walls 5 are folded approximately in a parallel position to the base part 3 and overlap it. The folding containers 2, which generally have a rectangular plan area, are preferably conveyed with their longitudinal extension transverse to the conveying direction - according to arrow 13 - and transported by the transport device 11 into a positioning and / or erecting station 14. In this, adjustable stop and / or positioning elements 15 are arranged, which can be swiveled out of a transport plane 16 specified by the transport device 11 for positioning the supplied folding container 2. On the machine frame 7 in the positioning and / or erection station 14 erection devices 17 for the Längssei walls 4 and 5 for the transverse side walls 5 are stored. Covering the positioning and / or erection station 14 is a frame-shaped support device 18, which can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the transport plane 16 via a vertical guide device 19 and a height adjustment device 20, for example an electromotive-operated spindle drive 21, the vertical guide device 19, for example formed by guide columns 22 arranged on the machine frame 7, on which the carrying device 18 is adjustably mounted by means of guide bushes 23. The frame-shaped support device 18 is equipped with locking device 24 associated with corner areas of the folding container 2, which is formed from pliers device 25 actuated with a pressure medium, which for locking an existing coupling device between the longitudinal side walls 4 and transverse side walls 5, the folding container 2 after erecting the longitudinal side walls 4 and Transverse sidewalls 5 overlap them like a pliers and pre-position the coupling device with an intermittent pliers movement and engage them with another sudden pliers movement. The positioning and / or erection station 14 in the conveying direction - according to arrow 13 - is followed by a test device 26, in which a test of the folding container 2 takes place to determine to what extent the locking of the coupling device between the longitudinal side walls 4 and transverse side walls 5 has been carried out correctly. This test device 26 essentially consists of cylinders 27 arranged on the carrying device 18, which can be acted upon by a pressure medium, which form a push or pull arrangement 28 with which a deformation force is applied to the transverse side walls 5 in the direction of an interior of the folding container 2. The deformation path covered when the deformation force is applied is determined by means of a measuring device 29 and the folding container is discharged from the passage as not properly locked if a predetermined dimension is exceeded.

Such an elimination process can e.g. by an ejector, not shown, e.g. a pressurized cylinder, which takes place after the test device 26 in the event of a negative test.

If the test is successful, the erected folding containers 2 arrive at a removal station 30 of the transport device 11, from which they are removed manually or automatically, as not shown, and, if necessary, stacked.

Due to the design of the height-adjustable support device 18, a changeover from one type of container to another, with a different height of the side walls, can be carried out in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, it is easily possible to bring the pliers device 25 into position, precisely by adjusting the carrying device 18 - on which the pliers devices 25 are fastened - in order to bring them into engagement and to carry out the locking process.

3 shows in detail one of the pliers 25 in engagement in a corner region 31 of the folding container 2 for locking the longitudinal side wall 4 with the transverse side wall 5 in a coupling device 32 shown for example. The pliers device 25 fastened on the height-adjustable carrying device 18 consists of a housing-shaped support 33 which supports two pliers elements 35 which engage via toothed segments 34 and can be pivoted in opposite directions. One of the pliers elements 35 is drive-connected to a piston rod 36 of a pressure cylinder 37 which can be pressurized with a pressure medium and which is articulated on the carrier 33 via pivot bearings 38. In order to engage coupling elements of coupling device 32 of opposite design, the tong device 25 is brought into engagement with the corner area 31 when the tong elements 35 are opened by lowering the carrying device 18 and a pre-positioning of the coupling device 32 is achieved by actuating the pressure cylinder 37 for the first time and by increasing the Pressure or by opening the pliers device 25 and, if necessary, suddenly closing a perfect engagement of the coupling elements is achieved.

4, the erection device 17 for the longitudinal side wall 4 is shown in detail. In the provided state of the folding container 2, the longitudinal side walls 4 are in a position parallel to the base part 3, the transverse side walls 5 being arranged between the base part 3 and the longitudinal side walls 4. When the folding container 2 is erected, the longitudinal side walls 4 are to be adjusted to the upright position in a first step. In the exemplary embodiment shown for the erecting and / or testing device 1 according to the invention, each corner region 31 of the folding container 2 is such an erecting device

17 assigned and attached to the machine frame 7 or the transport device 11 (not shown in Fig. 4). The erecting device 17 is essentially formed by a rotary driver 40 which is actuated by means of a rotary drive 39 and which can be brought into engagement in an end recess 41 via a linear actuator 42. A support housing 43 is pivotally supported on the machine frame 7 via a pivot bearing 44, wherein a

Extension 45 of the support housing 43 is also mounted on the machine frame 7 via a spring-elastic support means 46, a freely floating position of a pivot axis 47 being achieved to compensate for any differences in position. Otherwise, the arrangement is selected such that the pivot axis 47 of the rotary drive 39 is aligned with an axis of rotation 48, about which the longitudinal side wall 4 can be pivoted relative to the base part 3.

5 shows an erection device 17 for erecting one of the transverse side walls 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the transverse side wall 5 is shown in a position that is parallel to the base part 3, that is to say folded in position. The erecting device 17 consists of a swivel arm 50 which is pivotally mounted on the machine frame via a parallelogram lever arrangement 49 and which is drive-connected to the link control and a single drive via a push rod 51 in drive connection. The swivel angle of the swivel arm 50 is designed for 90 °. In the direction of a longitudinal extension of the swivel arm 50, a linear guide 52 is provided, on which a gripping element 53 is adjustably mounted by means of, for example, a rodless cylinder 54. The gripping element 53 comprises with a hook-shaped extension 55 a front end region 56 of the transverse side wall 5. When actuating the drive arrangement and carrying out the pivoting movement by means of the push rod 51 and the parallelogram lever arrangement 49, the pivot arm 50 is pivoted into a position perpendicular to the transport plane, the Transverse side wall 5 is erected. The design of the parallelogram lever arrangement 49 is chosen so that a pivot axis formed thereby is congruent with the axis of rotation 48. Due to the adjustability of the gripping elements 53 on the swivel arm 50, transverse side walls 5 of different heights can now be erected, with fixed positions being predefined for the gripping element 53 as a function of the respective container type, so that a changeover from one container type to the other can be carried out quickly.

As can still be seen from FIG. 2, label extractors 57 are optionally arranged in the testing device 26 on the machine frame, with which any identification carriers 58 are removed from receptacles 59 arranged on the transverse side walls 5. These label lifters 57 are provided with suction heads 60, cylinders 61 loaded with pressure medium, which are pivotably mounted on the machine frame 7, the suction head 60 carrying out a superimposed linear / rotary movement and removing the identification carrier 58 upward from the receptacle 59 from an angled starting position.

In general, it can also be ascertained that bearing points and guideways are supplied with lubricant by a central supply device 62, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the erecting and / or testing device 1 is provided with the link control 9 and a central drive motor 8. Of course, such an erection and / or testing device 1 can also be equipped with individual drives, so that control devices 10, formed from freely programmable controls or computers, can be used, and such a control device 10 can also be in line connection with external operating and / or monitoring devices.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that, for better understanding of the erection and / or testing device 1, these or their components have been partially shown to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced. The object on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description.

Above all, the individual in FIGS. 1, 2; 3; 4; 5 shown designs and measures form the subject of independent, inventive solutions. The relevant tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

B e z u g s z e i c h e n a u f s t e l l u n g

Erecting and / or testing device 41 Recess folding container 42 Actuator base part 43 Support housing longitudinal side wall 44 Swivel bearing transverse side wall 45 Extension footprint 46 Support means machine frame 47 Swivel axis drive motor 48 Rotation axis link control 49 Parallelogram lever arrangement control device 50 Swivel arm transport device 51 Push rod intermediate gear 52 linear guide arrow 53 Gripping element positioning and / / or erection station 54 cylinder stop and / or positioning element 55 extension transport plane 56 end region of erection device 57 label lifter support device 58 identification carrier vertical guide device 59 holder for height adjustment device 60 suction head

Spindle drove 61 cylinders

Guide pillar 62 supply device

guide bush

locking device

forceps device

test equipment

cylinder

Push or train arrangement

measuring device

removal station

corner

coupling device

carrier

toothed segment

pincer member

piston rod

pressure cylinder

pivot bearing

rotary drive

rotary drivers

Claims

Patent claims 1. erection and / or testing device (1) for a from a bottom part (3) and lockable longitudinal and transverse side walls (4, 5), in particular made of molded plastic parts, formed folding container (2) with a transport device (11) for the transport of Folding container (2) in an approximately flat starting position and with a positioning and / or erection station (14) which is provided with erection devices (17) and locking devices (24), characterized in that the positioning and / or erection station (14) In the transport direction (13) of the folding container (2) a test device (26) is arranged downstream and the locking device (24) and / or test device (26) on a carrying device (18) is or are arranged, which is or can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to this via a vertical guide device (19) and a height adjusting device (20) from a transport plane (16) formed by the transport device (11). 2. Erecting and / or testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport device (11) by means provided with driving means, e.g. Belt conveyor or chain conveyor, is formed. 3. erection and / or testing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the positioning and / or erection station (14) opposite the transport plane (16) and optionally stop elements and / or positioning elements (15) which are adjustable relative to a transport direction (13). 4. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one erecting device (17) for the longitudinal side walls (4) and transverse side walls (5) in the positioning and / or erecting station ( 14) is provided. 5. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that erecting means of the erecting device (17) for the longitudinal side walls (4) by pivoting about parallel to the longitudinal side walls (4) pivot axes (47) and Rotatable drivers (40) which can be set on the longitudinal side walls (4) in the direction of the pivot axis (47) are formed. 6. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that drives of the rotary drivers (40) are formed by rotary drives (39) which can be acted upon with a pressure medium, for example compressed air. 7. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary drivers (40) having Rotary drives (39) are arranged so as to be adjustable in the swivel axis direction via linear actuators (42). 8. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuators (42) are spring-elastically supported in the positioning and / or erecting station (14). 9. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that erecting means of the erecting device (17) for the transverse side walls (5) are formed by swivel arms (50). 10. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swivel arms (50) are pivotably mounted via a parallelogram lever arrangement (49) and a swivel axis formed thereby with an axis of rotation (48), around which the transverse side wall (5) is pivoted when erecting runs congruently. 11. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a drive arrangement of the swivel arms (50) by at least one of a central drive motor (8) actuated cam and Push rod (51) is formed. 12. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that drives of the swivel arms (50) are formed by linear actuators. 13. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the swivel arms (50) in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the swivel arms (50) adjustable, with hook-shaped extensions (55) provided gripping elements (53) are arranged , 14. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping elements (53) via cylinders (54) acted upon by the pressure medium are adjustable. 15. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping elements (53) in linear guides (52) of the swivel arms (50) are adjustably mounted. 16. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking devices (24) by a corner area (31) of the folding container (2) or overlap area of the longitudinal side walls (4) with the transverse side walls (5) on the carrying device (18) which is assigned and adjustable and can be actuated by means of a drive pliers device (25) is formed. 17. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive of the tong device (25) causes intermittent movements of tong elements 35. 18. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical guide device (19) for the Carrier device (18) is formed by guide columns (22) arranged on a machine frame (7) of the positioning and / or erection station (14) or the transport device (11), on which the carrier device (18) is adjustably mounted via guide bushes (23) , 19. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height adjustment device (20) for the carrying device (18) is formed by a motorized, in particular electromotive, spindle drive (21). 20. erection and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an adjustment path of the height adjustment device (20) can be predetermined by a control device. 21. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the testing device (26) by one of the transverse side walls (5) and a deformation force in the direction of the transport plane (16) parallel and directed towards each other exerting this push or pull arrangement (28) is formed. 22. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the testing device (26) is a measuring device (29) for the displacement of the push or pull arrangement (28) covered when the deformation force is applied. 23. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the push or pull arrangement (28) is formed by cylinders (27) loaded with a pressure medium. 24. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that actuators of the cylinder are provided with the transverse side walls (5) in a front end area of the driver. 25. erection and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims ,. characterized in that in the area of the test device (26) label extractors (57) for identification carriers arranged in receptacles of the transverse side walls (5) (58) are provided. 26. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the label lifters (57) are formed by cylinders (61) provided with a pressure medium and provided with suction heads (60). 27. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinders (61) are pivotally mounted on the machine frame (7). 28. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that bearing points and / or guide points are connected to the line with a central supply device (62) for lubricant. 29. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding the claims, characterized in that a control device (10) of the erecting and / or testing device (1) is formed by a link control (9) operated by a central drive motor. 30. erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is formed by a freely programmable control. 31. Erecting and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is formed by a computer. 32. erection and / or testing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is line-connected to an operating and / or monitoring device. 33. Method for operating an erecting and / or testing device (1) for folding containers (2), in particular made of molded plastic parts, characterized in that for erecting longitudinal and transverse side walls (4, 5) of the folding containers (2) on a Transport device (11) are cyclically fed to a positioning and / or erection station (14), are positioned in this by adjustable stop and / or positioning elements (15) and first erection devices (17) remove the longitudinal side walls (4) from a horizontal one Bottom part (3) parallel position are adjusted to a position perpendicular to it and then further erection devices (17) adjust the transverse side walls (5) from a horizontal position parallel to the bottom part (3) to a position perpendicular to it and then Forceps devices (2.) arranged on a carrying device (18) which is adjustable in the vertical direction relative to a transport plane (16) 5) corner regions (31) of the folding containers (2) are brought into overlapping engagement and by actuating pliers elements (35) coupling elements of a coupling device (32) are brought into engagement between the longitudinal side walls (4) and the transverse side walls (5), after which the folding containers (2) are fed with the transport device (11) to a downstream test device (26) and in this a deformation path of the transverse side walls (5) is determined by means of a measuring device (29) and if necessary in receptacles (59) of the transverse side walls (5) arranged label carriers (58) are removed by means of a label extractor (57) and the folding containers (2) of a removal station (30) for delivery are supplied and, if necessary, the folding containers (2) are excreted when a predetermined setpoint for the deformation path of the transverse side walls (5) is exceeded.