WO2019011477A1 - DEVICE FOR APPLYING OUTPUT ELEMENTS WITH MEANS FOR ADJUSTING AN APPLICATOR TO DIFFERENTLY HIGH PACKAGES AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AN APPLICATOR - Google Patents

Abstract

Shown and described are a device for applying pouring elements (F) to filled and sealed packs (P), in particular carton / plastic composite packs, with means for setting an applicator (A) to packs (P) of different heights, wherein the applicator ( A) comprises a plurality of stations for receiving one pack (P), and wherein the packs (P) are supported by means of a support unit from below and a method for setting an applicator (A) on different high packs. In order to enable the necessary adjustment with the least possible effort in the shortest possible time and to largely automate the Umrüstvorgang when changing a package format, it is provided that the applicator (A) and the support unit are formed in their entirety relative to each other in height adjustable and that the Supporting unit comprises a plurality of supporting platforms (9) mounted on the support unit, for supporting in each case one in a gripping device (GU) of the station of the applicator (A) transported pack (P) from below, wherein the number of supporting platforms (9) of the number the gripping means (GU) of the applicator (A) corresponds.

Description

 Device for applying pouring elements with means for setting an applicator on different height packages and method for

 Adjusting an applicator

The invention relates to a device for applying pouring elements to filled and sealed packs, in particular carton / plastic composite packs, with means for setting an applicator on differently high packs, wherein the applicator has a plurality of stations for receiving one pack, and wherein the packages are supported by means of a support unit from below. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for

Setting an applicator on different height packs.

Applicators for applying pouring elements to already filled and sealed packages have long been known in practice in a wide variety of construction methods. Due to the large number of different pack sizes and

Packing formats must be the known applicators when changing a

 Pack type can always be set to the geometric dimensions of the new pack type, which sometimes considerable set-up times and a corresponding time and cost required. In the present case, the term "pouring elements" is to be understood as meaning not only pure pouring elements, but also reclosable pouring elements of all kinds, which today usually serve as pouring elements at the same time.

Since the applicators in question are often cell chains or others

Have receiving stations for the packs to be transported, one has already gone over, different pack formats with the same cross section through to provide a change only to the height of the package in order to maintain the required footprint in the cell or station can. In this case, only the bottom of the cell or station shifts in consideration of the height of each to be applied with a pouring pack.

The invention is therefore based on the object to design an apparatus for adjusting an applicator for applying pouring elements on filled and sealed packages on different package heights in such a way and further that the necessary adjustment with the least possible effort in the shortest possible time is possible. Furthermore, it is desirable to largely automate the changeover process when changing a package format.

This object is achieved in a device with the features of claim 1, characterized in that the applicator and the support unit are formed relative to each other in height adjustable. A corresponding method is emerging

According to the invention, the support unit, which supports the packs from below, is simultaneously adjustable in height relative to the applicator, and in that the support unit has a plurality of support pedestals mounted on the support unit, each around a pack transported in a gripper device of the station of the applicator to support from below, wherein the number of supporting platforms corresponds to the number of gripping means of the applicator. This is especially useful for larger applicators and confined spaces, as here

Supporting platforms can be used which are the same size as, or even slightly smaller than, the package bottom are formed so that the support means below the stations have an extremely small size.

According to the invention, the support unit can be adjusted in its entirety in one step in its height to the applicator in order to make a quick format change can. For this purpose, the applicator after completion of the package feed only be driven freely, whereupon directly adjust the uniform adjustment of the entire support means for all packing stations, so that after a extremely short and reliable conversion can be started with the supply of packages in the new format.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the support unit is designed as a turntable and that the turntable on a first frame of

Device is stored. In this case, preferably, the turntable on a bottom ring, which has distributed over a first circumference arranged support arms which carry a support ring which engages around the applicator and on which the support pedestals are arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference. By this solution, the actual applicator is not hindered by the appropriately designed support means in its function and it can be a simultaneous adjustment of all support pedestals by raising or lowering of the turntable effect without the stations of the

Applicator would have to be retrofitted individually.

In a further preferred embodiment, the bottom ring by means of a

Bearing unit mounted on a base frame of the first frame. In this case, the bottom ring can be driven by a drive, wherein the rotational speed of the bottom ring corresponds to the rotational speed of the applicator. In this way, a complete mechanical decoupling of support means and applicator is possible, which creates the necessary conditions for the uniform and rapid adjustment of all supporting bases according to the invention.

According to another teaching of the invention, the applicator is designed as a rotary and stored on a second frame of the device. For this purpose, the second frame preferably has a bearing plate on which the applicator is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis by means of a bearing unit. The device thus has a first frame with the turntable and a second frame with the applicator, wherein in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first frame is leveled on the ground and the second frame means Lifting devices can be raised and lowered vertically within the first frame.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the

Have lifting devices spindles, so that a uniform adjustment of the second frame is made possible during the adjustment by a synchronous rotation of the spindles.

Furthermore, the device preferably has three lifting devices. In this way it is ensured that by this "three-point storage" the lifting devices not only the height adjustment but at the same time can also take a supporting function for the second frame.

It has already been stated that in the method according to the invention for setting an applicator to different-sized packing formats, the support unit supporting the packs from below is adjustable in its entirety relative to the applicator in terms of height. It is preferred according to a further embodiment of the

Invention arranged the support unit within the device at a fixed height, while the height of the applicator is adjusted. This alternative adjustment is therefore preferred because the level of the support platforms always at the level of

Transport elements for the supplied and auszuschleusenden packs is arranged, the packing trays are always transported in a same predetermined height. However, it is also possible according to the invention that, alternatively, the applicator can be arranged within the device at a fixed height, the height of the support device being adjusted.

It is also possible that in the height adjustment of the applicator, the height of the lateral guides in the feeder and discharge device for the

Packs with misaligned. This is particularly useful, especially at higher Packages ensure the highest possible lateral guidance of the packs to be transported so that the packs can not fluctuate on their transport path.

The invention will now be described with reference to a purely preferred

Embodiment illustrative drawing explained in more detail.

In the drawing show

1 shows a device according to the invention in plan view,

2 shows a vertical section through the device according to the invention along the line II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows the first frame and the second frame of the invention

 Device (without adapter and support device) in perspective

View,

Fig. 4 shows the first frame of the device according to the invention with

 Support device in perspective view and

Fig. 5 shows the second frame of the device according to the invention with

 (partially populated) adapter in perspective view.

The illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and so far preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention initially shows a first frame 1, which defines a cuboid and stands on unspecified support feet on the ground.

Inside the first frame 1 there is a slightly smaller inner frame 2, which has a substantially prism-shaped structure with three "sides." It serves to receive an applicator A, which is designed as a rotary and has a plurality of Processing stations with gripping means GU for the to be provided with a pouring element F packages P, as shown in particular in FIG. 2 can be seen. The applicator A is located in one in the upper of the second frame 2

Bearing plate 4 rotatably supported about a vertical axis of rotation 5.

The packs P supplied one after the other are fed to the individual stations of the applicator A in a feed device IF and leave the applicator A with the aid of a discharge device OF which, however, is largely covered by the second frame 2 in FIG.

From Fig. 2 it is further apparent that the first frame 1 in its lower region has a base frame 3, which serves for the storage of a support means which the individual packages P below the applicator in the positions of

Gripping devices GU supported from below. For this purpose, the support means initially on a bottom ring 6, on which a plurality of support arms 7 is arranged distributed over the circumference. The support arms 7 in turn support a support ring 8, from which protrude individual support platforms 9. The support platforms 9 correspond in their number and location to the overlying gripping means GU of the applicator A. The bottom ring 6 of the support means in the region of the base frame 3 by means of a bearing unit 10, wherein the bottom ring 6 is driven separately by means of a drive 11 in order Actuation of the applicator A with the same

Rotate peripheral speed as that of the applicator A. The applicator A in turn is mounted by means of a bearing unit 12 at the upper region of the second frame 2 by the bearing plate 4 already mentioned there. Both the applicator A and the support device thereby rotate about the vertical axis of rotation 5. According to the invention, the applicator A is now adjusted with respect to the support means such that the entire second frame 2 by means of lifting devices 13 and corresponding lifting spindles 14 in the first frame 1 can be raised and lowered vertically.

This adjustability can be seen particularly clearly in FIG. 3, in which the first frame 1 and the second frame 2 located therein without applicator A and

 Support device are shown in perspective. It can be seen three lifting devices 13, which are arranged by means of receptacles 15 on the lower struts of the first frame 1 and extending vertically upwards, the spindles 14 acting by means of support brackets 16 on the vertical struts of the second frame 2, whereby the second frame 2 within of the first frame 1 is vertically adjustable.

For a better overview, the first frame 1 and the support unit as well as the second frame 2 and the applicator A located therein are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 individually

shown in perspective.

Thus, FIG. 4 clearly shows the structure of the support unit, which consists of a bottom ring 6, support arms 7 located thereon, a support ring 8 and a plurality of individual support pedestals 9, the number and location of which (not in FIG. 4) represented) individual stations of the applicator A correspond. FIG. 4 also clearly shows the structure and the position of the lower base frame 3 of the first frame 1. By building this preferred

In the embodiment, the plane of the upper surfaces of the support platforms 9 (and thus the plane of the pack bottoms of the packages in the applicator supported therefrom) always runs in a predetermined horizontal plane.

From Fig. 5 finally shows that the second frame 2 carries the applicator A, of which only two individual gripping devices GU are shown for clarity. Above the gripping devices, the actual application devices AU are indicated, which provide for the application of the pouring elements on the packs. However, in order that the applicator A and the packs P with the same cross-sectional area can handle different package heights, the entire second frame 2, together with the applicator A, is moved vertically in the interior of the first frame 1. For this purpose, the first frame 2 has three arranged on the outer sides of the vertical struts

Support bracket 16, which are arranged exactly above corresponding receptacles 15 on the first frame 1 (see Fig .. 4) via (not shown) lifting devices.

From Fig. 5 also clearly shows that the center column 17 of the applicator A, which, as already mentioned, is mounted on the bearing plate 4 in the upper region of the second frame 2.

Finally, it can be clearly seen in FIG. 5 (as well as in FIG. 3) that a mounting plate 18 is connected to the second frame 2 via a support device 19, 20. The mounting plate 18 serves to receive lateral guides both the feeder IF and the discharge device OF, which in a vertical

Adjustment with the applicator be adjusted in height, so that the

Applicator A supplied and discharged packs P can always be guided laterally in its upper part. As can be seen from Fig. 1, both the

Feed device IF and the discharge device OF provided with cam tracks whose outer sides both facing in the direction of the mounting plate 18. In this way, an optimal adjustment of the applicator A is guaranteed to changing heights of the packs P to be processed.

Claims

claims Device for applying pouring elements (F) to filled and sealed packs (P), in particular carton / plastic composite packs, with means for setting an applicator (A) to packs (P) of different heights, the applicator (A) having a plurality of Having stations for receiving one pack (P) each, and wherein the packs (P) are supported by means of a support unit from below, characterized in that the applicator (A) and the support unit are adjustable in height relative to one another in their entirety, and in that the support unit has a plurality of supporting platforms (9) fastened on the support unit, in each case one in a gripping device (GU) of the station of the applicator (FIG. A) to support transported package (P) from below, wherein the number of supporting platforms (9) corresponds to the number of gripping means (GU) of the applicator (A). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support unit is designed as a turntable and that the turntable is mounted on a first frame (1) of the device. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the turntable has a bottom ring (6) which has distributed over an outer circumference arranged support arms (7) which carry a support ring (8) which engages around the applicator (A) and on which the support pedestals (9) evenly distributed over the circumference are arranged. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom ring (6) is mounted by means of a bearing unit (10) on a base frame (3) of the first frame (1). Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the bottom ring (6) is driven by a drive (11). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the applicator (A) is designed as a rotary and is mounted on a second frame (2) of the device. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the second frame (2) has a bearing plate (4) on which the applicator (A) is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (5) by means of a bearing unit (12). Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the first frame (1) is leveling on the ground and that the second frame (2) by means of lifting devices (13) within the first frame (1) is vertically movable up and down. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the lifting devices (13) comprise spindles (14). 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9,  characterized in that  the device comprises three lifting devices (13). 11. A method for setting an applicator (A) of a device according to one of claims 1 to 10 on different height packs (P),  characterized in that  the pack (P) supporting from below support unit in its entirety relative to the applicator (A) in height is adjustable. 12. The method according to claim 11,  characterized in that  the support unit is disposed within the device at a fixed height while the height of the applicator (A) is adjusted. 13. The method according to claim 11,  characterized in that  the applicator (A) is disposed within the device at a fixed height while the height of the support means is adjusted.