EP1749748A1 - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has two units (14, 15) for upright setting of folded box, two empty box-feeding chain conveyors (16, 17), two filling rows (19, 20), an empty box-sequential cycling unit (18), and a linear axis system (21) for filling of folded box. A shuttle control system (8) is provided for the shuttles. The linear axis system completely empties a respective shuttle. The machine empties only the completely filled shuttles.

Description

The demand for single-serve automatic machines for the production of hot drinks is constantly growing. The technical progress enables ever more comfortable and powerful devices. Simply place a single serving (disc or pad) in the device and press the start button shortly. After about 30 seconds, the drink is ready.

Several packaged individual portions are combined into stacks and placed in a carton on the market.

The object of the invention is to develop a packaging machine, which ensures the longest possible operation of the packaging machine.

This object is achieved by a packaging machine according to claim 1. If two and two empty box feeder transporters and one empty box infeed are provided, the packaging machine can nevertheless be operated in a restricted manner by the folder feeder of the other feeder if one folding box erectile converter fails, possibly with a reduction of the overall output.

In a further development of the invention, the packaging machine comprises a system for preparing stacks of single-portion receiving shuttles, a shuttle transport system with conveyor belts, a shuttle control system, incomplete shuttle unloading station, incomplete shuttles correction station, carton erector, empty box feed chain conveyor, filling line and a system for filling cartons. Supplied stacks of single portions can be put in shuttles. The filling can be controlled. Only fully filled shuttles can be emptied. This ensures fully automatic packaging of stacks of single portions in cartons.

In the context of the invention, a filling train is understood to mean the processing area in which erected, opened and empty folding boxes are moved by means of a conveyor belt to the filling device for filling with stacks of individual portions, stopped there and filled away by this device.

If a 2/1-club is intended for shuttles, two shuttles can be prepared at the same time and put on a conveyor belt one after the other.

In the context of the invention, a 2/1 club is understood to mean that two prepared shuttles are pushed one after the other onto the conveyor belt.

In the context of the invention, a shuttle is understood to mean a carrier, basket or similar auxiliary device for secure reception for transporting stacks of individual portions.

If carton erectors and two fillers are provided, this will increase the efficiency of the packaging machine.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht der Verpackungsmaschine;

Figur 2

ein Shuttle;

Figur 3

einen Leerschachtel-Zuführkettentransporteur;

Figur 4

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt des Leerschachtel-Zuführkettentransporteurs.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawing and will be described with reference to the figures of the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1

a plan view of the packaging machine;

FIG. 2

a shuttle;

FIG. 3

a blank box feed chain transporter;

FIG. 4

an enlarged section of the empty box Zuführkettentransporteurs.

According to FIG. 1 , a packaging machine 1 essentially comprises the following processing stations: a linear transmission system 2 for shuttle preparation , a 2/1 unit 3, a shuttle transport system with conveyor belts 4 to 7, a shuttle control system 8, a discharge station with a pusher 9, a correction station 10 with pushers 11 to 13, a first folder erector 14 and a second folder erector 15, a first empty box feed chain conveyor 16 and a second empty box feed chain conveyor 17, a blank box infeed 18, a first filling line 19, a second filling line 20, a linear feed system 21 for filling Faltschachteln, discharge belts 22, 23, a Umwerfstation 24 and a shuttle return transport system 25 and a checkweigher 34. In the figure 1 show arrows 26, from which only one is provided with a reference numeral, the respective transport directions of the shuttles.

According to FIG. 1, four to twelve rows of twelve stacks 27 of individual portions (pads) for a hot beverage system are initially delivered, depending on the design.

Subsequently, two rows of twelve stacks are formed by the linear axis system 2. The linear axis system 2 has a gripping head with a tool for twenty-four stacks (two rows of twelve stacks). Alternately, twenty-four stacks (two rows of twelve stacks each) are removed and placed in two shuttles 28 provided with the narrow sides to each other. Each Shuttle 28 can accommodate two rows of six stacks.

After filling, the shuttles 28 are pushed out by means of the 2/1-Vereinigers 3 and combined on the shuttle conveyor belt 4.

For the shuttles 28, the shuttle control system 8 is provided. In each case a shuttle 28 is positioned in the shuttle control system 8.

A laser scan from above checks each stack in shuttle 28. The lasers arranged above a shuttle 28 measure the height of each stack and determine how many individual portions each stack consists of (see also FIG. 2). A read / write device of the shuttle control system 8 then writes this information onto a chip attached to the shuttle 28. Each Shuttle 28 is equipped with a writable chip.

A freely adjustable value allows the operator to specify when refilling is no longer worthwhile. These shuttles 28 'are routed through the system and removed from the system by the return transport system 25. Not completely filled shuttles 28 'are pushed by means of the pusher 9 to a separate storage section 5 and wait there for refilling. The chips of the shuttles 28 'pushed into the storage line are read out in order to recognize what has to be refilled at which point. A robot of the correction station 10 extracts individual portions from a completely filled shuttle 28 " provided on the provisioning station, which is transported from the shuttle conveyor 4 by means of the pushing device 13 onto the shuttle Deployment slot has been ejected and replenishes the individual portions at the holes identified by the laser interrogation system (this can be done in single as well as batch mode). The correctly filled shuttle is then deported back to the shuttle conveyor 4 by means of the pusher 12. After complete emptying of the shuttle 28 "this is passed through the Faltschachtelbefüllstation 21 and fed to the return transport system 6.

Defective or incompletely populated shuttles can be transported over the conveyor belts 4 to 7 by means of a transport bridge 25 ' to the opposite side for being manually checked there.

First, flat folded cartons blanks are withdrawn from holders and erected by means of elevators 14 and 15 and transferred to the empty box feed chain transporters 16 and 17 (see also Figure 3).

The Leerschachtel-Eintaktung 18 causes that in case of failure of one of the two erectors 14, 15 of the other erector 14, 15 the Supply system with reduced total power. In this case, the overrun device 18 of the functioning erector 14, 15 will supply both subsequent filling trains.

The linear axis system 21 for filling the folding boxes empties each one shuttle (12 batches of cups) completely. The stacks of cups are placed in 12 provided cartons. In this case, a rotation of the stack of cups takes place by 45 degrees.

Each Füllzug 19, 20 has a Verdeckelungsmodul with a Hotmelteinheit and a centering function before the compression.

According to FIG. 2 , the shuttle 28 has a base plate, rods and an upper grid in order to delimit storage spaces 30 for receiving pads 29 . On the front side of the shuttle 28, a readable and rewritable chip 31 is mounted to store information about the filling of the storage spaces 30 with pads 29. Grippers of the robots of the processing stations can engage in the storage spaces 30 in order to insert or remove pads.

According to FIG. 3 , receptacles 32 for empty folding boxes are provided on a blank box feed chain conveyor 16 and 17. Erected empty cartons 33 can be placed in the receptacles 32 and transported ( Figure 4 ).

Claims (5)

A packaging machine (1) for processing stacks of single-portion receiving shuttles (28), comprising two carton erectors (14, 15), two empty carton feed conveyors (16, 17), two fillers (19, 20), one empty carton taker (18) and one System (21) for filling cartons (33). A packaging machine according to claim 1, comprising: a system (2) for preparing stacks of single-portion receiving shuttles (28), a shuttle transport system with conveyor belts (4 to 7), a shuttle control system (8), an incomplete shuttles extension station (28 '), an incomplete shuttle (28) correcting station (10), a folding box erector (14, 15), a blank box feed chain conveyor (16, 17), a filling line (19, 20) and a carton filling system (33 ). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a 2/1-Vereiniger (3) for shuttles (28) is provided. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two Faltschachtelrichtrichter (14, 15) and two Leerschachtel Zuführkettentransporteure (16, 17) and a Leerschachteleintaktung (18) are provided. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two filling lugs (19, 20) are provided.

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