FR3084348A1 - Transport device for flat packaging, handling installation comprising a transport device and method of manufacturing a transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport device (10) for transporting flat packages (5) arranged in a standing position in a transport direction (TR10). The transport device (10) comprises a transport surface (FF) which is delimited by two sides (14) parallel to the transport direction (TR10). The transport surface (FF) has a plurality of profiles (60), said profiles (60) providing at least in zones at least one bearing surface (35, 90) for the packages (5), and in which an angle acute (α) is formed between the profilings (60) and the direction of transport (TR10). The application further relates to a packaging installation (1) comprising a transport device (10) and to a method of manufacturing a transport device (10). Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Transport device for flat packaging, handling installation comprising a transport device and method for manufacturing a transport device The present invention relates to a transport device for flat packaging, an installation for handling comprising a transport device as well as a method of manufacturing a transport device according to the features of the independent claims.

The present invention relates to a transport device for flat cardboard blanks, in particular to a transport device intended to bring cardboard blanks arranged upright and juxtaposed to a packaging module, for example a packaging module. folding in which the cardboard blanks are deployed and / or folded so as to have the desired shape. Then, the additional cardboard packages can be filled with articles, such as beverage containers or the like, and can be collected for later transport, for example on a pallet.

Conventionally, the cardboard blanks are transported upright on a conveyor, in particular so that the cardboard blanks are each arranged in a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction or the conveying direction of the conveyor. In order to prevent the cardboard blanks arranged substantially perpendicularly or slightly inclined in the direction of transport or in the opposite direction thereof, from tumbling, for example a stop square movable at the end is mounted on the device transport, which must be removed to load the conveyor with new cardboard blanks.

In order to guarantee safe transport, we know, according to published patent application DE 10 2006 038 656 A, a conveyor of which the links of the conveyor belt with links are in the form of a ramp which goes up in the direction of transport. . Thanks to this, new cardboard blanks can be placed on the conveyor and pushed against already existing cardboard blanks, in which it is guaranteed at the same time that the cardboard blanks do not slide backwards from the bottom edge.

For reasons of space, it may be desired or necessary to have the store for the cardboard blanks which must be transported by the transport device to the packaging module, not in alignment with the module packaging, but so as to be offset laterally with respect thereto. In this case, the transport device must be arranged obliquely between the store and the packaging module. In particular, in this case, a first transport direction for the cardboard blanks on the transport device is not aligned, but it is produced at an obtuse angle with respect to a second transport direction for the cardboard blanks. inside the packaging module. In this case, the cardboard blanks arranged in the magazine must be correspondingly oriented for transport when they are removed and placed on the transport device. To remove the cardboard blanks from the transport device, the orientation of the cardboard blanks must again be adjusted before processing inside the next packaging module, as a rule so that the cardboard blanks are oriented in a plane perpendicular to the direction of transport inside the packaging module.

The object of the invention lies in the fact of providing packaging for a packaging module, in particular cardboard blanks, in the case of an oblique supply to the packaging module, so as to be in optimized orientation.

The above object is achieved by a transport device, a packaging installation comprising a transport device and by a method of manufacturing a transport device, which include the features in the independent claims. Other advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

The invention relates to a transport device for the transport of flat packages arranged in the standing position. In this case, it may in particular be cardboard cutouts. The cardboard cutouts can already be partially glued. To fill them with articles, such as beverage containers, bottles, cans, etc., the cardboard blanks must be deployed and / or unfolded in a correspondingly designed handling module.

Inside the transport device, the packages are transported in a first direction of transport, in particular to a handling module placed downstream. The transport device comprises a transport surface for the packages which is delimited by two sides parallel to the first direction of transport. Preferably, said transport surface is produced in a horizontal plane. Preferably, inside the transport device, the packages are arranged obliquely to the first direction of transport and are transported in this oblique orientation. To this end, provision is made for the transport surface to comprise a plurality of profilings, the profilings providing at least in zones at least one bearing surface for the packaging. The bearing surfaces are produced obliquely to the first direction of transport, in particular an acute angle is formed respectively between the bearing surfaces and the first direction of transport and / or between the bearing surfaces and the sides of the transport surface.

In this case, the profiling can be carried out in the form of recesses and / or protrusions relative to the transport surface. Preferably, the transport surface of the transport device comprises respectively only profiling in the form of recesses or only profiling in the form of projections. According to another embodiment, provision may be made for the transport surface of the transport device to present alternately profiling in the form of recesses and profiling in the form of projections. Other possibilities of a regular arrangement are also possible and covered by the request.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is intended that the transport device is a link belt conveyor, the transport surface being formed by the upper strand of at least one circulating chain of link band . The link band chain is formed by a plurality of link band links which are arranged in a row and whose so-called upper face shows upwards at the level of the upper strand and, on the other hand, shows downwards at the level of the lower strand. The bearing surfaces of the profilings, which extend at least obliquely in zones with respect to the first direction of transport are produced in a regular pattern on the respective upper face of the chain of link band.

According to one embodiment, it is intended that a profiling produced as a recess or as a projection extends over at least two links of link band arranged one behind the other in the first direction of transport .

According to one embodiment, it is intended that a profiling produced as a recess extends obliquely over at least two links of strip with links arranged one behind the other in the first direction of transport. In particular, such a recess is formed of two recess zones, in which a first recess zone is formed on a first link of link band and a second recess zone is formed on a second link of link band , and wherein the first recess area and the second recess area are aligned and form a recess extending from one side of the transport surface to the opposite side. As a variant, it can be provided that, for example, a recess extends respectively over a chain link link on one side of the chain link link or on one side of the transport surface on the opposite side. The link band chain can therefore consist of a juxtaposition of such link band links so that each link band link has a recess extending on one side of the link band link or on one side of the transport surface on the opposite side. Alternatively, it may be provided that, for example, the link band chain is formed of an alternating arrangement of link band links having a recess and link band links without recess.

According to one embodiment, it is expected that a profiling produced as a projection has essentially or approximately a triangular shape. Preferably, it can be an isosceles triangle. In particular, it is provided that the base of the triangle is formed transversely to the first direction of transport and that the tip of the triangle is arranged upstream of the base of the triangle in the direction of transport. The lateral surfaces of the projection which extend between the point of the triangle and the base of the triangle form bearing surfaces for the packages.

By having at least one package on at least one profiling bearing surface, said package will be oriented in a defined manner inside the transport device, in particular obliquely to the first direction of transport. Due to the regular formation of a plurality of bearing surfaces produced in parallel with each other, the packages placed upright one behind the other are forced into an orientation inside the transport device, which is oblique to the first direction of transport. In addition, thanks to the bearing surfaces, it is guaranteed that the packages keep this orientation during transport inside the transport device. In this case, the orientation of the bearing surfaces inside the transport surface or on the transport surface is chosen so that the packages enter the next handling module while having a desired orientation, so that the packages can be used directly therein without having to give them, by corresponding devices, an orientation necessary for further processing.

One embodiment of the transport device provides that the link belt conveyor consists of a plurality of parallel chains of link belt, which together form the transport surface for packaging. In this case, provision is made for the parallel chains of link bands to be arranged inside the transport device so as to be oriented such that, respectively, bearing surfaces of adjacent chain link chains are arranged in alignment.

If the profiling is carried out in the form of recesses, these preferably each extend from one side of a link chain to the other side of the link chain. If the transport surface is formed of a plurality of parallel link chains comprising such recesses, the link chains are arranged so that the recesses of adjacent link chains are respectively aligned so that the transport surface has continuously recesses which each extend from one side of the transport surface to the opposite side of the transport surface. The profilings produced in the form of recesses are produced in particular as oblique bands on the transport surface and each have, in particular, seen from above, the shape of a parallelogram. In particular, the parallelograms are formed by an edge located upstream in the first direction of transport, by an edge located downstream in the first direction of transport and by two edges aligned with the sides of the transport surface. The area of the transport surface situated between two recesses, also, seen from above, has the shape of a parallelogram.

The profiling produced as a recess may each have a depth relative to the transport surface, which is produced so as to be continuously equal. Similarly, the profiling produced as a projection may have a height relative to the transport surface, which is produced so as to be continuously equal. Alternatively, it can be provided that the profiling has an inclination. This can extend in particular parallel to the direction of transport, in particular, the profiling has an inclination which goes up in the first direction of transport.

Preferably, in the case of profiling produced in the form of a recess, it is provided that, at the edge located downstream, the recess has a greater depth relative to the transport surface than at the level from the edge located upstream. For example, the edge of the recess, which is located upstream, can be arranged in the horizontal plane of the transport surface, while the edge located downstream is formed below the horizontal plane of the transport surface. Preferably, in the case of the recesses, respectively the edge located downstream forms the bearing surface for the packaging.

On the other hand, in the case of profiling produced as a projection, preferably the edge located downstream, for example the base of the triangle, is arranged in the horizontal plane, and the edge located upstream, in particular the point of the triangle, is arranged above the transport surface. The bearing surfaces extend between the branches of the triangle, the tip of the triangle and the transport surface. In this case, the packages can be arranged in two different oblique arrangements on the transport surface. The question of which bearing surface is used respectively depends in particular on the second direction of transport of the packaging module placed downstream.

So that the packages, in particular cardboard blanks, moved on the transport surface in the direction of transport, cannot tilt or slide laterally, guide devices for the packaging to be transported can be provided next to the transport surface, parallel to the transport direction. Said guide devices can be constituted, for example, by means of baffles or guide ramps or the like. For example, the guiding devices can be adjusted in distance from each other so that the width of the transport surface can be adapted to the width of the packages arranged obliquely on the transport surface and that, thus, the device can be used variably for transporting different packages. Thanks to the oblique arrangement of the packaging on the transport surface, the width to be adjusted of the transport surface is generally less than the width of the packaging.

In addition, the invention relates to a packaging installation comprising a transport device for packaging and a handling module. The transport device is used to bring the packages in a first direction of transport to the handling module so that they are further processed inside the handling module in a second direction of transport. The transport device comprises a transport surface having profiling, the profiling providing at least by zones at least one bearing surface for the packages, and respectively an acute angle is formed between said at least one bearing surface and the first direction of transport and / or between said at least one bearing surface and the sides of the transport surface. In a particularly preferred manner, said packaging installation comprises a transport device having the characteristics described above.

In particular, an obtuse angle is formed between the first direction of transport of the transport device and the second direction of transport inside the handling module. According to one embodiment, the value of the obtuse angle consists of a sum of 90 degrees and the value of the acute angle described above defined between said at least one bearing surface and the first direction of transport. As a result, the packages are preferably arranged on the transport device so that they are located in a plane which is formed perpendicular to the second direction of transport of the handling module. In this way, in particular, the packages are brought to the handling module in an orientation in which they can be processed immediately inside the handling module without having to be properly oriented first.

Beyond this fact, a method of manufacturing a transport device described above and intended to transport flat packaging is part of the present application. In particular, in the method, the transport surface for the packages is designed in a profiled manner by making or applying profilings in or else on the transport surface which provide at least a bearing surface for the packages, oblique with respect to to the transport direction of the transport device. The bearing surfaces of the profilings cause a defined arrangement of the packages on the transport device, in particular, these are oriented thus, on the transport surface, obliquely to the direction of transport and keep this orientation during transport because the bearing surfaces of the profiling prevent the packages from sliding on the transport surface.

The transport surface of the transport device is formed, for example, by a chain of chain links, which consists in particular of a plurality of chain links with links arranged in a row, said chain links with links forming a circulating chain.

According to one embodiment, the link band chain can be made up of link band links. According to a first embodiment, each link of the link band can have profiling in the form of a recess over its width, in which the recess extends from one side of the link of the link band to the other side. , and in which an acute angle is defined between the recess and the side of the chain link link. In addition, it could be provided that a number of such link band links comprising a recess and an equal number of recess-free chain link links are arranged alternately one behind the other, thus forming a band chain. with links having a regular arrangement of recesses. Other combinations are possible for a person skilled in the art and must be covered by the request.

Alternatively, the chain link chain may consist of at least two different links of the link band, which are arranged alternately. In this case, provision is made for the various links from strip to link each to have profiling by zones. In particular, it is provided that, when the various links of link band are arranged in a row, the first profiling of the first link of link band and the second profiling of the second link of link band are aligned, and that, preferably the aligned profiling extends from one side of the transport surface to the opposite side of the transport surface obliquely to the transport direction and to the sides of the transport surface. Another embodiment may provide that such profiling extends over three links of strip with links, etc. This depends in particular on the length of the sides of the chain link links, parallel to the transport direction, and the angle which is defined between the profiling and the transport direction or the sides of the transport surface. In addition, it can be provided in this embodiment that there are still band links with links free of integrated profiling, also in regular arrangement, [0028] According to a first embodiment, each band link may have a profiling in the form of a projection. For example, the projections can in turn be produced by milling, in which case it is the milling, and not the projections, which forms the transport surface. As a variant, it can be provided that the projections are applied to the chain link links and are fixed thereto, for example by gluing, screwing or the like.

It should be emphasized on this point explicitly that all of the aspects and variant embodiments which have been explained in relation to the device according to the invention may also relate to or constitute partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Consequently, if it is a question, in a passage in the description or also in the definitions of the claims relating to the device according to the invention, of certain aspects and / or connections and / or effects, this also applies to the method according to the invention. It is the same conversely so that all of the aspects and variant embodiments which have been explained in relation to the method according to the invention may relate to or also constitute partial aspects of the device according to the invention. Consequently, if it is a question, in a passage in the description or also in the definitions of the claims relating to the method according to the invention, of certain aspects and / or connections and / or effects, this also applies to the device according to the invention.

Hereinafter, examples of embodiments are intended to explain in more detail the invention and its advantages based on the appended figures. The proportions of the individual elements in relation to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the actual proportions because certain forms are represented in a simplified manner and other forms, for better illustration, are represented in enlarged form in relation to d other elements.

[Fig-1]: Figure 1 shows a store for cardboard blanks comprising a transport device arranged obliquely relative thereto.

[Fig.2]: Figure 2 shows a packaging installation seen from above.

[Fig.3]: Figure 3 shows a side representation of a packaging installation.

[Fig.4]: Figure 4 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a conveyor of a transport device according to the invention.

[Fig.5]: Figure 5 shows a perspective representation of a conveyor according to Figure 4.

[Fig.6]: Figure 6 shows a side representation of a conveyor according to the figure

4.

[Fig.7]: Figure 7 shows a top view of cardboard blanks arranged on a conveyor.

[Fig.8]: Figure 8 shows a perspective representation of a cardboard blank disposed on a conveyor.

[Fig.9]: Figure 9 shows a perspective representation of a transport device according to the invention, viewed obliquely from above.

[Fig.10]: Figure 10 shows a perspective representation of a transport device according to the invention, viewed obliquely from below.

[Fig.l 1]: Figure 11 shows a top view of a detail of a transport device arranged obliquely.

[Fig. 12]: Ligure 12 shows a perspective representation of a detail of a transport device arranged obliquely.

[Fig. 13]: Figure 13 illustrates different angles inside the packaging installation.

[Fig. 14]: FIG. 4 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a conveyor of a transport device according to the invention.

[Fig.15]: Figure 15 shows a perspective representation of a conveyor according to Figure 14.

[Fig. 16]: FIG. 16 shows a lateral representation of a conveyor according to FIG. 14.

[Fig. 17]: Figure 17 shows a top view of a transport surface comprising a cardboard blank, which is formed by two conveyors according to Figures 14 to 16.

[Fig. 18]: Figure 18 shows a perspective representation similar to Figure 17.

Identical reference numerals are used for elements of the invention which are identical or which have the same effect. In addition, for the sake of clarity, only the reference figures are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The embodiments shown are only examples showing how the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be designed, and do not constitute a definitive limitation.

Figure 1 shows a store 2 for cardboard blanks (reference number 5; see Figures 2, 5 and 6), with a transport device 10 arranged obliquely relative thereto. FIG. 2 shows a top view of a packaging installation 1, and FIG. 3 shows a lateral representation of a packaging installation 1 according to FIG. 2. Inside the magazine 2, cardboard blanks are arranged by batteries for example. The cardboard blanks 5 are arranged vertically or essentially vertically on the transport device 10 and are transported inside the transport device 10 in the TRIO transport direction to a following handling module, for example a folding module 3 or similar. Inside the folding module 3, the cardboard blanks 5 are deployed and unfolded and then, in a packaging module 4, they are filled with articles, retail products, beverage containers or the like and are closed (not shown). During this, the cardboard blanks 5 are moved inside the folding module 3 in a transport direction TR3. In particular, the two directions of transport TR3, TRIO are not aligned and are not oriented parallel to each other, see also FIG. 13.

Figure 4 shows a top view of a first conveyor 12 of a transport device 10 according to the invention, Figure 5 shows a perspective representation and Figure 6 shows a side representation of the first conveyor 12 according to Figure 4.

As for the conveyor 12, it is in particular a circulating chain link chain 13 comprising chain link links 15 connected in an articulated manner. The conveyor 12 has two lateral edges 14 formed parallel to the direction of transport TRIO. Each chain link link 15 extends transversely to the direction of transport TRIO of the transport device 10 (see FIGS. 1 to 3). According to one embodiment, it can be provided that each link of link band 15 extends over the entire width of the conveyor 12. That is to say that each link of link band 15 has a width B15 which corresponds to a width of conveyor B12. The link band links 15 are designed so as to mesh with one another. In particular, each link of the link band 15 has a front edge 16 situated upstream in the direction of transport TR and a rear edge 17 situated downstream in the direction of transport TR. The front edge 16 of each link band link 15 has a first profile 21 having protrusions 22 and recesses 23, and the rear edge 17 of each link band link 15 has a second profile 25 having protrusions 26 and recesses 27. In particular, the chain link links 15 are arranged in series one behind the other in such a way and the first profiles 21 and the second profiles 22 are designed so as to correspond to each other in such a way so that the protrusions 26 of the rear edge 17 of a link of link band 15 located upstream in the direction of transport TR mesh in the recesses 23 of the front edge 16 of a link of link band 15 located downstream in the transport direction TR. The protrusions 23, 26 each have a through hole transverse to the direction of transport TR, in particular, the through holes of all the protrusions 22 of a front edge 16 of a link of link band 15 are arranged in alignment . In addition, all the projections 26 of a rear edge 17 of a link band link 15 are arranged in alignment. Beyond this fact, when mounting the link band links 15, the through holes of the projections 26 of the rear edge 17 of a link band link 15 located upstream are arranged in alignment with the through holes protrusions 22 of the front edge 16 of a chain link link 15 located downstream. By means of a fixing means, such as a fixing rod, which is passed through the through holes or else articulation eyelets 20 transverse to the direction of transport TR, a connection can be made. hinged between the links of the link band 15.

The link band links 15 are made, for example, of a rubber material or are made from a metal or another suitable material.

The link band links 15 form a transport surface FF for cardboard blanks at the upper strand of the conveyor 12. Preferably, this transport surface FF is not flat, but has a regular pattern. In particular, the chain link links 15 have on their respective upper face, at least in zones, a profiling 60 in the form of a recess 30 (see FIGS. 5 and

6). This recess 30 extends over two links of link band 15, from a lateral edge 14 of the transport surface FF to the opposite lateral edge 14. In this case, the recess 30 is not made transverse to the direction of transport TRIO, but at an angle a between 5 degrees and 85 degrees, preferably at an angle a of approximately 75 degrees. The recess 30 has an edge 31 located upstream in the direction of TRIO transport and an edge 32 located downstream in the direction of TRIO transport. Preferably, the recess 30 has an inclination between the edge 31 situated upstream and the edge 32 situated downstream, in particular an inclination which goes up in the direction of transport TRIO from the edge 32 situated downstream towards the edge 31 located upstream. The lateral face formed between the edge 32 located downstream and the recess 30 forms in particular a bearing surface 35 for the cardboard blanks 5.

Alternatively, one can also provide recesses free of inclination between the edge located respectively upstream and the edge located downstream, in particular, these recesses are obtained by milling a uniform depth.

As illustrated, a recess 30 may extend over a plurality of chain link links 15. According to FIG. 5, the conveyor 12 can be produced from two different chain link links 15a, 15b arranged in alternately. In this case, a first link band link 15a has in part a first recess zone 30a at the front edge 31, while a second link band link 15b has a second recess zone 30b in particular at the rear edge 32. The recess zones 30a, 30b are designed such that, when the two band links with different links 15a, 15b are juxtaposed alternately, a recess 30 extending continuously from a lateral edge 14 of the conveyor 12 to the other lateral edge 14 of the conveyor 12 is produced respectively from a first recess zone 30a and from a second recess zone 30b.

Alternatively, a recess could be made inside a link band link and one could use, for example, a conveyor which comprises an alternating arrangement of link band links provided with recess and band links to recess-free links. This can be useful especially for large angles a.

Figure 7 shows a top view of cardboard blanks 5 arranged on a conveyor 12, and Figure 8 shows a perspective representation of a cardboard blank 5 arranged upright on a conveyor 12. With the recesses 30 with the bearing surfaces 35, which are formed in the transport surface FF, it is forcibly obtained that the cardboard blanks 5 are oriented obliquely with respect to the direction of transport TRIO. In particular, in the overall concept of the packaging installation according to FIGS. 2 and 3, an orientation of the flat cardboard blanks 5 is thus obtained in a plane which is arranged perpendicular to the transport direction TR3 of the folding module 3 next. Thus, the cardboard blanks 5 entering the folding module 3 can be received directly to continue the treatment and do not need to be oriented first in an appropriate manner to continue the treatment in the folding module 3.

Thanks to the oblique arrangement of the cardboard blanks 5 on the conveyor 12 or on the transport surface FF, the width B30 of an edge 31 located upstream or of an edge 32 located downstream of the recess 30 is greater than the width B12 of the conveyor 12. Below, for the sake of simplicity, we speak of the width B30 of the recess 30. In order to ensure safe transport of the cardboard blanks 5, the width B30 of the recess 30 should correspond essentially to the width B5 of the cardboard blanks 5 or else the cardboard cutouts 5 should not be substantially wider than the width B30 of the recess 30. For this reason, it may be useful to have several conveyors 12 produced in an identical manner and having recesses 30 produced in an identical manner parallel next to each other, in particular so that respectively a recess 30 of a conveyor 12 is arranged in alignment with a recess 30 of a conveyor 12 directly adjacent, as illustrated below in FIGS. 9 to 12.

Figure 9 shows a perspective representation of a first embodiment of a transport device 10 according to the invention, viewed obliquely from above, and Figure 10 shows a representation of the first embodiment seen obliquely from below. FIG. 11 shows a top view of a detail of a second embodiment of a transport device 10 arranged obliquely, FIG. 12 shows a perspective representation of the second embodiment and FIG. 13 illustrates the angles inside the packing facility.

In the first embodiment according to Figures 9 and 10, two conveyors 12 circulating endlessly are arranged parallel next to each other and form the transport surface FF for the cardboard blanks (not shown) . The conveyors 12 are arranged on a common drive mechanism and operate synchronously. Guide ramps 40 are provided parallel to the conveyors 12, next to the transport surface FF. In particular, respectively, a guide ramp 40 is arranged on either side on the transport surface FF. The distance A40 separating the two guide ramps 40 can be adjusted. For example, the guide ramps 40 are designed so that they can be brought closer to each other by means of an adjustment mechanism 41, for example a spindle adjustment or the like. In particular, the distance A40 is adapted to the width of the cardboard blanks to be transported.

The first embodiment of the transport device 10 can be equipped with a plurality of conveyors 12 adapted correspondingly, depending on the width B5 of the cardboard blanks to be transported. In particular, corresponding reception devices 50 for conveyors 12 are provided. For example, depending on a desired width B-FF of the transport surface FF, the transport device 10 shown here can be equipped with a number of suitable conveyors 12 which can be up to six, in order to adapt the width B-FF of the transport surface to the respective width of the cardboard blanks.

In the case of the second embodiment according to Figures 11 and 12, the transport device 10 is equipped with four conveyors 12 and has a corresponding width B-FF of the transport surface FF. In this case, the two external reception devices 50 are free. The guide ramps intended to further delimit the transport surface or else to safely guide the cardboard blanks transported in the transport device 10 are not shown in this representation. In FIG. 11, the arrangement of cardboard blanks 5 is shown. The cardboard blanks 5 are guided on the transport device 10 in a first direction of transport TRIO towards the folding module 3 in which the cardboard blanks 5 are then transported in a second different TR3 transport direction and are processed. In particular, the cardboard blanks 5 are transported inside the transport device 10 in an orientation so that, when they enter the folding module 3, they lie in a plane perpendicular to the transport direction TR3 of the folding module 3.

In order for the cardboard blanks 5 to be transported securely in the desired orientation, it is necessary to arrange the conveyors 12 parallel so that respectively the bearing surfaces 35 of the adjacent conveyors 12 are aligned; in FIGS. 11 and 12, this is illustrated by means of a dotted line carrying the reference number F35.

An obtuse angle β is defined between the direction of transport TRIO of the transport device 10 and the direction of transport TR3 of the following folding module 3. An acute angle a is defined between the alignment F35 of the recesses 30 and the direction of transport TRIO of the transport device 10. As for the size of the obtuse angle β defined between the first direction of transport TRIO and the second direction of transport TR3, the angle β corresponds to the sum of 90 ° and the angle a. That is to say that the formation of the angle a according to which the recesses 30 are arranged with respect to the direction of transport TRIO inside the transport device 10 depends on the arrangement of the transport device 10 with respect to to the next folding module 3.

According to one embodiment, it can be provided that all the receiving devices 50 are each equipped with a conveyor 12. Depending on the width B5 of the respective cardboard blanks 5 to be transported, the conveyors 12 which are not not required can each be covered. In particular, it can be provided that the guide ramps function at the same time as covering devices so that, when adjusting the width of the transport surface FF by adjusting the distance separating the guide ramps 40 (cf. Figures 9 and 10), the respectively external conveyors are covered or exposed correspondingly.

Ees Figures 14 to 18 illustrate a second embodiment of a conveyor 72 in different representations. In particular, Figure 14 shows a representation from above, Figure 15 shows a perspective representation and Figure 16 is a side representation.

In the case of conveyor 72, it is in particular a circulating chain link chain 73 and comprising chain link links 75 connected in an articulated manner The conveyor 72 has two lateral edges 74 produced parallel to the direction of TRIO transport. The general design of the link band links 75 corresponds to that of the link band links 15 described in relation to FIGS. 4 to 6, to which reference is thus made.

At the upper strand of the conveyor 72, the link band links 75 form a transport surface FF for the cardboard blanks. This transport surface FF has a regular pattern of profiling 60 in the form of projections 80. In particular, first links of link band 75-1 have projections 80, while second links of band of links 75-2 have a flat surface which is arranged in a horizontal plane at the level of the upper strand. In the illustrated embodiment, a regular succession of a first chain link with links 75-1 and two second chain links with links 75-2 is provided. As a variant, respectively a first link of a link band with links 75-1 and a second link of a band with links 75-2 can be arranged alternately. Other combinations are possible for a person skilled in the art and must also be included in the application. Similarly to the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6, provision could also be made for the projections 80 each to extend over at least two links of link band 75.

The projection 80, seen from above, has an essentially triangular shape. In particular, it is an isosceles triangle 81 having a triangle base 82, a triangle tip 83 and two triangle branches 84-1 and 84-2 of equal length. However, if necessary, the triangle branches 84-1, 84-2 can also be made so as to have different lengths. In particular, it is intended that the triangle base 82 is formed transversely to the first direction of transport TRIO and that the triangle tip 83 is arranged upstream of the triangle base 82 in the direction of transport TRIO. The lateral surfaces 85-1, 85-2 of the projection 80 which extend between the triangle tip 83, the triangle base 82 of a triangle branch 84-1, 84-2 respectively and the transport surface FF form bearing surfaces 90-1, 90-2 for packaging (see Figures 17 and 18). In the embodiment shown here, it is provided that all the first bearing surfaces 90-1 are each arranged parallel to each other and that all the second bearing surfaces 90-2 are each arranged parallel to each other . In particular, an acute angle a 1 is formed between the first bearing surfaces 90-1 and the first direction of transport TRIO, and an acute angle a 2 is formed between the second bearing surfaces 90-2 and the first direction of transport TRIO. If the projection 80 has the shape of an isosceles triangle 81, the values lall and Ia2I of the two angles a1, a2 are respectively identical. However, if the projection 80 has different branch lengths, the values of the angles are also correspondingly different.

In addition, it is expected that the profiling 60 produced as projections 80 have an inclination which goes up in the direction of transport TRIO. In this case, the edge located downstream, that is to say the triangle base 82, is arranged in the horizontal plane which forms the transport surface FF. On the other hand, the edge situated upstream, that is to say the point of the triangle 83, is disposed above the transport surface FF. The bearing surfaces 90-1, 90-2 each extend between the triangle branches 84-1, 84-2 and the transport surface FF. In this case, the packages 5 can be arranged in two different oblique arrangements on the transport surface FF (see also Figures 17 and 18). The question of which bearing surface 90-1, 90-2 is used respectively depends in particular on the second direction of transport TR3 inside the packaging module 3 mounted downstream (cf. FIGS. 1 to 3) .

Figure 17 shows a top view of a FF transport surface formed by two conveyors 72 according to Figures 14 to 16 and comprising a cardboard blank 5 arranged upright, and Figure 18 illustrates a perspective representation. The profiles 60 in the form of protrusions 80 which are formed on the transport surface FF force an oblique orientation of the cardboard blanks 5 with respect to the direction of transport TRIO. In particular, in the overall concept of the packaging installation according to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is thus obtained that the flat cardboard blanks 5 are oriented in a plane which is arranged perpendicular to the transport direction TR3 of the folding module. Next 3. Thus, the cardboard blanks 5 entering the folding module 3 can be received directly to continue the treatment and do not need to be oriented first in an appropriate manner to continue the treatment in the folding module 3.

In order for the cardboard blanks 5 to be transported securely in the desired orientation, it is necessary to arrange the conveyors 72 parallel so that respectively second support surfaces 90-2 of the adjacent conveyors 72 are aligned , as illustrated in FIG. 17 via a dotted line carrying the reference number F90-2. Furthermore, it follows in this arrangement that respectively also first bearing surfaces 90-1 of the adjacent conveyors 72 are aligned, as illustrated in FIG. 17 by means of a dotted line carrying the number of reference F90-1.

In the embodiment shown here, it is expected that the cardboard blanks 5 are applied against the second bearing surfaces 90-2 and not against the first bearing surfaces 90-1. On the other hand, in another arrangement of the transport device 10 relative to the following packaging module 3, it may be useful to align the cardboard blanks 5 on the first bearing surfaces 90-1.

According to a first embodiment, each link of link band 75 can have a profiling 60 in the form of a projection 80. As a variant - as illustrated - it is possible that only one link of link band 75 out of three is provided with a profiling 60. For example, the projections 80 can in turn be produced by milling, in this case, it is the milling, and not the projections 80, which forms the transport surface FF. As a variant, it may be provided that the projections 80 are applied to the links of the link band with links 75 and are fixed thereto, for example by gluing, screwing or the like.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding passages, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their different views or respective individual characteristics, can be used independently of each other or in any combination . Features which are described in connection with one embodiment may be applied for all of the embodiments, if the features are not incompatible.

Even if one speaks, in the context of the figures, in general of diagrammatic representations and views, this does not at all mean that the representations of the figures and their description are of minor importance as regards the disclosure of the invention. A person skilled in the art is quite capable of taking sufficient information from the schematic and abstract illustrations which facilitate his understanding of the invention, without being hindered in any way by his understanding, for example due drawn proportions and possibly not exactly to the scale of the cardboard and / or device component cutouts or other drawn elements. Thus, the figures allow a person skilled in the art as a reader, using the implementations explained more concretely of the method according to the invention and the operating mode explained more concretely of the device according to the invention, to better understand the inventive idea formulated more generally and / or more abstractly in the claims as well as in the general part of the description.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art to be able to make variations or modifications of the invention without departing from the scope of protection of the claims which follow.

List of reference figures packaging installation store folding module packaging module cardboard cutting conveyor device conveyor belt belt chain circulating side edge chain link link

15a first link of link band

15b second chain link link front edge rear edge first projection profile recess second projection profile recess recess

30a first recess area

30b second recess zone edge located upstream edge located downstream support surface guide ramp adjustment mechanism receiving device profiling conveyor belt chain running circulating side edge chain link chain

75-1 first link of link band

75-2 second chain link link projecting triangle isosceles triangle base triangle point

84-1, 84-2 triangle branch

90, 90-1, 90-2 bearing surfaces a, al, a2 acute angle

Ια II, Ια2Ι value of acute angle β obtuse angle

A40 distance

B-FF width of the transport surface

B 5 cardboard width

B12 conveyor chain width / conveyor chain width

B15 width of a chain link

B 30 recess width

FF transport surface

F35, F90-l, F90-2 alignment of bearing surfaces

TR direction of transport

TR3 (second) direction of transport inside the folding module

TRIO (first) direction of transport inside the transport device

Claims (1)

claims [Claim 1] Transport device (10) for transporting flat packages (5) arranged in a standing position in a direction of transport (TRIO), said transport device (10) comprising a transport surface (FF) which is delimited by two sides ( 14) parallel to the direction of transport (TRIO), in which the transport surface (FF) has a plurality of profiles (60), said profiles (60) providing at least by areas at least one bearing surface (35, 90) for packages (5), and in which an acute angle (a) is formed respectively between said at least one bearing surface (35, 90) and the direction of transport (TRIO) and / or the sides (14 ) of the transport surface (FF). [Claim 2] Transport device (10) according to claim 1, in which the profilings (60) are produced in the form of recesses (30) and / or in the form of projections (80) relative to the transport surface (FF). [Claim 3] Transport device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the transport device (10) is a link belt conveyor comprising at least one circulating chain link chain (13, 73) composed of chain links links (15, 75) arranged one behind the other, in which the profiles (60) extend over at least two links of link band (15, 75) arranged one behind the other, or in which the profiles ( 60) each extend within a chain link link (15, 75), and wherein the chain link chain (13, 73) consists of an alternating arrangement of chain links links (15, 75) provided with profilings (60) and at least one link of link band (15, 75) free from profilings (60). [Claim 4] A transport device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (10) is a link belt conveyor comprising a plurality of link belt chains (13, 73) arranged in parallel. [Claim 5] Transport device (10) according to claim 4, in which the parallel link band chains (13) are arranged inside the transport device (10) so as to be oriented so that surfaces respectively support (35, 90) of band chains with adjacent links (13) are arranged in alignment (F30; F90-1, F90-2). [Claim 6] Transport device (10) according to any one of claims 2 [Claim 7] [Claim 8] [Claim 9] [Claim 10] [Claim 11] [Claim 12] to 5, in which the profiles (60) produced in the form of recesses (30) have an edge (31) located upstream in the direction of transport (TRIO), an edge (32) located downstream in the direction of transport (TRIO) as well as two edges aligned with the sides (14) of the transport surface (FF), and in which the edges of the recesses (30) define a parallelogram. Transport device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the profiles (60) have an inclination, in particular said inclination going up in the direction of transport (TRIO). Transport device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which guide devices (40) for the packages (5) are provided next to the transport surface (FF), parallel to the transport direction ( TRIO). Transport device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a width (B-FF) of the transport surface (FF) is adjustable, in which, in particular, a width (B-FF) of the transport surface (FF) is less than a width (B5) of the packages (5) transported. Packaging installation (1) comprising a transport device (10) and a handling module (3), into which flat packages (5) can be brought via the transport device (10) in a first direction of transport (TRIO) to said handling module (3), in which the packages (5) can be further processed inside the handling module (3) in a second direction of transport (TR3), said transport device (10 ) comprising a transport surface (FF) which is delimited by two sides (14) parallel to the first transport direction (TRIO), in which the transport surface (FF) has a plurality of profiles (60), said profiles ( 60) providing at least in zones at least one bearing surface (35, 90) for the packages (5), and in which an acute angle (a) is formed respectively between said at least one bearing surface (35, 90) and the first direction of transport (TRIO) and / or the sides (14) of the transport surface (FF). Packaging installation (1) according to claim 10, in which an obtuse angle (β) is formed between the first direction of transport (TRIO) and the second direction of transport (TR3). Packaging installation (1) according to claim 11, in which the [Claim 13] [Claim 14] [Claim 15] value of the obtuse angle (β) consists of a sum of 90 degrees and the value for the acute angle (a). Packaging installation (1) according to claim 10, comprising a transport device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 9. Method of manufacturing a transport device (10) for transporting flat packages (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a transport surface (FF) of the transport device (10) is designed in a profiled manner, in which profilings (60) are produced in the transport surface (FF) or applied to the transport surface (FF), the profilings (60) each providing at least one bearing surface (35, 90) for packaging (5), oblique to the direction of transport (TRIO) of the transport device (10). Method according to claim 14, in which the transport surface (FF) is formed by at least one chain of link band (13, 73), in which - the profiling (60) in the form of recesses (30) are produced by milling the upper face of the chain of link band (13), or in which - the chain link chain (13, 73) is formed of at least two different link chain links (15a, 15b) arranged alternately, in which at least one of the link band links (15a, 15b) different has a profiling (60), or in which said at least two different link band links (15a, 15b) each comprise at least one profiling (60) in the form of a recess (15a, 15b), in which a first recess (30a) of a first link band link (15a) and a second recess (30b) of a second link band link (15b) inside the chain of link bands ( 13) are aligned and form a recess (30) extending from one side (14) of the transport surface (FF) to the opposite side (14) of the transport surface (FF).