Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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WO 2008/104476 PCT/EP2008/051954
Apparatus for and method of packaging stackable objects,
in particular printed products
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The present invention concerns an apparatus for and a method of
packaging stackable objects, in particular printed products, in a container
which has at least a first container portion with a bottom and with side
walls extending from the bottom, wherein the container portion is open at
the side opposite to the bottom. In particular the invention concerns an
apparatus for and a method of packaging printed products in telescopically
fitted lid boxes.
Printed products such as for example brochures, books or also loose
sheets (for example forms, business papers or the like) are frequently
packaged in so-called telescopically fitted lid boxes or telescope-type
boxes. Telescope-type boxes have a bottom portion and a lid portion which
is of a substantially similar structure in relation thereto and which is of
slightly greater length and width, wherein in the packaging operation the
bottom and lid portions are telescopically fitted over the stack of products
formed from the printed products, from opposite sides of the stack, with
the lid portion engaging over the bottom portion.
Telescope-type boxes are classified as 'type 03' in accordance with
the standard of the FEFCO (European Associations of Corrugated Board
Manufacturers), which is usual in the packaging area.
To ensure stackability of filled telescope-type boxes it is known that,
in the packaging operation for the stackable products, firstly the bottom
portion is generally filled with a certain upward oversize (that is to say
extending beyond its actual height) by hand with the stack of products so
that when a plurality of containers are stacked one above the other, the
weight of the respectively superposed container is carried by the products
disposed therebeneath and does not have to be absorbed by the side walls
of the containers. Then the lid portion is telescopically fitted over the
stack
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provided with the bottom portion, from the top side of the stack, with the
dimensions of the lid portion being so selected that it fits over the bottom
portion. As a result the consequence of this can be that the height of the
filled telescopic-type box varies in dependence on the height of the stack of
products accommodated therein.
The above-described packaging operation is usually performed
manually by one or more people disposed at the end of a paper processing
line, and that, with the high delivery that it is sought to achieve in respect
of the paper processing line (presentday installations can typically produce
up to some hundred products per minute, depending on the number of
pages in the individual printed product), is linked to a large amount of work
and - with an increase in the number of packaging staff - leads to space
problems because of the generally constricted conditions. In addition
manual introduction of the products signifies a high level of physical stress
on the corresponding people as the corresponding stacks of products which
often weigh up to several kilograms have to be lifted and fitted into the
boxes.
DE 37 08 896 Al discloses an apparatus for filling and closing a
container, preferably in the form of a box, with products in stack form, in
which the products to be introduced into the box are introduced from below
into the container to be filled which is initially still open and the
underside
of which is then closed and then a suitable lid is fitted thereon. That
procedure however is not suitable for telescope-type boxes which usually
have a fixed bottom. In addition subsequent closure of the bottom when
the items are introduced thereinto generally leads to the disadvantage of a
reduced load-carrying capacity on the part of the bottom, in comparison
with a bottom which is closed from the outset.
Having regard to the above-outlined background, the object of the
present invention is to provide an apparatus for and a method of packaging
stackable products, in particular printed products, by means of which the
stacked products can be packaged in an automated procedure in a
container having a container portion, in which there are from the outset a
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closed bottom and side portions, as is the case in particular with a
telescope-type box portion.
The aforementioned object is attained by an apparatus in accordance
with the features of independent claim 1 and a method in accordance with
the features of independent claim 28.
Advantageous configurations are set forth in the appendant claims.
An apparatus according to the invention comprises:
- a first fitting-over device for placing the bottom on the top side of
the product stack,
- a turning device for turning the stack provided with the container
portion in such a way that the open side of the first container portion is
oriented upwardly after the turning operation, and
- a covering device for closing the container after the turning
operation.
The term 'product stack' is used in accordance with the invention for
the stack which is still unpackaged; the term 'stack' is intended to denote
the product stack already provided with the first container portion.
In that respect the terms 'product stack' and 'stack' respectively, in
connection with the present invention, are intended not just to embrace the
situation where corresponding individual products are stacked one above
the other, that is to say vertically. Rather, it is also possible to deal with
stacks in which a plurality of products are arranged lying in mutually
juxtaposed relationship and with the side surfaces against each other. It is
also possible to package a plurality of mutually juxtaposed vertical
individual stacks, for example two mutually juxtaposed stacks of printed
products of DIN-A5 format which overall afford a surface of the size of a
DIN-A4 sheet.
The stack preferably has a rectangular base surface and involves the
shape of a parallelepiped. In accordance with the invention however it is
also possible to process product stacks of a differing base surface, for
example cylindrical stacks.
In accordance with the present invention it is possible to process
such diverse configurations as in the packaging operation the stacks are
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handled in such a way that displacement of the individual products of a
stack relative to each other is prevented.
It will be appreciated that the invention can also be used for
packaging individual products which are not in stack form, into a respective
container (for example for particularly 'thick' individual products such as
for
example printed products, in respect of which only a single product fits into
a container).
The containers used in the context of the invention preferably involve
boxes, particularly preferably telescope-type boxes. Alternatively however
it is also possible to use containers consisting of materials which are
entirely or partially produced from substances such as plastic materials or
fibers including textile and glass fibers.
Preferably the first fitting-over device is adapted to fit the first
container portion over the product stack from above. That provides that a
product stack resting on a support surface can remain thereon and thus
slipping of the products is avoided. In accordance with an alternative
embodiment of the invention however it is also conceivable that the first
container portion is fitted from the side, with its open side, over the stack,
in which case the product stack would have to be lifted somewhat. The
fitting-over operation signifies a relative movement of the container portion
with respect to the product stack; in that case both the box portion and/or
the product stack can be moved. Preferably the product stack remains
immobile during the fitting-over operation while the box portion is moved
thereover. The turning device is preferably adapted for turning the stack
provided with the first container portion, about a horizontal axis, through
an angle of about 180 . With such a rotation through 180 , the
arrangement passes through conditions in respect of which it is necessary
to ensure that the products do not fall out during the turning operation, for
which reason the turning device has suitable retaining means which
preferably delimit the open side of the first container portion or bear
against products possibly projecting beyond the edge of the first container
portion.
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Preferably the covering device is in the form of a second fitting-over
device which subsequently to the turning operation fits a second container
portion which has a lid and side walls extending from the lid and which is
open at the side opposite to the lid over the stack. That second container
portion is thus preferably of a similar configuration to the first container
portion, but of a slightly larger base surface, so that the side portions can
slide over the stack and over the first container portion. Preferably the
second container portion is the lid portion of a telescope-type box.
In alternative configurations of the invention it is also conceivable
that closure of the container is effected by parts of the side portions of the
first container portion, which side portions project beyond the product
stack, are folded over to afford a lid. In this case the first container
portion
cannot be filled with products, to the edge. Closure can also be effected for
example by means of elements in belt form which embrace the stack, or
other means known in the state of the art.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a
transport device having a transport path, along which one or more product
stacks or stacks provided with the first container portion is or are
respectively firstly fed to the first fitting-over device, then the turning
device and then the covering device. In that way the fitting-over operation,
the turning operation and the covering or closing operation can take place
simultaneously. Alternatively it is also conceivable for two or three of those
steps to take place at the same location, in which case in addition a feed or
discharge of the unpackaged or packaged product stacks respectively is
also to be ensured. Preferably the transport path is formed by at least one
roller track; it can however also involve a conveyor belt, a chute or the
like.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention an apparatus for
packaging stackable products, in particular printed products, in telescope-
type boxes, wherein each telescope-type box has a bottom portion and a lid
portion, has the following devices:
- a transport device for transporting a product stack along a
predetermined transport section;
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- a first fitting-over device for fitting a bottom portion over the
product stack in a first transport position of said product stack;
- a second fitting-over device for fitting a lid portion over the stack
provided with the bottom portion fitted thereover, in a second transport
position of said product stack; and
- a turning device for turning the stack provided with the bottom
portion fitted thereover, in a turning position, wherein said turning position
is arranged along the transport section between the first transport position
and the second transport position.
The arrangement according to the invention of two fitting-over
devices with a turning device disposed therebetween, along the transport
section of a transport device, makes it possible for the operation of fitting
a
bottom portion and a lid portion respectively, that is required for packaging
the stacked products in telescope-type boxes, from mutually opposite sides
of the product stack, to be performed in fully automated mode, that is to
say without the need for manual intervention on the part of an operator. At
the same time the serial 'successive connection' of the first fitting-over
device, the turning device and the second fitting-over device means that
the individual method steps necessary for implementing the telescope-type
box packaging can be carried out simultaneously in a cyclically controlled
mode with a corresponding increase in throughput. That means that, during
the execution of the operation of turning a product stack already provided
with the bottom portion fitted thereover, the next product stack can already
be provided with a bottom portion in the first fitting-over device, and so
forth. Accordingly in that way the apparatus according to the invention
makes it possible to achieve a throughput of typically up to 20 packaged
product stacks per minute.
Preferably the transport device is so adapted that it causes cyclic
transport of the product stack or the stack.
Preferably the turning device has an axis of rotation above the
transport path. Particularly preferably the turning device is adapted to pivot
the product stack or stack substantially about its center of gravity.
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In accordance with a preferred embodiment the apparatus has a
control device, by means of which the first fitting-over device, the second
fitting-over device and the turning device are actuable for implementing
cyclic operation.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the apparatus has a first
magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box bottom portions and a
second magazine for receiving a stock of telescope-type box lid portions,
wherein the first and second magazines are adapted to receive the bottom
and lid portions respectively in the flat condition thereof. In that way a
large amount of bottom and lid portions which is desirable for the high
throughput rates that the invention seeks to achieve can be stocked and
incorporated into the automated packaging operation according to the
invention, wherein the magazines are preferably arranged above the
fitting-over devices whereby the required standing surface area for the
apparatus according to the invention can be reduced, which is
advantageous in particular for integration into existing paper processing
lines with a small amount of available space.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the first fitting-over
device and/or the second fitting-over device has means for erecting the
side walls of the bottom portion and the lid portion respectively. That
configuration has the advantage that the bottom and lid portions which are
preferably in the form of 'erection boxes' can be fed from the respective
magazine to the fitting-over device in the same working step and at the
same time erected, whereby it is possible to achieve a further increase in
the working speed and thus the throughput of the apparatus according to
the invention.
The first fitting-over device and/or the second fitting-over device can
preferably have at least one pivotal arm with a suction device engaging a
side wall of the container or lid portion. The box portions can thus be
erected by applying suction to the side walls and performing a pivotal
movement.
In addition the first fitting-over device can have means for lowering
the erected bottom portion over the product stack and/or the second
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fitting-over device can have means for lowering the erected lid portion over
the stack.
In that respect preferably the means for lowering the bottom portion
and lid portion respectively are in the form of abutment elements which are
guided from beneath the transport path along at least two mutually
opposite sides of the product stack or stack respectively and at the upper
ends of which there are respectively provided gripping elements which
engage behind at least two oppositely disposed side walls of the container
portions to be fitted over, whereupon the abutment elements are moved
downwardly and in that case pull the respective container portion over the
product stack or stack respectively. This configuration of the means for
lowering the box portions in the form of abutment elements has the
advantage that at the same time they ensure that the respective box
portion can be pulled without tilting over the product stack or over the
stack provided with the first box portion. It is conceivable that the above-
described fitting-over devices can also be used in other packaging
installations independently of other devices of the present invention, in
particular the turning device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment the apparatus has
separating devices to permit selective removal of an individual container
portion from the container portion stack of the magazines. That makes it
possible to individually separate the bottom or lid portions prior to the
removal thereof from the respective magazine and thus permits quick
reliable access, even at high throughput rates.
Preferably the separating device has at least one brush bar which is
so adapted that during removal of the respective lowermost container
portion of the container portion stack it is brought laterally into
engagement therewith and thereby blocks follow-on slipping movement of
the container portion disposed above the container portion just being
removed, and then the at least one brush bar is brought out of engagement
with the container portion stack to cause follow-on slipping movement of
the next container portion. Such a separating device can also be used
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independently of other devices of the present invention for individually
separating mutually superposed flat objects.
In a preferred configuration the transport device has a transport path
extending along the transport section and at least one guide element for
guiding the product stack or the stack respectively on the transport path.
That guidance of the product stack or the stack has the advantage that the
products forming the stack do not in that case slip relative to each other, as
could happen for example upon acceleration or deceleration of a product
stack which is resting with its base surface on a conveyor belt.
In a preferred embodiment the transport path has at least three
parallel rows of free-running roller tracks and each guide element has at
least two guide entrainment members which are coupled together and
which are movable between the roller tracks in a vertical direction into and
out of the transport path plane and in a horizontal direction parallel to the
roller tracks.
Particularly preferably there are provided at least three guide
element pairs (preferably each in turn respectively comprising two guide
entrainment members) for cyclic movement of the product stacks or the
stacks along the transport path, wherein a first guide element pair is
provided for moving a product stack from a feed position for the stacks as a
starting position to the first fitting-over device as a target position, a
second guide element pair for moving a stack from the first fitting-over
device as a starting position to the turning device as a target position, a
third guide element pair for moving a stack from the turning device as a
starting position to the second fitting-over device as a target position,
wherein each guide element pair at its starting position is moved out of the
plane of the transport path in such a way that the two guide elements of a
guide element pair are disposed in the transport direction immediately in
front of and behind the product stack or the stack to be transported, then
the guide element pairs are moved together with the product stack or the
stack in the transport direction to the respective target position and then
the guide element pairs are lowered again below the transport path and
moved back to their starting position.
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In addition there is also provided at least one further guide element
for moving the stack from the second fitting-over device to a starting
position.
Preferably the drive of the guide elements is so adapted that the two
guide elements at least of the first guide element pair in the starting
position are at a greater relative spacing in the transport direction than in
the target position so that the product stack or the stack is thereby
oriented in the transport direction. The spacing of the guide elements in the
starting position is selected to be greater than the length of the respective
stack to be guided so that the guide elements can move out of the
transport path without encountering product stacks which are possibly not
exactly oriented or which have slipped somewhat. The fact that the relative
spacing of the guide elements towards the target position is reduced means
that the stack on the one hand is oriented and on the other hand it is
positioned precisely at the location of the next processing operation.
Preferably the first and third guide element pairs are formed at the
same time as means for lowering the erected bottom or lid portion out of
the magazines of the first and second turning-over device. In that way the
lowering movement of the guide element pairs, that is required for the
cyclic transport procedure, can also at the same time be used for fitting
over the box portions, in which case the guide elements ensure that the
box portions are fitted one over the other in trouble-free manner.
The above-mentioned guide elements permit orientation of the
product stacks in respect of the side surfaces of the stacks, that are
disposed transversely to the transport direction. In order also to orient the
side surfaces of the stacks, that are oriented parallel to the transport
direction, prior to the operation of fitting the box portions one over the
other, and to guarantee blocking-free fitment of the box portions one over
the other, pairs of side abutments arranged laterally on the transport path
can be provided at the first and/or the second fitting-over device, which
side abutments are applied prior to the fitting-over operation against the
sides of the product stacks or the stacks, that are parallel to the transport
direction, so that the product stacks or the stacks are properly oriented.
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Preferably at the same time the side abutments can be in the form of
means for lowering the erected bottom portion or lid portion out of the
magazines of the first and second fitting-over devices.
Preferably the turning device can have a carrier which is arranged
laterally of the transport path and which is rotatable about a horizontal axis
extending transversely to the transport direction and on which a first and a
second turning fork are linearly movably arranged, wherein a turning fork
during the transport operation for the stack into the turning device is
positioned in the plane or beneath the plane of the transport path, then for
the turning operation the two turning forks are moved towards each other,
wherein the stack is lifted off the transport path and is clamped between
the two turning forks, then the carrier with the turning forks is rotated
through about 180 and finally the turned stack is lowered on to the
transport path again. Products are prevented from falling out by virtue of
the stack being clamped between the turning forks. The above-described
turning device can also be used independently of other devices of the
present invention, in particular independently of the fitting-over devices.
Preferably there is further provided a device for automatic labelling
of and/or inscription on the respective bottom portion and/or lid portion.
The invention further concerns a method of packaging stackable
products in accordance with the features of independent claim 28.
In that respect the method according to the invention can also be
implemented in an alternative embodiment (not described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings) without an interposed
turning operation. For that purpose for example it would be conceivable for
the first box portion to be firstly fitted in telescopic relationship over the
product stack. Then the stack together with the first box portion fitted
thereover is lowered by means of grippers which come from above and
which engage under the stack, into the upwardly open second box portion.
Then an entrainment member disposed at the underside of the grippers can
be folded over so that the grippers which are between the two box portions
can be pulled out upwardly.
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In regard to advantageous configurations of the method reference is
made to the foregoing description in relation to the apparatus according to
the invention.
Further configurations of the invention are to be found in the
description and the claims.
The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of a
preferred embodiment by way of example and with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view of an apparatus according to the
invention,
Figures 2a-e show diagrammatic views of an apparatus according to
the invention in different operating phases of the packaging procedure in
time sequence,
Figure 3 shows a detailed perspective view to illustrate a fitting-over
device according to the invention,
Figure 4 shows a detailed perspective view of the first and the
second fitting-over devices which are of the same structure in accordance
with the present invention,
Figure 5 shows a detail view of a box portion magazine according to
the invention, and
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a turning device according to
the invention.
Referring to Figure 1 an apparatus 10 according to the invention has
a main frame structure 40 displaceable on guide rollers. Provided on the
main frame structure is a transport path 1 which extends horizontally and
without limitation in terms of generality extends in a straight line and on
which stackable products, for example printed product stacks, are
successively fed firstly to a first fitting-over device generally identified
by
reference 34, then a turning device generally identified by reference 7 and
then a second fitting-over device generally identified by reference 35. In
the fitting-over devices 34, 35, telescope-type box portions 23, 24 are
stored in vertically arranged magazines 4, 8 in a condition of being laid
flat,
more specifically with telescope-type box bottom portions 23 being
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disposed in the first fitting-over device 34 and telescope-type box lid
portions 24 being disposed in the second fitting-over device 35, wherein
the latter are of a slightly larger base surface so that they can be
respectively fitted in the erected condition over the telescope-type box
bottom portions. The bottom and lid portions which are respectively
denoted by references 23, 24 hereinafter both in the laid-flat condition and
also in the erected condition are in the form of 'erection boxes' in basically
known fashion so that there is no need for a detailed representation and
description here. Typically both the bottom and also the lid portions 23, 24
have so-called stabiliser bars which in the erecting procedure slide over the
box bottom, latch in the end position in recesses in the box bottom and
automatically fix the side walls in the erected condition so that a bottom or
lid portion, once erected, no longer collapses of its own accord.
The magazines 4, 8 are arranged above the respective fitting-over
devices 34, 35 and in that way make use of the 'air space' above the
apparatus 10. To facilitate refilling the magazines 4, 8 in ongoing operation,
the magazines can also be in the form of parallel dual magazines (not
shown), in which case a feed is afforded from the respective one magazine
shaft while the other can be refilled, whereupon the refilled magazine shaft
can then be moved into the position of the feed shaft, for which purpose
only a very short interruption in operation is required. Alternatively as will
be appreciated the magazines can also be refilled 'from above' in ongoing
operation.
In the fitting-over devices 34, 35 the box portions 23, 24 are
respectively oriented and fitted over a stack. Disposed between the fitting-
over devices 34 and 35 is the turning device 7 which pivots the stack
provided with the bottom portion, about a horizontal axis extending
transversely with respect to the transport direction denoted by P1, through
an angle of 1800 (see arrow P2).
As an be seen from Figure 3, the stacks are transported on three
free-running roller tracks 2a, 2b, 2c. Extending out of the gap extending in
the transport direction between the first and second roller tracks 2a, 2b and
the gap between the second and third roller tracks 2b, 2c are three guide
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element pairs 30a, 30b; 31a, 31b and 32a, 32b as well as a single guide
element 33, which are respectively movable horizontally in the transport
direction as well as vertically and which form a kind of guide comb. In that
respect, in the illustrated embodiment, each guide element 30a, 30b, 31a,
31b, 32a, 32b and 33 (hereinafter referred to for brevity as 30a, b-33), as
can be seen from Figure 3 by reference to the guide element 31a,
comprises two individual, mutually juxtaposed entrainment members which
are mechanically coupled beneath the transport path 1. During the
transport operation the guide elements 30a, b-33 bear against the sides of
the stacks, that are disposed transversely to the transport direction, and
move them over the roller tracks 2a-c. In that case the guide elements
30a, 31a, 32a and 33 are disposed behind the stacks in the transport
direction and push them forwards. The other guide elements 30b, 31b and
32b which are in front of the stacks in the transport direction limit the
movement of the stacks. The movement of the guide elements 30a, b-33
occurs cyclically from a respective starting position to a target position.
After the target position is reached all guide elements 30a, b-33 are
lowered below the transport path 1, moved back again in opposite
relationship to the transport direction P1 into their starting position and
then moved out of the transport path again, whereupon fresh stacks are
received. That cyclic movement of all guide elements is produced by means
of a common drive 41 which moves all guide elements 30a, b-33 in the
transport direction and in the vertical direction.
The time sequence of a packaging cycle is described in greater detail
hereinafter by reference to the diagrammatic views in Figures 2a through
2e. Control of the cycle is afforded by means of a microprocessor-based
control device (not shown) which operates the corresponding actuators and
receives feedback messages by means of sensors (not shown), for example
position sensors.
In the situation shown in Figure 2a the stacks are respectively just
being further transported. This involves a product stack 3a to be packaged,
which is transported by the guide elements 30a, b to the first fitting-over
device 34. At the same time a stack 3b already provided with an erected
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bottom portion 23 is transported by means of the guide elements 31a, b to
the turning device 7. In addition, a stack 3c which has already been turned
is also conveyed at the same time by means of the guide elements 32a, b
to the second fitting-over device 35. The stack 3d provided there with an
erected lid portion is then transported away by the last guide element 33
(the further discharge transport path is not shown).
Figure 2b shows a situation which in time follows the situation in
Figure 2a and in which the guide elements 30a, b-33 have reached their
respective target positions. The horizontal movement of the guide elements
30a, b-33 is thereupon concluded. At the two fitting-over devices 34, 35, at
the illustrated moment in time, a bottom or lid portion 23, 24 in the
respective magazine 4, 8 was oriented by means of suction grippers 6; that
operation is described in greater detail hereinafter. The step of fitting the
erected box portions 23, 24 one over the other is now implemented by a
procedure whereby grippers 42 which are respectively provided at the
guide elements 30a, 30b and 32a, 32b respectively, in the form of hook-
shaped elements which can be folded over, engage under the edges of the
respective erected box portion and slightly expand those edges in a slightly
prestressed condition.
A vertical lowering movement of all guide elements 30a, b-33 then
follows, whereby the box portions 23 and 24 respectively, by virtue of the
prestressing of the grippers 42, are pulled over the respective stacks 3a,
3c, in which case the suction grippers 6 remain opened in order not to
impede the movement. That lowering movement is about 50% concluded in
the Figure 2c situation. In that case the guide element pairs 30a, 30b and
32a, 32b ensure that the box cannot tilt at the stack side surfaces as they
always hold the stack in an oriented and aligned condition even during the
fitting-over operation. As soon as the box which has been fitted over lies
completely over the stack the grippers 42 slip out of the box edge.
As can be seen from Figure 2c by reference to the stack 3a the
product stack is preferably higher than the bottom portion which is to be
fitted thereover so that a part of the product stack remains uncovered. That
desired upwardly extending product oversize improves later stackability of
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the filled telescope-type boxes; on the other hand the projecting portion, in
the illustrated condition, is still susceptible to slipping. For that purpose
further transport of the stacks is effected by laterally applying force by
means of the guide element pairs 30a, b-32a, b.
In the region of the turning device 7 it can be seen from Figure 2c
that a first turning fork 52 originally lowered beneath the transport path 1,
with three fork elements oriented transversely relative to the transport
direction, has lifted the stack 3b. A second turning fork 53 moves from
above against the lifted stack 3b in such a way that the stack is clamped
fast with a predetermined force between the forks 52, 53 which are
preferably designed to be slip-impeding, so that the stack 3b is held fast in
the turning operation which then takes place and no product can fall out in
the turning procedure. The clamping force is regulated by sensor means so
that the turning device 7 can automatically adapt to different stack heights.
As soon as the stack 3b is clamped between the turning forks 52, 53 and
has reached a height in which a rotary movement can occur without
touching the transport path 1 or the downwardly moving guide elements
31a, 31b, a 180 rotary movement of the turning forks 52, 53 arranged on
a turntable 13 is implemented. During the transport cycles the first and
second turning forks 52, 53 are retracted perpendicularly to the plane of
the drawing behind the turntable so that the movement of the guide
elements 31a, b is not blocked.
Figure 2d shows the turntable 13 during its rotary movement. During
that rotary movement the guide elements 30a, b-33 which in that portion
of the cycle are lowered completely beneath the transport path 1 are
moved back in opposite relationship to the transport direction into their
respective starting position. In addition a fresh product stack 3a' is
prepared. In order to orient the respective next box portion 23 or 24 in the
magazines 4 and 8 respectively the suction grippers 6 are firstly closed.
Now, brush bars 44 which prevent the box portion stacks in the magazines
4 and 8 respectively from a follow-on slipping movement upon removal of
the lowermost box portion 23 or 24, by virtue of engaging laterally into the
stack, are briefly moved out of their condition of lateral engagement so that
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the box portion stacks can perform a follow-on slipping movement and the
following lowermost box portion 23 and 24 respectively comes to lie against
the respective suction gripper 6. In that way the box portions can be
reliably individually separated and isolated. Alternatively separation of the
box portions can also be effected with probe fingers or the like, instead of
the above-described brush bars 44.
In the situation shown in Figure 2e the rotary movement or pivotal
movement of the stack 3b through 180 is concluded. The rotary movement
can be both in the clockwise direction and also in the counter-clockwise
direction; for structural reasons the direction of rotation is preferably
selected to alternate. The stack 3b was deposited on the transport path 1
again by lowering movement of the downwardly disposed turning fork 53
(the turning forks 52, 53 have interchanged their position). The guide
elements 30a, b-33 which are moved back into their starting position are
now moved out of the transport path again, which has occurred to about
50% in Figure 2e. The procedure is then cyclically repeated, as shown in
Figure 2a.
So that, in the upward movement of the guide element pairs 30a,
30b, 31a, 31b and 32a, 32b, stacks which are slightly mispositioned and/or
imprecisely oriented ('skewed') are not lifted off the transport path 1 and
trouble-free operation of the apparatus 10 is guaranteed, the specified
guide element pairs 30a, b-33 are firstly moved upwardly with a certain
'safety distance' of for example 1 cm on both sides from the expected stack
position above the plane of the transport path 1 (safety distance not
shown). During the transport procedure the front guide elements 30a, 31a,
32a and the rear guide elements 30b, 31b, 32b are moved towards each
other by a mechanism which causes a relative movement between those
groups of guide elements, more specifically until the spacing is reduced
approximately to the dimensions of the stacks in the transport direction. In
that way the stacks 3a-3c are exactly positioned in the transport direction
and stacks which have possibly slightly slipped out of place are aligned.
As can be seen from the detail views of the fitting-over devices
shown in Figures 3 and 4, orientation or centering of the stacks is also
17
CA 02677446 2009-08-04
effected, transversely with respect to the transport direction P1, by means
of side abutments 11a, b (associated with the first fitting-over device 34),
which are arranged in paired relationship laterally of the transport path
(these are not shown in Figures 2a-2e for the sake of enhanced clarity),
and 12a, 12b (associated with the second fitting-over device 35). The side
abutments 11a, llb; 12a, 12b are lowered and raised synchronously with
the guide elements 30 through 33. The side abutments lla, lib and 12a,
12b further have hook-shaped grippers 43 which, corresponding to the
function of the guide element grippers 42, engage behind the box portion
edge during the lowering movement and thus ensure that the box portions
can be fitted one over the other without impediment.
The grippers 43 are further designed in such a way that they press
the box portion edge against the upper edge of the side abutments 11a,
11b and 12a, 12b respectively and in that way clamp the box portion
respectively fast between the grippers 43 and the side abutments 11a, 11b
and 12a, 12b, thereby additionally ensuring that the box portion during the
lowering movement follows that movement. In that respect the clamping
force is so selected that in its end position in which it bears against the
product stack, the box portion automatically slips out of the clamping
arrangement without being damaged in that situation.
During the transport movement of the stacks 3a and 3c respectively
the spacing of the side abutments 11a and 11b, 12a and 12b is increased
somewhat by an actuator. Prior to the operation of fitting the box portions
one over the other the side abutments 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b respectively
move together whereby the stacks 3a and 3c respectively disposed
therebetween are aligned and centered in the transverse direction.
The position and maximum extension height of the guide elements
30a, b-33 and of the side abutments 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b can be adapted to
the dimensions of the respective product stack 3a. In that respect the
extension height is preferably so selected that the uppermost printed
product of the product stack 3a is also still protected from unwanted
displacement.
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CA 02677446 2009-08-04
Figure 5 shows a box portion magazine 4 or 8 respectively with one
of the total of four suction grippers 6 engaging all side parts 51 of the
bottom or lid portion 23, 24. Each suction gripper 6 is arranged pivotably
about a pivot axis which approximately corresponds to the erection axis of
the corresponding box side part, in the erection procedure. The box side
parts 51 are respectively engaged by means of a suction cup 55 which is
subjected to a reduced pressure.
Alternatively it is possible to use any other suitable system for
erecting the container portions. For example, in accordance with an
alternative embodiment (not shown), in a modification of the Figure 5
configuration, the pivotal arm can be of such a design that it engages with
an entrainment member or the like directly into the region of the bottom or
lid portion, that forms the interior of the box, in which case no suction cups
and no reduced-pressure sources are required.
Figure 6 shows the turning device 7 in greater detail. The turning
forks 52, 53 are arranged movably in parallel slots in the turntable 13. The
roller tracks 2a, 2b, 2c are of an interrupted configuration in the region of
contact of the turning fork 52 so that the turning fork 52 does not stand up
out of the plane of the transport path 1 in the stack transport procedure.
Alternatively, in an embodiment which is not shown here, the turning
operation can also be effected about an axis substantially parallel to the
transport direction. Furthermore the turning device can be formed by a
contact member which engages into the box in such a way that the content
of incompletely filled boxes can also be held fast in the turning operation.
Many different deviations from the above-described embodiment are
conceivable in accordance with the invention. Thus, instead of a further
telescope-type box being fitted over the bottom portion, closure of the box
can also be effected by folding over closure elements provided on the first
container portion, into a closure position. In addition the invention can also
be used not only in connection with telescope-like boxes but also in
connection with all packaging tasks in which material in stack form is to be
packaged in an upwardly open container. It is also conceivable, instead of
transportation of the stacks between a first fitting-over device, a turning
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CA 02677446 2009-08-04
device and a second fitting-over device, for those operations to be
respectively implemented at the same location.
CA 02677446 2009-08-04
List of references
1 transport path
2a, b, c roller tracks
3a-e product stack
4 magazine for bottom portions
6 suction gripper
7 turning device
8 magazine for lid portions
overall apparatus
lla, ilb side abutments
12a, 12b side abutments
13 turntable
23 bottom portions
24 lid portions
30a, 30b first guide elements
31a, 30b second guide elements
32a, 30b third guide elements
33 fourth guide element
34 first fitting-over device
35 second fitting-over device
40 main frame structure
41 guide element drive
42 guide element gripper
43 side abutment gripper
44 brush bars
50 bottom
51 side walls
52 first turning fork
53 second turning fork
54 abutment plate
55 suction cup
56 lid
21
