U.S. patent application number 13/979496 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-31 for packaging device.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROBERT BOSCH GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is Rainer Komp. Invention is credited to Rainer Komp.
Application Number | 20130283731 13/979496 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45463615 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130283731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Komp; Rainer |
October 31, 2013 |
PACKAGING DEVICE
Abstract
The invention relates to a modularly constructed packaging
device, comprising: a package feed (2) for feeding empty packages
(20), a product feed (3) for feeding products (30, 40), a loading
station (4), in which the products are packed into the empty
package in order to provide a packaging container (21), and a
cardboard-box discharge (5), which leads away the packaging
container.
Inventors: |
Komp; Rainer; (Backnang,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Komp; Rainer |
Backnang |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Stuttgart
DE
|
Family ID: |
45463615 |
Appl. No.: |
13/979496 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
January 3, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/050030 |
371 Date: |
July 12, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 59/005 20130101;
B65B 43/54 20130101; B65B 5/105 20130101; B65B 59/003 20190501;
B65B 35/50 20130101; B65B 59/04 20130101; B65B 5/08 20130101; B65B
35/00 20130101; B65B 35/44 20130101; B65B 43/48 20130101; B65B
59/001 20190501; B65B 5/06 20130101; B65B 5/106 20130101; B65B
35/38 20130101; B65B 43/52 20130101; B65B 61/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/268 |
International
Class: |
B65B 35/00 20060101
B65B035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 12, 2011 |
DE |
102011002575.8 |
Claims
1. A modularly constructed packaging device, comprising: a package
feed (2) for feeding empty packages (20), a product feed (3) for
feeding products (30, 40), a loading station (4), in which the
products (30, 40) are packed into an empty package (20) in order to
provide a packaging container (21), and a cardboard-box discharge
(5), which leads away the packaging container (21).
2. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that
the loading station (4) has a first space (4a) and a second space
(4b), wherein the products (30, 40) are packed into the empty
package (20) at the second space (4b).
3. The packaging device according to claim 2, characterized in that
the first and second space (4a, 4b) of the loading station (4) are
arranged in a row along an axis (A2) and an axial thrust unit (7)
is provided, which acts on the package (20) positioned at the first
space in order to push the packaging container (21) situated at the
second space (4b) onto the cardboard-box discharge (5) by means of
an axial thrust.
4. The packaging device according to claim 2, further comprising a
first lateral thrust unit (8), which pushes the empty package (20)
from the package feed (2) onto the first space (4a) of the loading
station (4).
5. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that
the loading station (4) comprises tilting equipment (9).
6. The packaging device according to claim 5, characterized in that
the tilting equipment (9) comprises a support area (9a), wherein
one side of the package (20) abuts on the support area (9a).
7. The packaging device according to claim 2, further comprising a
second lateral thrust unit (10), which pushes the products (30, 40)
into an empty package (20) at the second space (4b) of the loading
station (4).
8. The packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a
vibrating unit (12) for vibrating the packaging container (21).
9. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that
the package feed (2) and the product feed (3) are arranged parallel
to one another.
10. The packaging device according to claim 7, characterized in
that the second lateral thrust unit (10) comprises a storage space
(10a), whereat a plurality of products (30, 40) are temporarily
stored, wherein said second lateral thrust unit (10) pushes the
temporarily stored products (30, 40) as a unit into the package
(20) at the second space (4b) of the loading station (4).
11. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the package feed (2) comprises a format-adjusting unit (22) in
order to facilitate a changeover to other packaging formats.
12. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the loading station (4) comprises tilting equipment (9), and
the empty package (20) is tilted by 90.degree..
13. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the package feed (2) and the product feed (3) are arranged
parallel to one another and the cardboard-box discharge (5) is
arranged parallel to said package feed (2) and product feed
(3).
14. The packaging device according to claim 3, further comprising a
first lateral thrust unit (8), which pushes the empty package (20)
from the package feed (2) onto the first space (4a) of the loading
station (4).
15. The packaging device according to claim 14, characterized in
that the loading station (4) comprises tilting equipment (9).
16. The packaging device according to claim 15, characterized in
that the tilting equipment (9) comprises a support area (9a),
wherein one side of the package (20) abuts on the support area
(9a).
17. The packaging device according to claim 16, further comprising
a second lateral thrust unit (10), which pushes the products (30,
40) into an empty package (20) at the second space (4b) of the
loading station (4).
18. The packaging device according to claim 17, further comprising
a vibrating unit (12) for vibrating the packaging container
(21).
19. The packaging device according to claim 18, characterized in
that the package feed (2) and the product feed (3) are arranged
parallel to one another.
20. The packaging device according to claim 19, characterized in
that the second lateral thrust unit (10) comprises a storage space
(10a), whereat a plurality of products (30, 40) are temporarily
stored, wherein said second lateral thrust unit (10) pushes the
temporarily stored products (30, 40) as a unit into the package
(20) at the second space (4b) of the loading station (4).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging device for
packaging piece goods, in particular in the field of packaging
machines.
[0002] Packaging devices of the prior art generally work with a
conveyor chain, which transports packages or trays through the
device. This results in a complicated construction as well as large
space requirements. In addition, the devices do not have a modular
construction, which facilitates a simple, quick and flexible
adaptation to different package sizes and package types, for
example, having different rankings and layer patterns of the
products in the package. Specially constructed packaging devices
have, therefore, to be constructed in each case for different
applications; thus requiring a considerable investment of both time
and money. A complex device for filling cardboard boxes is known
from the German patent application DE 37 20638 A1, with which tubes
laid in trays are packaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The packaging device according to the invention has in
contrast the advantage that said device comprises a plurality of
modularly arranged, individual component assemblies having few
functions, whereby a very robust, simple and cost effective design
is achieved. As a result of the modular construction, the packaging
device according to the invention facilitates the adaptation to a
plurality of rankings and layer patterns, e.g., of products having
different tubular shapes, and further facilitates a flexible
expansion to other package types. In so doing, the application of
the inventive packaging device is possible in particular for the
packaging of pillow bags, doy-style packages and stand-up packages
in all conventional cardboard boxes or trays. According to the
invention, this is achieved by virtue of the fact that the
modularly constructed packaging device comprises a package feed for
feeding empty packages, a product feed for feeding products and a
loading station, in which the products are packed into the empty
package in order to provide a packaging container. Provision is
furthermore made for a cardboard-box discharge, which leads away
the packaging container. By means of the structural design into
individual module areas, a small base area having small traveling
distances for loading is achieved. Smaller and more energy
efficient drive systems can therefore be used.
[0004] According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
loading station has a first space and a second space, wherein the
products are packed into the empty package at the second space.
[0005] The first and the second space of the loading station are
preferably arranged in a row along an axis. An axial thrust unit is
further provided, which acts on the package positioned at the first
space in order to push the packaging container situated at the
second space onto the cardboard-box discharge by means of an axial
thrust. Because the packages push each other onward until they
reach the cardboard-box discharge, a conveyor chain is not
required. In addition, the simply and cost-effectively constructed
loading station facilitates continuous packaging steps having short
cycle times.
[0006] The packaging device further preferably comprises a first
lateral thrust unit, which pushes the empty package from the
package feed onto the first space of the loading station. In so
doing, a simple and operationally reliable feeding of the loading
station is achieved. The low dead weight of the package as well as
the low frictional resistance during horizontal displacement
furthermore facilitates the use of small, cost effective drive
motors for the first lateral thrust unit.
[0007] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
loading station comprises tilting equipment, which tilts the
package preferably by 90.degree.. In so doing, a horizontal loading
of the package without vertical traveling distances can be carried
out more simply and more quickly. In addition, a desired horizontal
or vertical loading of the package can alternatively occur without
retrofitting the packaging device.
[0008] The tilting equipment further preferably comprises a support
area, wherein one side of the package rests against the support
area. Said support area ensures an operationally reliable support
of the package when the horizontal loading process takes place in
the tilted position. In addition, a reliable feed of the packaging
container is achieved when being pushed in the non-tilted or tilted
back position to the cardboard-box discharge.
[0009] The packaging device further preferably comprises a second
lateral thrust unit, which pushes the products into an empty
package at the second space of the loading station. In so doing, a
horizontal loading of the package can be implemented with minimized
construction expenditure and with a very short thrust distance.
[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
packaging device comprises a vibrating unit for vibrating the
packaging container. In so doing, a compacting of the products
situated in the package, in particular during bagging, is achieved;
thus enabling the degree of filling to be increased. The vibrating
unit is preferably integrated into the loading station and is
thereby arranged under the second space of the loading station.
[0011] The package feed and the product feed are further preferably
arranged parallel to one another, and the cardboard-box discharge
is preferably arranged parallel to said package feed and said
product feed. An optimized integration of lines comprising a
minimized base surface of the total packaging device is thereby
achieved.
[0012] The second lateral thrust unit further preferably comprises
a storage space, whereat a plurality of products is temporarily
stored, wherein the second lateral thrust unit pushes the
temporarily stored products as a unit into the package at the
second space of the loading station. Specially required rankings
and/or layer patterns for certain products can therefore already be
fashioned at the storage space before insertion into the package.
Depending upon the layer pattern, linear suction devices, grippers,
stacking boxes and sliders can thereby be used, via which all
conventional rankings and loadings can be produced.
[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
package feed comprises a format-adjusting unit in order to
facilitate a changeover to other packaging formats or cardboard-box
sizes. In so doing, a simple, time and cost efficient changeover
or, respectively, adjustment to other packaging formats is
possible. In addition, the installation of format changeover parts,
which may be required, can substantially take place without the use
of tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a packaging
device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of the device from FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the loading station of
the device from FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the packaging device from FIG. 1
having a changed packaging format.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a perspective partial view of the packaging
device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the packaging
device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of tilting equipment of the
packaging device from FIG. 5 in a tilted position.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the tilting equipment
from FIG. 6 in a non-tilted position.
[0023] FIG. 9 shows a perspective partial view of the packaging
device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention,
and
[0024] FIG. 10 shows a perspective partial view of the packaging
device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] A modularly constructed packaging device according to a
first preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is described
below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a packaging
device 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
invention. The packaging device 1 comprises a package feed 2, a
product feed 3, a loading station 4 and a cardboard-box discharge
5. By means of the package feed 2, open, empty packages 20 are
transported via a conveyor belt 2a in a first axial direction A1
with respect to a first lateral thrust unit 8 arranged axially at
the end of the package feed 2. The packages 20 are thereby guided
on the conveyor belt 2a via left and right guide rails 24a, 24b. A
format-adjusting unit 22 is further provided at the package feed 2,
By means of spindles 23, said adjusting unit 22 facilitates an
adjustment of the guide rails 24a, 24b vertically with respect to
the first axial direction A1 in accordance with the width of the
package 20. By means of a further spindle 26, a stop 25 of the
first lateral thrust unit 8 is adjusted in the opposite direction
to the first axial direction A1. When the package 20 has reached
the stop 25 in the first lateral thrust unit 8, the feed of the
package feed 2 is interrupted. Thereafter a push element 8a of the
first lateral thrust unit 8 pushes the package 20 in a fourth axial
direction A4 up to a stop element 41 on a first space 4a of the
loading station 4 which is arranged parallel to the first axial
direction A1.
[0027] The conveyor unit 3 which is arranged parallel to the
package feed 2 transports in each case five products 30, which are
accommodated in a tray 33 and are depicted here by way of example
in the shape of pillow bags, in a third axial direction A3 with
respect to a removal position 35. A suction device 32 removes the
products 30 from the tray 33 and thereby loads the package 20
positioned on a second space 4b of the loading station 4 in a fifth
axial direction A5 and according to a predetermined loading
pattern. In so doing, the loading occurs at a drop height of
"zero", i.e. without the products being dropped into the
package.
[0028] After loading a package, an axial thrust unit 7 pushes the
empty package 20 from the first space 4a further in a second axial
direction A2, said empty package 20 pushing accordingly the loaded
package 20 as a packaging container 21 from the second space 4b of
the loading station 4 further onto the cardboard-box discharge 5,
which leads away the packaging container 21. As can be seen in FIG.
2, the first space 4a and the second space 4b of the loading
station 4 and the cardboard-box discharge 5 are arranged in a row
along an axis or, respectively, in the second axial direction A2.
The top view of the packaging device depicted in FIG. 2 serves to
illustrate in detail the relationship between the individual
modules and the substantially horizontal movements of the packages
20 and the products 30 during conveyance. It should be noted here
that the suction device 32 in FIG. 2 is not completely depicted for
the sake of better clarity.
[0029] As can be seen in FIG. 3, provision is made for a vibrating
unit for vibrating the package 20 during loading. In so doing, a
compacting of the products 30 in the package as well as a
homogenization of the layers occurs, which increase the degree of
filling.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows the packaging device from FIG. 1 having a
changed packaging format, wherein the guide rails 24a are adjusted
vertically with respect to the first axial direction A1 to the
smaller width of the package 20 by means of the spindle 23 of the
format-adjusting unit 22 and in the opposite direction of the first
axial direction A1 to the smaller length of the package 20 by means
of the spindle 26. During the format changeover, the push element
8a can be changed without the use of tools and the suction unit 32
can be replaced by means of an interchangeable format piece. It
should be hereby noted that the axial thrust unit 7 can be
identically maintained for all formats and the strokes of the first
lateral thrust unit 8 as well the axial thrust unit 7 are the same
for all formats.
[0031] A packaging device according to a second preferred exemplary
embodiment of the invention is described below in detail with
reference to FIG. 5. Identical or functionally identical components
are denoted here with the same reference numerals as in the first
exemplary embodiment.
[0032] In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment previously
described, the packaging device 1 of the second exemplary
embodiment comprises a gripping device 34 instead of the suction
device 32 used in the first exemplary embodiment. The gripping
device 34 grips the products 30, delivered from the product feed in
trays 31 in the standing position to the removal position 35 and
depicted here by way of example in the form of doy-style packages,
and positions said products into the package 20 in the standing
position.
[0033] As can be seen from FIG. 5, the packaging device 1 according
to the invention can only be changed over in a simple manner to the
changed product form and to the position and ranking thereof in the
package 20 by means of an adaptation of the module of the product
feed 3 including the inserted trays 31 as well as the module of the
gripping device 34. The other modules of the packaging device 1 can
be retained in an unchanged manner. Besides the very short set-up
times, the small base area which remains unchanged is also thereby
particularly advantageous for the line integration.
[0034] A packaging device according to a third preferred exemplary
embodiment of the invention is described below in detail with
reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Identical or functionally identical
components are denoted here with the same reference numerals as in
the first exemplary embodiment.
[0035] The packaging device according to the third exemplary
embodiment substantially comprises the same arrangement as that of
the first exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the first exemplary
embodiment, the packaging device 1 of the third exemplary
embodiment comprises however a second lateral thrust unit 10 having
a storage space 10a, in(to) which the products 30 (pillow bags or
doy-style packages) are introduced in a stacked manner or,
respectively, temporarily stored by means of the suction device 32.
Provision is further made for tilting equipment 9, which is
provided at the second space 4b of the loading station 4. As can be
seen in detail in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the empty package 20
positioned on the second space 4b of the loading station 4 can be
tilted by means of the tilting equipment 9 counterclockwise about
an angle of 90.degree. in relation to the second axial direction
A2; thus enabling the opening of the package 20 to be substantially
horizontally positioned. In this tilted position, the second
lateral thrust unit 10 inserts the products 30 temporarily stored
(stacked) at the storage space 10a horizontally into the package
20. The tilting equipment 9 is thereafter brought again into the
non-tilted position depicted in FIG. 8 for the further transport of
the package. The tilting equipment 9 further comprises a support
area 9a, which is arranged perpendicularly to the bottom surface of
the package 20 and on which a side of the package abuts and is
supported during the tilting movement. In the non-tilted position,
the support area 9a in the region of the second space 4b serves
together with a stop element 41a, which is configured here in a
shortened manner, in the region of the first space 4a of the
loading station 4 as a guide for the displacement of the packages
20 by means of the axial thrust unit 7.
[0036] By means of the loading station 4 which is expanded by the
second lateral thrust unit 10 and the tilting equipment 9,
packaging containers 21 comprising vertically loaded pillow bags or
doy-style packages can therefore be produced. As a result, the
remaining modules used in the first exemplary embodiment can be
maintained unchanged. The conveying or travel distances of the
suction device 32 are furthermore substantially simpler and shorter
than those of the gripping device 34 in the second exemplary
embodiment. The changeover to the changed position and ranking of
the products can be carried out with very short downtimes or,
respectively, changeover times of the system and with minimal
personnel costs and expenses.
[0037] A packaging device according to a fourth preferred exemplary
embodiment of the invention is described below in detail with
reference to FIG. 9. Identical or functionally identical components
are denoted here with the same reference numerals as in the
previous exemplary embodiments.
[0038] In this fourth exemplary embodiment, products 40 fed in the
upright position, in the form of stand-up packages, are delivered
from the product feed 3 to the second lateral thrust unit 10
arranged in this case in the third axial direction A3 at the end of
the product feed 3. A guide rail 37 disposed in the conveyance
direction or, respectively, in the third axial direction A3 aligns
the products axially flush to one another. The second lateral
thrust unit 10 has an end stop 10b and pushes in each case three
products in the fifth axial direction A5 into the package 20 that
is similarly tilted as in the third exemplary embodiment. The fully
laden package 20 is then turned back into the non-tilted position
and led away via the cardboard-box discharge 5 as a packaging
container 21 having a horizontal load. In contrast to the exemplary
embodiments previously described, a suction device or gripping
device is not required in this case: thus enabling shorter clock
cycles to be implemented for loading the package 20.
[0039] A packaging device according to a fifth preferred exemplary
embodiment of the invention is described below in detail with
reference to FIG. 10. Identical or functionally identical
components are denoted here with the same reference numerals as in
the previous exemplary embodiments, wherein the products are
likewise stand-up packages.
[0040] In contrast to the fourth exemplary embodiment previously
described, the products 40 delivered horizontally from the product
feed 3 are in this case packed horizontally into the tilted package
20. The packaging container is tilted backwards and is led away as
a packaging container 21 having a vertical load. The packaging
device 1 of the fifth exemplary embodiment has, with the exception
of the width of the guide rail 37, substantially the same
arrangement as well as advantages as those of the fourth exemplary
embodiment. Based on the fourth exemplary embodiment, a changeover
of the layer pattern of the packaged products 40 can therefore be
carried out on short notice without significant effort and
expense.
[0041] The packaging devices 1 according to the invention described
in the exemplary embodiments have the advantage that essentially
all conventional bags or product packages having respectively
horizontal as well as vertical ranking and different layer patterns
can be packed into all conventional cardboard boxes due to the
modular construction with only very few, simple functions. In
addition, a flexible format changeover as well as a simplified
upgrading to future types of packaging and applications is
possible. By the elimination of conveyor chains, short traveling
distances as well as a small required base area for line
integration can further be implemented.
* * * * *