Patent Application
20240400246
Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application No. 10 2023 114 129.5 filed May 30, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a device for insertion of goods or goods in the form of stacks, shingling or the like into packaging troughs.
Various devices of that kind are known, but have the disadvantage that the goods, stacks of goods or imbricated goods cannot be accurately introduced into the packaging troughs. The goods often do not lie in an orderly manner, but are introduced into the packaging troughs with an inclination or displacement to the side. In addition, it is important that these single-use packagings, which are configured as packaging troughs, can be produced with as little outlay on material as possible. This is important not only from monetary aspects, but also with a view to environmental protection. For this reason the packaging troughs are made very narrow. As a result, introduction of goods is made difficult. It is therefore necessary for the goods or goods stacks not only to be positioned very precisely, but also to have intrinsically straight orientation so as to ensure faultless and straight insertion. If the goods were not faultlessly inserted, these would in the worst case lie skewed in the packaging trough and thereby project out beyond the edge. Automatic closing of the packaging trough would thus no longer be guaranteed and would lead to loss of the package inclusive of goods. On the other hand, narrow packagings prevent slipping during transport so that the ordering of the goods, for example the accurate shingling shape, is maintained.
The object of the invention is to propose a device in which goods stacks or goods shingling of clean form at the outset can also be deposited with clean and precise definition, above all positionally exact and straight, in the packaging troughs.
According to the invention this object is fulfilled in that one or more jettison belts are provided.
Stacks or shingling formed beforehand are positioned on the jettison belts above the respective packaging trough and then discharged into this.
In that case it has provided very advantageous if one or more jettison belts are arranged either at least substantially parallel or in a section at least substantially parallel to the transport direction of the packaging troughs.
As a result the stacks—inclusive of shinglings—can be pushed into the respective packaging trough or drop into this.
Moreover, it has proved very advantageous if the jettison belt or belts is or are arranged above the packaging troughs.
Gravitational force can thus be used for introducing the stacks into the packaging troughs.
A very advantageous embodiment according to the invention is also present if the jettison belt is of multi-part configuration or jettison belts are of multi-part configuration lying one behind the other.
As a result it is possible to provide, for example, belts which initially extend obliquely and which feed the goods stacks, which are then transferred onto a belt, which is oriented at least substantially parallelly to the packaging troughs and which takes over the final positioning and the discharge into the packaging trough.
According to the invention it is also extremely advantageous if the jettison belt extending at least substantially parallelly to the packaging troughs is configured to be retractable.
Through the retraction, the support for the stacks resting on the jettison belt is removed. These fall into the respective packaging trough.
In that case it has proved particularly advantageous if the jettison belt or the table thereof has such a configuration that when retraction takes place the horizontal position of the goods above the packaging trough remains substantially unchanged.
Positioning of the goods stack is thus facilitated. At the time of jettisoning this position is not changed or at least substantially unchanged.
It has also proved very advantageous if the jettison belt either comprises a control of the drive which ensures standstill of the goods or that a drive belt runs over drive pulleys of the same size for the drive and transport belt and thus standstill is ensured.
Both variants ensure maintenance of the position of the respective goods stack.
A further very advantageous development of the invention is present if at least one abutment against which the goods on the jettison belt are oriented is provided.
An exact position of the goods stack is defined by this abutment. In addition, the goods stack can re-orientate itself.
In that case it has proved particularly advantageous if the abutment is configured to be adjustable and/or movable with respect to its horizontal position and movable with respect to its vertical position.
The abutment can thus be adjusted and its position set. If the abutment is movable in horizontal direction it is conceivable for this to accompany the goods stack at least within a certain range. The vertical movability ensures that the abutment only has to be moved into the transport range of the goods stack when necessary. It is also conceivable for the abutment to accompany the introduction of the goods stack into the respective packaging trough, i.e. to travel with the goods stack during dropping of the goods stack and thus support and stabilise the goods stack.
According to the invention it is very advantageous if the abutment is configured as a rake.
In the case of a rake the contact regions between abutment and goods stack are reduced so that undesired adhesions, which can arise primarily in the case of cheese or sausage products, are avoided.
Moreover, it has proved very advantageous if the abutment is arranged in front of or behind the goods.
In the case of an abutment arranged in front of the goods stack, the stack is drawn against the abutment. In the case of an abutment arranged behind the stack, the goods stack can be oriented, for example, by brief retraction of the conveyor belt.
According to a development of the invention it is also extremely advantageous if an orientation station for orientation of the goods or goods stacks is provided.
Goods stacks, which have already been created, on the transport belt can thereby be oriented. Equally, orientation of the goods stack in itself can take place so that the goods stack is straight and thus can be easily subject to further processing.
According to the invention it has also proved particularly advantageous if a lateral guide for lateral orientation or guidance of the goods is provided.
Lateral orientation is thereby ensured. For example, abutments co-running with the conveyor belt configured as a jettison belt can be provided. Twisting of the goods is thus prevented. A possible re-orientation is conceivable depending on the respective goods.
According to a further embodiment of the invention it is very advantageous if a plunger capable of pressing the goods into the packaging troughs is provided.
It can thus be ensured that the goods stack comes to lie cleanly in the respective packaging trough and is fully introduced into this. This also makes it possible for the packaging trough to be made extremely narrow and without a substantial air gap around the goods stack.
It is also very advantageous if the jettison belt is configured to be bent or angled with a plurality of sections.
As a result a particularly satisfactory feed of the goods stacks can be ensured. The jettison belt and transport belt can thus be adapted to the machine conditions.
A particularly advantageous variant is also present if a feed device for goods is provided on the respective jettison belt.
Provision of goods stacks appropriate to need is thereby ensured.
According to a further embodiment of the invention it is also very advantageous if a packaging machine for providing packaging troughs and further processing thereof is provided below the jettison belts.
The entire packaging process can thus be designed to be in-line without giving rise to lengthy transport paths and/or without intervention of operatives being necessary.
It is also very advantageous if a control unit for control of the jettison belts is provided.
The control unit co-ordinates the device. Jettisoning, orientation of the stacks and also speed and mode of operation can thus be individually adapted.
It is also extremely advantageous if the jettison belts are configured to be driven cyclically, synchronously or asynchronously with respect to the packaging troughs and/or if the packaging troughs are configured to be transported cyclically or continuously.
The device or the mode of operation thereof can thus be individually adapted to the respective conditions, to the goods to be packaged, or to other concomitant aspects.
A very advantageous method for operating the device according to the invention is present if goods or goods stacks are deposited by the jettison belt vertically into a packaging trough.
Goods or goods stacks are thus cleanly, precisely and quickly introduced into a packaging trough.
The invention is illustrated in the following by way of an embodiment in which:
A device for insertion of goods or goods in the form of stacks 2, imbrications or the like into packaging troughs is denoted by 1 in
The stacks 2 are fed on a transport belt 4 and transferred to a jettison belt 5. The belts 4 and 5 in that case interengage so that seamless transport is ensured. The transport belts 4 and 5 are in that regard constructed from individual transport belts 6, on which the goods stacks 2 rest.
The jettison belt is configured to be contractible, i.e. shortenable in its length.
Abutments 7, which reach from above over the jettison belt 5 and are formed as rakes and the horizontal position of which is adjustable, are provided.
The abutments 7—in this embodiment two abutments 7 are illustrated—are arranged one behind the other. The abutments 7 are in addition configured to be movable in vertical direction.
If a goods stack 2 now arrives on the jettison belt 5, this runs against an abutment 7 and thus to a defined position.
When the goods stack now lies at this defined position the jettison belt 5 is retracted, so that the support thereof for the goods stack 2 is removed. The goods stack 2 drops by gravitational force into the packaging trough 3.
In order to assist this dropping movement the abutment 7 can accompany the dropping movement and thus support the goods stack 2 and thereby prevent tipping over. It is thus ensured that the goods stack 2 lands cleanly in the packaging trough 3 and is fully received by this.
The dropping movement can, for example, also be assisted by a plunger (not illustrated), which presses the goods stack into the packaging trough 3.
In this connection it is in addition conceivable for the stack to also be introduced horizontally or vertically upwardly into a packaging trough 3 by such a plunger.
As already indicated above, in the present example two abutments 7 are provided one behind the other so that two goods stacks 2 arranged one behind the other can be introduced into packaging troughs 3 simultaneously.
The jettison belt 5 is driven by way of a drive 8. This can either be controlled in such a way that the position of the stack 2 on retraction of the jettison belt 5 remains at least substantially constant. However, it is also conceivable for this standstill of the goods stack 2 to be realised by way of an arrangement of belt pulleys of the same size and a drive belt 10.
The sequence of introduction of the goods stacks 2 into the packaging troughs 3 is schematically illustrated in
Transport of the stacks 2 and the packaging troughs 3 can be provided cyclically. This means that when introduction of the stacks 2 into the packaging troughs 3 takes place, both stack 2 and packaging trough 3 are stationary. However, it is also conceivable for the stacks 2 and packaging troughs 3 to be transported synchronously or asynchronously with respect to one another. It is significant that stack 2 and packaging trough 3 at the moment of introduction of the stack 2 are one above the other and at this moment do not move relative to one another.
A lateral guide 11 which in the present example is configured as a co-running plate can be provided near the goods stacks 2 not only in the region of the transport belt 4, but also in the region of the jettison belt 5.
Other guides 11 are conceivable. These are to be matched to the respective goods.
Attention must be given to the entire device being satisfactorily cleanable particularly in the field of use, which is provided for the device, of processing of foodstuffs, i.e. for packaging of sliced sausage, meat and cheese products. This is also to be taken into consideration in selection of the guides 11.
If the device is operated continuously and not cyclically, the abutments 7 can also be configured to be co-running.
In addition, in a modification of the embodiment the abutments 7 can also be arranged behind the stacks 2. Contact between stacks 2 and abutment 7 is produced by slight movement back of the stacks 2.
Jettison belt 5 and transport belt 4 often form a unit and are often designated in common as a jettison belt with a plurality of sections. An angle or a bend can be provided between jettison belt 5 and transport belt 4.
The goods stacks 2 are formed by feed devices (not illustrated) and fed to the transport belt 4.
In this connection it is conceivable for an orientation station (not illustrated) to be provided, which ensures that the stacks 2 are placed in oriented manner on the transport belt 4 and also oriented in themselves and not displaced, twisted or stacked up in different mode and manner departing from the desired straight orientation.
The retraction movement of the jettison belt 5 is usually realised in such a way that a drive retracts an inner table on which the actual transport bands or belts are mounted. The horizontal position of the stacks 2 is ensured by appropriate control of the belt or a mechanical coupling, as already described above.
Several stacks 2 can also be arranged adjacent to one another on one transport belt 4 and jettison belt 5. The packaging troughs 3 also have to be provided in corresponding manner.
In addition, several transport belts 4 and jettison belts 5 arranged adjacent to one another are also conceivable.
It is equally conceivable for two or more goods stacks 2 to be arranged one behind the other and introduced simultaneously or sequentially in succession into the packaging troughs 3.
The packaging troughs 3 are usually provided by a deep-drawing machine (not illustrated) and closed directly after filling by a covering film (also not illustrated).
It is significant that the packaging of the goods stacks 2 takes place reliably and quickly and, in addition, without intervention of operatives.
Intervention by operatives is undesirable particularly in the processing of foodstuffs, since this often leads to contaminations of the packaged goods and thus to waste or at least reduced shelf-life. There is no question here of slowing down the packaging process.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 114 129.5 | May 2023 | DE | national |
