Patent Application
20230241856
This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to German patent application number DE 10 2022 102 305.2, filed Feb. 1, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a system for destacking carton blanks, a deep-drawing packaging machine or tray sealing machine comprising a system for destacking carton blanks and a method for destacking carton blanks.
A deep-drawing packaging machine is known from DE 10 2017 121 438 A1. A tray sealing machine is known from DE 10 2012 001 817 A1.
Usually, for the production of packaging trays with a cardboard tray, unfolded carton blanks are destacked by a stacking device, folded in a die by a movement for pressing in and fed to a packaging machine, i.e., a deep-drawing packaging machine, or a tray sealing machine. However, these steps are complex and require several workstations.
An object of the disclosure is to provide an improved system for destacking carton blanks and a method for destacking carton blanks.
The system for destacking carton blanks according to the disclosure comprises a stacking magazine for receiving a stack of carton blanks, the stacking magazine having a retaining system or retention system, at least one first die comprising a first cavity for shaping the carton blanks, and a transport device with at least one gripping unit for gripping and displacing carton blanks, wherein the transport device is configured to grip at least one carton blank from the stack, transport the carton blank into the first cavity and form the carton blank by exerting a force. This system enables separating the carton blanks of a stack of carton blanks in a workstation and to give them a specific (especially 3-dimensional, erected) shape. For the purposes of the disclosure, “forming” or “shaping” means at least partial and at least sectional erection of a carton blank.
It is also possible to separate the carton blanks of a stack of carton blanks in a work station and to give them a certain shape and to fix them in a transport system of a packaging machine, e.g., a deep-drawing packaging machine or a tray sealing machine. The retaining system may have retaining plates configured vertically with respect to lateral stacking magazine supports to retain the carton blanks in the stacking magazine. The first die may be disposed underneath the stacking magazine. The die may have at least one suction unit, whereby the carton blank formed in the die remains fixed until a further transfer into the cavity of the die. The die may have several, e.g., two to four, suction units. The transport unit may have several, e.g., two to four, gripping units. The die may have several cavities arranged next to each other. The die may be integrated into a transport system. The conveyor belt may be a feed belt with protruding forming plates.
Advantageously, the transport device is configured to grip the carton blank by suction and pull it into the first cavity. The gripping units of the transport device may be provided with at least one suction unit.
The first die comprises at least one first passage opening, wherein the transport device is configured to move a portion of the first gripping unit through the first passage opening. This allows the carton blanks to be transported in a substantially vertical path of movement between a stacking position in the stacking magazine and a depositing position in the first cavity of the die. The first die may have, e.g., 2 to 4 passage openings.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the transport device is configured to apply pressure to the carton blank from above and to press the carton blank into the first cavity. In this embodiment, a passage opening in the die is not necessary.
In this embodiment, it is particularly advantageous to provide a distance between the die and the stacking magazine that is at least 20 cm, preferably 20 cm to 100 cm. The transport device may have a robot arm to grip the carton blanks one by one, turn them over and press them into the first cavity. The robot arm may include a suction unit to grip the carton blanks.
Preferably, the system comprises a second die for shaping carton blanks, the second die comprising an opening, wherein the transport device is configured to transport the carton blank from the stack through the second die into the first cavity. This allows the carton blanks to be pre-formed first by the second cavity and the preformed carton blanks can be pulled further into the first cavity to obtain their final shape. This two-stage shaping simplifies and improves alignment of the side walls of the carton blanks. The second die may have several, e.g., two to four, passage openings.
Preferably, the second die is arranged below the stacking magazine. It is also possible to place the second die above the stacking magazine.
It is advantageous if an upper opening width of the second die is larger than an upper opening width of the first cavity. The upper opening width may correspond to a distance between two lateral supports of the stacking magazine for holding flat carton blanks. It is also possible that a lower opening width of the second die is smaller than the upper opening width of the first cavity in order to receive a carton blank preformed in the second die more easily in the first cavity.
Advantageously the first cavity is provided with a first bottom surface and side walls, the side walls of the first cavity having a first angle of inclination in relation to the first bottom surface, wherein the second die has inclined side walls, the inclined side walls of the second die having a second angle of inclination in relation to the opening which is less than the first angle of inclination. As a result, the carton blanks are first laterally erected in the second die, which simplifies the subsequent insertion of these preformed carton blanks in the first cavity and facilitates the final shaping.
The disclosure further relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine comprising a system for destacking carton blanks according to any of the variants described above. The deep-drawing packaging machine may be provided for the production of packagings with folded carton blanks, which are lined on the inside with a film in order to be able to package food gas-tight and with a long shelf life. The system for destacking carton blanks may be disposed upstream of the forming station of the deep-drawing packaging machine. The carton blanks formed or folded in the system for destacking carton blanks may be manually loaded into a transport system or feed belt, wherein the transport system feeds the formed carton blanks to the forming station to be manually or automatically loaded into the bottom parts of the forming die. The formed or folded carton blanks may be fixed directly in a transport system or feed belt of the deep-drawing packaging machine, wherein the transport system feeds the formed carton blanks to the forming station to be inserted manually or automatically into the bottom parts of the forming die. The transport system of the deep-drawing packaging machine may be integrally configured with the first die of the system for destacking carton blanks, i.e., the first die may be part of the transport system of the deep-drawing packaging machine.
The disclosure further relates to a tray sealing machine comprising the system for destacking carton blanks according to any of the variants described above. The tray sealing machine may be equipped with a sealing device. The sealing device may comprise a rigid die top part which maintains its position during the sealing process. The sealing device may further comprise a movable tray receptacle provided for receiving a tray. The tray, comprising a product, may be guided into the sealing device by a conveyor belt. In a predetermined position in the sealing device, the tray may be gripped by the tray receptable and displaced upwards by it against the upper part of the die. The tray may be sealed with a lidding film which is passed through the sealing device. The trays may be carton blanks. The system for destacking carton blanks of the sealing tray machine may be disposed in front of the tray receiving station. The formed or folded carton blanks may be fixed directly in a transport system or feed belt, wherein the transport system feeds the formed carton blanks to the tray receiving station.
The disclosure further relates to a method for destacking carton blanks, comprising the following method steps: receiving a stack of carton blanks in a stacking magazine, the stacking magazine having a retaining system or retention system, providing at least a first die comprising a first cavity for shaping carton blanks, gripping at least one carton blank by a transport device with at least one gripping unit, transporting the carton blank by means of the transport device from the stack into the first cavity, and forming the carton blank in the first cavity while exerting a force on the carton blank by means of the transport device. This system enables separating the carton blanks of a stack of carton blanks in a workstation and shaping them. It is also possible to separate the carton blanks of a stack of carton blanks in a work station and to give them a certain shape and to fix them in a transport system of a packaging machine, e.g., a deep-drawing packaging machine or a tray sealing machine.
Advantageously, the carton blank is hold from below by the gripping unit through suction and drawn into the first cavity. This allows the carton blanks to be transported in a vertical path of movement between a stacking position in the stacking magazine and a depositing position in the first cavity of the die. The first die may have a first passage opening. A section of the gripping unit may be moved through the first passage opening. The gripping units of the transport device may have at least one suction unit.
Advantageously, pressure is exerted on the carton blank by the gripping unit from above and the carton blank is pressed into the first cavity. In this embodiment, a passage opening in the die is not necessary. In this embodiment, it is particularly advantageous to provide a distance between the die and the stacking magazine that is at least 20 cm, preferably 20 cm to 100 cm. The transport device may have a robot arm to grip the carton blanks one by one, turn them over and press them into the first cavity. The robot arm may comprise a suction unit.
Advantageously, the carton blank is transported from the stack first into a second die and then into the first cavity of the first die. This allows the carton blanks to be preformed first by the second die (i.e., partially erected) and the preformed carton blanks can be pulled further into the first cavity to obtain its fully erected final shape. This two-stage forming simplifies and improves erection of the side walls of the carton blanks. A section of the gripping unit may be moved through a passage opening.
Preferably, the second die is arranged below the stacking magazine. It is also possible to place the second die above the stacking magazine.
It is advantageous if an upper opening width of the second die is larger than an upper opening width of the first cavity. The upper opening width may correspond to a distance between two lateral supports of the stacking magazine for holding flat carton blanks. It is also possible that a lower opening width of the second die is smaller than the upper opening width of the first cavity in order to receive a carton blank preformed in the second die more easily in the first cavity.
All features disclosed in connection with the system for destacking carton blanks may be used individually or together in the method for destacking carton blanks. All features disclosed in connection with the method for destacking carton blanks may be used individually or together in the system for destacking carton blanks.
An embodiment according to the disclosure is shown by the following figures, in which:
The stacking magazine 3 is provided with lateral vertical supports 8 for receiving a stack 7 of carton blanks 2. The supports 8 extend from a base frame 9 of a restraint system or retention system 10 of the system 1. The base frame 9 is provided with one or more substantially horizontal holding elements 11 (e.g., one or more laterally extending projections, such as ledges, plates, or support frames) to hold the carton blanks 2 in the stacking magazine 3. The holding elements 11 partially cover the carton blanks 2 from below.
The transport device 6 is fixed to the base frame 9 of the stacking magazine 3. The transport device 6 is provided with a substantially horizontal plate 12 which may be moved back and forth along a first vertical axis 14 by a lifting device 13 (e.g., electric or pneumatic actuator) of the transport device 6. A first gripping unit 15 and a second gripping unit 16 are disposed on the plate 12. The gripping units 15, 16 comprise suction cups (not shown) which communicate with a vacuum pump (not shown) through a first pipe 17.
The first die 4 comprises a first cavity 18 for shaping (i.e., erecting) the carton blanks 2. A first passage opening 19 and a second passage opening 20 are provided in the first die 4. The first and second passage openings 19, 20 extend along a depth 21 of the first die 4. A portion 22 of a first gripping unit 15 of the transport device 6 is movable through the first passage opening 19 and a portion 22′ of a second gripping unit 16 of the transport device 6 is movable through the second passage opening 20.
The second die 5 is attached to the base frame 9.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102022102305.2 | Feb 2022 | DE | national |
