Patent Application
20240239542
The invention relates to a packaging method for packaging injection-molded plastic parts in final package units, the injection-molded plastic parts being pipette tips or medical reaction vessels and each having an in particular vertically oriented longitudinal center axis, which very particularly preferably passes through a respective opening, in particular a filling opening, of the respective injection-molded plastic part, preferably centrally. Particularly preferably, the injection-molded plastic parts are rotationally symmetrical with respect to their longitudinal center axis. The packaging method comprises the steps of simultaneously removing multiple shots of K injection-molded plastic parts from K respective cavities, the K cavities preferably being distributed, preferably evenly, over C clusters (geometric cavity arrangements); evenly distributing the K injection-molded plastic parts in a cavity-pure manner over U cavity-pure subgroups in a first storing plane, wherein, according to a preferred embodiment of the method, the even and cavity-pure distribution of the K injection-molded plastic parts over the U cavity-pure subgroups in the first storing plane is carried out until each subgroup contains L injection-molded plastic parts, the number L of injection-molded plastic parts of one (each) of the subgroups corresponding to the maximum number A of injection-molded plastic parts that can be stored in one final package unit or to an integer divisor of A; filling up the final package units in a cavity-pure or cavity-sorted manner until the final package units each contain A injection-molded plastic parts.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a packaging device for cooperation with an injection molding device which can be disposed adjacent to the packaging device and whose injection molding tools are designed for producing pipette tips or medical reaction vessels.
Furthermore, the invention relates to an injection molding system which comprises an injection molding device and a packaging device.
In known packaging methods for packaging injection-molded plastic parts, the injection-molded plastic parts being pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, in particular designed for blood analysis, K injection-molded plastic parts are simultaneously removed from K cavities of an injection molding device and temporarily stored as bulk material. Final package units are then loaded with A injection-molded plastic parts from this bulk material. A disadvantage of the known method is that it is not possible to assign the packaged plastic parts to specific cavities. It is therefore no longer possible to trace the cavity or cavities from which the injection-molded plastic parts of a particular final package unit originate. This means that if there is even a single defective injection-molded plastic part in one final package unit, the entire production has to be recalled and not just the final package units loaded with injection-molded plastic parts from a specific cavity or from specific cavities.
The packaging of injection-molded plastic parts which are pipette syringes or medical reaction vessels was revolutionized by the invention described in EP 2 323 930 B1 (WO 2011/003507 A1). This invention proposes that the K injection-molded plastic parts simultaneously removed from the K cavities by means of a removing gripper are simultaneously distributed over U subgroups and placed in an intermediate storage and that K injection-molded plastic parts are removed from the K cavities multiple times and are simultaneously distributed to the subgroups in the intermediate storage, i.e., before transfer to the final packages, until each subgroup contains L injection-molded plastic parts, the number L of injection-molded plastic parts of one (each) subgroup corresponding to the maximum number of injection-molded plastic parts that can be loaded in a final package unit or to an integral part thereof A. The final package units are then each filled with a single subgroup, i.e., in a cavity-pure manner, or with several of these subgroups, i.e., in a cavity-sorted manner.
The invention described in EP 2 801 531 B1 of the applicant develops the aforementioned method further in that it makes it possible to dispense with an intermediate storage and the storage plane in which the cavity-pure subgroups are formed is provided directly by the final package units.
In the invention described in EP 2 868 587 B1 of the applicant, the cavity-pure subgroups are formed on a table of a shuttle table arrangement and then adjusted vertically by rotating the shuttle table arrangement about a horizontal axis in order to make optimum use of the available space.
From EP 2 801 532 B1 of the applicant, another optimized method for cavity-pure or cavity-sorted packaging of pipette tips and medical reaction vessels is known, in which a single shot of injection molded parts is buffered in an intermediate buffer prior to the formation of cavity-pure subgroups in order to shorten the cycle time.
Another optimized packaging method for pipette tips is known from DE 10 2017 118 527 A1 of the applicant, which optimizes the basic method known from EP 2 323 930 B1 of the applicant in that a line formation of the injection-molded parts of a respective shot takes place before the arrangement of the injection-molded plastic parts in cavity-pure subgroups. The injection-molded parts of a shot arranged in a line are then arranged directly in cavity-pure subgroups.
WO 2022/022955 A1 of the applicant describes a further optimized packaging method for pipette tips and plastic injection molded parts being medical reaction vessels, with which the cycle time can be reduced even further. The invention described therein is based on the idea of not transferring each shot of K injection-molded plastic parts into the cavity-pure subgroups individually, but rather to first form a number of cavity-pure sub-subgroups corresponding to the number of cavities, each sub-subgroup receiving multiple injection-molded plastic parts from the same cavity, the subgroups then being filled or formed with cavity-pure sub-subgroups step by step. In this way, the adjustment or gripper mechanism can be made more robust and, in particular, more resistant to bending.
All the above-mentioned packaging methods with associated packaging devices of the applicant for injection-molded plastic parts being pipette tips or medical reaction vessels have proven their worth and have since ensured optimized product traceability. The cycle time has also been improved by the inventions described.
In practice, 100% of the injection-molded plastic parts divided into cavity-pure subgroups are subjected to an optical inspection from above, to which end the viewing axis of the camera used is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axes of the injection-molded plastic parts, i.e., in the vertical direction, and not directed at the circumferential surface of the injection-molded plastic parts. With the optical inspection from above and/or below, the diameter and the concentricity of the injection-molded plastic parts can be inspected. Damages in the upper or lower edge area of the injection-molded plastic parts can also be detected. Lateral inspection of all injection-molded plastic parts for detecting shape and/or surface defects in order to exclude sporadic defects while at the same time ensuring cavity-pure or cavity-sorted packaging in final packages has not been possible so far, but it is desirable because of the increased product safety associated with it. Shape defects are, for example, length defects and/or width defects and/or symmetry defects, in particular rotational symmetry defects. Surface defects are, for example, impurities and/or inclusions and/or damage, in particular scratches and/or holes.
Hence, the object of the invention is to provide a packaging method which is further improved with regard to product safety and with which sporadic defects, in particular shape and/or surface defects, can also be detected despite a cavity-pure arrangement of the injection-molded plastic parts, which are pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, in subgroups (fields). In other words, the improved method should allow 100% circumferential inspection of all injection-molded plastic parts, which are pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, and should also allow cavity-pure arrangement of the injection-molded plastic parts in subgroups and cavity-pure or cavity-sorted filling of the final package units.
Furthermore, the object is to specify a packaging device which is suitable for carrying out an optimized method as described above, and a correspondingly optimized injection molding system.
This object is attained with the features disclosed herein with respect to the method, and with respect to the device, and also with respect to the injection molding system.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims. All combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the description, the claims and/or the figures fall within the scope of the invention. To avoid repetition, features disclosed in connection with the device shall also be considered disclosed and claimable in connection with the method. Likewise, features disclosed in connection with the method shall also be considered disclosed and claimable in connection with the device.
The invention is based on the idea of subjecting the injection-molded plastic parts of the subgroups, preferably L injection-molded plastic parts in each case, to an optical lateral inspection for, preferably sporadic, defects, very particularly preferably for shape and/or surface defects, in a lateral inspection device, the lateral inspection device comprising not only a single digital camera but a plurality of digital cameras, which are in particular disposed, in particular distributed evenly, in a circumferential direction around an inspection position for injection-molded plastic parts, for cooperating with an inspection logic. In order to enable 100% lateral inspection, i.e., an inspection of all the injection-molded plastic parts previously combined or sorted into cavity-pure subgroups (fields), the injection-molded plastic parts being pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, the invention provides for the cavity-pure subgroups to be each divided into S, preferably cavity-pure, very particularly preferably equally large, sub-subgroups with injection-molded plastic parts disposed one behind the other, in particular linearly, and for the S sub-subgroups to each be transported one after the other through the lateral inspection device along their longitudinal or linear extension by transfer means, where they are subjected to lateral inspection. Preferably, the injection-molded plastic parts disposed one behind the other are moved one after the other through an inspection position where they are circumferentially viewed or recorded by the at least one digital camera. In order to inspect the injection-molded plastic parts across their entire circumference, i.e., circumferentially, it is, as mentioned, preferable to provide multiple digital cameras disposed, further preferably distributed evenly, in a circumferential direction, in particular around the aforementioned inspection position. Preferably, at least one digital camera is located on either side of a transfer or transport axis of the sub-subgroups through the lateral inspection device. By separating the subgroups into sub-subgroups, in particular in the form of injection-molded plastic parts disposed linearly one behind the other, it is made possible to successively subject all the injection-molded plastic parts of a subgroup to an optical lateral inspection for sporadic defects, in particular shape and/or surface defects.
According to the invention, the S sub-subgroups are (again) arranged in cavity-pure subgroups in a second, preferably horizontal, storing plane after passing through the lateral inspection. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition of the subgroups remains the same; in other words, the composition of the inspected subgroups in the second storage plane preferably corresponds to the composition of the (corresponding) subgroups in the first, preferably horizontal, storage plane, at least in the case of a successful optical inspection, i.e., if no or still acceptable defects, in particular shape and/or surface defects, of injection-molded plastic parts in the subgroup in question have been detected and therefore no injection-molded plastic parts of this subgroup have been replaced. In other words, the composition of the subgroups is preferably not changed by the function of the first and the second sub-subgroup gripper; it is only changed if defective injection-molded plastic parts have been replaced with non-defective injection-molded plastic parts from the same respective cavities. So, the subgroup reference before and after the inspection preferably remains the same for the injection-molded plastic parts not sorted out. Instead of replacing individual defective injection-molded plastic parts, it is also conceivable to sort out or discard the entire subgroup. In principle, the replacement of individual injection-molded plastic parts or the discarding of entire subgroups is an optional and a non-obligatory, but preferred, part of the method according to the invention and of the device according to the invention.
According to an embodiment of the invention, injection-molded plastic parts identified as defective may be sorted out and replaced with suitable, i.e., cavity-pure, injection-molded plastic parts before the formation of the inspected, cavity-pure subgroups in the second storing plane. Alternatively, it is conceivable to first arrange the defective injection-molded plastic parts in inspected, cavity-pure subgroups in the second storage plane and to replace them with cavity-pure injection-molded plastic parts in a subsequent step. It is also conceivable, as mentioned, to sort out the entire subgroup if a defective part is detected in a subgroup.
In the context of the invention, it is envisaged that the second storage plane is formed either directly by the final packages or by a static or adjustable, preferably horizontal, intermediate storage from which the inspected cavity-pure subgroups are then transferred into the final package units—either a single inspected subgroup per final package unit (cavity-pure) or several (not all) cavity-pure subgroups per final package unit (cavity-sorted).
As mentioned above, the composition of the inspected cavity-pure subgroups in the second storage plane preferably remains the same as the composition of the respective corresponding subgroups in the first storage plane, i.e., unaffected by splitting the subgroups into sub-subgroups, conveying the sub-subgroups through the lateral inspection device and then recombining the inspected sub-subgroups in the second storage plane. A (slightly) different composition of the not yet inspected and the inspected subgroups can preferably only result from the optional sorting out of injection-molded plastic parts recognized as defective by the lateral inspection device and/or at least one optional further inspection device (e.g., an aforementioned inspection from above and/or below). So the composition of the subgroups before and after the inspection preferably remains the same if no individual injection-molded plastic parts are sorted out. It is conceivable to arrange the rows of injection-molded plastic parts, which are preferably each formed by one sub-subgroup, in the respective inspected subgroup in the same manner relative to each other as in the corresponding subgroup in the first storing plane or differently, for example in reverse order, as long as the overall composition remains the same in the case of successful inspection, i.e., in the case of non-detection of a defect. Preferably, both the subgroups in the first storing plane and the inspected subgroups in the second storing plane are geometrically arranged as fields with a preferably rectangular envelope contour in the respective storing plane. The envelope contour is not limited to a rectangular shape. In principle, all field or envelope contour shapes that can be composed of lines or row arrangements of injection-molded plastic parts can be realized, for example also hexagonal or octagonal envelope contours, etc. In case the subgroup reference does not remain the same, the sub-subgroups can be formed into new subgroups in the second storing plane, as long as they are still cavity-pure.
There are different possibilities with regard to the formation/creation of the subgroups in the first storing plane; in this respect, reference is expressly made to earlier patent applications and patents of the applicant, in particular those mentioned in the introduction to the description. It is conceivable, for example, to always expand the subgroups by a single injection-molded plastic part after each shot or alternatively to first form cavity-pure sub-subgroups and then to assemble the subgroups in the first storing plane from cavity-pure sub-subgroups.
Regardless of how the cavity-pure subgroups are formed in the first storing plane, it is preferable if these cavity-pure subgroups (preferably like the inspected subgroups) are formed as fields with a rectangular envelope contour. It is particularly preferable if the subgroups are formed from parallel lines of injection-molded plastic parts disposed next to each other; particularly preferably, each sub-subgroup to be inspected is formed by one of these lines, each comprising multiple, in particular S, injection-molded plastic parts.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the subgroups in the first storing plane are finished first, i.e., completed, before a division into the S sub-subgroups takes place. The claims preferably also cover an alternative embodiment in which the subgroup formation or subgroup removal for lateral testing purposes is started before the subgroups in the first storing plane are completed.
With regard to the arrangement of the at least one digital camera, it is intended that the at least one digital camera is directed at the lateral surface/circumferential surface of the injection-molded plastic part to be inspected in each case. It is particularly preferred if an optical (camera) axis or a camera zero line running centrically through the lens assembly of the camera intersects the longitudinal center axis of the injection-molded plastic part to be inspected at an angle. As mentioned above, it is particularly advantageous to provide multiple digital cameras, in particular four, digital cameras, which are very preferably evenly spaced in a circumferential direction, in particular at least one camera, preferably two cameras, on each side of an inspection track to be discussed later or on both sides of a transfer axis, in order to cover a particularly large circumferential surface area. The optical camera axis of the at least one digital camera preferably runs at an angle to the vertical and is horizontal, for example.
As mentioned, it is preferred if the injection-molded plastic parts of each sub-subgroup are disposed, preferably linearly, one behind the other, preferably along a transfer axis along which they are moved through the inspection device.
The digital cameras cooperate with an inspection logic which detects, in particular by means of image processing software, preferably sporadic defects, in particular shape and/or surface defects; according to an embodiment of the invention, in the event of detection of unacceptable defects, replacement means are or can be actuated directly or indirectly via the inspection logic, with which injection-molded plastic parts identified as defective are sorted out before or after the arrangement in the inspected subgroups and replaced with cavity-pure injection-molded plastic parts with the result that the final package units are equipped only with injection-molded plastic parts free from lateral defects in a cavity-pure or cavity-sorted manner.
The method according to the invention (and the device configured to carry out the method) has/have considerable advantages over the prior art. For the first time, 100% lateral inspection, in particular for shape and/or surface defects, is also possible for injection-molded plastic parts previously assembled into subgroups, in particular into cavity-pure fields, the injection-molded plastic parts being pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, thus ensuring a cavity-pure or cavity-sorted packaging in final package units. This considerably increases product safety, as even sporadic side defects of injection-molded plastic parts packaged in final packages can be reliably avoided. In addition to guaranteeing 100% lateral inspection and cavity-pure or cavity-sorted packaging in final packages at the same time, the invention also makes it possible to statistically assign defects determined by the lateral inspection, in particular shape and/or surface defects, to specific cavities. So it is possible and preferred for the cavities from which certain defects or defective cavities originate to be evaluated or traced.
It is essential that the packaging units or final package units in question, in which either the inspected subgroups are formed or which, after previous formation of the inspected subgroups in an intermediate storage, are each filled with a single or multiple (not all) cavity-pure inspected subgroups, are final package units which, after complete filling, are delivered to end customers, the delivery step to the end customer or the handover to a forwarding agent or a similar transport unit being a method step according to the invention, which is hereby disclosed as claimable.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sub-subgroups with their injection-molded plastic parts, which are preferably disposed linearly one behind the other, are conveyed through the lateral inspection device along an inspection track by means of the transfer means, in particular in such a manner that a preferably horizontal optical axis of the at least one digital camera or, if provided as is preferred, the optical axes of multiple digital cameras spaced apart in the circumferential direction, very particularly evenly, intersects/intersect, preferably perpendicularly, the preferably vertical longitudinal center axis of one of the injection-molded plastic parts in each case in an inspection position located on the inspection track. In such an embodiment, the injection-molded plastic part moved through the inspection position is captured/recorded in the inspection position by the at least one digital camera and inspected for sporadic lateral defects.
In order to enable a transport of the sub-subgroups as fast as possible through the lateral inspection device, it is further provided according to an embodiment of the invention that the transfer means for conveying the sub-subgroups through the lateral inspection device comprises a first and a second work piece support each serving to receive one of the S sub-subgroups, the work piece supports being moved back and forth along a transfer axis between respective loading positions, in which they are loaded with one of the S sub-subgroups from the subgroups of the first storing plane, and respective unloading positions, from which, after optical inspection, the respective sub-subgroups are transferred into the second storing plane for cavity-pure subgroup (re)formation or subgroup reconfiguration, and that the first and the second work piece support are conveyed through the lateral inspection device along a shared inspection track with one of the S sub-subgroups during the transfer from the respective loading positions to the respective unloading positions. In other words, two work piece supports are provided which alternately convey one sub-subgroup each through the lateral inspection device, one of the work piece supports being loaded with a sub-subgroup to be inspected, while the other work piece support is unloaded after inspection of the sub-subgroup located thereon. In this manner, the cycle time can be significantly optimized. The unloaded work piece support then returns empty to its loading position, while the loaded work piece support is conveyed through the lateral inspection device along the inspection track to its unloading position. With regard to the option of a fixed camera assembly, it is intended that both work piece supports share an inspection track within the inspection device; i.e., they are conveyed through the inspection device on the same track/axis (i.e., a shared inspection track), while the inspection of the injection-molded plastic parts located is taking place by means of the at least one digital camera.
There are different options with regard to the realization of the back and forth movement of the work piece supports. It is particularly preferred if the back and forth movement of the first and second work piece supports between their respective unloading and loading positions takes place in a coupled movement. The movement can be mechanically coupled, for example by providing a shared reciprocating belt drive or chain drive. This has the advantage that only a single shared, preferably electric, drive needs to be provided. Alternatively, in the case of the provision of multiple drives, such as servomotor drives, these drives may be coupled electronically, i.e., synchronized.
In order to avoid a collision of the work piece supports when they meet in the inspection device despite the provision of a shared inspection track for the first and the second work piece support on their respective inspection paths through the lateral inspection device, another embodiment of the invention provides that at least one of the work piece supports is moved by moving means relative, in particular perpendicular, angular or in a pivoting movement, to the transfer axis in such a manner that the work piece supports are moved past each other along the transfer axis in the inspection device, while the work piece support that is loaded with one of the S sub-subgroups is located in the inspection track. It is preferred if the work piece supports are moved past each other in a shared horizontal plane, although in principle it is also possible to move them past each other one above the other, i.e., to move them past each other with a vertical offset, by providing appropriate lifting means. An embodiment in which moving means are assigned to each of the work piece supports so that each of the work piece supports can be moved into and out of the inspection track, preferably into or out of its own track, is preferred. In this case, three parallel tracks are preferably provided.
As mentioned, the work piece supports meet during their back and forth movement within the inspection device, preferably during the inspection of the injection-molded plastic parts by means of at least one camera. In order to enable or simplify an inspection of the injection-molded plastic parts in the filled work piece support despite the fact that the work piece supports are to be moved past one another, preferably in a horizontal plane, another embodiment of the invention provides that the work piece supports each have a lateral opening, in particular on both sides, the injection-molded plastic parts of a sub-subgroup disposed in the work piece support in question protruding into, preferably vertically from above, in particular extending vertically through this opening and being optically inspected by the at least one camera through the lateral opening. There are many options with regard to the concrete design of the lateral opening(s). Preferably, each work piece support is open on both sides perpendicular to the transfer axis or has a lateral opening there. In particular, each work piece support is provided with a through hole perpendicular to the transfer axis so that at least one digital camera, in particular at least two digital cameras disposed on both sides of the inspection track, can capture the circumferential surface of each of the injection-molded plastic parts. The lateral openings in the work piece supports are preferably aligned perpendicular to the transfer axis when the work piece supports are moved past each other in the inspection device.
It is very particularly preferred to arrange the at least one digital camera, very particularly preferably multiple digital cameras of the lateral inspection device in such a manner that the injection-molded plastic parts in the first work piece support are optically inspected through the lateral opening of the second work piece support and/or the injection-molded plastic parts in the second work piece support are optically inspected through the lateral opening of the first work piece support.
As explained, the invention also relates to a packaging device for carrying out a method according to the invention. For this purpose, the device has corresponding functional means which are configured and controlled by control means in such a manner that they execute the respective method steps. Thus, the packaging device according to the invention comprises at least one removing gripper, which is configured and controlled by control means to simultaneous remove multiple shots of K injection-molded plastic parts from K respective cavities of an injection molding device (not belonging to the packaging device, but preferably disposed or disposable next to it within the framework of the system), the tools of which are configured to produce pipette tips or medical reaction vessels and in which the K cavities are preferably evenly distributed over C clusters. Furthermore, the packaging device comprises subgroup forming means for forming cavity-pure subgroups in the first storing plane. The device further comprises means for cavity-pure and/or cavity-sorted filling of final package units. In case the second storing plane is an intermediate storage, these means can be or comprise a transfer gripper for transferring the inspected subgroups from the second storing plane into the final package units. In the case of direct loading, the means preferably comprise or are formed by a second sub-subgroup gripper, with which the sub-subgroups can be placed directly into the final package units; i.e., the cavity-pure inspected subgroups are formed directly in the final package units.
The device is characterized by first and second sub-subgroup grippers for loading and unloading the transfer means, respectively, with which sub-subgroups can be conveyed through the inspection device of the packaging device.
All grippers or gripper means mentioned in the context of the disclosure can be mechanical grippers or preferably vacuum grippers, for example, the latter fixing the injection-molded plastic parts by suction during the transfer between two positions.
The packaging device is characterized in particular by the aforementioned optical lateral inspection device, which comprises at least one digital camera, along which in particular all the injection-molded plastic parts previously sorted or combined into cavity-pure subgroups in the first storing plane are conveyed in sub-subgroups with injection-molded plastic parts (not belonging to the device) disposed in particular linearly one behind the other for inspection purposes.
There are different options with regard to the concrete design of the moving means for moving at least one preferably provided work piece support perpendicular to the transfer axis for collision avoidance during the movement of the work piece supports past each other in the inspection device. It is preferable if the moving means comprise a slide which is movable perpendicular to the transfer axis and on which the work piece support in question is disposed and via which the work piece support can then be moved into and out of the inspection track. The slide can be driven pneumatically or by servomotor, for example; in the preferred case of a belt drive, a slide support is fixed to the belt.
In principle, it is possible to dispose only one of the work piece supports on a slide which can be driven pneumatically or by servomotor, for example; an embodiment in which each work piece support is disposed on a correspondingly movable slide is preferred, in which case preferably both slides are fixed to the belt drive via respective slide carriers.
Moreover, the invention relates to an injection molding system comprising an injection molding device as described above for producing pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, in which the K cavities are preferably evenly distributed over C clusters, and a packaging device according to the invention. With regard to a preferred design and arrangement of the C clusters, express reference is made to the applicant's published WO 2022/022955 A1. There, a typical cavity arrangement in clusters is shown in
Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings.
In the figures, identical elements and elements with the same function are marked with the same reference signs.
The figures, in particular
With regard to concrete options for realizing the elements or units and functional means not shown, reference is made to the applicant's earlier applications and patents mentioned in particular in the introduction to the description.
In the embodiment shown, the lateral inspection device 9 comprises four digital cameras 11 evenly spaced (here at a 90° angle) in the circumferential direction for detecting the lateral or circumferential surface 12 of the injection-molded plastic parts 2 extending around the longitudinal center axis LA of each injection-molded plastic part 2. The digital cameras 11 are distributed on two sides of a shared inspection track 13 (cf. for example
The packaging device 1 comprises transfer means 14 for transferring cavity-pure sub-subgroups 10 through the lateral inspection device 9.
In the embodiment shown, the transfer means 14 comprise a first 15 and a second work piece support 16 each serving to receive a sub-subgroup 10. The two work piece supports 15, 16 are movable back and forth between respective loading positions (on the left in
Preferably provided replacement means controlled by and cooperating with the inspection logic of the lateral inspection device and comprising sorting-out means for sorting out injection-molded plastic parts 2 recognized as defective and for replacing the vacated space by non-defective, preferably already inspected plastic parts which are cavity-pure, i.e., belong to the respective subgroup or originate from the same cavity, and which can be taken from a corresponding supply, are not shown.
The Figures show that the work piece supports 15, 16 are open laterally, i.e., perpendicular to the transfer axis TA; i.e., they have lateral openings 19, 20, into which the injection-molded plastic parts 2 to be inspected of a respective sub-subgroup 10 protrude—in this case, they protrude through them—in order to then be laterally detected by the cameras 11 through the lateral openings 19, 20. According to a preferred embodiment, the lateral openings 19, 20 are formed as through holes, i.e., passage openings, in a respective work piece support frame 21, 22.
As shown in
The inspection position 23 is located on a shared inspection track 13 for both work piece supports 15, 16, which the work piece supports 15, 16 pass through in order for the respective received sub-subgroups 10 to be inspected.
In the specific embodiment, the transfer means 14 comprise, in addition to the shared inspection track 13, a first return track 25 for the first work piece support 15 and a second return track 26 for the second work piece support 16. The work piece supports 15, 16 can be moved between the shared inspection track 13 and the respective return track 25, 26 perpendicularly to the transfer axis by means of moving means 27.
In the specific embodiment example, the moving means 27 for each work piece support 15, 16 comprise a first and a second slide 28 and 29, respectively, which can be actuated pneumatically in the case at hand. Each slide 28, 29 is firmly connected to a respective side of the belt drive 17 via an associated support 30, 31.
Alternatively, it is also conceivable to move only one of the work piece supports 15, 16 between the shared inspection track 13 and a parallel track spaced therefrom, for example by means of a slide 28, 29.
It is essential that a single work piece support 15, 16 or both work piece supports 15, 16 is/are moved in such a manner that they can be moved past each other without colliding despite the fact that one of the work piece supports 15, 16 is located on the shared inspection track 13 in the inspection device.
It can also be varied whether the respective loading position is disposed, for example, on the shared inspection track 13 or inspection axis or on a track parallel thereto, in particular a return track 25, 26. The same applies analogously to the unloading position for each work piece support 15, 16, which can alternatively be disposed on the shared inspection track 13 or axis or in a track parallel thereto, in particular a return track 25, 26. Depending on the loading position, the associated gripper, i.e., the first or the second sub-subgroup gripper, must merely be controlled accordingly.
It can be seen that the unloading position of the second work piece support 16 is located on its return track 26 as an example.
In the situation according to
In the situation according to
Subsequently, the second work piece support 16 with its sub-subgroup 10 to be inspected is moved through the lateral inspection device 9 on the shared inspection track 13, and the first work piece support 15, which has been emptied, is moved past it in the direction of its loading position, which can coincide with the loading position of the second work piece support 16 or offset parallel thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 195 306.0 | Sep 2022 | EP | regional |
