Method and linear device for handling articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450095-B2
Application number	US-201214130554-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2012
Priority date	Jul 6, 2011
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for handling (flat) articles ( 10 ), in particular hygiene products such as diapers, napkins or the like, wherein the articles ( 10 ) are supplied on a first feed conveyor ( 11 ) and are removed as a compressed group ( 12 ) of articles ( 10 ) on a removal conveyor ( 14 ). The invention is characterized in that the feed conveyor ( 11 ) and the removal conveyor ( 14 ) are continuously driven and a group ( 13 ) of articles ( 10 ) is transferred from the continuously driven feed conveyor ( 11 ) to a continuously driven compressing device ( 16 ) in which the group ( 13 ) of articles ( 10 ) is compressed, and in that the compressed group ( 13 ) of articles ( 10 ) is transferred from the compressing device ( 16 ) to the continuously driven removal conveyor ( 14 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for handling hygiene product articles, wherein the articles are supplied on a feed conveyor and are removed as a compressed group of articles on a removal conveyor, wherein the feed conveyor and the removal conveyor are continuously driven and a group of articles is transferred from the continuously driven feed conveyor to a continuously driven compressing device in which the group of articles is compressed, and wherein the compressed group of articles is transferred from the continuously driven compressing device to the continuously driven removal conveyor, the method comprising the steps of:
a) compressing the group of articles in the continuously driven compressing device,
wherein the continuously driven compressing device has a continuously driven compressing conveyor that is located downstream of the continuously driven feed conveyor,
wherein the continuously driven compressing conveyor has (a) a first pair of lateral guides that are located downstream of the continuously driven feed conveyor, (b) a second pair of lateral guides that are located downstream of the first pair, (c) a third pair of lateral guides that are located downstream of the second pair, and (d) a conveying means, the group of articles being compressed, at least in part, in between the second pair of lateral guides, as the group is conveyed down the compressing conveyor via the conveying means,
wherein each pair of lateral guides, respectively, has a first lateral guide situated opposite a second lateral guide, and wherein the first pair of lateral guides, the second pair of lateral guides, and the third pair of lateral guides are configured to be adjustable perpendicular to a conveying direction of the compressing conveyor,
wherein a distance between the first lateral guide and the second lateral guide of the second pair of lateral guides is reduced over a length of the continuously driven compressing conveyor, which results in the first lateral guide and the second lateral guide defining a gradual convergence in the direction of the continuously driven removal conveyor, for continuously compressing the group of articles as the group is conveyed on the compressing conveyor,
wherein the continuously driven compressing conveyor has an inlet region which faces the continuously driven feed conveyor and an outlet region which faces the continuously driven removal conveyor, the first pair of lateral guides situated at the inlet region of the compressing conveyor and the third pair of lateral guides situated at the outlet region, and
wherein the continuously driven compressing conveyor extends at an angle, transversely, between the continuously driven feed conveyor and the continuously driven removal conveyor, and the feed conveyor and the removal conveyor extend parallel relative to the other; and

b) moving the group of articles via the continuously driven feed conveyor to a delivery position on the continuously driven removal conveyor.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
arranging the articles in compartments, which are formed on the continuously driven feed conveyor;
pushing the articles out of the compartments, which are laterally open, into the inlet region of the continuously driven compressing conveyor by means of a pushing device, wherein the compressing conveyor extends at an angle, transversely, with respect to the continuously driven feed conveyor; and
transferring the compressed group of articles in the outlet region of the continuously driven compressing conveyor into a compartment that is formed on the continuously driven removal conveyor, wherein the removal conveyor extends at an angle, transversely, with respect to the compressing conveyor and parallel to the continuously driven feed conveyor.

3. A device for handling flat hygiene product articles, said device comprising:
a continuously driven feed conveyor for conveying the articles;
a compressing device, which is arranged downstream of the feed conveyor, for compressing a group of the articles, the compressing device comprising (a) a continuously driven compressing conveyor, (b) a first pair of lateral guides downstream of the feed conveyor, (c) a second pair of lateral guides downstream of the first pair, (d) a third pair of lateral guides downstream of the second pair, and (e) a conveying means, wherein each pair of lateral guides, respectively, has a first lateral guide situated opposite a second lateral guide, and wherein the group is compressed in between the second pair of lateral guides as the group is conveyed down the compressing conveyor via the conveying means; and
a continuously driven removal conveyor, which is arranged downstream of the compressing device, for conveying the compressed articles,
wherein the continuously driven compressing conveyor has an inlet region that faces the continuously driven feed conveyor and an outlet region that faces the continuously driven removal conveyor, the first pair of lateral guides situated at the inlet region of the compressing conveyor and the third pair of lateral guides situated at the outlet region;
wherein the compressing conveyor extends at an angle, transversely, between the continuously driven feed conveyor and the continuously driven removal conveyor, and the feed conveyor and the removal conveyor extend parallel relative to the other;
wherein, in the region between the inlet region and the outlet region of the compressing conveyor, a distance between the first lateral guide and the second lateral guide of the second pair of lateral guides is gradually reduced over a length of the compressing conveyor, which results in the first lateral guide and the second lateral guide of the second pair of lateral guides defining a gradual convergence in the direction of the removal conveyor; and
wherein the first pair of lateral guides, the second pair of lateral guides, and the third pair of lateral guides are configured to be adjustable perpendicular to a conveying direction of the compressing conveyor.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein:
the conveying means are formed by conveying members that are directed transversely with respect to the conveying direction of the conveying means and are arranged at an upstream position behind the group of articles; and
the group of articles is supported at a downstream position by a further conveying member.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein:
the conveying members are formed by transverse struts that are guided through recesses in the lateral guides of the compressing conveyor; and
the distance between the upstream and downstream conveying members is modifiable according to the dimensions of the articles to be conveyed.

6. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first lateral guide and the second lateral guide of the second pair of lateral guides of the compressing conveyor comprise an articulated connection and are configured to deform due in part to the articulated connection.

Assignees

• Brandhorst Bjorn
• Prahm Andreas
• Sachs Frank
• Focke & Co

Inventors

• Brandhorst Bjorn
• Prahm Andreas
• Sachs Frank

Classifications

• B65B63/026

  for compressing by feeding articles through a narrowing space · CPC title

• B65B25/14

  Packaging paper or like sheets, envelopes, or newspapers, in flat, folded, or rolled form · CPC title

• B65B59/005

  Adjustable conveying means · CPC title

• B65B35/44 Primary

  by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/405 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B63/022

  using compressing chambers or plates moving in an endless path · CPC title