Packaging apparatus, removal apparatus and method for withdrawing a cardboard blank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345499-B2
Application number	US-201916705502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2019
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus (1) for combining a plurality of articles (8) an outer package (6) formed from a cardboard blank (3). The packaging apparatus (1) comprises a magazine (2) for cardboard blanks (3), the cardboard blanks (3) being stacked and lying on top of one another within the magazine (2), a removal apparatus (4) for the cardboard blanks (3), and a handling device (5). The removal apparatus (4) is vertically and horizontally movable and comprises at least one suction tool (9) for withdrawing a cardboard blank (3) from the magazine (2). The suction tool (9) arranged pivotally movable within the removal apparatus (4) or on the removal apparatus (4) for executing a compensation movement and aligning the withdrawn cardboard blank (3) in a horizontal plane. The invention also concerns the removal apparatus (4) (3) and a method for withdrawing cardboard blanks (3).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A removal apparatus ( 4 ) for cardboard blanks ( 3 ), which cardboard blanks ( 3 ) are stacked on top of one another within the magazine ( 2 ) comprising:
at least one suction tool ( 9 ) for seizing and withdrawing a cardboard blank ( 3 ) from a magazine ( 2 ) where the cardboard blanks ( 3 ) are stacked on top of one another within the magazine ( 2 ),
at least one stop element ( 16 ) for each of the at least one suction tool ( 9 ), wherein the at least one stop element ( 16 ) comprises a horizontally aligned stop plate ( 17 ), wherein the stop plate ( 17 ) comprises a substantially centrally constructed passage opening ( 18 ),
wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) is vertically movable through the passage opening ( 18 ) and laterally movable with the passage opening ( 18 ); and
wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) is pivotally movable to align the withdrawn cardboard blank ( 3 ) in a horizontal plane.

2. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 1 , wherein an orientation of the suction tool ( 9 ) is automatically adjustable to match an orientation of an upper side of an uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) and with respect to the horizontal plane when the uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) has been withdrawn.

3. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 2 , wherein a pneumatic unit ( 12 ) is connected to the at least one suction tool ( 9 ).

4. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 3 , wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) is pivotably attached to the pneumatic unit ( 12 ) or wherein the pneumatic unit ( 12 ) is pivotably suspended.

5. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 1 , wherein the stop element ( 16 ) comprises at least one horizontal stop surface.

6. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) claim 1 , further comprising at least one further fixing device ( 22 ).

7. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 6 , wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) and the at least one further fixing device ( 22 ) each comprise a vacuum suction cup ( 14 , 23 ).

8. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) and a pneumatic unit ( 12 ) are surrounded, at least in parts, by a funnel-shaped housing ( 19 ) which housing ( 19 ) tapers downwards and has a lower funnel opening, the housing ( 19 ) being arranged so as to penetrate the passage opening ( 18 ) of the stop plate ( 17 ), the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) is vertically movable together with the housing ( 19 ), and the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) protrudes downwards through the lower funnel opening.

9. The removal apparatus ( 4 ) of claim 8 , wherein the housing ( 19 ) limits pivotable movement of the at least one suction tool ( 9 ).

10. A packaging apparatus ( 1 ) for combining a plurality of articles ( 8 ) in an outer packaging ( 6 ) formed from a cardboard blank ( 3 ), the packaging apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:
a magazine ( 2 ) for cardboard blanks ( 3 ), the cardboard blanks ( 3 ) being stacked and lying on top of one another within the magazine ( 2 );
a removal apparatus ( 4 ) for the withdrawal of cardboard blanks ( 3 ) from the magazine ( 2 ); and
a handling device ( 5 ) for further processing the cardboard blanks ( 3 );
wherein the removal apparatus ( 4 ) is vertically movable and is horizontally movable, and the removal apparatus ( 4 ) comprising at least one suction tool ( 9 ) for seizing and withdrawing a cardboard blank ( 3 ) from the magazine ( 2 );
wherein the removal apparatus comprises at least one stop element ( 16 ) for each of the at least one suction tool ( 9 ), wherein the at least one stop element ( 16 ) comprises a horizontally aligned stop plate ( 17 ), wherein the stop plate ( 17 ) comprises a substantially centrally constructed passage opening ( 18 ),
wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) is vertically movable through the passage opening ( 18 ), laterally movable within the passage opening ( 18 ), and pivotally movable for executing a compensation movement and aligning the withdrawn cardboard blank ( 3 ) in a horizontal plane.

11. The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 10 wherein an orientation of the suction tool ( 9 ) is automatically adjustable to match an orientation of an upper side of an uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) in the magazine ( 2 ).

12. The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 11 wherein the orientation of the suction tool ( 9 ) is automatically adjustable to match the orientation of the upper side of an uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) to the horizontal plane after the uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) has been withdrawn.

13. A method for withdrawing cardboard blanks ( 3 ) from a magazine ( 2 ) comprising:
attaching at least one suction tool ( 9 ) to an upper side of an uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) stacked in a magazine, wherein the upper side of the uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ) has an inclined position within the magazine, wherein for each of the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) there is at least one stop element ( 16 ) comprising a horizontally aligned stop plate ( 17 ) with a substantially centrally constructed passage opening ( 18 ), wherein the cardboard blank ( 3 ) is pulled against the at least one stop element ( 16 ) and wherein the at least one suction tool ( 9 ) is vertically movable through the passage opening ( 18 ) laterally movable within the passage opening ( 18 ), and pivotally movable;
withdrawing the cardboard blank from the magazine; and
aligning the cardboard blank in a horizontal plane within the magazine during the withdrawing step.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising automatically adjusting an orientation of the suction tool ( 9 ) to match an orientation of the upper side of the uppermost cardboard blank ( 3 ).

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising transferring the withdrawn cardboard blank ( 3 ) to a handling device for further processing.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Canalicchio Christian
• Schrems Rudolf
• Fechter Wolfgang

Classifications

• B65B43/185 Primary

  specially adapted for carton blanks · CPC title

• B65B61/207

  for inserting partitions between package contents · CPC title

• B65H3/0883

  Construction of suction grippers or their holding devices · CPC title

• B65H2701/1766

  Cut-out, multi-layer, e.g. folded blanks or boxes · CPC title

• B65G59/045

  with a stepwise upward movement of the stack · CPC title