MACHINE FOR GENTLY BANDING SENSITIVE GOODS

Abstract

A banding machine is disclosed including a band guide, a band drive, a rotary encoder and a controller. The band guide is provided with at least one distance sensor. With the aid of the at least one distance sensor, distances to a packaged good lying within the band guide can be determined. With the aid of the band drive, a band can be inserted into the band guide and retracted. The rotary encoder can be used to detect a retracted length of the band or the differential length, which is the difference between the inserted length and the retracted length of the band. The controller is designed to determine a desired value taking into account the distances determined by means of the at least one distance sensor. The controller is designed to control the band drive in such a way that, during retraction, the band is initially retracted at a first retraction speed and, as soon as the retracted length or the difference length corresponds to the desired value, the band is retracted at a second retraction speed which is lower than the first retraction speed.

Claims

1. A banding machine comprising a band guide, a band drive, a rotary encoder and a controller, wherein: a) the band guide comprises at least one distance sensor, b) the at least one distance sensor is configured to estimate a wrapping circumference, c) the band drive is configured to retract a band d) the rotary encoder is configured to i) detect a retracted length of the band or ii) detect a difference length, which is the difference between an inserted and the retracted length of that bank, e) the controller is configured to determine a desired value taking into account the at least one measured value of the at least one distance sensor, and f) the controller is configured to control the belt drive such that, during retraction, the band is initially retracted at a first retraction speed and, as soon as i) the retracted length or ii) the difference in length corresponds to the desired value, the band is retracted at a second retraction speed, which is lower than the first retraction speed.

2. The banding machine according to claim 1, comprising at least two distance sensors, one of which is configured to determine the distance to the packaged good in a first dimension and one of which is configured determine the distance to the packaged good a second dimension.

3. Banding machine according to claim 1, wherein: i) the desired value is equal to twice the sum of the distances to the packaged good minus a buffer length, when the desired value is compared with the retracted length; and ii) the desired value is equal to the sum of twice the distances of the distance sensors or of guide elements from each other and an overlap length minus twice the sum of the distances to the packaged good and minus a buffer length, when the desired value is compared with the difference length.

4. The banding machine according to claim 1, comprising at least two distance sensors configured to realize a first and a second observation point at a known distance from each other, wherein one of said distance sensors is configured to determine a small and a large limit observation angle from a first observation point and the other distance sensor is configured to determine a small and a large limit observation angle from a second observation point.

5. The banding machine according to claim 4, wherein, i) the estimated wrapping circumference is estimated to be the perimeter of the polygon whose corners are the first two intersections, counted from the respective observation point, of the following straight lines lying in the band guide plane and lying outside the observation points: (1) A straight line passing through the first observation point and including the small limit observation angle of the first observation point, (2) A straight line passing through the first observation point and including the large limit observation angle of the first observation point, (3) A straight line passing through the second observation point and including the small limit observation angle of the second observation point, (4) a straight line passing through the second observation point and including the large limit observation angle of the second observation point, (5) preferably, a straight line on the conveying surface; ii) the desired value is equal to the circumference of the band guide minus the sum of the estimated wrapping circumference and a buffer length, when the desired value is compared to the retracted length, and iii) the desired value is equal to the sum of the estimated wrapping circumference, an overlap length and a buffer length when the desired value is compared to the differential length.

6. The banding machine according to claim 1, wherein the buffer length is 10 to 20 cm.

7. The banding machine according to claim 1, comprising at least one of an input interface via which a target band tension is set and at least one recognition sensor configured to recognize a packaged good type.

8. The banding machine according to claim 7, wherein the recognition sensor is configured to use at least one of the distance sensors and configured to recognize the packaged good type on the basis of dimensions of at least one of the packaged good, the basis of reflective properties and the packaged good appearance.

9. The banding machine according to claim 7, wherein the second retraction speed is selected in dependence on the target band tension.

10. The banding machine according to claim 1, wherein the distance sensors are optical sensors.

11. The banding machine according to claim 1, wherein the band is configured to be pushed through an insertion opening into the band guide, the insertion opening is arranged below a conveying surface; two distance sensors are arranged on the band guide substantially opposite each other and configured to determine the horizontal distance to the packaged good from opposite directions; and a further distance sensor is arranged above the conveying surface and configured to determine the vertical distance to the packaged good.

12. The banding machine according to claim 1, wherein: the band is configured to be pushed through an insertion opening into the band guide; the insertion opening is arranged next to a conveying surface; a first distance sensor is located on the band guide opposite the insertion opening and configured to determine the horizontal distance to the packaged good; and a second distance sensor is located on the band guide above the conveying surface and is configured to determine the vertical distance to the packaged good.

13. A method for banding, comprising the steps of: determining at least one of distances and limit observation angles to a packaged good lying within a band guide, or estimating a wrapping circumference with the aid of at least one measured value of at least one distance sensor; determining a desired value taking into account at least one of the determined distances and the limit observation angles or the estimated wrapping circumference; retracting the band at a first retraction speed; detecting a retracted length of the band or detecting a difference length, that is, the difference between the inserted and retracted lengths of the band, and from the time at which the retracted length of the band or the difference length corresponds to the desired value, retracting the band at a second retraction speed which is smaller than the first retraction speed.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the same band drive accelerates and brakes the belt during insertion and during retraction.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of terminating the retraction and connecting the band to itself once a target band tension is reached.

16. The banding machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one distance sensor is configured to estimate the wrapping circumference with the aid of the at least one measured value of the at least one distance sensor such that a distance from a packaged good lying within the band guide is determined from the measured value.

17. The banding machine according to claim 5, wherein in addition to the straight lines, a straight line on the conveying surface is considered as the straight line lying in the band guide plane and lying outside the observation points.

18. The banding machine according to claim 7, wherein: the sensor is configured to recognize the packaged good type by an identification code on the packaged good, and the banding machine comprises a memory with a database in which a target band tension is assigned to the packaged good type.

19. The banding machine according to claim 10, wherein the distance sensors are configured to use laser triangulation, time-of-flight or interferometry as a measuring principle.

20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of inserting a band into the band guide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0143] Further advantages, features, and details of the various embodiments of this disclosure will become apparent from the ensuring description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with the aid of the drawings. The features and combinations of features recited below in the description, as well as the features and feature combination shown after that in the drawing description or in the drawings alone, may be used not only in the particular combination received, but also in other combinations on their own, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0144] The drawings used to explain the embodiment show:

[0145] FIG. 1a view of a banding machine with a rotary encoder roller;

[0146] FIG. 2a view of a banding machine with packaged good on the table, before the beginning of the retraction of the band;

[0147] FIG. 3a view of a banding machine with packaged good on the table, during the return run of the band just before the second retraction speed is used;

[0148] FIG. 4a view of a banding machine with banded packaged good on the table, just before removal of the packaged good;

[0149] FIG. 5a a view in the conveying direction of the packaged good of the curved band guide of a banding machine and packaged good fed on a conveyor belt, the band drive roller and the welding and cutting unit being arranged next to the conveyor belt;

[0150] FIG. 5b a view perpendicular to conveying direction of the packaged good of the banding machine of FIG. 5a;

[0151] FIG. 6a a view in the conveying direction of the packaged good of the curved band guide of a banding machine and packaged good fed on a conveyor belt, the band drive roller and the welding and cutting unit being arranged above the conveyor belt;

[0152] FIG. 6b a view perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaged good of the banding machine of FIG. 6a;

[0153] FIG. 7a an illustration of the distances as well as the banderole around a packaged good with a non-rectangular cross-section as well as the estimated wrapping circumference for this packaged good when using simple distance sensors: and

[0154] FIG. 7b An illustration of the estimation of the wrapping circumference from the determination of limit observation angles.

[0155] In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0156] As used throughout the present disclosure, unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “or” encompasses all possible combinations, except where infeasible. For example, the expression “A or B” shall mean A alone, B alone, or A and B together. If it is stated that a component includes “A, B or C”, then, unless specifically stated otherwise or infeasible, the component may include A, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or A and B and C. Expressions such as “at least one of” do not necessarily modify an entirety of the following list and do not necessarily modify each member of the list, such that at least one of “A, B, and C” should not be understood as including only one of A, only one of B, only one of C, or any combination of A, B, and C.

[0157] FIG. 1 shows a banding machine 10 with a height-adjustable chassis 12 on lockable wheels 14. An unwinding disc 18 with a band roll 20 is rotatably mounted on a cross strut 16 of the chassis 12. A band 22 is unwound via a band accumulator 24, which comprises three stationary deflection rollers 26 and three deflection rollers 30 mounted on a tensioned, pivoting lever 28. When loops are formed very quickly than when the band is inserted, the band accumulator 24 serves as a reserve. Likewise, the band accumulator 24 can receive the band 22 that has been retracted during return run.

[0158] After the band accumulator 24, the band 22 is drawn into a band channel 32, which is arranged in a machine housing 34 with a table 36. The table 36 represents a conveying surface and a guide element. Further machine elements are arranged in this machine housing 34, in particular a band drive roller 38, a transport roller 42 which presses the band 22 against the band drive roller 38 or allows it to run freely when a lever 40 is in the appropriate position, a rotary encoder roller 44 which travels exactly with the band 22, a welding and cutting unit 48, and a controller 60, in this case a digital controller, which is electrically connected to the drive of the band drive roller 38 and the rotary encoder roller 44. The band is gripped frictionally by the band drive roller 38 and the transport roller 42 and is pushed in and retracted by the movements of the band drive roller 38 and/or the transport roller 42.

[0159] Here, the band drive is realized by the band drive roller 38 and the transport roller 42, and the encoder is realized by the encoder roller 44. At the exit of the band channel 32, the insertion opening 37 of the band guide 50 is located. Thus, in this case, the table 36 also realizes the plane of the insertion opening 37.

[0160] The band guide 50 in the area of stacked packaged good 52 is presently a curved structure which, together with the table 36, defines a substantially rectangular interior space. The band guide 50 is open to the interior space surrounded by it. In the present case, a laterally open and laterally retractable band guide channel 55 is disposed in the interior of the band guide 50. In an insertion position, the band guide channel 55 prevents the band from leaving the band guide 50 at an undesired time during insertion or the band loop formed.

[0161] The band guide 50 carries a total of three simple distance sensors 1a, 1b, 1c, which determine the distance to the respective nearest surface of the packaged good 52. The simple distance sensors 1a, 1b, 1c are arranged in such a way that the measuring direction of the simple distance sensor 1a points in the direction of the table 36, while the measuring directions of the simple distance sensors 1b and 1c both point in the interior and are both at a 90° angle to the measuring direction of the simple distance sensor 1a.

[0162] The distance sensors 1a, 1b and 1c transmit the measured distances to the digital controller 60, which uses them to determine a desired value.

[0163] A switch 56 is arranged under a flap lid 58. This switch 56 can also be designed as a foot switch. Actuation of the switch 56 activates the band drive, which pushes the band 22 at high speed into the band guide 50. In further embodiments, the band drive is activated by a sensor signal after the machine has been started by actuating the switch 56. The sensor signal may, for example, be a signal from one of the distance sensors 1a, 1b, 1c and the activation may be time delayed to allow the user to position the packaged good 52. However, the sensor signal can also be the signal of a packaged good sensor which detects in any way that the packaged good 52 lies in the band guide 50 in a manner suitable for banding.

[0164] Before or after forming a loop, the beginning of the band 22 is clamped with the band start clamp 47. At a fixed distance from the insertion, triggered by the switch 56, a foot switch, or by a sensor signal, the band guide channel 55 is first pulled away to the side, thus releasing the band loop, Then the band drive retracts the band 22 and thus around the inserted, stacked packaged good 52, which is referred to as the return run. For this purpose, the band drive roller 38 is rotated in the opposite direction.

[0165] The return run initially occurs at a first retraction speed. The encoder roller 44 continuously monitors the retract length, i.e. which length of the band 22 has already been retracted, or the difference length. In the case of the difference length, the encoder roller 44 detects the band movements during insertion with a positive sign and during return run with a negative sign. In each case the band lengths are detected.

[0166] The controller 60 compares the value of the encoder, here implemented by the encoder roller 44, with the desired value: if it is detected that the values are the same, the speed of the band drive roller 38 is reduced and in such a way that the band speed ultimately corresponds to the second retraction speed.

[0167] Simultaneously with the throttling of the band drive to the second retraction speed, the target band tension is set, for example, at the coupling or at the drive of the band drive roller 38: The drive can thus stop driving the band drive roller 38 when the target band tension is reached. As soon as the encoder roller 44 detects that the band has come to a halt, the controller 60 triggers the action of the welding and cutting unit 48: The band loop is sealed and separated from the remaining band 22. The packaged good 52 is banded and can be removed.

[0168] In another embodiment, together with the speed, the angular momentum of the band drive roller 38 is also adjusted so that the tensile force transmitted to the band corresponds to the target band tension.

[0169] In another embodiment, the pressure of the transport roller 42 on the band drive roller 38 is reduced such that the band slips between the transport roller 42 and the band drive roller 38 when the target band tension is reached and thus cannot be tensioned more than the target band tension.

[0170] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the banding process: FIG. 2 shows the situation before the start of the return run: the band is not visible because it is still in the band guide 50. Packaged good 52 in the space surrounded by band guide 50 on table 36. A sensor or the actuation of a switch or pedal by the user triggers the return run. The band 22 is released, if necessary, and then retracted, initially at an initial retraction speed 62, exiting the band guide 50 and forming an increasingly smaller band loop. As soon as the circumference of the band loop is only slightly larger than the estimated wrapping circumference 53, the retraction speed is reduced to the second retraction speed. The speed at which the band loop is reduced decreases as a result. The band drive can be stopped correspondingly precisely and faster due to the lower speed, so that the packaged good 52 is not compressed after banding has been completed, shown in FIG. 4, and its edges are undamaged. The band 22 nevertheless tightly surrounds the packaged good. After the band loop has been closed and separated from the remaining band by the welding and cutting unit 48, the banded packaged good can be removed.

[0171] FIG. 5a shows a view in the conveying direction of the packaged good 52 of the curved band guide 50 of a banding machine. Packaged good 52 is located on a conveying surface 35, for example a conveyor belt. The band drive roller 38 and the welding and cutting unit 48 are arranged next to the conveying surface 35. The insertion opening 37 is also located laterally next to the conveying surface 35. The plane of the insertion opening 37 is thus not equal to the conveying surface 35 in this example. There are two guide elements: The plane of the insertion opening 37 and the conveying surface 35.

[0172] As in the banding machine described in FIG. 1, the band 22 is accelerated in a band channel 32 by a band drive roller 38. The band 22 is pushed through an insertion opening 37 into the band guide 50 until the beginning of the band has reached its end position and is fixed by a band start clamp 47.

[0173] The packaged good 52 lies inside the curved band guide 50 on the conveying surface 35. The side wall of the machine housing 34, in which the insertion opening 37 is located, represents a guide element. The side wall of the machine housing 34 realizes the plane of the insertion opening 37. The packaged good 52 lies both on this guide element in the form of the side wall of the machine housing 34 and on the conveying surface 35.

[0174] Two distance sensors 1a, b are mounted on the curved band guide 50. A horizontally aligned distance sensor 1b measures the distance in the direction of the guide element formed by the side wall of the machine housing 34. The vertically aligned distance sensor 1a measures the distance in the direction of the conveying surface 35. The distances measured by the two distance sensors 1a and 1b are transmitted to the controller 60.

[0175] A memory of the controller 60 stores the distance of the horizontally aligned distance sensor 1b from the guide element formed by the side wall of the machine housing 34, the distance of the vertically aligned distance sensor 1a from the conveying surface 35 and the length over which the band 22 overlaps in the finished banderole 23, i.e. the overlap length.

[0176] Finally, a buffer length is also stored in the controller 60. The controller 60 determines the desired value from the stored data and the measured distances.

[0177] In addition to the band drive roller 38, there is also a rotary encoder roller 44 on the band channel 32. The rotary encoder roller 44 runs with the band 22 and records its revolutions. In the present example, the revolutions are counted positively when the band is inserted and the revolutions are counted negatively during the return run. The count of the encoder roller 44 is thus a measure of the difference length. In this example, the encoder roller 44 is thus also the encoder. The current difference length is transmitted to the controller 60.

[0178] Upon actuation of a button not shown, a foot switch, or based on detection of the packaged good 52 by the distance sensors 1a,b or by a detection sensor or other sensor, the return run begins: The controller 60 ensures that the band 22 is released, if necessary, and instructs the drive of the band drive roller 38 to rotate it in the opposite direction and in such a way that the band 22 moves at the first retraction speed. During the return run, the controller compares the difference length transmitted by the encoder roller 44 to the desired value. If the difference length equals the desired value, the drive of the band drive roller 38 is instructed to drive the band drive roller 38 such that the band 22 moves at the second retraction speed. In addition, the coupling between the band drive roller 38 and its drive is adjusted so that the band drive roller 38 cannot apply more tensile force to the band than the target band tension: when the band loop has reached the target band tension, the band drive roller 38 and the band 22 come to a stop. The encoder roller 44 no longer changes its counter, and the controller 60 thus detects that the band loop can be closed by welding to form a banderole 23 and should be separated from the rest of the band 22. The welding and cutting unit 48 carries this out. The packaged good 52, now banded, can be removed or conveyed away on the conveying surface 35.

[0179] FIG. 5b shows a view perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaged good 52 of the banding machine of FIG. 5a.

[0180] Here it can be seen that the conveying surface 35 is interrupted in the area of the band guide 50 to allow the band 22 to wrap around the packaged good 52.

[0181] FIG. 6a shows a view of the curved band guide 50 of a banding machine in the conveying direction of the packaged good 52. A fed packaged good 52 is on a conveyor belt. In FIG. 6a, the band drive roller 38 as well as the welding and cutting unit 48 and the insertion opening 37 are arranged above the conveying surface 35. The conveying surface 35 is mounted on height-adjustable legs 39.

[0182] In principle, the banding process is analogous to that described with regard to FIGS. 1 and 5a. In contrast to these methods, however, the vertically measuring distance sensor 1a now determines the distance to the packaged good 52 while the conveying surface 35 is in its lowest position, its home position, and the controller 60 forwards this information to the legs 39, which then lift the conveying surface 35 with the packaged good 52 until it comes into contact with the side wall of the machine housing 34 in which the insertion opening 37 is located. This measured distance, which has now been compensated by the legs 39, is one of the distances that is included in the determination of the desired value. The other two distances are determined by two distance sensors 1c and 1b measuring in the horizontal. The controller stores the distance between the distance sensors 1c and 1b as well as the distance between the distance sensor 1a and the conveying surface 35 in its home position. Also stored are the overlap length and the buffer length. From these values, the controller 60 determines the desired value.

[0183] FIG. 6b shows a view perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaged good 52 of the banding machine of FIG. 6a.

[0184] Here it can be seen that the conveying surface 35 is interrupted in the area of the band guide 50 to allow the band 22 to wrap around the packaged good 52. It can also be seen that the distance sensor 1a is arranged next to the insertion opening 37 to provide space for the band channel 32, the welding and cutting unit 48 and the band 22.

[0185] FIG. 7a illustrates the various distances 2a-2d, 51a and b and the banderole 23 around a packaged good 52 with a non-rectangular cross-section and the estimated wrapping circumference 53 for this packaged good 52.

[0186] The packaged good 52 is a tray that is indented in the center of its lid, that is, locally concave. The banderole 23 is not intended to follow this concave section, but spans it. On the other hand, the banderole 23 rests against the convex surfaces of the packaged good 52. The banderole 23 thus appears in trapezoidal form in its cross-section.

[0187] The circumference of the trapezoid is now estimated by the circumference of the enveloping rectangle. This is the estimated wrapping circumference 53. The wrapping rectangle is indicated by a dashed line.

[0188] The wrapping circumference 53 is determined by positioning distance sensors 1a-c,f or guide elements at known distances from each other and in such a way that measurements are taken in a first and in a second dimension perpendicular to each other. In the view shown, the edges of the zero planes of all distance sensors 1a-c, f are viewed. The zero planes, drawn with solid lines and only in the area between their intersecting lines, complement each other to form a rectangle. The band guide plane is the plane the viewer of FIG. 7a is looking at. The distances of the distance sensors 1a-c, f from each other are marked 51a and 51b. This is the extension of the measuring range. It would also be possible to replace one of the opposing distance sensors with a guide element. In this case, however, the packaged good 52 should rest against the guide element.

[0189] The distance sensors 1a-c, f then each determine the smallest distance that the packaged good 52 has from their zero plane. These are the distances 2a-2d.

[0190] The zero plane of a distance sensor 1a-f is the plane from which the distance is determined and to which the distance sensor 1a-f would determine a distance of 0 at least at one point. The normal of the zero plane is the measuring direction of the distance sensor 1a-f or the symmetry axis of the field of view of the distance sensor 1a-f.

[0191] FIG. 7b illustrates the estimation of the wrapping circumference 53 when the distance sensors 1d and 1e can determine the limit observation angles 3e, 3d, 4e, 4d and the distance between the distance sensors 1d, 1e is known.

[0192] The distance sensors 1d and 1e are mounted on the band guide 50 at a known distance from each other. The packaged good 52 each obscures a portion of the band guide that the distance sensor 1d or 1e would detect in the absence of the packaged good 52. The angles at which the limits of the packaged good 52 appear to the respective distance sensor 1d, 1e are the limit observation angles 3e, 3d, 4e, 4d.

[0193] In the present example, the connecting line of the two distance sensors 1d, 1e serves as reference 5 from which the angles are measured. Here, both distance sensors 1d, e use the same reference 5, but it is also possible that each distance sensor 1d, e uses its own reference 5. Based on this reference 5, there is respectively a small limit observation angle 3d, e and a large limit observation angle 4d,e.

[0194] In the example shown, the packaged good 52 is also guided on a conveying surface 35. The position of the conveying surface 35 with respect to the distance sensors 1d, 1e is also known.

[0195] In order to estimate the wrapping circumference 53, the first two intersections of the following straight lines counted from the distance sensors 1d, 1e are used. The straight lines should all lie in the band guide plane: [0196] A straight line passing through the distance sensor 1d, i.e., the first observation point, which includes the small limit observation angle 3d of the distance sensor 1d with the reference 5 of the distance sensor 1d. [0197] A straight line passing through the distance sensor 1d, i.e., the first observation point, which includes the large limit observation angle 4d of the distance sensor 1d with the reference 5 of the distance sensor 1d. [0198] A straight line passing through the distance sensor 1e, i.e., the second observation point, which includes the small limit observation angle 3e of the distance sensor 1e with the reference 5 of the distance sensor 1e. [0199] A straight line passing through the distance sensor 1e, i.e., the second observation point, which includes the large limit observation angle 4e of the distance sensor 1e with the reference 5 of the first distance sensor 1e. [0200] A straight line on the conveying surface 35

[0201] The straight lines emanating from one distance sensor 1d, 1e obviously intersect only at the observation point of the distance sensor 1d, 1e from which they emanate. Since both distance sensors 1d, 1e observe the same packaged good 52 but do not use the same observation location, both straight lines emanating from one distance sensor 1d, 1e intersect both straight lines emanating from the other distance sensor 1e, 1d. Except in the rather unusual case that one of the distance sensors 1e, 1d, is placed exactly at the level of the conveying surface 35, the straight line of the conveying surface 35 is not parallel to any of the other straight lines and intersects them accordingly. There are thus a total of 8 intersection points. Of these, however, only the first two intersection points are used in the further evaluation. In FIG. 4b, these intersection points, which are to be used for estimating the wrapping circumference 53, are marked with circles.

[0202] The position of the intersection points in space can be determined mathematically: Intersection points of straight lines emanating from distance sensors 1d, e are comer points of triangles of which one side and the angles adjacent to it are known. Comer points of intersection of a straight line emanating from a distance sensor 1d, e and the conveying surface 35 are comer points of right-angled triangles, of which the length of a cathetus and another angle are known: The cathetus is just the height of the corresponding distance sensor 1d, e above the conveying surface 35. The wrapping circumference 53 is then estimated to be the circumference of the polygon which results from the considered intersections.

[0203] In summary, instead of the difference length, the return length can also be used for comparison with the desired value, although the desired value must be suitably determined. In addition, the target band tension can be set in other ways and can also be measured and monitored directly. The banding machine may be equipped with other sensors, such as detection sensors that can detect the packaged good type. The first and second dimensions can be the horizontal and the vertical.

[0204] Since the devices and methods described in detail above are examples of embodiments, they can be modified to a wide extent by the skilled person in the usual manner without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the mechanical arrangements and the proportions of the individual elements with respect to each other are merely exemplary. Some preferred embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention have been disclosed above. The invention is not limited to the solutions explained above, but the innovative solutions can be applied in different ways within the limits set out by the claims.