Device For Dispensing A Padding Material For Packaging Purposes

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes, comprising a dispensing means which provides the cushion means, and a withdrawal region from which a user can take the dispensed cushion means. At least one sensor means is present, which detects an engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or the presence or absence of at least one region of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in a detection region adjacent to the withdrawal region. The providing device dispenses a cushion means depending on the detected engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or depending on the presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes, comprising dispensing means for dispensing said cushion means and a withdrawal region from which a user may withdraw said dispensed cushion means, wherein it comprises at least one sensor means, which detects, at least indirectly, an engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or the presence or absence of at least one region of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in a detection region adjacent to the withdrawal region, wherein the providing device dispenses a cushion means depending on the detected engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or depending on the presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing means dispenses the cushion means such that a first region of the cushion means that can be withdrawn is detachably connected to a second region of the cushion means, and that the sensor means detects at least an indirect action by the user on the second region of the cushion means with the withdrawal of the first region of the cushion means.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the dispensing means comprises a motor drive, and that the sensor means detects a change in the state of the motor drive due to the at least indirect action by the user on the second region of the cushion means.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor means changes a signal state when at least one region of a hand enters the withdrawal region or the detection region.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor means changes a signal state when at least one region of a hand leaves the withdrawal region or the detection region.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a light barrier, an image recognition means, an infrared detector and/or an ultrasound detector, respectively in or on the withdrawal region or the detection region.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises a torque sensor, a force transducer and/or a current sensor, in each case at the motor drive of the dispensing means.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the withdrawal region or the detection region is arranged directly on the dispensing means.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the withdrawal region is arranged away from the dispensing means, and that a transport means is arranged between the dispensing means and the withdrawal region, which transports a cushion means dispensed by the dispensing means to the withdrawal region.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the transport means transports a cushion means depending on the engaging of the provided cushion means by the user and/or the detected presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region.

11. (canceled)

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the transport means only initiates a transport after expiration of a predetermined time interval after a detected engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or for a detected presence and/or absence of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region, and/or that the dispensing means only dispenses a cushion means after a predetermined time interval after a detected engaging of the dispensed cushion means by the user and/or detected presence and/or absence of at least a region of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the withdrawal region or the detection region extends over a length, and the sensor means which detects the presence and/or absence of at least one region of a hand of the user in the withdrawal region or in the detection region is arranged and formed such that it acts over at least part of the length, preferably over the entire length of the withdrawal region or the detection region.

Description

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a perspective detailed illustration of a possible withdrawal region of a third embodiment of a device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes; and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes.

[0029] Hereinafter, in various embodiments, those elements and regions having equivalent functions to elements and regions of an embodiment previously described are designated by the same reference numerals. Normally they will not be explained again in detail.

[0030] A device for dispensing a cushion means for packaging purposes is overall designated by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. It is indicated schematically by a dot-dashed box. The device 10 comprises a dispensing means 12 which dispenses the cushion means. In the present case, the dispensing means 12 converts a flat sheet-like starting material 16 provided on a roll 14 into a three-dimensional cushion means, which in FIG. 1 is indicated only schematically and overall by an arrow 18. Alternatively, the starting material 16 could also be provided in the form of a zig-zag folded stack.

[0031] In many of the exemplary embodiments of devices 10 explained below, it is basically conceivable to have completely different types of cushion means 18 and corresponding dispensing means 12. For example, the cushion means may consist of crumpled paper. In this case, the starting material 16 would be sheet paper, and the delivery means 12 would comprise a crumpling means which converts the sheet paper into crumpled paper and a cutter that cuts the crumpled paper into individual cushion-like cushion means.

[0032] However, it is also possible that the cushion means 18 are air-filled bags made of a plastic film. In this case, the starting material 16 would consist of an initially likewise sheet-like and flat film tube, and the dispensing means 12 would comprise a filling device and a sealing device which fills the web-shaped film tube with air or seals it after filling. In most cases, such a film tube has perforations, so that the user can tear off one or more air-filled bag(s).

[0033] In the present case, it is assumed by way of example that the dispensing means 12 shown in FIG. 1 provides such air-filled bags 18a, 18b, . . . . These individual bags 18a and 18b are each releasably connected to each other by a perforation 19, so that a kind of strand of bags 18a, 18b, . . . is formed. In this respect, the first protruding bag 18a forms a first region of the cushion means 18 dispensed for withdrawal, whereas the second bag 18b forms a second region of the cushion means 18 not yet intended for removal.

[0034] A tear-off device, which facilitates the user tearing off a bag 18 is indicated in FIG. 1. It is designated by the reference numeral 20. The above-mentioned filling device is designated by the reference numeral 22 and the above-mentioned sealing device is designated by the reference numeral 24. A motor drive in the form of a feed motor, which conveys the starting material 16 through the filling device 22 and the sealing device 24, is designated by the reference numeral 25 in FIG. 1.

[0035] From a machine output 26 of the dispensing means 12, the cushion means 18 passes into a withdrawal region 28, which in the present case is indicated by a dot-dashed oval. In the present case, the withdrawal region 28 is therefore arranged directly on the dispensing means 12. A cushion means 18 provided in this withdrawal region 28 can be withdrawn by a user. For this purpose, the user introduces a hand from the side (as shown by an arrow 30) or from below (not shown) into the withdrawal region 28.

[0036] In the region of the motor drive 25, a sensor means 32 is present. This is designed such that it detects at least an indirect action by the user on the second region 18b of the cushion means 18 with the withdrawal of the first region 18a of the cushion means 18. For this purpose, the sensor means 32 detects a change in the state of the motor drive 25 due to the at least indirect action by the user on the second region 18b of the cushion means 18.

[0037] For example, the sensor means 32 may comprise a torque sensor, a force sensor and/or a current sensor. In the case of a torque sensor or a force sensor, the sensor means 32 would preferably be arranged in the region of a mount (not shown) of the motor drive 25 on a housing (not shown) of the dispensing means 12. In the case of a current sensor, the sensor means 32 would be arranged, for example, on an electrical supply line to the motor drive 25.

[0038] The device 10 also includes an operator terminal 36, with which the user can, for example, select different operating modes of the device 10. Furthermore, the device 10 also includes a control and regulating means 38, which comprises a microprocessor (not shown) as well as a memory (not shown). Among other things, this control and regulating means 38 receives a signal from the sensor means 32, and controls the dispensing means 12, for example the motor drive 25 for the starting material 16, as well as the filling means 22 and the sealing means 24.

[0039] The device 10 operates as follows: at the control terminal 36, the user selects the number of air-filled bags 18a, 18b, . . . to be dispensed by the dispensing means 12 for withdrawal in the withdrawal region 28 in a dispensing operation. By way of example only, the number of bags 18 to be dispensed is presently 1. Then, the dispensing means 12 is started and the bag 18a already mentioned above is provided in the withdrawal region 28. This bag 18a thus hangs out of the machine output 26. Said bag is still connected, by means of the above-mentioned perforation 19, to the other bag 18b that is already manufactured, but has not yet fully arrived in the withdrawal region 28.

[0040] After dispensing said bag 18a in the withdrawal region 28, the dispensing means 12 is automatically stopped by the control and regulation means 38. The bag 18a is thus stationary in the withdrawal region 28. Now the user grips with his hand 30 from the outside into the withdrawal region 28, grasps the bag 18a and tears it off the perforation 19 from the bag 18b. The user thus engages the dispensed cushion means 18. This results in a tensile force on the bag 18b and on the further bags extending to the motor drive 25 that are connected with the bag 18b by means of corresponding perforations and are already manufactured, which is indicated in FIG. 1 by a dashed double line.

[0041] Thus, this tensile force ultimately also acts on the motor drive 25, which in the present case is, for example, an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, where it results in a corresponding state change. This tensile force causes a change in the signal state on the above-mentioned force sensor and/or torque sensor. However, the tensile force can also lead to a (small) movement of the rotor relative to the stator, whereby a current is detected, which is detected by the above-mentioned current sensor or causes a change in the signal state in said sensor.

[0042] This change in the signal state is transmitted from the sensor means 32 to the control and regulating means 38, and thereby a timer of the control and regulating means 38 is set in motion. The timer defines a predetermined time interval. The length of the time interval can be set by the user at the operating terminal 36. Alternatively, the time interval can also be fixed. In general, the time interval is a few seconds. In principle, however, the time interval can also be 0. After expiration of the time interval, the dispensing means 12 is controlled by the control and regulating means 38 in such a way that the next bag (that is to say the bag 18b in the present case) is dispensed in the withdrawal region 28.

[0043] An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. This differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1, especially by the nature and arrangement of the sensor means 32.

[0044] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the sensor means 32 is present at the lower outer edge of the machine output 26. Through this, a presence and a non-presence of a hand of the user 30 in the withdrawal region 28 can be detected. The sensor means 32 in the present case is an ultrasound detector 33 which generates an ultrasound region 34. This extends vertically downwards in the present case like a curtain of the ultrasonic detector 33. When the hand of the user 30 breaks through the ultrasonic region 34 of the ultrasonic detector 33 by the hand 30 entering the withdrawal region 28, a signal state of the ultrasonic detector 33 changes. When the hand of the user 30 leaves the ultrasound region 34 of the ultrasound detector 33 again by retracting the hand 30 from the withdrawal region 28, the signal state of the ultrasound detector 33 also changes.

[0045] In an embodiment (not shown) the sensor means may also comprise an image recognition device, for example a camera. In a further embodiment (not shown), the sensor means may comprise an infrared detector or a light barrier.

[0046] The device 10 of FIG. 2 initially operates identically to the device 10 of FIG. 1. After dispensing the bag 18a in the withdrawal region 28, the dispensing means 12 is automatically stopped by the control and regulating means 38. The bag 18a is thus stationary in the withdrawal region 28. Now the user grips with his hand 30 from the outside into the withdrawal region 28, grasps the bag 18a and tears it off the perforation 19 from the bag 18b. In doing so, it breaks through the ultrasound region 34, as a result of which the signal state of the ultrasound detector 33 changes, for example, from a state 0 to a state 1. This change in the signal state is transmitted to the control and regulating means 38. This change in the signal state causes the control and regulating means 38 to prevent any new dispensing of bags 18 at first.

[0047] The user now engages the bag 18a present in the withdrawal region 28 with his hand 30 and retracts his hand 30 together with the bag 18a out of the withdrawal region 28 counter to the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1. In this case, the bag 18a is separated from the remaining bag 18b still present in the machine output 26 at the perforation 19 by means of the tear-off means 20.

[0048] When the hand 30 retracts out of the ultrasound region 34, this also results in a change in the signal state of the ultrasound detector 33, in the present example from a state 1 to a state 0. By this change of the signal state, a timer of the control and regulating means 38 is set in motion. The timer defines a predetermined time interval. The length of the time interval can be set by the user at the operating terminal 36. Alternatively, the time interval can also be fixed. In general, the time interval is a few seconds. In principle, however, the time interval can also be 0. After expiration of the time interval, the dispensing means 12 is controlled by the control and regulating means 38 so that three bags 18 are again dispensed in the withdrawal region 28.

[0049] The user can now grasp again with his hand 30 in the withdrawal region 28, so that the process described above can be carried out anew.

[0050] It is understood that in this embodiment it is basically also conceivable that the cushion means 18 are chips or pellets (loose fill) made of foamed plastic, or plastic bags which are filled with a self-foaming material.

[0051] A further embodiment of a device 10 for dispensing a cushion means 18 for packaging purposes will now be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

[0052] In this embodiment, a photoelectric sensor 39 forming the sensor means 32 is located behind a separating aid 40, as seen by the user, whereas the withdrawal region 28 is located in front of the separating aid 40, as seen by the user. The separation aid 40 is an approximately U-shaped sheet metal construction, when seen in plan view from the front, having two lateral and approximately vertical legs 40a and a transversely and approximately horizontally extending base 40b. The two legs 40a have an L-shaped cross-section, each having a front wall 40c and a side wall 40d. Between the two legs 40a, a slot-like opening 41 is provided, which, as seen by the user before the separation aid 40, connects the withdrawal region 28 with a detection region 42 provided behind the separation aid 40, as seen by the user. The light barrier 39 forms a jet-like line-like light curtain 44 between the two lateral walls 40d.

[0053] The cushion means 18 is conveyed from above from a dispensing region 46 down into the withdrawal region 28. In the dispensing region 46, the cushion means 18 passes through a dispensing means (not shown here) and which can basically be constructed in a similar manner to the dispensing means 12 explained above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. In principle, however, it is also conceivable for a buffer means to be arranged between the dispensing region 46 and the dispensing means, for example in the form of a silo. Again, the cushion means 18 is symbolized by an arrow. After the end of the conveying, the cushion means 18 hangs down in the withdrawal region 28.

[0054] In the present case, the cushion means 18 are again air-filled bags, which are detachably connected to one another via a perforation indicated by dots 19 in the Figure. In order to remove the bag 18 located in the withdrawal region 28, the user grasps again with his hand, which is symbolized by an arrow 30 in FIG. 3, from the front into the opening 41 of the separation aid 40. During this movement, he pierces the perforation 19, so that the bags provided below the perforation 19 can be separated and grasped by the hand of the user. During this movement, however, a part of the outstretched fingers of the hand also passes through the opening 41 into the detection region 42 arranged behind the separating aid 40 and into the light curtain 44 of the light barrier 39 present there.

[0055] As a result, the light barrier 39 is interrupted, whereby the presence of a region, namely a few fingers of the outstretched hand 30 of the user is detected in the detection region 42 immediately adjacent to the withdrawal region 28. Analogously to the above, this results in a signal change, which is transmitted from the light barrier 39 to the control and regulating means. If the user retracts his hand 30 together with the separated bags 18, the interruption of the light barrier 39 ends, which in turn results in a signal change, which is transmitted to the control and regulating means. Either immediately or again only after expiry of a time interval, a new amount of cushion means 18 is provided in the withdrawal region 28 after this last signal change.

[0056] A fourth embodiment of a device 10 for dispensing a cushion means 18 for packaging purposes will now be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

[0057] In the device 10 shown in FIG. 4, the withdrawal region 28 is arranged away from the dispensing means 12. In this case, the withdrawal region 28 is formed like a line and directly above a conveyor belt 48, so that it extends over a length L. A transport means in the form of a chute 50 is arranged between the dispensing means 12 and the conveyor belt 48, said chute transporting, in operation, a cushion means (not shown in FIG. 3) dispensed by the dispensing means 12 to the conveyor belt 48.

[0058] Laterally from the withdrawal region 28, a sensor means 32 in the form of a light barrier 39 is arranged, which generates a light curtain 44 over the entire length L of the withdrawal region 28, which is indicated in FIG. 4 by vertical lines. It is understood that the light curtain 44 does not necessarily have to be flat, but can only consist of a single line-like light beam.

[0059] The device 10 shown in FIG. 4 operates as follows: first, i.e. at the start of operation, the cushion means is produced by the dispensing means 12, which reaches the conveyor belt 48 by means of the chute. Said conveyor belt is in operation and transports the cushion means provided on the conveyor belt 48 to the left in FIG. 4. When the first cushion means produced reaches the left end of the conveyor belt 48, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) located there, thereby stopping the conveyor belt 48. The dispensing of cushion means by the dispensing means 12 is also terminated. In this state, the conveyor belt 48 is covered over its entire length L with cushion means.

[0060] The cushion means may be the above-mentioned air-filled plastic bags or individual cushioning pads made of crumpled paper. Such cushioning pads may be tubular, star-shaped or butterfly-like in cross-section. In the following, it is assumed, by way of example, that the cushion means consists of individual cushioning pads made of crumpled paper.

[0061] If a user now grasps again with his hand, which is also symbolized in FIG. 4 by an arrow 30, from the side into the withdrawal region 28 and grasps a cushioning pad lying on the conveyor belt 48, he breaks through the light curtain 44, resulting in a first signal change, as already mentioned above in connection with the other two exemplary embodiments. Now the user pulls his hand back together with the cushioning pad, thereby creating a gap at this point on the conveyor belt 48. As a result of the hand 30 leaving the light curtain 44 again, a second signal change is produced, which in turn is transmitted to the control and regulating means 38. This has the effect that the control and regulating means 38 first controls the dispensing means 12, so that it produces a new cushioning pad, which then reaches the conveyor belt 48 via the chute 50.

[0062] But the control and regulating means 38 also controls the conveyor belt 48, whereby this is set in motion for a predetermined time. However, the cushioning pad produced to the left of the existing gap in FIG. 4 cannot be moved even when moving the conveyor belt 48, since the leftmost cushioning pad in FIG. 4 abuts a stop (not shown) on the left end of the conveyor belt 48 in FIG. 4. Only the cushioning pads present in FIG. 4 to the right of the resulting gap are moved further, so that the gap is closed and the newly produced cushioning pad can reach the conveyor belt 48 from the chute 50. The conveyor belt 48 is thus again complete, i.e. occupied in a gapless manner with cushioning pads.

[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transport means which connects the dispensing means 12 and the withdrawal region 28 is designed as a chute 50, which operates passively by gravity and cannot be controlled. In an embodiment (not shown), the transport means could also be an active transport means, for example a conveyor belt, which could then also be controlled depending on the detection of a part of the hand of the user in the detection region, and possibly also only after a time interval.

[0064] In the embodiments of FIGS. 2-4 described above, both the signal change generated when the hand of the user entered the withdrawal region or detection region and the signal change generated when retracting the hand of the user from the withdrawal region or detection region were detected. It is understood that in principle only one of these signal changes can be used to control the dispensing means and/or the transport means so that a new cushion means is dispensed to the user.