Apparatus for the provision of packaging material

Abstract

An apparatus for the provision of packaging material includes a forming unit for producing a cushion or tubular-like packaging material from a paper strip and for ejecting the packaging material. A feeding unit draws in the paper strip from a Leporello stack-shaped paper strip supply having two feed rollers opposing each other for driving the paper strip and a motor for operating the feed rollers. A preforming station is positioned upstream the feed unit in paper feed direction for transverse compression of the paper strip. A guiding unit is positioned upstream the preforming station in paper feed direction for aligning the paper strip for the preforming station and a frame, on which the preforming station is pivotably supported between a working position and a loading position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the provision of packaging material, comprising: a forming unit configured to: produce a packaging material from a Leporello paper strip stack, and eject the packaging material, wherein the forming unit further comprises: two feed rollers opposing each other for driving the paper strip; a motor for operating the feed rollers; and an outlet opening for the packaging material at its front side, wherein the forming unit is pivotable backwards from a working position to a loading position; an initialization switch configured to activate the motor of the feed rollers, wherein the initialization switch is disposed on the forming unit and is accessible at its rear side in the loading position; a preforming station being positioned upstream from the feed rollers along a paper feed direction and configured to transversely compress the paper strip; a guiding unit positioned upstream from the preforming station in the paper feed direction and configured to align the paper strip for the preforming station; and a frame, on which the forming unit is pivotably supported between the working position and the loading position, wherein in the working position, the forming unit is aligned downwards in an ejection direction for ejecting the packaging material, the forming unit in the loading position being lower relative to the working position, wherein the motor is configured to be activated in the loading position, and wherein, in the loading position, a preload force is acting against a pivoting motion of the forming unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming unit is configured to operate the motor during normal operation with a load of at least 60% of the full load, on activation of the motor in the loading position by the initialization switch.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the loading position, a manual introduction access is provided for introducing the paper strip into the feed rollers.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming unit comprises a securing switch having a release state for an activation of the motor by the initialization switch, and having a securing state which prevents the activation of the motor in the loading position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the securing switch can adopt the release state in a closed position of a tool-free removable safety cover for covering the feed rollers, or the preforming station.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the working position, the forming unit is aligned downwards in the ejection direction for ejecting the packaging material, further wherein the forming unit in the loading position is lower relative to the working position, and in the loading position, the preload force is further acting against a weight force of the forming unit.

7. An apparatus for provision of packaging material, the apparatus comprising: a forming unit configured to: produce a packaging material from a paper strip, and eject the packaging material, the forming unit comprising: a feed unit configured to draw the paper strip; a Leporello stack-shaped paper strip supply; two feed rollers opposing each other and configured to drive the paper strip; and a motor configured to operate the feed rollers; a provision being positioned upstream from the feed unit in a paper feed direction and configured to transversely compress the paper strip; a guiding unit positioned upstream from the preforming station in a paper feed direction and configured to adjust the paper strip for the preforming station; and a frame, on which the forming unit is pivotably supported between a working position and a loading position, wherein when in the working position, the forming unit is aligned downwards in an ejection direction and configured to eject the packaging material, further wherein the forming unit in the loading position is lower relative to the working position, and when in the loading position, a preload force is acting against a weight force of the forming unit and is acting against a pivoting motion of the forming unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the working position, the preload force acts against the weight force of the forming unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the forming unit is pivotably supported with a torsion spring coupling at the frame, wherein the torsion spring coupling comprises at least one elastic element with an elastic restoring force providing at least partially the preload force for the loading position and/or the working position.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a tension spring or a movable slidably supported counter weight for the provision of at least a part of the preload force in the loading position, wherein the tension spring or the counterweight is arranged in an inner cavity of the frame.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a guiding connection member securing band holds the forming unit in the loading position, the guiding connection member securing band being mounted to the forming unit or the frame and interacting with a securing pin fixed with the apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a paper strip supply that includes the Leporello stack arranged between two feet of the frame.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when in the loading position, a preloading force causes a weight release that includes releasing at least 25% of the weight force of the forming unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the preloading force acts in at least one pivoting range starting from the loading position and being larger than 10°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The system and method may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment in working position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment according to FIG. 1 in the loading position;

(4) FIG. 3A is a perspective front view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment according to FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment according to FIG. 2 in the loading position;

(7) FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment show in FIG. 4 with a view to the initialization switch;

(8) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the acting forces between the forming unit and the frame;

(9) FIG. 7 is a front view of the forming unit with pivoting bearing;

(10) FIG. 8 is a detail view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment in the loading position according to FIG. 2 with a view to the pivoting bearing;

(11) FIG. 9 is a side view of the provision apparatus according to FIG. 1 in a first intermediate position,

(12) FIG. 10 is a side view of the provision apparatus according to an embodiment according to FIG. 1 in a second intermediate position according to a labile counterweight;

(13) FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the initialization procedure;

(14) FIG. 12 is a forming unit in the load position with opened cover; and

(15) FIG. 13 shows a rear view of the opened forming unit according to FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) One embodiment of the apparatus for the provision of the packaging material according to the apparatus shown in the Figures is generally attributed with a reference numeral 1. The provision apparatus comprises as components a forming unit 11 and a frame 21, on which the forming unit is pivotably supported.

(17) The functional principle of the provision apparatus according to one embodiment can be understood from FIG. 3A.

(18) The provision apparatus 1 has a Leporello stack-shaped paper strip supply 7. The forming unit 11 draws in a paper strip 5 from the paper strip supply 7. In the forming unit 11 a for example cushion-shaped packaging material 3 is fabricated from a paper strip 5. The forming unit 11 is producing cushion-shaped packaging material 3, as shown in FIG. 3A, which has a specific cushion product length and is being cut by a cut from a following paper strip 5, or, if the forming unit produces an endless, tube-like packaging material (not shown in detail here).

(19) The provision apparatus 1 can, as shown, have a mobile frame standing on a floor B or such. Alternatively, it is possible to use a wall-fixed frame. The paper strip 5 and respectively the paper supply 7 have a certain transverse width in transverse direction Q. The width of the paper strip 5 is about 70±5 or 70±0.5 cm. It is also conceivable that a paper strip has a narrower width of less than 70 cm, for example only about 50 cm or 30 cm, or that the paper strip 5 has a higher width of 100 cm, 150 cm, or 200 cm. The frame 21 extends in the vertical direction V upwards, relatively to the floor B and carries the forming unit 11 at its upper end. The packaging material 3 is ejected from the forming unit in the horizontal direction H to the front side and in the vertical direction V downwards, for example, into a supply container, a shipping container, carton, or on a tray, like a packaging working place (not depicted in detail here).

(20) For the operational activation of the cushion product provision apparatus, the user U can activate a control panel 31 and/or a foot switch (not depicted in detail here) at the front side X of the apparatus 1. Depending on the settings of the provision apparatus 1, the activation by the panel 31 and/or the foot switch can initiate producing one or several cushion products of predetermined length or the production of an endless, packaging material tube to be torn off.

(21) In order to keep the front side X of the assembly, that means in the area of the forming unit 11 or the frame 21, clear for the shipping goods to be cushioned in shipping containers, the paper strip supply 7 is arranged at the rear side Y of the provision apparatus 1 that means behind the forming unit 11 or the frame 21, respectively. The supply 7 can be realized by one or several Leporello stacks being for example arranged on a pallet, like a Euro-pallet. Instead of the Leporello stack, the paper strip 5 can be available coiled on a roll, wherein the rotation axis of the roll is extending in transverse direction Q, so that a draw-off from the roll is essentially executed in the same direction and orientation as from the Leporello stack 7.

(22) The forming unit 7 comprises a motor driven feed unit 13 for drawing in the paper strip 5 from the paper strip supply 7. As shown in FIG. 7, this feed unit 13 can have feed rollers 61, 63 opposing each other, wherein at least one of the feed rollers 61 is driven. The feed rollers 61, 63 can be formed flat, convex and/or gearlike. Feed rollers 61, 63, particularly those with gear shape, can be equipped for the forming of the paper strip, particularly for the reproduction of punch cards and/or imprints into the packaging material 3, for the forming of the paper strip. The feed rollers 61, 63 can engage with each other, in order to exert lateral pressing forces on the paper strip 5 or the packaging material, respectively, in order to increase the feed effect or a forming effect, if applicable. By the feed rollers 61, 63, the paper is fed through the outlet opening 65 in the ejection direction and is ejected from the forming unit 11. It shall be clear that, for example, for an embodiment of a provision apparatus with a forming unit 11 according to DE 10 2014 016 874 A1, the forming unit 13 can have several pairs of feed and/or forming rollers, like a first pair of feed rollers opposing each other for pulling in the paper strip and a second pair of feed rollers for ejecting packaging material.

(23) The course of the paper, that means the paper strip 5 or the packaging material 3, respectively, from the paper strip supply 7 through to the outlet opening 65 defines a paper feed direction f. Within the forming unit 11, an elongated feed path p is defined by a path of the paper strip in the paper feed direction f from the guiding unit 17, which can be realized as deflection roller 18 according to FIG. 3B, through the chute-like preforming station 50 and the feed unit 13 through to the outlet opening 65. The feed path p of the embodiment depicted essentially corresponds to the ejection direction a. It is also conceivable that the feed path p differs from the ejection direction a, for example, if a deflection shall be provided at the outlet 65 of the forming unit 11.

(24) A preforming station 15 is provided positioned upstream the feed unit 13 in paper feed direction f, which can be realized here chute-like by the housing. By feeding the paper strip 5 through that preforming station 15, the lateral outer edges of the paper strip 5 are guided against the narrowing tube walls of the preforming station 15 and thereby folded or rolled inwardly, respectively, so that a tube-like cushion pre-material is formed. The extension of the paper compared to the original width of the paper strip 5 in transverse direction Q is significantly reduced by the preforming station 15.

(25) Before the paper strip 5 is entering the preforming station 15 in the paper feed direction f, the paper strip is aligned by a guiding unit 17, so that an elongated feed path p is formed by the forming unit, counteracting a rip-off from the paper strip. Instead of the deflection roller 18, a stationary slide edge with good sliding properties compared to the paper strip 5 can be provided as guiding unit 17.

(26) The forming unit 11 can be hinged backwards to the rear side Y from the working position depicted in FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B. When hinging away the forming unit 11 from the working position, the forming unit 11 moves around a frame stationary pivoting bearing 23. The details of the pivoting bearing are further described in detail, particularly with regard to FIGS. 6 of 8, below. The forming unit 11 can be brought into a loading position by pivoting around the pivoting bearing 23, which is for example shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The forming unit 11 is essentially fixedly supported relatively to the frame 21, with respect to an axis defined in vertical direction V. Starting from a working position (FIG. 1), the forming unit 11 can be crossed in the loading position (FIG. 2) at a maximum pivoting angle φB. The pivoting angle is larger than 45° and/or smaller than 135°. Particularly, the maximal pivoting angle is smaller than 90° and can be around 80°.

(27) The balance point G of the forming unit 11 is displaced downwards in the loading position relatively to its position in the working position in the vertical direction V. The guiding unit 17 is, starting from the working position, displaced in vertical direction V downwards, mainly from the working height hA to the loading position hB. The loading height hB is preferably between 80 cm and 200 cm, preferably between 100 cm and 175 cm above the floor B, on which the paper supply 7 or the user U can stand on the rear side Y of the apparatus 1.

(28) The forming unit 11 is held stationary at the frame 21 in the working position by a fastener or lock 55, respectively. The lock 55 has to be released first in order to be able to turn the forming unit 11 around the pivoting axis S of the bearing 23. The forming unit 11 is secured in the loading position (FIG. 2) rotationally movable, particularly downwards, by a securing band 51, which is counteracting with a securing pin 53 being stationary to the frame 21 and limiting a maximal turning movability of the forming unit 11 around the pivoting bearing 23.

(29) In the loading position, the guiding unit 17 is approached close to the Leporello stack 7 (FIG. 4), in that a user U standing behind the Leporello stack 7 can introduce a paper strip 5 from the paper strip supply 7 into the forming unit 11 at the rear side Y without notable effort. According to one embodiment according to the Figures, the user U has to remove the securing cover or the cover 35 from the forming unit 11, which covers the guiding unit 7, the preforming station 15 and the inlet of the feed unit 13. The cover 35 can for example be crossed upwardly of a hinged joint. The cover 35 is shown in its closed position in FIGS. 1 to 7. The forming unit 11 is, for safety reasons, provided with a securing switch not further detailed here, capturing whether the cover 35 is in a closed position. If the cover 35 is removed from the closed position, the securing switch 36 causes that a feed and/or forming operation of the forming unit is safely inhibited (FIG. 13). The securing control in its securing state can for example trigger that the drive motor of the feed unit 13 does not receive any driving current. The provision apparatus 1 can therefore only be brought into an operational feed and/or forming operation, if the cover 35 is closed so that an axis of the user U into the inside of the forming unit 11 is certainly excluded so that the user U is not exposed to any danger of injury by the feed unit 13.

(30) As shown in FIG. 5, an initialization switch 33 is provided at the rear-sided top side of the forming unit 11, which only can be activated by a user standing at the rear side Y of the provision apparatus 1 and only in the loading position of the assembly 11. The user standing at the rear side Y of the provision apparatus 1 has virtually no access to the control panel 31 at the front side X and the foot switch (not depicted) positioned at the front side X. When the user is activating the initialization switch 33, the motor of the feed unit 13 is driven with high performance in order to draw in a paper strip provided by the user U, under avoidance of paper jams, into the forming unit so that a normal operation of the provision apparatus 1 can be executed again, subsequently.

(31) FIGS. 12 and 13 show a forming unit 11 with opened cover 35. At one embodiment, the cover 35 is arranged above the guiding unit 17 at a preforming station 15 following it in paper feed direction f. The cover is supported at the forming unit 11 with a joint, which allows a pivoting of the cover from its closed position. The cover can be locked in an open position for example by a magnet fixture.

(32) The guiding unit 17 comprises a deflection roller 18 and a guiding shackle 19 arranged behind it. The guiding shackle 19 extends convexly bent or upwards at the inlet of the forming station in order to introduce a uniform folding of the paper strip in the preforming station narrowing chute-like 15. Two infeed or feed rollers 61, 63 are arranged in paper feed direction f following the preforming station, in order to feed the paper strip 5 in or through, respectively, the forming unit.

(33) The initialization process is shown schematically in FIG. 11. When the initialization switch or feed button 33 is pressed, this can be detected by the electric control unit (ECU) for example in a housing at the control panel 31 as initialization control signal, which is initializing an activation of the feed motor.

(34) In FIG. 6, the forces which act between the forming unit 11 and the frame 21 (not depicted) are shown. The forming unit 11 has a mass as weight force M in vertical direction V downwards, starting from its balance point G. The weight force M of the forming unit 11 is received directly or indirectly by the frame 21, which carries the forming unit 11. The downwards movement of the forming unit 11 to the rear direction counteracts a tension spring 25 with a spring force F. The pivoting bearing 23 being designed as torsion spring coupling acts against the weight force M of the forming unit 11 with an elastic torsional moment T, generally a restoring moment, in both the working position (FIG. 1) and in the loading position (FIG. 2). If the fastener 55 is released, the forming unit 11 takes the first intermediate state or stable balance state shown in FIG. 9. In the first intermediate state, the forming unit 11 is already pivotable rearwards relatively to the working position already by a small pivoting angle φ1 and the balance point G of the forming unit is positioned merely vertically above the pivoting axis S of the pivoting bearing 23. The balance point G of the pivoting assembly 12 having the forming unit 11 as main component being pivotably supported at the frame 21 is positioned in the stable rest position according to FIG. 9 in the horizontal direction H slightly in front of the pivoting axis S. The first pivoting angle φ1 is smaller than 20°, particularly smaller than 10°. The forming station 11 can take a second intermediate state or labile balance state, as shown in FIG. 10, in which an equality of forces is present so that in an ideal case neither a pivoting forwardly in the direction of the working position nor a pivoting in the direction of the loading position backwards is executed where no external forces are acting. In this instable equilibrium position, the balance point G is positioned at or at least near the highest point of its pivoting path around the pivoting bearing 23. Starting from the working position (FIG. 1), the forming unit 11 has to be lifted against its weight force M from the working position (FIG. 1), up to the labile equilibrium state (FIG. 10). From the labile equilibrium state (FIG. 10), the forming unit 11 can be pivoted further rearwards around the pivoting axis S up to the loading position (FIG. 2). It shall be clear that the spring force F increases with increasing pivoting angle, so that the spring force F provide an ever-increasing preload force, which preloads the preforming unit 11 in the direction of the working position. Instead of the tension spring 22 or complementary to the tension spring 25, a counterweight (not depicted in detail) can be arranged in the inner cavity 22 of the frame 21 and be connected to the pivoting assembly 12 in order to provide a counterweight to the forming unit for a pivoting around the pivoting axis S. The second pivoting angle φ2 is smaller than 45° and is at about 20°.

(35) In the first or second intermediate position, respectively, the guiding unit 17 is located at a first or a second intermediate height h1 or h2, respectively, wherein the first intermediate height h1 is lower than the working height hA and wherein the second intermediate height h2 is lower than the first intermediate height h1 and/or the working height hA.

(36) A part of the preload force acting against the weight force M of the forming unit 11 at least in the loading position, is provided by the pivoting bearing realized as torsion spring coupling. In the loading position, the pivoting assembly 12 is pivoted from the working position to the maximal possible pivoting angle φB.

(37) The torsion spring coupling 23 of the depicted embodiment is realized by two pressure sleeves 41 arranged pivotably fixed at the frame 21, one pressure sleeve 43 being mounted pivotably fixed at the pivoting assembly 12, one bearing brushing or bearing sleeve 41, being connected to the bearing sleeve 43 by an extending rectangular profile rod 45 and three quadruple of elastic elements or spring pads 47, respectively. The pressure sleeves 41, 43 have a quadratic inner passage contour, whose side length essentially corresponds to the diagonal width of the rectangular profile rod 45. A spring pad 47 is introduced into each of the four triangular recesses between the rectangular profile rod 44 and a respective bearing sleeve 41 or 43. Both of the frame fixed pressure sleeves 41 allow a pivoting movement of the rectangular profile rod 44 by ±30° around the pivoting axis S. A relative pivoting in the range ±30° can be employed between the rectangular profile slot 45 and the fixed bearing sleeve 43. By the series connection on the one hand of the frame fixed bearing sleeves 41, and on the other hand of the pivoting assembly fixed bearing sleeve 43, a pivoting range of about 90° is allowed.

(38) Depending on the relative position of the bearing sleeves 41, 43 and the rectangular profile to each other, a torsional moment T is employed around the torsion spring coupling 23. Preferably, the highest possible torsional moment T in the loading position is provided and is acting there against the weight force M of the forming unit 11. The torsional moment T also slows down the lowering movement of the forming unit starting from the labile equilibrium position (FIG. 10) in the direction of the loading position. A torsional moment T can act against the weight force M of the forming unit also in a working position as well as in the first stabile intermediate position (FIG. 9), if applicable, so that a lifting of the forming unit 11 from the working position in the direction of the loading position is facilitated. The bearing 23 also receives vertical bearing forces LV and horizontal bearing forces LH.

(39) The attributes disclosed in the preceding description, the Figures and the claims can be used for the realization of the invention in the different embodiments and both separately and in arbitrary combination.

(40) The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

(41) One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.

(42) The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

(43) List of Reference Numerals

(44) 1 provision apparatus 3 packaging material 5 paper strip 7 Leporello stack 11 forming unit 12 pivoting assembly 13 feed unit 15 preforming station 17 guiding unit 18 deflection roller 21 frame 22 inner cavity 23 pivoting bearing, torsion spring coupling 25 tension spring 27 foot 31 control panel 33 initialization switch 35 cover 41, 43 bearing sleeve 45 rectangular profile rod 47 spring pad 51 securing band 53 securing pin 55 fastener 61, 63 feed roller 65 outlet opening a ejection direction f paper feed direction p feed path h.sub.A, h.sub.B, h.sub.1, h.sub.2 height B base F spring force G balance point H horizontal direction L.sub.H, L.sub.V bearing force M weight force Q transverse direction S pivoting axis T torque U user V vertical direction X front side Y rear side φ.sub.B, φ.sub.1, φ.sub.2 pivoting angle