DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A device for insertion of goods or goods in the form of stacks, shingling or the like into packaging troughs includes one or more jettison belts. In a method for operating such a device, the goods or goods stacks are vertically deposited by the jettison belt in a packaging trough.

Claims

1: A device (1) for insertion of goods or goods in the form of stacks (2), shingling or the like into packaging troughs (3), wherein one or more jettison belts (5) are provided.

2: The device according to claim 1, wherein one or more jettison belts (5) are arranged either at least substantially parallel to or in a section at least substantially parallel to the transport direction of the packaging troughs (3).

3: The device according to claim 2, wherein the jettison belt or belts (5) is or are arranged above the packaging troughs (2).

4: The device according to claim 1, wherein the jettison belt or belts (5; 4) is or are of multi-part configuration and lie one behind the other.

5: The device according to claim 1, wherein the jettison belt (5) extending at least substantially parallel to the packaging troughs (3) is configured to be retractable.

6: The device according to claim 1, wherein the jettison belt (5) or the table thereof has such a configuration that when retraction takes place the horizontal position of the goods above the packaging trough (3) remains substantially unchanged.

7: The device according to claim 1, wherein a drive for control of the jettison belt (4, 5), which is realised directly or indirectly, is provided.

8: The device according to claim 6, wherein the jettison belt (5) either comprises a control of the drive (8), which ensures standstill of the goods, or a drive belt (10) runs over equal-size belt pulleys (9) for drive and transport belt and thus standstill is ensured.

9: The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one abutment against which the goods (2) on the jettison belt (5) are oriented is provided.

10: The device according to claim 9, wherein the abutment (7) is configured to be adjustable and/or movable with respect to its horizontal position and movable with respect to its vertical position.

11: The device according to claim 9, wherein the abutment (7) has the configuration of a rake.

12: The device according to claim 9, wherein the abutment (7) is arranged in front of or behind the goods (2).

13: The device according to claim 1, wherein an orientation station for orientation of the goods or goods stacks is provided.

14: The device according to claim 1, wherein a lateral guide (11) for lateral orientation or guidance of the goods is provided.

15: The device according to claim 1, wherein a plunger capable of pressing the goods (2) into the packaging troughs (3) is provided.

16: The device according to claim 1, wherein the jettison belt (4, 5) is configured to be bent or angled with several sections.

17: The device according to claim 1, wherein a feed device for goods is provided on the respective jettison belt (4, 5).

18: The device according to claim 1, wherein a packaging machine for provision of packaging troughs (3) and further processing thereof is provided below the jettison belts (5).

19: The device according to claim 1, wherein a control unit for control of the jettison belts (4, 5) is provided.

20: The device according to claim 1, wherein the jettison belts (4, 5) are configured to be driven in cyclic manner, synchronously or asynchronously with respect to the packaging troughs (3) and/or the packaging troughs (3) are configured to be transported cyclically or continuously.

21: A method of operating a device according to claim 1 wherein goods or goods stacks (2) are vertically deposited by the jettison belt (5) in a packaging trough (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention is illustrated in the following by way of an embodiment in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device with a jettison belt for goods stacks and with packaging troughs arranged thereunder,

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the same device,

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the device,

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a further diagram without goods stacks,

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a further diagram from the rear side of the device,

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a detail diagram of the retracted jettison belt with abutments,

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a side view with retracted jettison belt and without goods stacks,

[0053] FIG. 8 shows a side view with retracted jettison belt and goods stacks, wherein a part of the goods stacks is already introduced into the packaging troughs,

[0054] FIG. 9 shows a side view with jettison belt and goods stacks in the run-up, wherein a part of the goods stacks is already introduced into the packaging troughs,

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a side view with jettison belt and goods stacks in the run-up to the abutments, wherein a part of the goods stacks is already introduced into the packaging troughs,

[0056] FIG. 11 shows a side view with jettison belt and goods stacks in the run-up to the abutments and shortly before impinging on the abutments,

[0057] FIG. 12 shows a side view with jettison belt and with goods stacks bearing against the abutments and

[0058] FIG. 13 shows a side view with jettison belt at the moment of introduction of a goods stack into a packaging trough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0059] A device for insertion of goods or goods in the form of stacks 2, imbrications or the like into packaging troughs is denoted by 1 in FIG. 1.

[0060] The stacks 2 are fed on a transport belt 4 and transferred to a jettison belt 5. The belts 4 and 5 in that case interengage so that seamless transport is ensured. The transport belts 4 and 5 are in that regard constructed from individual transport belts 6, on which the goods stacks 2 rest.

[0061] The jettison belt is configured to be contractible, i.e. shortenable in its length.

[0062] Abutments 7, which reach from above over the jettison belt 5 and are formed as rakes and the horizontal position of which is adjustable, are provided.

[0063] The abutments 7in this embodiment two abutments 7 are illustratedare arranged one behind the other. The abutments 7 are in addition configured to be movable in vertical direction.

[0064] If a goods stack 2 now arrives on the jettison belt 5, this runs against an abutment 7 and thus to a defined position.

[0065] When the goods stack now lies at this defined position the jettison belt 5 is retracted, so that the support thereof for the goods stack 2 is removed. The goods stack 2 drops by gravitational force into the packaging trough 3.

[0066] In order to assist this dropping movement the abutment 7 can accompany the dropping movement and thus support the goods stack 2 and thereby prevent tipping over. It is thus ensured that the goods stack 2 lands cleanly in the packaging trough 3 and is fully received by this.

[0067] The dropping movement can, for example, also be assisted by a plunger (not illustrated), which presses the goods stack into the packaging trough 3.

[0068] In this connection it is in addition conceivable for the stack to also be introduced horizontally or vertically upwardly into a packaging trough 3 by such a plunger.

[0069] As already indicated above, in the present example two abutments 7 are provided one behind the other so that two goods stacks 2 arranged one behind the other can be introduced into packaging troughs 3 simultaneously.

[0070] The jettison belt 5 is driven by way of a drive 8. This can either be controlled in such a way that the position of the stack 2 on retraction of the jettison belt 5 remains at least substantially constant. However, it is also conceivable for this standstill of the goods stack 2 to be realised by way of an arrangement of belt pulleys of the same size and a drive belt 10.

[0071] The sequence of introduction of the goods stacks 2 into the packaging troughs 3 is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13.

[0072] Transport of the stacks 2 and the packaging troughs 3 can be provided cyclically. This means that when introduction of the stacks 2 into the packaging troughs 3 takes place, both stack 2 and packaging trough 3 are stationary. However, it is also conceivable for the stacks 2 and packaging troughs 3 to be transported synchronously or asynchronously with respect to one another. It is significant that stack 2 and packaging trough 3 at the moment of introduction of the stack 2 are one above the other and at this moment do not move relative to one another.

[0073] A lateral guide 11 which in the present example is configured as a co-running plate can be provided near the goods stacks 2 not only in the region of the transport belt 4, but also in the region of the jettison belt 5.

[0074] Other guides 11 are conceivable. These are to be matched to the respective goods.

[0075] Attention must be given to the entire device being satisfactorily cleanable particularly in the field of use, which is provided for the device, of processing of foodstuffs, i.e. for packaging of sliced sausage, meat and cheese products. This is also to be taken into consideration in selection of the guides 11.

[0076] If the device is operated continuously and not cyclically, the abutments 7 can also be configured to be co-running.

[0077] In addition, in a modification of the embodiment the abutments 7 can also be arranged behind the stacks 2. Contact between stacks 2 and abutment 7 is produced by slight movement back of the stacks 2.

[0078] Jettison belt 5 and transport belt 4 often form a unit and are often designated in common as a jettison belt with a plurality of sections. An angle or a bend can be provided between jettison belt 5 and transport belt 4.

[0079] The goods stacks 2 are formed by feed devices (not illustrated) and fed to the transport belt 4.

[0080] In this connection it is conceivable for an orientation station (not illustrated) to be provided, which ensures that the stacks 2 are placed in oriented manner on the transport belt 4 and also oriented in themselves and not displaced, twisted or stacked up in different mode and manner departing from the desired straight orientation.

[0081] The retraction movement of the jettison belt 5 is usually realised in such a way that a drive retracts an inner table on which the actual transport bands or belts are mounted. The horizontal position of the stacks 2 is ensured by appropriate control of the belt or a mechanical coupling, as already described above.

[0082] Several stacks 2 can also be arranged adjacent to one another on one transport belt 4 and jettison belt 5. The packaging troughs 3 also have to be provided in corresponding manner.

[0083] In addition, several transport belts 4 and jettison belts 5 arranged adjacent to one another are also conceivable.

[0084] It is equally conceivable for two or more goods stacks 2 to be arranged one behind the other and introduced simultaneously or sequentially in succession into the packaging troughs 3.

[0085] The packaging troughs 3 are usually provided by a deep-drawing machine (not illustrated) and closed directly after filling by a covering film (also not illustrated).

[0086] It is significant that the packaging of the goods stacks 2 takes place reliably and quickly and, in addition, without intervention of operatives.

[0087] Intervention by operatives is undesirable particularly in the processing of foodstuffs, since this often leads to contaminations of the packaged goods and thus to waste or at least reduced shelf-life. There is no question here of slowing down the packaging process.