STORAGE TABLE OF A PACKAGING PLANT AND DEVICE FOR IN- OR OUT-FEEDING PACKAGES INTO OR OUT OF A STORAGE LINE OF A STORAGE TABLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage table of a packaging plant, wherein the storage table includes an infeed, an outfeed, and at least two storage lines that are loadable separately from one another and are arranged between the infeed and the outfeed. The infeed includes a loading means having a conveyor channel, wherein the loading means having the conveyor channel is designed to receive packages from a conveyor apparatus arranged upstream of the storage table and to convey the packages onwards and, in particular, to deflect the packages so that the packages can be received in at least one of the two storage lines. The loading means is designed to be adaptable, in particular as needed, in such a way that a width and/or height of the conveyor channel is adjustable at least in certain areas or sections.

Claims

1. A storage table of a packaging plant, comprising: at least one infeed; at least one outfeed; at least two storage lines that are loadable separately from one another and are arranged between the at least one infeed and the at least one outfeed; wherein the at least one infeed includes a loading means having a conveyor channel, the loading means having the conveyor channel is designed to receive packages from a conveyor apparatus arranged upstream of the storage table and to convey the packages onwards and deflect the packages so the packages are received in at least one of the two storage lines, the loading means being adaptablesuch that one or more of a width or a height of the conveyor channel is adjustable at least in certain areas or sections.

2. The storage table according to claim 1, wherein the loading means of the at least one infeed is realized as a linearly operated satellite, which is movable transversely and perpendicularly to the at least two storage lines.

3. The storage table according to claim 1, wherein the loading means of the at least one infeed is a linearly operated deflector, which is movable transversely and perpendicularly to the at least two storage lines and which is designed to deflect the packages along a conveying or transport direction, starting from the conveyor apparatus arranged upstream of the storage table, so that the packages are moved to a specific, predetermined or determinable storage line of the at least two storage lines.

4. The storage table according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor channel of the at least one infeed includes two side areas arranged opposite one another and defining a conveying or transport direction, wherein at least one of the two side areas arranged opposite one another is segmentally designed and includes guide sections adjacent to one another, wherein at least one of the guide sections is one or more of movable or adjustable perpendicularly to the conveying or transport direction predefined by the conveyor channel as needed for adjusting the width of the conveyor channel at least in certain areas or sections.

5. The storage table according to claim 4, wherein at least one drive is assigned to the guide sections, the at least one drive being a manually operable or electro-motorically operable drive, the at least one drive and which is designed to one or more of move or adjust the at least one guide section assigned to the at least one drive perpendicularly to the conveying or transport direction predefined by the conveyor channel as needed.

6. The storage table according to claim 5, wherein the at least one drive includes a synchronization apparatus mechanically designed to transfer one or more of a movement or an adjustment of one of the guide sections caused by the at least one drive to another of the guide sections.

7. The storage table according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outfeed includes a removal means having a conveyor channel, the removal means having the conveyor channel is designed to receive the packages received in one of the at least two storage lines and to convey the packages onwards to deflect the packages so that the packages are received by a conveyor apparatus arranged downstream of the storage table, wherein the removal means is designed to be adaptable as needed in such a way that one or more of a width or a height of the conveyor channel is adjustable at least in certain areas or sections.

8. The storage table according to claim 7, wherein the removal means of the at least one outfeed is a linearly operated satellite, which is movable transversely and perpendicularly to the at least two storage lines.

9. The storage table according to claim 7, wherein the removal means of the at least one outfeed is a linearly operated deflector, which is movable transversely and perpendicularly to the at least two storage lines and which is designed to deflect the packages along their conveying or transport direction, starting from a conveyor apparatus assigned to the at least two storage lines, so that the packages are moved to the conveyor apparatus arranged downstream of the storage table.

10. The storage table according to claim 7, wherein the conveyor channel of the at least one outfeed includes two side areas arranged opposite one another and defining a conveying or transport direction, wherein at least one of the two side areas arranged opposite one another is segmentally designed and includes guide sections adjacent to one another, wherein at least one of the guide sections is one or more of movable or adjustable perpendicularly to the conveying or transport direction predefined by the conveyor channel as needed for adjusting the width of the conveyor channel at least in certain areas or sections.

11. The storage table according to claim 4, wherein a conveyor apparatus having at least one circulating conveyor belt or having at least one preferably circulating conveyor chain is assigned to the conveyor channel, wherein the conveyor belt or conveyor chain is aligned at least substantially vertically and extends over the guide sections adjacent to one another in a guided manner along at least one of the two side areas arranged opposite one another.

12. A device for in- or out-feeding packages into a storage line or out of the storage line of the storage table, according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a linearly operated satellite or deflector, that is transversely and perpendicularly movable to the storage line of the storage table, wherein the satellite or deflector includes a conveyor channel via which the packages are conveyable to or from the storage line, wherein the satellite or deflector is designed to be adaptable as needed in such a way that one or more of the width or the height of the conveyor channel is adjustable at least in the certain areas or sections.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the conveyor channel includes two side areas arranged opposite one another and defining a conveying or transport direction, wherein at least one of the two side areas arranged opposite one another is segmentally designed and includes a plurality of guide sections adjacent to one another, wherein at least one of the guide sections is one or more of movable or adjustable perpendicularly to the conveying or transport direction predefined by the conveyor channel as needed for adjusting the width of the conveyor channel at least in certain areas or sections.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein a conveyor apparatus having at least one circulating conveyor belt or having at least one circulating conveyor chain is assigned to the conveyor channel, wherein the conveyor belt or conveyor chain is aligned at least substantially vertically and extends over the guide sections in a guided manner along at least one of the two side areas arranged opposite one another, wherein a spring-loaded tensioning element is assigned to the conveyor belt or conveyor chain, which is designed to compensate for a circumferential offset of the conveyor belt or conveyor chain when there is a corrective change of the conveyor channel.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the conveyor channel is curved in such a way that a conveying or transport direction of the packages is deflected as the packages move through the conveyor channel, wherein the device includes an outer concave conveying side and an inner convex conveying side, wherein the conveyor channel is formed at least in certain areas between the outer concave conveying side and the inner convex conveying side, wherein one or more of the outer concave conveying side or the inner convex conveying side includes the guide sections, which are radially adjustable with regard to the direction of movement of the packages through the conveyor channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] It is shown in:

[0039] FIG. 1 schematically and in a first isometric view, an exemplary embodiment of the device for in-or out-feeding packages into a storage line or out of a storage line of a storage table according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 schematically and in a second isometric view, the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 schematically and in a third isometric view, the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 4 schematically and in an isometric view, details of the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 5A schematically and in an isometric view, the outer concave conveying side of an alternative device for in-or out-feeding packages into a storage line or out of a storage line of a storage table;

[0044] FIG. 5B schematically and in an isometric view, the outer concave conveying side of the device according to FIG. 5A without a cover plate;

[0045] FIG. 5C schematically and in a plan view, the outer concave conveying side of the device according to FIG. 5B; and

[0046] FIG. 5D schematically and in a sectional view, the outer concave conveying side of the device according to FIG. 5C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The subject matter of the invention-as shown in the drawings using an exemplary embodiment-is a device 1 for in-or out-feeding packages into a storage line not shown in the drawings or out of a storage line (not shown in the drawings) of a storage table. A curved conveyor tunnel or conveyor channel 2 is used for this purpose, the width of which is adaptable to the products to be conveyed, without the need for assembling or disassembling format-related parts for this purpose.

[0048] As is subsequently described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, at least one outer side of the conveyor channel 2 and in particular the concavely shaped outer side of the conveyor channel 2 is radially adjustable.

[0049] The adjustment is operatable via a central adjustment mechanism, wherein this adjustment mechanism can also be motorically driven and controlled if required.

[0050] The individual guide sections 3 or guide segments of the outer conveying side grip the conveyor element, in this case a plastic chain belt 4 having attached lamellae, in a form-fitting manner. The guide sections 3 are arranged so that they are each linearly adjustable radiant to the center point of the curve radius. As a result, the outer conveyor chain 4 can be adjusted to various radii.

[0051] The circumferential offset due to the change in contour of the conveyor chain 4 is compensated for by a spring-loaded tensioning element 8.

[0052] The adjustment rotation of a handwheel 9 or a shaft of an electro-motorically drive can be transferred to the individual guide sections 3, for example, by means of a toothed belt 10.

[0053] For example, it is conceivable in this context for each guide section 3 to include a double toothed disc 11, whereby the adjustment rotation is transferred to the adjacent guide section 3 by means of a toothed belt 10. The linear movement of the respective guide section 3 is realized by a threaded spindle integrated therein.

[0054] However, the invention is not limited to an adjustment mechanism in which corresponding toothed belts 10 and/or double toothed discs 11 are employed. As an alternative to this, for example, an adjustment mechanism with bevel gears is also conceivable.

[0055] It is further conceivable that each individual guide section 3 is assigned its own drive, in particular a linear drive.

[0056] The exemplary embodiment of the device 1 for in- or out-feeding packages into a storage line or out of a storage line of a storage table according to the invention shown in the drawings is in particular a linearly operated satellite or deflector, which is movable transversely and preferably perpendicularly to the storage lines of the storage table (not shown).

[0057] The satellite or deflector includes a conveyor channel 2 via which packages are conveyable to or from the storage line. The satellite or deflector is designed to be adaptable, in particular as needed, in such a way that the width and/or height of the conveyor channel 2 is adjustable at least in certain areas or sections.

[0058] In detail, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, it is provided that the conveyor channel 2 is realized curved in such a way that a conveying or transport direction of the packages is deflected, preferably by about 90, as they move through the conveyor channel 2. For this purpose, the device 1 includes an outer concave conveying side 6 and an inner convex conveying side 7. The channel is formed at least in certain areas between the outer concave conveying side and the inner convex conveying side.

[0059] The outer concave conveying side 6 and/or the inner convex conveying side 7 includes the plurality of guide sections 3 or guide segments, which are radially adjustable with regard to the direction of movement of the packages through the conveyor channel 2.

[0060] The conveyor channel 2 is assigned a conveyor apparatus having at least one preferably circulating conveyor belt or having at least one preferably circulating conveyor chain 4, wherein the conveyor belt or the conveyor chain 4 is aligned at least substantially vertically and extends over the plurality of guide sections 3 or guide segments in a guided manner along the at least one of the two side areas arranged opposite one another.

[0061] For this purpose, an in particular spring-loaded tensioning element 8 is assigned to the conveyor belt or conveyor chain 4, which is designed to compensate for a circumferential offset of the conveyor belt or conveyor chain 4 when there is a corrective change of the conveyor channel 2.

[0062] An alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in FIG. 5A through FIG. 5D. In detail, in FIG. 5A through FIG. 5D only the outer concave conveying side 6 of the device 1 is shown.

[0063] Like the device 1 described above, the device 1 shown in FIG. 5A through FIG. 5D comprises corresponding guide sections 3, which are adjustable with the help of a handwheel or drive 9. However, no toothed belt 10 is employed for adjusting the guide sections 3, as it is the case in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, instead corresponding bevel gears 12 are employed.

[0064] The rotational movement generated by the drive or handwheel 9 is transferred to the individual guide sections 3 by means of bevel gears 12.

[0065] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, but results from a synopsis of all the features disclosed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] 1 Loading means/removal means or device for in- or out-feeding packages into a storage line or out of a storage line of a storage table [0067] 2 Conveyor channel [0068] 3 Guide section [0069] 4 Conveyor belt/conveyor chain [0070] 6 Outer concave conveying side [0071] 7 Inner convex conveying side [0072] 8 Tensioning element [0073] 9 Handwheel/drive [0074] 10 Toothed belt [0075] 11 Double toothed disc [0076] 12 Bevel gear