EP0686593A2 - Method and apparatus for stacking - Google Patents

Abstract

The individually fed tissues (3) are deflected with their fold alternatively to the right and left, onto a lowerable support, forming the stacking table (8), using at least one separating and auxiliary carrier (9, 10). The stack (2) is gripped and supported from opposite sides (18, 19) in sufficient width during stacking and lowering. Pref. a stack separation during a continuous operation and the support of the next stack takes place from the opposite sides. The stack separation and support may be also carried out eccentrically. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for stacking folded, zigzag-shaped towels, one inside the other, with the fold alternatingly arriving on the left or left on a lowerable support device serving as a stacking table using a separating and auxiliary carrying device be filed.

A device of the type mentioned is known from US Pat. No. 4,770,402 and has two folding cylinders which are parallel to one another, scraper fingers and below the folding cylinder a lowerable stacking table on which the parts are placed. After the desired stack height has been reached, separating fingers lie on the stack and at the same time serve as a carrier for the parts that are continuously deposited. In order to transfer the stack from the stacking table to another carrier, a sliding piece which is movable transversely to the lifting direction of the stack is provided. The stack is also deposited in a shaft which supports the stack laterally when the separating and carrying fingers are pulled out laterally when the new, partially formed stack is delivered to the stacking table.

Problems with the known device arise when it is operated at the highest possible working speed and when the cloths to be removed are extremely thin and / or soft and consist, for example, of paper or tissue. B. wipes, towels or facial tissues and the like.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method and a device of the type mentioned, with the aid of which it is possible to deposit precisely and precisely those tissues which are difficult to handle due to their unstable shape.

To achieve this object, the invention provides that the stack is gripped and carried to a sufficient width and from opposite sides during stack formation and when lowering.

The stack is preferably only partially grasped from two sides. This special form of support means that the stack is oriented in the manner of a centering. This orientation stabilizes the individual towels and the stack as a whole. In addition, the primarily eccentric support leads to the fact that the support surface of the lowerable stacking table is formed by two surfaces, each of which only partially engages under the stack and is easier to remove when the stack is handed over to a further transporting element than a supporting part carrying the stack over a large area. Even after the stack has been transferred from the stacking table to a shelf or to a conveyor belt or the like, the individual sheets in the stack are therefore properly aligned.

Further features of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the description in conjunction with the drawing.

Fig. 1:

in Seitenansicht eine schematische Darstellung der Vorrichtung zum Falten und Stapeln von zickzack-förmig ineinander abgelegten Tüchern;

Fig. 2:

in größerem Maßstab sowie abgeschnitten eine Teilansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles II in Fig. 1 vor Beginn der Stapelablage von Tüchern;

Fig. 3:

in größerem Maßstab sowie abgebrochen eine Teilansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles III in Fig. 1 bei abgesenkter Stapel-Trageeinrichtung;

Fig. 4:

ebenfalls in größerem Maßstab eine Einzelheit aus Fig. 1 bei Beginn der Stapelbildung;

Fig. 5:

eine Ansicht wie in Fig. 4 beim Abtrennen eines ersten, fertiggestellten Stapels;

Fig. 6:

eine Ansicht wie in Fig. 5 bei der Bildung des nächsten Stapels;

Fig. 7:

eine Ansicht wie in Fig. 6 nach dem Absenken des ersten Stapels zur Abgabe auf ein Förderband;

Fig. 8:

eine Ansicht ähnlich der von Fig. 6, jedoch mit Pfeilangaben zur Kennzeichnung der Bewegungsrichtung von Einzelteilen;

Fig. 9:

eine Ansicht ähnlich wie in Fig. 8 mit Pfeilangaben zur Kennzeichnung der Bewegungsrichtung von Einzelteilen und

Fig.10:

in größerem Maßstab eine schematische Darstellung der Wirkungsweise von gemeinsam wirksamen Trenn- und Tragegabeln.

The invention is described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show:

Fig. 1:

a side view of a schematic representation of the device for folding and stacking zigzag-shaped cloths one inside the other;

Fig. 2:

on a larger scale and cut off a partial view in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1 before the start of the stacking of towels;

Fig. 3:

on a larger scale and broken a partial view in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1 with the stack carrying device lowered;

Fig. 4:

likewise on a larger scale, a detail from FIG. 1 at the start of the stack formation;

Fig. 5:

a view as in Figure 4 when severing a first, completed stack.

Fig. 6:

a view as in Figure 5 in the formation of the next stack.

Fig. 7:

a view as in Figure 6 after lowering the first stack for delivery on a conveyor belt.

Fig. 8:

a view similar to that of Figure 6, but with arrows to indicate the direction of movement of individual parts.

Fig. 9:

a view similar to Fig. 8 with arrows to indicate the direction of movement of individual parts and

Fig. 10:

on a larger scale, a schematic representation of the mode of operation of jointly operating separation and carrying forks.

A device 1 for stacking folded, zigzag-shaped sheets 3 stored one inside the other comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, two sets of rolls 4 and 5 for the individually or web-arriving sheets 3 and two folding cylinders 6, 7, of which the sheets 3 are placed with their folds alternately on the right and left on a lowerable support device serving as a stacking table 8. This is also done using separating and auxiliary carrying devices 9, 10, each of which has separating and carrying forks 11, 12 and whose function is basically known, as is the function of scraper fingers 13 and 14 which cooperate with folding cylinders 6, 7 in the formation of folds and stacking are.

The supporting device serving as a stacking table 8 consists of two stack carrying devices 15, 16 arranged opposite one another (FIG. 1). Basically, the two separating and auxiliary carrying devices 9, 10 and the two stack carrying devices 15, 16 are in principle arranged in mirror image to a central plane 17 and are thus from two opposite sides 18, 19 (FIGS. 4, 5) during the stack formation and effective for stacking.

Corresponding to the two sides 18, 19, the cloths 3 are carried off-center and in sufficient width, especially in the area of mutually opposite edges 20, 21 (FIG. 5), during the stack formation and during stack stacking. This applies both to the finished stack 2 and to a stack 2 'which is still being created (FIGS. 6 and 7).

Similarly, a stack 2 is separated during the continuous stack formation and from the next stack 2 ′ which is being formed from the two sides 18, 19.

The stack carrying devices 15 and 16 have carrying forks 22 and 23, which are arranged on supports 24, 25 and are directly supporting, for carrying the nascent stack 2 '(FIG. 4) or the finished stack 2 (FIG. 5) are movable together in the stroke direction of the stack 2 and transversely thereto, as is also indicated by the double arrows a and b in FIG. 8. The stacking and carrying devices 15, 16 are therefore able to deliver a stack 2 onto a conveyor belt 26 running directly below it, for which purpose their carrying forks 22 and 23 are moved from the position according to FIG. 7 are moved away from each other in the direction of the double arrow b in FIG. 8. The carrying forks 22, 23 are pulled out from under the stack 2 in opposite directions or in the direction of the sides 18 and 19 and the stack 2 sinks onto the conveyor belt 26. At the same time, the bottom cloth 3 is pulled tight (FIG. 7).

Just as the two carrying forks 22 and 23 reach under and carry and lower the stack 2 from the opposite sides 18 and 19, the separating and carrying forks 11, 12 belonging to the two separating and auxiliary carrying devices 9 and 10 also overlap the stack 2 from the two mutually opposite sides 18 and 19, when they are pushed as separating elements when the required stack height is reached between two stored cloths 3. The separating and carrying forks 11 and 12 then also lie only partially on the finished stack 2 and only overlap it from the edges 20, 21, as shown in the figures 1, 5 and 6 is shown. In addition, the separating and carrying forks 11, 12 each support and support the nascent stack 2 'primarily off-center, as is the case with the carrying forks 22 and 23.

The separating and carrying forks 11, 12 are finally displaceable at an angle to the stroke direction of the stack carrying devices 15, 16 and pivotally mounted on two supports 27 and 28, respectively, and together with the respective supports 27, 28 in the lifting direction of the stack carrying devices 15, 16 movable in a guide 29, 30. Each stack-carrying device 15, 16 also comprises two carriers 31, 32 which can be moved along the same guides 29, 30 in the lifting direction.

A. The separating and carrying forks 11, 12 each have fingers 11 'and 12', and equally the carrying forks 22, 23 are each provided with fingers 22 'and 23' (FIG. 4). The fingers 11 'and 12' are arranged offset to the fingers 22 'and 23' transversely to the lifting movement of the carrying forks 22, 23, that is to say transversely to the axis of the guides 29, 30. The wiper fingers 13 and 14 are offset from the fingers 11 'and 12' and aligned with the fingers 22 'and 23'. It is thereby achieved that the separating and carrying forks 11, 12 can both reach between the stripper fingers 13, 14 (FIG. 4) and also dip into the carrying forks 22, 23 (FIG. 8). This guarantees a smooth and trouble-free course when the stack is transferred, and also side-arranged shaft walls 52, 53 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 5) have a stabilizing effect. The shaft walls 52, 53 are further provided with slots, not shown, through which the fingers 11 ', 12' and 22 ', 23' reach.

The supports 27, 28 and 31, 32 used for storage and guidance have rollers 33 and can be moved along the guides 29 and 30 with the aid of these rollers 33. For this purpose drives 34 and 35 also serve, for example in the form of chain or belt drives with associated electric motors 36 and 37 (FIGS. 1, 2).

As the illustration in FIG. 2 shows, the separating and carrying fork 12 - and the same applies to the other separating and carrying fork 11 - is supported with each of its ends 38, 39 on a respective carrier 28 and is thus supported on two in FIG. 1 guides 30 arranged one behind the other.

According to each carrier 28. Embodiment carrying and guide rollers 40 for a guide element 41, to which the respective end 38 or 39 of the separating and carrying fork 12 is fastened with the aid of a holder 42. A pneumatic drive 43, for example, is used to move the separating and carrying fork 12, which engages on the guide element 41 and moves or displaces the separating and carrying fork 12 via this.

The two ends 38 and 39 of the separation and carrying fork 12 are finally pivotally mounted in the two associated holders 42 and are each with the help of another, for. B. pneumatic drive 44 is pivoted.

Basically identical components are provided in connection with the carrying forks 22 and 23 and the associated stack support devices 15, 16, FIG. 3 showing the two parts of the stack support device 16 arranged one behind the other in FIG. 1. As with the separating and auxiliary support device 10 according to Fig. 2, the individual parts are also arranged in mirror image to one another in the stack carrying device 16.

On the respective carrier 32 of the stack carrying device 16 there are rollers 33, with the aid of which the carrier 32 can be moved along the guide 30. Both guides 30 are attached to parts 45 and 46 of the machine frame 47.

In addition, each carrier 32 has carrying and guide rollers 48 for a guide element 49, on the free end 50 of which the carrying fork 23 is attached. A pneumatic drive 51, for example, is supported on each carrier 32. Together they serve to move the carrying fork 23.

FIG. 8 finally shows the movements of the two stripper fingers 13 and 14 which are effective during the folding and depositing process, and from FIG. 9 details are again shown in which form the separating and carrying forks 11 and 12 move.

According to the two double arrows c, the separating and carrying forks 11, 12 can be pivoted and according to the two double arrows d they can be moved in the lifting direction of the stack 2. In addition, the separating and carrying forks 11, 12 can be moved obliquely to the lifting direction in the direction of the double arrows e.

B. The position of the individual sheets 3 between the shaft walls 52, 53 in connection with fingers 11 'or 12' of the two separating and carrying forks 11 or 12 and the fingers 22 'used according to a preferred embodiment is shown schematically in FIG. 10. or 23 'of the two carrying forks 22 and 23. Each of the fingers 11 'and 12' and the fingers 22 'and 23' when immersed in the stack 2 and 2 'are shown, whereby it can first be seen that the opposing fingers 11' and 12 'by one or half a cloth 3 offset in the stack 2, 2 '. It follows that the edge part 3 'of the bottom cloth 3 of the nascent stack 2' hangs over the free edge of the fingers 11 'of the separating and carrying fork 11 when the complete stack 2 is removed downwards. Basically, the same applies to the bottom cloth 3 of the stack 2, because the edge part 3 'of the cloth 3 located below the fingers 23' also hangs down there during the downward movement of the stack 2. In order to put the edge part 3 'of the To reach the bottom cloth 3, the edge part 3 'is blown shortly before the stack 2 is placed on a tray or on the conveyor belt 26 with the aid of a flow medium or with the aid of air. This is preferably done in such a way that the edge part bears from below on the carrying fork 22 or on its finger 22 ', as shown in FIG. 7.

After the stack 2 has been placed on the conveyor belt 6, the folded-over edge part 3 'of the bottom cloth 3 results in an additional folded edge 3' 'which can later be used in a dispenser container as a grip edge for pulling out the first cloth.

To blow on the edge part 3 ', blowing nozzles 23' 'are provided on the fingers 23' of the opposite carrying fork 23 (FIG. 5).

The stack 2 is preferably gripped under from a side 18 as it is being lowered and when it is placed on the deposit or on the conveyor belt 26, over its middle or over half, for which purpose the fingers 22 ′ have a sufficient length.

In principle, it is also possible to provide a gap in the towels 3 placed before the zigzag folding. The formation of such gaps in a cloth is known in principle (DE 39 27 422 A1).

Finally, it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment specifically shown in the figures, but modifications are still possible without deviating from the basic inventive idea. In the embodiment shown in the figures, each separating and carrying fork 11, 12 is assigned two carriers 27 and 28 and the other parts arranged on the respective carriers. Basically, the same applies to the two carrying forks 22 and 23, which are each assigned two brackets 31 and 32, respectively. As a result, this means that the device 1 comprises two carriers 27 and two carriers 28 and two carriers 31 and 32 each. However, such a construction is not absolutely necessary, because each separating and carrying fork 11 or 12 can, for. B. can also be arranged together with the remaining parts on a single carrier.

C. Finally, it goes without saying that further additional and auxiliary devices such as, for example, the blowing device 54 are provided for generating compressed air for the blowing nozzles 23 ″, without having to go into these details in greater detail here.

Claims (15)

Method for stacking folded, zigzag-shaped cloths (3), the individually arriving cloths (3) with their folds alternately on the right and left on a lowerable support device serving as a stacking table (8) using at least one separating and auxiliary device Carrying device (9, 10) are stored, characterized in that
the stack (2, 2 ') is underneath and carried during stack formation and when lowering to a sufficient width and from opposite sides (18, 19). Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the separation of a stack (2) during the continuous stack formation and the support of the next stack (2 ') which forms are carried out from two sides (18, 19). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separation of a stack (2) during the continuous stack formation and also the support of the finished stack (2) and the next stack (2 ') forming from the two opposite one another Pages (18, 19) ago and off-center. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an edge part 3 'of the cloth 3 lying on this carrying fork 22 and depending on the carrying fork 22 is blown with a flow medium / air. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depending edge part 3 'of the bottom cloth 3 of the stack 2 is blown under the carrying fork 22. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depending edge part 3 'is blown into abutment on the underside of the fingers 22' of the carrying fork 22 and is folded down onto the deposit / the conveyor belt 26 in this position. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stack 2 is gripped from one side 18 to its center / over half of the lowermost cloth 3 when it is lowered and when it is placed on the tray / on the conveyor belt 26. Device for stacking folded, zigzag-shaped towels (3), the individually arriving towels (3) with their folds alternately on the right and left on a lowerable stacking table (8) with the additional use of at least a separating and auxiliary carrying device (9, 10) are deposited and furthermore two folding cylinders (6, 7) and wiper fingers (13, 14) associated with each folding cylinder (6, 7) are provided, characterized in that
the stack (2), which partially engages under the stack carrying devices (15, 16), is provided as a lowerable stacking table (8) from two opposite sides (18, 19) and
that separating and auxiliary carrying devices (9, 10) from two opposite sides (18, 19) are partly movable and lowered over the stack (2). Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the separating and auxiliary carrying devices (9, 10) each comprise separating and carrying forks (11, 12) and in that the separating and carrying forks (11, 12) obliquely to the lifting direction of the stack carrying devices ( 15, 16) are displaceable and are pivotally mounted. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each separating and carrying fork (11, 12) is arranged so as to be slidable and pivotable on at least one carrier (27 or 28),
that the carrier (27 or 28) can be moved along a guide (29, 30) in the lifting direction of the stack carrying devices (15, 16) and
that each stack carrying device (15, 16) in the stroke direction and for releasing the stack (2) can be moved transversely to the stack (2). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each stack carrying device (15, 16) comprises at least one carrier (31, 32) and a carrying fork (22, 23), that the carrier (31, 32) along one Guide (29, 30) is movable in the lifting direction and that the carrying fork (22, 23) on the carrier (31, 32) is movable transversely to the lifting direction. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying forks (22, 23) can be pulled out to different sides (18, 19) when the stack (2) is placed under it. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriers (29 - 32) serve to guide them (40, 48) and drives (43, 51) for the separating and carrying forks (11, 12) or for the carrying forks (22, 23). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying fork 22, around the fingers 22 'of which the bottom cloth 3 is folded, engages under the stack 2 to more than half. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one carrying fork 23 has blowing nozzles 23 '' directed towards the other carrying fork 22 for a flow medium / air and that a blowing device is provided.

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