Patent ID: 12214455

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows in a perspective view a multipiece object1which is to be separated, treated and rejoined using the device described in more detail below. The object1has a vertical axis2and includes at least a bottom piece3and a cover piece4. The cover piece4can be separated from the bottom piece3, for which in the embodiment shown it can be detached upward in the direction of the vertical axis2corresponding to an arrow49.

FIG.2shows in a perspective view the object1fromFIG.1in separated state. The cover piece4has been lifted off the bottom piece3vertically in the direction of the vertical axis2, and can be refitted onto the bottom piece3in the opposite direction corresponding to an arrow50. In the embodiment ofFIGS.1and2, the bottom piece3and the cover piece4each have a cylindrical base form. However other contours, for example, polygonal or similar, may also be suitable.

FIG.3shows in a top view an embodiment of a device configured according to the disclosure for separating, treating and rejoining the multipiece objects1fromFIGS.1and2. The device includes a supply table11on which the objects1, with assembled bottom and cover pieces3,4(FIGS.1and2), are collected and supplied to a downstream supply wheel12acting as isolating wheel. The objects1are transferred individually by the supply wheel12to a downstream separating device13, in which the cover pieces4and bottom pieces3are separated from one another in the vertical direction according to the illustration inFIG.2, that is, transversely to the drawing plane ofFIG.3, in a pivot movement described in more detail below.

The bottom pieces3and cover pieces4, separated from one another in this fashion, are transferred from the separating device13to a downstream insert device14, which in turn transfers the separated bottom pieces3and cover pieces4to a downstream process wheel15. For this, the process wheel15is provided with a first lower receiving ring21for the bottom pieces3and a second upper receiving ring22for the cover pieces4. The process wheel15conducts the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4past at least one processing station, here for example two processing stations6,7which are indicated purely schematically. After processing, the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4are transferred via an output lock station8to an extraction device16. The extraction device16forms pairs of bottom pieces3and cover pieces4and transfers these to the joining device17, which places the cover pieces4back on the bottom pieces3and, by a transfer wheel18, supplies them as closed objects1for further processing, for example, sealing, packing or similar.

The device is configured as a whole for continuous, that is, non-intermittent operation at least in the region of the process wheel15, wherein the process wheel15can be driven in rotation about a vertical rotational axis20corresponding to an arrow51. This means that the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4are moved continuously in the region of the process wheel15, or continuously past the processing stations6,7. In the embodiment shown, the processing stations6,7act only on the bottom pieces3, while the cover pieces4remain unprocessed. However, a configuration may also be suitable in which, alternatively or additionally, the cover pieces4also undergo processing. As an example, here only two processing stations6,7are indicated. However, a different number may also be advantageous.

It may be suitable for the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4to be output at the output lock station8directly after first passing the processing stations6,7, and supplied to the joining device17by the extraction device16. In this case, the supply wheel12, the separating device13, the insert device14, the extraction device16and the joining device17work continuously by rotation about substantially vertical rotational axes. The objects1are thus continuously separated, supplied, processed, output and joined.

In the present case however, the device is configured for multiple revolutions of the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4by the process wheel15. For this, firstly the process wheel15is provided with a specific number of bottom pieces3and the same number of cover pieces4, wherein then the supply of new objects1is interrupted. Up to this time, the supply wheel12, separating device13and insert device also work continuously, that is, non-intermittently. On insertion, not all receiving sites of the process wheel15need be occupied, and gaps may remain free. Preferably however, all receiving sites of the process wheel15are filled with bottom pieces3and cover pieces4, without gaps, wherein here for example 60 receiving sites are provided in each case. In the embodiment shown, firstly at the processing station6, a coating is applied in the central region of the bottom pieces3, while in the subsequent processing station7, the coating is dried. Because of the multiple revolutions, this is repeated often enough for the coating to be formed and dried to the desired extent. As soon as this has occurred, the stock of bottom pieces3and cover pieces4on the process wheel is output at the output lock station, transferred by the extraction device16to the joining device17, and there assembled into finished objects1. From the time of output, the extraction device16and joining device17work continuously, that is, non-intermittently. This is followed by refilling of the continuously rotating process wheel15with bottom pieces3and cover pieces4according to the above-described procedure, wherein again gap-free filling is possible.

FIG.4shows in an enlarged detail illustration the device fromFIG.3in the region of the separating device13, the insert device14and the region of their engagement in the process wheel15. The same region is also shown inFIG.5with clarification of additional details. A combined view ofFIGS.4and5shows the structural configuration and function as follows: the separating device13includes a first lower separating wheel37(FIG.5) and a second upper separating wheel38(shown inFIG.4), which is situated directly above the first lower separating wheel37(FIG.5). The second upper separating wheel38can be driven in rotation about a vertical rotational axis42, and on its circumference includes upper object holders40which are shaped like circle segments and open radially to the outside. Similarly, the first lower separating wheel37(FIG.5) can be driven in rotation about an upright, almost vertical rotational axis41, and on its circumference is provided with lower object holders39shaped approximately as circle segments. The lower object holders39and upper object holders40grip the objects1and separate them into bottom pieces3and cover pieces4, as described in more detail below in connection withFIG.7.

The insert device14includes a first lower insert wheel25with a vertical rotational axis29, and a second upper insert wheel26with a vertical rotational axis30. The first lower insert wheel25is provided on its circumference with bottom holders27of approximately circle segment shape, while the second upper insert wheel26is provided on its circumference with cover holders28of approximately circle segment shape.

The first receiving ring21and the second receiving ring22are arranged concentrically to the rotational axis20(FIG.3) of the process wheel15, and together with the process wheel15form a rotationally fixedly connected unit which is driven in rotation as one assembly. Corresponding to the height difference between the first lower insert wheel25and the second upper insert wheel26, the second receiving ring22lies a corresponding amount higher than the first lower receiving ring21, so that the first lower receiving ring21can take the bottom pieces3from the first lower insert wheel25, while the second upper receiving ring22can take the cover pieces4from the second upper insert wheel26. On the radial outside, the first receiving ring21has a specific number of bottom receivers23for the bottom pieces3, wherein in the embodiment shown here, a total of 60 bottom receivers23are provided which are distributed evenly over the circumference. Similarly, the second upper receiving ring22is provided with the same number of cover receivers24for the cover pieces4which are open radially towards the outside.

The first lower receiving ring21together with its bottom receivers23is configured such that the bottom pieces3received and held therein lie on a first radius r1relative to the rotational axis20(FIG.3). Similarly, the second upper receiving ring22with its cover receivers24is configured such that the cover pieces4held therein lie on a second radius r2which is smaller than the first radius r1. The difference between the two radii r1, r2is selected such that the radially inner cover pieces4do not in any way cover the radially further outwardly situated bottom pieces3, and the processing stations6,7(FIG.3) have free access to the bottom pieces3. As a result, for a given rotation speed or angular speed of the process wheel15, the bottom pieces3are moved with a circumferential speed v1corresponding to the first radius r1, while the cover pieces4lying radially further inward are moved with a correspondingly lower circumferential speed v2because of the smaller radius r2.

The other process speeds are adapted to these different circumferential speeds v1, v2as follows: in the embodiment shown, the rotational speeds of the second upper insert wheel26of the insert device14and of the process wheel15are matched to one another such that they move the cover pieces4with the same circumferential speed v2. The rotational speed of the separating device13or upper second separating wheel38is matched to this, so the objects1or cover pieces4are moved with a circumferential speed v0which is equal to the above-mentioned circumferential speed v2.

The speed ratios in the region of the lower separating wheel37, lower insert wheel25and lower receiving ring21are slightly different. The rotational speed of the first lower insert wheel25is matched to the rotational speed of the process wheel15such that both transport the bottom pieces3with the same circumferential speed v1. This is however greater than the above-described circumferential speed v2of the cover pieces4. However, according to the function description given below in connection withFIG.8, the two separating wheels37,38of the separating device13with the same diameter are moved with the same rotational speed. The lower separating wheel37thus transports the bottom pieces3with the same circumferential speed v0with which the cover pieces4are transported by the upper separating wheel38. As a result, during transport in the lower separating wheel37with circumferential speed v0, the cover pieces4move more slowly than subsequently in the lower insert wheel25with the circumferential speed v1. On transfer of the bottom pieces3from the lower separating wheel37to the lower insert wheel25, a speed jump thus occurs from the initial circumferential speed v0to the subsequent circumferential speed v2.

FIG.5therefore shows that the bottom holders27are substantially but not precisely adapted to the peripheral contour of the bottom pieces3. Rather, the bottom holders27of the assigned lower insert wheel25are larger in the circumferential direction than the respectively received bottom pieces3such that, in operation, they surround the bottom pieces3with a compensation play a. Accordingly, the same applies to the lower object holders39of the lower separating wheel37which surround the bottom pieces3with a compensation play b acting in the circumferential direction. The compensation play a, in particular in cooperation with the compensation play b, allows an acceleration of the bottom pieces3from their initial speed v0to the higher speed v1during transfer from the lower separating wheel37to the lower insert wheel25. In the configuration shown, this acceleration does not take place for the cover pieces4, so the cover holders28of the upper insert wheel26are adapted to the size and shape of the cover pieces4without such compensation play. Accordingly, the same applies to the upper object holders40of the upper separating wheel38, which are adapted to the size and shape of the cover pieces4without the above-mentioned compensation play b. However, an additional wheel assembly may also be provided for the performance of the speed jump and arranged for example between the separating device13and the insert device14, or between the insert device14and the process wheel15, wherein then the compensation play a—and in some cases also the compensation play b—is used similarly.

It is evident from the illustration inFIG.4that the two insert wheels25,26have a respective assigned rotational axis29,30. In the top view of the embodiment shown, these rotational axes29,30lie on a theoretical straight connecting line x which runs through the rotational axis20of the process wheel15(FIG.3) and the rotational axes41,42of the separating wheels37,38. The two separating wheels37,38have the same diameter and the same number of lower and upper object holders39,40, while the radius r2of the upper receiving ring22is smaller than the radius r1of the lower receiving ring21. To bridge this radius difference, the second insert wheel26has a diameter d2which is larger, by the difference between the first and second radii r1, r2, than a diameter d1of the first insert wheel25. The result is a positionally precise collection of the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4by the separating device13, and a positionally correct transfer thereof to the first receiving ring21or smaller second receiving ring22. Analogously to the different diameters d1, d2, the number of cover holders28of the second insert wheel26is greater than the number of bottom holders27of the first insert wheel25. In the embodiment shown, the second insert wheel26has twenty cover holders28, while the first insert wheel25has only sixteen bottom holders27. The number of cover holders28is thus greater by four than the number of bottom holders27. As a result, and as illustrated inFIG.4, the individual bottom pieces3come to lie two places in front of the associated cover pieces4in the rotational direction in the process wheel15. In the context of the disclosure, different configurations are however also possible, wherein the rotational axes29,30of the insert wheels25,26do not lie on the connecting line x, and wherein other diameters d1, d2and other numbers of bottom holders27and cover holders28are selected for geometric or kinematic adaptation.

FIG.6shows, in an enlarged detail illustration, the device fromFIG.3in the region of the joining device17, the extraction device16and their interaction with the process wheel15in the region of the output lock station8. The output lock station8includes lower output lock means9situated in the region of the first receiving ring21, and upper output lock means10arranged in the region of the upper receiving ring22. The output lock means9,10are each configured as pivot arms and positioned such that in their inwardly pivoted state they are inactive, and in their outwardly pivoted state they act on the bottom pieces3or cover pieces4respectively. Accordingly, the outwardly pivoted, lower output lock means9push the bottom pieces3, held in the lower receiving ring1, radially outward from their bottom receivers23so that they enter the action region of the extraction device16. Accordingly, the same applies to the upper output lock means10which, in outwardly pivoted state, push the cover pieces4, held in the second upper receiving ring21, radially outward from their cover receivers24and transfer them to the extraction device16. The lower output lock means9and upper output lock means10are controllable via a control unit (not shown here) such that the bottom pieces3and assigned cover pieces4firstly execute several revolutions together with the process wheel15, and are only then output.

Like the insert device14(FIGS.4,5), the extraction device16includes a first lower extraction wheel31which can be driven in rotation about a rotational axis35, and a second upper extraction wheel32which can be driven in rotation about a rotational axis36. The first lower extraction wheel31is provided on its circumference with radially outwardly open bottom holders33of circle segment shape, while the second upper extraction wheel32is provided on its circumference with radially outwardly open cover holders34of approximately circle segment shape. The two extraction wheels31,32have a mutual height offset which corresponds to the height offset of the second receiving ring22from the first receiving ring21. The extraction wheels31,32are arranged such that with their bottom holders33or cover holders34, they can receive the bottom pieces3or cover pieces3ejected at the output lock station8.

The joining device17substantially corresponds in its fundamental structure to the separating device13described in connection with theFIGS.4and5. A combined view ofFIGS.6and9shows that the joining device17includes a first lower joining wheel43with an upright, almost vertical rotational axis47, and a second upper joining wheel44with a vertical rotational axis48. The two joining wheels43,44on their outer circumferences are provided with lower or upper object holders45,46respectively and have a same diameter. They are operated at the same rotation speed so that the bottom pieces3or cover pieces4held in the object holders45,46are moved with the same circumferential speed v3.

The rotational speed of the first lower extraction wheel31of the extraction device16is adapted to the rotational speed of the process wheel15such that the bottom pieces3, delivered by the first lower receiving ring21with circumferential speed v1, are transported on to the bottom holders33of the first lower extraction wheel31while retaining this circumferential speed v1, that is, without acceleration or deceleration. The rotational speed of the joining device17is adapted to this such that its circumferential speed v3is equal to the above-mentioned circumferential speed v1. The bottom pieces3are thus collected and transported on by the lower joining wheel43(FIG.9) while retaining the circumferential speed v1=v3, that is, without acceleration or deceleration.

Similarly, the rotational speed of the second upper extraction wheel32is adapted to the rotational speed of the process wheel15such that the cover pieces4, delivered by the second receiving ring22with the lower circumferential speed v2, are collected by the second upper extraction wheel32and transported onward in the cover holders34while retaining this circumferential speed v2.

This second circumferential speed v2is however lower than the circumferential speed v3of the joining device17. On transfer of the cover pieces4from the upper extraction wheel32to the upper joining wheel44, therefore a speed jump occurs in which the cover pieces4are accelerated from the second circumferential speed v2to the third circumferential speed v3. To allow this, the cover holders34of the second upper extraction wheel32are adapted only approximately to the peripheral contour of the cover pieces4. They are formed approximately as circle segments corresponding to the diameter of the cover pieces4, wherein however they are larger than the received cover pieces4such that, in operation, they surround the cover pieces4with a compensation play c active in the rotational direction. Accordingly, the same also applies to the upper object holders46of the upper joining wheel44, which also surround the received cover pieces4in operation with a compensation play d acting in the rotational direction. The compensation play c, in particular in cooperation with the compensation play d, allows acceleration of the cover pieces4during transfer from the cover holders34of the upper extraction wheel32to the upper object holders46of the upper joining wheel44. Similarly to the above-described region of the insert device14, here too in the region of the extraction device16, an additional wheel assembly may be provided for performing the speed jump and for example arranged between the process wheel15and the extraction device16, or between the extraction device16and the joining device17, wherein then the compensation play c—and in some cases the compensation play d—is used similarly.

It is clear from the above statements that the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4either retain their speed or are accelerated on their passage from the supply wheel12through to the joining device17(FIG.3), which compensates for the different circumferential speeds v1, v2of the receiving rings21,22necessarily present because of the different radii r1, r2. In the embodiment shown, the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4do not undergo any deceleration. In the context of the disclosure however, a speed compensation is possible with the effect of deceleration of the bottom pieces3and/or cover pieces4. In the present case, the speed jump is performed in each case on transfer from the separating device13to the insert device14, or from the extraction device16to the joining device17. In the context of the disclosure however, it is also possible that the respective speed jump is also achieved by corresponding rotation speed adaptation and use of a compensation play on transfer to the process wheel15and/or on collection from the process wheel15.

In contrast to the insert device14, the extraction wheels31,32here for example have the same number of bottom holders33or cover holders34, wherein also as an example twenty bottom holders33and twenty cover holders34are provided. A further difference from the insert device14(FIG.4) is that the rotational axes35,36do not lie directly between the rotational axes47,48of the joining device17and the rotational axis20of the process wheel15(FIG.3). Rather, they are offset laterally to these and also in the circumferential direction relative to one another. This achieves firstly that the two extraction wheels31,32with the same diameter enter the action region of the joining device17and also the action region of the receiving rings21,22situated on the different radii r1, r2. Secondly, the offset of the rotational axes35,36ensures that each cover piece4is again supplied or assigned to its original bottom piece3. It has already been described in connection withFIG.4that the bottom pieces3precede their assigned cover pieces4by two places. This lead is reversed again by the arrangement and configuration of the extraction wheels31,32shown. The same effect can also be achieved however in the context of the disclosure by a different positioning of the rotational axes35,36of the extraction wheels31,32with different diameters and different numbers of bottom holders33and cover holders34.

FIG.7shows in a top view an extract of the device fromFIG.3in the region of the supply wheel12, the separating device13, the insert device14, the extraction device16, the joining device17and the transfer wheel18. The supply wheel12has a rotational axis52and is arranged functionally in front of the separating device13. The insert device14functionally follows the separating device13. In other words, the objects1(FIGS.1to3) first pass through the supply wheel12, then the separating device13and then the insert device14. Of the separating device13, here only the first lower separating wheel37with its rotational axis41is shown, while of the insert device14, the first lower insert wheel25with the associated rotational axis29is shown. There are also locations A and B, the function of which is described in more detail below in connection withFIG.8. The rotational axis52of the supply wheel12, the rotational axis41of the lower separating wheel37, the locations A, B and the rotational axis29of the lower insert wheel25, lie on a straight connecting line g1. A combined view withFIG.4, however, also shows that the rotational axis42of the upper separating wheel38and the rotational axis30of the upper insert wheel26also lie on this straight connecting line g1.

Accordingly, the same applies to the extraction device16, the joining device17and the transfer wheel18: the extraction device16is arranged functionally in front of the joining device17. The transfer wheel18has a rotational axis53and is arranged functionally in front of the joining device17. In other words, the objects1(FIGS.1to3) first pass through the extraction device16, then the joining device17and then the transfer wheel18. Of the extraction device16, here only the first lower extraction wheel31with associated rotational axis35is shown, while of the joining device17, only the first lower joining wheel43with its rotational axis47is shown. There are also locations C and D, the function of which is described in more detail below in connection withFIG.9. The rotational axis53of the transfer wheel18, the rotational axis47of the lower joining wheel43, the locations C, D and the rotational axis35of the lower extraction wheel31, lie on a straight connecting line g2. A combined view withFIGS.6and9shows that the rotational axis48of the upper joining wheel44also lies on this straight connecting line g2.

FIG.8shows in a side view the separating device13fromFIG.3with two separate wheels37,38. As already mentioned above, the associated rotational axes41,42run approximately vertically. This means that at least one of the two rotational axes41,42does not lie precisely vertically. In the present case, the rotational axis42of the upper separating wheel38is vertical, while the rotational axis41of the lower separating wheel37is slightly tilted relative to the vertical. There is a tilt angle β between the two which is selected such that the lower and upper object holders39,40have a minimal vertical height spacing at a location A and, opposite this relative to the rotational axes41,42, have a maximal vertical height spacing from one another at a location B. As a result of the axial positioning described in connection withFIG.7on the connecting line g1, the location A of minimal vertical spacing adjoins the guide wheel12, while the location B of the maximal vertical height spacing adjoins the insert device14. The objects1in assembled state are therefore taken from the supply wheel12at the location A of minimal spacing, wherein the objects1are gripped by the lower object holders39at the bottom pieces3and by the upper object holders40at the cover pieces4. In the subsequent rotational movement, the axial spacing between the lower object holders39and the upper object holders40increases up to the maximum, according to which the cover pieces4and bottom pieces3are moved apart or removed from one another primarily in the vertical direction because of the pivot movement. The tilt angle β is for example 1° and is in any case dimensioned such that the increase in axial spacing is sufficient to separate the cover pieces4and bottom pieces3completely from one another, so that the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4can be transferred to the insert device14separately from one another at the location B of maximal spacing. The height difference between the insert wheels25,26of the insert device14, the height difference between the two receiving rings21,22of the process wheel15, and the height differences between the extraction wheels31,32of the extraction device16, are also adapted to the resulting height offset of the cover pieces4relative to the bottom pieces3.

FIG.9shows in a side view the joining device17fromFIG.3, which is constructed similarly to the separating device13fromFIG.8. The rotational axes47,48of the two joining wheels43,44are tilted to one another by a tilt angle γ. For example, the rotational axis48of the upper joining wheel44is vertical, while the rotational axis47of the lower joining wheel43is tilted slightly relative to the vertical. As a result, there is a location C with maximal vertical spacing of the lower and upper object holders45,46, and a location D with minimal vertical spacing of the lower and upper object holders45,46. Because of the axial positioning described in connection withFIG.7on the connecting line g2, the location C of maximal vertical spacing adjoins the extraction device16, while the location D of minimal vertical height spacing adjoins the transfer wheel18. The lower object holders45collect the bottom pieces3from the extraction device16at the location of maximal spacing C. Since the rotational axis36of the upper extraction wheel32does not lie on the above-mentioned connecting line g2, the upper object holders46do not collect the cover pieces4, separated from the bottom pieces3, from the extraction device16directly at the location of maximal spacing C but sufficiently close thereto. Along their further revolution up to location D of minimal vertical spacing, the object holders45,46and hence also the bottom pieces3and cover pieces4reduce their relative spacing, such that the cover pieces4are placed on the bottom pieces3in a pivot movement to form the finished objects1, and from there finally are transferred to the transfer wheel18at location D of minimal vertical spacing and supplied for further processing. The tilt angle γ is here equal to the tilt angle β according toFIG.8and amounts to 1° but may also be different.

It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.