Patent ID: 12240640

Same components are provided with the same reference characters throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a packaging system1. Packaging system1comprises a slicing machine2for producing individual products P, a weighing system3for weighing individual products P, a feed device4, two loading stations5, and a tray sealer6for sealing trays T loaded with product which are arranged in this order in direction of production R. Slicing machine2, also known in technical circles as a portioner, is configured to slice products P at the inlet to packaging system1, for example, spare ribs, which are each weighed by weighing system3, arranged in a specific format along feed device4, loaded into trays T within loading stations5, and transported onward to tray sealer6for being packed into trays T there.

FIG.2shows packaging system1fromFIG.1in a top view. Loading stations5arranged adjacent to one another, of which only one is described in more detail hereafter, serve to load trays T provided therein with products P that are fed into loading stations5. Loading stations5are also formed to transport trays T loaded with product away in the direction of tray sealer6. An image recording system50, also referred to as a vision system, is positioned at the inlet to loading station5that is arranged first in direction of production R.

FIG.3shows one of loading stations5in an isolated illustration in a top view. Loading station5comprises a conveyor belt7for feeding individual products P. A tray conveyor8is positioned adjacent to conveyor belt7. Tray conveyor8is configured to provide empty trays T to be loaded with products P within loading station5. According toFIG.3, tray conveyor8includes a first tray conveying section9and a second tray conveying section10which are positioned one behind the other. First and second tray conveying sections9,10transport trays T positioned thereon towards one another, i.e., in opposite directions, which is illustrated by the arrows on tray conveyor8pointing towards one another.

FIG.3further shows that loading station5comprises a discharge belt11which is used to transport fully loaded trays T away. Loading station5further includes a picker device12with a first picker13and a second picker14. First picker13is configured to pick up products P provided on conveyor belt7and insert them into trays T that are positioned on the first tray conveying section. Second picker14positioned downstream in direction of production R is configured to pick up products P that have not been loaded by first picker13and to insert them into trays T that are positioned on second tray conveying section10.

FIG.3further shows that a first destacker15is positioned at the inlet to first tray conveying section9and a second destacker16is positioned at the inlet to second tray conveying section10. Trays T delivered according toFIG.3by destacker15to first tray conveying section10are made available on first tray conveying section10at five adjacent positions for receiving products P. Trays T delivered by destacker16to second tray conveying section10are likewise made available at five adjacent positions for loading products P. In the direction of transport of two tray conveying sections9,10at the respective foremost position, a mechanical pusher17is associated with respective tray T positioned there for pushing tray T, which has been fully loaded at this position in the course of the loading process, onto discharge belt11.

FIGS.4A to4Jshow a schematic illustration of a method for inserting products P into trays T in loading station5.

At the beginning, individual products P are produced by way of slicing machine2according toFIG.4Aand are subsequently fed in direction of production R to weighing system3. Weighing system3weighs individual products P, where product-related data is stored in terms of the respective product weights and is retrievable at loading station5for the later loading process.

FIG.4Bshows that products P transferred from weighing system3to feed device4are grouped in a predetermined format. Based on the format produced, respective products P can be transferred according toFIG.4Cto conveyor belt7of loading station5at predetermined distances from one another.

FIGS.4C and4Dshow that slicing machine2is being reloaded with a new product batch.FIG.4Dalso shows that first picker13of loading station5begins to load products P transported into loading station5on conveyor belt7into trays T provided at first tray conveying section9.

According toFIG.4E, products P which are not loaded by first picker13are transported onward by way of conveyor belt7to second picker14that is positioned downstream in direction of transport R.

FIG.4Fshows that first picker13as well as second picker14load products P provided on conveyor belt7into trays T which are positioned at first tray conveying section9and at second tray conveying section10. Furthermore,FIG.4Fshows that a further batch of portioned products P has been produced and has caught up with the preceding batch on feed device4. Feed device4shown inFIG.4Fis therefore configured to convey respective batches of products P such that they can be combined in order to continuously deliver products P to the subsequent loading station5at predetermined distances.

FIG.4Gshows that some products P were not loaded by first loading station5shown in direction of production R. These products P are transported to loading station5downstream in direction of production R in order to be loaded therein similarly to the preceding loading station.

InFIG.4H, a tray T is now fully loaded with products P in the region of first picker13, i.e., on first tray conveying section9, as well as in the region of second picker14, i.e., on second tray conveying section10.

Two trays T completely loaded with product, i.e., to a target value, are transferred to discharge belt11according toFIG.4I. In the region of first picker13, tray T completely loaded with product is pushed by first picker13from first tray conveying section9onto discharge belt11. In the region of second picker14, tray T completely loaded with product being in the foremost position is pushed by mechanical pusher17onto discharge belt11.

FIG.4Ithereby shows that trays T that have been fully loaded with product at loading station5and that are located at the foremost position of first and/or second tray conveying section9,10, can be pushed by way of mechanical pusher17and trays T positioned therebehind, in the case that they have previously been fully loaded with product P, by way of the first and/or second picker13,14, onto discharge belt11.

FIG.4Jshows that an empty tray T can move up onto first tray conveying section9. The same applies for second tray conveying section10.FIG.4Jfurther shows that further loading station5positioned in direction of production R downstream of loading station5begins to push trays T loaded with product onto discharge belt11. Trays T pushed onto discharge belt11are transported onward to tray sealer6which is configured to seal trays T, which have been loaded with product to a target value, with a top film.

FIG.5shows a gripper unit18of picker device12. Gripper unit18is configured to load products P into trays T within loading station5. Furthermore, gripper unit18is configured to push trays T loaded with product to a target value from tray conveyor8onto discharge belt11.

Gripper unit18shown inFIG.5comprises a product gripper40which is present in the form of a holding down gripper. Gripper unit18comprises two pick-up scoops19a,19bfor gripping a product P. Two pick-up blades19a,19bcan be adjusted by way of a pneumatic cylinder20. A product P positioned between two pick-up scoops19a,19bcan be picked up by moving the latter towards each other. Two pick-up scoops19a,19bwith pushers21a,21bformed thereon slide underneath product P to be picked up. Gripper unit18according toFIG.5comprises a holding down device22which presses down from above onto a product P that was picked up by way of two pick-up scoops19a,19bin order to fix it in place in gripper unit18. Holding down device22can be adjusted by way of pneumatic cylinder20or by way of a separate pneumatic drive unit.

FIG.5furthermore shows that gripper unit18also comprises a tray pusher23. Tray pusher23can be used to push trays T that have been fully loaded with product from tray conveyor8onto discharge belt11. Tray pusher23according toFIG.5comprises pusher edge24by way of which it can make direct contact with a tray edge of tray T in order to push it from tray conveyor8onto discharge belt11.

FIG.6Ashows gripper unit18fromFIG.5, where tray pusher23attached thereto is positioned in a retracted position S1. In retracted position S1, pusher edge24of tray pusher23is disposed above pusher21a,21bof pick-up scoops19a,19b. In the setting shown inFIG.6A, gripper unit18is ready to pick up a product P provided on conveyor belt7in order to collect it from conveyor belt7and insert it into a tray T positioned on tray conveyor8.

FIG.6Bshows tray pusher23in an extended position S2. In extended position S2, pusher edge24is disposed below pusher21a,21bof pick-up scoops19a,19b. Furthermore,FIG.6Bshows that holding down device22is likewise positioned in a lowered position. According toFIG.6B, tray pusher23is attached to holding down device22so that tray pusher23is coupled to a motion of holding down device22.

FIG.7shows first picker13and second picker14of picker device12with gripper unit18fromFIG.5. A tray T is just being pushed inFIG.7from tray conveyor8onto discharge belt11by way of gripper unit18, in particular by way of tray pusher23which has been adjusted thereon to extended position S2. Holding down device22is also positioned to be lower according to the explanations forFIG.6B, whereas two pick-up scoops19a,19bare at a maximum distance from one another.

Furthermore,FIG.7shows a further tray T which is positioned at the foremost position of first tray conveying section9. Once it is loaded with products P to a target value, this tray T is pushed by mechanical pusher17from first tray conveying section9onto discharge belt11. According to the embodiment shown inFIG.7, a loading logic according to the “first full-first out” principle can thus be implemented. This means that tray T that is first fully loaded with products on tray conveyor8, be it with regard to a desired weight or with regard to a desired number of products P, is pushed first by tray conveyor8onto discharge belt11. This can be done by way of pusher17or by way of gripper unit18, depending at which location on tray conveyor8tray T is first fully loaded.

According toFIG.7, tray conveyor8comprises two transport belts25a,25brunning in parallel. Two transport belts25a,25bare guided spaced from one another and provide lateral support surfaces for trays T conveyed thereon. In addition,FIG.7shows that several suction units26are arranged between two transport belts25a,25b. Respective trays T can be suctioned at their tray bases by way of suction units26. Trays T then remain positioned in a desired orientation during transport by way of the two transport belts25a,25bfor being loaded with products P. When moving fully loaded trays T from tray conveyor8to discharge belt11positioned adjacent thereto, suction unit26positioned below tray T to be pushed can be deactivated so that tray T can be pushed more easily onto discharge belt11.

FIG.7furthermore shows that a guide system27is arranged between tray conveyor8and discharge belt11. Guide system27inFIG.7fills a gap formed between first tray conveying section9and discharge belt11and serves as a bridge across which tray T is pushed by way of gripper unit18. According toFIG.7, guide system27together with first tray conveying section9and discharge belt11is disposed in a common transport plane for tray T which is pushed by way of gripper unit18. Guide system27is mounted to be adjustable in height. During the feed process and/or load process of trays T, guide system27can be raised in order to function as a tray guide for trays T positioned on tray conveyor8. Guide system27is then positioned laterally at the height of the tray side walls and ensures that trays T conveyed on tray conveyor8can maintain a desired orientation. To move fully loaded trays T, guide system27is lowered to the position shown inFIG.7to enable fully loaded trays T to be pushed from tray carrier8onto discharge belt11.

Product gripper40of gripper unit18shown inFIG.8is configured as a suction gripper. The suction gripper fromFIG.8comprises two suction cups28which can be supplied with a vacuum via a connection29. Two suction cups28can attach to an upper side of respective products P and lift them from conveyor belt7into trays T provided on tray conveyor8.

FIG.8also shows that tray pusher23on gripper unit18shown therein is configured as a separately controllable unit. For this purpose, a pneumatic drive30is provided on gripper unit18fromFIG.8, by way of which tray pusher23can be moved between retracted position S1and extended position S2. According toFIG.8, tray pusher23comprises a linear guide31which ensures that tray pusher23is configured to be stable, in particular in extended position S2, for moving fully loaded trays T.

Gripper units18shown inFIGS.5and8are present as a modular exchangeable kit for respective pickers13,14and can be employed depending on the nature of products P to be loaded.

FIG.9Ashows first tray conveying section9of tray conveyor8with a tray T positioned at the foremost position of first tray conveying section9. Mechanical pusher17provided for first tray conveying section9can be employed to move tray T. Pushing tray T by way of mechanical pusher17from the foremost position of first tray conveying section9via lowered guide system27onto discharge belt11is shown inFIG.9B.

Furthermore,FIGS.9A and9Bshow that tray conveyor8provides several adjustable stopper elements32along first tray conveying section9which are adjustable in terms of the size of trays T to be loaded in the direction of transport of tray conveyor8. Stopper elements32can also be used to keep trays T positioned on tray conveyor8at the desired distances from one another. Furthermore, the respective suction effects of suction units26can be influenced by way of stopper elements32.

FIG.9Bshows that guide system27, which is formed along second tray conveying section10, is positioned in a raised position for being employed as a tray guide along second tray conveying section10. Guide system27along first tray conveying section9is positioned in a lowered position for pushing tray T.