Method for automatically inserting enclosures into a receptacle and a device for carrying out the method

Abstract

In a method for automatically inserting enclosures (15) into a receptacle (10) which is intended to accommodate a principal goods item (14) a high degree of speed and flexibility in the context of commissioning is thereby achieved in that the receptacle (10) is moved past a stationary inserting station in a transportation direction (13), and that on passing the inserting station at least one enclosure (15) is inserted from the inserting station into the open receptacle (10).

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for automatically inserting enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) into a receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) which is provided for accommodating a principal item of goods ( 14 ), the method comprising:
 moving the open receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h    10   a - h ) past a stationary inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) in a transport direction ( 13 );   inserting at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) during that passing the inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) from the inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) into the open receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h    10   a - h ).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during insertion into the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h    10   a - h ), the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is moved along with the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ). 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising moving the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) past the inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) at a predetermined transport speed, and that during insertion the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is moved at a speed matching that of the receptacle's ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) transport speed. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising moving the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) past the inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) on a transport plane ( 12 ), while the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) is open at the top, and inserting the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) into the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) from above. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the insertion of the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is carried out from a predetermined insertion height, that receptacles ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) of successively different heights are filled with at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ), and that the respective predetermined insertion heights are automatically set to the height of the receptacle to be filled. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the height of the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) to be filled is determined before the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is inserted. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the insertion of the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is done by means of an inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ) and that the setting of the insertion height is carried out at the inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ) is arranged above the transport plane ( 12 ) in a pivotable manner relative to the transport plane ( 12 ), and that the setting of the insertion height is carried out by pivoting and/or telescoping the inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 arranging a longitudinal dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) of the inserting body above the transportation device ( 17 ) to dispense the enclosure ( 15 ) to be inserted at a free end ( 424 ), wherein the dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) is pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis (H 1 ) in order to adjust the height of the free end ( 424 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the dispensing tongue ( 42 ) is pivoted and/or telescoped in such a way that the height of the free end ( 424 ) is adjusted along a vertical path (A). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the dispensing tongue ( 42 ) includes a first limb ( 421 ) and a second limb ( 422 ), which are connected by a joint ( 423 ) which defines a second horizontal pivot axis (H 2 ), wherein the free end ( 424 ) is arranged on the second limb ( 422 ) and is pivoted about the second horizontal pivot axis (H 2 ) in order to adjust the height, wherein the joint ( 423 ) is pivoted about the first horizontal pivot axis (H 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion of the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) into the open receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) occurs diagonally downwards in the transport direction ( 13 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) is initially filled with the principal goods item ( 14 ), and that the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is subsequently inserted into the open receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is placed on the inserted principal goods item ( 14 ). 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) is initially inserted into the open receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ), and that the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) is subsequently filled with the principal goods item ( 14 ). 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein several enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) are inserted into the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ). 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) are inserted into the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) one after another at different inserting stations ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) are initially put together in an enclosure pack, and that the enclosure pack is subsequently inserted into the receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) at an inserting station. 
     
     
         19 . A device for carrying out the method according to  claim 1 , comprising a transportation device ( 17 ) for transporting the open receptacles ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) on a transport plane ( 12 ) in a transport direction ( 13 ) at a predetermined transport speed, on which transportation device ( 17 ) at least one inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) is arranged which comprises an inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ) for inserting an enclosure ( 15 ,  16 ) in a receptacle ( 10 ;  10   a - h ) which is moved past the inserting station ( 20 ,  33 ;  33   a - f,    41 ) on the transportation device ( 17 ). 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the inserting body comprises a longitudinal dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) arranged above the transportation device ( 17 ) which dispenses the enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) to be inserted at a free end ( 424 ). 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) is aligned parallel with the transport direction ( 13 ) and extends diagonally downwards in the transport direction in such a way that the free end ( 424 ) of the dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) is located at the bottom. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the free end ( 424 ) of the dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) is designed to be height adjustable. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the dispensing tongue ( 21 ,  42 ) can be pivoted about a first horizontal pivot axis (H 1 ) in order to adjust the height of the free end ( 424 ). 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the dispensing tongue ( 42 ) can be pivoted and/or telescoped in such a way that the height of the free end ( 424 ) can be adjusted along a vertical path (A). 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the dispensing tongue ( 42 ) includes a first limb ( 421 ) and a second limb ( 422 ) which are connected by a joint ( 423 ) which defines a second horizontal pivot axis (H 2 ), wherein the free end ( 424 ) is arranged on the second limb ( 422 ) and can be pivoted about the second horizontal pivot axis (H 2 ), wherein the joint ( 423 ) can be pivoted about the first horizontal pivot axis (H 1 ). 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a separator ( 19 ) upstream of the inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ) which transfers individual enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) to the inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ). 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 26 , further comprising a bar feeder ( 25 ,  32 ) upstream of the separator ( 19 ) which delivers to the separator ( 19 ) enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) to be inserted. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a number of inserting stations ( 33   a - f,    41 ) arranged one after another along the transportation device ( 17 ), and wherein each of the inserting stations ( 33   a - f,    41 ) includes its own inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ). 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the inserting station is associated with a collection device ( 39 ) which by collecting a number of enclosures forms an enclosure pack and forwards it to the inserting body ( 21 ,  42 ). 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein a number of placing stations ( 36   a,b;    37   a,b;    38   a,b ) for the enclosures ( 15 ,  16 ) are associated with the collection device ( 39 ).