Device for transporting separating elements and inserting separating elements into packaging units
AssigneeKHS GmbH
InventorMichael Jörissen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transport device transports a separating element and inserts it into a container having receptacles. The separating element thus separates adjacent receptacles from each other. The apparatus includes a transport device that removes a separating element from a magazine and brings it to an insertion station for insertion into the container. The transport device includes a linear transporter having an electromagnetic direct drive and motion elements that circulate in a common direction around the linear transporter's closed motion path. Each motion element has a gripper arranged thereon.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising a plurality of motion elements, each of which has grippers arranged thereon, and an electromagnetic direct drive, wherein each motion element is configured to take up a separating element from a stack of separating elements, to bring said separating element to a container that contains a receptacle group that comprises a plurality of receptacles, adjacent ones of which are to be separated by said separating element, and to insert said separating element into said container, thereby separating adjacent ones of said receptacles, wherein said electromagnetic direct drive comprises a closed motion path on which said motion elements circulate in a common direction, and wherein each motion element from said plurality of motion elements is individually actuatable along said closed motion path independently of other motion elements from said plurality of motion elements, said apparatus further comprising a suction gripper configured to unfold a flattened separating element thereby forming an unfolded separating-element, wherein said suction gripper is configured to place said unfolded separating-element onto a movable platform, wherein said motion element is configured to approach said platform and to grip said separating element with one of said first and second grippers.
An apparatus for transporting a separating element and inserting a separating element into a container containing a receptacle group that comprises a plurality of receptacles, adjacent ones of which are to be separated by said separating element, said apparatus comprising a transport device configured to pick up said separating element and to bring said separating element to said container, wherein said transport device comprises an electromagnetic direct drive and a plurality of motion elements, wherein said electromagnetic direct drive comprises a closed motion path on which said motion elements circulate in a common direction, wherein each motion element from said plurality of motion elements comprises a gripper arranged thereon, and wherein each of said motion elements comprises a carrier having a central section and first and second outer sections, a rotatable actuator mounted on said central section and coupled to said outer sections by coupling elements, and first and second guide bars upon which said first and second outer sections ride, whereby said first and second outer sections are laterally movable towards and away from said central section.
An apparatus for transporting a separating element and inserting a separating element into a container containing a receptacle group that comprises a plurality of receptacles, adjacent ones of which are to be separated by said separating element, said apparatus comprising a transport device configured to pick up said separating element and to bring said separating element to said container, wherein said transport device comprises a plurality of motion elements and an electromagnetic direct drive and comprising a closed motion path on which said motion elements circulate in a common direction, wherein each motion element from said plurality of motion elements comprises a gripper arranged thereon, said apparatus further comprising a threaded rod, wherein said first and second mechanical grippers are disposed symmetrically around a central plane that bisects the motion element and mounted on opposite ends of said threaded rod such that rotation of said threaded rod displaces said first and second grippers along a rod axis of said threaded rod and wherein said threaded rod has threads that are pitched one way on a first side of said central plane and pitched in an opposite way on a second side of said central plane, as a result of which rotating said threaded rod about said rod axis causes said grippers to move relative to said axis by the same amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.