Loading device and method for loading storage and transport containers with plastic receptacles
AssigneeAlpha Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co. KG
InventorJürgen Riedmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A loading device for loading storage and transport receptacles or trays for plastic receptacles, such as plastic bottles, is disclosed which has a transport system for the trays that can be operated automatically and a transferring device for the plastic receptacles. The transferring device has a multi-gripper for securely grasping a predetermined number of plastic receptacles arranged in the form of a row. A stabilizing system is arranged in a loading station for the trays, which stabilizing system has a first support rack and a second support rack, which are arranged essentially parallel to one another and can be at least partially inserted into a tray that is to be loaded.
Claims20
Loading device for loading storage and transport trays for plastic receptacles, the loading device being configured to interact with a transport system for the trays that can be operated automatically and with a transferring device for plastic receptacles, which has a multi-gripper for a number of plastic receptacles that are arranged in a row, the loading device comprising:
- a stabilizing system arranged in a loading station for trays, which stabilizing system has a first support rack and a second support rack, which are arranged essentially parallel to one another and configured to be at least partially inserted into a tray that is to be loaded, wherein:
- the first support rack being configured to remain essentially stationary during loading of the plastic receptacles,
- the second support rack is configured to be adjustable relative to the first support rack from an adjacent first position into a second position with a predefinable distance between the first and second positions, in order to open a first loading lane in a tray that is to be loaded, and
- the second support rack is arranged such that after the first loading lane has been loaded with plastic receptacles, the second support rack is configured to be movable over the first loaded loading lane opposite to a transport direction (V) of a tray essentially into the first position of the first support rack,
- wherein the second support rack and the tray are configured to be moved in the transport direction (V) of the tray by a predetermined distance to open a second loading lane that adjoins the first loading lane,
- wherein the second loading lane is configured for approach by a multi-gripper to load at least one second row of plastic receptacles, and
- wherein the second support rack is configured as an anti-tipping device for a first row of plastic receptacles during the opening of the second loading lane.
Method for loading storage and transport trays for plastic receptacles, in which plastic receptacles are loaded into a tray in a loading station by a transferring device that has a multi-gripper, the method comprising:
- depositing plastic receptacles in a loading lane which is bounded by two side walls of a tray, by a first support rack, and by a second support rack that is arranged essentially parallel to the first support rack, whereby the first and second support racks are inserted at least partially into the tray that is to be loaded;
- maintaining the first support rack essentially stationary during loading of the plastic receptacles;
- adjusting the second support rack relative to the first support rack from a first position, into a second adjacent position which is a predefinable distance from the first position, in order to open a first loading lane in the tray that is to be loaded;
- after the first loading lane is filled with a first row of plastic receptacles, moving the second support rack over the first row of plastic receptacles opposite to a transport direction (V) of the tray essentially into the first position of the first support rack;
- moving the second support rack and the tray in the transport direction (V) of the tray by a predetermined distance to open a second loading lane that adjoins the first loading lane;
- and
- moving the multi-gripper toward the second loading lane to load at least one second row of plastic receptacles into the tray whereby the second support rack forms an anti-tipping device for the first row of plastic receptacles during the opening of the second loading lane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.