# US 2014/0190130 A1 · Device and Method for Unpacking and Feeding Flat-Folded and Upright Packaging Sleeves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190130 A1 - Document ID: US20140190130A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/234,507 - Filed: 2012-06-29 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-29 - Assignees: SIG Technology AG - Inventors: Thomas Cramer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190130A1 ## CPC - B65B 69/0033: {by cutting (B65B69/0008-B65B69/0025 take precedence)} - B25J 15/0616: {with vacuum} - B26D 7/01: Means for holding or positioning work - B26D 7/0633: {by grippers} - B65B 43/46: using grippers - B26D 7/018: {Holding the work by suction} - B65B 3/00: Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars - B65B 43/44: from supply magazines - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) ## Abstract A device for transferring flat-folded and upright packaging sleeves to a further processing unit, in particular a filling machine for liquid or pasty products, wherein in each case a certain number of packaging sleeves are provided in an outer package and wherein the outer packages of the packaging sleeves are opened and removed. At least one gripper element may be disposed on a robot arm for transporting an outer package to a cutting and unpacking station, elements for cutting open and unpacking the packaging sleeves, at least one suction device for vacuuming away the cutting dust resulting from the cutting open and a gripping device for gripping the packaging sleeves released from the outer package and delivering these to the further processing unit are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for transferring flat-folded and upright packaging sleeves to a further processing unit, in particular a filling machine for a liquid or pasty products, wherein in each case a certain number of packaging sleeves are provided in an outer package and wherein the outer packages of the packaging sleeves are opened and removed, comprising: at least one gripper element located on a robot arm for transporting an outer package to a cutting and unpacking station, elements for cutting open and unpacking the packaging sleeves, at least one suction device for vacuuming away the cutting dust resulting from the cutting open and a gripping device for gripping the packaging sleeves released from the outer package and delivering these to the further processing unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the gripper element has comprises a plurality of pneumatically operated vacuum suction elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the gripper element further comprises three vacuum suction elements disposed in a triangle in the same plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the gripper element further comprises two arms that can swivel in a further plane with vacuum suction elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the robot arm or the gripper element has at least one optical sensor for identifying the position and alignment of the outer packages. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the optical sensor comprises a detector for detecting the reflected laser beam and at least one mirror that can swivel for 3D object and positional determination. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting and unpacking station has a blade unit for cutting open the outer packages. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting and unpacking station has an opening and turning device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting and unpacking station has a lifting plate that can be moved vertically for depositing the packaging sleeves released from the outer package. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for folding flat and disposing of the removed outer packages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping device can be positively coupled to the gripper element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one magazine to accommodate a plurality of unopened outer packages. ### Claim 13 A method for transferring flat-folded and upright packaging sleeves to a further processing unit, in particular a filling machine for liquid or pasty products, wherein in each case a certain number of packaging sleeves are provided in an outer package and wherein the outer packages of the packaging sleeves are opened and removed, comprising the following steps: a) receiving an unopened outer package; b) aligning and transporting the outer package to a cutting and unpacking station; c) feeding of the top side of the outer package to a blade unit; d) cutting open the outer package and folding back the opened top sides; e) vacuuming away the resulting cutting dust; f) clamping and positioning of the packaging sleeves contained in the opened outer package on a lifting plate; g) removing the outer package and clamping of the packaging sleeve in its two free end faces; h) removing the outer packaging; i) raising the lifting plate in a gripping device located above it to the level of the feed plane of the further processing unit; and j) delivering the packaging sleeves by means of the gripping device to the desired feed line of the further processing device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the outer packages are supplied on a pallet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein prior to step a) the detection of the position and alignment of the unopened outer package takes place ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein between steps a) and b) intermediate storage of unopened outer packages takes place in a magazine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the outer packages are initially gripped on their free longitudinal side by a gripper element and additionally by vacuum suction elements on their top side. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein during transfer to the cutting and unpacking station the outer packages are rotated by the gripper element in such a way that the top side of the packaging sleeve points towards the blade unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein steps d) and e) are carried out simultaneously. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein prior to step i) the top side of the packaging sleeve standing upright on the lifting plate is vacuumed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the outer packages that have been removed and opened on one side are fed by the gripper element to a box press, in which the still sealed underside is cut into and folded so that a subsequent pressing device can compress the boxes in a defined manner. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising cutting blades disposed in the pressing device punch triangular latches in the compressed side walls, which are then crimped so that the compressed box after being dropped into a waste trolley cannot open again.