Method and device for handling hygiene items

Abstract

A method for handling (flat) objects, particularly hygiene products such as nappies, sanitary napkins or similar, said objects being transported on a substantially continuously-driven feed conveyor and being compressed following transport on said feed conveyor. A group of objects is shifted from the feed conveyor by a shifting device, particularly a slider, said slider at least partially travelling in the transport direction of the feed conveyor with the objects during the shifting action; in that the group of objects is preferably fed, by said shifting device, to a first compression device and is at least partially (pre)compressed thereby; and in that the at least partially (pre)compressed group of objects is subsequently fed to a second compression device and undergoes a further (main) compression therein.

1 . A method for handling (flat) objects ( 10 ), particularly hygiene products such as diapers, sanitary napkins or the like, wherein the objects ( 10 ) are transported on a substantially continuously-driven feed conveyor ( 15 ) and being compressed following transport on the feed conveyor ( 15 ), wherein a group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) is shifted by a shifting device ( 18 ), particularly a pusher ( 27 ), from the feed conveyor ( 15 ), the pusher ( 27 ) running along at least partially with the objects ( 10 ) in the transport direction ( 24 ) of the feed conveyor ( 15 ), and that the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) is preferably fed by the shifting device ( 18 ) to a first compression device ( 30 ) and (pre-)compressed by same at least partially, and that the at least partially (pre-)compressed group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) is then fed to a second compression device ( 34 ) and undergoes further (main) compression therein. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compression device ( 30 ) moves along at least partially in the transport direction ( 24 ) of the feed conveyor ( 15 ) during (pre-)compression. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compression device ( 30 ) has two independently driven compression units ( 31 ) which are moved relative to each other and independently of each other for the (pre-)compression of the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), while the compression units ( 31 ) are also moved at least partially in the same or opposite direction as the feed conveyor ( 15 ). 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compression device ( 30 ) and the compression units ( 31 ) are driven or moved continuously at least in part. 
     
     
         5 . Method The method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that air is extracted from the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), particularly in the second compression device ( 34 ), via suction holes ( 84 ) preferably arranged in the area of a lower bottom wall ( 82 ) of the second compression device ( 34 ) in order to reduce the force required for the compression of the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), particularly in the second compression device ( 34 ), is impinged with low pressure via suction holes ( 84 ) preferably arranged in the area of a lower bottom wall ( 82 ) of the second compression device ( 34 ) in order to hold the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) 
     
     
         7 . the method according to  claim 1 , wherein the objects ( 10 ) and/or groups ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) and/or bags ( 17 ) with objects ( 10 ) are scanned by at least one inspection device ( 89 ) for proper form and/or arrangement and/or number of objects ( 10 ), the inspection device ( 89 ) preferably working in a contactless manner, particularly according to the laser cutting method. 
     
     
         8 . A device for handling (flat) objects ( 10 ), particularly hygiene products such as diapers, sanitary napkins or the like, with a feed conveyor ( 15 ) for the substantially continuous transport of the objects ( 10 ) and with a compression device ( 30 ) arranged adjacent to the feed conveyor ( 15 ) for compressing a group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), wherein the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) can be shifted from the feed conveyor ( 15 ) by a shifting device ( 18 ), particularly a pusher ( 27 ), the shifting device ( 18 ) being set up to be moved along at least partially with the objects ( 10 ) in the transport direction ( 24 ) of the feed conveyor ( 15 ) during shifting, and that a first compression device ( 30 ) is provided for the at least partial (pre-)compression of the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), and that a second compression device ( 34 ) is provided in which the at least partially (pre-)compressed group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) undergoes further (main) compression. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein a turning station ( 63 ) is arranged between the first compression device ( 30 ) and the second compression device ( 34 ) for rotating the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) as required, preferably by 90°. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising sensors ( 83 ) that are preferably provided in the second compression device ( 34 ) for checking the position of the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), particularly with an aim to check for uniform alignment of the objects ( 10 ) within the group ( 14 ). 
     
     
         11 . the device according to  claim 8 , wherein preferably the second compression device ( 34 ) has suction holes ( 84 ) for holding the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) and/or for extracting air during the compression of the group ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ), particularly in the area of a lower bottom wall ( 82 ) of the second compression device ( 34 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the feed conveyor ( 15 ) is embodied as a compartment belt, with dividing walls ( 26 ) being provided between adjacent compartments ( 25 ) of the compartment belt, the pusher ( 27 ) having flexible means ( 85 ) with which the pusher ( 27 ) abuts against the dividing walls ( 26 ) during shifting of objects ( 10 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the compression devices ( 30 ,  34 ) are at least part of a device for packing the objects ( 10 ), and that, in the event of an at least partial interruption of the operation of the device, a cladding ( 86 ) can be positioned on the feed conveyor ( 15 ) in such a way that the objects ( 10 ) on the feed conveyor ( 15 ) are transported past the device and an operator of the device is protected by the cladding ( 86 ). 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one inspection device ( 89 ) that is arranged along the conveyance path of the objects ( 10 ) and/or the groups ( 14 ) of objects ( 10 ) and/or the bags ( 17 ) with objects ( 10 ) for checking the objects ( 10 ) and/or the groups ( 14 ) and/or the bags ( 17 ) for proper form and/or arrangement and/or number of objects ( 10 ), the at least one inspection device ( 89 ) preferably working in a contactless manner, particularly according to the laser cutting method.