Handling device and method for filling one or several product receiving containers with products and packaging machine with such a handling device

Abstract

A handling device for a filling of one or several product-receiving containers (12) with products (14) includes at least one feeding unit (16) for a feeding of the products (14), further includes at least one handling unit (18) for a handling of the products (14), and includes at least one alignment unit (20), which is configured for an alignment, at least with respect to a vertical plane (22), of the products (14) transferred to the alignment unit (20) by the handling unit (18) in order to feed the products (14) to the product-receiving containers (12) in a predetermined orientation. The alignment unit (20) includes at least one transfer element (24) and at least one support element (32), which are configured to alternatingly hold the products (14) in the product-receiving containers (12) in the predetermined orientation.

1 . A handling device for a filling of one or several product-receiving containers ( 12 ) with products ( 14 ), comprising: at least one feeding unit ( 16 ) for a feeding of the products ( 14 ), further comprising at least one handling unit ( 18 ) for a handling of the products ( 14 ) and comprising at least one alignment unit ( 20 ), which is configured for an alignment, at least with respect to a vertical plane ( 22 ), of the products ( 14 ) transferred to the alignment unit ( 20 ) by the handling unit ( 18 ) in order to feed the products ( 14 ) to the product-receiving containers ( 12 ) in a predetermined orientation, wherein the alignment unit ( 20 ) comprises at least one transfer element ( 24 ) and at least one support element ( 32 ), which are configured to alternatingly hold the products ( 14 ) in the product-receiving containers ( 12 ) in the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         2 . The handling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the alignment unit ( 20 ) comprises at least the transfer element ( 24 ) having at least one alignment surface ( 28 ,  30 ) that is angled relative to a feeding plane ( 26 ) of the feeding unit ( 16 ), and comprises at least the support element ( 32 ) having at least one alignment surface ( 34 ) that is angled relative to the feeding plane ( 26 ), wherein the alignment surface ( 28 ,  30 ) of the transfer element ( 24 ) and the alignment surface ( 34 ) of the support element ( 32 ) are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The handling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the alignment unit ( 20 ) comprises at least the transfer element ( 24 ) having at least two alignment surfaces ( 28 ,  30 ) which are angled relative to each other and which the products ( 14 ) can be adjoined to during a feeding to the product-receiving containers ( 12 ). 
     
     
         4 . The handling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the alignment unit ( 20 ) comprises at least the transfer element ( 24 ) and at least the support element ( 32 ), wherein the transfer element ( 24 ) and the support element ( 32 ) are arranged offset from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The handling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the alignment unit ( 20 ) comprises at least the transfer element ( 24 ) having at least one alignment surface ( 28 ,  30 ) which is angled relative to a feeding plane ( 26 ) and which the products ( 14 ) can be adjoined to during a feeding to the product-receiving containers ( 12 ), and having at least one support surface ( 38 ) for holding the products ( 14 ) in an alignment position, the alignment surface ( 28 ,  30 ) and the support surface ( 38 ) being arranged on sides of the transfer element ( 24 ) that face away from each other. 
     
     
         6 . A packaging machine with at least one handling device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method for a filling of one or several product-receiving containers ( 12 ) with products ( 14 ) via a handling device according to  claim 1 , wherein in at least one method step ( 72 ) the products ( 14 ) are aligned, at least with respect to a vertical plane ( 22 ), by at least one alignment unit ( 20 ) of the handling device, wherein a transfer element ( 24 ) and a support element ( 32 ) of the alignment unit ( 20 ) are alternatingly moved into a support position, in which the products ( 14 ) are held in the product-receiving containers ( 12 ) in the predetermined orientation alternatingly by the transfer element ( 24 ) or by the support element ( 32 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein while at least one product ( 14 ) is adjacent to the support element ( 32 ), the support element ( 32 ) of the alignment unit ( 20 ) is moved and moves the product-receiving containers ( 12 ) into a loading position. 
     
     
         9 . The handling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the alignment unit ( 20 ) comprises at least the transfer element ( 24 ) having at least two alignment surfaces ( 28 ,  30 ) which are angled relative to each other and which the products ( 14 ) can be adjoined to during a feeding to the product-receiving containers ( 12 ).