Cutting supply unit and method for its operation

Abstract

A blank supply unit, for providing flat blanks for production of dimensionally stable outer packaging, includes an input magazine for receiving a stack of blanks, a buffer magazine arranged downstream of the input magazine for receiving stacked blanks, a transfilling unit arranged between the input magazine and the buffer magazine, and a discharge unit for withdrawing a blank from the stacked blanks in the buffer magazine and transporting the blank on to a next processing station for the blank. The transfilling unit is configured for automatic, batch-wise refilling of the buffer magazine with blanks from the input magazine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blank supply unit for providing flat blanks for production of dimensionally stable outer packaging, the blank supply unit comprising:
 an input magazine for receiving a stack of blanks,   a buffer magazine arranged downstream of the input magazine for receiving stacked blanks,   a transfilling unit arranged between the input magazine and the buffer magazine, and   a discharge unit for withdrawing a blank from the stacked blanks in the buffer magazine and transporting the blank on to a next processing station for the blank,   wherein
 the transfilling unit is configured for automatic, batch-wise refilling of the buffer magazine with blanks from the input magazine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 the transfilling unit comprises a transfilling conveyor belt and downstream and upstream deflection rollers associated with the transfilling conveyor belt, 
 the downstream deflection roller is positioned or positionable in such a way that the transfilling conveyor belt can deposit a stack of blanks transported thereon in the buffer magazine, and 
 the upstream deflection roller 
 is displaceable between a pick-up position in which the upstream deflection roller is at least in contact with a side surface of the stack in the input magazine and a non-contacting rest position. 
   
     
     
         3 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the transfilling unit comprises   a pusher configured
 to push a partial stack of blanks in the input magazine lying above a height of an upper run of the transfilling conveyor belt onto the transfilling conveyor belt. 
   
     
     
         4 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein
 at least the upstream deflection roller of the transfilling conveyor belt is controllably height-adjustable. 
   
     
     
         5 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the input magazine has a rear side or longitudinal side which is different from a front side facing the transfilling unit and which is open or openable for filling the input magazine.   
     
     
         6 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the input magazine has a floor that is inclined or inclinable towards the transfilling unit.   
     
     
         7 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the input magazine or the transfilling unit is displaceable in a transverse direction relative to a transfilling direction.   
     
     
         8 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the input magazine has at least one interchangeable input box which can be filled with a stack of blanks.   
     
     
         9 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 the blank supply unit comprises a removal device for removing an intermediate sheet in the stack of blanks of the input magazine. 
   
     
     
         10 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 the discharge unit is designed so that it can withdraw a bottom blank from the stacked blanks in the buffer magazine. 
   
     
     
         11 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 the blank supply unit comprises an additional buffer magazine, and 
 the transfilling unit is configured to refill the additional buffer magazine from the input magazine. 
   
     
     
         12 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising
 a hold-down device which can be moved up and down in a controlled manner relative to the transfilling unit and is arranged such that the hold-down device can be moved towards an upper side of a downstream end of the transfilling unit in a transfilling direction. 
   
     
     
         13 . A packaging machine for inserting and packaging articles in a dimensionally stable outer packaging, the packaging machine comprising:
 a carton erector for producing a carton from a flat blank of carton material,   a plurality of robots along a transfer line for transferring articles into cartons, and   the blank supply unit according to  claim 1  for supplying the carton erector with blanks.   
     
     
         14 . A method for supplying a carton erector of a packaging machine with individual blanks,
 the method comprising:
 filling an input magazine with at least one stack of blanks, 
 automatically refilling a buffer magazine with partial stacks or an entire stack from the input magazine by transfilling, 
 refilling the input magazine, 
 automatically withdrawing a single blank from the buffer magazine, and 
 feeding the blank to the carton erector. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the single blank withdrawn from   the buffer magazine is a bottom blank of a stack of blanks in the buffer magazine.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein   a capacity of the buffer magazine is chosen to be large enough so that the input magazine can be refilled by the packaging machine during a time it takes to use up a supply of blanks in the buffer magazine.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein
 the transfilling is carried out by a transfilling unit including a transfilling conveyor belt and a deflector element associated with the transfilling conveyor belt, and wherein the transfilling comprises: 
 placing the deflector element in contact with a side surface of a stack of blanks in the input magazine, 
 driving the transfilling conveyor belt in a circulation direction and moving the deflector element into the stack of blanks, so that a partial stack of the stack of blanks located above the transfilling conveyor belt is automatically picked up onto the transfilling conveyor belt, and 
 transporting the partial stack to the buffer magazine by the transfilling conveyor belt. 
   
     
     
         18 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfilling unit comprises a pusher configured to push a partial stack of blanks in the input magazine lying above an upper edge of a rear side of the buffer magazine into the buffer magazine. 
     
     
         19 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lifting device configured to adjust height of the input magazine. 
     
     
         20 . The blank supply unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the discharge unit comprises a robot including a suction cup configured to engage on an underside of the bottom blank, and the robot is configured to withdraw the bottom blank from the stacked blanks in the buffer magazine.