PACKAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging device and a method for packaging articles with the features of the respective independent claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers, which may be formed by beverage bottles, beverage cans or the like, are frequently sold as packs, in which packs several containers are assembled and combined with the aid of a packaging material. In practice, such packaging material can be formed, for example, by strappings or by shrink film, whereby the containers of a respective pack are tightly held together as a finished sales unit. In addition, so-called bottle clips have existed for some time, which bottle clips are designed as flat packaging blanks, which bottle clips have an associated opening for each container of a respective pack and hold the respective containers of a respective pack together in a form-fitting manner.

It may be provided, for example, that a bottle clip can be applied to containers in different formation, thereby connecting the containers to form packs. Such bottle clips are, for example, designed in the form of a perforated plate, as multi-connected lids or the like.

Frequently, bottle clips perform an additional carrying handle function. For transporting several groups of containers, which containers are grouped together by bottle clips, these are, for example, assembled into larger groups within a carton or on a pallet, whereby the carton is closed for further transport and wherein the assembly on the pallet is wrapped, for example, with shrink film.

It is also known to place several groups of containers on a tray for transport, which containers are combined by a bottle clip, which tray has an edge folded upwards to hold the beverage containers in a form-fitting manner, which containers have already been combined into packs by bottle clips.

Usually, bottle clips are applied to the respective container group in a stand-alone machine. The stand-alone, independent machine divides the packaging process and the associated machine areas. Such machines require a lot of space if they are to be installed within a machine hall.

The application of the bottle clips usually takes place after the articles have been grouped. This interrupts the usual processing chain within the packaging machines. For the subsequent process, e.g. the closing of the outer carton or the wrapping of the grouped articles with a film packaging, the grouped articles must be brought once again into a defined machine division and fed into the machine for the application of the bottle clips. Only subsequently the carton can be closed or the wrapping with film can take place. In addition to the above-mentioned disadvantage of the large amount of space required for the entire line, it cannot be ruled out in such embodiments that a malfunction may occur due to the numerous modules required to produce a pack.

Solutions are already known, which solutions integrate the application of bottle clips into the processing sequence. DE 10 220 2009026A1 describes a method and a device for grouping and connecting articles, in which at least two articles are combined to form a packaging unit by the application of a first packaging material. In the course of a continuous conveying movement, the individual packaging units are joined together with an additional second packaging material to form a larger unit.

It is the task of the invention to provide a packaging device, which packaging device has a compact structure and hereby can combine several articles into a pack by a packaging material in the most reliable manner possible. Furthermore, it can be seen as a task of the invention to provide a method, with which method several articles can be combined into a pack by a packaging material in a simple and space-saving manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above tasks are solved by a packaging device and by a method comprising the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

The invention relates to a method for combining several articles by at least one packaging material to form a pack. The articles that are combined by the method to form a pack can, for example, be designed as beverage containers and in particular as beverage bottles and/or beverage cans.

Within the scope of the method, an article group is formed from a plurality of articles to be combined into a respective pack, with at least one manipulator subsequently applying at least one packaging material to the respective article group and thereby combining the respective article group into a pack via the at least one applied packaging material.

The article group can be formed, for example, by initially moving articles in several parallel rows, whereafter articles intended for a respective article group are accelerated with respect to articles trailing behind, thereby creating a gap between the accelerated articles and trailing articles. For this purpose, for example, at least two conveyor belts can be provided, which conveyor belts adjoin one another in a direction of movement of the articles, wherein an upstream conveyor belt in the direction of movement of the articles is having a higher transport speed for articles than a downstream conveyor belt in the direction of movement of the articles and/or wherein a downstream conveyor belt in the direction of movement of the articles is being operated intermittently.

There also exist embodiments, in which embodiments at least one retaining element is provided, which retaining element allows articles provided for a respective article group to pass and which retaining element temporarily delays further articles trailing these articles provided for the respective article group.

Within the method it is provided, that with respect to a direction of movement of the respective article group at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam is brought into rear-side contact with the respective article group. Further, the application of the at least one packaging material takes place via the at least one manipulator while the respective at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in rear-side contact with the respective article group with respect to the direction of movement of the respective article group.

In this way, the respective article group can be stabilized during the application of the at least one packaging material via the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam, which supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in contact with the rear side of the article group, so that the risk of an unintentional tilting of articles during an application of the at least one packaging material is kept small. In addition, by using such a pushing beam, an exact position of the articles to be equipped with packaging material can be determined without having to use additional sensor devices, the signal assignment and signal processing of which is relatively costly and can lead to delays in the packaging process.

Hereby, the movement of the supporting beam and/or pushing beam can be such, that a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is brought into contact with articles intended for a respective article group and then temporarily accelerates the articles of a respective article group, thereby distancing them from trailing articles.

Thus, the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam itself can form an article group from a plurality of articles to be combined into a respective pack, in that the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is initially brought into rear-side contact with articles provided for a respective article group with regard to a direction of movement of the respective article group and accelerates the articles provided for a respective article group at least temporarily with respect to trailing articles.

An advantage preferably used in the present context, which advantage is associated with a rear-side contact of the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam, is to be found in the fact that the respective position of the respective article group is known due to the rear-side contact of the supporting beam and/or pushing beam or corresponds exactly with a predetermined nominal position. This ensures with a high degree of certainty that the at least one packaging material can be applied to the respective article group without problems via the at least one manipulator.

A movement to be performed via the at least one manipulator for applying the respective packaging material to the respective article group can thus be coordinated in time with the respective actual position of the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam, which supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in contact with the rear side of the respective article group with regard to a direction of movement of the article group.

Embodiments that have proven themselves are those, in which the at least one packaging material is applied to the respective article group via the at least one manipulator, while the respective at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam slidingly moves the respective article group along a transfer plate while being in contact with its rear side. The respective article group can already be formed before the respective at least one pushing beam comes into contact with the rear side of the respective article group.

In addition, embodiments are conceivable, in which embodiments the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam comes into contact with the rear side of articles of a respective article group to be formed, accelerates these articles relative to trailing articles and thereby produces or forms a respective article group from the accelerated articles.

It is also conceivable that at least two railings are provided, which railings are oriented in the direction of movement of the respective article group, which railings are located on both sides of the path of movement of the conveyed article groups. In this case, it is possible that during the application of the at least one packaging material the respective article group is guided laterally by the at least two railings oriented in the direction of movement of the respective article group.

Further, the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam can be guided along a circulating movement path by at least one endless traction device formed in particular as a chain and/or belt or by a traction device formed by a chain or belt and, in the course of a guidance along the circulating movement path, can be brought into contact with the rear side of the respective article group. Subsequently, the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam can be in contact with the rear side of the respective article group with respect to the direction of movement of the respective article group during a continuous guidance along the circulating movement path, while the application of the at least one packaging material takes place via the at least one manipulator.

In preferred embodiments, at least two endless traction devices are provided, to which two endless traction devices a plurality of supporting beams and/or pushing beams are attached respectively, wherein the at least two endless traction devices jointly guide the plurality of supporting beams and/or pushing beams along the circulating movement path.

Thus, in practice, embodiments have proven themselves, in which embodiments a plurality of supporting beams and/or pushing beams are guided along the circulating movement path by the at least one endless traction device, which traction device is designed, in particular, as a chain and/or belt, wherein, in the course of a guidance along the circulating movement path, a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam of the plurality of supporting beams and/or pushing beams is brought into contact with the rear side of a respective article group.

During a continuous guidance along the circulating movement path with respect to the direction of movement of the respective article group the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam can then be in contact with the rear side of the respective article group, while the application of the at least one packaging material takes place via the at least one manipulator.

The at least one manipulator can be designed as a component of at least one working module, the periphery of which is specified by at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction of the at least one working module. Hereby, it is conceivable, for example, that the at least one manipulator is hanging in a suspended manner from the carrying construction and/or supporting construction, which carrying construction and/or supporting construction specifies the periphery of the at least one working module.

In particular, the at least one manipulator may be mechanically attached to the carrying construction and/or supporting construction, which specifies the periphery of the at least one working module.

It has proven useful to support the at least one manipulator via at least one linear guide on the carrying construction and/or supporting construction specifying the periphery of the at least one working module, via which at least one linear guide the at least one manipulator can be moved along the direction of movement of the article group.

Furthermore, it is possible, that the at least one endless traction device, which endless traction device is, in particular, formed by a chain and/or belt, runs in sections outside the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction. This also allows the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam to be moved outside the periphery via the at least one endless traction device, which periphery is specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction.

In addition, it is possible that the chain drive and/or belt drive, which in particular comprises an endless traction device, runs in sections outside the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction. This also allows the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam to be moved by the at least one endless traction device outside of the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction via the at least one endless traction device.

The at least one manipulator can be designed as a gantry system or as a component of a gantry system. In addition, there are further embodiments, in which further embodiments the at least one manipulator can be designed as a multi-axis robot and/or as a delta kinematic robot.

Embodiments have proven themselves, in which embodiments the at least one manipulator is formed as a component of the at least one working module, the periphery of which, as already mentioned above, is specified by at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction of the at least one working module. The at least one endless traction device, which traction device is in particular designed as a chain and/or belt, can run in sections outside and in this case also in sections above or in vertical direction above the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction.

A particular advantage of the above-mentioned embodiments can be seen in the fact that the chain drive or belt drive and/or the endless traction device together with the supporting beams and/or pushing beams guided thereon pass through a single working module or through two or more successive working modules and connect them with one another in terms of transport, wherein the return of the endless traction device together with the supporting beams and/or pushing beams guided thereon is also taking place via a working module or via two or more working modules.

In this way, no coupling and/or synchronization problems are to be expected between sequentially arranged working modules, which could be the case with conventional configurations if, for example, several working modules, each equipped with dividing devices in the form of circulatingly guided dividing bars or the like, had to be coupled and synchronized with one another in terms of conveying technology.

Particularly, for these configurations and machine layouts, the system according to the invention with the cross-module pushing devices represents a significant improvement and simplification, even if the new problem of the pushing beam guidance through several modules and the pushing beam return across several modules has to be solved. However, since the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, the additional effort of the pushing beam guidance and/or the supporting beam guidance can be accepted.

In order to minimize the risk of unintentional contact with the at least one endless traction device and thus to counteract injury to a person, embodiments have proven effective, in which embodiments a section of the at least one endless traction device, which traction device is designed, in particular, in the form of a chain and/or belt, runs outside the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction, which section is guided through an enclosure so as to be inaccessible from the outside or through a channel so as to be inaccessible from the outside.

If the at least one endless traction device, which traction device is designed, in particular, in the form of a chain and/or belt, runs in sections outside and additionally in sections above or in the vertical direction above the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction, it is possible that a section which runs outside and additionally in sections above or in the vertical direction above the periphery specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting construction is guided inaccessibly from the outside through an enclosure or is guided inaccessibly from the outside through a channel.

In the method, at least one first manipulator and at least one second manipulator may be provided. Hereby, it is conceivable, that in order to apply several different packaging materials to a respective article group, the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator cooperate.

Alternatively or in addition thereto, it is possible that different article groups are assigned to the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator, optionally via a control device and/or regulating device, wherein the at least one first manipulator applies at least one packaging material to article groups, which article groups have been assigned to the at least one first manipulator, and wherein the at least one second manipulator applies at least one packaging material to article groups, which article groups have been assigned to the at least one second manipulator.

Furthermore, it is possible, that the application of packaging material is carried out via the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator onto the respective article group, while the respective at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in each instance in rear-side contact with the respective article group.

The plurality of articles may be formed by a plurality of beverage containers. Furthermore, the at least one packaging material may be or may be formed by at least one flat packaging blank, which packaging blank provides a respective opening for a respective beverage container of a respective beverage container group.

In the method, it can then be provided, that the at least one manipulator applies the at least one packaging material formed by a respective flat packaging blank to a respective beverage container group, the packaging blank coming in the direction from above, so that the respective beverage containers of a respective beverage container group immerse into a respective opening, are subsequently held together in a form-fitting manner via the respective applied flat packaging blank, and are combined into a pack via the respectively applied flat packaging blank.

It is also possible, that a formed article group moves onto a tray, whereupon the at least one manipulator applies the at least one packaging material to the respective article group, whereby the respective article group continues to be located on the tray.

The invention also relates to a packaging device for producing packs each comprising a plurality of articles. Features which have already been mentioned above in connection with various embodiments of the method can also be provided in the embodiments of a packaging device described below and are not mentioned more than once in some cases. Likewise, features described below, which are mentioned in connection with the described embodiments of the following packaging device, can be included in the already described embodiments of the method according to the invention. If applicable, the packaging device can be designed or can be prepared for implementing or carrying out the embodiments of the method already described above.

The packaging device comprises at least one horizontal conveying device and at least one manipulator. The at least one horizontal conveying device is designed in such a way, that article groups can be moved into a working area of the at least one manipulator via the at least one horizontal conveying device. Furthermore, the at least one manipulator can apply at least one packaging material to the respective article group for the combination of the respective articles of a respective article group moved into its working area via the at least one horizontal conveying device.

The packaging device comprises at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group, which at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group is guided along a preferably circulating movement path, which preferably circulating movement path runs through the working area of the at least one manipulator.

Embodiments have proven successful, in which embodiments a transfer plate is positioned within the working area of the at least one manipulator, along which transfer plate the respective article group is slidingly moved through the working area of the at least one manipulator by the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam, which supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in rear-side contact with the article group.

The at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam as well as the transfer plate positioned within the working area of the at least one manipulator can thus form the at least one horizontal conveying device or can be formed as a component of the at least one horizontal conveying device. It is also possible that the at least one horizontal conveying device is formed by at least one conveyor belt, which at least one conveyor belt moves article groups into a working area of the at least one manipulator.

Also, the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group can be connected to at least one endless traction device preferably designed as a chain and/or belt, via which at least one endless traction device preferably designed as a chain and/or belt the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group is guided along the preferably circulating movement path, which circulating movement path runs through the working area of the at least one manipulator.

In further embodiments, the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group can also be guided via an electromagnetic direct drive and/or via further drives along the preferably circulating movement path, which circulating movement path runs through the working area of the at least one manipulator.

It is conceivable that the at least one manipulator is designed as a component of at least one working module of the packaging device, which at least one working module has at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction that specifies a periphery of the at least one working module. In this case, it is possible that the preferably circulating movement path runs in sections outside the periphery specified by the at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction.

In particular, it is possible, that the at least one manipulator is designed as a component of at least one working module of the packaging device, which at least one working module has at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction that specifies a periphery of the at least one working module. In this case, it is possible that the preferably circulating movement path runs in sections outside and in this case in sections above or in the vertical direction above the periphery specified by the at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction.

Optionally, the packaging device can comprise at least one horizontal conveying device and two or more manipulators in downstream located working modules. The at least one horizontal conveying device is designed in such a way that article groups can be moved via the at least one horizontal conveying device into a working area of a manipulator and then into the working area of a further manipulator.

Furthermore, one of the manipulators can apply at least one packaging material to the respective article group for combining respective articles of a respective article group moved into its working area via the at least one horizontal conveying device.

In addition, in the interest of higher machine performance, a further manipulator can apply similar packaging materials to article groups not previously equipped with packaging materials. Optionally, a further manipulator can apply packaging material of a different type to article groups previously equipped with first packaging materials.

Embodiments have proven successful, in which embodiments a respective transfer plate or a common transfer plate is positioned in each of the respective working areas of the manipulators, along which transfer plate(s) the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam can slide a respective article group through the working area of the successively arranged manipulators while being in rear-side contact.

The at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam as well as the transfer plate positioned within the working areas of the manipulators can thus form the at least one horizontal conveying device or can be formed as a component of the at least one horizontal conveying device. It is also possible that the at least one horizontal conveying device is formed by at least one conveyor belt, which at least one conveyor belt moves article groups into a working area of the manipulators or into working areas of the manipulators.

It is also conceivable that the manipulators are each designed as components of working modules of the packaging device, with the working modules each having a common carrying construction and/or supporting construction that specifies a periphery of the two or more working modules. In this case, it is possible that the preferably circulating movement path runs in sections outside the periphery of the plurality of working modules specified by the at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction.

In particular, it is possible that the manipulators are each designed as components of working modules of the packaging device, which working modules are coupled to one another and are arranged successively in the transport direction, the working modules having at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction, which carrying construction and/or supporting construction specifies a common periphery of the working modules. In this case, it is possible that the preferably circulating movement path runs in sections outside and in this case in sections above or in the vertical direction above the periphery specified by the at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that a section of the preferably circulating movement path, which is running outside through the at least one carrying construction and/or supporting construction, runs through an enclosure designed as a component of the packaging device or runs through a closed channel designed as a component of the packaging device.

In various embodiments, the packaging device may include at least one first manipulator and at least one second manipulator, which are in communication with a control device and/or regulating device. It may be that

- the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator can be actuated via the control device and/or regulating device for applying a plurality of different packaging materials to a respective article group and/or in that
- different article groups can be assigned to the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator via the control device and/or regulating device, wherein it is being provided, that the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator can be actuated by the control device and/or regulating device for applying packaging materials to the different article groups, which different article groups are assigned via the control device and/or regulating device.

Such embodiments with multiple manipulators and multiple working modules are characterized by very high throughput.

It is possible that the at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group is guided along a preferably circulating movement path, which preferably circulating movement path runs both through a working area of the at least one first manipulator and through a working area of the at least one second manipulator.

It is also possible for the packaging device to be designed to produce packs, each of which pack contains several articles, in which packs the articles are formed by beverage containers. In addition or alternatively, it can be provided, that the at least one manipulator can apply or attach packaging material designed as flat packaging blanks to article groups moved into its working area under the action of force, which flat packaging blanks have an associated opening for each article of a respective article group, which article group is moved into the working area via the at least one horizontal conveying device.

The plurality or multiplicity of supporting beams and/or pushing beams can be mounted or attached to the endless traction device individually or at fixed positions as required. The supporting beams and/or pushing beams can thus be adapted to different processing programs. The method and/or the device thus enable, for example, the processing of a wide variety of pack formations and/or beverage container formations, such as 2×2 formations, 2×3 formations, 2×4 formations or other formations.

Beverage container formations that have already been repacked into a tray, for example, 4×6 formations repacked into a tray, can also be processed. Onto 4×6 beverage container formations, which have already been repacked into a tray, for example, four outer packagings in the 2×3 format can be applied or attached in a force-fitting manner, which outer packagings are designed by packaging blanks applied to the upper side of the formations.

The invention also relates to a packaging device for applying packaging materials to at least one article group, comprising

- at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group,
- at least two working modules, each comprising a manipulator for applying formed packaging material to article groups moving within its respective working area,
- wherein a guidance for the supporting beam and/or pushing beam is provided, which guidance, viewed in the transport direction, extends along at least both working areas of the two working modules.

In particular, the guidance extends laterally next to a transport path of the article groups, but parallel to it. The guidance can be, for example, a chain guidance for a driven chain, on which chain guidance the supporting beams and/or pushing beams are arranged. In particular, the device may comprise two laterally arranged guidances, in/on which guidances the supporting beams and/or pushing beams run along. As an alternative to driven chains, a long-stator linear drive with so-called movers can also be used to drive the supporting beams and/or pushing beams, whereby each pushing beam is arranged on a mover—the mover in turn has track rollers, which in turn are arranged in/on the guidance.

As far as possible, all the aspects mentioned before and after this device can also be part of this device.

The invention also relates to a method for applying packaging materials to at least one article group, comprising the following steps:

- pushing of article groups by supporting beams and/or pushing beams being in rear-side contact with the article groups, through two working modules, each comprising a manipulator with a respective working area,
- application of packaging materials onto the article groups by both manipulators within their respective working area, which article groups are moved by the supporting beam and/or pushing beams,
- wherein a rear-side contact of the supporting beam and/or pushing beam against an article group is continuously maintained throughout at least both working modules and working areas by the same supporting beam and/or pushing beam.

As far as possible, all aspects mentioned before and after this method can also be part of this method.

In particular, the initial contact between the supporting beam or pushing beam and the article group takes place before the first working area.

In particular, the contact between the supporting beam or pushing beam and the article group is only released again after the second working module has been left, whereby the second working module is located downstream of the first one as seen in the direction of movement.

With the presented methods and devices, it is possible to apply different packaging materials to the article groups within one working cycle. One working cycle device that there is no interruption of the work of the device.

In particular, blanks of different sizes may be applied to article groups, with the blanks differing in the number of articles to be accommodated.

Thus, the first manipulator in the first working area may at least partially or temporarily apply different blanks to the article groups than the second manipulator in the second working area.

It may be, that one or both manipulators each apply different blanks to the article groups.

It may be, that a manipulator applies two identical blanks to one article group each within one working cycle.

It may be, that a manipulator applies two different blanks to one article group each within one working cycle.

Several magazines can be arranged in or on a working module, which magazines are located within the accessible area of the respective manipulator.

Accordingly, it may be provided, that a manipulator may have access to two or more magazines, in which magazines the either different or identical blanks are made available in store.

In a magazine, two blanks can be arranged next to each other, which blanks are removed together, i.e. at the same time.

The manipulators can be equipped with mutually different tools during a work cycle.

The tool of a manipulator can be so widely designed, so that it can access two closely spaced magazines with the identical or different blanks at the same time.

Finally, at this point another machine configuration should be mentioned, which other machine configuration is also part of the invention described herein. Thus, the present invention comprises a packaging device or packaging machine, which serves for applying packaging materials to at least one article group. The packaging device or packaging machine comprises at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam, which supporting beam and/or pushing beam is provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group, and at least two working modules, each working module comprising a manipulator for applying formed packaging materials to article groups moved within its respective working area.

According to the invention, it is provided that the rear-side contact by the supporting beam and/or pushing beam is maintained with the respectively moved article group at least until the article group leaves the working area of the at least second working module.

In this way, it can be reliably ensured, that the precise transport of articles from one working module to the next is maintained into the next working module, so that the manipulators in the following working modules also receive precise position information, thereby rendering the use of additional sensors to detect the exact position and location of the article groups moving through the modules unnecessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, examples of embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached figures. The size ratios of the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they may be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic detailed view of individual components of the packaging device according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a pack as it can be produced each by the packaging device according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and by the embodiment of the method according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

FIG. 6 shows individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention in the flow chart.

FIGS. 7a to 7e show schematic representation (top view) of embodiments with different packs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Identical reference signs are used for elements of the invention that are identical or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference signs that are necessary for the description of the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The embodiments shown are merely examples of how the invention can be designed and do not represent a conclusive limitation.

The embodiments, examples and variations of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their various views or respective individual features, may be used independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging device 1 according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they may be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (cf. FIG. 4).

The packaging device 1 is designed to produce packs 4, each of which is comprising several articles 2 (cf. FIG. 3). In order to pack up the articles 2 or to produce a pack 4 from several articles 2, the articles 2 are transported along the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR without interruption. Therefore, the articles 2 are not stationary at any time within the packaging device 1, so that the packaging device 1 can produce packs 4 with a high throughput.

In order to be able to apply a respective packaging material 40 to a plurality of articles 2, which are thereby combined into a pack 4, it is first necessary that a respective grouping is formed from these respective articles 2, which grouping comprises all articles 2 intended for a respective pack 4. Therefore, the packaging device 1 possesses a grouping device 10.

For this purpose, the grouping device 10 is capable of briefly accelerating a plurality of articles 2 intended for a respective pack 4 relative to subsequently trailing articles 2, whereby a gap is created between the accelerated articles 2 and the subsequently trailing articles 2 and wherein the already accelerated articles 2 form an article group.

In practice, there are numerous conceivable embodiments for such a grouping device 10. In various embodiments, for example, the grouping device 10 may comprise a plurality of conveyor belts, which conveyor belts have different transport speeds and/or can be operated intermittently and thereby form a respective article group from a plurality of articles 2. Also, grouping devices 10 known already can possess retaining elements, which retaining elements allow for the passing of articles 2 that are being part of an article group to be formed and which retaining elements briefly delay the subsequently trailing articles 2.

Irrespective of the design of the grouping device 10, it is provided in the packaging device 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2, that a supporting beam and/or pushing beam comes into contact with the rear side of a respective article group and accompanies the respective article group during its further movement in the direction of movement BR under rear-side contact.

On the endless traction device 15 and 17, which are arranged in parallel or which are essentially arranged in parallel, a plurality or multiplicity of supporting beams and/or pushing beams is arranged in such a way that a longitudinal extent of a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam runs perpendicular to the direction of movement BR of the articles 2. It is possible in this case, that a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam already comes into contact with the rear side of a respective article group before a respective article group leaves the grouping device 10. Alternatively, it is also possible, that an article group leaves the grouping device 10, whereupon temporally following a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is brought into contact with the rear side of a respective article group.

Via the grouping device 10, the article group is fed into a first working module 20, which first working module 20 comprises a first manipulator 25. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first manipulator 25 is designed as a gantry system or is a component of a gantry system. In further embodiments, the first manipulator 25 may also be designed as a delta kinematic robot or as a further handling device.

The packaging material 40 (cf. FIG. 3), which is designed, for example, as a flat packaging blank 41, can be applied to an article group via the first manipulator 25 of the first working module 20. For this purpose, the article group is moved into the working area AB1 of the first manipulator 25, whereupon the first manipulator 25 presses a respective packaging material 40 or a respective flat packaging blank 41 coming from above onto the respective article group with force.

As can also be seen from FIG. 3, the articles 2 are thereby combined to form a pack 4, in which pack 4 the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 holds the articles 2 of the pack 4 together in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner.

The first manipulator 25 of the first working module 20 is also arranged hanging from a carrying construction and/or supporting construction 22 of the first working module 20 via a linear guide. Along the linear guide, the first manipulator 25 can be moved along with an article group during the application of the respective packaging material 40 or the respective flat packaging blank 41 to the respective article group.

Thus, in such embodiments, there is no need for the article group to be stopped or to remain stationary for the application of the flat packaging blank 41. The production of packs 4 by the packaging device 1 can therefore be done with a comparatively high throughput.

Particularly, as can be seen from the schematic perspective view of FIG. 3, the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 provides an associated opening 42 for each article 2.

In order to be able to apply the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 to an article group via the first manipulator 25 coming from above, the articles 2 must be in an arrangement, in which arrangement the articles 2 are in alignment with the openings 42 of the flat packaging blank 41.

Therefore, problems frequently occur with packaging devices known from the prior art, since it cannot always be guaranteed with certainty that the articles of a respective article group are exactly in a position intended for the application of the flat packaging blank 41, in that the articles 2 are aligned with the openings 42 of the flat packaging blank 41. Because of the force-applied application of flat packaging blanks 41 it is furthermore possible with the devices known from the prior art, that individual articles 2 unintentionally tilt over when a respective flat packaging blank 41 is applied.

As previously mentioned, it is provided in the packaging device 1 that a supporting beam and/or pushing beam accompanies a respective article group under rear-side contact during its movement in the direction of movement BR.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging device 1 further comprises a transfer plate, along which transfer plate a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam pushes a respective article group during its movement through the first working module 20 as well as during its movement through a second working module 30 described below, while bearing against the rear side.

The application of a respective packaging material 40 or of a respective flat packaging blank 41 thus takes place temporally while the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in contact with the rear side of the respective article group with regard to the direction of movement BR of the respective article group. The supporting beam and/or pushing beam can thus support the respective article group by its rear-side contact during the force-applied application of the packaging material 40 or during the force-applied application of the flat packaging blank 41, so that as a result the risk of unintentional tilting of articles 2 is kept low. Due to the rear-side contact with the respective article group and the pushing of the respective article group in the direction of movement BR, the position of the articles 2 of a respective article group corresponds exactly to a predetermined nominal position, so that the flat packaging blank 41 accurately targets the articles 2 of the respective article group with its openings 42 when applied to the article group.

The first working module 20 is followed in the direction of movement BR by the second working module 30, which second working module 30 comprises a second manipulator 35. Both, the first manipulator 25 of the first working module 20 and the second manipulator 35 of the second working module 30 are in communication with a control device and/or regulating device S.

The control device and/or regulating device S assigns different article groups to the first manipulator 25 and the second manipulator 35. Furthermore, the first manipulator 25 and the second manipulator 35 are actuated via the control device and/or regulating device S in such a way, that the first manipulator 25 applies packaging material 40 only to article groups which have been assigned to it by the control device and/or regulating device S.

The second manipulator 35 applies packaging material 40 only to article groups that have been assigned to the second manipulator 35 by the control device and/or regulating device S. The first manipulator 25 and the second manipulator 35 thus cooperate to apply at least one respective packaging material 40 to all article groups.

Article groups that have been assigned to the second manipulator 35 can thus pass through the working area AP1 of the first manipulator 25 without a packaging material 40 being applied to them.

A respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam also pushes a respective article group under rear-side contact through the working area AP2 of the second manipulator 35, so that the second manipulator 35 can also apply a respective packaging material 40 to a respective article group, while a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in rear-side contact with a respective article group. Due to the rear-side contact of the supporting beam and/or pushing beam, the article group is exactly located at a position, which position is expected for the application of the flat packaging blank 41.

Together with the applied packaging material 40 or with the applied flat packaging blank 41, a respective article group leaves the second working module 30 and can be moved by the transport device and handling device 50 in the direction of a palletizing station and/or in the direction of further stations. It may be the case, for example, that blanks of thermoplastic packaging material are applied to packs 4 and the packs 4 are then guided through a shrink tunnel.

Considering the detailed view according to FIG. 2, further aspects of the packaging device 1 become clear. In FIG. 2 the carrying construction and/or supporting construction 22 formed as a component of the first working module 20 and the carrying construction and/or supporting construction 32 formed as a component of the second working module 30 can now be seen in detail. The carrying construction and/or supporting construction 22 formed as a component of the first working module 20 specifies a periphery of the first working module 20. Likewise, the carrying construction and/or supporting construction 32 of the second working module 30 specifies a periphery of the second working module 30.

The endless traction device 15 and 17, to which the supporting beams and/or pushing beams are attached, and which provide a circulating movement path for the supporting beams and/or pushing beams attached thereto, run in sections outside the respective periphery, which peripheries are specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting constructions 22 and 32 of the first working module 20 and the second working module 30.

The schematic diagram FIG. 2 also shows that the endless traction device 15 and 17 also run above the respective periphery, which is specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting constructions 22 and 32 of the first working module 20 and the second working module 30. Advantageously, this can prevent a user from unintentionally coming into contact with the endless traction device 15 and 17 and possibly injuring himself in the process.

Also, no complex guidances are necessary to arrange the endless traction device 15 and 17 in confined spaces of the first and second working modules 20 and 30. If the endless traction device 15 and 17 show signs of wear or need maintenance or lubrication, the endless traction device 15 and 17 are therefore accessible for this purpose above the first working module 20 and the second working module 30.

FIG. 2 also shows that the packaging device 1 comprises a blank feeder 7, which is arranged below a transport level, which transport level is provided for the articles 2. Packaging blanks, which are not shown in the figures, can be introduced into the transport path of the already produced packs 4 via the blank feeder 7, whereby the packs 4 are moved onto a respective blank and are then arranged on the respective blank.

The blanks or packaging blanks can, for example, be designed as so-called trays, which trays have lateral and upwardly folded flaps.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, first the packs 4 are formed, whereupon the finished packs 4 then move onto a respective blank. In practice, embodiments have proven successful, in which embodiments at least one article group moves onto a respective blank of this type, onto which respective at least one article group no flat packaging blank 41 has been applied yet.

Following this, a respective flat packaging blank 41 can be applied to the respective article group via the respective manipulator 25 or 35, with the respective article group being located on such a blank or on a tray. Since the respective blank has lateral flaps, which flaps are in an upright orientation, the respective article group is also maintained in a stable manner by the blank or by its lateral flaps during the application of the flat packaging blank 41, so that the risk of unintentional tilting of articles 2 can be further reduced.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a pack 4 as it can be produced with various embodiments of the packaging device 1 according to the invention and with various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention.

The pack 4 in the example shown in FIG. 3 comprises eight articles 2, each of which articles 2 is in the form of a beverage can, and a packaging material 40 or a flat packaging blank 41 by which the articles 2 are held together and are held in defined positions. The flat packaging blank 41 can, for example, be made of plastic or cardboard and/or paperboard.

In alternative embodiments, the articles 2 can also be formed by beverage bottles. The number of eight articles 2 or eight beverage containers is to be understood merely as exemplary, so that by a packaging device 1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, packs 4 can also be produced, which packs 4 comprise a number deviating from this, for example comprising exactly four or six articles 2 or comprising exactly four or six beverage containers.

FIG. 3 shows that the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 provides a respective opening 42 for each article 2, through which opening 42 the respective beverage container 2 passes with an upper part. In order to apply the flat packaging blank 41 to the articles 2 of a respective article group, the packaging blank 41 is pressed onto the articles 2 with a defined force in the direction coming from above, wherein the articles 2 pass through the openings 42 with their upper part. The application is carried out by a manipulator 25 or 35, as has been described above for FIG. 1.

During application, a supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in rear-side contact with articles 2 of the pack 4 to be formed, thereby providing the exact position for the respective articles 2 for the application of the flat packaging blank 41 and also preventing the articles 2 from unintentional tilting during application.

FIG. 3 also illustrates that the articles 2 must be aligned with each other, so that when the packaging blank 41 is applied, the articles 2 can pass through the openings 42 with their upper part. For this purpose, the supporting beam and/or pushing beam is provided, which aligns the articles 2 of the pack 4 and pushes them in a direction of movement BR.

The alignment of the articles 2 with respect to each other is such, that the articles 2 along their respective longitudinal direction are aligned with their respectively assigned opening 42 of the packaging blank 41. After the packaging blank 41 has been applied to the articles 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the articles 2 are held together by the packaging blank 41 in a form-fit and force-fit manner.

It is conceivable, that the articles 2 of the pack 4 are held together by further connections not shown in FIG. 3. In particular, an adhesive connection can be formed between lateral mantle surfaces of directly adjoining articles 2.

In addition, as already mentioned above, several article groups can be arranged standing on a tray before the application of the respective packaging material 40 or before the application of the respective flat packaging blank 41, which tray has several lateral edge regions folded in the upward direction. The tray can be introduced into a transport path of the articles 2 from below a transport plane, which transport plane is provided for moving the articles 2, with a respective article group then moving onto a respective tray.

The schematic view of FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a packaging device 1 according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. Hereby, an already produced tray pack 5 is fed to the packaging device 1 in a 4×6 formation. In the embodiment variation according to FIG. 4, the tray 5 with the respective article group in the 4×6 formation is conveyed through the following working modules 20 and 30 by the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6.

As can be seen from the schematic top view of FIG. 4, several trays 5 are conveyed successively through the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR (from right to left) on transfer plates 52 and equipped with packaging material 40 by the first and second working modules 20 and 30. In the interest of a high machine throughput a sensible sequence of operations can provide for two 2×3 formations in the first working module 20 to be initially equipped with packaging material 40 in the form of flat packaging blanks 41, which packaging blanks 41 are put on the top of six articles 2. These are the 2×3 formations located closer to the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6. The transfer plat and the supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6 form the horizontal conveying device 54

Subsequently, in the second working module 30, the remaining two 2×3 formations located within the tray 5 are equipped with packaging material 40 in the form of flat packaging blanks 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2. These are the 2×3 formations located further away from the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6, i.e. the two packs or 2×3 formations at the front seen in the direction of movement BR.

The schematic top view of FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the packaging device 1 according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out a further variant of the method according to the invention. The packaging device 1 shown in FIG. 5 comprises four working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement BR, in which working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 trays 5 with articles 2 are conveyed by the packaging device 1, which articles 2 are equipped with packaging material 40.

Also, in the variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an already produced tray pack 5 is fed to the packaging device 1 in a 4×6 formation. The trays 5 or tray packs 5 are conveyed with the respective article group in the 4×6 formation through the following modules 20 and 30 as well as 60 and 70 by the respective supporting beams and/or pushing beams 6.

As can be seen from the schematic top view of FIG. 5, several trays 5 are conveyed successively through the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR (from right to left) and are respectively equipped in succession with packaging material 40 by the first, second, third and fourth working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70. In the interest of a high machine throughput a sensible sequence of operations can provide, that in the first working module 20 initially only one of a total of four 2×3 formations is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2 standing next to each other in a rectangular arrangement (2×3 formation) within the tray 5. This is the right 2×3 formation located closer to the supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6.

Subsequently, in the second working module 30, which is arranged downstream of the first working module 20 in the direction of movement BR, a further of the total of four 2×3 formations is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2 arranged in a rectangular arrangement (2×3 formation) within the tray 5. In the second working module 30, this is the left 2×3 formation closer to the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6.

After passing through the second working module 30, within the tray 5 two 2×3 formations are thus already equipped with packaging blanks 41.

Subsequently, in the third working module 60, which is arranged downstream of the second working module 30 in the direction of movement BR, a further 2×3 formation within the tray 5 is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2. This is the left 2×3 formation of the two 2×3 formations located more distant from the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6, i.e. the left pack on the front or the left 2×3 formation on the front seen in the direction of movement BR.

Finally, in the fourth working module 70, which is arranged downstream of the third working module 60 in the direction of movement BR, a further 2×3 formation within the tray 5 is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2. This is the right 2×3 formation of the two 2×3 formations located more distant from the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6, i.e. the right pack on the front or the right 2×3 formation on the front seen in the direction of movement BR.

FIG. 5 thus shows an embodiment, where within each of the four working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 one respective manipulator (not described in more detail here) applies only one packaging blank 41 at a time to a 2×3 rectangular arrangement of articles 2 within the larger tray pack 5; which allows a correspondingly high throughput of tray packs 5 when the interacting working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 are appropriately coordinated.

The supporting beams and/or pushing beams 6 running continuously through the packaging device 1, which according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are also guided in a circulating manner at synchronized distances from one another and which are returned to the starting point for conveying further trays 5, enable very precise machine control and positioning of the corresponding manipulators without the need for time-consuming transfer procedures between the working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70.

Finally, in a flow diagram FIG. 6 shows individual steps, which may be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 according to the embodiment shown in to FIG. 6 can be implemented or carried out by a packaging device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The method 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can also be implemented or carried out by a packaging device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

With the method 100, several articles 2 are combined via a packaging material 40 to form a pack 4. In a first step, to which reference is made with number 110, article groups are formed in each instance from several articles 2, for which purpose the articles 2 intended for a respective article group are separated or accelerated for a short time from other articles 2.

In method step 120, a supporting beam and/or pushing beam is then brought into contact with the rear side of the respective article group with respect to a direction of movement BR of the respective article group and then pushes the respective article group through at least one working area AP1 or AP2 of at least one manipulator 25 or 35.

In method step 130, the at least one manipulator 25 or 35 then applies at least on packaging material 40 to a respective article group pushed into its working area AP1 or AP2. The respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam continues to be in contact with the rear side of the respective article group with respect to a direction of movement BR of the respective article group.

FIG. 7 shows various examples of article groups or packs with different blanks. The blanks 41 differ in size and can combine different numbers of articles 2 into one pack.

FIG. 7a shows three identical packs, each with eight articles 2 on a tray.

FIG. 7b shows six packs, each with four articles 2 on a tray.

FIG. 7c shows four packs, each with four articles 2, and one pack with eight articles on a tray.

FIG. 7d shows two packs, each with four articles and one pack each with two, six and eight articles 2 on a tray.

FIG. 7e shows five packs on a tray, three with four articles 2 and two with six articles 2.

The respective blanks may have been applied by two or three or more manipulators. For example, the eight comprising blank in FIG. 7c may have been applied by the first manipulator and the other blanks by a second manipulator.

Finally, the following should be pointed out. Even though the figures generally refer to “schematic” representations and views, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description should be of secondary importance with respect to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite capable of obtaining enough information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations to facilitate his understanding of the invention without being impaired in any way in his understanding, for example, by the drawn proportions, which proportions may not be exactly to scale. The figures thus enable the skilled person as a reader to derive a better understanding of the idea of the invention described in a more general and/or abstract manner in the claims as well as in the general part of the description on the basis of the more exactly explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more exactly explained mode of operation of the packaging device according to the invention.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable to one skilled in the art that variations or modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of protection of the claims below.

List of Reference Signs

1 packaging device

2 article

4 pack

5 tray, tray pack

6 supporting beam and/or pushing beam

7 blank feeder

10 grouping device

15 endless traction device

17 endless traction device

20 first working module

22 carrying construction and/or supporting construction

25 first manipulator

30 second working module

32 carrying construction and/or supporting construction

35 second manipulator

40 packaging material

41 flat packaging blank

42 opening

50 transport device and handling device

52 transfer plate

54 horizontal conveying device

60 third working module

70 fourth working module

100 method

110 first step

120 method step

130 method step

AP1 working area (first manipulator 25)

AP2 working area (second manipulator 35)

BR direction of movement

S control device and/or regulating device

PACKAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

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