Packaging Machine and Method for Packaging a Container Group Consisting of Multiple Containers

Abstract

A tray packer includes a positioning-and-folding unit, an application unit, and a storage-and-feed unit. The positioning-and-folding unit arranges a container group on a packaging blank's bottom and places its sides against the group. The application unit places a material blank on the group opposite the bottom portion such as to form a bundle. The storage-and-feed unit stores and provides the material blanks to the application unit. The application unit comprises a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that the tool plate adjusts between engagement positions with the containers. The circular path spans a plane oriented parallel to a transport plane along which the groups travel.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. An apparatus comprising a packaging machine, said packaging machine comprising a tray packer for packing a container group that includes containers in a packaging blank, said packaging blank including a bottom portion and side portions, wherein said tray packer comprises a positioning-and-folding unit, a transport unit, an application unit, and a storage-and-feed unit, wherein said positioning-and-folding unit is configured for arranging said container group on said bottom portion and for laterally placing said side portions against said container group, wherein said transport unit is configured for conveying said container group along a transport plane in said transport direction through said packaging machine, wherein said application unit is configured for placing a material blank on said container group opposite said bottom portion such as to form a bundle, wherein said storage-and-feed unit is configured for storing and providing said material blanks to said application unit, wherein said application unit comprises a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that said tool plate is adjustable between an outer engagement position and an inner engagement position with said containers, and wherein said circular path spans a plane oriented parallel to said transport plane.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a formatting unit for forming said container group, wherein said application unit follows said formatting unit in said transport direction and wherein said positioning-and-folding unit follows said application unit in said transport direction.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a formatting unit for forming said container group, wherein said positioning-and-folding unit follows said formatting unit in said transport direction and wherein said application unit follows said positioning-and-folding unit in said transport direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said tray packer is further configured for covering said container group with a shrink film and for shrinking said shrink film.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said application unit is configured for separating said material blanks and wherein said tool plate comprises cutting elements for separating connecting webs that connect said container group portions of said material blanks.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said application unit comprises a drive unit that is configured such as to move said pressing element in such a way that said tool plate is adjustable between an outer engagement position and an inner engagement position with said containers, wherein said drive unit comprises a first drive disk and a second drive disk, said first and second drive disks being parallel and separated from each other by a distance, wherein said first and second drive disks are rotatable about respective first and second rotation axes that are oriented perpendicular to said transport direction, parallel to said transport plane, separated from said transport plane by said interval, and offset from each other along said transport direction, wherein said pressing element comprises first and second jointed axles, wherein said pressing element is connected by said first jointed axle in a jointed manner to said first drive disk, and wherein said pressing element is connected by said second jointed axle in a jointed manner to said second drive disk in such a way that, at a rotation of said two drive disks about said respective rotation axes, said tool plate is oriented parallel to said transport plane.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said pressing element is configured such that said tool plate is detachable.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said pressing element comprises first and second jointed axles, wherein said application unit comprises a drive unit that comprises a first drive disk and a second drive disk, said first and second drive disks being parallel and separated from each other by a distance, and wherein said first and said second drive disks comprise receiving openings for detachable arrangement of said jointed axles.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said application unit comprises a drive unit that comprises a first drive disk and a second drive disk, wherein each of said drive disks comprises several receiving openings distributed along a corresponding circumference of said drive disk such that several pressing elements are securable to said drive disks, and wherein said receiving openings are separated by any one of a plurality of selectable distances, said selectable distances being product divisions of 160 millimeters, 240 millimeters, and 320 millimeters.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, herein said application unit comprises a drive unit that comprises a first drive disk and a second drive disk, each of which comprises at least eight receiving openings arranged around a circular path having a circumference of 960 millimeters, wherein at least three receiving openings are arranged equidistant from one another in a first group, at least three receiving openings are arranged equidistant from one another in a second group and opposite said receiving openings of said first group, and wherein two individual receiving openings are arranged between said first and second groups, which are all arranged along said circular path.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said application unit is a first application unit and said tray packer further comprises second and third application units, wherein said second and third application units are arranged next to one another transversely to said transport direction, and wherein said application units are of identical structural design.

28. A method comprising packing a container group of several containers in a packaging blank that has a bottom portion and side portions, wherein packing said container group comprises using a packaging machine to carry out steps of arranging said container group on said bottom portion, laterally placing said side portions against said container group, conveying said container group along a transport plane in said transport direction through said packaging machine, providing a material blank to an application unit, and applying said material blank to said region of said container group, which is opposite said bottom portion, using of said application unit, thereby forming a bundle, wherein said application unit comprises a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that said tool plate is adjustable between an outer engagement position and an inner engagement position with said containers and wherein said circular path spans a plane that is oriented parallel to said transport plane.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising forming said container group from several containers, applying a material blank, which has been provided at said application unit, to a region of said container group that is opposite said bottom portion, positioning said container group on said bottom portion of said packaging blank, and placing one or more side portions of said packaging blank laterally against said container group.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising forming said container group from several containers, positioning said container group on said bottom portion, placing one or more of said side portions of said packaging blank laterally against said container group, and placing a material blank in a region of said container group that is opposite said bottom portion, said material blank having been provided at said application unit.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said container group is one of several container groups that are parallel to each other and wherein said method further comprises connecting said container groups to one or more material blanks.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said container group is one of several container groups that are parallel to each other and wherein said method further comprises connecting said container groups to one or more material blanks and, while doing so, separating webs that connect material blanks to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an application unit of a packaging machine;

[0058] FIG. 2 shows the application unit from FIG. 1, in interaction with grouped containers;

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of an application unit of a packaging machine;

[0060] FIG. 4a shows a first embodiment of a packaging machine with several application units;

[0061] FIG. 4b shows a view from above onto the packaging machine from FIG. 4a in the region of the application units;

[0062] FIG. 5a shows a sectional representation of a further embodiment of a packaging machine with an application unit;

[0063] FIG. 5b shows a view from above onto the packaging machine from FIG. 5a in the region of the application unit;

[0064] FIG. 5c shows a view from above onto a material blank processed in the packaging machine according to the FIG. 5a;

[0065] FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool plate;

[0066] FIG. 6b shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a material blank; and

[0067] FIG. 6c shows a perspective representation of an interaction of the material blank from FIG. 6b with the tool plate according to FIG. 6a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an application unit 1a in position relative to several container groups 4 moving along a transport direction 27. The container groups 4 have been assembled from containers 3 by a packaging machine, which has been omitted from the figure for clarity.

[0069] The application unit 1a includes a drive 6a that has first and second drive disks 11a, 12a. These disks 11a, 12a rotate about respective first and second rotation axes 9a, 10a. This rotation drives four pressing elements 7a that are distributed uniformly over the circumferences of the first and second drive disks 11a, 12a. A line perpendicular to the drive disks 11a, 11b extends across a gap between the disks 11a, 11b in a direction transverse to the transport direction 27.

[0070] The first drive disk 11a rotates about its first rotation axis 9a. The second drive disk 12a rotates about its second rotation axis 10a. The first and second rotation axes 9a, 10a, as seen in the transport direction 27, are arranged one behind another and at a distance from one another. However, the first and second rotation axes 9a, 10a are at the same height above a transport plane along which the containers 3 travel.

[0071] The drive unit 6a adjusts the pressing elements 7a using tool plates 8a that are arranged between the first and second drive disks 11a, 12a.

[0072] A first jointed axle 13a connects the pressing elements 7a to the first disk 11a. A second jointed axle 25a connects the pressing elements to the second disk 12a. Jointed bolts 24 couple the pressing elements 7a to the drive disks 11a, 12a. The jointed bolts 24 are mounted using rotational joints that are on the pressing elements 7a. These are arranged with their free ends opposite square elements 27 arranged in square receiving openings 14a in the first and second drive disks 11a, 12a. In some embodiments, the square elements 27 have a different shape. As a result, the square receiving openings 14a will also have a different shape.

[0073] The pressing elements 7a at the first and second drive disks 11a, 11b are arranged such that the first and second jointed axles 13a, 25a are coupled to the same pressing element 7a. This allows the pressing element 7a to maintain the same height above the transport plane. As a result, the pressing elements 7a and the tool plates 8a arranged thereon remain horizontal during the rotation of the drive disks 11a, 12a, remain parallel to the transport plane, and parallel to the containers 3 that are arranged in a container group 4 traveling along the transport plane.

[0074] Each of the first and second drive disks 11a, 12a has a first group 20a of three receiving openings 14a. The three receiving openings 14a of the first group 20a are arranged to be equidistant from each other along the disk's circumference. Similarly, each of the first and second drive disks 11a, 12a has a second group 21a of three receiving openings 14a. The three receiving openings 14a of the second group 21a are likewise arranged to be equidistant from each other along the disk's circumference.

[0075] The receiving openings 14a of the first group 20a on the first drive disk 11a are located opposite corresponding receiving openings 14a of the first group 20a on the second drive disk 11b. Similarly, receiving openings 14a of the second group 21a on the first drive disk 11a are located opposite corresponding receiving openings 14a of the second group 21a on the second drive disk 11b. Two further receiving openings 14a are each arranged opposite each other in the middle between the first group 20a and the second group 21a on the circular path.

[0076] The drive unit rotates the first and second drive disks 11a, 12a about their respective rotation axes 9a, 10a. As a result, the pressing elements 7a rotate, with their respective tool plates 8a, about the first and second rotation axes 9a, 10a. As they do so, the tool plates 8a come into engagement with containers 3 that have been assembled to form container groups 4, In doing so, they move the material blanks 2a, which have been arranged on the container groups 4, in the direction onto the containers 3.

[0077] In the position shown in FIG. 1, the blanks 2a are laid onto the container groups 4 to form bundles. In the position shown in FIG. 2, the holes 23 of the material blanks 2a are laid over the top side of the containers 3 such that the holes 23 and containers 3 are coaxial at the top ends of the containers 3.

[0078] As the container groups 4 are guided along the transport direction 27, an interaction with the tool plates 8a moves the material blanks 2a from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2. In the course of this interaction, the tool plates 8a guide the material blanks 3, hold them parallel to the top ends of the containers 3, and move them from an outer engagement position into an inner engagement position with the container groups 4.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an application unit 1b. The application unit 1b features a drive unit 6b that comprises two wheel-shaped drive disks 11b, 12b. The first drive disk 11b rotates about a first rotation axis 9b and the second drive disk 12b rotates about a second rotation axis 10b. Screws 22 provide a jointed arrangement of the pressing elements 7b at the first drive disk 11b and at the second drive disk 12b by means of which jointed bolts 24, extending through the pressing elements 7b, form a joint with the first and second drive disks 11b, 12b. These jointed bolts 24 form the first and second jointed axes 13b, 25b of the pressing elements 7b.

[0080] Unlike the receiving openings 14a of the drive unit 6a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second drive disks 11b, 12b of the application unit 1b shown in FIG. 3 comprise circular receiving openings 14b through which the screws 22 extend. By analogy with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first and second drive disks 11b, 12b comprise first and second groups 20b, 21b of receiving openings, which are arranged opposite one another. Two additional receiving openings 14b are arranged between the two receiving opening groups 20b, 21b, along the circular path between the two receiving opening groups 20b, 21b.

[0081] A drive motor 15 arranged at a frame 18 drives the drive unit 6b. A pair of first toothed wheels 16 transfers the drive motor's rotational movement to a pair of second toothed wheels 17 that are connected to provide torque that turns the drive disks 11b 12b. In a preferred embodiment, the drive motor 15 is an electric motor, and in particular, a servomotor.

[0082] The drive unit 6b sets the first and second drive disks 11b, 12b into rotation about their first and second rotation axes 9b, 10b. As a result, the pressing elements 7b, with their allocated tool plates 8b, which are permanently horizontal, rotate with the drive disks 11b, 12b.

[0083] The tool plate 8b comprises openings 19 that match the containers 3 of the container groups 4 that are to be processed. This allows for a displacement of the material blank 2a in the direction of the containers 3, thus forming the bundles 5.

[0084] FIG. 4a shows a packaging machine 28a having three application units 1a and three associated storage-and-feed units 32. The three application units 1a and the three storage-and-feed units 32 are arranged next to one another transversely to the transport direction 27. As a result of the perspective shown in FIG. 4a, only one of the three application units 1a and only one of the three storage-and-feed units 32 can be seen. Since the three application units 1a have identical structure and function, reference is made hereinafter only to one of the application units 1a.

[0085] Containers 3 that have been assembled to form a container group 4 are guided along the transport direction 27 in the packaging machine 28a towards the application unit 1a. Meanwhile, material blanks 2a, which are stored in the storage-and-feed unit 32, are guided to the application unit 1a to be attached to the container groups 4. FIG. 4b, which is a view from above, shows three such container groups 4 in parallel. This corresponds to the three application units 1a referred to in connection with FIG. 4a.

[0086] A positioning-and-folding unit 31 follows the application unit 1a in the transport direction 27. Within the positioning-and-folding unit 31, the bundles 5 are arranged on a bottom portion 33 of a packaging blank 29. The side portions 34 of the packaging blank 29, which project laterally from its bottom portion 33, are then brought into contact with the sides of the bundle 5. A transport belt 30 then conveys the bundles 5 out of the packaging machine 28a.

[0087] FIG. 5b shows a further embodiment of a packaging machine 28b. Unlike that shown in FIG. 4a, the packaging machine 28b of FIG. 5a has only one application unit 1c and only one storage-and-feed unit 32. Additionally, the positioning-and-folding unit 31 is upstream of the application 1c. Within the positioning-and-folding unit 31, the container groups 4 are arranged on the bottom portions 33 of the packaging blanks 29. The side portions 34 of the packaging blanks 29, which project from the bottom portion 33, are brought into contact with the sides of the container groups 4. Material blanks 2b provided and delivered by the storage-and-feed unit 32 are guided to the application unit 1c.

[0088] Unlike the packaging machine 28a represented in FIG. 4a, the drive unit 6c of the application unit 1c comprises tool plates 8c that are configured such as to separate the material blanks 2b from one another to form several container group portions 36a.

[0089] In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5c, an arrangement of connecting webs 35 defines a material blank 2b that has six container group portions 36a in a 3×2 arrangement. The tool plate 8c comprises cutting elements 37 that separate the container group portions 36a from one another during the application of the material blank 2b to the container groups 4. Following this, the bundles 5, which are arranged on and later in the packaging blank 28b and provided with the material blanks 2b, are transported out of the packaging machine 28b.

[0090] FIG. 6a shows a further embodiment of a tool plate 8d to process the material blanks 2c according to FIG. 6b. Each of these material blanks 2c defines four container group sections 36b.

[0091] The tool plate 8d comprises cutting elements 37 extending in the transport direction 27 and transverse to the transport direction 27. The cutting elements 37 are configured such as to separate the connecting webs 35 of the material blank, which connect the container group sections 36b as shown in FIG. 6b. The interaction of the tool plate 8d with the material blank 2c is illustrated in the perspective view shown in FIG. 6c.