Method and device for applying additive packaging material

Abstract

Presented and described are a device for separately applying additive packaging material, preferably wrapped straws, supplied as an additive packaging material continuous belt, to packages, in particular cardboard composite packages, having a separating organ for separating the additive packaging material of the additive packaging material continuous belt, a supply means for supplying the additive packaging material continuous belt to the separating organ and for relaying the additive packaging material separated by the separating organ, an application means for applying the separated additive packaging materials to the packages and a transport means for transporting the packages along a package transport path to the application means. So that the separation and application of the additive packaging materials can be carried out quickly, with high quality and reliably, it is provided that a transfer means is provided for picking up the additive packaging material relayed from the supply means and for accelerating the transferred additive packaging material to a speed adapted to the application means.

Claims

1. A device for separately applying additive packaging materials, supplied as an additive packaging material continuous belt, to packages, the device having a separating organ for separating the additive packaging materials of the additive packaging material continuous belt, a supply section comprising a carousel which rotates about a central axis for supplying the additive packaging material continuous belt to the separating organ and for relaying the additive packaging materials separated by the separating organ, an application section consisting of an application wheel with an applicator rotating about an axis of rotation for applying the separated additive packaging materials to the packages, and a transport section comprising a transport belt provided with cams for transporting the packages along a package transport path to the application section, wherein a transfer section comprising a transfer wheel rotatable about a central axis is provided for picking up the additive packaging materials relayed by the supply section and for rotationally accelerating the picked up additive packaging materials to a speed adapted to the application section in such a way that the transfer section delivers the additive packaging materials to the application section at a circumferential speed which corresponds to a speed at which the additive packaging materials are applied to the packages.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supply section is for stepwise transport of the additive packaging materials and is designed to be cyclically drivable.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the separating organ is designed to be cyclically drivable synchronously with the supply section.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carousel has recesses distributed over its circumference for transport of the additive packaging materials to the separating organ and for relaying the additive packaging materials.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein radial notches are incorporated between the recesses for receiving the separating organ during separation of the additive packaging materials.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the application wheel is drivable at a circumferential speed corresponding to a transport speed of the packages.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer wheel can be rotated at variable circumferential speeds.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the additive packaging materials are transferred from the carousel of the supply section to the transfer wheel of the transfer section at a pick-up position while the carousel and the transfer wheel move at the same speed.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transport section is associated with at least one adhesive application section for gluing the packages supplied to the application section along the package transport path.

10. A method for separately applying additive packaging materials, supplied in an additive packaging material continuous belt, to packages, using the device according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: supplying an additive packaging material continuous belt to the separating organ by means of the supply section, separating additive packaging materials of the additive packaging material continuous belt on the supply section by means of the separating organ, relaying the separated additive packaging materials by means of the supply section, picking up and rotationally accelerating the separated additive packaging materials to a speed adapted to the application section by means of the transfer section, delivering the accelerated additive packaging materials from the transfer section to the application section at a circumferential speed corresponding to a speed at which the additive packaging materials are applied to packages, and applying the additive packaging materials by means of the application section to packages moved past the application section along a package transport path by the transport section.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the supply section and the transfer section are driven cyclically, and/or in wherein the application section is driven continuously constant speed.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the supply section stands still when separating the additive packaging materials using the separating organ and/or when relaying the additive packaging materials.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transfer section picks up the separated additive packaging materials directly from the supply section at a pick-up position, and/or wherein the transfer section directly delivers said separated additive packaging materials to the application section at a delivery position, and/or wherein the additive packaging materials are relayed from the carousel of the supply section to the transfer wheel of the transfer section by rotating the carousel and the transfer wheel, and/or wherein the additive packaging materials are relayed from the transfer wheel of the transfer section to the application wheel of the application section by rotating the transfer wheel and the application wheel.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the application wheel rotates at a constant speed for picking up and applying the additive packaging materials and wherein the additive packaging materials, by means of the transfer section, are accelerated to a circumferential speed of the application section until the delivery of the additive packaging materials to the application section.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the circumferential speed at which the additive packaging materials are delivered from the transfer section to the application section corresponds to a circumferential speed at which the additive packaging materials are applied to the packages.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to drawings showing an exemplary embodiment, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1A-C shows a top view of a device according to the invention and a part of an additive packaging material continuous belt for processing with the device and a package with an additive packaging material applied to the package by the device, in each case in a side view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a supply means of the device from FIG. 1A comprising a separating organ in top view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detail of an application means of the device from FIG. 1A in top view,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail of the device from FIG. 1A in the region of a pick-up position of a transfer means in a perspective representation, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a detail of the device from FIG. 1A in the region of a delivery position of a transfer means in a perspective representation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1A shows a device 1 for applying additive packaging material 2 in the form of wrapped straws 3 to previously filled and sealed packages 4 in the form of cardboard composite packages, which here are designed as drinks carton composite packages. The additive packaging materials 2 are pulled into the device 1 from a supply means 6 in the form of an additive packaging material continuous belt 5, which device supplies the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 to a separating device 7. The separating device 7 separates the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 into individual additive packaging materials 2 which are further transported from the supply means 6 to a transfer means 8 from which the additive packaging materials 2 are picked up individually and one after the other. This pick-up of the additive packaging materials 2 is carried out at a low speed of the transfer means 8 or the additive packaging material 2. At other points, the additive packaging materials 2 are delivered from the transfer means 8 to an application means 9, wherein the transfer means 8 is intermittently accelerated so that the delivery of the additive packaging material 2 to the application means 9 is carried out at a significantly higher speed.

(8) The application means 9 applies the additive packaging material 2 relayed from the transfer means 8 to the application means 9 in an application position 19 in series to the packages 4 transported past the application position 19. The transport of the packages 4 along a package transport path 10 and past the application means 9 is carried out using a transport means 11. Thus, the packages 4 are transported by the transport means 11 at a constant speed past the application means 9, in particular the application position 19. For this purpose, the depicted and insofar preferred transport means 11 has a transport belt 14 provided with cams 13 which extends in the transport direction of the packages 4. The individual cams 13 are in interlocking engagement with the packages 4 and move the packages 4 along the application means 9 at defined intervals and at a defined speed.

(9) The application means 9 is designed as an application wheel 1 in the depicted and insofar preferred embodiment which has a plurality of applicators 17 rotating about the axis of rotation 16 of the application wheel 15 and uniformly distributed over the circumference of the application wheel 15. The applicators 17 respectively pick up an additive packaging material 2 at a delivery position 18 and bring it to the application position 19 for it to be applied there to a package 4 transported past.

(10) The connection between the additive packaging material 2 and the package 4 is achieved in the depicted exemplary embodiment by an adhesive bond, although other connections are also conceivable. Hot glue is used as the adhesive which is applied pointwise to the sides 12 of the packages 4 by adhesive application means 20, in particular in the form of adhesive application nozzles, arranged on a package transport path 10. At the application position 19, an additive packaging material 2 is respectively pressed into the hot glue points. To hold the additive packaging material 2 applied in this way in position and to provide the hot glue with a certain setting time, a pressure belt 22 presses the freshly applied additive packaging materials 2 against the packages 4 immediately from the application position 19 over a certain distance while the packages 4 are transported further.

(11) The additive packaging materials 2 are supplied to the device 1 in the form of an additive packaging material continuous belt 5, which is partially depicted in more detail in FIG. 1B, and applied to packages 4 after separation. The additive packaging materials 2 are composed of a straw 3 and two films 23. There are various different forms of straws 3, however, in particular at least partially U-shaped or I-shaped straws 3 are referred to. The depicted and insofar preferred additive packaging material continuous belt 5 comprises U-shaped straws 3. The films 23 are sealed at their edges 24 and form a pouch 25 therebetween in which the straw 3 is received. In other words, the straw 3 is wrapped in film 23. The additive packaging material continuous belt 5 is formed by a succession of additive packaging materials 2, wherein respectively the films of adjacent additive packaging materials 2 are connected to one another. In the depicted and insofar preferred additive packaging material continuous belt 5, the straws 3 are received between two films extending along the entire additive packaging material continuous belt 5. In other words, the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 is a “continuous” sequence of additive packaging material units. A package 4 with an additive packaging material 2 which is applied thereto and separated from the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 is depicted as an example in FIG. 1C. The additive packaging material 2 is applied somewhat diagonally to the associated side 12 of the package 4, however, this does not necessarily has to be the case.

(12) The depicted and insofar preferred packages 4 comprise a flowable foodstuff, in particular a drink. In addition, the package 4 is a cardboard composite package, thus a drinks carton composite package. The packaging is formed of a packaging laminate which comprises layers made of different packaging materials, specifically at least cardboard and plastic. The plastic layers are provided on the outer sides of the packaging laminate and formed by thermoplastic materials, in particular polyethylene (PE). By folding and sealing the packaging laminate, the package 4 is formed and sealed. As required, the packaging laminate is printed with a decor on one side.

(13) A detail of the device 1 from FIG. 1A comprising the supply means 6 is depicted in FIG. 2. The supply means 6 comprises a carousel 27 which rotates in a clockwise direction about a central axis of rotation 26, which carousel has recesses 28 distributed over its circumference for partially receiving 28 the additive packaging material 2. The recesses 28 are modelled to the shapes of the straws 3 so that the straws 3 and thus the additive packaging materials 2 are held in an interlocking manner in the recesses 28. So that the additive packaging materials 2 remain in the recesses 28, a fixed side wall 21 is provided circumferentially. In the area of the entry of the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 from the supply means 6, a torsion spring-loaded clamping plate 30 is provided which circumferentially guides the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 and presses it against the carousel 27 and the recesses 28. The clamping plate 30 merges into the side wall 21 seen in the transport direction of the additive packaging material continuous belt 5. If a new additive packaging material continuous belt 5 is to be inserted, the clamping plate 30 can be pivoted outwards and locked to facilitate the insertion of the additive packaging material continuous belt 5. The depicted an insofar preferred supply means 6 is formed by the carousel 27 with the recesses 28, the side wall 21 and the clamping plate 30.

(14) The supply means 6 is associated with a separating device 7 for separating the additive packaging material 2 from the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 using a separating organ 31. In the depicted and insofar preferred device 1, the separating organ 31 is radially moved back and forwards with a drive mechanism 32 at least substantially in the direction of the axis of rotation 26 of the carousel 27, as is indicated by the double arrow. The separating organ 31 is designed as a sharpened cutting blade on the edge 33 associated with the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 and cuts through the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 in the connecting area of two successive additive packaging materials 2, whereby the additive packaging materials 2 of the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 are successively separated or individualized from one another. In this case, the separating organ 31 engages at least partially in notches 34 arranged along the circumference of the carousel 27 between the recesses 28 for the additive packaging materials 2.

(15) The carousel 27 works in a cyclical operation in which the carousel 27 is stopped in cycles and is further rotated about a circumferential segment which corresponds to the width of an additive packaging material 2. For this purpose, the carousel 27 is synchronised with the drive mechanism 32 of the separating device 7 so that when the carousel 27 stands still, the separating organ 31 is moved in the direction of the axis of rotation 26 of the carousel 27 forward and back into the starting position. When moving the separating organ 31 forwards, the separating organ 31 separates the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 in the region of the associated notch 34. Once the separating organ 31 is again out of engagement with the notch 34, in particular again returned to the starting position, the carousel 27 rotates in another cycle to the next position, whereby the separating organ 31 faces the next notch 34 and the next additive packaging material 2 can be separated from the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 by a forwards movement. The separating device 7 is arranged fixed on the supply means 6 and only the separating organ 31 moves forth and back and in a linear and in relation to the carousel 27 radial movement. A cyclic movement of the separating organ 31 in the circumferential direction does not occur with the depicted and insofar preferred separating organ 31.

(16) In order to be able to receive and/or remove smaller cutting residues, such as cutting burrs, or to provide a sufficient ventilation and/or aeration, the notches 34 terminate radially in vertically extending emptying channels 35 which have a cross-section which is larger than the width of the notches 34 adjacent to the emptying channels 35. The additive packaging materials 2 separated in the described way are transported further with each further cycle of the supply means 6 in the direction of a pick-up position 36 from which the additive packaging materials 2 are delivered to the transfer means 8 and picked up from the transfer means 8.

(17) A detail of the application means 9 comprising an applicator 17 is depicted in FIG. 3. The outer part of the applicator 17, which moves the additive packaging material 2 from the delivery position 18 to the application position 19, comprises an application finger 37 and a guide finger 38. The application finger 37 comprises two grooves 39 on the front side which correspond to the shape of the additive packaging material 2, in particular the straw 3. The two grooves 39 are used to hold the two legs 40 of the U-shaped straw 3 as is depicted by an additive packaging material together with a straw 3 marked with a dashed line. When using straight, i.e. I-shaped, straws 3, generally one groove 39 would be sufficient. The application finger 37 can be slightly pivoted against the spring force of a spring 41 and is configured so that the additive packaging material 2 is clamped and thus securely guided between the delivery position 18 and the application position 19 between the application finger 37, the guide finger 38 and a side belt 42 provided circumferentially on the application wheel 15. The guide finger 38 thus prevents the additive packaging material 2 from becoming disengaged from the application finger 37 in the circumferential direction.

(18) The side belt 42 ends shortly before the application position 19, as is depicted in FIG. 1A, so that the additive packaging material 2 is pressed into the hot glue of the package 4 moved past by the spring force of the spring 41. The depicted application wheel 15 also has movement mechanism (not described here in detail) which allows pivoting the additive packaging materials 2 about a radial axis between the delivery position 18 and the application position 19 such that the additive packaging materials 2 can be picked up in the delivery position 18 parallel to the axis of rotation 16 of the application wheel 15 and applied diagonally to the associated side 12 of the associated package 4, as is depicted in FIG. 1C.

(19) The application wheel 15 rotates in the shown and insofar preferred exemplary embodiment at such a constant angular or circumferential speed such that the additive packaging materials 2 or applicators 17 have a circumferential speed at the front side at the application position 19 which corresponds in magnitude and direction at least approximately to the speed of the packages 4 at the application position 19. Such an operation minimises the relative speeds between the package 4 and additive packaging material 2 during application.

(20) A transfer means 8 with a transfer wheel 44 rotatable about an axis of rotation 43 and a further side wall 29 provided circumferentially is provided between the application means 9 and the supply means 6, as is depicted in detail in FIG. 4. The transfer wheel 44 comprises elongated receiving grooves 45 for receiving the additive packaging materials 2 which are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the transfer wheel 44. However, for improved clarity, the additive packaging materials 2 and the additive packaging material continuous belt 5 are not depicted. The additive packaging materials 2 are guided between the transfer wheel 44 and the fixed further side wall 29 and are transported in the circumferential direction by the interlocking between the receiving grooves 45 and the additive packaging material 2. In the pick-up position 36 the transfer means 8 picks up the relayed additive packaging material 2 from the carousel 27 and accelerates the additive packaging material 2 between the pick-up position 36 and the delivery position 18 to a speed adapted to the application wheel 15 and delivers the additive packaging material 2 to an applicator 17 of the application wheel 15 at the delivery position 18.

(21) In addition to the supply means 6, the part of the transfer means 8 is depicted which is located in the region of the pick-up position 36 of the additive packaging material 2 from the carousel 27 to the transfer wheel 44 of the transfer means 8. The carousel 27 is formed by a plurality of stacked and spaced-apart plate elements 46 so that a plurality of intermediate levels 47 are formed between the plate elements 46. A plurality of fixed combing lamellas 48 protrude as extensions of the further side wall 21 into these intermediate levels 35. The combing lamellas 48 combined form a sectional guide when guiding the additive packaging material 2 out of the recesses 28 of the carousel 27 so that with the further side wall 21 the additive packaging material 2 is continuously guided during the pick-up of the additive packaging material 2 into the receiving grooves 45 of the transfer wheel 44 from the recesses 2 of the carousel 27.

(22) During the delivery of the additive packaging material 2, the transfer wheel 44 has in the region of the receiving grooves 45 an approximately equal, albeit low, circumferential speed to the carousel 27 in the region of the recesses 28 so that the additive packaging materials 2 can be relayed at least substantially without accelerating from the supply means 6 to the transfer means 8. The transfer wheel 44 is further rotated and in particular accelerated from the point in time at which the additive packaging material 2 is picked up and guided between the transfer wheel 44 and the further side wall 29.

(23) In FIG. 5, in which for the sake of clarity, the additive packaging materials 2 are also not depicted, the transfer means 8 and the application means 9 are depicted in the region of the delivery position 18. The transfer wheel 44 is constructed in a similar way to the carousel 27, specifically from a plurality of plate elements 46, which in turn also form intermediate levels 47, into which the plurality of combing lamellas 49 protrude as a continuation of the side belt 42. This facilitates the combing of the additive packaging material 2 from the receiving grooves 45 of the transfer wheel 44 in the region of the delivery position 18.

(24) When delivering the additive packaging material 2 from the transfer means 8 to the application means 9, the transfer wheel 44 and the applicator wheel 15 have at least approximately the same circumferential speeds. After the delivery, the additive packaging material 2 is held by the application finger 37 and by the guide finger 38. During further rotation of the application wheel, the additive packaging material 2 is completely combed out of the receiving groove 45 by the combing lamellas 49 and during further rotation the additive packaging material 2 is guided by the side belt 42 and pressed onto the side 42. The additive packaging materials 2 are transported by the application wheel 15 from the delivery position 18 into the application position 19 at a constant speed and thus pivoted about a radial axis. In the application position 19, the additive packaging material 2 is then applied obliquely to the package 4 transported past.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(25) 1 Device 2 Additive packaging material 3 Straws 4 Packages 5 Additive packaging material continuous belt 6 Supply means 7 Separating device 8 Transfer means 9 Application means 10 Package transport path 11 Transport means 12 Package side 13 Cams 14 Transport belts 15 Application wheel 16 Axis of rotation 17 Applicator 18 Delivery position 19 Application position 20 Adhesive application means 21 Side wall 22 Pressure belt 23 Film 24 Edge 25 Pouch 26 Axis of rotation 27 Carousel 28 Recesses 29 Side wall 30 Clamping plate 31 Separating organ 32 Drive mechanism 33 Edge 34 Notch 35 Emptying channel 36 Pick-up position 37 Application finger 38 Guide finger 39 Groove 40 Leg 41 Spring 42 Side belts 43 Axis of rotation 44 Transfer wheel 45 Receiving groove 46 Plate element 47 Intermediate level 48 Combing lamella 49 Combing lamella