PIECE GOOD COMBINATION WITH SPIRALLY MOUNTED CARRIER ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

Abstract

A method for packaging piece good batches is provided. A transport device transports a plurality of piece goods in particular in the form of a piece good flow in a specified transport direction, and a first wrapping device wraps a film element around the piece goods, the film element having a specified first width. The first wrapping device has a dispensing assembly which circulates around the piece goods, and the piece goods are supplied to the first wrapping device in order to be wrapped with the film element. The piece goods are wrapped with a strip-like element by means of a strip application device, the strip-like element having a smaller width than the film element.

Claims

1. A method for packaging a piece good combination, wherein a transport device transports a plurality of piece goods in a predetermined transport direction, and wherein a first wrapping device wraps the piece goods with a first film element, wherein the first film element has a predetermined first width, and wherein the first wrapping device has a dispensing unit revolving around the piece goods, and wherein the piece goods are delivered to the first wrapping device in order to be wrapped by the first film element, wherein the piece goods are wrapped with a strip-like element by means of a strip application device, the strip-like element having a smaller width than the first film element, wherein the strip-like element is applied in the form of a spiral wrapping to the piece goods.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein adjacent windings of the spiral wrapping do not touch.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein adjacent turns of the first film element applied spirally to the piece goods overlap.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein both the first film element and also the strip-like element are severed by means of a separating device arranged in the transport direction after the first wrapping device and the strip application device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein by means of a second wrapping device a second film element is applied to the piece goods, wherein this second wrapping device has a dispensing unit revolving around the piece goods, and wherein the piece goods are delivered to the second wrapping device in order to be wrapped by the second film element.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the strip-like element is arranged on the piece goods in such a way that it can be used as a gripping element for carrying the piece good combination.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the strip-like element has at least one of a uniform orientation and a uniform gradient angle.

8. A machine for packaging a piece good combination comprising a transport device which transports a plurality of piece goods in a predetermined transport direction, a first wrapping device which is suitable and intended for wrapping the piece goods with a first film element, wherein the first film element has a first predetermined width, and wherein the first wrapping device has a dispensing unit revolving around the piece goods, wherein the piece goods can be delivered to the first wrapping device in order be wrapped by the first film element, and a strip application device which wraps the piece goods with a strip-like element, the strip-like element having a smaller width than the first film element, wherein the strip-like element is applied in the form of a spiral wrapping to the piece goods.

9. The machine according to claim 8, further comprising a second wrapping device which is arranged after the first wrapping device in the transport direction of the piece goods and which is suitable and intended to wrap the piece goods with a second film element.

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the strip application device is arranged after the second wrapping device or between the first wrapping device and the second wrapping device in the transport direction of the piece goods.

11. A piece good combination comprising a plurality of piece goods wrapped by means of a first film element and with a strip-like carrying element arranged on the first film element for carrying the piece good combination, wherein the strip-like carrying element is wound spirally around the piece good combination.

12. The piece good combination according to claim 11, wherein the strip-like element has a smaller width than the first film element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0068] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a machine for producing piece good combinations;

[0070] FIG. 2a shows a representation of a method according to the prior art;

[0071] FIG. 2b shows a container pack produced by the method of FIG. 2a;

[0072] FIG. 3a shows a representation of a method; and

[0073] FIG. 3b shows a representation of a piece good combination produced by the method of FIG. 3a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a machine 50 according to embodiments of the invention for producing piece good combinations or piece good packs and in particular container packs. In this case the reference numeral 2 designates a transport device which transports containers 10 here from left to right along a rectilinear transport path T. In this case this transport device has overall a plurality of transport units, such as in particular a supply conveyor belt 28 as well as three feed modules 22, 24 und 26. These feed modules 22, 24 und 26 in each case serve to pull a wrapped pack out of respective preceding wrapping devices 4, 8 and 6 to extract and/or to deliver it to following wrapping devices.

[0075] The reference numeral 4 designates a first wrapping device 4. In this case this wrapping device 4 has a carrier plate 32 onto which the containers 10 are pushed. In addition, lateral guiding elements 34 are provided which laterally delimit the stream of containers. Both the carrier plate 32 and the lateral guiding elements 34 are wrapped by a film element 12 which originates or has been unwound from a film roll 14. The reference sign B relates to a width of the film element 12. The reference numeral 30 identifies in its entirety a dispensing unit which revolves with respect to the containers and perpendicular to the drawing plane.

[0076] A transport unit 22 in the form of a feed module adjoins the first wrapping device 4. This conveys the containers, which are now already wrapped with the first film element, to a second wrapping device 8. This likewise again has a (stationary) carrier plate 32 as well as lateral guiding elements 34. In this second wrapping device the containers are wrapped with a second film element 18, which in this case originates from a film roll 15. This film roll also revolves around the containers, albeit preferably in a reverse direction from the film roll 14 in the first wrapping device.

[0077] The reference numeral 24 designates a further transport unit in the form of a feed module, which transports the containers, now already wrapped twice, to the strip application device 6. This also again has an (albeit shorter) carrier plate 32 as well as lateral guiding elements. The reference numeral 17 designates a strip roll, from which the strip-like element 16 is unrolled and is wound around the containers. By means of a further transport unit 26, such as a feed module, the containers are pulled out of the strip application device.

[0078] In contrast to the illustration in the drawing, the carrier plate could also be dispensed with during the wrapping with the strip-like element and the piece good combination could be pushed away over the resulting gap. The strip-like element could then be wrapped specifically in this gap. For this purpose, the transport or supporting device following the wrapping with the strip-like element could have rounded surfaces or oblique surfaces which simplify bridging of the gap. Lateral guiding devices could also be dispensed with during the wrapping with the strip-like element.

[0079] Thus, here the possibility of attaching a strip-like element 16 with an in particular uninterrupted pack transport is illustrated. Therefore, in this case for attachment of a handle no more gaps are produced between the packs. Thus here, particularly preferably, the strip-like element 16 is applied spirally to the pack, in order thus to achieve the gripping of the pack ultimately produced. The feed module 26 adjoins a separating device 40, which splits the continuous stream of containers into individual piece good combinations. In this case this separating device 40 can move together with the containers, wherein preferably a movement of this separating element is synchronised with the movement of the containers.

[0080] The reference sign B1 designates a width of the strip-like element 16. It will be recognised that this width B1 is considerably smaller than the width B of the or the film elements. Therefore, the strip-like element is preferably wound around the piece goods in such a way that adjacent turns of this winding do not touch or overlap.

[0081] FIG. 2a shows a representation of the attachment of handle elements according to the prior art. It will be recognised that here the piece good combinations 110 are delivered and first a distance is produced between them, in order thus to attach the handle element 116, for example by means of a rear and a front adhesive frame. In this way—as shown in FIG. 2b—a pack 110 is produced with a handle 116 arranged thereon.

[0082] FIG. 3a illustrates the procedure according to embodiments of the invention. Here too, the piece good combinations 1 are again delivered, but the spiral strip-like material 16 is attached by the strip application device 6 (cf. FIG. 1). Thus, the piece good combination illustrated in FIG. 3b is produced, which likewise with the strip-like element 16 has a handle, but this is arranged here slightly inclined relative to the piece good combination. In this case this “inclination” or gradient of the length of the piece good combination to be produced and/or the number of windings required per piece good combination to be produced is preferably determined. In this case this gradient can be adjusted from “almost vertical”, that is to say an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the transport direction to “very inclined”, that is to say for instance an angle of 10° relative to the transport direction. The latter can be relevant in particular for advertising imprints with almost horizontal lettering.

[0083] Due to the procedure according to embodiments of the invention it would also be conceivable in particular to produce a plurality of handles on longer piece good combinations, for instance by winding the strip-like element a number of times around such longer piece good combinations.

[0084] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not limited to the examples disclosed, and further variations can be inferred by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0085] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0086] 1 machine

[0087] 2 transport device

[0088] 4, 8 wrapping device for wrapping with film element

[0089] 6 strip application device for wrapping with strip-like element

[0090] 10 container

[0091] 12, 18 film element

[0092] 14, 15 film roll for film element

[0093] 16 strip-like element

[0094] 17 strip roll for strip-like element

[0095] 22, 24, 26 feed module, transport unit

[0096] 28 delivery transport belt

[0097] 30 dispensing unit

[0098] 32 carrier plate

[0099] 34 lateral guiding element

[0100] 40 separating device

[0101] 50 machine