Method and device for forming container groupings

Abstract

Provided is a method for packaging piece good groupings, in which a plurality of piece goods, particularly containers, are at least partially interconnected by a first connector, wherein at least two-piece goods of this plurality are directly interconnected by the connector. According to the embodiment, this plurality of piece goods connected by the connector is packaged with a second connector in the form of a second wrapping element, and said plurality of piece goods connected by a first connector is conveyed by a conveyor device to a packaging device and enclosed, particularly wrapped, with the second wrapping element by said packaging unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising: packaging a first plurality of piece goods with a first wrapping element, wherein the first wrapping element at least partially surrounds the first plurality of piece goods; delivering at least one further piece good to the packaged first plurality of piece goods, wherein the at least one further piece good is a loose piece good; and packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further loose piece good together with a second wrapping element, wherein the second wrapping element at least partially surrounds both the first wrapping element and the at least one further piece good, wherein the at least one further piece good becomes packaged together with the first plurality of piece goods with the second wrapping element.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: rotating the first plurality of piece goods before packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with the second wrapping element.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one further piece good comprises at least two further piece goods.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least two further piece goods are oriented parallel to one another and the at least two further piece goods are also oriented parallel to the first plurality of piece goods.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with the second wrapping element results in a packaged second plurality of piece goods that comprises the first plurality of piece goods, the at least one further piece good, and the second wrapping element, wherein the packaged second plurality of piece goods are transported onto a carrier in such a way that the at least two further piece goods bear against the first plurality of piece goods.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of piece goods packaged with the first wrapping element are pushed in a predetermined transport direction onto a carrier.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the packaged first plurality of piece goods has an opening in the first wrapping element, wherein the packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with the second wrapping element results in a second packaged plurality of piece goods that comprises the first plurality of piece goods, the at least one further piece good, and the second wrapping element, and wherein the rotating of the first plurality of piece goods before the packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with the second wrapping element causes the second wrapping element to cover the opening in the first wrapping element, such that the second packaged plurality of piece goods is completely enclosed.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with the second wrapping element results in a packaged second plurality of piece goods that comprises the first plurality of piece goods, the at least one further piece good, and the second wrapping element, further comprising: cutting off one or more of the piece goods from the packaged second plurality of piece goods.

9. A method comprising: packaging a first plurality of piece goods with a first wrapping element, wherein the first wrapping element at least partially surrounds the first plurality of piece goods; delivering at least one further piece good to the packaged first plurality of piece goods, wherein the at least one further piece good is a loose piece good; and packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with a second wrapping element, such that the at least one further piece good is wrapped by the second wrapping element, but not by the first wrapping element, and wherein the at least one further piece good becomes packaged together with the first plurality of piece goods with the second wrapping element.

10. A method comprising: packaging a first plurality of piece goods with a first wrapping element, wherein the first wrapping element comprises a stretchable film, and at least partially surrounds the first plurality of piece goods; delivering at least one further piece good to the packaged first plurality of piece goods, wherein the at least one further piece good is a loose piece good; and packaging the first plurality of piece goods and the at least one further piece good together with a second wrapping element, about a longitudinal axis defined by the transport direction, wherein the second wrapping element comprises a stretchable film.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a machine for packaging piece good groupings;

(3) FIG. 1a shows a further view of a machine for packaging piece good groupings;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a representation for illustrating the production of a piece good packaging;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a representation of a method for producing a piece good packaging with the addition of further containers;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(8) FIG. 5a shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(9) FIG. 6 shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(10) FIG. 6a shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(11) FIG. 7 shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(12) FIG. 7a shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(13) FIG. 7b shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(14) FIG. 7c shows a different representation for illustrating the production of wrapped piece good groupings;

(15) FIG. 8 shows a further representation for illustrating the production of a piece good grouping;

(16) FIG. 9 shows a representation for the production of a piece good grouping with containers arranged one above the other;

(17) FIG. 10 shows a further representation for illustrating the production of the piece good grouping with containers arranged one above the other;

(18) FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation for illustration of the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(19) FIG. 12 shows a further representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(20) FIG. 12a shows a further representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(21) FIG. 13 shows a further representation for illustrating the production of a wrapped pack;

(22) FIG. 14 shows a representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(23) FIG. 15 shows a representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(24) FIG. 16 shows a representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(25) FIG. 17 shows a representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(26) FIG. 18 shows a representation for the production of a piece good grouping without an opening;

(27) FIG. 19 shows a further representation for the production of a piece good grouping without openings;

(28) FIG. 20 shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(29) FIG. 21 shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(30) FIG. 22a shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(31) FIG. 22b shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(32) FIG. 23 shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(33) FIG. 24 shows a further piece good grouping, wherein here the containers are in each case fastened to one another by connector;

(34) FIG. 25a shows four representations of the piece good grouping shown in FIG. 24 which is wrapped by a wrapping element;

(35) FIG. 25b shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

(36) FIG. 25c shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings; and

(37) FIG. 25d shows a further representation for the production of piece good groupings without openings;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(38) FIG. 1 shows schematically a machine 50 for the production of a piece good grouping 1 and more precisely a schematic plan view of a packaging machine or a portion of a packaging machine. The packaging machine serves here for packaging beverage containers 10. These are delivered along the transport direction T as a stream of articles or piece goods, in this case in a two-track feed, by means of a first horizontal conveying device 21, which in this case is a component of a transport device designated by 2. This horizontal conveying device can be for example a conveyor belt, a mat chain conveyor or the like.

(39) The reference numeral 52 designates a first packaging device in the form of a wrapping device, i.e. a winding module in which the containers are wrapped with at least one layer of a so-called stretch film. In this case this first packaging device 52 can have a roller or a revolving film dispenser which here runs in a circular path around the containers perpendicular to the drawing plane. Unlike the illustration in FIG. 1, however, the two rows of containers 10 are also moved close to one another, so that they are ultimately conveyed and wrapped in contact with one another.

(40) In a manner which is known per se, the stretch film is wound helically around the articles or beverage containers 10 which are conveyed adjacent to one another in pairs, wherein a sufficient tension of the film preferably ensures the firm mechanical cohesion of the stream of articles or piece goods.

(41) In order to ensure the disruption-free transport of the stream of articles or piece goods in the first packaging device 52, revolving feed belts (not shown) can engage for example laterally on the stream of articles or piece goods, which conveys the containers 10 through the first packaging device 52, whilst the containers 10 are simultaneously wrapped. In this case it is conceivable that an operating speed of the first packaging device and/or the second packaging device is at least temporarily and preferably continuously synchronised with a transport speed of the piece goods.

(42) In the first winding module 52 the containers will usually slide onto a lower carrier or a slide plate which is likewise wrapped. In the further course of conveying, however, the already wrapped stream of articles or piece goods is pulled over the sliding plate, so that after leaving this slide plate the stretch film is applied due to its pretension to the underside of the containers.

(43) The reference numeral 61 designates a first feed module which effects the further transport of the stream of articles and piece goods which are now already wrapped here with a layer of film element. In this case this feed unit can for example have upper and lower feed lines or feed belts, which preferably over the length of this first feed module 61 engage continuously on the upper and lower faces of the stream of articles or piece goods and thus ensure further conveying. Here too, lateral guides can again be provided, which support the stream of articles or piece goods on the left and right and guide the stream laterally.

(44) The reference numeral 60 designates quite schematically an adapting device which is designed here as a delivery device which adds further piece goods to the piece good grouping already wrapped with the first wrapping element. In this case this delivery device can have a transport device which delivers these further products for instance laterally. In this case it is conceivable that a conveying speed of this further delivery device is synchronised with a transport speed of the transport device which conveys the containers through the packaging devices 52, 54.

(45) In this way further piece goods can be added in a defined manner in each case to the piece goods wrapped with the first wrapping element. In a further advantageous embodiment this adapting device 60 can also have an advancing device (not shown) which brings the further piece goods so close to the piece goods wrapped with the first wrapping element that they contact these wrapped piece goods and/or the first wrapping element. In this way piece good groupings lying very close together can again be wrapped by the subsequent second packaging device.

(46) In addition, this region can also be provided with an adapting device (not shown) which rotates the piece good grouping, for example in each case by a defined angle of 90° with respect to an axis which is perpendicular to the drawing plane here.

(47) The reference numeral 54 designates a second packaging device, again in the form of a wrapping device, i.e. a winding module, which here winds a second layer of stretch film again helically around the stream of articles or piece goods. Here a winding angle is advantageously changed relative to the winding angle of the first wrapping station 52.

(48) The reference numeral 62 designates a second feed module which effects the further transport of the stream of piece goods which are now wrapped with a plurality of layers of stretch film. For this purpose, upper and lower feed lines or feed belts are again provided, which preferably over the length of the second feed module 62 run around continuously on the upper and lower faces of the stream of articles or piece goods and thus ensure further conveying thereof to the subsequent second horizontal conveying device 73. Cutting elements which cut the winding film can be provided in the region of this conveying device 73 and 75. In this case these cutting elements can at least move with the containers during a cutting operation.

(49) The reference numeral 66 designates a removal device, which removes the now cut pack representation packs or piece good groupings 1.

(50) FIG. 1a shows a side view of a machine for producing such piece good groupings. Here too, the transport device 2, which first pushes containers 10 onto a stationary carrier plate 32. This means that the containers are pushed by pressure onto the carrier 32. The reference numeral 34 designates lateral guide elements, which cause the containers 10 to be wrapped close together. In the first packaging device 52 the containers 10 are wrapped so that the carrier plate 32 and the lateral guiding element 34 are also included in the wrapping.

(51) The reference numeral 36 designates further transport devices, which convey the now wrapped containers further, that is to say towards the right in FIG. 1a. In this way the piece good groupings are also removed again from the carrier 32 and from the lateral guiding elements 34.

(52) The reference numeral 68 designates a first cutting element which in each case cuts off piece good groupings. This can be arranged, as shown by the arrow P1, like a guillotine in a vertical direction. The piece good groupings thus produced are transported into a further wrapping device 54 and there they can likewise be wrapped again with a stretch film. The reference numerals 72 and 74 here designate transport devices which ensure feeding of the piece goods. Between the first winding module and the second winding module the piece good groupings can be rotated, as mentioned above, albeit in FIG. 1a about an axis of rotation which extends in the drawing plane.

(53) The reference numeral 68 designates a further cutting element which again serves to cut off the stretch film. The piece good groupings finished in this way can be removed by means of a conveyor belt 82.

(54) FIG. 2 shows a quite schematic representation for illustration of the production of piece good groupings. Ultimately it is possible, as explained more precisely below, first to bind together a plurality of containers 10 into a group and then to wrap them with a wrapping element 12, such as a film in this case. The processing of an individual container 10 to form a container pack, which takes place by a plurality of wrappings, is set out in the following steps.

(55) FIG. 3 explains a general production process. In this case first a plurality of containers are delivered which are already enclosed by a first wrapping element 12. In this case the reference numeral 13 designates an opening which for example can occur during a shrinking operation. Two further containers 10 (second part-drawing in FIG. 3) are guided towards this first grouping of containers 10. With the second wrapping device (not shown) a film element 14 is attached around this grouping of the first piece good grouping and the two further containers. This film contracts, so that (right part-drawing) ultimately a pack of six containers is produced. This is now a completely wrapped pack.

(56) In this case the film element 12 bears directly against some of the containers (as does the film element 14), in this case against the containers on the left side and only the film element 14 bears against some of the containers, in this case against the containers on the right side. In some regions both film elements bear, for example, against the middle containers.

(57) FIG. 4 identifies a first step for a corresponding production process. In this case first, as an example, four containers or generally containers are placed alongside one another and are wrapped by a first wrapping element, in this case likewise a stretch film. A pack thus wound or also shrink-wrapped is produced, as shown in the next part-drawing, wherein here systematic a film opening 13 is produced, as shown in the right part-drawing.

(58) This pack can now be further processed, as shown in FIG. 5. As in the representation shown in FIG. 5, two further containers are delivered to the pack shown in the left part-drawing, and the entire grouping is wrapped again, as shown in the second part-drawing from the right. The stretch film is again applied (cf. right part-drawing), so that a completely wrapped pack with six containers is produced.

(59) In FIG. 5a a further process is illustrated. In this case two further containers are delivered to the pack shown in FIG. 5 (right part-drawing) and this grouping is wrapped again. Thus (cf. right part-drawing of FIG. 5a) as a result a pack of eight containers is produced which, however, has been included in the wrapping of three film elements here. The portion 12a of the first wrapping element, in this case the film element, which extends between containers, can be seen here. The process shown in FIG. 5a could still be taken further and in particular successive further piece goods could be added to an already existing piece good grouping. Accordingly, the reference numeral 15 relates to a further film element, which wraps the piece good grouping in addition to the film elements 12 and 14.

(60) The reference numeral L1 designates a geometric radial line, which extends from one of the containers and passes through both wrapping elements. The reference numeral L2 designates a further geometric radial line, which extends from a further one of the containers and passes through only one of the two wrapping elements.

(61) FIG. 6 shows a similar representation to FIG. 5, but with the difference that here two containers are added above the grouping consisting of the four containers and overall are included in the wrapping. Accordingly FIG. 6a also shows a similar representation to FIG. 5a, wherein here too further containers are added above.

(62) In the situation illustrated in FIG. 7, both above and also below the pack illustrated in the left part-drawing, in each case two bottles are added, and the entire pack is wrapped again. In the representation on the right a pack is produced which is made up of two film elements, specifically an inner film element 12 which surrounds four containers surrounds and an outer film element 14 which surrounds all the containers.

(63) FIG. 7a shows a representation, in which further piece goods are added to the piece good grouping produced in FIG. 7 both above and below (i.e. from two sides). This entire grouping is again wrapped with a film element and so a bulk pack is produced with a total of 12 containers here. Thus, it is proposed that the process according to embodiments of the invention for the addition of containers to an already wrapped piece good grouping can also be repeated several times.

(64) FIG. 7b shows a further representation for a method according to embodiments of the invention. Here first two shrink-wrapped packs are brought together, and these two shrink-wrapped packs are then wrapped with a film. In this way a pack is produced (cf. right part-drawing) which contains two shrink-wrapped packs which are in each case surrounded by the second film element as winding film.

(65) FIG. 7c shows a similar representation to FIG. 7b, wherein, however, four such shrink-wrapped packs are wound together and, in this way, (lower part-drawing) a wrapped pack is produced from four shrink-wrapped packs.

(66) FIG. 8 illustrates a further grouping, wherein the number of packs can amount here to at least two pieces or more. The above-mentioned packs are, as mentioned above, formed into large packets by wrapping with film.

(67) FIG. 9 illustrates a further grouping of containers, wherein here two shrink-wrapped packs are placed one above the other and likewise are wrapped again with a film.

(68) FIG. 10 shows that an arrangement of a plurality of shrink-wrapped packs one above the other combined can also be combined with a lateral arrangement, so that the bulk pack illustrated in FIG. 10 is produced.

(69) FIGS. 11 to 23 illustrate the production of containers without openings or eyes. In this connection FIG. 11 illustrates in principle how individual containers 10 can be grouped into opening-free (fully enclosed) container packs. In this case it is possible first, as shown in FIG. 12, to produce a pack which has an opening or a film eye. This pack can then be rotated, for instance by 90°, before the second wrapping unit and can then be wrapped again. Due to this second wrapping the film eye 13 is also closed, so that overall the pack is completely closed, as shown in the right part of FIG. 12a.

(70) In FIG. 13 the production of such a pack is likewise illustrated. Here too containers are again placed alongside one another and for example in the second part-drawing are covered with film. In this way, in the third upper part-drawing a shrink-wrapped or wound pack is produced with a film eye 13. This pack is now, as shown in the next part-drawing, rotated by 90° and wrapped again. Lastly (cf. last part-drawing) a wrapped pack which is completely closed is produced.

(71) FIG. 14 shows a combination of the previously illustrated methods. Here again the starting point is also a wrapped pack, which here contains six containers and two film elements 12, 14. This is rotated by 90° and again wrapped with a film. Here too a pack consisting of six containers is produced which, however, is completely closed. In this case this production process can be used for any type of wrapped packs.

(72) FIG. 15 shows a further possible production process. Here too a covered pack is produced and then a winding film is wound on transversely with respect to the machine running direction. Here too (last part-drawing of FIG. 15) a wrapped pack is produced which is completely closed.

(73) FIG. 16 shows a further representation of a described procedure. Here too the starting point is again a wrapped pack, which also here is again wrapped with a winding film transversely with respect to the machine running direction. Also, in this case a wrapped pack is produced which is completely closed. This production process can also be used for any type of wrapped packs.

(74) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, first two shrink-wrapped packs or wound packs are provided and placed alongside one another. Next, they are wrapped with film, as shown in the last upper part-drawing. In this way a wrapped pack is produced (lower part-drawing on the left) which is again rotated by 90° (second lower part-drawing of FIG. 17) and is wrapped with a second film. Here too a wrapped pack is again produced which is completely closed and which can have two for example shrink-wrapped or wound packs inside it.

(75) FIG. 18 is similar to the representation shown in FIG. 17, but here there is no rotation of the pack by 90°, but a second winding takes place transversely with respect to the machine running direction. As a result, also a wrapped pack which is completely closed is also produced here.

(76) FIG. 19 again illustrates the production of packs which are completely wrapped.

(77) In the illustration shown in FIG. 20 one or more shrink-wrapped or wound packs are placed one above the other or on one another and again are wrapped with a film. Here too a wrapped pack is produced which, however, has a film eye. This pack is, as illustrated in FIG. 21, rotated by 90° and again wrapped with film, so that as a result a wrapped pack is produced which is completely closed.

(78) FIGS. 22a and 22b again illustrate in a similar manner the production of a wound pack, wherein here again there is no rotation of the pack, but the second winding film is again applied transversely with respect to the machine running direction. Here too it is pointed out that the shrink-wrapped pack is first delivered in such a way that for example a film eye is located towards the front and so can be wrapped around by the second winding film.

(79) Finally, FIG. 23 illustrates the production of bulk packs from a plurality of containers arranged one above the other.

(80) FIG. 24 shows a further embodiment of a piece good grouping. These has 6 containers here, which are in each case interconnected by connector 42. These connectors can be in particular glued connections. During the production adhesion points can be applied in a targeted manner to the circumferential walls of individual containers and in each case further containers 10 can be adhered thereto. In this way the containers here are not packaged by a surrounding wrapping element, but in each case are in held against one another in particular in pairs. In this way it is already possible to achieve a relatively stable grouping. Precisely, this is a plurality of connector which preferably hold the containers together in each case in pairs.

(81) In the illustration shown in FIG. 25a these piece good grouping is now wrapped by a second wrapping element 14. It is pointed out that in these representations, to be precise, the wrapping element 14 is the only wrapping element. However, the term “second wrapping element” has been used here with a view to maintaining uniform terminology. This wrapping element 14 surrounds the piece good grouping here with respect to an axis which extends horizontally. Also, the transport direction along the piece goods are transported extends horizontally here. Nevertheless, a greater stability of the wrapped piece good grouping can be achieved by the wrapping element 14.

(82) FIG. 25b shows a further representation of a piece good grouping. It will be recognised here that a connecting element (arrow P2) between the two middle containers has been omitted. This is possible while maintaining sufficient stability, since this stability is still achieved by the surrounding wrapping element 14.

(83) In the illustration shown in FIG. 25c a plurality of adhesion points or connecting elements have been omitted. More precisely, the upper row of piece goods here is not adhered to the lower row of piece goods. This is also still acceptable with regard to the required stability because of the additional wrapping. Finally, in the illustration shown in FIG. 25d no connection points or connection elements have been affixed between respective laterally adjacent pairs of containers.

(84) It will be recognised that in addition to the illustrated embodiments other groupings are also possible. Also, more containers than illustrated can be grouped together. In addition, further containers could also be added to the piece good groupings shown in FIGS. 25a-d and such a grouping can be wrapped again.

(85) In addition, the piece good groupings shown in FIGS. 25a-d could also be wrapped again by a further wrapping device, in order thus to again obtain completely closed piece good groupings. In addition, gripping elements could also be fastened to the piece good groupings shown in FIGS. 25a-d.

(86) 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.

(87) 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 REFERENCE SIGNS

(88) 1 piece good grouping 2 transport device 10 beverage containers 12 first wrapping element 13 opening/film eye 14 film element 15 further film element 21 first horizontal conveying device 32 carrier plate/carrier 34 lateral guide elements 36 further transport devices 42 connecting element 50 machine 52 first packaging device/wrapping device 54 second packaging device/wrapping device 60 adapting device 61 first feed module 62 second feed module 66 removal device 68 cutting element 72, 74 transport devices 73, 75 horizontal conveying device 93 transport belt T transport direction P1 arrow