METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PACKAGING SANITARY ARTICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging sanitary articles such as absorbent articles, like diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads or similar, wherein by means of at least one diverter (10) batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements (11, 12), each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article (5), and wherein the diverter (10) alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) towards the packaging arrangements (11, 12) in a repeated series of MN batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches(A, B) of one series of MN batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement (11) differ in count.

Claims

1. device for packaging sanitary articles comprising at least one diverter and M packaging arrangements arranged downstream of the diverter, with M>=2, wherein each packaging arrangement comprises a grouping device and at least one packaging device, and wherein by means of the at least one diverter batches (A, B, C, D) of articles are alternately directed towards the packaging arrangements, each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article, wherein a control unit is provided by means of which the at least one diverter is controllable for alternately directing batches (A, B, C, D) of articles towards the packaging arrangements in a repeated series of MN batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches (A, B) of articles of one series of MN batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement are settable to differ in count.

2. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 1, wherein at least a first packaging arrangement of the M packaging arrangements comprises at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device, wherein preferably the M packaging arrangements each comprise at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device.

3. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises two packaging arrangements arranged downstream of one associated diverter.

4. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 1, wherein the grouping devices of at least one of the M packaging arrangements is a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of pockets for receiving individual articles.

5. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 4, wherein at the stacker successive batches of the same series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s).

6. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 4, wherein at the stacker successive batches of the successive series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s).

7. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 1, wherein the grouping devices of at least one of the M packaging arrangements is a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of compartments for batches (A, B, C, D) of articles.

8. A method for packaging sanitary articles, wherein by means of at least one diverter batches (A, B, C, D) of articles are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements, each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article, wherein the diverter alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles towards the M packaging arrangements in a repeated series of MN batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches (A, B) of one series of MN batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement differ in count.

9. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 8, wherein at least at a first packaging arrangement of the M packaging arrangements articles are packaged using at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device, wherein in particular at each of the M packaging arrangements articles are packaged using at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device.

10. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 8, wherein at least two of the N batches of one series of MN batches of articles directed towards different ones of the M packaging arrangements differ in count.

11. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 8, wherein at least at one of the M packaging arrangements articles are grouped by means of a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of pockets for receiving individual articles.

12. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 11, wherein at the stacker successive batches (A, B) of the same series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s).

13. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 11, wherein at the stacker successive batches (A, B) of articles of successive series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s).

14. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 8, wherein at least at one of the M packaging arrangements articles are grouped by means of a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of compartments for receiving batches (A, B, C, D) of articles.

15. The device for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 4, wherein the conveyor is a closed-loop circulating conveyor.

16. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 11, wherein the conveyor is a closed-loop circulating conveyor.

17. The method for packaging sanitary articles according to claim 14, wherein the conveyor is a closed-loop circulating conveyor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0022] FIG. 1: schematically shows a device for packaging sanitary articles comprising a diverter, a first packaging arrangement and a second packaging arrangement arranged downstream of the diverter,

[0023] FIG. 2: schematically shows a stacker of a packaging arrangement for a device of FIG. 1, and

[0024] FIG. 3 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a stacker similar to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0025] FIG. 1 schematically shows a device 1 for packaging sanitary articles (5, see FIG. 2) such as absorbent articles, like diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads or similar.

[0026] The device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a diverter 10, a first packaging arrangement 11 and a second packaging arrangement 12 arranged downstream of the diverter 10. In the embodiment shown, the first packaging arrangement 11 comprises a first grouping device 21 and two packaging device 31, 32. The second packaging arrangement 12 comprises a second grouping device 22 and two packaging device 33, 34. A control unit 100 is assigned to the diverter 10. The control unit 100 in one embodiment is part of a central control unit (not shown) provided for a monitoring and/or control of the device 1. In other embodiments, an individual control unit 100 is assigned to the diverter 10.

[0027] A product stream S coming from a production line (not shown) is fed to the diverter 10. The diverter 10 is controllable such that by means of the diverter 10 batches of articles A, B, C, D are alternately directed towards the first packaging arrangement 11 and the second packaging arrangement 12, wherein in the embodiment shown, a first batch A and a second batch B are fed to the first packaging arrangement 11 and a third batch C and a fourth batch D are fed to the second packaging arrangement 12. In the embodiment shown, at the first packaging arrangement 11, the first batch A is processed in the first packaging device 31 and the second batch B is processed in the second packaging device 32. Similar, at the second packaging arrangement 12, the third batch C is processed in the third packaging device 33 and the fourth batch D is processed in the fourth packaging device 34. It will be understood that the terms first, second, third and fourth are merely used to distinguish the batches and/or devices and not to be interpreted as defining any order of priority, hierarchy and/or structural arrangement.

[0028] By means of the control unit 100, the number of articles in each batch A, B, C, D, is individually settable, wherein each batch A, B, C; D comprises at least one article. The diverter 10 is controllable for alternately directing the batches of articles A, B, C, D towards the first packaging arrangement 11 and the second packaging arrangement 12 in a repeated series of four batches A-C-B-D. Of course, the number of articles in each batch A, B, C, D can be chosen identical. However, for a higher flexibility, at least the first batch A of articles and the second batch B of articles processed in the first packaging device 11 can also be chosen to differ in count. For the highest flexibility, the third batch C of articles and the fourth batch D of articles processed in the second packaging device 11 can also be chosen to differ in count. For setting the counts, in one embodiment, the control unit 100 comprises a man-machine-interface allowing user to individually set the count of each batch A, B, C, D.

[0029] It will be understood by the person skilled in the art, that further packaging devices could be added to one or both of the packaging arrangements 11, 12 and/or further packaging arrangements could be added downstream of the diverter 10. In this case, the number of batches per series could be increased such that the count of articles is adapted to each packaging device.

[0030] In the embodiment shown, two packaging devices 31, 32, 33, 34 are provided at each packaging arrangements 11, 12. In an alternative embodiment, at least at one of the packaging arrangements 11, 12 a dual-lane packaging device is provided instead of two packaging devices 31, 32, 33, 34. In still another embodiment, one packaging arrangement 11, 12 comprises only one packaging device.

[0031] The number of articles in each batch A, B, C; D in one embodiment equals the number articles to be packaged in one packaging unit at the four packaging devices 31, 32, 33, 34. In other embodiments, successive batches fed to one of the four packaging devices 31, 32, 33, 34 are grouped and a number of batches are packaged together at the respective packaging device 31, 32, 33, 34.

[0032] FIG. 2 schematically shows a grouping device 21 of the device 1 of FIG. 1, which in the embodiment shown is a stacker comprising a closed-loop circulating conveyor 210 with a number of pockets 212 for receiving individual articles 5. It will be understood that in preferred embodiments, pockets 212 are provided along the entire path of the conveyor 210, however, for the sake of clarity, only a number of pockets 212 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0033] As schematically shown, articles 5 are inserted into the pockets 212. In accordance with the invention, the articles 5 are supplied in two batches A, B that differ in count. In the embodiment shown, batch A comprises three articles 5 and batch B comprises four articles 5. Further, in the embodiment shown, one empty pocket 212 is provided in each case between successive batches A, B of the same series of batches A-C-B-D (see FIG. 1) as well as between successive batches B, A of successive series of batches A-C-B-D.

[0034] FIG. 3 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a grouping device 21 of the device 1 of FIG. 1, which in the embodiment shown is a stacker comprising a closed-loop circulating conveyor 210 with a number of pockets compartments 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 for receiving batches A, B of articles 5. It will be understood that in preferred embodiments, compartments 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 are provided along the entire path of the conveyor 210, however, for the sake of clarity, only a number of compartments 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 is shown in FIG. 3. Each compartment 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 is limited by a leading wall and a trailing wall. In preferred embodiments, the leading wall and the trailing wall are movable with respect to one another. In an alternative embodiment, one or more additional separation wall is provided between the leading wall and the trailing wall of one compartment, separating a batch of articles in two or more sub-batches. The sub-batches of one batch are subsequently supplied to a common packaging device. In still another embodiment, successive batches A, B that differ in count are inserted between a leading wall and a trailing wall of a common compartment and supplied to a common packaging device.

[0035] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 allows minimizing unused parts along the conveyor path, in particular in case a thickness products 5 are smaller in size than the pockets 212 of the stacker shown in FIG. 2. In particular in case both the trailing wall and the leading wall of the compartments 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 are movable with respect to the conveyor path, an optimized positioning of the batches A, B along the path is possible. A clearance 218 between successive compartments 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 in one embodiment is chosen to equal a set size. In the embodiment shown, the clearance is variable. This allows to move two successive batches A, B close to one another for pushing both batches A, B into a common bag as well as to move successive batches A, B further apart in particular when filling two bags at least in part at the same or time.