METHOD AND PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are set down on a horizontal conveying device (10, 20) and are transported along a packaging line. During the transport, articles are introduced via a manipulator into the outer packages (3), and the outer packages (3) with the introduced articles (2) are subsequently removed from the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8). A predetermined packaging process (VP1) is carried out, in which the outer packages (3) are received by the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) via a plurality of shuttles (5), the outer packages (3) standing on said plurality of shuttles (5), until the outer packages (3) together with the introduced articles (2) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8).

Claims

1. Method for packaging articles (2), the method comprising: setting down outer packages (3) on at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), wherein the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) transports the outer packages (3) along a packaging line, wherein the outer packages (3) are each received in a shuttle (5), during the transport along the packaging line, introducing articles (2), via the at least one manipulator into the outer packages (3) already set down on the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), and removing the outer packages (3) together with the introduced articles (2) from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8); carrying out a first packaging process (VP1) in which the outer packages (3) are received by the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) via shuttles (5), wherein the outer packages (3) stand on the shuttles (5) until the outer packages (3), together with the introduced articles (2), are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shuttles (5) each temporarily fix a received outer package (3) mechanically or via negative pressure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the shuttles (5) has a plurality of suction elements (82) via which each of the shuttles (5) temporarily fixes a received outer package (3) via negative pressure and to which a plurality of suction elements (82) of a common line system (92) of the respective shuttle (5) is assigned.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer packages (3) are received by a first horizontal conveying device (10) via the shuttles (5) and, together with the respective shuttle (5) thereof, switch to a second horizontal conveying device (20), on which second horizontal conveying device (20) the articles (2) are introduced by the at least one manipulator into the outer packages (3), wherein: the shuttles (5) for switching from the first horizontal conveying device (10) to the second horizontal conveying device (20) are moved by a transfer unit (78) from the first horizontal conveying device (10) to the second horizontal conveying device (20), which transfer unit (78) is located at least partially or completely below a transport level formed for the shuttles (5), or wherein: the shuttles (5) for returning from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10) are moved by a transfer unit (78) from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10), which transfer unit (8) is located at least partially or completely below a transport level formed for the shuttles (5).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the shuttles (5) have a gearing (56) to move the shuttles (5) from the first horizontal conveying device (10) to the second horizontal conveying device (20) or, to move the shuttles (5) from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one gear wheel (50) circumferentially drives at least one chain (52), wherein the at least one chain (52) is brought into engagement with gearing (56) of a respective shuttle (5) the result being that: the shuttles (5) are moved from the first horizontal conveying device (10) to the second horizontal conveying device (20), or the shuttles (5) are moved from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching from the first packaging process (VP1) to a second packaging process (VP2), wherein the shuttles (5) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) in order to carry out the second packaging process (VP2), and arranging at least one transfer plate (79) along two parallel conveyor portions (16, 18) of the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), wherein, during the second packaging process (VP2), the outer packages (3) are received in the first conveyor section (16) and make surface contact with the at least one transfer plate (79), and are pushed by a deployment device onto the second conveyor section (18), on which second conveyor section (18) the articles (2) are introduced by the at least one manipulator into the outer packages (3), whereupon the outer packages (3), together with the introduced articles (2), are then removed as a packaging unit (8) from the second conveyor section (18).

8. A packaging system (1) for packaging articles (2), the system comprising: at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), at least one manipulator adapted to set outer packages (3) down on the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) and to introduce articles (2) into the outer packages (3) that have been set down on the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), a plurality of shuttles (5) releasably arranged on the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) so that outer packages (3) can be set down via the at least one manipulator on the several shuttles (5), and articles (2) can be inserted into the outer packages (3) set down on the several shuttles (5) so as to carry out a first packaging process (VP1).

9. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of shuttles (5) can fix the outer packages (3) temporarily mechanically or temporarily via negative pressure.

10. The packaging system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of shuttles (5) has a plurality of suction elements (82), via which the plurality of suction elements (82) can fix the outer package (3) temporarily via negative pressure, and the plurality of shuttles (5) each comprise a common line system (92) for the respective the plurality of suction elements (82), via which common line system (92) each of the plurality of suction elements (82) of a respective shuttle (5) are fluidically connected one to another.

11. The packaging system according claim 8, wherein the at least one horizonal conveying device comprises a first horizontal conveying device (10) and a second horizontal conveying device (20), wherein the at least one manipulator can set down outer packages (3) on the plurality of shuttles (5) releasably arranged on the first horizontal conveying device (10), and wherein the at least one manipulator can introduce articles (3) into the plurality of shuttles (5) arranged releasably on the second horizontal conveying device (20), and wherein at least one transfer unit (78) moves the plurality of shuttles from the first horizontal conveying device to the second horizontal conveying device, or wherein the at least one transfer unit (78) returns the plurality of shuttles (5) from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10), and wherein the at least one transfer unit (78) be at least partially or completely below a transport level designed for the shuttles (5).

12. The packaging system claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of shuttles (5) have a gearing (54), and the at least one transfer unit (78), while engaged with a respective gearing (54) of a respective shuttle (5), can move the plurality of shuttles (5) from the first horizontal conveying device (10) to the second horizontal conveying device (20) or move the plurality of shuttles (5) from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10).

13. The packaging system of claim 12, wherein the gearing (54) comprises a lantern pinion gearing, and wherein the at least one transfer unit (78) comprises at least one gear wheel (50) and at least one chain (52) circumferentially driven via the at least one gear wheel (50), with which at least one chain (52) circumferentially driven by the at least one gear wheel (50), the respective shuttle (5) can be temporarily brought into engagement via the gearing (54) for a movement from the first horizontal conveying device (10) to the second horizontal conveying device (20) or for the movement from the second horizontal conveying device (20) to the first horizontal conveying device (10).

14. The packaging system of claim 8, adapted to carry out a second packaging process (VP2), while the shuttles (5) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), at least one transfer plate (79) is arranged along two conveyor sections (16, 18), which two conveyor sections (16, 18) form the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20), and wherein a deployment device is provided, which deployment device, making surface contact with the at least one transfer plate (79) positioned along the two conveying sections (16, 18), can push outer packages (3) from the first conveyor section (16) onto the second conveyor section (18).

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the gearing (56) is formed via a gear rack (58).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0045] If in the context of the description of the figures further below reference is also generally made to schematic representations and views, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description are to be of subordinate importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. A person skilled in the art is certainly able to derive sufficient information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations that will make it easier for him to understand the invention without being confused in any way by the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions. The figures enable a person skilled in the art as reader to get a better understanding of the inventive ideawhich has been formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the descriptionon the basis of the more specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more specifically explained mode of operation of the packaging system according to the invention.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the packaging system according to FIG. 1 and, in conjunction with FIG. 1, illustrates individual aspects of its functionality.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention with a mechanism for pushing shuttles back and forth between two horizontal conveying devices.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention with a mechanism for pushing shuttles back and forth between two horizontal conveying devices.

[0050] FIGS. 5 through 7 show different views of an embodiment of a shuttle according to the invention.

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a schematic, perspectival view of two horizontal conveying device with shuttles arranged thereon, as they can be provided as a component of various embodiments of a packaging system according to the invention.

[0052] FIG. 9 shows further details of the embodiment of a second horizontal conveying device according to FIG. 8.

[0053] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of further aspects of the embodiment of a second horizontal conveying device according to FIG. 9.

[0054] FIG. 11 illustrates in total three schematic views (FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11C) of different packaging processes which can be carried out in various embodiments by a packaging system according to the invention.

[0055] FIGS. 12 through 14 show further individual parts and modules of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention.

[0056] Identical reference signs are used for identical elements of the invention or those having the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference signs are shown in the individual figures which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the invention can be designed, and are non-limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] The schematic plan view of FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention, which is generally denoted here by reference numeral 1. Articles 2, which in the present case are formed or can be formed by beverage containers 4, can be packaged via the packaging system 1. The packaging system 1 comprises a first horizontal conveying device 10 and a second horizontal conveying device 20, which are arranged next to each other.

[0058] The first horizontal conveying device 10 has several circumferentially-guided holding element 12, wherein a shuttle 5 can be held in a clamping manner on the first horizontal conveying device 10 between each two, directly successive holding element 12 of the first horizontal conveying device 10. For example, the first horizontal conveying device 10 can comprise at least one circumferentially-guided chain and/or belt drive on which the holding element 12 are arranged.

[0059] In the embodiment variant shown in FIG. 1, shuttles 5 are returned from the second horizontal conveying device 20 to the first horizontal conveying device 10, wherein the shuttles 5, which are not yet transferred completely to the second horizontal conveying device 20 in FIG. 1, are already completely switched from the second horizontal conveying device 20 to the first horizontal conveying device 10 in FIG. 2 and are held clamped between directly successive holding element 12 of the first horizontal conveying device 10.

[0060] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 30 designates, respectively, a magazine or a first magazine in which a plurality of outer packages 3 are accommodated. The outer packages 3 are removed from the magazine 30 by a handling device (not shown) and are received by the shuttles 5, which continue to be fixed in a clamping manner on the first horizontal conveying device 10 via the holding element 12.

[0061] The outer packages 3 are still folded in the magazine 30. During the transfer to the first horizontal conveying device 10 or during transfer to the shuttles 5 moved from the first horizontal conveying device 10, the outer packages 3 are brought up by the handling device. In addition, the shuttles 5 moved via the first horizontal conveying device 10 are moved without interruption in a transport direction TR1 when the outer packages 3, which are then brought up, are set down on the shuttles 5, which transport direction TR1 is provided by the first horizontal conveying device 10 to move the shuttles 5 and to move the outer packages 3 that are received and brought up by the shuttles 5.

[0062] The illustration of FIG. 1 also reveals that the dimensioning of the shuttles 5 is adapted to the dimensioning of the outer packages 3 which are brought up, or that the dimensioning of the shuttles 5 corresponds to the dimensioning of the outer packages 3 which are brought up. The shuttles 5 each form an edge region, via which the brought-up outer packages 3 can be held in a form-fitting or substantially form-fitting manner after a respective reception by a respective shuttle 5. This edge region or this shell 85 can be clearly seen in FIG. 5 which follows.

[0063] The packaging system 1 also comprises a second magazine 40 in which a plurality of package dividers 6 are accommodated. The package dividers 6 are removed from the second magazine 40 and inserted into the outer packages 3 which continue to be arranged and brought up on the shuttles 5. The removal of package dividers 6 from the second magazine 40 and the arrangement of removed package dividers 6 in the brought-up outer packages 3 can be carried out via the previously described handling device, which removes the outer packages 3 from the first magazine 30, brings them up, and sets them down on the shuttles 5.

[0064] It is also conceivable for a further handling device to be provided for this purpose which removes package dividers 6 from the second magazine 40 and inserts them in the outer packages 3 already brought up and further moved on shuttles 5 by the first horizontal conveying device 10.

[0065] Several chambers are formed, by the respective package divider 6, in the respective outer package 3, wherein a respective chamber is provided for accommodating a respective article 2 designed as a beverage container 4. Temporarily, while a respective package divider 6 is introduced into a respective outer package 3, the respective outer package 3 and the respective shuttle 5 on which the respective outer package 3 continues to stand are moved without interruption along the first transport direction TR1.

[0066] Temporarily, after a respective package divider 6 has been introduced into a respective outer package 3, the respective outer package 3, together with the respective shuttle 5 on which the respective outer package 3 continues to stand, switch from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20. It may be the case that, for this purpose, immediately after the introduction of a respective package divider 6 into a respective outer package 3, a push bar with several shuttles 5 and/or with several outer packages 3, into which a respective package divider 6 has already been introduced, makes surface contact and pushes the several shuttles 5, and the outer packages 3 still arranged thereon, perpendicularly to the first transport direction TR1, so that the respective shuttles 5 and the outer packages 3 still arranged thereon are moved in the direction of the second horizontal conveying device 20 or are pushed in the direction of the second horizontal conveying device 20.

[0067] Because such a push bar must be moved back in the direction of the first horizontal conveying device 10 in order to receive a further shuttle, and because this limits the throughput for the packaging system 1, embodiments have proven effective in which such a push bar can be dispensed with.

[0068] Instead of such a push bar, a transfer unit 78 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) can be provided, with which the shuttles 5 can switch from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20 or via which the shuttles 5 can switch from the second horizontal conveying device 20 to the first horizontal conveying device 10. With such embodiments, in accordance with the following description of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the packaging system 1 can be operated at high throughput.

[0069] The second horizontal conveying device 20 also has a plurality of holding element 14, which hold a respective shuttle 5 in a clamping manner after its switch from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20.

[0070] A further component of the packaging system 1 is formed by an inlet 60 with a conveying device 64 and several channel plates 62 running parallel to one another, between which several mutually-parallel channel plates 62 several rows of articles 2 arranged one behind the other or several rows of beverage containers 4 arranged one behind the other are guided in parallel to each other. A respective article 2 arranged in front or a respective beverage container 4, arranged in front, of a respective row arranged in front is in surface contact with a support bar 9.

[0071] The support bar 9 is moved parallel to a second transport direction TR2, along which second transport direction TR2 the second horizontal conveying device 20 moves shuttles 5 with outer packages 3 still arranged thereon and each already having an inserted package divider 6. A movement speed of the support bar 9 is reduced relative to a transport speed of the conveying device 64 designed as a component of the inlet 60, so that articles 2 of a respective row or beverage containers 4 of a respective row accumulate at the support bar 9.

[0072] A handling device denoted by the reference numeral 15 and shown or indicated here merely schematically receives several articles 2 or several beverage containers 4 of the parallel rows from the inlet 60 and, subsequently, in each case sets down an article 2 or a beverage container 4 in a respective chamber formed by the package divider 6 in an outer package 3. The articles 2 or the beverage containers 4 are then received in a form-fitting or substantially form-fitting manner in the chambers formed by the respective package divider 6 of a respective outer package 3.

[0073] When the articles 2 or the beverage containers 4 are set down in the respective chamber, the respective shuttle 5 already switched to the second horizontal conveying device 20, together with the outer package 3 still standing thereon and the package divider 6 introduced therein, are moved further along the second transport direction TR2. The respective shuttle 5 already switched to the second horizontal conveying device 20 is still held in a clamping manner on the second horizontal conveying device 20 via the holding element 14 of the second horizontal conveying device 20.

[0074] An outer package 3 together with the inserted package divider 6 and the inserted articles 2 used or the inserted beverage containers 4 form a packaging unit 8. A respective packaging unit 8 still accommodated by a shuttle 5 is then transferred to the discharge belt 70 or pushed onto the discharge belt 70. The empty shuttles 5 are thereupon returned to the first horizontal conveying device 10 to receive outer packages 3 again. For this purpose, a push bar can in turn make surface contact with the empty shuttle 5, and the empty shuttles 5 can be pushed from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10. However, it has proven to be effective if at least one transfer unit 78 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided for this purpose.

[0075] A combination of FIGS. 1 and 2 here illustrates the switching of the shuttles 5, together with the outer packages 3 located thereon and the inserted package dividers 6, from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20. A combination of FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrates the return of empty shuttles 5 from the second horizontal conveying device 20 to the first horizontal conveying device 10.

[0076] It is also clear from a combination of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the first horizontal conveying device 10 and the second horizontal conveying device 20 operate via transfer units 78 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4) according to the principle of a rotary machine and circumferentially guide the shuttles 5.

[0077] FIG. 3 shows a functional principle as can be provided in various embodiments of a packaging system 1 according to the invention, and in particular shows an embodiment of a transfer unit 78. Further, FIG. 3 illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. For reasons of clarity, in order to illustrate the functional principle or the mode of operation of the packaging system 1 in FIG. 3, only the first horizontal conveying device 10, the second horizontal conveying device 20, the holding element 12 and 14, as well as gear wheels 50 have been shown, which can push a respective shuttle 5 from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 and from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10. The discharge belt 70, the inlet 60, the handling device 15, and the first magazine 30 and the second magazine 40 are missing in the illustration according to FIG. 3, but can also be provided for the functional principle or the operating principle of the packaging system 1 according to FIG. 3.

[0078] The embodiment of a packaging system 1 according to FIG. 3 comprises several gear wheels 50 via which shuttles 5 can be pushed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 and from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10, so that the packaging system 1 operates as a rotary machine.

[0079] Each shuttle 5 has a gear rack 58 (not shown in FIG. 3; cf. FIG. 4), which has a gearing 56. The gearing 56 of a respective gear rack 58 can be brought into meshing engagement with a corresponding counter-gearing 54 (cf. FIG. 4) of the gear wheels 50 in order to transfer a respective shuttle 5. Thus, if a respective gear wheel 50 is rotationally moved while engaged with a gearing 56 of a respective gear rack 58, the respective shuttle 5 is pushed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 or from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10.

[0080] The respective gear wheel 50 can be arranged below a transport level designed for the shuttles 5. It may also be the case that the gear wheel 50 is positioned in such a way that the shuttles 5 impinge, with a gear rack 58, arranged on one side of each respective shuttle 5, on the respective gear wheel.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the number of gear wheels 50 and the positioning thereof is selected such that a single shuttle 5 is pushed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 and from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10. It is furthermore conceivable that the corresponding number and positioning of the gear wheels 50 be selected such that several shuttles 5 are simultaneously pushed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 or from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10. For example, it may be the case that the shuttles 5 are pushed in pairs from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 or from the second horizontal conveying device 20 onto the first horizontal conveying device 10.

[0082] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a packaging system 1 according to the invention, with a transfer unit 78 for pushing shuttles 5 from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20. The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 comprises a further transfer unit 78 which is formed according to the illustrated transfer unit 78 and pushes shuttles from the second horizontal conveying device 20 back onto the first horizontal conveying device 10. The respective transport directions TR1 and TR2 of the horizontal conveying device devices 10 and 20 are also indicated in FIG. 4 by the respective arrow illustration. The shuttles 5 are held between holding elements 12 in the region of the first horizontal conveying device 10. The second horizontal conveying device 20 also has such holding elements, which are not shown in FIG. 4 for reasons of clarity.

[0083] The shuttles 5 each have a gear rack 58 which forms a gearing 56 and whose longitudinal extension is oriented to be perpendicular to the transport direction TR1 of the first horizontal conveying device 10. In the present case, the gearing 56 of the gear rack 58 is presently designed as a lantern pinion gearing. Also in the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a gear wheel 50 is provided which is rotationally moved.

[0084] A transmission of forces between the counter-gearing 54 of the gear wheel 50 and the gearing 56, designed as pinion gearing, of the gear rack 58 is, in FIG. 4, not carried out by a meshing engagement between the gearing 56 of the gear rack 58 and the counter-gearing 54 of the gear wheel 50. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a chain 52 is provided, which is circumferentially driven by a rotating movement of the gear wheel 50.

[0085] The mode of operation for transferring or moving a shuttle 5 from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20 can in various embodiments be designed as described below.

[0086] If a shuttle 5 moved in the transport direction TR1 by the first horizontal conveying device 10 approaches the chain 52, the gearing 56 of the gear rack 58 comes into engagement with the chain 52 at a certain point in time, as a result of which the entire shuttle 5 is pushed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 due to the circumferential drive of the chain 52. The movement of the shuttle 5 is thus carried out along a direction of movement which extends perpendicularly to the transport directions TR1 and TR2. After complete transfer to the second horizontal conveying device 20, the respective shuttle 5 is then moved along the transport direction TR2 by corresponding holding element 14 via the second horizontal conveying device 20.

[0087] The movement or the return of a respective shuttle 5 from the second horizontal conveying device 20 to the first horizontal conveying device 10 is also carried out by the described engagement between a gear rack 58 and a chain 52, which chain 52 is circumferentially driven via a rotating gear wheel 50. This chain 52 or this rotating gear wheel 50, which rotationally drives this chain 52, are not illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0088] Alternatively to this, the mode of operation for transferring or moving a shuttle 5 from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20 can in various embodiments be designed as described below.

[0089] If a shuttle 5 moved in the transport direction TR1 by the first horizontal conveying device 10 approaches an end region of the first horizontal conveying device 10, the shuttle 5 is centered in the end region, wherein the shuttle 5 is brought into a defined orientation. In this case, the transfer unit 78 is initially located below a transport level formed via the horizontal conveying devices 10 and 20 for moving the shuttles 5, and is then raised in the vertical direction, wherein the gearing 56 of the gear rack 58 of a shuttle 5 respectively already centered or brought into the defined alignment is engaged with the chain 52.

[0090] Subsequently, the gear wheel 50 is rotationally moved, whereby the chain 52 is circumferentially driven. As a result, the respective shuttle 5 is pushed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 onto the second horizontal conveying device 20. The movement of the shuttle 5 is thus carried out along a direction of movement which extends perpendicularly to the transport directions TR1 and TR2. After the shuttle 5 has switched completely from the first horizontal conveying device 10 to the second horizontal conveying device 20, the transfer unit 78 again dips below the transport level formed for moving the shuttles 5, for which purpose the transfer unit 78 is lowered in the vertical direction. As a result, the engagement between the gearing 56 of the gear rack 58 and the chain 52 is removed.

[0091] Subsequently, the respective shuttle 5 is then moved along the transport direction TR2 by corresponding holding element 14 via the second horizontal conveying device 20. The movement or the return of a respective shuttle 5 from the second horizontal conveying device 20 to the first horizontal conveying device 10 is also carried out by the described principle, wherein a further transfer unit 78 (not shown in FIG. 4), for a respective engagement with a gearing 56 of a gear rack 58 and for releasing an engagement with a gearing 56 of a respective gear rack 58, is raised in the vertical direction or lowered in the vertical direction. The vertical lifting and the vertical lowering of the transfer unit 78 can be carried out pneumatically.

[0092] FIG. 5 shows a schematic, perspectival view of an embodiment of a shuttle 5 according to the invention. The shuttle 5 comprises a support plate 84 on which two handles 87 are arranged in order to be able to manually remove the shuttle 5 from a horizontal conveying device 10 or 20 or set it down on the respective horizontal conveying device 10 or 20. Two shells 85 are arranged on the support plate 84, wherein a respective shell 85 can accommodate a respective outer package 3.

[0093] In order for the respective outer package 3 to not be damaged during the introduction into a respective connection 85, the shells 85 each form several tabs 86 which guide the respective outer package 3 during introduction into the respective shell 85, and also act here as centering.

[0094] In the case of packaging systems known from the prior art, it is occasionally the case in practice that a handling device removes an outer package 3in some cases, from a magazinebrings it up, and then sets it down on a horizontal conveying device. If the handling device then leaves the respective outer package 3, parts of the handling device can still be in contact with the outer package 3, as a result of which the outer package 3 is in some cases again removed from the horizontal conveying device, or unintentionally slips and/or tilts.

[0095] In order to avoid such problems, the shuttles 5 each comprise several suction elements 82, which can be seen in FIG. 5 and also, respectively, in the plan view according to FIG. 6. Via the suction elements 82, a respective outer package 3 can be held via negative pressure if the respective handling device provided for insertion into a respective shell 85 leaves the respective outer package 3 again. In this case, the suction elements 82 are in surface contact with a respective bottom side of a respective outer package 3 and, due to the application of negative pressure, cause the respective outer package 3 to be temporarily fixed to the shuttle 5.

[0096] FIGS. 5 and 6 each show that the suction elements 82 can be subjected to negative pressure via pneumatic lines 91. The pneumatic lines 91 form a common line system 92 for the suction elements 82, so that all suction elements 82 can be subjected to negative pressure simultaneously or approximately simultaneously via the common line system 92.

[0097] The pneumatic lines 91 also open into the pneumatic connections, which are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in each case with reference to numeral 89. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5 through 7, each shuttle 5 has exactly two shells 85, so that each shuttle 5 can simultaneously receive exactly two outer packages 3 via the exactly two shells 85. In the embodiment of a shuttle 5 according to FIGS. 5 through 7, each of the exactly two shells 85 has exactly four suction elements 82, which can grip a respective outer package 3 on its bottom side via negative pressure when the respective handling device is removed from the respective outer package 3.

[0098] FIG. 7 shows a section through the embodiment of a shuttle 5 according to FIGS. 5 and 6 andin particular, once again in sectionreveals a suction element 82 which is subjected to negative pressure via the pneumatic lines 91. The shell 85 is still arranged on the support plate 84 and can accommodate a respective outer package 3 in a form-fitting manner.

[0099] FIG. 8 shows a schematic, perspectival view of two horizontal conveying device 10 and 20 with shuttles 5 arranged thereon, as can be provided as a component of various embodiments of a packaging system 1 according to the invention. The shuttles 5 are still moved in the transport direction TR1 via the first horizontal conveying device 10. The second horizontal conveying device 20 moves the shuttles 5 along the transport direction TR2.

[0100] From the first horizontal conveying device 10, the shuttles 5 are pushed onto the second horizontal conveying device 20 via a transfer unit 78 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4). The shuttles 5 are then pushed back from the second horizontal conveying device 20 via a corresponding transfer unit 78 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4). The horizontal conveying devices 10 and 20 and the transfer units 78 thus form a rotary machine for the shuttles 5. The shuttles 5 correspond to the exemplary embodiment described above with respect to FIGS. 5 through 7 and can be manually removed from the respective horizontal conveying device 10 or 20 via the handles, shown there for reference with numeral 87.

[0101] FIG. 9 shows further details of the embodiment of a second horizontal conveying device 20 according to FIG. 8. In the illustration according to FIG. 9, the shuttles 5 have been removed from the horizontal conveying device 20 so that further components can be seen.

[0102] Thus, FIG. 9 shows a connecting piece 95 which can transmit a negative pressure to a pneumatic line system 92, which then supplies the individual shuttles 5 with negative pressure. The vacuum supply is in this case such that individual shuttles 5 can be supplied selectively with negative pressure at a certain point in time when a respective handling device provided for introducing an outer package 3 into a shell 85 of the respective shuttle 5 leaves the respective shuttle 5. Numeral 97 refers to a centering with which the ground shuttle shown by reference to numeral 98 can be aligned.

[0103] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of further aspects of the embodiment of a second horizontal conveying device 20 according to FIG. 9. In particular, FIG. 10 shows a section of a connecting piece via which the shuttles 5 can be supplied with negative pressure.

[0104] FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C illustrate different packaging processes VP1 and VP2, which in various embodiments can be carried out by a packaging system 1 according to the invention. The representations according to FIGS. 11A through 11C can relate to a first horizontal conveying device 10 or a second horizontal conveying device 20, as has already been described in the preceding exemplary embodiments.

[0105] The first horizontal conveying device 10 or the second horizontal conveying device 20 respectively form two conveyor sections 16 and 18 running parallel to one another. FIG. 11A shows a packaging process VP1 in which the conveyor sections 16 and 18 together transport a shuttle 5. Such a packaging process VP1 is formed, for example, by the packaging system 1, as has already been described above in reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0106] FIG. 11B, then, illustrates a switching of a packaging system 1 to a further packaging process VP2. The shuttles 5, which are still arranged on the first horizontal conveying device 10 or on the second horizontal conveying device 20 during the packaging process VP1, have, in FIG. 11B, already been removed from the first horizontal conveying device 10 or from the second horizontal conveying device 20.

[0107] FIG. 11C, then, shows that several transfer plates 79 have been arranged along the first conveyor section 16 and along the second conveyor section 18 for performing the further packaging process VP2. This makes it possible for a deployment device (not shown in FIGS. 11A through 11C), making surface contact with the transfer plates 79, to push an outer package 3 from the first conveying section 16 to the second conveying section 18.

[0108] Shuttles 5, which can accommodate a respective outer package 3, are not provided during the further packaging process VP2. Such a packaging system 1, which can selectively carry out both packaging processes VP1 or VP2, has very high flexibility with regard to the handling of different outer packages 3.

[0109] FIGS. 12 through 14 show a further embodiment of a packaging system 1 according to the invention. The packaging system 1 operates according to the principle of the embodiment described above with respect to FIGS. 1 through 3, such that reference can be made to the above description for these figures. FIGS. 12 and 13 each show the inlet 60, the first horizontal conveying device 10, the second horizontal conveying device 20, and the discharge belt 70.

[0110] FIG. 14 again shows the first horizontal conveying device 10 and the second horizontal conveying device 20 together with shuttles 5, which are arranged on the first horizontal conveying device 10.

[0111] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0112] 1 Packaging system [0113] 2 Article [0114] 3 Outer package [0115] 4 Beverage container [0116] 5 Shuttle [0117] 5 Shuttle [0118] 6 Package dividers [0119] 8 Packaging unit [0120] 9 Support bar [0121] 10 First horizontal conveying device [0122] 12 Holding element [0123] 14 Holding element [0124] 15 Handling device [0125] 16 First conveyor section [0126] 18 Second conveyor section [0127] 20 Second horizontal conveying device [0128] 30 Magazine, first magazine [0129] 40 Magazine, second magazine [0130] 50 Gear wheel [0131] 52 Chain [0132] 54 Counter-gearing [0133] 56 Gearing [0134] 58 Gear rack [0135] 60 Inlet [0136] 62 Channel plate [0137] 64 Conveying device [0138] 70 Discharge belt [0139] 78 Transfer unit [0140] 79 Transfer plate [0141] 82 Suction element [0142] 84 Support plate [0143] 85 Shell [0144] 86 Tab [0145] 87 Handle [0146] 89 Pneumatic connection [0147] 91 Pneumatic line [0148] 92 Common line system [0149] 95 Connecting piece [0150] 97 Centering [0151] 98 Base shuttle [0152] TR1 Transport direction [0153] TR2 Transport direction [0154] VP1 Packaging process [0155] VP2 Further packaging process