DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GROUPING AND COMBINING ARTICLES INTO MULTIPLE PACKAGES WITH DIFFERENT PACKAGE SIZES

Abstract

A device (1) for grouping and combining articles (5) into packages with different package sizes is disclosed. The device comprises a dividing unit (3), by which groups (6a, 6b, 6c) can be formed from moving articles (5). Further, it consists of a cutting station (18) for cutting to length flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) from a supply roll, a workstation (40) for applying the cut-to-length flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) onto the groups (6a, 6b, 6c) of articles, and a shrinking tunnel (50), in order to produce the packages. The dividing unit (3) and the cutting station (18) are operatively connected to one another by a control unit (S), which has information relating to a layer to be produced from the packages.

Claims

1. A device (1) for grouping and combining articles (5) into multiple packages with different package sizes, comprising a dividing unit (3), by which groups of articles (6a, 6b, 6c) can be formed from moving articles (5), a cutting station (18) for cutting to length flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) from a supply roll (30) of packaging material (20), a workstation (40) for applying the cut-to-length flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) onto the groups of articles (6a, 6b, 6c) of articles (5), and a shrinking tunnel (50), to which the groups of articles (6a, 6b, 6c) can be fed together with their respective applied and cut-to-length thermoplastic packaging material (20) in order to produce the packages, and an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S) operatively connects the dividing unit (3) and the cutting station (18) to one another, which has information relating to a layer to be produced from the packages, wherein: a) the dividing unit (3) can be controlled via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S) taking into account the information for forming the groups of articles (6a, 6b, 6c) with different sizes in a specific sequence and b) wherein the cutting station (18) can be controlled via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S) in order to cut to length the flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) in the specific sequence with dimensions matching the size of the respective group of articles (6a, 6b, 6c).

2. The device of claim 1 comprising at least one optical detection unit connected to the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S), by which a position of an imprint applied to the thermoplastic packaging material (20) is visible, wherein the cutting station (18) can be controlled via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S) for the defined cutting to length of the flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) taking into account the position of the imprint detected via the at least one optical detection means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the volumes of the articles (5) intended for the respective layer is provided to the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S) wherein the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S).

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the cutting station (18) comprises at least one mechanical and/or optical separating instrument for cutting to length the flat thermoplastic packaging material (20).

5. The device of claim 4 comprising at least one holding mandrel on which the supply roll (30) of packaging material (20) can be arranged, wherein a rotation frequency of the holding mandrel is independently adjustable via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit (S).

6. The device of claim 5 comprising a storage unit (22) for the packaging material (20) is located between the the holding mandrel and the cutting station (18).

7. A method for grouping and combining articles (5) into packages of different package sizes, the method comprising: forming individual groups (6a, 6b, 6c) from several articles (5) moving one behind the other, applying flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) to the groups (6a, 6b, 6c), applying heat energy to the flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) from which packages are formed by shrinking flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) onto the groups (6a, 6b, 6c), characterized in that, wherein the individual groups are formed so as to create a layer to be created from the packages, a) by forming groups (6a, 6b, 6c) of different sizes and in a specific sequence, and b) by producing blanks of flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) with dimensions adapted to the size of a particular group (6a, 6b, 6c) in accordance with the specific sequence and are provided for application to the particular group (6a, 6b, 6c).

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising forming a plurality of groups (6a, 6b, 6c), each with a different numbers of articles (5).

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising detecting a position of an imprint applied to the flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) producing the blanks.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the producing step comprises forming the blanks by separating a supply of material by an optical and/or mechanical cutting instrument.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, when the flat thermoplastic packaging material (20) is unwound from the supply roll (30) and is still connected to the supply roll (30), storing such flat thermoplastic material (20) in a storage unit (22).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] In the following, embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail using the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements in the figures to each other do not always correspond to the real proportions since some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an inventive device;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows individual steps of a conceivable embodiment of an inventive method in a flow chart.

[0032] Identical reference signs are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. The embodiment described is merely an example of how the invention can be designed and does not represent a final limitation. It should also be noted that the features described for FIGS. 1 and 2 below are not to be understood in isolation for the embodiment but may be used in a general context.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of an inventive device 1. The device 1 is intended for grouping and combining articles 5 into several packages of different sizes. To this end, the device 1 comprises a dividing unit 3, by which groups 6a, 6b and 6c can be formed from moving articles 5.

[0034] For this purpose, the dividing unit 3 has a horizontal conveyor 7, on which the articles 5 stand to form a respective group 6a, 6b, 6c. In addition, several circumferential dividing fingers 4 can be identified, which emerge from below a conveying plane provided by the horizontal conveyor 7 and subsequently come into contact with at least one article 5 that is moving first of a respective group 6a, 6b, 6c to be formed from the articles 5. A movement speed of the dividing fingers 4 is lower than a transport speed of the horizontal conveyor 7 so that articles 5 are selectively decelerated via the dividing fingers 4 with respect to a transport speed of the horizontal conveyor 7 to form from the articles 5 the groups 6a, 6b and 6c as seen in FIG. 1.

[0035] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a cutting station 18 for cutting to length flat thermoplastic packaging material 20 from a supply of material. The flat thermoplastic packaging material 20 is provided by a supply roll 30 and/or unwound from a supply roll 30. For cutting to length the flat thermoplastic packaging material 20, the cutting station 18 can, for example, include a mechanical and/or optical cutting instrument.

[0036] An intermediate storage unit 22 and/or dancer 24 is arranged between the cutting station 18 and the supply roll 30 in the running direction of the flat thermoplastic packaging material 20, via which thermoplastic packaging material 20 can be received and released with a quantity per time unit adapted to a particular requirement. The intermediate storage unit 22 and/or dancer 24 has several rollers, which guide the flat thermoplastic packaging material 20 and can be moved relative to each other to increase or decrease an amount of thermoplastic packaging material 20 received via the intermediate storage unit 22 and/or dancer 24. In order to supply the intermediate storage unit 22 and/or dancer 24 with sufficient thermoplastic packaging material 20 and/or to ensure that a supply of thermoplastic packaging material 20 received by the intermediate storage unit and/or dancer 24 is not exhausted, a holding mandrel as seen in FIG. 1, on which the supply roll 30 rests, is connected to the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S. A rotation frequency of the holding mandrel is adjusted and/or controlled by the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S in such a way that the holding mandrel unwinds thermoplastic packaging material 20 from the supply roll 30 to meet supplies for the intermediate storage unit 22 and/or dancer 24 as required.

[0037] In addition, the device 1 comprises a workstation 40 for applying the flat thermoplastic packaging material 20, which was cut to length via the cutting station 18, to the groups 6a, 6b, 6c of articles 5. The workstation 40 has several circumferential wrapping bars, which position the cut-to-length thermoplastic packaging material 20 on the groups 6a, 6b, 6c. A speed of the wrapping bars and a conveying speed of a conveyor belt designed as part of the workstation 40 and intended to move groups 6a, 6b and 6c during the application of the cut-to-length thermoplastic packaging material 20 continues to be automatically adjusted by an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S, taking into account a respective size of groups 6a, 6b and 6c.

[0038] Furthermore, a shrinking tunnel 50 is part of the device 1. The shrinking tunnel 50 comprises a tunnel housing, into which the groups 6a, 6b, 6c can enter together with their respective applied and cut-to-length thermoplastic packaging material 20 to produce the packages. The tunnel housing can be seen proportionately in FIG. 1. In the shrinking tunnel 50, the groups 6a, 6b and 6c and the respective cut-to-length thermoplastic packaging material 20 applied to the groups are supplied with heat energy.

[0039] The dividing unit 3 and the cutting station 18 are operatively connected to one another via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S. The open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S has information on a layer to be produced from the packages and intended for a pallet. The dividing unit 3 can be controlled via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S, taking into account the information for forming groups 6a, 6b, 6c with different sizes in a specific sequence. In FIG. 1, the groups 6a, 6b and 6c have a different size due to a different number of articles 5 and/or beverage containers.

[0040] Furthermore, the cutting station 18 can be controlled via the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit S for cutting to length the flat thermoplastic packaging material 20 with a dimensioning adapted to the size of the respective group 6a, 6b and/or 6c according to the determined sequence. For example, for the group 6a with a larger volume than the group 6c, a higher amount of thermoplastic packaging material 20 is cut to length from the material stock provided via the supply roll 30.

[0041] The groups 6a, 6b, 6c, which have different sizes, enter the previously mentioned shrinking tunnel 50 after application of the respective thermoplastic packaging material with adapted dimensioning, wherein the respective thermoplastic packaging material is shrunk onto the groups 6a, 6b and 6c. The groups 6a, 6b and 6b leave the shrinking tunnel 50 after shrinking of the thermoplastic packaging material and are fed to a distribution unit downstream of the shrinking tunnel 50 in the flow direction of the packages and not shown in FIG. 1, which generates an orientation for a palletizable layer from the packages. The palletizable layer is then placed on an assigned pallet by a palletizer also not represented in the figures of this patent application.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows in the flow chart individual steps of a conceivable embodiment of an inventive method. Individual groups 6a, 6b, 6c (see FIG. 1) are thus formed from several articles 5, taking into account a composition and distribution of a layer to be produced from packages of different sizes and in a specific order.

[0043] In addition, blanks of flat thermoplastic packaging material 20 with dimensions adapted to the size of the respective group 6a, 6b and/or 6c are produced and supplied in accordance with the determined sequence. The blanks can be supplied via a transport plane formed to move the groups 6a, 6b and 6c and/or aligned above a transport plane formed to move the groups 6a, 6b and 6c.

[0044] A further step is to apply the blanks of flat thermoplastic packaging material 20 with their dimensions adapted to the size of the respective group 6a, 6b and/or 6c to the respective group 6a, 6b and/or 6c. They can be applied using the workstation 40 schematically depicted and described in FIG. 1.

[0045] In addition, the blanks of flat thermoplastic packaging material 20, whose dimensions are adapted to the size of the respective group 6a, 6b, 6c and which are applied to the respective group 6a, 6b, 6c, are supplied with heat energy, from which the blanks are shrunk onto the groups 6a, 6b, 6c and packages are produced from the groups 6a, 6b, 6c and the blanks.

[0046] The invention was described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for an expert that variations or modifications of the invention can be made without leaving the scope of protection of the claims below.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0047] 1 Device [0048] 3 Dividing unit [0049] 4 Dividing finger [0050] 5 Article [0051] 6a Group [0052] 6b Group [0053] 6c Group [0054] 7 Horizontal conveyor [0055] 18 Cutting station [0056] 20 Flat thermoplastic packaging material [0057] 22 Intermediate storage unit [0058] 24 Dancer [0059] 30 Supply roll [0060] 40 Workstation [0061] 50 Shrinking tunnel [0062] S Open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit