PACKAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Abstract

A packaging device (1) for producing packs each comprising several articles is disclosed. The packaging device (1) comprises at least one horizontal conveying device and at least one manipulator (25, 35). Article groups are moved via the at least one horizontal conveying device into a working area (AP1, AP2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35). The at least one manipulator (25, 35) is designed to combine respective articles of a respective article group, which are moved into its working area (AP1, AP2) via the at least one horizontal conveying device, and for this purpose can apply at least one packaging material (40) to the respective article group.

Furthermore, the packaging device (1) comprises at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group, which at least one supporting beam and/or pushing beam provided for rear-side contact with a respective article group is guided along a preferably circulating movement path, which preferably circulating movement path runs through the working area (AP1, AP2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35).

Claims

1. A method (100) for combining a plurality of articles (2) via at least one packaging material (40) to form a pack (4), comprising: forming an article group from the plurality of articles (2) to form a pack (4) and temporally following the forming step, applying, with at least one manipulator (25, 35), at least one packaging material (40) to the article group to form a pack (4), and while the at least one manipulator is applying the at least one packaging material (40) to the article group, contacting at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) with a rear side of the article group with respect to a direction of movement (BR) of the article group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) slidably pushes the article group along a transfer plate or along a support surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) is guided along a circulating movement path by an endless traction device (15, 17) and wherein the supporting beam or pushing beam (6) is brought into contact with the rear side of the article group along the circulating movement path, and then is in continuous contact with the rear side of the article group while the at least one manipulator (25, 35) is applying the at least one packaging material (40).

4. to the method of claim 3, wherein the at least one manipulator (25, 35) is a component of at least one working module (20, 30) wherein the at least one endless traction means (15, 17) operates outside a periphery of the working module (20, 30) defined by a carrying construction or supporting construction (22, 32).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one endless traction device (15, 17) operates in sections above or in a vertical direction above the periphery defined by the carrying construction or supporting construction (22, 32).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the endless traction device (15, 17) is guided inaccessibly from the outside through an enclosure or is guided inaccessibly from the outside through a channel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing at least one first manipulator (25) and at least one second manipulator (35), wherein: the at least one first manipulator (25) and the at least one second manipulator (35) cooperate to apply a plurality of different packaging materials (40) to the article group, or wherein: the at least one first manipulator (25) and the at least one second manipulator (35) are assigned different article groups, such that the at least one first manipulator (25) applies at least one packaging material (40) to first article groups contacted at a rear side of the article group by at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) and wherein the at least one second manipulator (35) applies at least one packaging material (40) to second article groups contacted at a rear side of the article group by at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of articles (2) are beverage containers, and wherein the at least one packaging material (40) comprises at least one flat packaging blank (41) providing at least one opening (42) for a beverage container, and wherein the at least one manipulator (25, 35) applies the at least one flat packaging blank (41) to a beverage container group in the direction coming from above, so that the beverage containers of insert into a respective opening (42), and are subsequently held together in a form-fitting manner via applied flat packaging blank (41) to form the pack (4).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an article group moves onto a tray, wherein subsequently the at least one manipulator (25, 35) applies the at least one packaging material (40) to the article group on the tray, wherein the article group continuously remains on the tray.

10. A packaging device (1) for producing packs (4), each pack (4) comprising a plurality of articles (2), the packaging device (1) comprising: at least one horizontal conveying device (54) and at least one manipulator (25, 35), wherein article groups are movable via the at least one horizontal conveying device (3) into a working area (AP1, AP2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35), and wherein the at least one manipulator (25, 35) is adapted to apply at least one packaging material (40) to each article group for combining respective articles (2) to form a pack (4), and at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) provided for rear-side contact with an article group, wherein the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) is guided along a circulating movement path, which extends through the working area (AP1, AP2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35).

11. The packaging device (1) according to claim 10, further comprising a transfer plate (52) positioned within the working area (AP1, AP2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35), along which the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) can push an article group slidingly through the working area (AP1, AP2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35) while being in rear-side contact with the article group.

12. The packaging device (1) of claim 11, wherein the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) is connected to at least one endless traction device (15, 17).

13. The packaging device (1) of claim 12, further comprising at least one working module (20, 30), of which the at least one manipulator (25, 353) is a component, and which comprises at least one carrying construction or supporting construction (22, 32), which defines a periphery of the at least one working module (20, 30), and wherein the circulating movement path runs in sections outside the periphery of the at least one working module (20, 30).

14. The packaging device (1) of claim 13, wherein the circulating movement path runs in sections outside and in doing so runs in sections above or in the vertical direction above the periphery defined by the at least one carrying construction or supporting construction (22, 32).

15. The packaging device (1) of claim 14, wherein a section of the circulating movement path, which section is extending outside the at least one carrying construction or supporting construction (22, 32), extends through an enclosure or a channel.

16. The packaging device (1) of claim 15, comprising at least one first manipulator (25) and at least one second manipulator (35), which are associated with a control device or regulating device (S), wherein: the at least one first manipulator (25) and the at least one second manipulator (35) can be actuated or controlled via the control device or regulating device (S) for applying a plurality of different packaging material (40) to an article group, or wherein: different article groups can be assigned to the at least one first manipulator (25) and the at least one second manipulator (35) via the control device or regulating device (S), wherein the at least one first manipulator (25) and the at least one second manipulator (35) are adapted to be actuated by the control device or regulating device (S), and wherein the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) is guided along the circulating movement path, which runs both through a working area (AP1) of the at least one first manipulator (25) and through a working area (AP2) of the at least one second manipulator (35).

17. The packaging device (1) of claim 16, adapted to produce packs (4) a plurality of beverage containers, wherein the at least one manipulator is adapted to apply flat packaging blanks (41) onto article groups moved into its working area (AP1, AP2) in a force-fit manner, wherein the flat packaging blanks (41) have assigned openings (42) for each beverage container of an article group that is moved via the at least one horizontal conveying device (3).

18. A packaging device (1) for applying packaging material (40) to at least one article group, comprising: at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) adapted to contact the rear side of an article group, at least two working modules (20, 30), each comprising a manipulator (25, 35) adapted to apply packaging material (40) to article groups moving within a working area (AP1, AP2) in each of the least two working modules (20, 30), and an endless traction device (15, 17) connected to the supporting beam or pushing beam (6) wherein the endless traction device (15, 17), viewed in the direction of movement (BR), extends along at least both working areas (AP1, AP2) of the two working modules (20, 30).

19. A method of applying packaging material (40) to at least one article group, comprising: pushing article groups through two working modules (20, 30) by at least one supporting beams or pushing beams (6), wherein the at least one supporting beams or pushing beams (6) contact the rear side of the article groups, each of which working module (20, 30) comprises a manipulator (25, 35) with a respective working area (AP1, AP2), applying packaging material (40) with both manipulators in their respective working area (AP1, AP2) onto the article groups moved by the supporting beams or pushing beams (6), and maintaining a rear-side contact of the at least one supporting beam or pushing beam (6) against an article group throughout at least both work modules (20, 30) and work areas (AP1, AP2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0102] In the following, examples of embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached figures. The size ratios of the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

[0103] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they may be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

[0104] FIG. 2 shows a schematic detailed view of individual components of the packaging device according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0105] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a pack as it can be produced each by the packaging device according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and by the embodiment of the method according to FIG. 4.

[0106] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0107] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the packaging device according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0108] FIG. 6 shows individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention in the flow chart.

[0109] FIGS. 7a to 7e show schematic representation (top view) of embodiments with different packs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0110] Identical reference signs are used for elements of the invention that are identical or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference signs that are necessary for the description of the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The embodiments shown are merely examples of how the invention can be designed and do not represent a conclusive limitation.

[0111] The embodiments, examples and variations of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their various views or respective individual features, may be used independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

[0112] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging device 1 according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they may be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (cf. FIG. 4).

[0113] The packaging device 1 is designed to produce packs 4, each of which is comprising several articles 2 (cf. FIG. 3). In order to pack up the articles 2 or to produce a pack 4 from several articles 2, the articles 2 are transported along the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR without interruption. Therefore, the articles 2 are not stationary at any time within the packaging device 1, so that the packaging device 1 can produce packs 4 with a high throughput.

[0114] In order to be able to apply a respective packaging material 40 to a plurality of articles 2, which are thereby combined into a pack 4, it is first necessary that a respective grouping is formed from these respective articles 2, which grouping comprises all articles 2 intended for a respective pack 4. Therefore, the packaging device 1 possesses a grouping device 10.

[0115] For this purpose, the grouping device 10 is capable of briefly accelerating a plurality of articles 2 intended for a respective pack 4 relative to subsequently trailing articles 2, whereby a gap is created between the accelerated articles 2 and the subsequently trailing articles 2 and wherein the already accelerated articles 2 form an article group.

[0116] In practice, there are numerous conceivable embodiments for such a grouping device 10. In various embodiments, for example, the grouping device 10 may comprise a plurality of conveyor belts, which conveyor belts have different transport speeds and/or can be operated intermittently and thereby form a respective article group from a plurality of articles 2. Also, grouping devices 10 known already can possess retaining elements, which retaining elements allow for the passing of articles 2 that are being part of an article group to be formed and which retaining elements briefly delay the subsequently trailing articles 2.

[0117] Irrespective of the design of the grouping device 10, it is provided in the packaging device 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2, that a supporting beam and/or pushing beam comes into contact with the rear side of a respective article group and accompanies the respective article group during its further movement in the direction of movement BR under rear-side contact.

[0118] On the endless traction device 15 and 17, which are arranged in parallel or which are essentially arranged in parallel, a plurality or multiplicity of supporting beams and/or pushing beams is arranged in such a way that a longitudinal extent of a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam runs perpendicular to the direction of movement BR of the articles 2. It is possible in this case, that a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam already comes into contact with the rear side of a respective article group before a respective article group leaves the grouping device 10. Alternatively, it is also possible, that an article group leaves the grouping device 10, whereupon temporally following a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is brought into contact with the rear side of a respective article group.

[0119] Via the grouping device 10, the article group is fed into a first working module 20, which first working module 20 comprises a first manipulator 25. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first manipulator 25 is designed as a gantry system or is a component of a gantry system. In further embodiments, the first manipulator 25 may also be designed as a delta kinematic robot or as a further handling device.

[0120] The packaging material 40 (cf. FIG. 3), which is designed, for example, as a flat packaging blank 41, can be applied to an article group via the first manipulator 25 of the first working module 20. For this purpose, the article group is moved into the working area AB1 of the first manipulator 25, whereupon the first manipulator 25 presses a respective packaging material 40 or a respective flat packaging blank 41 coming from above onto the respective article group with force.

[0121] As can also be seen from FIG. 3, the articles 2 are thereby combined to form a pack 4, in which pack 4 the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 holds the articles 2 of the pack 4 together in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner.

[0122] The first manipulator 25 of the first working module 20 is also arranged hanging from a carrying construction and/or supporting construction 22 of the first working module 20 via a linear guide. Along the linear guide, the first manipulator 25 can be moved along with an article group during the application of the respective packaging material 40 or the respective flat packaging blank 41 to the respective article group.

[0123] Thus, in such embodiments, there is no need for the article group to be stopped or to remain stationary for the application of the flat packaging blank 41. The production of packs 4 by the packaging device 1 can therefore be done with a comparatively high throughput.

[0124] Particularly, as can be seen from the schematic perspective view of FIG. 3, the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 provides an associated opening 42 for each article 2.

[0125] In order to be able to apply the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 to an article group via the first manipulator 25 coming from above, the articles 2 must be in an arrangement, in which arrangement the articles 2 are in alignment with the openings 42 of the flat packaging blank 41.

[0126] Therefore, problems frequently occur with packaging devices known from the prior art, since it cannot always be guaranteed with certainty that the articles of a respective article group are exactly in a position intended for the application of the flat packaging blank 41, in that the articles 2 are aligned with the openings 42 of the flat packaging blank 41. Because of the force-applied application of flat packaging blanks 41 it is furthermore possible with the devices known from the prior art, that individual articles 2 unintentionally tilt over when a respective flat packaging blank 41 is applied.

[0127] As previously mentioned, it is provided in the packaging device 1 that a supporting beam and/or pushing beam accompanies a respective article group under rear-side contact during its movement in the direction of movement BR.

[0128] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging device 1 further comprises a transfer plate, along which transfer plate a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam pushes a respective article group during its movement through the first working module 20 as well as during its movement through a second working module 30 described below, while bearing against the rear side.

[0129] The application of a respective packaging material 40 or of a respective flat packaging blank 41 thus takes place temporally while the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in contact with the rear side of the respective article group with regard to the direction of movement BR of the respective article group. The supporting beam and/or pushing beam can thus support the respective article group by its rear-side contact during the force-applied application of the packaging material 40 or during the force-applied application of the flat packaging blank 41, so that as a result the risk of unintentional tilting of articles 2 is kept low. Due to the rear-side contact with the respective article group and the pushing of the respective article group in the direction of movement BR, the position of the articles 2 of a respective article group corresponds exactly to a predetermined nominal position, so that the flat packaging blank 41 accurately targets the articles 2 of the respective article group with its openings 42 when applied to the article group.

[0130] The first working module 20 is followed in the direction of movement BR by the second working module 30, which second working module 30 comprises a second manipulator 35. Both, the first manipulator 25 of the first working module 20 and the second manipulator 35 of the second working module 30 are in communication with a control device and/or regulating device S.

[0131] The control device and/or regulating device S assigns different article groups to the first manipulator 25 and the second manipulator 35. Furthermore, the first manipulator 25 and the second manipulator 35 are actuated via the control device and/or regulating device S in such a way, that the first manipulator 25 applies packaging material 40 only to article groups which have been assigned to it by the control device and/or regulating device S.

[0132] The second manipulator 35 applies packaging material 40 only to article groups that have been assigned to the second manipulator 35 by the control device and/or regulating device S. The first manipulator 25 and the second manipulator 35 thus cooperate to apply at least one respective packaging material 40 to all article groups.

[0133] Article groups that have been assigned to the second manipulator 35 can thus pass through the working area AP1 of the first manipulator 25 without a packaging material 40 being applied to them.

[0134] A respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam also pushes a respective article group under rear-side contact through the working area AP2 of the second manipulator 35, so that the second manipulator 35 can also apply a respective packaging material 40 to a respective article group, while a respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in rear-side contact with a respective article group. Due to the rear-side contact of the supporting beam and/or pushing beam, the article group is exactly located at a position, which position is expected for the application of the flat packaging blank 41.

[0135] Together with the applied packaging material 40 or with the applied flat packaging blank 41, a respective article group leaves the second working module 30 and can be moved by the transport device and handling device 50 in the direction of a palletizing station and/or in the direction of further stations. It may be the case, for example, that blanks of thermoplastic packaging material are applied to packs 4 and the packs 4 are then guided through a shrink tunnel.

[0136] Considering the detailed view according to FIG. 2, further aspects of the packaging device 1 become clear. In FIG. 2 the carrying construction and/or supporting construction 22 formed as a component of the first working module 20 and the carrying construction and/or supporting construction 32 formed as a component of the second working module 30 can now be seen in detail. The carrying construction and/or supporting construction 22 formed as a component of the first working module 20 specifies a periphery of the first working module 20. Likewise, the carrying construction and/or supporting construction 32 of the second working module 30 specifies a periphery of the second working module 30.

[0137] The endless traction device 15 and 17, to which the supporting beams and/or pushing beams are attached, and which provide a circulating movement path for the supporting beams and/or pushing beams attached thereto, run in sections outside the respective periphery, which peripheries are specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting constructions 22 and 32 of the first working module 20 and the second working module 30.

[0138] The schematic diagram FIG. 2 also shows that the endless traction device 15 and 17 also run above the respective periphery, which is specified by the carrying construction and/or supporting constructions 22 and 32 of the first working module 20 and the second working module 30. Advantageously, this can prevent a user from unintentionally coming into contact with the endless traction device 15 and 17 and possibly injuring himself in the process.

[0139] Also, no complex guidances are necessary to arrange the endless traction device 15 and 17 in confined spaces of the first and second working modules 20 and 30. If the endless traction device 15 and 17 show signs of wear or need maintenance or lubrication, the endless traction device 15 and 17 are therefore accessible for this purpose above the first working module 20 and the second working module 30.

[0140] FIG. 2 also shows that the packaging device 1 comprises a blank feeder 7, which is arranged below a transport level, which transport level is provided for the articles 2. Packaging blanks, which are not shown in the figures, can be introduced into the transport path of the already produced packs 4 via the blank feeder 7, whereby the packs 4 are moved onto a respective blank and are then arranged on the respective blank.

[0141] The blanks or packaging blanks can, for example, be designed as so-called trays, which trays have lateral and upwardly folded flaps.

[0142] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, first the packs 4 are formed, whereupon the finished packs 4 then move onto a respective blank. In practice, embodiments have proven successful, in which embodiments at least one article group moves onto a respective blank of this type, onto which respective at least one article group no flat packaging blank 41 has been applied yet.

[0143] Following this, a respective flat packaging blank 41 can be applied to the respective article group via the respective manipulator 25 or 35, with the respective article group being located on such a blank or on a tray. Since the respective blank has lateral flaps, which flaps are in an upright orientation, the respective article group is also maintained in a stable manner by the blank or by its lateral flaps during the application of the flat packaging blank 41, so that the risk of unintentional tilting of articles 2 can be further reduced.

[0144] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a pack 4 as it can be produced with various embodiments of the packaging device 1 according to the invention and with various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention.

[0145] The pack 4 in the example shown in FIG. 3 comprises eight articles 2, each of which articles 2 is in the form of a beverage can, and a packaging material 40 or a flat packaging blank 41 by which the articles 2 are held together and are held in defined positions. The flat packaging blank 41 can, for example, be made of plastic or cardboard and/or paperboard.

[0146] In alternative embodiments, the articles 2 can also be formed by beverage bottles. The number of eight articles 2 or eight beverage containers is to be understood merely as exemplary, so that by a packaging device 1 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, packs 4 can also be produced, which packs 4 comprise a number deviating from this, for example comprising exactly four or six articles 2 or comprising exactly four or six beverage containers.

[0147] FIG. 3 shows that the packaging material 40 or the flat packaging blank 41 provides a respective opening 42 for each article 2, through which opening 42 the respective beverage container 2 passes with an upper part. In order to apply the flat packaging blank 41 to the articles 2 of a respective article group, the packaging blank 41 is pressed onto the articles 2 with a defined force in the direction coming from above, wherein the articles 2 pass through the openings 42 with their upper part. The application is carried out by a manipulator 25 or 35, as has been described above for FIG. 1.

[0148] During application, a supporting beam and/or pushing beam is in rear-side contact with articles 2 of the pack 4 to be formed, thereby providing the exact position for the respective articles 2 for the application of the flat packaging blank 41 and also preventing the articles 2 from unintentional tilting during application.

[0149] FIG. 3 also illustrates that the articles 2 must be aligned with each other, so that when the packaging blank 41 is applied, the articles 2 can pass through the openings 42 with their upper part. For this purpose, the supporting beam and/or pushing beam is provided, which aligns the articles 2 of the pack 4 and pushes them in a direction of movement BR.

[0150] The alignment of the articles 2 with respect to each other is such, that the articles 2 along their respective longitudinal direction are aligned with their respectively assigned opening 42 of the packaging blank 41. After the packaging blank 41 has been applied to the articles 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the articles 2 are held together by the packaging blank 41 in a form-fit and force-fit manner.

[0151] It is conceivable, that the articles 2 of the pack 4 are held together by further connections not shown in FIG. 3. In particular, an adhesive connection can be formed between lateral mantle surfaces of directly adjoining articles 2.

[0152] In addition, as already mentioned above, several article groups can be arranged standing on a tray before the application of the respective packaging material 40 or before the application of the respective flat packaging blank 41, which tray has several lateral edge regions folded in the upward direction. The tray can be introduced into a transport path of the articles 2 from below a transport plane, which transport plane is provided for moving the articles 2, with a respective article group then moving onto a respective tray.

[0153] The schematic view of FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a packaging device 1 according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. Hereby, an already produced tray pack 5 is fed to the packaging device 1 in a 4×6 formation. In the embodiment variation according to FIG. 4, the tray 5 with the respective article group in the 4×6 formation is conveyed through the following working modules 20 and 30 by the respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6.

[0154] As can be seen from the schematic top view of FIG. 4, several trays 5 are conveyed successively through the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR (from right to left) on transfer plates 52 and equipped with packaging material 40 by the first and second working modules 20 and 30. In the interest of a high machine throughput a sensible sequence of operations can provide for two 2×3 formations in the first working module 20 to be initially equipped with packaging material 40 in the form of flat packaging blanks 41, which packaging blanks 41 are put on the top of six articles 2. These are the 2×3 formations located closer to the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6. The transfer plat and the supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6 form the horizontal conveying device 54

[0155] Subsequently, in the second working module 30, the remaining two 2×3 formations located within the tray 5 are equipped with packaging material 40 in the form of flat packaging blanks 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2. These are the 2×3 formations located further away from the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6, i.e. the two packs or 2×3 formations at the front seen in the direction of movement BR.

[0156] The schematic top view of FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the packaging device 1 according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out a further variant of the method according to the invention. The packaging device 1 shown in FIG. 5 comprises four working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement BR, in which working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 trays 5 with articles 2 are conveyed by the packaging device 1, which articles 2 are equipped with packaging material 40.

[0157] Also, in the variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an already produced tray pack 5 is fed to the packaging device 1 in a 4×6 formation. The trays 5 or tray packs 5 are conveyed with the respective article group in the 4×6 formation through the following modules 20 and 30 as well as 60 and 70 by the respective supporting beams and/or pushing beams 6.

[0158] As can be seen from the schematic top view of FIG. 5, several trays 5 are conveyed successively through the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR (from right to left) and are respectively equipped in succession with packaging material 40 by the first, second, third and fourth working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70. In the interest of a high machine throughput a sensible sequence of operations can provide, that in the first working module 20 initially only one of a total of four 2×3 formations is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2 standing next to each other in a rectangular arrangement (2×3 formation) within the tray 5. This is the right 2×3 formation located closer to the supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6.

[0159] Subsequently, in the second working module 30, which is arranged downstream of the first working module 20 in the direction of movement BR, a further of the total of four 2×3 formations is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2 arranged in a rectangular arrangement (2×3 formation) within the tray 5. In the second working module 30, this is the left 2×3 formation closer to the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6.

[0160] After passing through the second working module 30, within the tray 5 two 2×3 formations are thus already equipped with packaging blanks 41.

[0161] Subsequently, in the third working module 60, which is arranged downstream of the second working module 30 in the direction of movement BR, a further 2×3 formation within the tray 5 is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2. This is the left 2×3 formation of the two 2×3 formations located more distant from the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6, i.e. the left pack on the front or the left 2×3 formation on the front seen in the direction of movement BR.

[0162] Finally, in the fourth working module 70, which is arranged downstream of the third working module 60 in the direction of movement BR, a further 2×3 formation within the tray 5 is equipped with a packaging material 40 in the form of a flat packaging blank 41, which packaging blank 41 is put on top of six articles 2. This is the right 2×3 formation of the two 2×3 formations located more distant from the thrusting supporting beam and/or pushing beam 6, i.e. the right pack on the front or the right 2×3 formation on the front seen in the direction of movement BR.

[0163] FIG. 5 thus shows an embodiment, where within each of the four working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 one respective manipulator (not described in more detail here) applies only one packaging blank 41 at a time to a 2×3 rectangular arrangement of articles 2 within the larger tray pack 5; which allows a correspondingly high throughput of tray packs 5 when the interacting working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 are appropriately coordinated.

[0164] The supporting beams and/or pushing beams 6 running continuously through the packaging device 1, which according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are also guided in a circulating manner at synchronized distances from one another and which are returned to the starting point for conveying further trays 5, enable very precise machine control and positioning of the corresponding manipulators without the need for time-consuming transfer procedures between the working modules 20, 30, 60 and 70.

[0165] Finally, in a flow diagram FIG. 6 shows individual steps, which may be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 according to the embodiment shown in to FIG. 6 can be implemented or carried out by a packaging device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The method 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can also be implemented or carried out by a packaging device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0166] With the method 100, several articles 2 are combined via a packaging material 40 to form a pack 4. In a first step, to which reference is made with number 110, article groups are formed in each instance from several articles 2, for which purpose the articles 2 intended for a respective article group are separated or accelerated for a short time from other articles 2.

[0167] In method step 120, a supporting beam and/or pushing beam is then brought into contact with the rear side of the respective article group with respect to a direction of movement BR of the respective article group and then pushes the respective article group through at least one working area AP1 or AP2 of at least one manipulator 25 or 35.

[0168] In method step 130, the at least one manipulator 25 or 35 then applies at least on packaging material 40 to a respective article group pushed into its working area AP1 or AP2. The respective supporting beam and/or pushing beam continues to be in contact with the rear side of the respective article group with respect to a direction of movement BR of the respective article group.

[0169] FIG. 7 shows various examples of article groups or packs with different blanks. The blanks 41 differ in size and can combine different numbers of articles 2 into one pack.

[0170] FIG. 7a shows three identical packs, each with eight articles 2 on a tray.

[0171] FIG. 7b shows six packs, each with four articles 2 on a tray.

[0172] FIG. 7c shows four packs, each with four articles 2, and one pack with eight articles on a tray.

[0173] FIG. 7d shows two packs, each with four articles and one pack each with two, six and eight articles 2 on a tray.

[0174] FIG. 7e shows five packs on a tray, three with four articles 2 and two with six articles 2.

[0175] The respective blanks may have been applied by two or three or more manipulators. For example, the eight comprising blank in FIG. 7c may have been applied by the first manipulator and the other blanks by a second manipulator.

[0176] Finally, the following should be pointed out. Even though the figures generally refer to “schematic” representations and views, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description should be of secondary importance with respect to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite capable of obtaining enough information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations to facilitate his understanding of the invention without being impaired in any way in his understanding, for example, by the drawn proportions, which proportions may not be exactly to scale. The figures thus enable the skilled person as a reader to derive a better understanding of the idea of the invention described in a more general and/or abstract manner in the claims as well as in the general part of the description on the basis of the more exactly explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more exactly explained mode of operation of the packaging device according to the invention.

[0177] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable to one skilled in the art that variations or modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of protection of the claims below.

List of Reference Signs

[0178] 1 packaging device

[0179] 2 article

[0180] 4 pack

[0181] 5 tray, tray pack

[0182] 6 supporting beam and/or pushing beam

[0183] 7 blank feeder

[0184] 10 grouping device

[0185] 15 endless traction device

[0186] 17 endless traction device

[0187] 20 first working module

[0188] 22 carrying construction and/or supporting construction

[0189] 25 first manipulator

[0190] 30 second working module

[0191] 32 carrying construction and/or supporting construction

[0192] 35 second manipulator

[0193] 40 packaging material

[0194] 41 flat packaging blank

[0195] 42 opening

[0196] 50 transport device and handling device

[0197] 52 transfer plate

[0198] 54 horizontal conveying device

[0199] 60 third working module

[0200] 70 fourth working module

[0201] 100 method

[0202] 110 first step

[0203] 120 method step

[0204] 130 method step

[0205] AP1 working area (first manipulator 25)

[0206] AP2 working area (second manipulator 35)

[0207] BR direction of movement

[0208] S control device and/or regulating device