PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING UNITS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING UNITS

Abstract

A packaging apparatus (1) and method for producing packaging units (40) is described. The packaging units (40) comprise at least two articles (20), on which at least one at least partially sheet-like packaging blank (3) is arranged. The packaging blank (3) has at least two through-openings (33) for the at least two articles (20). The through-openings (33) each have an edge region (34), which is in contact with the respective article (20). The packaging apparatus (1) comprises, among other components, an application head (10) for applying and fixing the packaging blank (30) to the article group (22), and a magazine (6) assigned to the packaging apparatus (1). The application head (10) or the magazine (6) comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33). An alternative embodiment comprises a removal head which has devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33).

Claims

1. A packaging apparatus (1) for producing packaging units (40), comprising: at least one feed device (2) for a plurality of articles (20), at least one dividing device for dividing up at least two articles (20) into an article group (22), an application head (10) for applying and fixing a packaging blank (30) to the article group (22), wherein each packaging blank (3) has at least two through-openings (33) for the at least two articles (20) in a sheet-like region (32), wherein the through-openings (33) each have an edge region (34) which is in contact with a corresponding article (20) after application, and a magazine (6) associated with the packaging apparatus (1), wherein the magazine (6) holds a plurality of packaging blanks (30), wherein the application head (10) comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33), or wherein the magazine (6) comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33), or wherein a removal head is provided for removing a packaging blanks (30) from the magazine (6), wherein the removal head comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33).

2. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the edge regions (34) are each provided with incisions (37) for forming folding tabs (36), and wherein the pretreatment devices are configured to partially fold over the folding tabs (36).

3. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 2, wherein the application head (10) comprises an application plate (11) and a prebreaking plate (13), wherein the application plate (11) is equipped with retaining devices (12) for at least temporarily fixing the packaging blank (30), and wherein the prebreaking plate (13) is equipped with prebreaking devices (14).

4. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 3, wherein the application plate (11) comprises a first number of openings, and wherein the prebreaking plate (13) comprises a first number of prebreaking devices (14) which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate (13).

5. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 4, wherein, in a first operating position (OP1), a first distance (A1) is formed between the application plate (11) and the prebreaking plate (13) such that the prebreaking plate (13) and the prebreaking devices (14) are arranged above the application plate (11), and wherein, in a second operating position (OP2), a second distance (A2) is formed between the application plate (11) and the prebreaking plate (13) such that the prebreaking plate (13) is arranged above the application plate (11), and wherein each of the prebreaking devices (14) are at least partially arranged within corresponding openings in the application plate (11).

6. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 5, wherein the openings in the application plate (11) have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the diameter (d33) of the through-openings (33) in the packaging blank (3) and wherein, in the first operating position (OP1), the application head (10) is configured to receive the packaging blank (3) in such a way that a through-opening (33) in the packaging blank (30) and an opening in the application plate (11) are always aligned.

7. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 6, wherein the lower end region (15) of the prebreaking devices (14) is configured to at least partially fold the edge region (34) downward of a given through-opening (33) in the packaging blank (30) held on the application plate (11) when the application head (10) is transferred from the first operating position (OP1) to the second operating position (OP2).

8. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 7, wherein the lower end region (15) of the prebreaking devices (14) is configured to at least partially fold upward the folded-down edge region (34) of a given through-opening (33) in the packaging blank (30) held on the application plate (11) when the application head (10) is returned from the second operating position (OP2) to the first operating position (OP1).

9. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 2, wherein the magazine (6) comprises first pretreatment devices (60), which first pretreatment devices (60) are configured to fold the edge regions (34) of the through-openings (33) in a packaging blank (30) arranged at the very top in the magazine (6) at least partially upward or downward.

10. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 2, wherein the magazine (6) comprises second pretreatment devices (63), and the second pretreatment devices (63) are configured to fold the edge regions (34) of the through-openings (33) in all the packaging blanks (30) arranged in the magazine (6) at least partially upward or downward.

11. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 10, wherein the second pretreatment devices (63) are configured as centering mandrels (64) which have an upper end region (65) in the form of a cone (66) or truncated cone with a tip (67) pointing upward.

12. A method for producing packaging units (40), comprising feeding a plurality of articles (20); holding a plurality of packaging blanks (3) in a magazine, wherein the packaging blanks (3) comprise through-openings (33) with edge-regions (34); dividing the plurality of articles (20) into article groups (22) of at least two articles (20); pretreating the edge regions (34) of through-openings (33) in the packaging blank (3); applying the pretreated packaging blanks (3) to article groups (22) with an application head (10); wherein the pretreatment step is carried out by the application head (10) or a component thereof, by the magazine (6) or a component thereof, or by a removal head for removing packaging blanks (3) from the magazine or a component of the removal head.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the edge region of the through-openings (33) in the packaging blank (30) is pretreated by the application head (10), wherein pretreatment takes place between a packaging blank (30) being grasped by the application head (10) and applying the packaging blank (30) to the article group (22).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the application head (10) comprises an application plate (11) and a prebreaking plate (13) which have different distances (A1, A2) from one another in different operating positions (OP1, OP2), and wherein reducing the distance between the application plate (11) and the prebreaking plate (13) causes the edge regions (34) of the through-openings (33) in the packaging blank (30) held on the application plate (11) to be folded downward, and wherein subsequently increasing the distance between the application plate (11) and the prebreaking plate (13) causes the edge regions (34) of the through-openings (33) in the packaging blank (30) held on the application plate (11) to be folded upward.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein, before removal of the uppermost packaging blank (30) from the magazine (6), the edge regions (34) of the through-openings (33) in the uppermost packaging blank (30) are at least partially folded upward or downward within the magazine (6) by suitable first pretreatment devices (60), or wherein, when a stack of packaging blanks (30) is introduced into the magazine (6), the edge regions (34) of the through-openings (33) in all the packaging blanks (30) of the stack are at least partially folded upward or downward within the magazine (6) by suitable second pretreatment devices (63).

16. The packaging apparatus (1) of claim 4, wherein the first number of openings in the application plate (11) corresponds to the number of articles (20) of the article group (22).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units from above.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a packaging blank used in the packaging apparatus according to the known prior art.

[0054] FIGS. 3 and 4 each show an application head with integrated pretreatment.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment.

[0056] FIGS. 6A and 6B show a second embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units from above.

[0059] 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 configured, and are non-limiting.

[0060] The embodiments, examples and variants 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 of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with an embodiment are applicable for all embodiments provided the features are not incompatible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] The schematic plan view in FIG. 1 shows a packaging apparatus 1 for producing packaging units from above. The schematic plan view in FIG. 2 shows a packaging blank 30 used in the packaging apparatus 1, as is already known in particular from the prior art.

[0062] The articles 20 are fed via a feeding transport device 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, the articles 20 are fed in individual rows into lanes 3 separated from one another by lane plates 4. The articles 20 are transferred as article groups 22 from the lanes 3 onto a conveyor belt 5 of the packaging apparatus 1. They are divided into article groups 22, for example, by a dividing rod (not shown) between the transport device 2 and the conveyor belt 5. However, other ways of creating article groups 22 can also be used, for example a grouping module or the like.

[0063] The articles 20 are preferably beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or of other suitable plastics. Preferably, the articles can also be formed by cans 21 made of plastics and/or aluminum or another metal or the like. However, the packaging apparatus 1 and the method are also suitable for arranging a packaging blank 30 as described below on other suitable articles 20 and forming corresponding packaging units 40.

[0064] A packaging blank 30, which is sheet-like at least regionally, is then applied to the article group 22.

[0065] The packaging blank 30 is in particular a so-called upper gripping cardboard package 31. The packaging blank 30 comprises at least two through-openings 33 in the sheet-like region 32 for the at least two articles 20 to be combined. The through-openings 33 each have an edge region 34 (FIG. 2) which is in contact with the given article 20 in the finished packaging unit 40.

[0066] The packaging blank 30 preferably consists of a cardboard material, a plastics material, a cardboard-plastics composite material or the like.

[0067] Preferably, after the packaging blank 30 has been fixed, a defined upper region of the articles 20 is located above the packaging blank 30, while a defined lower region of the articles 20 is arranged below the packaging blank 30.

[0068] The packaging apparatus 1 comprises at least one magazine 6 in which packaging blanks 30 are held. An application head 10 removes at least one packaging blank 30 from the magazine 6 and applies the grasped packaging blank 30 to the article group 22.

[0069] It can also be provided that the application head 10 is configured to simultaneously grasp a plurality of packaging blanks 30, which plurality of packaging blanks 30 that are grasped are subsequently applied to a plurality of article groups 22 either simultaneously or immediately one after the other.

[0070] After the packaging blank 30 has been arranged on and fastened to the article groups 22, the packaging blank 30 engages with the articles 20 in such a way that it is substantially immovably fixed on the articles 20, and the articles 20 can no longer make any significant relative movements or changes in position relative to one another and relative to the packaging blank 30. As a result, the packaging blank 30 can be removed from the articles 20 of the packaging unit 22 again only by applying increased force with a force component directed upward, wherein the packaging blank 30 is generally at least partially destroyed.

[0071] In the packaging apparatus 1, it is further provided that the application head 10 comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings 33 or that the magazine 6 comprises devices for pretreating the edge region 34 of the through-openings 33.

[0072] The devices for pretreating the edge region 34 are configured in particular to reduce a resistive force in the given edge region 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 during the subsequent application of the packaging blank 30 to the article group 22.

[0073] In particular, the pretreatment can at least slightly increase the average diameter d33 of the at least through-openings 33. As a result, an upper region of the articles 20 having a maximum diameter, which maximum diameter is preferably at least slightly larger than the average diameter of the through-openings 33, can be passed through the given through-opening 33 more easily.

[0074] In particular, by pretreating the packaging blank 30, the application force with which the packaging blank 30 is pressed onto the articles 20 so that the upper region of the articles 20 with a maximum diameter is arranged above the packaging blank 30 and the lower region of the articles 20 is arranged below the packaging blank 30, is significantly reduced compared to an application force that would be necessary to fix a packaging blank 30 to the articles 20 without pretreatment. Thus, the risk of damaging the articles 20 when applying the packaging blank 30 is reduced compared to conventional packaging apparatuses and methods. In this case, even articles 20 with a smaller wall thickness can be used without being damaged when the packaging blank 30 is applied.

[0075] A preferred embodiment can provide that the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 have suitable fixing devices 35 which can be formed, for example, by folding tabs 36. For example, the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blanks 30 are each provided with incisions to form folding tabs. Suitable pretreatment devices are configured, for example, to partially fold the folding tabs 36 over, thereby increasing the diameter of the through-openings 33.

[0076] The schematic side views in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 each show an application head 10 having integrated pretreatment. In particular, it is provided that the packaging blank 30 is pretreated between the application head 10 grasping the packaging blank 30 and the application of the packaging blank 30 to the article group 22 by the application head 10.

[0077] The application head 10 comprises an application plate 11 and a prebreaking plate 13, wherein the application plate 11 is equipped with retaining devices 12 for at least temporarily fixing the packaging blank 30. For example, the application head 11 comprises suction devices or gripping devices as retaining devices 12 which are configured to hold the packaging blank 30 at least temporarily and to fix it to the application head 11.

[0078] The prebreaking plate 13 is equipped with prebreaking devices 14.

[0079] In particular, the application plate 11 comprises a first number of openings. Furthermore, the prebreaking plate 13 comprises a first number of prebreaking devices 14 which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate 13. The first number of openings in the application plate 11 and the first number of prebreaking devices 14 of the prebreaking plate 13 are the same here and correspond in particular to the number of articles 20 which are combined with the packaging blank 30 to form a packaging unit 40 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0080] The openings in the application plate 11 have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the average diameter d33 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 (cf. FIG. 2). In particular, the openings in the application plate 11 have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the diameter of the through-openings 33 widened by the pretreatment process.

[0081] In a first operating position OP1 (cf. FIG. 3), a first distance A1 is formed between the application plate 11 and the prebreaking plate 13, wherein the first distance A1 is selected such that the prebreaking plate 13 and the prebreaking devices 14 are arranged above the application plate 11.

[0082] In a second operating position OP2 (cf. FIG. 4), a second distance A2 is formed between the application plate 11 and the prebreaking plate 13, wherein the second distance A2 is selected such that the prebreaking plate 13 is arranged above the application plate 11 at a smaller distance. The prebreaking devices 14 are arranged at least partially within corresponding openings in the application plate 11 in this case.

[0083] The second distance A2 can be reduced to zero, if necessary, in which case the top of the application plate 11 and the bottom of the prebreaking plate 13 touch.

[0084] In the first operating position OP1, the application head 11 is configured to pick up the packaging blank 30 in such a way that a through-opening 33 in the packaging blank 30 and an opening in the application plate 11 are always aligned.

[0085] The lower end region 15 of the prebreaking devices 14 is configured to at least partially fold downward the edge region 34 of a given through-opening 33 (cf. FIG. 2) in the packaging blank 30 held on the application plate 11 when the application head 10 is transferred from the first operating position OP1 to the second operating position OP2. In addition, the lower end region 15 of the prebreaking devices 14 is configured to at least partially fold upward the folded-down edge region 34 of a given through-opening 33 in the packaging blank 30 held on the application plate 11 when the application head 10 is returned from the second operating position OP2 to the first operating position OP1.

[0086] The packaging blank 30v correspondingly prepared on the application head 10 accordingly comprises folding tabs 36 that are partially folded upward and is now applied to the article group 22 to form the desired packaging unit 40. In particular, the prepared packaging blank 30v is fixed on the articles 20 of the article group 22 by pressing it onto the article group 22 from above. The upwardly bent folding tabs 36 advantageously engage, for example, under the flanged edge in the lid region of cans or under the neck ring of bottles.

[0087] The further schematic side view in FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment, while FIGS. 6A and 6B show a second embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment, again in schematic side views in each instance.

[0088] An embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment devices can provide that the magazine 6, in which packaging blanks 30 are provided and held for the production of packaging units 40 (cf. FIG. 1), comprises first pretreatment devices 60.

[0089] In the embodiment of a magazine 6 shown in FIG. 5, the first pretreatment devices 60 have a conical shape 61 having a conical tip 62 pointing downward. The packaging blank 30 arranged at the very top in the magazine 6 is pretreated by the pretreatment device 60 before being removed. For this purpose, the uppermost packaging blank 30 within the magazine 6 is lifted and guided toward the first pretreatment devices 60 so that they pass from above through the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 and at least partially fold downward the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the uppermost packaging blank 30.

[0090] The correspondingly prepared packaging blank 30v is subsequently applied on an article group 22 by being pressed on from above. In this case, the folding tabs 36 which have been prebroken downward are bent upward, for which less force is required due to the pretreatment process in the magazine 6.

[0091] In the embodiment of a magazine 6 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the packaging blank 30 arranged at the very top in the magazine 6 is also pretreated by pretreatment devices 60 formed in the magazine 6 before being removed. For this purpose, the uppermost packaging blank 30 within the magazine 6 is lifted and guided toward the first pretreatment devices 60 so that they pass through the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 from above and at least partially fold the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the uppermost packaging blank 30 downward.

[0092] In addition, the pretreatment devices 60 according to FIG. 6A are configured such that the folding tabs 36 of the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 are at least partially folded upward during subsequent lowering.

[0093] The correspondingly prepared packaging blank 30v is subsequently applied to an article group 22 by pressing it thereon from above. As a result of the folding tabs 36 being prebroken upward in advance, less force is required for this.

[0094] The schematic side view in FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment. In this case, second pretreatment devices 63 are provided which are configured to fold the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in all the packaging blanks 30 arranged in the magazine 6 at least partially upward so that all the packaging blanks 30 arranged in the magazine 6 are already equipped with folding tabs 36 that have been at least partially folded upward.

[0095] In this case, it can be provided, for example, that the second pretreatment devices 63 are configured as centering mandrels 64 which have an upper end region 65 in the form of a cone 66 or truncated cone with a tip 67 that points upward. In particular, the centering mandrels 64 are arranged on a lower base plate 70 of the magazine 6 and have a cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis L oriented orthogonally to the base plate 70 and a defined diameter. The defined diameter preferably corresponds to the diameter of the widened through-openings 33.

[0096] The diameter of the base of the cone 66 or truncated cone forming the upper end region preferably corresponds to the defined diameter of the cylinder body of the centering mandrels 64. The arrangement and number of centering mandrels 64 within the magazine 6 correspond to the arrangement and number of articles 20 within the packaging units 40 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0097] A plurality of centering units can also be arranged within the magazine 6, wherein each centering unit is configured to receive a stack of packaging blanks 30, and wherein each centering unit comprises a corresponding number and arrangement of centering mandrels 64.

[0098] By integrating the preparation of the packaging blank 30 by suitable pretreatment devices or prebreaking devices 14, 60, 63 in the application head 10 or in the magazine 6, cycle times can be shortened when producing the packaging units 40. Furthermore, the packaging apparatus 1 can be significantly smaller since an additional pretreatment module is no longer required.

[0099] The plan view of FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a packaging apparatus 1 for producing packaging units 40 from above. Only the differences with respect to the embodiment in FIG. 1 will be discussed here.

[0100] For the description of the other reference signs, reference can therefore be made to the above passages of the description relating to FIG. 1.

[0101] The packaging apparatus 1 comprises a removal head 50 with which at least one packaging blank 30 can be removed from the magazine 6 and transferred to a ready position 52, from which ready position 52 the packaging blank 30 can be picked up by an application head 54 and applied to an article group 22.

[0102] In this embodiment, it is provided that the removal head 50 comprises devices for pretreating the edge region 34 of the through-openings 33, in particular devices which are configured to partially fold over the folding tabs 36 in the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blanks 30, thus increasing the diameter of the through-openings 33.

[0103] The removal head 50 comprises, for example, suction devices or gripping devices which are configured to at least temporarily hold the packaging blank 30 and to fix it to the removal head 50.

[0104] Furthermore, the removal head 50 comprises, for example, a prebreaking plate which is preferably equipped with prebreaking devices. In particular, the prebreaking plate comprises a number of prebreaking devices which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate. The number of prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate corresponds in particular to the number of articles 20 which are combined with the packaging blank 30 to form a packaging unit 40.

[0105] The prebreaking plate of the removal head 50 can in particular be configured as has been described in relation to the application head 10 in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0106] In the removal head 50, the suction devices or gripping devices are preferably configured or arranged to be movable relative to the prebreaking plate. When at least one packaging blank 30 is picked up by the suction devices or gripping devices, the packaging blank 30 is generally still not in contact with the prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate.

[0107] By reducing the distance from the prebreaking plate, the lower end regions of the prebreaking devices are guided through the through-openings 33, whereby the folding tabs 36 are at least partially folded downward.

[0108] Before or when placing the packaging blank 30 in the ready position 52, the distance between the prebreaking plate and the packaging blank 30 is increased again. In this case, the lower end region of the prebreaking devices is again passed through the through-openings 33, whereby the folding tabs 36 of the edge region 34 of the given through-opening 33, which have been folded at least partially downward, are now at least partially folded upward.

[0109] The correspondingly prepared packaging blank 30v is placed in the ready position 52, from which ready position 52 it can be picked up by a suitably configured application head 54 in order to be fixed on the article group 22. A suitable application head 52 in this context can accordingly have a simpler construction than the application head 10 described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0110] It should finally be noted at this point with respect to the descriptions of embodiments of the invention that these passages of the description each refer to the attached drawings. If reference is generally made to schematic representations and views in connection with the drawings and the description thereof, this in no way means that the representations in the figures and the description thereof are any less important 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.

[0111] The figures enable the person skilled in the art as reader to get a better understanding of the inventive idea, which has been formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the description, on 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 device according to the invention.

[0112] 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

[0113] 1 Packaging apparatus

[0114] 2 Transport device

[0115] 3 Lanes

[0116] 4 Lane plate

[0117] 5 Conveyor belt

[0118] 6 Magazine

[0119] 7 First pretreatment devices

[0120] 10 Application head

[0121] 11 Application plate

[0122] 12 Retaining devices

[0123] 13 Prebreaking plate

[0124] 14 Prebreaking device

[0125] 15 Lower end region

[0126] 20 Article

[0127] 21 Cans

[0128] 22 Article group

[0129] 30 Packaging blank

[0130] 30v Prepared packaging blank

[0131] 31 Upper gripping cardboard packaging

[0132] 32 Sheet-like region

[0133] 33 Through-opening

[0134] 34 Edge region

[0135] 35 Fixing device

[0136] 36 Folding tab

[0137] 37 Incision

[0138] 40 Packaging unit

[0139] 50 Removal head

[0140] 52 Ready position

[0141] 54 Application head

[0142] 60 First pretreatment devices

[0143] 61 Conical shape

[0144] 62 Cone tip

[0145] 63 Second pretreatment device

[0146] 64 Centering mandrels

[0147] 65 Upper end region

[0148] 66 Cone

[0149] 67 Cone tip

[0150] 70 Base plate

[0151] A1 First distance

[0152] A2 Second distance

[0153] OP1 First operating position

[0154] OP2 Second operating position

[0155] d33 Average diameter