CN210618688U

CN210618688U - Packaging device for articles

Info

Publication number: CN210618688U
Application number: CN201822207403.XU
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赫伯特·斯平德勒; 托马斯-弗洛里安·马耶尔; 奥拉夫·特雷特
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2018-03-07
Filing date: 2018-12-26
Publication date: 2020-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-26
Also published as: EP3549879B1; ES2880454T3; EP3549879A1; DE102018105269A1

Abstract

A packaging device for articles, such as a packaging device (1) for beverage containers (5), is disclosed. The packaging device (1) comprises at least one horizontal transport device (7) for transporting the articles (3) and at least one conveying device (4) which can introduce the planar packaging blanks (2) into a transport path of the articles (3) such that the articles (3) are moved onto the planar packaging blanks (2) introduced into the transport path during transport via the at least one horizontal transport device (7). It is provided that the at least one conveying device (4) is designed to recognize and derive a planar packaging blank (2 ') which is determined and has been arranged before for introduction into the transport path, and which packaging blank (2') has defects.

Description

Packaging device for articles

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a equipment for packing for article.

Background

There are many different packaging types for handling, arranging, grouping and packaging articles, such as beverage containers. PET containers, which are most frequently used today as beverage containers, for example, have a relatively small wall thickness and are not completely dimensionally stable even in the filled state. For this reason and in view of better logistics operability, a wide variety of packages are used for grouping individual containers. Thus, the containers may be placed in a grouped arrangement, for example, on a cardboard sheet with the edges folded upwards. This is also called Tray (Tray). Embodiments are also known in which the containers are placed in a grouped arrangement, for example, on a cardboard sheet which is configured with a flat support surface for the individual containers without edges which have to be or can be folded upwards. Cardboard sheets or packages are known as mats.

In order to be able to arrange the individual packs on the individual containers as quickly as possible, devices are already known in which the individual containers are moved onto the packs or onto a mat or tray. DE 102014112341 a1 discloses such a device, for example. The packaging device disclosed herein has a horizontal transport device on which groups of containers are formed. The packaging device further comprises a cardboard transport providing a cardboard outer package. The cardboard outer package is provided via a cardboard transport, so that the individual groups of containers can be moved onto the individual cardboard outer packages and subsequently stand upright on the individual cardboard outer packages.

It has proven to be a problem when providing a cardboard outer package via a cardboard transport according to the prior art. In this case, it is possible, for example, for the respective orientation of the cardboard outer package to not coincide with the theoretical orientation already during the movement in the direction of the horizontal transport device guiding the container group. If the individual groups of containers are subsequently moved onto such a cardboard outer package, it may therefore not be possible for all containers to stand upright on the individual cardboard outer package and/or for the packaging unit formed by the cardboard outer package and the containers to be unstable.

It is also possible that all packaging processes are interrupted if, undesirably, a plurality of cardboard outer packages adhere to one another and move in this manner in the direction of the horizontal transport device guiding the containers. These problems may also arise if the dimensional specifications and/or characteristics of the individual overwrappings do not correspond to the preset theoretical dimensional specifications and/or characteristics.

Hitherto, in the prior art, the cardboard outer package with the defects has to be removed from the packaging device by the user. The individual packaging processes are undesirably interrupted in this case.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which an intervention by the user in the event of a fault occurring with a packaging defect is required at least to a reduced extent. Furthermore, the device should also have an uncomplicated construction.

The present invention relates to a packaging device for articles, such as beverage containers and the like. The packaging device comprises at least one horizontal transport means for transporting the articles. In various embodiments, the packaging device may comprise a dispensing device which forms groups spaced apart relative to each other, each having a plurality of articles. The article groups can be moved by means of at least one horizontal transport device in a transport direction of the at least one horizontal transport device at a distance from one another.

The at least one horizontal transport device may comprise a first conveyor belt which moves the articles, which have been grouped if necessary or have been grouped if necessary, in a horizontal direction. The first conveyor belt may be coupled with a further transport device. The further transport device may be constructed, for example, by a further conveyor belt and/or a plurality of adjacent transport chains and/or a plurality of adjacent transport belts. Between the first conveyor belt and the further conveyor, a gap can be formed, via which, as will be described further below, a flat packaging blank can be introduced into the transport path of the articles, so that the articles are moved onto the flat packaging blank introduced into the transport path during transport via the at least one horizontal conveyor or during the transition from the first conveyor belt onto the further conveyor.

The face pack blank may comprise lateral, front and/or rear flaps, which may be erected or folded. For this purpose, the further transport device can be coupled to a strapping unit, which is optionally configured as a component of at least one horizontal transport device, and which comprises a plurality of folding fingers which move around. These multiple folding fingers which move around can, during their moving around, in particular, erect or fold forward and rearward flaps of the planar packaging blanks which have already been introduced into the transport path of the articles and which carry the articles which are grouped in each case. The planar packaging blanks which have been introduced into the transport path of the articles and which carry the respectively grouped articles can thus be transferred from the further transport device onto the strapping forming unit, wherein the front and rear flaps, in particular the flaps, of the planar packaging blanks which have been introduced into the transport path of the articles and which carry the respectively grouped articles are erected or folded by means of a corresponding plurality of circulating folding fingers of the strapping forming unit.

The packaging device furthermore comprises at least one conveyor device, which, as mentioned above, can introduce the flat packaging blanks into the transport path of the articles, so that the articles are moved onto the flat packaging blanks introduced into the transport path during transport via the at least one horizontal transport device. The conveying device may comprise at least one suction and/or gripping device and at least one transport device, wherein the at least one suction and/or gripping device removes the packaging blanks, each arranged on the uppermost side of the stack, from the stack and may transfer them to the transport device. At least one transport device can then introduce the individual planar packaging blanks into the transport path of the articles. The stacks may be provided via a warehouse configured as an integral part of the packaging apparatus. The packaging device may comprise a control and/or regulating means which is connected to at least one suction and/or gripping means. The control and/or regulating device can optionally actuate at least one suction and/or gripping device for removing the respective front packaging blanks arranged uppermost in the stack. The at least one conveying device may be arranged or positioned at least partially and preferably completely or substantially completely below a transport plane constituted by the at least one horizontal transport device for the articles.

It is provided that the at least one conveying device is configured for identifying and guiding out or picking out a planar packaging blank which is determined and which was provided previously for introduction into the transport path and which has a defect.

It is also possible that the at least one conveying device has at least one optical detection device, preferably in the form of a camera, via which defects of individual packaging blanks of the face type, which were provided for introduction into the transport path before, can be detected. It is also conceivable that the at least one optical detection device comprises a grating. Preferably, the at least one optical detection device is positioned in such a way that packaging blanks in the form of flats which have been completely separated from the stack and have not yet been introduced into the transport path of the articles reach the detection area of the at least one optical detection device.

As already mentioned above, it is possible that the at least one conveying device comprises at least one conveying device, which is designed to introduce the flat packaging blanks into the conveying path of the articles. The section of the at least one transport device can be pivotably configured for removing individual defective flat packaging blanks. In particular, the packaging machine or the transport device may have an actuator by means of which a section of the at least one transport device can be pivoted for the removal of the individual defective flat packaging blanks. The control and/or regulating device can be connected to the actuator and, if necessary, actuates the actuator in order to pivot the segments of the transport device.

In particular, it is possible for the section of the at least one transport device for removing the individual defective flat packaging blanks to be pivotable in the downward direction about an axis oriented at least approximately horizontally.

An embodiment in which the at least one conveying device comprises at least one collecting container into which the at least one transport device can transfer the individual defective face-type packaging blanks by means of a pivoting movement of a section thereof, which preferably points in the downward direction and is oriented about an at least approximately horizontally oriented axis, has proven effective. In a conceivable embodiment, the packaging device can comprise at least one first collecting container into which facial packaging blanks which are defective and suitable for further use or packaging are introduced. Furthermore, the packaging device may comprise at least one second collecting container into which the facial packaging blanks not suitable for further use or packaging are introduced. In this case, it is possible for the control and/or regulating device to determine, by means of at least one optical detection device, whether individual defective flat packaging blanks can be introduced into at least one first collecting container or into at least one second collecting container.

It is possible that the surface-type packaging blanks can be introduced into the transport path of the articles with a predetermined cycle frequency by means of at least one conveying device, wherein the at least one conveying device can be adjusted in such a way that the at least one conveying device can follow the predetermined cycle frequency when the individual defective surface-type packaging blanks are discharged. As already mentioned, the at least one conveying device may comprise at least one transport device. The at least one conveying device can be set in such a way that the conveying speed of the at least one conveying device or of the at least one conveying section of the at least one conveying device is increased temporarily and in coordination with the removal or picking out of the individual defective flat packaging blanks.

Furthermore, embodiments have proven effective in which the at least one transport device and the at least one horizontal transport device cooperate in such a way that the transport speed of the at least one horizontal transport device can be adjusted in coordination with the removal or picking out of the individual defective packaging blanks. In particular, the transport speed of the at least one horizontal transport device can be adjusted in such a way that the transport speed is temporarily reduced in coordination with the removal or picking out of the individual defective flat packaging blanks. If the at least one horizontal conveyance device, as mentioned above, comprises a first conveyor belt on which the articles which have been grouped or grouped together are moved, it is possible for the at least one conveyor device and the first conveyor belt which is designed as a component of the at least one horizontal conveyance device to cooperate in such a way that the conveyance speed of the first conveyor belt which is designed as a component of the at least one horizontal conveyance device can be adjusted in coordination with the removal or picking out of the individual packaging blanks having defects. In this case, it is particularly possible for the transport speed of the first conveyor belt, which is provided for grouped or concentrated groups of articles, to be temporarily reduced.

The defects of the individual-sided packaging blanks can be formed, for example, in the following manner:

the geometry or the circumferential course of the surface-type packaging blank does not correspond to a predetermined theoretical geometry or a predetermined theoretical circumferential course and/or is formed by:

the position and/or orientation of the surface-type packaging blank does not correspond to a predetermined theoretical position or orientation and/or is formed by:

at least one further packaging blank of the face type is undesirably adhered to each packaging blank of the face type.

A method for providing a flat packaging blank for an article, such as a beverage container, is also disclosed. The features which have been described above for various embodiments of the packaging device can likewise be provided in various embodiments of the method described below and are not mentioned again at a time. Furthermore, the features relating to the various embodiments of the method described subsequently can be provided in the packaging device described previously.

The first step provides for the transport of the article. The article groups can be moved horizontally in the transport direction at a distance from one another. A further step provides for introducing a planar packaging blank into the transport path of the articles, wherein the articles are moved during transport onto the planar packaging blank introduced into the transport path.

The face-type packaging blanks may be formed, for example, from paperboard, paper, corrugated paper and/or plastic. In addition, defects of the packaging blanks provided for introduction into the transport path are checked, and the individual faceted packaging blanks, for which defects were identified in the checking, are sorted out instead of being introduced into the transport path.

It is possible to check the defects of the individual packaging blanks arranged in a planar manner for introduction into the transport path by means of at least one optical checking device, in particular by means of a camera. It is also conceivable to check the defects of the individual packaging blanks arranged in a planar manner for introduction into the transport path by means of a light barrier.

Furthermore, it is possible to introduce the surface-type packaging blanks into the transport path of the articles via at least one transport device, wherein, in the event of an identification of a defect within the scope of the inspection, the sections of the at least one transport device are preferably pivoted about an at least approximately horizontally oriented axis in the downward direction, as a result of which, instead of being introduced into the transport path, individual surface-type packaging blanks in which a defect is identified within the scope of the inspection are picked out or removed.

It is also conceivable that individual flat packaging blanks in which defects are identified within the scope of the inspection are transferred instead into the transport path via a section of the at least one transport device, which is preferably pivoted about an at least approximately horizontally oriented axis in the downward direction, into the collecting container. In this case, the individual defective flat packaging blanks lose their contact or surface contact with the section of the transport device which is pivoted in the downward direction, so that the section which is pivoted in the downward direction pivots back in the upward direction into the initial position.

It is also conceivable for the surface-type packaging blanks to be introduced into the transport path of the articles via at least one conveying device with a predetermined cycle frequency, wherein the at least one conveying device is adjusted to follow the determined cycle frequency upon the derivation of the individual surface-type packaging blanks.

Furthermore, the transport speed of the articles can be adjusted in accordance with the respective derivation of the individual packaging blanks.

It is noted that all aspects that can be discussed in connection with and associated with the packaging device set forth before in the different embodiment variants can likewise form part of the aspects of the method, and vice versa.

Drawings

The embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in detail below with the aid of the drawings. The ratio of the sizes of the individual elements in the figures does not always correspond to the actual ratio, since some shapes are shown in a simplified manner and other shapes are shown in an enlarged manner compared to the other elements for better illustration. Wherein:

fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a packaging apparatus according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the packaging apparatus of fig. 1;

fig. 3 to 8 show further schematic perspective views of embodiments of the packaging apparatus of fig. 1 and 2, respectively, and illustrate steps that may be provided in various embodiments of the method;

fig. 9A and 9B together show an embodiment of a horizontal transport device, which may for example be provided as an integral part of the various embodiments of the packaging plant or which may for example be used for the various embodiments of the method;

fig. 10 shows an embodiment of the disclosed method in a flow chart.

The same reference numerals are used for identical or identically acting elements. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only the reference numerals necessary for the description are shown in the individual figures. The embodiments shown are only examples of how the invention may be designed and are not ultimate limitations.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a packaging apparatus 1 according to the invention. The packaging device 1 comprises a horizontal transport device 7, which can be configured, for example, according to the embodiment of fig. 9A and 9B and by means of which the articles 3, which are now formed by beverage containers 5, can be moved in a transport direction FR indicated by means of the illustrated arrows.

The conveying device 4 is an integral part of the packaging unit 1, which is positioned below the transport plane formed by the horizontal transport device 7. Via the conveying device 4, packaging blanks 2 of the planar type (see fig. 2) can be introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5, so that the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 are moved onto the packaging blanks 2 introduced into the transport path during their continuous and caused movement via the horizontal transport device 7. The packaging blank 2 can be configured with a planar support surface for the articles 3. In various embodiments, the packaging blanks 2 may have edges which are folded in an upward direction after the articles 3 have been moved onto the respective packaging blanks 2.

The packaging device 1 comprises a store 11 in which a plurality of packaging blanks 2 are arranged in a stacked manner or as stacks 13. Furthermore, the packaging device 1 comprises a suction and/or gripping device 15, which is configured as a component of the conveying device 4 and can remove individual flat packaging blanks 2, which are configured uppermost as a component of the stack 13, from the stack 13. The suction and/or gripping device 15 can then introduce the individual flat packaging blanks 2 removed from the stack 13 between two toothed belts 16 of the conveyor device 4, the toothed belts 16 being moved around and thereby transporting the individual introduced packaging blanks 2 in the direction of the optical detection device 18. The suction and/or gripping device 15 is controlled or actuated here via a control and/or regulating device S. In fig. 1, reference numeral 20 relates to a transfer position, from which the toothed belt 16 takes the individual packaging blank 2 away from the suction and/or gripping device 15.

The toothed belt 16 is driven in a circulating manner and thereby moves the individual packaging blanks 2 removed in the region of the transport position 20 in the direction of an optical detection device 18, which may comprise, for example, a light barrier and/or a camera.

It has been found that during the continuous removal of the packaging blanks 2 from the stack 13, the individual packaging blanks 2 removed via the toothed belt 16 may have defects. Defects may occur, for example, when the dimensional specifications of the individual packaging blanks 2 do not correspond to the preset theoretical dimensional specifications, or when the dimensions of the packaging blanks 2 are configured too large or too small. It is also possible that the orientation of the packaging blanks 2 taken via the toothed belt 16 does not correspond to a desired or preset theoretical orientation. The packaging blanks 2 on the stack 13 may also adhere to one another as a result of electrostatic adsorption and/or mechanical hooks, so that the packaging blanks 2 adhering to one another are transferred, via the suction and/or gripping device 15, to the toothed belt 16 in the region of the transfer position 20 in an undesirable manner. Such mutually adhering packaging blanks 2 are also unsuitable for this purpose for introduction into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 and therefore constitute a drawback.

The optical detection device 18 is connected to the control and/or regulating device S. By means of the optical detection device 18, the control and/or regulating device S is able to detect defects in the respective packaging blank 2 of the face type which is moved by means of the toothed belt 16 into the region of the optical detection device 18. Since such a packaging blank 2 is not suitable for this purpose for being introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5, the section 27 of the transport device 25 which is configured as a component of the conveying device 4 and which moves the surface-type packaging blank 2 is pivoted in the downward direction, as will be described further below. Such packaging blanks 2' with defects (see fig. 3) are thereby transferred into the collecting container 28, respectively, whereas packaging blanks 2 for which no defects were identified in the inspection thereof are then introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 via the transport section 29 of the transport device 25. The section 27 of the conveying device 25 is assigned a guide, by means of which it is possible to prevent the respective packaging blank 2' having a defect from being undesirably removed from the section 27 which is inclined in the downward direction before being transferred into the collecting container 28. For this purpose, the guide is arranged azimuthally fixed on the section 27.

The reference numeral 30 therefore relates in fig. 1 to an inspection area in which it is determined whether the respective packaging blank 2, which was previously provided for introduction into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5, is configured to be defective. If a defect in its configuration is detected in the respective packaging blank 2 ', this packaging blank 2' is transferred into the collecting container 28 by means of the previously described pivoting movement of the section 27 and directed in the downward direction. If no defects are detected in the packaging blank 2, the section 27 in the inspection region 30, which is formed as a component of the transport device 25, remains in the horizontally oriented position according to fig. 1 and is not pivoted in the downward direction. As a result, the respective defect-free packaging blanks 2 are introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 via the transport section 29 arranged in the transport region 40 of the packaging device 1, wherein a plurality of articles 3 or beverage containers 5 are moved onto the respective defect-free packaging blank 2 introduced into its transport path.

If no defects in the packaging blanks 2 are detected by the control and/or regulating device S by means of the optical detection device 18 during a defined period of time, the horizontal transport device 7 is operated at a constant transport speed, so that a constant number of articles 3 or beverage containers 5 is moved along the horizontal transport device 7 during this period of time. Via at least one conveyor 4, the flat packaging blanks 2 are also introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 at a predetermined cycle frequency which is adapted to the constant transport speed of the horizontal transport device 7.

If the packaging blanks 2 have defects, the packaging blanks 2' which were previously also provided for introduction into the transport path are transferred instead of being introduced into the collecting container 28. Since the packaging blank 2 'with the defect is therefore not ready for introduction, the packaging device 1 must be adjusted accordingly in order to compensate for the removal or removal of the packaging blank 2' with the defect. Both the conveying device 4 and the horizontal transport device 7 are connected to a control and/or regulating device S. If the respective packaging blank with the defect is removed or singled out, the control and/or regulating device S can temporarily reduce the transport speed of the horizontal transport device 7 and, if necessary, of a first conveyor belt 8 (see fig. 9A and 9B) which is designed as a component of the horizontal transport device 7, so that the group of articles 3 or beverage containers 5 previously predetermined for the purpose of being moved onto the packaging blank 2' with the defect is moved onto the subsequent packaging blank 2 which is introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 via the conveying device 4.

Alternatively, it is possible for the conveying device 4 to be adjusted via the control and/or regulating device S in such a way that the conveying device 4 can follow a predetermined cycle frequency when the individual defective packaging blanks 2 are removed or sorted out. For this purpose, in particular, the transport speed of the transport section 29 can be temporarily increased. The suction and/or gripping device 15 can also be operated to separate additional packaging blanks 2 in order to compensate for defects in the packaging blanks 2' transferred into the collecting container 28 or having defects. It is also conceivable to temporarily increase the transport speed of the toothed belt 16 which moves the individual packaging blanks 2 in the direction of the optical detection device 18.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the packaging device 1 of fig. 1. The packaging device 1 is in fig. 2 in a normal packaging operation, in which the packaging blank 2 shown in fig. 2 is not configured to be defective. The defect-free packaging blanks 2 are introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5 via the conveyor device 4 or the transport section 29 of the conveyor device 4 at a predetermined cycle frequency. The horizontal transport device 7 moves the already grouped articles 3 or the already grouped beverage containers 5 at a constant transport speed. For this purpose, the horizontal transport device 7 and the transport device 4 are actuated via a control and/or regulating device S which is also connected to the optical detection device 18.

Furthermore, the schematic perspective view of fig. 3 shows the packaging device 1 of fig. 1 and 2. A packaging blank having at least one drawback according to the previous description of fig. 1 is shown with reference numeral 2'. The packaging blanks 2 'with defects have been removed from the stack 13 by the suction and/or gripping device 15 and transferred further onto a toothed belt 16, which moves the packaging blanks 2' with defects in the direction of an optical detection device 18. As mentioned above, the optical detection device 18 is connected to the control and/or regulating device S, which in fig. 3 identifies a defect in the packaging blank 2' by means of the optical detection device 18.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the packaging device of fig. 1 to 3 and further steps following the method steps of fig. 3, for example, in time. The control and/or regulating device S has already identified that the packaging blank 2 ' is defective and the defective packaging blank 2 ' is moved onto the section 27 of the transport device 25, via which section 27 the defective packaging blank 2 ' can be removed or sorted out. The packaging blank 2 of the face type following the packaging blank 2' having the defect is also checked by means of the optical detection device 18 via the control and/or regulating device S, wherein it is determined that the packaging blank 2 has no defect.

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the packaging device 1 of fig. 1 to 4 and further steps following the method steps of fig. 4, for example, in time. The lowering movement directed in the downward direction and provided for leading out the defective face-type packaging blank 2' has already been initiated via the control and/or regulating device S. The flat packaging blanks 2 already located on the transport section 29 of the transport device 25 are also transported here via the transport section 29 in the direction of the group of articles 3 or beverage containers 5 moved by means of the horizontal transport device 7. In order to prevent the packaging blank 2' of the face type with defects arranged on the portion 27 from being undesirably lost of its contact with the portion 27, a guide, which is arranged azimuthally fixed on the portion 27 and is not shown together in fig. 5, can be provided according to fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the packaging device 1 of fig. 1 to 5 and further steps following the method steps of fig. 5, for example, in time. As shown in fig. 6, the packaging blank 2' with the defect loses its contact with the section 27 of the transport device 25 which is also pivoted in the downward direction and is guided further to the collecting container 28. During the time when a portion of the defective packaging blank 2' is still lying on the section 27 of the transport device 25, the immediately following packaging blank 2 is already arranged on the section 27 which is also pivoted in the downward direction.

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the packaging device 1 of fig. 1 to 6 and further steps following the method steps of fig. 6, for example, in time. In particular, the overview of fig. 6 and 7 makes it possible to recognize that the section 27 of the transport device 25 which is pivoted in the downward direction in fig. 6 in order to pick out or guide out a defective packaging blank 2' is pivoted back in the upward direction in fig. 7 together with the flat, defect-free flat packaging blank 2. According to fig. 8, the defect-free surface-type packaging blanks 2 can be transferred from the section 27 to a transport section 29, which moves the surface-type packaging blanks 2 in the direction of the group of articles 3 or the group of beverage containers 5. The adjustment of the surface-type packaging blank 2' to compensate for defects now located in the collecting container 28 can be carried out as described above with reference to fig. 1. If a defect is detected in the further flat packaging blank 2 which is checked by means of the optical detection device 18 by means of the control and/or regulating device S, the packaging unit 1 can also derive this and the defective further flat packaging blank 2 or transfer it into the collecting container 28, as described above with reference to fig. 3 to 7.

Fig. 9A and 9B show embodiments of a horizontal transport device 7, which may be provided, for example, as an integral part of various embodiments of the packaging device 1 or which may be used, for example, for the implementation of various embodiments for the method 100 (see fig. 10). Fig. 9A therefore shows a schematic side view of the horizontal transport device 7, and fig. 9B shows a schematic top view of the horizontal transport device 7 of fig. 9A.

The horizontal transport device 7 comprises a first conveyor belt 8 on which, if necessary, already the grouped articles 3 or beverage containers 5 can be moved horizontally in or along the transport direction FR. In the transport direction FR, the first conveyor belt 8 is followed by a further transport device 9, which in conceivable embodiments can be constructed, for example, by a plurality of transport chains guided around and parallel to one another or by a plurality of transport belts guided around and parallel to one another. It is also possible for the further transport device 9 to be constructed by means of a further conveyor belt. Fig. 9A and 9B also make it possible to recognize that a gap 50 is present between the conveyor belt, which is formed as a component of the horizontal transport device 7, and the further transport device 9, which is likewise formed as a component of the horizontal transport device 7. Via the gap 50, a flat packaging blank 2 (see fig. 2 to 8) can be introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5, as already described above.

It is possible here for the individual surface-like packaging blanks 2 (see fig. 2 to 8) to have front and rear flaps which must be erected at any time after being introduced into the transport path of the articles 3 or beverage containers 5, respectively, via the slits 50. For this purpose, a strapping unit 10 is arranged downstream of the further transport device 9 in the transport direction FR. The planar packaging blanks 2, which are moved in the transport direction FR by the further transport device 9 and which have already carried the respective group of articles 3 and which have a front and rear flap which has not been erected before, then pass from the further transport device 9 onto the strapping unit 10. The planar packaging blanks 2, which have already been loaded with the respective groups of articles 3, are moved further in the transport direction FR by means of a strapping unit 10, wherein a plurality of folding fingers 12, which are configured as a constituent part of the strapping unit 10 and move around, erect the front and rear flaps of the planar packaging blanks 2 or fold them in the upward direction. If the individual flat packaging blanks 2 do not have front and rear flaps which can be folded in the upward direction, it is possible to provide the horizontal transport device 7 with a further conveyor belt instead of the strapping unit 10, or to provide the horizontal transport device 7 without the strapping unit 10. Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of the method 100 in a flow chart. With the packaging device 1 according to the preceding fig. 1 to 8, the method 100 can be implemented according to fig. 10. Furthermore, the packaging device 1 can be used to carry out the method 100 according to fig. 10 according to the preceding fig. 1 to 8 and the accompanying description. The subsequent reference numerals mentioned in the steps of the method 100 according to fig. 10 thus relate to embodiments of the packaging device 1 according to fig. 1 to 8.

Within the scope of the first step, the articles 3 are moved via at least one horizontal transport device 7 or via a first conveyor belt 8, which is optionally configured as a component of the horizontal transport device 7 according to fig. 9A and 9B. A further step provides for checking the packaging blanks 2 arranged for introduction into the transport path of the articles 3 for defects. If no defects are detected in the region of the test for the flat packaging blank 2, the flat packaging blank 2 is introduced into the transport path of the article 3. If, on the other hand, a defect is detected in the packaging blank 2 ' or in the packaging blanks 2 ' in the form of a surface within the scope of the test, the packaging blank 2 ' in the form of a surface having the defect is picked out or removed instead of being introduced into the transport path.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the preceding description and the figures (including their different views or their individual features) can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with the embodiments may be used in all embodiments unless the features are inconsistent.

Although "schematic" illustrations and views are also commonly referred to when taken in conjunction with the drawings, it is in no way intended that these drawings illustrate and describe the invention as it is important in the context of the present disclosure. The person skilled in the art is fully capable of extracting sufficient information from the schematic and abstract drawn illustrations to facilitate an understanding of the invention for the person skilled in the art, without it being impaired in any way in its understanding, for example, from drawn and possibly not very true dimensional proportions of parts of goods and/or equipment or further drawn elements. The figures thus enable a person skilled in the art to derive a better understanding of the inventive idea expressed more commonly and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the common parts of the description, as a reader, with the aid of the specifically explained functional manner of the packaging device according to the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 packaging equipment

2 packaging blank

3 article

4 conveying device

5 beverage container

7 horizontal transportation device

8 conveying belt

9 second conveying belt

10 bundling shaping unit

11 warehouse

12 folding finger

13 Stacking

15 suction and/or gripping device

16 toothed belt

18 optical detection device

20 transfer position

25 conveying device

27 section of a transport device

28 collecting container

29 transport section

30 inspection area

40 area of transportation

50 gap

100 method

FR direction of transportation

S control and/or regulating device

Claims

1. A packaging apparatus (1) for articles (3), comprising:

-at least one horizontal transport device (7) for transporting the articles (3), and

-at least one conveyor (4) capable of introducing a face-like packaging blank into the transport path of the article (3) so that the article (3) is moved onto the face-like packaging blank introduced into the transport path during transport via the at least one horizontal transport device (7), characterized in that,

the at least one conveyor device (4) is designed to identify and guide out planar packaging blanks having a defect that is determined and that were provided before for introduction into the transport path.

2. A packaging apparatus for articles (3) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conveying device (4) has at least one optical detection device (18), via which optical detection device (18) defects of individual planar packaging blanks previously arranged for introduction into the transport path can be identified.

3. A packaging apparatus for articles (3) according to claim 2, wherein said at least one optical detection device (18) is configured as a camera.

4. A packaging apparatus for articles (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one conveyor device (4) comprises at least one transport device (25) configured for introducing face-type packaging blanks into a transport path of the articles (3), wherein a section (27) of the at least one transport device (25) is configured in a pivotable manner for leading out individual defective face-type packaging blanks.

5. A packaging apparatus for articles (3) according to claim 4, wherein a section (27) of the at least one transport device (25) for leading out individual defectively faced packaging blanks is pivotable about a horizontally oriented axis in a downward direction.

6. A packaging apparatus for articles (3) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one conveyor device (4) comprises at least one collecting container (28), the at least one transport device (25) being capable of transferring individual defective face-type packaging blanks into the at least one collecting container (28) by means of a pivoting movement of a section (27) of the at least one transport device which is directed in a downward direction and is oriented about a horizontally oriented axis.

7. A packaging apparatus for articles (3) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, via the at least one conveyor device (4), face-type packaging blanks are introduced into the transport path of the articles (3) with a predetermined cycle frequency, wherein the at least one conveyor device (4) is adjustable in such a way that the at least one conveyor device (4) can follow the predetermined cycle frequency when individual defective face-type packaging blanks are discharged.

8. A packaging plant for articles (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one conveyor (4) and the at least one horizontal transport device (7) co-act in such a way that the transport speed of the at least one horizontal transport device (7) can be adjusted in coordination with the discharge of the individual defective face-type packaging blanks.

9. A packaging device for articles (3) according to claim 1, wherein the articles are beverage containers.