DE102010016056A1 - Method for turning loosely grouped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for creating packages from articles, an article formation being rotated in a packaging machine by means of a portal arrangement or a robot. First, the articles are grouped into the desired packaging units, then rotated by means of a robot or portal and then further processed in a further subsequent process step, in particular fed to a packaging device. The invention also relates to a packaging machine for packaging articles into bundles. Such a packaging machine comprises a dividing device for grouping the articles into the desired units, a push chain for spacing the article groups apart, a rotating device and a packaging module.

Description

The present invention relates to methods for producing containers from articles and to a packaging machine for packaging articles into containers according to the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 6.

State of the art

The invention relates to a method for producing containers from articles and a packaging machine for packaging articles into containers, in particular for bottles put together to form a container, and is preferably used in conveyor lines for filling and / or packaging devices for beverages.

When packaging articles into containers, for example, when assembling bottles to desired units and wrapping them with shrink film, it may be necessary to rotate the assembled containers since the subsequent machine is better suited for processing a rotated arrangement of these groups. In particular, methods / devices are known from the prior art in which already finished or partially finished containers, in particular containers in boxes or containers on cardboard (so-called pad's) are rotated before the wrapping process.

Turning devices are already known in different forms. In general, they are used to align articles having a substantially rectangular footprint with a one-to-one aspect ratio.

US 5215180 A shows a machine in which filled cans of a multi-packaging are aligned by rotation. By means of a sensor, a specific feature is detected on the container and set the correct orientation of the container. The machine thus serves to orient the orientation of containers already packed in a multipack.

WO 00 2007 144 920 A1 describes a device in which grouped products are wrapped with plastic film and then rotated. For this purpose, the wrapped product groups are arranged and transported between two opposite conveyor units. Each conveyor unit consists of several conveyor belts, which are operated at different speeds, so that the product groups are rotated approximately 90 ° about an axis that is oriented orthogonal to the transport direction.

DE 20 2005 003 077 U1 describes a rotating device in which a rotatable turret lowers onto the container bundles. In the turret is thereby formed by displacing movable individual elements a driving recess, through which the container is entrained when turning the turret. The turning device is suitable for containers in the form of containers combined in foil or by means of a carton.

EP 605 423 B1 describes a device for rotating an article and a method for rotating article groups on a conveyor belt in a packaging process. In particular, the apparatus rotates the articles or groups of objects such that a plurality of predetermined areas are exposed and accessible from locations adjacent to the conveyor belt. In particular, the article groups are first provided with a packaging construction. The partially wrapped article is then grasped and rotated on the conveyor for further processing in a particular orientation.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple method and a device for article groups, in which the grouped loose article groups are brought into the correct orientation within the packaging machine before the final packaging is produced.

The above object is achieved by a method and an apparatus comprising the features of claims 1 and 6.

description

The present invention relates to a method for producing containers from articles, wherein an article formation in a packaging machine is rotated by means of a gantry arrangement or a robot. In particular, article formations consisting of loose articles are rotated. The articles may in particular be filled bottles, cans, sugar or coffee packets or the like.

The method comprises the following steps: First, the articles, containers, bottles, etc. are grouped by means of a so-called one-part device into the desired bundling units. For example, loose compositions of 2 × 3 bottles are created.

The at least one loose article group is transported by means of a push chain to a rotating device which rotates the loosely grouped articles. Subsequently, the rotated loose article grouping is fed to a packaging device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the articles grouped into a first loose unit are preferably simultaneously rotated by means of a robot or portal and then further processed for a further subsequent method step, in particular supplied to the packaging device arranged inside the packaging machine.

Subsequently, articles grouped into a second loose unit are rotated and in turn fed to the packaging device, etc. These steps are carried out continuously, whereby the loose grouped containers are moved through the packaging machine at a substantially constant speed adapted to the required output.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, all items combined into a loose unit are rotated together. This means that all items are rotated at the same angle, for example by about 90 °. For this purpose, the articles are preferably fixed by means of suitable grippers. Suitable grippers are, for example, clamping grippers which grip the entire loose unit. Alternatively, a vacuum plate would be conceivable, which sucks the loose unit on your top and thus fixed.

A further embodiment provides that at least two loosely grouped articles arranged side by side or one behind the other are rotated together. For this purpose, the at least two loose article groupings can be spaced in a defined manner.

A preferred embodiment provides that this distance between the at least two loose article groupings, which are rotated together, is maintained during the rotation, so that the distance between the article groups before the rotation corresponds to the distance between the article groups after the rotation.

On the other hand, an alternative embodiment provides that the distance between the at least two loose article groupings, which are rotated together, is changed during the rotation. In particular, the distance is adjusted so that the rotated loose article groups can be fed directly to subsequent conveyors o. Ä. The respective packaging units.

The defined spacing and / or maintaining the spacing of the articles grouped into loose units preferably takes place by means of a push chain.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, all articles combined into a loose unit are simultaneously rotated, but an additional alignment of the individual articles takes place individually. For this purpose, the articles are preferably fixed by means of tulip grippers. These tulip grippers are arranged together on a gripper carrier, each tulip being axially rotatably mounted for itself. Thus, for example, the position of the label or the like on the article can be sensed, the sensory data evaluated and the rotation of the articles correspondingly controlled, so that after the rotation all labels of the articles are aligned as desired.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging articles into containers. Such a packaging machine comprises a dividing device for grouping the articles into the desired units.

By means of a push chain, the groups are spaced from spaced items or kept at a distance, so that the individual groups of items can be processed at intervals by the subsequent rotating device.

The rotating device rotates the loose article groups according to one of the methods described above. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the turning device is a portal or a robot.

Subsequently, the article groups are combined in a subsequent packaging module into a container. In particular, the packaging module may be a film wrapping module in which the article groups are wrapped with shrink film and then forwarded to a shrink tunnel. The shrink tunnel can either be part of the packaging machine or represent an external module.

Alternatively, the article group can be provided with carton packaging in a cartoning module. The use of further packaging modules known to the person skilled in the art is also to be included herewith.

The invention thus aims to ensure that form unstable grouped loose containers are rotated before they are placed in a carton and / or wrapped with a film or the like.

figure description

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, as some forms simplified and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for ease of illustration.

1 shows the general process steps for creating a loose entity or group of articles.

2 shows a first embodiment of a packaging machine with integrated rotating device.

3 shows a second embodiment of a packaging machine with integrated rotating device.

4 shows a second possibility of a method for creating a loose entity or group of articles.

5 shows a third possibility of a method for creating a loose entity or group of articles.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the device according to the invention can be designed and do not represent a final limitation.

1 generally shows the process steps when turning from loose to a unit or group 20 compiled articles 22 , especially bottles. The disordered in mass flow on a first conveyor 28 incoming article 22 become in a first process step A in single-row article webs 23 directed. In a second method step B of the multi-row article flow groups 20 consisting of loosely assembled articles 22 by means of a dividing device 32 divided or formed which are then rotated in the subsequent process step C below. The rotation takes place during the promotion of the article 22 instead, maintaining the transport speed.

2 shows a first embodiment of a packaging machine with integrated rotating device. The in a zusammengeschobenen, ordered multi-lane article stream as a loose large group 24 summarized article 22 become the packaging machine 10 via an endless conveyor 30 fed. By means of a dividing device 32 become loose units 20 grouped. These loose units 20 be over a transfer plate 33 headed, where with the help of a push chain 34 kept at a distance, hence the individual units 20 in chronological succession by the following rotating device 50 to be turned around. The articles 22 in one unit 20 are turned together or simultaneously. In the rotary device 50 become the articles 22 a group 20 simultaneously taken and shot. The rotated unit 20 is then fed to a packaging device. According to the embodiment shown here, this is a film impact module 60 in which the article groups 20 with foil 63 be wrapped. The foil 63 gets on wheels 62 provided and via so-called Folientänzer 65 the impact module 60 fed.

Another embodiment is in 3 shown. Here also a grouping of the articles takes place 22 to loose compilations 20 by means of a dividing device 32 , The loose units 20 be over a transfer plate 33 directed and by means of a push chain 34 kept at a distance. The turning device 50 is a second conveyor in this embodiment 30 assigned. Subsequently, the rotated units 20 over a second transfer plate 33 a film wrapping module 60 fed in to the units 20 compiled articles 22 with foil 63 to containers 21 be summarized.

Preferably, the rotating device comprises 50 a gripping device 51 with which the articles 22 be held. According to a preferred embodiment, clamping grippers, vacuum grippers or tulip grippers are used. When using clamp or tulip grippers, the gripping device must 51 optionally according to the articles to be rotated 22 be replaced. In contrast, a vacuum plate can be used more generally, whereby no time- and cost-intensive retooling of the rotating device is necessary.

When using tulip grippers, the individual articles 22 in an assortment 20 each rotated at an individual angle, so that, for example, on the articles 22 located labels can all be aligned the same.

4 shows a further embodiment of the method steps when rotating several loose units or groups 20 compiled articles 22 , especially bottles. The disordered in mass flow on a first conveyor 28 incoming article 22 become in a first process step A in single-row article webs 23 directed. In a second method step B of the multi-row article flow groups 20 consisting of loosely assembled Articles 22 by means of a dividing device 32 divided and formed. In a subsequent intermediate step B2 are by means of a guide wedge 35 two parallel groups of loose compiled articles 22 formed, which are then rotated simultaneously in the subsequent step C. The two grippers necessary for this purpose are either fastened together with the necessary distance to a robot or also individually to a respective robot. The decisive factor is that the two groups 20 of loose unpackaged articles 22 be rotated simultaneously.

5 shows a third possibility of a method for creating a loose entity or group 20 from articles 22 , especially bottles. The disordered in mass flow on a first conveyor 28 incoming article 22 become in a first process step A in single-row article webs 23 directed. In a second method step B of the multi-row article flow groups 20 consisting of loosely assembled articles 22 by means of a dividing device 32 in groups 20 divided and spaced at a defined distance S from each other. The spaced article groups 20 are simultaneously rotated in the subsequent process step C, wherein the distance S is maintained.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

packaging machine

20

Unit / Group / Compilation

21

wrapped with shrink wrap container

22

items

23

items train

28

promoter

30

promoter

32

Einteilvorrichtung

33

Crossover plate

34

push chain

35

guide key

50

rotator

51

gripping device

60

Packaging device / film wrapping module

62

film roll

63

foil

65

dancer

S

distance

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 5215180 A [0005]
• WO 002007144920 A1 [0006]
• DE 202005003077 U1 [0007]
• EP 605423 B1 [0008]

Claims (13)

Method for the continuous production of containers ( 21 ) from articles ( 22 ), in particular of bottles, characterized by the following steps: • Grouping of articles ( 22 ) to at least one group ( 20 ) of loose articles ( 22 ) by means of a dividing device ( 32 ); • Transporting at least one loose article group ( 20 ) by means of a push chain ( 34 ); • turning the at least one loose article group ( 20 ) • Supply of the first loose article group ( 20 ) to a packaging device ( 60 ). Method according to claim 1, wherein all of them belong to a loose group ( 20 ) summarized article ( 22 ) are rotated together. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least two loosely grouped parallel groups ( 20 ) of summarized articles ( 22 ) are rotated together. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least two loosely arranged groups ( 20 ) of summarized articles ( 22 ) are rotated together. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the loose or parallel groups ( 20 ) of summarized articles ( 22 ) are arranged at a defined distance (S) from each other, wherein the distance (S) during rotation of the article groups ( 20 ) is maintained. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein during rotation the distance (S) between the two loose article groups ( 20 ) is changed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in groups ( 20 ) summarized article ( 22 ) are fixed for rotation by means of a clamping gripper or a vacuum plate. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein all belong to a loose group ( 20 ) summarized article ( 22 ) at the same time, but each article ( 22 ) is rotated at an individual angle. Method according to claim 7, wherein in groups ( 20 ) summarized article ( 22 ) are fixed for rotation by means of tulip grippers. Packaging machine ( 10 ) for packaging articles ( 22 ) to containers ( 21 ), the packaging machine ( 10 ) a dividing device ( 32 ), a push chain ( 34 ), a turning device ( 50 ) and a packaging device ( 60 ). Packaging machine ( 10 ) according to claim 10, wherein the packaging machine ( 10 ) further comprises a shrink tunnel. Packaging machine ( 10 ) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the rotary device ( 50 ) is a portal or a robot. Packaging machine ( 10 ) according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the packaging device ( 60 ) is a wrapping module or a cartoning module.

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