DE102017207901A1 - Packaging and / or processing machine for the production of packaging units and method for the provision of outer packaging of packaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging and / or processing machine (10) is disclosed for producing packaging units (12) each having at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers using outer packaging (16), compartments and / or packaging folded and / or folded along fold lines flat packaging material (18) is provided and equipped. The machine (10) comprises a plurality of stations (22, 32, 36, 40, 42) for taking over at least partially shaped and / or dimensioned blanks (24) of the flat packaging material (18), for unfolding the outer packaging (16) and / or Compartments from the blanks (24) and / or for their assembly at least one joint, edge and / or folding line to form a receiving volume for at least two items (14), piece goods and / or containers, and for inserting the at least two Article (14), piece goods and / or containers in the outer packaging (16) and / or the compartment under training and production of the packaging units (12). There is also a corresponding method for providing outer packaging (16) and / or compartments of folded and / or at folding lines assembled flat packaging material (18), in particular for the packaging of at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers z ur formation of packaging units (12) disclosed.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging and / or processing machine for the production of packaging units with the features of independent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for providing outer packages and / or compartments of folded and / or folded lines assembled flat packaging material having the features of the independent method claim 8.

The handling and handling of articles and piece goods often provide individual or multiple articles or piece goods with an outer packaging. This can be done, for example, in the case of individual articles for their improved protection and / or their improved sales presentation. In the case of several articles or general cargo, the outer packaging additionally contains a container of several articles or piece goods.

Such containers are a frequently used and in practice particularly effective way to allow the simultaneous handling of multiple articles or piece goods, for example, to facilitate the transport of multiple items at the same time. Therefore, packages of several held together articles represent the most common variant of sales units for many articles, such as beverage containers.

The articles or piece goods may be, for example, objects, such as, for example, packaged or unpacked articles, containers, such as beverage bottles or cans, or even containers of several objects, the objects of a container being, for example, by means of a group of objects To peripherally surrounding enclosure, such as a strapping, an outer packaging, such as a wrapping, a shrink tube or a cardboard box or a support frame, such as a beverage crate, can be held together, to name just a few conceivable embodiments.

Folding cartons, among other things, are used as outer packaging accommodating one or more articles each, since these offer a high, optionally additional protection for the articles housed in them, moreover are stackable with the articles housed in them and also identify the ones they contain To allow articles to be printed or pasted on their outside. Furthermore, they can serve as an advertising medium through appropriate information on their outside.

Folding boxes are industrially prefabricated, mostly folded or folded to a particularly small space or pack size, usually rectangular containers that are transported to save space and stored in the collapsed state to their use to their needs with simple handles or by machine for repackaging unfolded, as is known, for example, from folding cartons used for postal packages. When folded, they require little space for their transport and storage.

As formed by folding boxes, for example, containers formed outer packaging may be executed with or without arranged therein, or individual items can be separated and / or remote holding, also referred to as so-called Baskets Gefache. As compartments, a so-called interior arrangement to be arranged or arranged in an outer packaging, which may for example consist of nested and / or connected to each other, for example, by kinked edges and / or adhesive connections webs referred to. The webs may for example consist of cardboard and / or cardboard or plastics. To protect sensitive articles, for example, corrugated board can be used for the webs. By folding edges and / or adhesive connections and / or slots in the webs are and / or the webs are connected to each other, provided for one or more items provided compartments with, for example, rectangular or triangular or polygonal base, in which articles are fixed against slipping ,

In summary, compartments have the items inside the outer packaging fixed seats and protect them by the further transport and / or storage of these umbehgenden outer packaging, for example, against a juxtaposition and rubbing to the removal of the articles and their consumption, which otherwise, for example, by signs of erosion, such as On the articles, for example, in the form of labels applied information, and / or damage to the articles with each other can have a negative impression of quality result.

Analogous to the provision of folding cartons as outer packaging compartments to be used in outer packaging are preferably prefabricated and folded or collapsed to a particularly small space or pack size, so that they can be transported and stored space-saving in collapsed state until their use to their needs with simple To be unfolded by hand or by machine.

In addition, outer packaging with already arranged in these compartments are known. These can be designed as folding boxes with interior arranged therein, which can also be folded and transported folded and stored and folded in their need with simple handles or by machine.

Representative of the described, in their need with simple handles or machine unfoldable or erectable, designed as cartons outer packaging, as well as collapsible and unfolded compartments, as well as cartons with already arranged in these compartments repackaging is below the wording Gefache and / or Used outer package, which includes the three different design variants, unless it is explicitly something else, for example, only one of the design variants mentioned.

Compartments and / or outer packaging are generally made of sheet-like packaging material, preferably from single or multi-part cardboard boxes made of stabilized paper types, such as cardboard and / or cardboard. For each type of compartments and / or outer packaging there are cardboard boxes in different sizes and sizes. For sensitive items, for example, corrugated board will be used to protect them. However, the sheet-like packaging material may also be formed by plastic materials and / or by composite materials or by stiffened cardboard materials or the like.

For compartments and / or outer packaging auffalt- or retractable, folded or folded cardboard have by kinked edges and / or adhesive joints and / or connectors interconnected Kartonagewände that can be cut out and / or punched example of sheet material. In the collapsed state at least two interconnected Kartonagewände form an upper and a lower flat side of a flat folded cardboard.

For example, by printing on the sides of a folded cardboard box, this can be unfolded into a compartment and / or outer packaging. It is also possible to hold the folded cardboard on the surfaces of each one Kartonagewand their upper and lower flat side, for example by means of suckers and raise by increasing the initially limited to the thickness of the collapsed cardboard packaging distance between the surfaces of the cardboard walls. By connecting the cardboard walls with each other here cardboard walls of the cardboard are unfolded or raised, which are arranged within the space spanned by the cardboard walls of the upper and lower flat side space.

Also combinations of unfolding by exerting lateral pressure and mounting are possible.

By unfolding or mounting in the case of an outer packaging designed as a folding box, an interior and, in the case of a foldable or unfoldable compartment or an outer package designed as a folding carton with compartment already arranged in this compartment, an interior space which can be replaced by one or respectively one, a normal to the cardboard walls extending plane spanning access opening is accessible through which access opening articles can be introduced into the corresponding interior.

A significant cost factor when dealing with articles, for example in food and / or beverage and / or packaging technology and / or in the food and / or beverage and / or packaging industry, is the timing, with the within the shortest possible time with as many articles can be handled. The higher the timing, the higher is the article turnover and the higher and thus better is the utilization of the machines, systems and equipment intended for this purpose. The clocking can thus be described as the quotient of the number of articles and the length of time within which this number of articles is handled.

Normally, the outer packages or compartments are made by providing the outsides with a desired colored or monochrome printing, after which a desired contour and / or recesses, etc., are produced by a stamping operation. These prefabricated cardboard sheets are then unfolded and connected to provided folding and / or overlapping edges, in particular glued and / or clamped, after which the outer packages or compartments thus produced folded again, flat stacked in larger numbers and combined to form larger packaging units. In this stacked and packaged state, the outer packs or trays are ready for shipment and can be transported to a processing location. Only at this processing the items to be packaged or piece goods such as. Beverage containers are inserted by means of suitable handling and / or packaging machines in the unpacked and unfolded outer packaging or compartments, so that only in this final processing the packaging units and / or sales units required for further marketing, such as final sales, are produced.

The constant availability of a large number of prefabricated, folded and finished printed outer packaging or compartments requires a considerable storage, transport and logistics effort on site, since not only for different sales units each different prints may be necessary. In addition, the folded and prefabricated outer packaging or compartments require a considerable transport and storage volume.

Additional requirements must be imposed on the outer packaging and compartments in connection with their storage and / or their further handling, including transport to the place of destination. So they must be well stackable and should not get caught in the superimposed state as possible, as this can lead to disruptions in the subsequent packaging operation. The same applies to adhesive residues, which can not only lead to optical impairments, but also to the fact that individual outer packaging or compartments adhere to each other and can also disturb the packaging company. In order not to stress too large a packaging volume, it makes sense if the outer packaging or compartments are folded as flat as possible after their production, but on the other hand should not lead to the subsequent unfolding is hindered in their use.

Although it is already known from the prior art to attach pressure marks on the outer sides of packaging, such as from US 3 293 824 A , from the WO 91/10595 A1 or from the EP 1 038 780 A1 ,

A method for laser printing of outer sides of outer packaging immediately after their production also goes from the US 8 199 183 B2 out.

In addition, it is from the DE 10 2006 019 994 A1 known to print packaging for filling or packaging goods when feeding the packaging material in a printing station, for example. After removing the material from a supply.

Another variant of the printing of packaging material goes from the GB 2 326 398 A out. There, it is disclosed to print two-sided larger sheets of packaging material before separation in blanks of each required size. After printing, the sheets are cut and fed to a packaging process.

However, the printing of the packaging blanks represents only a partial aspect of the entire handling in the packaging of articles and piece goods. To make various cutting or packaging parameters more flexible, suggests the WO 03/024805 A1 a packaging system, a packaging machine and a packaging method in which a user can make various choices to define packaging, cutting or printing parameters in the packaging of objects, after which a simulation of the objects to be packaged is displayed to him first. After approval of the selection made, the machine packages one or more objects in the desired specification, whereby both the printing and the cutting of the packaging material are carried out independently by the machine according to the respective packaging size. While this known method provides a viable option for individualized packaging of individual items or a small number of items, it can not solve the logistics problems typically associated with packaging a large number of similar piece goods or items in a short time.

The main difficulties of the known from the prior art methods are generally very complex packaging handling in mass unit handling. Thus, blanks are delivered by the cardboard manufacturers in the required size and printing to the processing filling and / or packaging company. In this operation, the blanks are usually stored on pallets. Only after the removal of these delivered blanks enveloping outer packaging, the blanks can be unstacked. After their destacking, the blanks can be loaded into a magazine and fed to a packaging machine after their respective separation. The manufacturer of the blanks must already pay for the palletizing and packaging of the blanks; further costs arise in the processing operation in connection with the storage and further handling of the blanks. In addition, for example, folded baskets, compartments or outer packaging take up a lot of space on a pallet, while unfolded baskets, compartments or outer packaging would be accommodated in significantly greater numbers on the same pallet space. Further expense is incurred by the processing plant in that it must provide different blanks in stock for each variety of differently shaped and / or printed Baskets, compartments or outer packaging.

In view of the disadvantages identified in the prior art in the handling of outer packagings and / or compartments, it can be regarded as a primary objective of the invention, which Optimize the process chain in the production of packaging units with multiple articles, piece goods and / or containers using outer packaging and / or compartments of flat packaging material, either by individual savings and / or improvements, but preferably by combined savings and improvements in several places. In particular, in this context, the production, packaging and / or transport costs for the outer packaging and / or compartments should be reduced; In addition, it should also be possible to reduce the effort and costs for the general expenses incurred in connection with the handling and / or transport logistics.

These stated objects are achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described and defined by the respective claims dependent thereon.

Thus, in order to achieve at least some of the stated aims, the present invention proposes a packaging and / or processing machine having the features of independent claim 1, which are used to produce packaging units with at least two articles, piece goods and / or containers using outer packaging and / or or packaging of folded and / or joined to fold lines flat packaging material is provided and equipped, wherein the sheet-like packaging material may be formed in particular by cardboard material, but also by other packaging materials such as plastic or plastic film or thin composite material. The packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention comprises at least a first station for the takeover of not or only partially preformed and / or dimensioned blanks, sections or sheets of sheet packaging material, in particular for the acquisition of raw sheets or endless material of the flat packaging material to be processed.

Furthermore, the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention comprises one of the first station for taking over the sheet-like packaging material in the conveying direction in particular downstream second station with a cutting and / or punching device for shaping and / or dimensioning of not or only partially preformed and / or pre-punched and / or cut sections and / or blanks and / or the raw sheets and / or the continuous material of the flat packaging material. In addition, the machine comprises one of the first station or the second station in the conveying direction of the sheet-like packaging material and / or the preformed, stamped and / or cut blanks downstream third station for printing at least portions of the blanks and / or for applying labels, coatings and / or paint applications and / or other applications at least on an outside and / or inside of the blanks. A fourth station downstream in the conveying direction of the printed or coated blanks serves to handle, use and / or process the blanks, sections or sheets and their unfolding to form outer packages and / or compartments and / or to join them together at at least one connection point , edge and / or folding line to form a receiving volume for at least two items to be included therein, piece goods and / or containers.

Finally, the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention comprises at least a fifth station for inserting the at least two articles, piece goods and / or containers in the formed from the blanks, sections or sheets or the endless material of the sheet packaging material outer packaging and / or compartments under training and Production of packaging units.

These mentioned five stations represent a minimal equipment of the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention, which are also usefully arranged in the order mentioned in the conveying direction of the sections of sheet-like packaging material and / or in the processing direction of the packaging units to be formed, but this excludes any further stations , which may be arranged between these five stations, upstream of these and / or may be subordinate. In addition, the proposed order of the five stations is by no means a mandatory requirement, since the raw sheets or the endless material or the partially preformed and / or pre-punched sections or blanks of the sheet packaging material can well be printed and / or coated prior to the production of the final blanks, if necessary with partial or partial coating. Optionally, the cut and stamped outer packaging can be provided with an additional final printing before or after its unfoldment to the outer packaging and / or compartments, this should be useful or necessary for packaging logistics reasons.

The blanks, sections or sheets of the packaging material supplied with and / or in the first station of the packaging and / or processing machine or the endless packaging material drawn by drums may optionally be unprinted or at least partially printed or also finished. In addition, those of the first Station supplied sections, for example, be pre-punched or otherwise already brought into a form provided in which they can optionally be printed in subsequent processing steps, unfolded and assembled. As explained in more detail below, the blanks can also be separated by a cutter from a roll of continuous material and the first station of the machine supplied in such a way.

If in the context of the present description of compartments and / or outer packaging is mentioned, this may, for example, be standing or lying arranged compartments and / or outer packaging. In standing arranged compartments and / or outer packaging are the access openings through which articles, cargo and / or container can be introduced into the compartments and / or outer packaging, in a horizontal plane. In horizontally arranged compartments and / or outer packaging are the access openings through which articles, cargo and / or container can be introduced into the compartments and / or outer packaging, therefore in a vertical plane.

The particular advantage of the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention is the relocation of several production and / or process steps, namely the printing, punching, folding and possibly gluing or stapling in the packaging system. Thus, there is not only the depalletizing and the use of ready-delivered blanks, which are unfolded in the packaging machine and equipped with articles, cargo or containers, but the carton blanks are delivered as flat blanks or, for example, cut from the roll, then punched and / or provided with grooves, for example by means of a handling robot. The (pre-) printing and possibly final final printing takes place before or after the cutting of the packaging material, after which the blanks processed in this way can be conveyed to a magazine or directly into the packaging machine. When using a robot as a handling device, this can, for example, take on several tasks and remove several provided tools for processing blanks. Alternatively, the robot could also make additional format changes to the packaging system or eliminate faults. In a further embodiment, the blanks can also be singled out by the punching / creasing. The advantages for the customer are in particular the possible cost reductions, the increased flexibility and the increased customization possibilities of the blanks.

A variant of the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention can provide that the second station with the cutting and / or punching device for shaping and / or dimensioning of the sections and / or blanks and / or the raw sheets and / or the continuous material of the sheet-like packaging material in the conveying direction of the first station is arranged downstream to take over the flat packaging material. In addition, it can be provided that the second station of the third station for printing at least partial areas of the blanks and / or for the application of labels, coatings and / or paint applications and / or other applications is arranged at least on an outside and / or inside of the blanks , In addition, it may be advantageous if the third station of the first station and / or the second station is arranged downstream in the conveying direction of the blanks. As an alternative variant, however, it can also be provided that the third station is arranged upstream of the second station. It is also conceivable that the third station of the second station is arranged downstream in the conveying direction of the blanks.

An optional machine variant may provide that the second station in addition to the cutting and / or punching device for shaping and / or dimensioning of the blanks and / or raw sheets and / or the endless material of the sheet-like packaging material means for introducing grooves on provided folding edges of the Blanks by folding to be formed outer packaging and / or compartments and / or packaging comprises. These grooves or possibly perforations serve as fold lines for the folding over of individual sections or entire areas of the blanks, in order to be able to form the outer packaging and / or compartments therefrom.

In addition, the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention may comprise at least one handling device for handling and / or moving the raw sheets or the endless material of the flat packaging material, the blanks formed therefrom and / or the printed and / or coated blanks and / or the outer packages formed therefrom and / or divisions between the various stations. This at least one handling device can be formed in particular by at least one handling robot. Such a handling robot can in particular be movably arranged along the conveying path of the blanks, in particular can be moved. For example, multi-axis robots or parallel-kinematics robots or the like are suitable as handling robots for such purposes. Alternatively, two or more such robots can also be used for the stated purposes.

It may be a sensible option to equip the at least one handling device or the at least one handling robot with different tool heads for different tasks, wherein such replaceable tool heads can be removed from a magazine and returned to it again programmatically by the robot.

In the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention, it is provided that in the conveying and handling process before or after the shaping and punching of the blanks a third station for printing at least partial areas of the blanks, sections or sheets and / or for applying labels, Coatings and / or paint applications and / or other applications at least on an outside and / or inside of the blanks, sections or sheets is arranged downstream, although this fourth station may be assigned in functional terms of the machine, but at least slightly away from it spatially can be located. In principle, it is also possible that the second station is indeed assigned to the machine in functional terms, but may be located at least slightly away from it spatially.

In many applications, it has proven to be particularly advantageous to use unprinted or already printed in sub-areas, coated and / or provided with graphic applications and / or labels blanks in the packaging and / or processing machine and transform into outer packaging and / or compartments, However, these are to be provided with product, customer and / or country-specific supplements in the printed image only during the course of the packaging process, such as foreign-language labels, barcodes, country-specific information, images, etc. In this way, universally usable blanks of the flat packaging material can be used which are not subject to restrictions on their use due to the printed image already applied.

Also with regard to the optionally placed second station with its cutting and / or punching device, it has proven to be advantageous, uncut or only partially cut, punched and / or cut to length blanks for outer packaging and / or compartments in the packaging and / or processing machine use and transform into outer packaging and / or compartments, but to be able to deliver these blanks, for example, as raw sheets or as endless material from a roll. In this way it is possible to use universally usable blanks of the flat packaging material which are not subject to restrictions with regard to the respective use due to the size and / or contour already given to them prior to transfer to the packaging and / or processing machine.

In the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention numerous aspects of the packaging handling, which were previously done outside the machine, integrated into the machine and done in their own stations, whether this is the printing of blanks or sections of the sheet packaging material or its / their shape , Thus, with the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention no prefolded, glued and / or otherwise prefabricated outer packaging and / or compartments or so-called. Baskets stored more and a relatively complex handling are fed, but it can be unprocessed depending on the machine equipment flat packaging material or partially processed packaging material are processed. With partially processed packaging material can be meant as prepunched material or completely preformed or pre-punched material, which only has to be unfolded and connected to defined folding lines, folding straps or the like. Connecting points. However, this processing can take place in the machine according to the invention itself, preferably immediately before the packaging of the articles, piece goods and / or containers, which together with the thus assembled and finished in the machine overpack (or the compartment) to form the packaging unit to be produced ,

The same applies to the printing of the outer packaging and / or compartments, which can now also be done according to an aspect of the invention in the field of packaging and / or processing machine in its own printing station. Printing in this context also means a partial printing of previously partially printed blanks or sections of the packaging material. Likewise, the term printing may mean any coating or finish with paint jobs or coatings of all kinds.

Further advantages (in addition to the above-mentioned) the use of flat, unprocessed or partially processed and / or printed and / or coated blanks or sections of the sheet-like packaging material are the significant reduction in transport and storage costs and significantly reduced costs for packaging handling because the outer packaging and / or compartments only in the packaging and / or handling machine their specific design and / or visual design to get. An advantageous secondary aspect may be that the moisture absorption of the blanks so much more densely packed due to the closer together can be significantly reduced, which helps reduce the storage risks. In addition, the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention is suitable for processing large quantities in a very short time.

Whereas previously the cartonboard suppliers had to print, punch, fold and glue the packaging blanks, then pack and ship, these specially prepared outer packagings were initially stored at their destination, unstacked (ie taken from the stacks formed for shipping) and loaded into magazines before they were fed to the packaging machine, where they were unfolded and equipped with the intended articles or piece goods. This effort can be significantly reduced with the arrangement according to the invention, since now only the flat blanks are to be shipped. Ultimately, the production of the outer packaging and / or compartments moves at least partially into the packaging plant, where the bonding, stapling or other bonding and unfolding of the blanks can be done to form the outer packaging. Optionally, partial printing or complete printing of the outer packaging or the blanks of the flat packaging material converted into outer packaging can also take place there. Furthermore optionally, the finished shaping of the blanks, in particular by punching, can take place there as an upstream production step in the packaging installation. However, finished and / or finished printed blanks can also be processed.

If in connection with the machine equipment of several stations is mentioned, which cooperate with each other and / or arranged in the conveying direction of the article, piece goods and / or containers or blanks on their way to forming into outer packaging and / or compartments in a row, so is the Concept of the station to be understood as meaning that a functional unit of the packaging and / or processing machine, not a spatially clearly demarcated unit. Thus, the stations can certainly be designed in an integrated design, whereby a spatial separation of the successive stations does not necessarily have to be recognized.

In the context of the present description of the packaging and / or processing plant according to the invention is from a first station, a second station, a third station, a fourth station and a fifth station the speech. These designations serve to improve the distinctness and assignability of the respective characteristics and peculiarities of these five stations. As mentioned above, however, the numbering does not imply a clear order, since, in principle, the sequence in the conveying direction of the blanks can correspond to the numbering. However, for example, the third station may well be subordinate to the first station. Likewise, for example, be the second station of the third station downstream. In the first, the fourth and the fifth station, however, a deviation from an order corresponding to the numbering does not make sense.

Thus, since the selected names of the first station, the second station, the third station, the fourth station and the fifth station do not necessarily indicate the order of the respective stations in the machine, the numbering may also be omitted or by the respective functional or functional designations be replaced. Therefore, if a first station is mentioned in the context of the claims, the description of the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention, the method according to the invention and / or the description of possible or preferred embodiments or variants, this designation can be applicable to all Substitute also by the term of the transfer station or the term of the station for the adoption of flat packaging material in the machine for its further treatment and / or further processing. If, at one of the points mentioned above, there is also talk of a second station, then this designation can also be replaced by the term cutting and / or punching station or by any other applicable term at all relevant points.

If a third station continues to be mentioned at one of these points, this name can also be replaced by the term "printing and / or coating station" or by any other applicable term at all relevant points. In addition, if one of the points mentioned above mentions a fourth station, this designation can also be applied at all relevant points by the term of the handling station, the folding station, the repackaging and / or compartment forming station or by another Term to be replaced. Finally, if there is talk of a fifth station at one of these points, this term can also be used at all relevant points by the term insertion station for the articles, piece goods and / or packages, by the term packaging station or by the term the packaging unit Educational station or be replaced by another applicable term.

In addition to the packaging and / or processing machine described in various embodiments, the present invention also proposes a method for providing at least some of the stated goals a method for providing outer packaging and / or compartments of folded and / or folding lines assembled flat packaging material, in particular cardboard material, in particular Packaging of at least two articles, piece goods and / or containers to form larger packaging units before. In this method, largely unprocessed or unprocessed flat packaging material, in particular unprinted or only partially printed flat packaging material in defined dimensioned and / or shaped and / or at least partially printed blanks is reworked, which takes place in particular by means of a punching and / or Rillungsprozesses and / or by means of a printing , Subsequently, in the method, the blanks are unfolded and joined together at least at one joint, edge and / or folding line to form a repackaging and / or a Gefaches with a receiving volume for at least two items to be included therein, piece goods and / or containers. In addition, in the method according to the invention, the outer packages thus formed and / or the compartments thus formed are made available to a packaging process for packaging at least two articles, piece goods and / or containers in order to be able to form the packaging units to be assembled therefrom.

In an alternative, but not primarily to be envisaged variant of the method, the blanks, sections or sheets of the sheet-like packaging material printed at least in partial areas provided the further processing and / or the packaging process and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine are provided with further printing, inscriptions, coatings and / or paint jobs and / or other applications. In particular, however, in the method, the blanks, sections or sheets of the sheet-like packaging material at least largely unprinted provided the packaging process and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine with printing, inscriptions, coatings and / or paint jobs and / or other applications are provided.

An optional or preferred variant of the method according to the invention can provide that the blanks are at least partially preformed and / or pre-punched and / or suitably cut to length by a cutting and / or punching and / or grooving process from raw sheets or endless material of the flat packaging material provided and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine and converted and / or assembled before or during the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine to the outer packaging and / or compartments.

An alternative variant of the method according to the invention can provide that the blanks, sections or sheets of the flat packaging material are at least partially preformed and / or pre-punched and / or suitably cut to length provided for the packaging process and / or delivered to the packaging and / or processing machine and before, be converted and / or assembled during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine to the outer packaging and / or compartments. This assembly can be done, for example, by gluing, stapling, riveting, etc., i. E. The blanks, sections or sheets can hereby be pre-punched or partially pre-punched and finally punched in the machine and then joined together.

However, an alternative variant of the method according to the invention can also provide, in particular, for the blanks, sections or sheets of the flat packaging material to be unprocessed or at least partially preformed and / or pre-punched and / or tailor-made to the packaging process and / or to the packaging and / or Processing machine supplied and further processed before use as outer packaging by cutting and / or punching processes and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine to the outer packaging and / or compartments reformed and / or be joined together. The blanks of the sheet-like packaging material can after their preforming and / or shaping largely unprinted or uncoated made the packaging process available and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of packaging units with imprints, labels, coatings and / or Paint jobs and / or other applications are provided.

However, the method may optionally also provide that the blanks of the sheet-like packaging material after its preforming and / or shaping at least partially printed and / or coated the packaging process made available and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units are provided with further printing, inscriptions, coatings and / or paint jobs and / or other applications. However, the method can also provide that the unprinted or at least partially printed, labeled, coated and / or provided with paint applications and / or other applications or equipped flat packaging material in matching blanks or sections or sheets each defined dimensions or optionally as continuous material the Packing process provided and / or supplied to the packaging and / or processing machine and cut before and / or after and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine to the outer packaging and / or compartments and / or reshaped and / or joined together. As mentioned, this assembly can be done, for example, by gluing, stapling, riveting, etc. It is also possible that the flat packaging material in raw sheets delivered, if necessary, cut into suitable blanks and processed only in the machine. It is also possible that the sheet-like packaging material is pulled from the roll and processed only in the machine, this role can in particular stand directly on the machine and is replaced after consumption each with a new roll with a new supply of flat packaging material. From the roll, the sheet packaging material is peeled off and cut into suitable blanks, sections or sheets which can subsequently be subjected to a stamping and forming process as well as a printing and / or coating process before being converted into overpacks, i. unfolded and put together at a suitable location.

The method according to the invention can also provide for partially or completely printed blanks, sections or sheets of the flat packaging material which are labeled, coated and / or provided with paint applications and / or other applications prior to being fed to the packaging process and / or packaging and / or or processing machine is stored away from this or in immediate physical proximity and the packaging process and / or the machine if necessary, for further processing and for producing the packaging units using the finished in the machine outer packaging and / or compartments supplied. In this context, the method can also provide that the blanks, sections or sheets of the sheet-like packaging material before its intermediate storage to the outer packaging and / or compartments reformed and / or assembled, stored for later processing and before the onset of articles, general cargo and / or containers are unfolded and / or brought into the respectively required for the packaging to be formed contour of the outer packaging and / or compartments. It would also be conceivable to temporarily store the outer packaging in folded and finished molded form and to remove it in finished form from the intermediate storage and to process it further.

In the method according to the invention for providing outer packages and / or compartments of folded and / or folding lines assembled flat packaging material and for forming packaging units, the raw sheets or the endless material of the sheet-like packaging material and / or the blanks formed therefrom and / or the printed and / or coated blanks and / or the outer packages and / or compartments formed therefrom are each moved and / or processed by at least one handling device, in particular by at least one handling robot between different stations. This handling robot can in particular be movably arranged along the conveying path of the blanks, in particular movable, so that it can accompany the conveying path of the blanks and move them between the successive stations and feed them to the stations or remove the blanks from the stations. The at least one handling device or the at least one handling robot can optionally be equipped with interchangeable tool heads each different for different tasks. For example, it may be provided that the interchangeable tool heads can be removed from a magazine in a program-controlled manner by the robot or by the handling device and returned there again, for example.

In all variants of the method described above can also be provided that the unprinted or at least partially printed, labeled, coated and / or provided with paint applications and / or other applications or equipped flat packaging material in Rohbögen, in suitable blanks each defined dimensions or as Endless material that Packing process provided and / or the packaging and / or processing machine is supplied and cut before and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units in the machine to the outer packaging and / or compartments and / or transformed and / or joined together. In addition, in all variants of the method described above, it can be provided that the at least two articles, piece goods and / or packages which are to form the packaging unit are inserted into and / or from the outer packaging processed and finished in the packaging and / or processing machine at least partially enveloped.

The invention additionally relates to a method for packaging at least two articles, piece goods and / or packages into larger packaging units using outer packages and / or compartments as containers and / or wrappings for the articles, etc., of folded and / or folded lines Packaging material, such as, for example, cardboard material, which has been produced in accordance with one of the method variants described above, wherein the at least two articles, piece goods and / or packages which form the packaging unit are inserted into the outer packaging and / or at least partially enveloped by the latter.

Each method variant described for packaging at least two articles, piece goods and / or containers into larger packaging units can also be used and used with the use of a packaging and / or processing machine according to one of the previously described embodiments for the production of packaging units.

With the method according to the invention, several aspects of the packaging handling, which were previously done separately from the actual production or assembly of packaging units using Umverpackungen and / or Gefachen, integrated into the process and done in their own process steps, whether this is the printing of blanks or Sections of the sheet-like packaging material or its shaping by reworking raw sheets or endless material concerns. Thus, in the method according to the invention no pre-folded, glued and / or otherwise prefabricated outer packaging and / or compartments or so-called. Baskets must be stored and subjected to a relatively complex handling more or rather, but it can depending on machine equipment, the unprocessed planar packaging material or possibly ., also partially processed packaging material are processed. With partially processed packaging material can be meant as prepunched material or completely preformed or pre-punched material, which only has to be unfolded and connected to defined fold lines, folding straps or the like. Connection points, but in the machine or in connection with the inventive method itself can take place, preferably immediately before the packaging of the article, piece goods and / or containers, which together with the thus assembled and finished in the machine and finished overpack (or the compartment or the so-called. Basket) to form the packaging unit to be produced.

The same applies to the printing and / or coating of the outer packaging and / or compartments, which can also be performed in the field of packaging and / or processing machine in its own printing station / can. Printing in this context also means a partial printing of previously partially printed blanks or sections or sheets of the flat packaging material. Likewise, the term printing may mean any coating or finish with paint jobs or coatings of all kinds.

The advantages of using flat, unprocessed or partially processed and / or printed and / or coated blanks lie in the significant reduction of transport and storage costs and the significantly reduced cost of packaging handling, since the outer packaging and / or Gefache only in the packaging - And / or handling machine are manufactured or get their specific design and / or visual design. An advantageous secondary aspect may be that the moisture absorption of the blanks so much more densely packed due to the closer together can be significantly reduced, which helps reduce the storage risks.

While previously the cartonboard suppliers had to print, punch, fold and glue the packaging blanks, package them and send them to the users at the respective application or packaging locations, these specially prepared outer packaging were first stored, destacked and loaded in magazines at the destination before they were loaded were fed to the packaging machine, where they were unfolded and equipped with the intended articles or piece goods. This effort can be significantly reduced with the arrangement according to the invention, since now only the packaging material or optionally flat blanks are to be shipped, the sheet-like packaging material in particular as raw sheets or as Endless material can be shipped on wheels. Ultimately, the production of the outer packaging and / or compartments moves into the packaging plant, where the production of the blanks and the bonding, stapling or other bonding and unfolding of the blanks to form the outer packaging is done. It makes sense that there can also be the partial printing or the complete printing of the outer packaging or the reshaped to outer packaging blanks of the flat packaging material. In addition, the finished shaping of the blanks, in particular by stamping as upstream production steps, can take place there in the packaging installation. In principle, however, it would also be possible to process there finished finished and / or finished printed blanks.

In the following, some aspects of the essential equipment variants of the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention and of the method according to the invention with some of the advantages and disadvantages associated therewith are presented again.

Thus, an advantageous variant of a central printing and punching center and a central printing and stamping station have in which the blanks printed after their adoption in the machine handling or partially printed and then punched and placed in the intended form, the order if necessary ., Can also be reversed, so that only the punching and then the printing can be done. The blanks with the flat packaging material can be delivered in this process and / or machine variant either as already cut raw sheets or obtained from a roll as continuous material and cut into sections of suitable lengths.

Advantageous in this variant is the independence of the blank preparation from the production in the respective lines, i. from the subsequent packaging operation, in which the outer packages formed from the folded and assembled blanks are loaded with articles, piece goods and / or containers and from this larger packaging units are formed. In addition, in this process and / or machine variant, the most diverse printing and / or cut sizes can be generated, which is particularly advantageous for machines that can process different formats. In addition, the entire order, supply and supply logistics are simplified by local printing and punching.

An alternative or supplemented variant may have a central printing, punching and folding center or a central printing, punching and folding station, in which the blanks printed or partially printed after their adoption in the machine handling, then punched and in the intended If necessary, the order can be reversed, so that only the punching and then the printing can be done. After the punching process, the blanks are also pre-folded, possibly even at least one folding line or by means of a folding tab o. The like. Still joined together, eg. By gluing or stapling, so that already the outer packaging or compartments for subsequent production are available , These prefolded and / or already assembled outer packages or compartments can then be stored temporarily, either in the unfolded or in the folded-back state and thus requiring less storage volume. The blanks with the flat packaging material can be delivered in this process and / or machine variant either as already cut raw sheets or obtained from a roll as continuous material and cut into sections of suitable lengths. This variant of the method provides that the blanks, sections or sheets of the sheet-like packaging material before its intermediate storage to the outer packaging and / or compartments reformed and / or assembled, stored for later processing and unfolded before the onset of the article, piece goods and / or containers and / or are brought into the respectively required for the packaging to be formed contour of the outer packaging and / or compartments. It would also be conceivable to temporarily store the outer packaging in folded and finished molded form and to remove it in finished form from the intermediate storage and to process it further.

An alternative or supplemented variant may have a central printing and punching center or a central printing and stamping station, in which the blanks printed or partially printed after their adoption in the machine handling, then punched and placed in the intended form, the If necessary, the order can also be reversed, so that stamping and then printing can take place first. The blanks with the flat packaging material can be delivered in this process and / or machine variant either as already cut raw sheets or obtained from a roll as continuous material and cut into sections of suitable lengths. After the punching and / or printing process, the blanks prepared in this way are stored intermediately, in particular in a central intermediate storage, from where they are transported, if necessary, to the production lines for forming the outer packaging and for their assembly with articles, piece goods and / or containers for the production of the packaging units become.

Only after the removal from the central intermediate storage the blanks are folded in the respective packaging stations or preparatory to the respective production lines and at least one fold line or by means of a folding tab o. The like. Assembled, eg. By gluing or stapling, so that only immediately before the packaging with the articles, general cargo and / or containers the outer packaging or compartments for the respective packaging lines are available. This eliminates in this variant, the pre-folding and / or joining of the blanks to the outer packaging or compartments and their intermediate storage in the central intermediate storage, so that the refolding for intermediate storage can be omitted. Thus, the printed and stamped blanks require significantly less storage volume in the interim storage.

Rather, this method variant provides that the blanks, sections or sheets of the sheet-like packaging material are only punched and printed prior to their intermediate storage and only then converted to the outer packaging and / or compartments and / or assembled when they are already removed from the interim storage and at the packaging line were transported, where they are unfolded immediately before the onset of the article, piece goods and / or packages and / or brought into the respectively required for the packaging to be formed contour of the outer packaging and / or compartments.

The advantage of this variant is again the independence of the blank preparation from the production in the respective lines, i. from the subsequent packaging operation, in which the outer packages formed from the folded and assembled blanks are loaded with articles, piece goods and / or containers and from this larger packaging units are formed. In addition, also in this process and / or machine variant, the most diverse printing and / or cutting sizes can be generated, which is particularly advantageous for machines that can process different formats. In addition, the entire order, supply and supply logistics are simplified by local printing and punching. This variant also makes it possible optionally to process pre-printed blanks. Due to the unfolding process directly on the packaging line, the shallower, because unfolded blanks can be stored in the intermediate store, which creates an increased storage capacity in the intermediate store.

A further alternative variant can have a decentralized printing, punching and folding module or a plurality of decentralized printing, punching and folding modules, which can each be assigned to the packaging and / or production lines. In this process variant, raw sheets or at least slightly pre-processed blanks are initially stored centrally, for example, after they are delivered to a packaging machine. This intermediate storage can, for example, also form a storage location for rolls with endless packaging material wound thereon endlessly. For this intermediate storage, the continuous material or the raw sheets or pre-machined blanks are removed and supplied to the packaging lines, where they are printed or partially printed, then punched and placed in the intended form, the order may possibly be reversed, so that only the punching and then the printing can be done. In addition, the thus taken as needed from the intermediate storage, decentralized printed in the packaging lines, punched and thus prepared blanks of sheet packaging material folded at the respective production lines and at least one fold line or by means of a folding tab o. The like. Assembled, for example. By gluing or stapling , so that the finished outer packaging or compartments for the respective packaging lines are available immediately before the placement of the articles, piece goods and / or containers. This eliminates almost all preparatory manufacturing steps such as central printing, punching and pre-folding and / or joining the blanks to the outer packaging or compartments and their intermediate storage in the central intermediate storage in this variant, so that the necessary re-folding for intermediate storage can be omitted. Thus, the unprinted or partially printed and not yet punched blanks or the wound on flat sheet packaging material require significantly less storage volume in the interim storage.

An advantage of this variant is the elimination of additional transport routes for printed, stamped and folded blanks for each packaging machine. In addition, the printing modules, the punching modules and the folding modules can each be tailored to the needs and the capacity of the respectively structurally integrated or spatially coupled packaging machine. Also in this process and / or machine variant, the most diverse printing and / or cut sizes can be generated as needed, which is particularly advantageous for machines that can process different formats. In addition, the entire order, supply and supply logistics are simplified by local printing, punching and folding process for the outer packaging and / or compartments. Due to the unfolding process directly on the packaging line, the shallower, because unfolded, uncut blanks can be stored in the interim storage facility creates an increased storage capacity in the interim storage. Optionally, the bearing may even contain only endless material of the sheet-like packaging material, which, for example, can be wound up on rolls which can be exchanged quickly and removed from these as required and conveyed to the packaging lines.

Finally, another alternative variant provides a central punching center and a decentralized printing and folding module or a plurality of decentralized printing and folding modules, which are or may be assigned to the packaging and / or production lines. In this process variant, raw sheets or at least slightly pre-processed blanks are first transported to the central punching center, where they are brought into the required dimensions and shapes by being punched suitable, and then again stored centrally. The central punching center can, for example, also be supplied by a storage location for rolls with endless packaging material wound thereon endlessly. From the connected to the central punching center interim storage the processed and appropriately punched blanks are removed and if necessary supplied to the packaging lines, where they printed or partially printed and then brought into the intended form and unfolded as outer packaging, the order may possibly be reversed , so that only the unfolding and then the printing can be done. In addition, the thus taken as needed from the interim storage and decentralized printed in the packaging lines and thus prepared blanks of flat packaging material not only unfolded at the respective production lines, but preferably also at least one folding line or by means of a folding tab o. The like. Assembled, eg. By Gluing or stapling, so that the finished outer packaging or compartments for the respective packaging lines are available immediately before the placement of the articles, piece goods and / or containers. This eliminates some preparatory manufacturing steps such as central printing and pre-folding and / or joining the blanks to the outer packaging or compartments, while the central punching and temporary storage in the central storage facility are still necessary in this alternative variant. However, due to the intermediate storage of the punched sheets or blanks without their prefolding and joining the necessary re-folding for intermediate storage can be omitted. Thus, the unprinted or partially printed and only stamped blanks or significantly less storage volume in the interim storage. Optionally, the central punching center can be supplied with endless material of the flat packaging material, which, for example, can be wound up on rollers which can be exchanged quickly and removed from these as required and conveyed to the central punching center.

An advantage of this variant is the need only a central punching machine or a punching module, which punches the blanks independently of the following packaging process. In addition, additional transport routes for printed and folded blanks for the respective packaging machine can be omitted. In addition, the printing modules and the folding modules can each be tailored to the needs and the capacity of the respective structurally integrated or spatially coupled packaging machine. Also in this process and / or machine variant, the most diverse printing and / or cut sizes can be generated as needed, which is particularly advantageous for machines that can process different formats. In addition, the entire ordering, delivery and supply logistics are simplified by the local printing and folding process for the outer packaging and / or compartments. Due to the unfolding process directly on the packaging line, the shallower, because unfolded blanks can be stored in the intermediate store, which creates an increased storage capacity in the intermediate store.

In addition, it should be noted that in all variants that work with continuous material, ie where the flat packaging material is handled in particular by rollers, partial or pre-printing are possible. This means that the flat packaging material can certainly be provided with a partial printing or finish printing during its production before it is wound onto the rolls and delivered to the respective place of use. When using the rollers and their processing can then be ensured preferably by means of suitable punching and / or cutting marks that the continuous material is cut and / or punched at exactly the intended places, which prepared partially printed or finished printed blanks can be formed can then be unfolded and processed further directly to finished or ready for a finished or final printing prepared outer packaging or compartments.

It should also be expressly mentioned at this point that all aspects and variants which have been explained in connection with the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention, equally sub-aspects of the inventive method for providing outer packaging and / or compartments of folded and / or fold lines pertaining to or being able to be joined to flat sheet packaging material. Therefore, if at one point in the description or even in the Claims definitions for the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention of certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects is mentioned, this applies equally to the inventive method. Conversely, the same applies, so that all aspects and variants which have been explained in connection with the method according to the invention for providing outer packages and / or compartments of folded and / or folding lines joined flat folding packaging material, equally sub-aspects of the packaging and / or or processing machine or can be. Therefore, if at some point in the description or in the claim definitions for the method according to the invention of certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects is mentioned, this applies equally to the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention.

Finally, it should be emphasized at this juncture that it may be more convenient to refer to the components cooperating with the invention in their entirety as a packaging and / or processing system or as a packaging and / or processing arrangement, the system or arrangement for producing packaging units with at least two articles, piece goods and / or containers using outer packaging and / or packaging made of folded and / or joined together at fold lines flat packaging material. Therefore, if at any point in the present description of a packaging and / or processing machine is mentioned, this term may also generally by the concept of packaging and / or processing system or by the concept of packaging and / or processing arrangement, in particular Production of packaging units, each with at least two items, piece goods and / or containers using outer packaging and / or packaging of folded and / or assembled at folding lines flat packaging material to be replaced.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Variante einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungs- und/oder Verarbeitungsmaschine, die der Herstellung von Verpackungseinheiten dient.
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Maschine gemäß 1 bzw. einer Variante eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung von Verpackungseinheiten unter Verwendung von flächigem Verpackungsmaterial, das zu Umverpackungen und/oder Gefachen umgeformt und mit Artikeln, Stückgütern und/oder Gebinden bestückt wird.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• 1 shows a schematic view of a variant of a packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention, which serves the production of packaging units.
• 2 shows a schematic representation of a machine according to 1 or a variant of a method for the production of packaging units using flat packaging material, which is converted into outer packaging and / or compartments and equipped with articles, cargo and / or containers.

For the same or equivalent elements of the invention use the 1 and 2 identical reference numerals. 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 merely examples of how the container treatment machine according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be configured and do not represent a conclusive limitation. It should therefore be emphasized at this point that the exemplary embodiments described in more concrete and objective terms with reference to the figures are those set forth in the claims and in the general part of the description in the most different embodiments defined abstract inventive idea in any way diminish or limit.

The schematic representation of 1 is intended to illustrate in highly abstracted form a basic variant of a packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention, here generally with the reference numeral 10 is designated. This packaging and / or processing machine 10 serves the production of packaging units 12 with at least two articles each 14 , optionally by piece goods and / or by containers, each with several combined articles 14 or general cargo may be formed. The packaging units indicated schematically here 12 with a total of three combined articles 14 are using overpacks 16 and / or compartments (not shown here) of folded and / or folded along fold lines flat packaging material 18 produced, this flat packaging material 18 In particular, by cardboard material, but also by other packaging materials such as plastic, plastic film, pulp or composite material o. The like. Material may be formed. In the embodiment shown, the outer packaging 16 through a folded carton for holding a plurality of articles 14 formed, together with the articles inserted there 14 the packaging unit to be produced 12 forms.

Several or a plurality of these thus formed packaging units 12 each having a defined number of individual articles received therein 14 can lead to even larger composite units, containers or Pallet compilations are summarized, stacked and / or palletized, for example, to store them, to send or otherwise available, which in the 1 however, is not detailed.

The various arrows inside and outside the packaging and / or processing machine merely indicated by a dot-dash outline 10 as well as the individual elements projecting beyond their system boundary indicate the conveying movements of the articles as well as the flat packaging material 18 and the resulting outer packaging 16 , Compartments and / or boxes. That's how the articles are made 14 in the transport direction 20 from the outside of the packaging and / or processing machine 10 supplied there using the first in the packaging and / or processing machine 10 from the flat packaging material 18 manufactured, folded and assembled outer packaging 16 to the packaging units 12 to be summarized. That for the production of the outer packaging 16 required starting material, the flat packaging material 18 , is also from the outside of the packaging and / or processing machine 10 fed and to the outer packaging 16 folded. As will be explained in more detail below, the outer packaging 16 prior to their manufacture, in particular within the packaging and / or processing machine 10 printed or partially printed. Likewise, the flat packaging material 18 preferably within the packaging and / or processing machine 10 punched, reshaped and / or provided with grooves at provided folding and / or folding edges.

The outer packaging 16 become within the packaging and / or processing machine 10 with the intended number of articles 14 summarized, which is usually by inserting or inserting the intended number of articles 14 in the at least unilaterally open outer packaging 16 will be done. The packaging units thus formed 12 are subsequently from the packaging and / or processing machine 10 in the transport direction 20 passed to subordinate conveyor and / or processing modules such as, for example, a packing and / or palletizing machine, which is not shown here in detail.

Like the 1 can also be seen, includes the packaging and / or processing machine shown there 10 at least a first station 22 for taking over unprocessed, optionally also partially shaped and / or appropriately sized blanks 24 , Sections, bows 26 or endless material 28 of the flat packaging material 18 and at least one of the first station 22 in the conveying direction 30 the raw sheets 26 , Blanks 24 or the endless material 28 second subordinate station 32 with a cutting and / or punching device 34 for the shaping and / or dimensioning of the non-prefabricated or only partially preformed and / or pre-cut and / or cut sections and / or blanks 24 and / or the raw sheets 26 and / or the endless material 28 of the flat packaging material 18 , By means of the cutting and / or punching device 34 become the blanks 24 , Raw sheets 26 and / or the endless material 28 in exactly the size and contour brought to them in one of the subsequent stations 42 to the outer packaging 16 fold and transform. Unless the blanks 24 before entering the second station 32 already have their intended length and width, this second station 32 a pure punching device 34 exhibit. However, if the blanks 24 or raw sheets 26 or the endless material 28 still have to be cut to length, includes the second station 32 preferably also a cutting device 34 ,

In addition, the packaging and / or processing machine includes 10 one of the second station 32 in the conveying direction 30 subordinate third station 36 for printing at least partial areas of the blanks 24 ie for the application of imprints 38 and / or for the application of labels, coatings and / or paint jobs and / or other applications at least on an outside and / or inside of the blanks 24 ,

This third station 36 is again in the conveying direction 30 at least a fourth station 40 for use and / or processing of the blanks 24 , Sections or arches and their unfolding to form the outer packaging 16 and / or for their assembly at at least one joint, edge and / or fold line to form a receiving volume for at least two items to be received therein 14 , Piece goods and / or containers downstream. In addition, the packaging and / or processing machine includes 10 in the in 1 shown configuration at least one here only schematically indicated fifth station 42 to insert the at least two articles 14 , Piece goods and / or containers in the from the blanks 24 , Sections or arcs of the flat packaging material 18 formed outer packaging 16 under training and production of packaging units 12 ,

Optionally, the order of the second station 32 and the third station 36 also be reversed, so the printing station 36 the punching and / or cutting station 32 is upstream. Normally, however, the printing or partial printing takes place in the machine 10 by the third station 36 after the shaping and / or punching of the blanks 24 in the second station 32 , As mentioned, the first stop 22 the blanks 24 optionally also from a continuous material 28 remove and by means of the cutting device 34 cut to length so that they are the right size for the outer packaging to be formed 16 to get.

In the fifth line forming the packaging line 42 become the packaging units 12 formed in the conveying direction 44 are directed to further handling, palletizing and / or conveying means, not shown here, but these devices are normally no longer part of the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention 10 in the configuration shown.

The 2 shows a highly schematic representation of a preferred process variant of a method according to the invention for the production of packaging units 12 using flat packaging material 18 that to outer packaging 16 and / or compartments reformed and with articles 14 , Piece goods and / or containers are stocked. If in this case of a variant of the packaging and / or processing machine 10 the speech is, this should always refer to the respective process variant.

Shown in the schematic representation of 2 a useful variant of the method or the packaging and / or processing machine 10 with central punching and / or cutting station 32 or second station 32 in which in the first station 22 supplied flat packaging material 18 in the form of raw sheets 26 or even of endless material 28 , deducted, for example, from a roll, can be fed to blanks 24 punched, cut and / or cut to length. In the illustrated embodiment of the 2 includes the second station 32 a cutting device 33 for cutting the raw sheets 26 or the endless material 28 of the flat packaging material 18 and for cutting into suitable blank sizes. This cutting device 33 is inside the second station 32 the punching device 34 subordinate, where the blanks 24 punched and / or provided with grooves, about fold lines to be folded tabs or sections of the later from the blanks 24 to be formed outer packaging 16 define.

The second station 32 follows the third station 36 where on the cut, stamped and / or provided with grooves at appropriate locations or edges blanks 24 a print 38 or coating is applied. The third station 36 follow in the conveying direction of the now printed blanks 24 the fourth station 40 in which the outer packaging 16 and / or compartments by unfolding the cut, printed and optionally provided with fold lines blanks 24 be formed. In the following fifth station 42 the insertion takes place elsewhere than the flat packaging material 18 supplied article 14 , Piece goods or containers in the outer packaging 16 , or the wrapping of the article 14 with the outer packaging 16 , which can also be realized by a so-called "wraparound method". The packaging units thus formed 12 be forwarded at a suitable location and / or further packaging and / or handling steps supplied.

Like the 2 can recognize the packaging and / or processing machine according to the invention 10 or at least the second station 32 , possibly also the second station 32 and the third station 36 and / or the fourth station 40 optionally a handling device 46 for handling and / or moving the raw sheets 26 or the endless material 28 of the flat packaging material 18 and / or the blanks formed therefrom 24 and / or the printed and / or coated blanks 24 and / or the outer packaging formed therefrom 16 and / or divisions between the various stations 32 . 36 . 40 be assigned. This at least one handling device 46 can be formed in particular by at least one handling robot.

Such a handling robot can in particular along the conveying path 30 (see. 1 ) of the blanks 24 be movably arranged, in particular along a defined travel traversable. As a handling robot 46 For such purposes are, for example, multi-axis robot or parallel kinematic robot o. The like. Optionally, two or more such robot 46 be used for the purposes mentioned. A sensible option in this context may be the at least one handling device 46 or equip the at least one handling robot with different respective different replaceable tool heads for different tasks, wherein such replaceable tool heads in particular program-controlled by the robot 46 taken from a magazine (not shown here) and can be returned there again.

In addition, it should be pointed out once again that in all variants, those with endless material 28 work, where is the flat packaging material 18 is handled in particular of roles, partial or Vorbedruckungen are possible. This means that the flat packaging material 18 can be provided with a partial or Fertigbedruckung during its manufacture before it is wound on the rolls and delivered to the respective place of use. When using such equipped roles and their Settlement can then be ensured preferably by means of suitable punching and / or cutting marks that the endless material 28 cut and / or punched at exactly the intended locations, resulting in prepared partially printed or finished printed blanks 24 can be formed, which then directly to produce or prepared for final printing outer packaging 16 or compartments unfolded and can be further processed.

The invention has been described with reference to the 1 and 2 shown preferred embodiments. Deviating from the illustrated embodiments and variants, however, it is conceivable and possible for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Packaging and / or processing machine, packaging machine, processing machine

12

Packaging Unit

14

items

16

overpack

18

Packaging material, flat packaging material

20

Transport direction (article)

22

first stop, transfer station

24

cut

26

Sheets, sheets, sheets, raw sheets (flat packaging material)

28

Endless material (flat packaging material)

30

Conveying direction (flat packaging material, blanks, raw sheets, endless material)

32

second station, cutting and / or punching station

33

cutter

34

Punching device, cutting device, cutting and / or punching device

36

third station, printing station

38

Printing, lettering, coating

40

fourth station, Outer Packaging / Compartment Education Station, deployment station

42

fifth station, packaging line

44

Processing and / or conveying direction (packaging units)

46

Handling device, robot, handling robot

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 3293824 A [0021]
• WO 91/595 A1 [0021]
• EP 1038780 A1 [0021]
• US 8199183 B2 [0022]
• DE 102006019994 A1 [0023]
• GB 2326398 A [0024]
• WO 03/024805 Al [0025]

Claims (18)

Packaging and / or processing machine (10) for the manufacture of packaging units (12) each having at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers using outer packaging (16), compartments and / or packages of folded and / or provided and equipped at fold lines flat sheet material (18), wherein the machine (10) in the specified or in a different from the list at least one place at least sequence comprises at least: a first station (22) for taking over not or only partially preformed and / or dimensioned sections and / or blanks (24) of the flat packaging material (18), in particular of raw sheets (26) or endless material (28), a second station (32) having a cutting and / or punching device (33, 34) for shaping and / or dimensioning the unformed or only partly preformed and / or pre-punched and / or cut sections and / or blanks (24) and / or the raw sheets (26) and / or the endless material (28) of the sheet-like packaging material (18), a third station (36) for printing at least partial areas of the blanks (24) and / or for applying prints (38), inscriptions, coatings and / or paint applications and / or other applications at least to an outside and / or inside of the Blanks (24), - A fourth station (40) for handling the blanks (24) and their unfolding into outer packaging (16) and / or compartments and / or their assembly at least one joint, edge and / or fold line to form a receiving volume for at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or packages to be accommodated therein, and - A fifth station (42) for inserting the at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers in the outer packaging (16) and / or the compartment to form and manufacture the packaging units (12). Machine after Claim 1 in which the second station (32) with the cutting and / or punching device (33, 34) for shaping and / or dimensioning of the sections and / or blanks (24) and / or the raw sheets (26) and / or the continuous material (28) of the flat packaging material (18) in the conveying direction (30) of the first station (22) for taking over the flat packaging material (18) is arranged downstream, and / or in the second station (32) of the third station (36) Printing on at least part of the blanks (24) and / or for applying imprints (38), labels, coatings and / or paint jobs and / or other applications at least on an outside and / or inside of the blanks (24) is arranged upstream. Machine after Claim 1 or 2 in which the third station (36) is arranged downstream of the first station (22) and / or the second station (32) in the conveying direction (30) of the blanks (24), and / or in which the third station (36) of the second Station (32) is upstream. Machine after Claim 1 or 2 in which the third station (36) is arranged downstream of the second station (32) in the conveying direction (30) of the blanks (24) and / or in which the third station (36) is arranged upstream of the second station (32). Machine after one of the Claims 1 to 4 in which the second station (32) adjacent to the cutting and / or punching device (33, 34) for shaping and / or dimensioning the blanks (24) and / or raw sheets (26) and / or the continuous material (28) of the sheet Packaging material (18) comprises means for introducing grooves on provided folding edges of the from the blanks (24) by folding to be formed outer packaging (16) and / or compartments and / or packaging. Machine after one of the Claims 1 to 5 at least one handling device (46) for handling and / or moving the raw sheets (26) or the continuous material (28) of the flat packaging material (18), the blanks (24) formed therefrom and / or the printed and / or coated blanks ( 24) and / or the outer packages (16) and / or compartments formed therefrom between the various stations (22, 32, 36, 40, 42), which at least one handling device (46) is in particular formed by at least one handling robot. Machine after Claim 6 in which the at least one handling device (46) or the at least one handling robot can be equipped with interchangeable tool heads each different for different tasks. Method for providing outer packagings (16) and / or compartments of folded and / or folding lines joined planar packaging material (18), in particular for packaging at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers for forming packaging units (12) in which method largely unprocessed or partially pretreated flat packaging material (18) is converted into defined sized and / or shaped and / or at least partially printed blanks (24), in particular by means of a stamping and / or creasing process and / or by means of a printing, according to the blanks (24) are unfolded and joined to at least one joint, edge and / or fold line to form an outer package (16) and / or a compartment with a receiving volume for at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or packages to be received therein and in which the outer packages (16) thus formed and / or the compartments thus formed are made available to a packaging process for packaging at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers. Method according to Claim 8 in which the blanks (24) are at least partially preformed and / or pre-punched and / or suitably cut to length by a cutting and / or punching and / or scoring process from raw sheets (26) or endless material (28) of the flat packaging material (18) provided to the packaging process and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine (10) and before or during the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units (12) in the machine (10) to the outer packaging (16 ) and / or compartments and / or assembled. Method according to Claim 8 or 9 in which the blanks (24) of the sheet-like packaging material (18) after their preforming and / or shaping largely unprinted or uncoated the packaging provided and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine (10) and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units (12) are provided with printing (38), inscriptions, coatings and / or paint applications and / or other applications. Method according to Claim 8 or 9 in which the blanks (24) of the flat packaging material (18) after their preforming and / or shaping at least partially printed and / or coated the packaging process made available and / or delivered to a packaging and / or processing machine (10) and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units (12) are provided with further imprints (38), inscriptions, coatings and / or paint applications and / or other applications. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 11 in which the raw sheets (26) or the endless material (28) of the flat packaging material (18), the blanks (24) formed therefrom and / or the printed and / or coated blanks (24) and / or the outer packages (16 ) and / or compartments are respectively moved and / or processed by at least one handling device (46), in particular by at least one handling robot between different stations (22, 32, 36, 40, 42). Method according to Claim 12 in which the at least one handling device (46) or the at least one handling robot can be equipped with interchangeable tool heads each different for different tasks. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 13 in which the unprinted or at least partially printed, labeled, coated and / or provided with paint applications and / or other applications or equipped flat packaging material (18) in Rohbögen (26), in matching blanks (24) respectively defined dimensions or as continuous material (28) is made available to the packaging process and / or supplied to the packaging and / or processing machine (10) and before, during and / or after the transfer to the packaging process and / or the production of the packaging units (12) in the machine ( 10) cut to the outer packaging (16) and / or compartments and / or reshaped and / or assembled. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 14 in which partially or completely printed blanks (24) of the flat packaging material (18) which have been labeled, coated and / or provided with paint applications and / or other applications, prior to being fed to the packaging process and / or to the packaging and / or processing machine ( 10) away from this or in immediate physical proximity stored and the packaging process and / or the machine (10), if necessary, for further processing and for producing the packaging units (12) using the in the machine (10) completed outer packaging (16) and / or compartments are supplied. Method according to one of Claims 8 to 15 in which the at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or packages which form the packaging unit (12) are inserted into and / or removed from the outer packaging (16) processed and finished in the packaging and / or processing machine (10) these are at least partially enveloped. Method for packaging in each case at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or packages into packaging units (12) using outer packages (16) and / or compartments of folded and / or folding lines assembled flat packaging material (18), which according to one of Claims 8 to 16 in which the at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or packages which form the packaging unit (12) are inserted into the outer packaging (16) and / or at least partially enveloped by the latter. Method for packaging in each case at least two articles (14), piece goods and / or containers into packaging units (12) according to one of Claims 8 to 17 using a packaging and / or processing machine (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 for producing the packaging units (12).

Images