DE102020131191A1 - Packaging device and method for producing packaging units - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging device (1) and a method for producing packaging units (20). The packaging units (20) each comprise an article arrangement (21) of at least two articles (22), the articles (22) being partially outer packaging material (26) consisting of paper or cardboard. The packaging device (1) comprises an application device for attaching the outer packaging material (26) to the article arrangement (21) and an ultrasonic joining device (5) for forming a joint (40) between at least two of each other at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26). The ultrasonic joining device (5) comprises at least one anvil tool (6) and one sonotrode (7). The anvil tool (6) is designed to be at least partially inserted and arranged between at least two articles (22) of the article arrangement (21) that are at least partly encased by the outer packaging material (26). The sonotrode (7) is designed to interact with the at least one anvil tool (6) arranged between the articles (22) to form a joint (40) between the at least two at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26).

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging device and a method for producing packaging units according to the features of the independent claims.

There are different types of packaging for the processing, assembly, grouping and packaging of articles such as beverage containers, for example the combination of articles or containers into portable, relatively handy packaging units or bundle units. For example, beverage containers are usually combined and packaged using shrink films to form bundles of four, six or more containers. The production of containers is usually unavoidable, as they represent the most common variant of sales units for beverage containers or bottles made of PET plastic. Some of the containers are combined again for transport and/or put together in layers and palletized.

In the production of known types of containers, specific production steps are required in order to be able to process the shrink films that are usually used. These production steps require a relatively large amount of energy. In addition, the film used incurs costs for production, provision, handling and subsequent disposal, since it is no longer required after sale. The machinery for providing the so-called film wrapping modules and other handling stations also causes high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the so-called shrink tunnel, in which the film wrapped around the container is shrunk around the container by means of the application of hot air, also requires a relatively high capital investment.

A variant in which the use of shrink film can generally be dispensed with is the so-called strapped bundle. Here, the containers are combined into a bundle and connected to one another by means of so-called straps. In strapping machines that work continuously or in cycles, containers, articles or bottles are grouped into formations and then strapped with one or more straps using strapping units. Typical formations can be, for example, 1×2 arrangements (two containers in a row), 2×2 arrangements (four containers in a square or in a diamond formation), 3×2, 4×3 or, in principle, also variable n×m arrangements be.

The object of the invention is to produce packaging units with an outer packaging made of paper or cardboard, in which preferably plastic-containing connecting means can be completely dispensed with.

The above object is achieved by a packaging device and a method for producing packaging units, comprising the features in the independent patent claims. Further advantageous configurations are described by the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a packaging device for producing packaging units. A packaging unit comprises an arrangement of articles made up of at least two articles, which are combined by at least one outer packaging. In particular, the articles are mechanically held together by the outer packaging.

The overwrap is preferably formed from an overwrap material formed at least in part from paper material or board material and partially encasing the assembly of articles. The outer packaging material is preferably a pure paper material or cardboard material that does not contain any plastic components, as a result of which packaging units can be produced in a particularly environmentally friendly manner.

However, the packaging device can also be used to process an outer packaging material with a plastic content, for example to process a plastic-coated paper material or cardboard material, a paper-plastic composite material or the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the outer packaging is a strapping band, preferably a paper band or a band made of a flexible, for example thin, cardboard material.

The articles are, for example or preferably, beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or another suitable plastic, cans made of plastic and/or aluminum or the like.

However, the packaging device is also suitable for combining other suitable articles in a corresponding outer packaging as packaging units or bundles. Preferably, at least two identically designed articles are put together as a group of articles in a divider module or the like and combined into sales units or packaging units by means of outer packaging. By putting together differently trained Arti so-called mixed containers can be produced.

The packaging device comprises an application device for attaching the outer packaging material to the article arrangement and also an ultrasonic joining device for forming a joint between at least two at least partially overlapping layers of the outer packaging material.

The ultrasonic joining device comprises at least one anvil tool and one sonotrode, with the anvil tool being designed to be at least partially inserted and arranged between at least two articles of the article arrangement that are partially encased by the outer packaging material, and with the sonotrode being designed to be at least partially between the articles arranged anvil tool to cooperate to form a joint with the at least two at least partially overlapping layers of the outer packaging material.

The packaging unit particularly preferably comprises at least two beverage containers, in particular bottles or cans, which are preferably held together by at least one strap formed from pure paper material. The strapping band is applied to the assembly of articles via an application device designed as a strapping device or strapping module, which assembly of articles has been assembled in advance in a dividing module or the like in the desired manner.

In this case, the strapping is preferably tensioned by means of a suitable tensioning device around outwardly facing outer lateral surfaces of the articles. In this case, the free ends of the strapping are arranged at least partially overlapping one another, in particular in an area which is laterally associated with a contact area of two adjacent articles of the article composition. The overlapping free end regions of the strapping band are then fixed to one another, with the strapping band's previously generated pretension being maintained. Thus, a mechanical cohesion of the articles is achieved by the outer packaging.

The overlapping free end regions of the strapping band are fixed to one another, in particular with the formation of a joint, with an ultra-welding process being used for this purpose, in particular an ultra-friction welding process.

In order to form the joint, the anvil tool of the ultrasonic joining device is inserted between at least two articles of the article arrangement partially covered with outer packaging material and arranged adjacent to the at least partially overlapping layers of the outer packaging material.

Furthermore, a sonotrode of the ultrasonic joining device is arranged adjacent to the at least partially overlapping layers of the outer packaging material and the overlapping layers are connected to one another by ultrasonic welding, in particular by ultrasonic friction welding.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the anvil tool of the ultrasonic joining device is adjustable in height. The anvil tool is first introduced or inserted in an area at least partially between two articles arranged adjacent to one another, said area being formed and/or arranged above or below the position of the strapping material, in particular which area is above or below the position of the at least partially overlapping layers of the Outer packaging material is formed and / or arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment, the anvil tool is first inserted and/or may be located in a region above or below the position of the overlapping free end regions of the strapping band.

The anvil tool is then positioned between the articles and the outer packaging material, for example the strapping, by moving it downwards or upwards, with the side of the anvil tool involved in the joining process being aligned in the direction of the outer packaging material and in particular being assigned to the at least partially overlapping layers of the outer packaging material, for example the overlapping free end areas of the strap.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one contour of the anvil tool is adapted to at least one contour of at least one of the two articles, between which articles the anvil tool can be inserted and arranged.

Preferably, a first outline of the anvil tool is associated with a first article of the array of articles and a second outline of the anvil tool is associated with a second article of the array of articles.

In particular, the anvil tool is arranged at least partially between the first article and the second article of the article arrangement in order to form the joint connection.

The at least one adapted contour is thus formed in an area of the anvil tool, which area is not involved in the production of the joint connection. The shape of the contour is designed in such a way that the anvil tool can advantageously be positioned at least partially between two articles of the arrangement of articles in order to produce the joint connection between the free end regions of the outer packaging material accordingly.

If the articles have a basic cylindrical shape, for example, then it is provided that the contour area assigned to the respective article has a correspondingly concave curvature.

Alternatively, the anvil tool can have, for example, at least one triangular cross-sectional area, which can advantageously be at least partially inserted and arranged in the space between two adjacent articles with a cylindrical basic shape or the like.

In addition, it can be provided that the anvil tool has an at least partially structured surface, at least in the area of the contour. For example, the surface can have a rough structure, the surface can be wavy or have elevations and/or depressions or the like.

According to one embodiment, the sonotrode of the ultrasonic joining device is designed such that it can be moved laterally, so that the sonotrode can be positioned by means of a lateral infeed movement on the combination of articles partially covered with the outer packaging material. In particular, the sonotrode is assigned to the anvil tool, which is partially positioned between two articles and in the area of the overlapping layers of the outer packaging material. In this case, the sonotrode is arranged in particular to the side of the overlapping arrangement of free end regions of the outer packaging material. The arrangement of free end areas of the outer packaging material is preferably clamped between the anvil tool and the sonotrode.

In addition, it can be provided that a pressure is generated between the anvil tool and the sonotrode, for example they are pressed against one another in order to support the ultrasonic welding process.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the ultrasonic joining device is assigned a moistening device, with which the outer packaging material is moistened at least in the area of the at least two partially overlapping layers, for example with water or steam, in order to further promote the joining process.

Alternatively or additionally, the sonotrode can be designed and/or arranged to be height-adjustable, so that the sonotrode can be arranged in a suitable position on the combination of articles partially wrapped with the outer packaging material by means of a height adjustment.

The packaging device according to the invention and the method according to the invention can thus be used to produce packaging units with an outer packaging in which the outer packaging consists entirely of paper or cardboard and no other fasteners containing plastic components have to be used for the formation of joints. In particular, the use of an adhesive for connecting free end areas of the outer packaging material can be dispensed with. The packaging device is significantly cleaner due to the lack of gluing.

It should be expressly mentioned at this point that all aspects and design variants that have been explained in connection with the device according to the invention equally relate to or can be partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and/or connections and/or effects are mentioned at one point in the description or also in the definition of claims for the device according to the invention, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. The same applies in reverse, so that all aspects and design variants that have been explained in connection with the method according to the invention equally relate to or can be partial aspects of the device according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and/or connections and/or effects are mentioned at one point in the description or also in the claim definitions for the method according to the invention, this applies equally to the device according to the invention.

• 1 bis 3 zeigen jeweils eine schematische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform einer Verpackungsvorrichtung und ein Verfahren zur Herstellung von Verpackungseinheiten.
• 4 zeigt die Anordnung gemäß 3 in einer Draufsicht von oben.
• 5 und 6 zeigen jeweils unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen eines Ambosswerkzeugs.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions because some shapes are simplified and other shapes are exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.

• 1 until 3 each show a schematic representation of an embodiment of a packaging device and a method for producing packaging units.
• 4 shows the arrangement according to 3 in a top view.
• 5 and 6 each show different embodiments of an anvil tool.

Identical reference symbols are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments only represent examples of how the packaging device according to the invention or the method according to the invention for producing packaging units can be designed and do not represent any final limitation.

the 1 until 3 each show a schematic representation of an embodiment of a packaging device 1 and a method for producing packaging units 20. The 4 shows the arrangement according to 3 in a top view. the 5 also shows the overlap area Ü 4 in an enlarged view.

A packaging unit 20 comprises an article arrangement 21 of at least two articles 22 in an outer packaging 25. The outer packaging 25 is preferably formed from an outer packaging material 26 which partially encloses the article arrangement 21 and, in particular, mechanically holds it together.

The outer packaging material 26 is preferably an outer packaging material 26 made of paper or cardboard, in particular a pure paper material or cardboard material that does not contain any plastic components.

However, the packaging device 1 can also be used to process an outer packaging material 26 with a plastic component, for example a plastic-coated paper material or cardboard material, a paper-plastic composite material or the like.

In particular, the outer packaging 25 is a strap 28, in particular a paper banderole 29.

The items 22 are preferably beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or another suitable plastic, or cans 24 made of plastic and/or aluminum or the like.

However, the packaging device 1 is also suitable for combining other suitable articles 22 in a corresponding outer packaging 25 as packaging units 20 or bundles. To produce the packaging units 20, at least two articles 22 of the same type or at least two articles 22 of identical design can be provided as a group of articles 21.

By assembling differently designed articles 22, so-called mixed bundles can optionally also be produced.

The packaging unit 20 particularly preferably comprises at least two beverage containers, in particular bottles or cans 24, which are preferably held together by at least one strap made of pure paper material or a strap 28.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the articles 22 are designed as cans 24 and six cans 24 are combined in a packaging unit 20 by means of a paper banderole 29, with the cans 24 each being arranged in two parallel rows of three (cf. in particular the top view in 4 ). The paper banderole 29 is stretched under tension around outwardly facing outer lateral surfaces of the cans 24 and in this way mechanically holds the cans 24 together.

In connection with the strapping, free ends 30 of the paper banderole 29 are arranged in an at least partially overlapping manner. In particular, the free ends 30 are arranged in an overlapping area Ü, which is assigned to an area in which two adjacent articles 22 make contact. In particular, the two articles 22 are arranged side by side or adjacent to one another or abutting one another in the region. In the overlapping area Ü, the free ends 30 of the paper banderole 29 are joined together to form a joint 40, this taking place in particular with a packaging device 1 according to the invention and/or according to the method according to the invention.

An outer packaging material 26 is arranged by an application device 8 on an article arrangement 21 assembled, for example, in a dividing module (not shown). In particular, the application device 8 according to the embodiment shown here by a Strapping module 9 is formed, which is designed for attaching the outer packaging material 26 to the article arrangement 21, in particular for attaching a paper banderole 29, which is stretched under tension around the outer lateral surfaces of the cans 24. To create the necessary tension, the strapping module 9 can include a corresponding tensioning device, as is known from the prior art.

In order to fix the free ends 30 of the paper band 29 , the packaging device 1 is equipped with an ultrasonic joining device 5 for forming a joint 40 . For this purpose, the ultrasonic joining device 5 comprises at least one anvil tool 6 and at least one sonotrode 7.

Like the ones in the 1 until 4 is shown schematically, the anvil tool 6 is at least partially inserted and arranged between the cans 24 of the article arrangement 21, in particular the anvil tool 6 is at least partially inserted between the cans 24 in an area below the strapping area.

The area in which the paper banderole 29 is arranged on the article arrangement 21 is referred to as the strapping area. In particular, the anvil tool 6 is assigned laterally to the overlapping area Ü, in which overlapping area Ü the two free ends 30, 30-1, 30-2 of the paper banderole 29 are arranged overlapping one another.

The arrangement of the anvil tool 6 between the cans 24 takes place here, for example, at a point in time at which the outer packaging material 26 has not yet been applied to the article arrangement 21 . However, the anvil tool 6 can also be arranged at the same time as the article arrangement 21 is wrapped around the paper banderole 29 . Alternatively, the paper banderole 29 can first be stretched around the articles 22 and then the anvil tool 6 can be arranged below or above the strapping area between the cans 24 .

The anvil tool 6 is adjustable in height. By moving the anvil tool 6 upwards, it is arranged at the height of the paper band 29 and in particular is arranged adjacent to the overlapping free ends 30 of the paper band 29 stretched around the articles 22 .

Alternatively, it can be provided that the anvil tool 6 is arranged at a first height above the position of the paper banderole 29 and is assigned to the overlapping area Ü by being moved downwards, with the anvil tool 6 being located in particular between the articles 22 and the free end areas 30 of the strap 28 is arranged.

Furthermore, in 3 the sonotrode 7 of the ultrasonic joining device 5 is shown. This is arranged to the side of the anvil tool 6, which is at least partially arranged between the cans 23, and to the side of the overlapping area Ü of the two free ends 30, 30-1, 30-2, so that the two free ends 30, 30-1, 30-2 of the paper banderole 29 are preferably clamped between the anvil tool 6 and the sonotrode 7.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the sonotrode 7 is designed to be movable laterally, so that the sonotrode 7 can be advanced laterally to the anvil tool 6 and the overlapping area Ü with the overlapping free ends 30 of the paper banderole 29 .

Additionally or alternatively it can be provided that the sonotrode 7 is designed to be adjustable in height in order to adapt to the height at which the paper banderole 20 is arranged on the article arrangement 21 in a simple and quick manner, so that the ultrasonic joining device 5 for different products can be used.

By subjecting the overlapping free ends 30 to ultrasonic vibrations, they are joined together and connected using what is known as an ultrasonic welding process, in particular using what is known as an ultrasonic friction welding process.

In addition, the anvil tool 6 and the sonotrode 7 can be pressed against one another in order to support the ultrasonic welding process.

Provision can also be made for the ultrasonic joining device 5 to be assigned a moistening device (not shown), with which the outer packaging material 26 is moistened with water or steam, for example, at least in the overlapping area of the two free ends 30-1, 30-2, in order to continue the joining process favor.

After completion of the joining process, the anvil tool 6 is pulled out of the finished packaging unit 20 by moving it downwards and then moving it sideways. The packaging unit 20 can now be supplied for further handling, for example to a palletizing device or the like.

the 5 and 6 each show different embodiments of an anvil tool 6. Provision is made for at least one contour 10 of the anvil tool 6 to be adapted to the article 22 of the article arrangement 21.

As in the enlarged view of the overlap area Ü in the 5 and as can be clearly seen, a first contour 10 - 1 of the anvil tool 6 is assigned to a first article 22 - 1 of the article arrangement 21 and a second contour 10 - 2 of the anvil tool 6 is assigned to a second article 22 - 2 of the article arrangement 21 .

In contrast to the prior art, the adapted contour 10 of the anvil tool 6 is thus formed by a region of the anvil tool 6 which is not involved in the production of the joint connection 40 . The shape of the contour 10 is in particular designed such that the anvil tool 6 can advantageously be positioned at least partially between the articles 22 in order to be able to produce the joint connection 40 between the free ends 30 of the paper banderole 29 accordingly.

If the articles 22 have a cylindrical shape, for example, then it is provided, for example, that the contour 10 has a correspondingly designed concave curvature. In particular, a first contour area 10-1 with a first concave curvature and a second contour area 10-2 with a second concave curvature are provided ( 6 ).

Alternatively, the anvil tool 6 can have, for example, at least one triangular cross-sectional area 11, which can advantageously be at least partially inserted and arranged in the intermediate space Z between two adjacent articles 22 ( 5 ).

In addition, it can be provided that the anvil tool 6 has an at least partially structured surface at least in the area of the contour 10 . For example, the surface can have a rough structure, the surface can be wavy or have elevations and/or depressions or the like.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and figures, including their different views or respective individual features, can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

Although “schematic” representations and views are generally referred to in connection with the figures, this in no way means that the representations in the figures and their description are to be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite capable of extracting enough information from the schematic and abstract drawings to make it easier for him to understand the invention, without having to learn from the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions of the articles and/or parts of the packaging device or other drawn elements would be impaired in any way in his understanding. The figures thus enable the person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive concept formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the description on the basis of the more specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more specifically explained mode of operation of the device according to the invention.

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

Reference List

1

packaging device

5

ultrasonic joining device

6

anvil tool

7

sonotrode

8th

application device

9

strapping module

10

contour

10-1

first contour, first contour area

10-2

second contour, second contour area

11

triangular cross-sectional area

20

Packaging Unit

21

Article arrangement

22

article

24

can

25

outer packaging

26

outer packaging material

28

strapping

29

paper banderole

30, 30-1, 30-2

free end

40

joint connection

Ü

overlap area

Z

space

Claims (13)

Packaging device (1) for producing packaging units (20), the packaging unit (20) comprising an article arrangement (21) of at least two articles (22), the articles (22) being partially encased by an outer packaging material (26) made of paper or cardboard are, the packaging device (1) comprising at least - an application device (8) for attaching the outer packaging material (26) to the article arrangement (21), - an ultrasonic joining device (5) for forming a joint (40) between at least two at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26), - wherein the ultrasonic joining device (5) comprises at least one anvil tool (6) and one sonotrode (7), - which anvil tool (6) is designed and equipped to be at least partially inserted and placed between at least two articles (22) of the article assembly (21) at least partially wrapped by the outer packaging material (26), and - the sonotrode (7) being designed and equipped for this purpose, with the at least one anvil tool (6) arranged between the articles (22) for forming a joint (40) with the at least two at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material ( 26) to cooperate. Packaging device (1) after claim 1 for producing a joint (40) between at least two partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26) for producing a packaging unit (20) by a method according to one of Claims 8 until 13 . Packaging device (1) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the at least one application device (8) is a strapping device (9) or comprises a strapping device (9), which strapping device (9) is designed and equipped to attach at least one strapping band (28) to the article arrangement (21), wherein the strapping device (9) comprises, in particular, tensioning devices which are designed and equipped to place the strapping strip (28) under pretension around the outer lateral surfaces of the articles (22). Packaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the anvil tool (6) is adjustable in height, in particular in a height relative to the packaging units (20) to be formed. Packaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one contour (10) of the anvil tool (6) can be inserted on at least one contour (10) of at least one of the two articles (22), between which articles (22) the anvil tool (6) can be inserted and is arrangeable, is adapted. Packaging device (1) after claim 5 , wherein the anvil tool (6) has an at least partially structured surface at least in the region of a contour (10) or one of its contours (10). Packaging device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sonotrode (7) is designed to be movable laterally and/or wherein the sonotrode (7) is designed to be adjustable in height, in particular laterally and/or in height, in each case with respect to the to be formed packaging units (20). Method for producing packaging units (20), comprising at least the following method steps: - Attaching an outer packaging material (26) consisting of paper or cardboard to an article arrangement (21), the article arrangement (21) comprising at least two articles (22), so that the article arrangement (21) is partially encased by outer packaging material (26), - inserting an anvil tool (6) of an ultrasonic joining device (5) between at least two articles (22) of the article arrangement (21) partially encased with outer packaging material (26), - arranging the anvil tool (6 ) adjacent to at least two at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26), - arranging a sonotrode (7) of the ultrasonic joining device (5) adjacent to the at least two at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26), and - Joining the overlapping arrangement of the at least partially overlapping layers ( 30) the outer packaging material (26) by ultrasonic welding or ultrasonic friction welding. procedure after claim 8 wherein the sonotrode (7) is positioned in a working mode laterally to the arrangement of the at least partially overlapping layers (30) of the outer packaging material (26) and laterally to the anvil tool (6). procedure after claim 8 or 9 , wherein at least two articles (22) are partially wrapped with an outer packaging material (26) in the form of a strap (28), two free end regions of the strap (28) being arranged so as to at least partially overlap one another in an area which is adjacent to two adjacent articles (22 ) assigned. Procedure according to one of Claims 8 until 10 , wherein the anvil tool (6) is inserted at least partially between two adjacently arranged articles (22) above or below the outer packaging material (26) and wherein the anvil tool (6) is inserted by sliding downwards or upwards between the articles (22) and the outer packaging material (26) is arranged. procedure after claim 11 , wherein the outer packaging material (26) is formed by a strapping band (28), and wherein the anvil tool (6) is arranged by sliding downwards or upwards between the articles (22) and at least partially overlapping free end regions of the strapping band (28). . procedure after claim 11 or 12 , wherein the sonotrode (7) is arranged laterally to the at least partially overlapping free end regions of the strapping band (28).

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