EP0117974A1 - Process and device for manufacturing collective packages - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for the mechanical production of multiple packs, a packaging blank (1) is wholly or partially folded around the packaged goods (2) combined into a packing unit and closed by gluing. In order to ensure that packaged goods and packaging are handled gently and that the packaging is solid and dimensionally stable, a blank of packaging is first cut along its longitudinal edges to form a C-shaped opening on its bottom surface (1a) or a 1-shaped opening for partial wrapping Packaging preformed. The packaged goods are then pushed in, the adhesive flap (1e) is first folded in and the packing unit is transported from the loading station and in cycles through subsequent folding stations (C, D), whereby transport elements (72, 73) act exclusively on the packaging.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for the mechanical production of multi-packs, in which a blank of packaging is completely or partially folded around the packaged goods and closed by gluing.

A distinction is made between the known machines of this type for the production of multi-packs, two working methods, namely the vertical method and the horizontal method.

In the vertical process, also called the lowering process, the packing unit is pushed or placed on a flat blank and pulled or printed vertically through a forming station together with the blank. As a result of the lowering, the flat side surfaces of the blank and its cover surface are flipped up, and the closure flaps of the side surfaces and then the closure flaps of the bottom surface are folded. The lid surface and the lid surface flaps are folded in subsequent operations. Fast-adhesive hotmelt adhesives are used to close the multipack.

Called by horizontal processes, whether or push-through method the composite to a packing unit packaged material is pushed against a vertical or perpendicular prefolded blank and _"pressed thereto by molding and press-through. During this pushing operation, the closure flaps of the rear side surface and the bottom and top surface or only the lid surface is folded in. The folding process for the front side surface and the remaining closure flaps then takes place. The packaging is in turn sealed by fast-adhesive hot-melt adhesives.

Both the production of multi-packs according to the vertical and the horizontal method cannot be described as satisfactory insofar as the pressure required for the further transport of packaged goods and packaging materials through the forming station and through the folding stations must be exerted on the packaged goods. As a result, pressure-sensitive packaged goods cannot be packaged on wrapping machines that work according to the methods described above. Basically, these working methods require a high intrinsic strength of the packaged goods if one wants to exclude deformations and breakage.

Although high packaging quality is a prerequisite for the use of machines working in the vertical or horizontal process, damage to the packaging cannot be ruled out when passing through the forming station. A gentle treatment of the packaging, which is absolutely necessary when using cheaper recycling materials, cannot be achieved with the above-mentioned processes.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for the mechanical production of multi-packs Generic type to create, which ensure gentle handling of packaged goods and packaging and a solid, dimensionally stable bulk packaging.

The method according to the invention provides for this that a packaging blank is preformed on its longitudinal edges to a standing on its bottom surface for the full wrapping open C-shaped or for the partial wrapping 1-shaped that the packaged goods are inserted, the adhesive flap is folded in first and the Packing unit is transported from the loading station and in cycles through subsequent folding stations, transport elements acting exclusively on the packaging. In an advantageous method step, the packaging blank is pre-folded on its longitudinal edges when it is put on and fed to the loading station and shaped into a C-shaped or 1-shaped packaging.

The device for the mechanical production of multi-packs starts from a feed station for separating and feeding packaging blanks, from a loading station for feeding the packaged goods, from a conveyor for transporting the packing units through folding stations and from folding elements for turning in the side surfaces and closing flaps. It is characterized by a separating member that grips a packaging blank on its bottom surface and feeds it to a transport plane, by a guide that delimits the transport plane and is arranged at right angles thereto, by a folding element that acts on the upper part of the blank when feeding the cut to the transport plane the conveyor cutting the packaging and transporting it from the lay-up station to the loading station, through guide elements for folding the upper and rear side faces to the c-shaped opened packaging material and through a intermittently, in a controlled movement sequence with slow start and stop, conveyor device which can be moved from below into the movement path and which clamps the packing unit in front and rear conveyors.

Further features of the invention result from the subclaims and from the description part.

With the method and the device, a way is shown for the first time in which all the longitudinal edges of the packaging material are pre-folded and thus a gentle handling of the packaging material is guaranteed. The pre-folding takes the tension off the packaging, which happens in a particularly gentle manner if this pre-folding is carried out in successive steps, i.e. H. takes place in a longer phase. There is only an extremely small amount of force on the ceiling materials of the packaging material, so that the processing of packaging materials of inferior quality and thus a cost reduction is made possible.

The method and device according to the invention also ensure, in particular, a method of handling that is gentle on the packaged goods. When transporting the packing unit from the loading station to the export, the packaged goods are not stressed, since the adhesive flap is folded in before the start of transport and the transport elements can therefore only act on the packaging. As a result, the packaging machine can be used to pack very sensitive goods.

By folding in the adhesive tab beforehand, i.e. H. Before the associated side surface is created, the so-called "industrial edge" is not visible, which results in an increase in advertising effectiveness and, last but not least, good adhesion due to back pressure of the packaged goods.

The conveyors, which lie against the front and rear side surfaces of the packing unit, each bring about a new alignment by means of central gripping in the individual folding stations, which ensures a firm, dimensionally stable packing unit.

Due to the cyclical transport from station to station, not only can the surfaces to be glued be pressed on during the rest phase and over a longer period of time, but all folding processes can be carried out on the stationary packaging. In the case of continuously operating machines, an exact folding of the package and the pressing of the closure flaps is not possible without problems or can only be carried out with great technical effort.

Both full wrap packs and partial wrap packs can be produced by the method according to the invention or with the device.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Verpackungsmaschine in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,
• Fig. 2_' eine Vorderansicht des Anlegers,
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht des Anlegers im Schnitt,
• Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht der Transporteinrichtung in der Beladestation und ersten Faltstation der Verpackungsmaschine,
• Fig. 5 eine Schnittdarstellung durch die Transporteinrichtung gemäß der Linie A-B in Fig. 4,
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht auf einen Transporteur,
• Fig. 7 eine Seitenansicht eines Transporteurs in abgeschwenkter Stellung,
• Fig. 8 eine perspektivische Ansicht des Ausfuhrbereichs der Maschine.

An embodiment of the object according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 is a schematic representation of a packaging machine in a perspective view,
• 2 _'is a front view of the feeder,
• 3 is a side view of the feeder in section,
• 4 shows a side view of the transport device in the loading station and first folding station of the packaging machine,
• 5 is a sectional view through the transport device along the line AB in Fig. 4,
• 6 is a plan view of a conveyor,
• 7 is a side view of a feed dog in the pivoted position,
• 8 is a perspective view of the export area of the machine.

The packaging machine essentially consists of a loading station A, a loading station B, a first and a second folding station C, D and also transport devices connecting the stations.

In the magazine of the feed station A, the individual packaging blanks 1 are in an upright, but inclined position, by their lower edge resting on an inclined support 3 with a retaining roller 4 and their upper edge resting on a retaining plate 5. Additional retention rollers 6 and 7 on both sides of the magazine act on the side edges of the blank. The magazine has side frames 8, on which the support 3 with the roller 4 and the other retaining elements are attached. The two side frames 8 are slidably mounted on guide rods 9 and can be adjusted to the appropriate format width via threaded spindles 11.

To avoid double deductions, due to the suction plate effect between two flat materials lying next to one another, when the blanks are separated, the upper blank part is lifted, so-called pre-venting, via vacuum suction cups 16, which are carried by the side frames 8 via angle arms 17. Folded rods 18, also on both sides of the magazine, are also located on these, also supported by angle arms 19.

• Die Bodenfläche la, die vordere Seitenfläche 1b, die obere Seitenfläche lc, die hintere Seitenfläche ld; die Klebelasche wird mit le benannt.

For clarification, the side faces of the packaging blank are given the following names:

• The bottom surface la, the front side surface 1b, the upper side surface lc, the rear side surface ld; the adhesive tab is named le.

To remove a blank 1 from the magazine, two pairs of vacuum cups 26 grip the blank on its bottom surface 1 a in order to place it on the horizontal transport plane, which is formed by an angled guide 27 and a guide rail 28. The front side surface 1b adjoining the bottom surface of the blank, viewed in the direction of travel, comes to rest against a boundary 29 and assumes a perpendicular position to the bottom surface of the blank.

The drive movement for the two pairs of vacuum suction cups takes place from a drive arm 30 using shafts 36 and 39 that support the suction cups. The suction cup pairs can be moved and fixed on the shafts for format adjustment.

When the bottom surface of the packaging material is placed on the transport plane, the rear side surface of the blank comes under the folding rods 18, whereby the longitudinal edge is pre-folded between the front side surface and the upper side surface, so that the blank assumes the position shown in full line in FIG. 3 . At the same time as the bottom surface is set down, the longitudinal edge is also pre-folded between the adhesive flap and the bottom surface in that the adhesive flap is bent inwards by running onto the folding rod 40.

Ultimately, when the floor surface is set down, the rear flap of the front flap is folded in at right angles Side surface, namely the folding takes place via a guide rod 41 carried by the one side frame of the magazine.

The pre-folding of the longitudinal edge between the upper side surface and the rear side surface is carried out by vacuum suction devices 46, which grip the upper side surface and pull it back into the position shown in broken lines.

For the pushing of the blank that has now been pre-folded on all of its longitudinal edges into the loading station B, a transporter 47 that is pivotable into the movement path and back is responsible, which engages the folding edge of the packaging between the front side surface and the closing flap that is folded in at a right angle. For this purpose, the feed dog is rotatably mounted in a carriage 49 which can be moved on guide rods 48.

During the pushing from the feed station A into the loading station B, the blank is brought into a C-shaped pre-folded form, for which purpose a guide rod 50 first acts on the rear side surface to pull it down, while a guide rod 52 holds back the upper side surface. In the further course, the upper side surface also reaches the area of a guide rod 51 acting from above, which adjoins the guide rod 52.

Below the path of movement of the packaging is a glue application nozzle 56 which applies a hot melt adhesive to the adhesive flap.

Due to the pre-folding of the packaging blank in successive process steps from removal from the magazine to the loading station, the blanket materials of the packaging are changed treated very gently. The forces exerted on the side surfaces are directed exclusively into the articulated joint of the blank, which is usually formed by grooves.

In the loading station B, the c-shaped pre-folded packaging material rests on a table 57 of a transport device, which is preceded by an insertion table 58, via which the packaged goods marked with 2 are fed to the opened packaging material by means of an upper slide 59, i.e. from the front by the shortest route. The insertion table 58 is composed of a stationary part and a front part which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 58a. This has the task of laying down on the adhesive flap from above and holding it under the transport level of the packaging material in order to ensure a trouble-free supply. In addition, the pivotable part of the table 58 is operatively connected to a support 60 in such a way that the adhesive flap of the packaging is kept clamped when the packaged goods are inserted, thereby preventing advancement.

The transport device with lateral guide strips 53 and the table 57 on which the packing units are pushed extends from the loading station B via the first folding station C to the second folding station D. The transport device consists of two synchronously operating transport units 82 and 83, each with front ones and rear of the packing unit between clamped transporters 72 and 73. The transport units move up, a rectangular orbit 71 according to the direction of the arrow, in such a way that the packing units, beginning in the loading station, are grasped by the transporters, in each case forwarded by one station and again be released. The movement step takes place in a sinusoidal shape in order to prevent the conveyors from striking at high speed and thus damaging the packaged goods.

As can be seen, for example, from FIG. 5, the support table 57 is formed from three support beams 74 which are spaced apart from one another and between which the conveyors can be moved longitudinally. For the linear movement of the two transport units, a slide 76, which can be moved on rods 75, is used with a receiving rail 77, on which carriers 78, which serve to accommodate the transporters, can be moved and can be fixed in accordance with the format of the packing unit.

At the end of the receiving rail 77, at a defined distance from the last transport unit 83, there is a driver 79 pushing out the packing unit, with the aid of which the finished multipack is transported from the second folding station.

The conveyors 72 and 73 of the two transport units 82 and 83 are of an angular design and are pivoted towards the side surfaces of the packing unit by rotating the conveyors with their one end via castors 80 in a horizontally running path 86 of the central support beam 74 of the table 57 and engages at its free end, opposite the pivot point, an H-shaped steering lever 87 mounted in the carrier 78. The steering lever 87 is held in an articulated manner in the carrier 78 for the front conveyor 73 and is supported in its mounting via a spring element 88. This resilient mounting of the conveyor can compensate for tolerances due to packaging, which is particularly necessary because the packaging used, namely solid and corrugated cardboard, are "living" materials in which there are already dimensional deviations of 1-3 due to the increase in air humidity % can result. This difference in size has so far been the cause of malfunctions and thus production interruptions on the packaging machines;

In a vertical guide 89 at the free end of the rail 77, a drive arm 90 with a follower roller 91 engages to move the carriage 76 back and forth on the rods 75 in the longitudinal direction, the up and down movement of the rods 75 acting on the holders 92 engaging at the ends Swivel arms 93. The drive for the horizontal and vertical movement of the carriage 77 with the two transport units 82 and 83 corresponding to the orbit 71 takes place from a cam disk gear, not shown, the transporters are on their storage on the h-shaped steering levers 87 and their Move the horizontal guide in the table from bottom to top on a circular path to the packing units, see Fig. 7, in order to detect them and to advance them from station to station in a sinusoidal movement step.

All the other elements performing a working movement on the packaging machine are coordinated in their temporal movement sequence with this cyclically operating transport system. They are driven by generally known means, so that no further explanation is required for this.

After the packaged goods have been pushed onto the pre-folded packaging in the loading station B, the pivotable part of the feed table 58 is first raised and then, when the transporters 72 are raised, the adhesive flap of the packaging blank is erected, while the spring-loaded transporter 73 is in front of the packing unit sets. As a result, the packing unit is aligned and held centrally between the transporters.

When the packing unit is pushed into the first folding station, the front closure flap, which adjoins the front side surface, is folded inwards. At the same time, the upper side surface runs against the support rod of a folding bracket 101 which is still upright and which, when swiveled down, then presses the rear side surface against the adhesive flap after the transporters have previously released it in order to return to its starting position for the loading station. As a result of the arrangement of the "industrial edge" in the lower area of the packaging, reliable bonding can always be assumed, since there is a corresponding counter pressure from the inside of the packaged goods. Immediately after the rear side surface has been pressed on, the conveyors of the downstream transport unit now take over the packing unit in order to bring it into the second folding station. In the first folding station, the two inner flaps of the rear side surface that still stand up are also folded inward by means of pivotable folding fingers 102 arranged on the side.

During the push from the first to the second folding station, nozzles 103 apply a hot melt adhesive to the upper and lower outer flaps, which are then folded inwards in the second folding station via upper and lower folding brackets 104. On the folding elements for the closure flaps of the upper side surfaces there are additional guide pieces 106 with an outwardly curved guide surface, which have the task of aligning the packing unit at right angles in the transport direction with the folding movement.

The lateral guide strips 53 of the movement path serve not only to hold the inner flaps closed, but in particular to positively guide the packing units. As a result of the repeated centric alignment of the packing units in the individual stations when they are gripped and clamped by the transport units, in connection with the alignment in the longitudinal direction in the last folding station through the guide pieces 106 on the upper folding brackets and not least in connection with the positive guidance via the guide strips 53, an exactly angled as well as firm and tight multipack can be achieved.

Fig. 8 shows the export area of the packaging machine with a protective cover 111, which must be closed on the rear side for safety reasons against interference. For this purpose, pivotably suspended wings 112 are provided, which form a passage for the packing unit and enable the machine to be accessed for maintenance work. The two wings are also used as control devices for faulty packing units. When passing through the through opening remaining between the two wings, a non-abutting flap strikes the wing and thus triggers a signal by separating the wing from a contact switch 113.

Claims (16)

1. A method for the mechanical production of multi-packs, in which a packaging blank is folded in whole or in part around the packaged goods to form a packing unit and closed by gluing, characterized in that a packaging blank is cut at its longitudinal edges to form a full-size wrap on its bottom surface. is opened or preformed for the partial wrapping, that the packaged goods are inserted, the adhesive flap is folded in first and the packing unit is transported out of the loading station and cyclically through subsequent folding stations, transport elements acting exclusively on the packaging material. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the packaging blank when folded and fed to the loading station pre-folded on its longitudinal edges and formed into a c-shaped or 1-shaped packaging. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pre-folding of the blank is carried out in successive steps. 4. The method according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the packaged goods are inserted from the front into the c-shaped or 1-shaped packaging. 5. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the rear closure flap of the front side surface is folded in when putting on the packaging blank. 6. Device for the mechanical production of multi-packs according to claim 1, with a feed station for separating and feeding packaging blanks, with a loading station for feeding the packaged goods, with a conveyor for transporting the packing units through folding stations and with folding elements for turning in the side surfaces and closing flaps by means of a separating member (26) which grips a packaging blank on its bottom surface and feeds it to a transport plane (27, 28), by a guide (27, 29) delimiting the transport plane and arranged at right angles thereto, by means of a when the cut is fed to the transport plane the upper part of the blank acting folding element (18) by a conveyor taking over the packaging blank and transporting it from the loading station (A) to the loading station (B) towards the loading station (B), by guide elements (50-52) for folding the top and rear Side face to a c-shaped open pack medium and by means of a cyclical, in a controlled movement sequence with slow start and stop conveying device with front and rear conveyors (73, 72) which can be moved into the movement path from below and clamp the packing unit. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized by a folding element (40) acting on the adhesive flap of the blank when the blank is fed to the transport plane. 8. The device according to claim 6 and 7, characterized by a the upper side surface of the blank and by moving back the pre-folding of the longitudinal edge between the upper and rear side surface causing suction member (46). 9. The device according to claim 6 to 8, characterized by a folding the rear closure flap of the front side surface causing folding rail (41). 10. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the conveying device consists of two transport units (82, 83) each with front and rear conveyors (73, 72) on an orbit (71) between the loading station (B), one first (C) and second (D) folding station are movable, that the packing units are grasped by the transporters, one station is transported in advance and released again. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transporters (72, 73) are angular and can be pivoted with a rotary movement to the packing unit by the transporters with one end via castors (80) in a horizontally running path (86) are guided and at their free end opposite the articulation point a steering lever (87) mounted in a carrier (78) engages and the two carriers for the front and rear transporter can be fixed on a vertically and horizontally movable carriage (77) according to the format of the packing unit . 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that preferably the front conveyor (73) resiliently rests on the side surface of the packing unit. 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that at the end of the carriage (77) at a defined distance from the last transport unit (83) is a driver pushing out the packing unit (79). 14. The apparatus according to claim 6 to 13, characterized in that the front part of the insertion table (58) is designed to be pivotable and is in operative connection with a support part (60) below the transport plane in such a way that the adhesive tab of the packaging material is kept clamped when the packaged goods are inserted becomes. 15. The apparatus according to claim 6 to 14, characterized by on the folding elements (104) for the closure flaps of the upper side surface arranged guide pieces (106), which bring about a rectangular alignment of the packing unit in the longitudinal direction with the folding movement. 16. The apparatus according to claim 6 to 15, characterized by in the export area to the side of the path of movement of the packing unit on a protective cover (111) pivotally suspended wings (112) which are in contact with switching elements (113) and are controllable in such a way that a projecting closure flap one continuous packing unit generates a switching signal when touched with an F1U gel.

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