EP1544113B1 - Apparatus and method for manufacturing container packages - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing container packages and for packaging containers in container carriers such as e.g. Cartons and a device for carrying out the method.

The invention relates here as an exemplary embodiment of container packaging, which have a box-shaped receptacle made of a blank foldable flat material with corresponding side walls, wherein the receptacle can be open at the top. In addition, these container packaging partitions from a further blank foldable flat material, which folded out corresponding compartments or honeycomb for mutual impact and transport protection of the container to be packaged form.

From the DE 23 56 319 A1 A method of opening collapsed compartments and inserting the opened compartments in container packages has become known, the collapsed compartment being conveyed upright to a first position, moving therefrom by means of a suction loaded transport device, thereby opened and into a second one above the container placed position, fixed in this second position and finally is pushed into the open container packaging.
During the transfer of the compartments from the first to the second position, the opening thereof takes place by means of a 90 ° swiveling of a transversal web of the transport device subjected to suction.

The opened compartment is then partially inserted into a container packaging and finally pushed by a vertically movable depressor or stamp to the bottom of the container packaging. Apart from the required multiple steps for inserting and inserting a Gefaches another significant disadvantage is the fact that these successive steps can be performed only in the discontinuous operation of the machine.

In the DE 30 33 773 A1 For this purpose, among other things, a method for producing container carriers and for packaging containers in such container carrier is shown. Accordingly, separately produced, flat blanks for a container carrier and for a separation insert a packaging system to be supplied. The prefabricated or assembled in the packaging unit separation insert is unfolded to form Gefachfeldern and brought together with a container group. In the process, the unfolded separating insert is pushed from above onto a prepared container group. In practice, the method is carried out so that groups of containers pushed onto the floors of flat container carrier blanks and then the compartments are folded with folded transverse webs from above between the rows of groups of containers. Subsequently, the side walls of the container carrier blank are folded against the longitudinal sides of the container. Furthermore, the front-side connecting straps of the middle walls and end walls of the container carrier blanks are folded against the transverse sides of the container and glued together. The latter happens across the transport direction.

Furthermore, devices are known which are suitable for removing the interleaves, compartments or honeycomb in flat collapsed state one after the other by means of the gripping device of a loading unit which transports the honeycomb in the horizontal direction, opens and then passes a vertical device, with the open honeycomb in a carton can be used for bottles or similar objects. Such devices have the disadvantage that the generally made of cardboard honeycomb can be damaged in the transfer from one device to another. In addition, the entire cycle requires a fairly long time between the gripping of the honeycomb and the insertion into the carton, since a certain time is required for the transport between the device for the horizontal movement. Finally, extreme care is required to ensure accurate positioning between the horizontal and vertical movement devices, otherwise the device will need to be shut down.

Finally, it is known to perform the righting, Umsetz- and insertion in continuous operation. For this purpose, a device for removal a separating liner or tray in a flat collapsed condition and for opening and inserting the same into a container package or carton having a single gripping device with an L-shaped movement with simultaneous opening of each tray and gravity settling into the carton can be made. The final lower position of the compartments positioned between the bottles, cans and the like is then achieved by means of vibrators or vibrating sections.

A disadvantage of this method is seen in the uncontrolled handover of a Gefaches by simply dropping. In particular, at high power levels, it can always come to tilting of the falling down on the bottle formations Gefache with corresponding machine malfunctions.

Also known are a method and a device according to the preambles of claims 1 and 5, wherein compartments, which consist of a plurality of interconnected transverse and longitudinal ridges are used in groups of containers ( US 3,257,002 ). The initially provided flat in a magazine compartments are unfolded there and then opened and then transported in the open state by means of a plurality of gripper pairs and rotationally driven transport element from the magazine to a transfer position above the plane of movement of the container groups and there using a stationary scraper by stripping lowered the gripper pairs on the respective container group.

Also known are a method and a device for introducing intermediate layers between containers of container groups (US Pat. WO 98/43880 ), using a dispenser with a above the trajectory of the container groups arranged donor edge, which is pivoted during insertion of the intermediate layers on a circular path to move along this donor edge reasonably with the respective group of containers. The intermediate layers do not form a coherent compartment, but are provided with lobes that follow the introduction of the intermediate layers are arranged perpendicular to these oriented between two adjacent containers. For the introduction of compartments, which consist of several intersecting and interconnected longitudinal and transverse webs, this known method or this known device is not suitable.

Purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages, therefore to provide a quick and trouble-free transfer cycle while avoiding damage to the entire packaging material and a tilt-free and centered placement of the compartments in continuous machine operation.
This object of the invention is achieved by the characterizing features of the main claim and the device claims.

According to the overall proposed method and apparatus, a particularly gentle and problem-free transfer of the individual compartments is ensured. The webs of the compartments are pre-centered prior to the actual transfer into the container and then discontinued forcibly guided.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Ablauf eines Übergabevorganges mit den einzelnen Schritten Entnehmen, Auseinanderziehen und Absetzen eines Gefaches,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch eine geeignete Verpackungsmaschine,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf eine Positionier- und Zuführvorrichtung und

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte Darstellung einer Antriebs- und Fördereinheit.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subclaims and the following description with reference to the drawings, which represent corresponding embodiments and which show:

Fig. 1

a schematic sequence of a transfer process with the individual steps extraction, pulling apart and settling a compartment,

Fig. 2

a cross section through a suitable packaging machine,

Fig. 3

a plan view of a positioning and feeding device and

Fig. 4

an enlarged view of a drive and conveyor unit.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sequence of a transfer operation to be described below. Accordingly, the compartments A are removed from a storage magazine 1 and erected during the transfer and lowered into a carton C or a group of containers assembled. The compartments preferably describe an L-shaped movement path, which consists of a first movement section in a preferably horizontal and a second movement section in a vertical plane.

According to the in FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment, the packaging machine 2 consists of a bottle, can, or container conveyor 3, with which the assembled container 4, optionally in a carton C with high or flat side walls, are promoted. A supply magazine 1 for flat parts A provided in the flat state runs transversely and above it. Furthermore, a transfer device 5 is preferably movable in a horizontal plane between the supply magazine 1 and the transfer position above a folding centering and lowering device 6. In this case, the compartments A are removed by means of a vacuum suction device 7, erected or opened and handed over for lowering between the containers 4 and / or in a container packaging in the Gefachzentriervorrichtung 6 by gravity. The Gefachzentriervorrichtung 6 is according to FIG. 3 on an adjustable in the conveying direction of the container 4 and moved back frame 8 to different container and Gefachgrößen or their Gefacheinteilung freely adjustable. As a drive via a linkage 9 with the frame 8 in operative connection motor 10 is used. However, there are also other types of drives such as linear motors, motor threaded spindles, linear drives or the like easily used.

In the in FIG. 3 In the embodiment shown, the Gefachzentriervorrichtung 6 on opposite sides, in the respective distance of Gefach transverse webs, each equipped with two Absenkeinheiten 11.

With respect to the lowering units 11 it is provided that they are arranged easily displaceable and lockable on the frame 8 in order to be able to carry out an adaptation of the Gefachzentrier- and lowering device 6 to changed container and / or Gefachabmessungen easily, easily and quickly. It is also provided that the lowering units 11 are replaced by suitable constructive measures, such as e.g. by the use of known fast fasteners, quick to assemble and disassemble, so that the Gefachzentrier- and lowering device 6 can be adapted quickly to compartments with different numbers of transverse webs.

The lowering units 11 have according to FIG. 4 Drive means which are designed as oppositely rotating roller pair 12, 13 for centrally receiving a lowered web 14. In addition, inclined centering surfaces 15 for improved introduction of the webs 14 between the rollers 12, 13 are arranged. The rollers 12, 13 may be driven individually and jointly motor and / or mechanically. In the illustrated embodiment, it is provided that at least one roller of the roller pair 12, 13 can be driven by means of a rack drive 16. For this purpose, a stationary rack 17 is attached to the machine frame 18. On This rack 17 rolls off the rack gear 18 and thereby drives at least one of the rollers 12 or 13 at. In this case, the rollers 12, 13 are rotated and driven by taking advantage of the frame movement in its forward movement, ie in the container conveying direction in the Gefach lowering and lifting in the return movement in Gefach sense. Preferably, the rollers 12, 13 in the return movement of the frame in the region of the reversal point and the take-over position of the Gefäch still a lifting rotational movement to effect instead of the retraction of the webs 14 first their exact and uniform positioning between the rollers. In particular, by the diagonally extending centering surfaces 15 creates a relatively large opening angle, which allows the introduction of the compartments or their webs 14 easily before the reversal point. So it is not essential to interpret the transfer point congruent with the reversal point of the travel. Rather, depending on the opening angle of the centering an earlier time for optimal centering of the compartments selected and made by moving the centering units on the frame (8). It is envisaged that at least one of the rollers 12 or 13 of a driven roller pair is preferably resiliently mounted with an adjustable contact pressure. Hereby, on the one hand a non-slip lowering of the compartments A and on the other hand, the trouble-free processing of different material thicknesses guaranteed.

Claims (15)

1. Method for producing container packages and for packing containers such as bottles, cans or the like in container boxes with partition inserts, which are insertable between the containers that in each case form container groups, are formed in each case by a plurality of longitudinal and transverse webs that traverse each other, are interconnected, are removable from a dispensing hopper and are insertable into the respective container group or into the covering box, wherein the initially flat partition inserts (A) are removed from a dispensing hopper (1), opened and moved in a preferably horizontal plane above the plane of movement of the respective container group and/or of the respective covering box (C) into a transfer position and from this position, whilst taking on the conveying speed of the container group (4), are introduced into the intermediate spaces in the said container group, characterised in that the respective partition insert (A) is transferred at the transfer position to a partition insert centring and lowering apparatus (6), at which the partition insert (A) is lowered and inserted in a guided manner and which, whilst maintaining the conveying speed, is entrained with the respective container group (4) and/or with the respective covering box (c) during the lowering procedure.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the centring as well as the introducing of the respective partition insert (A) is effected by driving means (12, 13) of the partition insert centring and lowering apparatus (6), the said driving means accommodating the webs.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the partition inserts (A) are guided by the centring and lowering apparatus (6) into the container group at least as far as a level at which a secure centring for the final bottom positioning is guaranteed.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the partition inserts (A) are lowerable in a guided manner by the partition insert centring and lowering apparatus (6) until they reach the final bottom position or a bottom position close to the bottom.
5. Apparatus for accomplishing the method according to one of the preceding claims, with a conveying plane for the transporting of bottles, cans and similar containers and/or container boxes (C) for the accommodation of such containers, a dispensing hopper for the supply of partition inserts (A), folded flat, and a transfer apparatus (5) that opens the said partition inserts for moving into the transfer position above the packages that are conveyed in continuous operation through the machine, wherein the transfer apparatus (5) follows a predetermined path of movement and, at the end of the said path of movement, in the region of the transfer position, corresponds with a partition insert centring and lowering apparatus (6), characterised in that the partition insert centring and lowering apparatus (6) includes at least in each case one partition insert centring unit disposed on each of the oppositely situated sides of the conveying plane, the said partition insert centring units, in their turn, being retained on a frame (8) that is moveable backward and forward in the conveying direction so as to be adjustable to different package sizes.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the partition insert centring unit includes driving means (12, 13) that accommodate the vertical webs (14) of a partition insert (A), the said driving means at the same time also forming centring means for the partition insert (A).
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the drive means are in the form of a pair of contra-rotating rollers (12, 13), the web being accommodated centrally in between the said pair of rollers.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that when the frame moves in the package conveying direction, the pair of rollers (12, 13) is drivable so as to convey a partition insert (A) in the lowering direction and when the frame moves back, the pair of rollers is drivable so as to convey a partition insert in the lifting direction.
9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that at least one roller of the pair of rollers (12, 13) can be motor-driven and/or mechanically driven.
10. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 -9, characterised in that at least one roller of the pair of rollers (12, 13) is driveable forward and backward by means of a rack and pinion drive, by utilising the frame movement.
11. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 - 10, characterised in that, when the frame (8) moves back, the rollers also execute a lifting rotational movement in the region of the reversal point and the transfer position, for centring the introduced partition inserts.
12. Apparatus according to one of claims 7 - 11, characterised in that at least one roller of a pair of rollers (12, 13) is resiliently mounted and its contact pressure is adjustable.
13. Apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the transfer apparatus (5) only executes a horizontal path of movement.
14. Apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterised in that lowering units (11) are secured to frames (8) by means of quick-release fasteners.
15. Apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterised in that lowering units (11) are disposed on the frame (8) so as to be displaceable and lockable.

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