EP1712472A1 - Method and device for packaging small products - Google Patents

Abstract

The article together with its stick, is picked up individually by a first unit (10) and is carried continuously to a second unit (2) to complete at least a part of its packaging. The packaging material is supplied to the first unit (10). On the way between picking up the article and its delivery by the first unit, it is re-orientated by rotation through 90[deg]. Picking up is effected in a rotary movement. Packaging supply precedes accelerated motion of tongs used to fix the packaging to the article. An independent claim is included for corresponding equipment.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for packaging small-sized articles, in particular articles with a handle (Lollipop), wherein the articles are picked up by a rotating extraction head and passed to a rotating packing head, and are delivered by a dispenser after completion of the product packaging ,

For the packaging of small-sized articles such as hard or soft caramels, chocolates or other small-sized confectionery, both intermittent packaging machines and packaging machines are known, which operate on the continuous principle, with packaging machines in the high-performance area generally require the application of a continuous working principle, otherwise unavoidable Loss times also the product and packaging material accelerations stand in the way of higher performance requirements.

Special article forms and product designs always place special demands on the design of packaging machines in the upper performance range. For special article configurations, such as so-called "Lollipops", ie hard caramel or candy balls, which are provided with a stem, could be packaged due to the product specifics so far only on the intermittent principle and therefore with low power. Intermittently operating packaging machines for packaging lollipops in rotary wrapping therefore only reach lower performance parameters in the range of about 300 to 500 working cycles per minute. Already the task of the Lillipops on a separating plate and the singling with radially outwardly pointing stems prepares due to product defects (balls without stem or with faulty / mispositioned stem) difficulties. The stems of the isolated lollipops are always taken from the prior art at their end of the stem by gripper pairs of a chain, and this recording process can not be performed with a 100% -tigen Produktfüllungsgrad, thereby resulting in further performance limitations. In a packing head (in this by upper and lower punches with insertion of a Packmittelabschnittes, pushed), this and thus the products moves intermittently. After formation of the packaging tube takes place a mutual heating of the tube ends, and only in one further switching position of the screwing in without oscillation and with two turns.

Both the packaging quality and the packaging performance need to be improved.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method and an apparatus for packaging small-sized articles, in particular articles with a handle, which make it possible to achieve higher packaging performance with high packaging quality and to create the conditions, even in the packaging of complicated items into the high-performance area.

The above object is achieved by methods having the features of claims 1 and 8 and by an apparatus having the features of claims 14 and 40.

The methods and apparatus of the present invention are particularly advantageous in that they are the first in the field of continuously operating machines, i. Packaging machines with continuous passage of the article through the machine, only two rotating heads, namely a rotating picking head and a rotating packing head, are provided so that reduce the machine times for the packaging of an article and by a higher integration density of the packaging operations or required for this Packaging units also for complicated items, such as eg Stalked articles, push into the high performance region of e.g. 1000 products per minute is possible.

The inventive method is characterized in that already in the area of a first device after receiving a single article, a packaging supply takes place and the article is passed along with an associated piece of packaging material to a second device, which causes the genuinely packaging head, the formation of the article packaging.

In the context of the present application, the new methods and devices are provided, in particular with regard to the packaging of articles with handles (lollipops), but in no way limited thereto, but rather the principles of action found for these particular articles can also be generally applied to the packaging of differently sized, smaller-sized articles, so that the subject of the application is not limited to the packaging of articles with stem (with seals) and rotary-wing impact.

With regard to the packaging of articles with handle, the method according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the reception of the product, i. the collection on the stem in close proximity to the ball of the article and not as previously done at the exposed end of the stem.

The device according to the invention is further distinguished by the fact that the supply of packaging material is displaced into the removal head, whereas hitherto a separate gripper head has been provided between the removal head and the packing head of continuously operating machines. The first head in the machine containing the singulated articles from an article loading and sorting device, such as an article feeder. a separating disc, so also contains the previously associated with a separate gripper head means to supply packaging in the removal head to the article and to deliver the article together with the packaging directly from the removal head to the packing head.

For the sealing of the piece of packaging material on the stem of an article rotary grippers are provided, which are heated.

As a product example, the present application relates, in particular, to the packaging of small-sized articles with a stem, so-called lollipops, without being limited thereto. Such articles could not previously be packed with high-performance machines that allow a product output of, for example, about 1,000 pieces per minute. An advantageous process management for the packaging of such products according to the working principle of continuously operating packaging machines is that the isolated, a stem having articles are not taken as before at the free end of the stem, but are included in the range of an article-side end of the stem, ie directly or as close as possible to the ball of the product. This results in the advantage that eg position errors of the stem to the ball do not affect the product handling, so that a very safe Product removal takes place, and tolerances (eg eccentricities between stem and ball) have no influence on the further packaging process.

Moreover, this results in a very safe product management within the removal head, and correspondingly favorable conditions for the transfer of the article from the removal head with the injected packaging material to the packing head. Moreover, the removal near the ball allows an additional centering effect of the article, since the corresponding removal devices (holding jaw pairs) can take a large opening angle and the product is precisely taken in always the same removal position.

Such small-sized products, and also the stemmed articles considered here as an embodiment thereof, are occasionally packaged in a wrapper with a rotary wing wrap. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, for screwing and sealing the packaging means on a stick with a handle provided article heated rotary grippers are used, which allow a heat seal and thus high seal strength and quality of the package in the transition from the stem to the ball of the article , Optionally, a heated rotary gripper could also be used for the formation of a rotary vane on the opposite side of the article or are such rotary gripper even with the use of heat-sealable packaging films for packaging products in double-twisted applicable (article without stem), or it can also for the lolling of stemmed articles may be used with higher recovery packaging film without affecting the appearance or sealing of the lolly. The rotary blades on the opposite side of the stem of the article are formed here but with conventional (unheated) rotary grippers as simple twist stops.

Further preferred embodiments of the devices according to the invention and the methods according to the invention are set forth in the remaining dependent claims.

Fig. 1

eine Verpackungsmaschine für die Verpackung von Artikeln mit Stiel (Lollipops) nach dem kontinuierlichen Prinzip in schematischer Vorderansicht,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Artikelaufgabe- und -vereinzelungseinrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Teildarstellung einer Bürsteneinrichtung zur Artikel-orientierung,

Fig. 4

eine schematische perspektivische Teildarstellung einer Leertaktsensoreinrichtung der Artikelaufgabe- und -vereinzelungseinrichtung,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Teildarstellung eines Entnahmekopfes und eines Aufgaberinges der Vereinzelungseinrichtung bei der Entnahme eines Artikels in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Teildarstellung des Entnahmekopfes nach Fig. 5 beim Entnahmevorgang, d.h. in Verbindung mit dem Aufgabering der Vereinzelungsvorrichtung bei der Entnahme eines Artikels, von der Vereinzelungseinrichtung her gesehen,

Fig. 7

eine Darstellung des Entnahmekopfes ähnlich derjenigen in Fig. 6 unter Darstellung der Bereitstellung eines Packmittelstückes zu einem Artikel in dem Entnahmekopf,

Fig. 8

eine schematische Gesamtdarstellung von Entnahmekopf und Packkopf in Vorderansicht,

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische, schematische Darstellung einer Antriebseinrichtung für den Entnahmekopf nach den Fig. 5, 6 oder 7,

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Teil-Gesamtdarstellung wesentlicher Funktionseinheiten der Verpackungsmaschine nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 11

eine perspektivische, schematische Darstellung eines Teilabschnittes eines Packkopfes in Verbindung mit einem Drehgreifer zur Ansiegelung des Packmittels an einen Stiel eines Artikels (Lollipop),

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Teilansicht eines hinteren Drehkopfes mit Drehgreifern in schematischer Darstellung,

Fig. 13

eine Drehstation mit vorderem und hinterem Drehkopf unter Einschluss des zwischenliegenden Packkopfes in schematischer Darstellung,

Fig. 14

eine schematische Darstellung eines vorderen Endes eines beheizten Drehgreifers mit einem Paar Drehgreiferbacken, und

Fig. 15

eine schematische Verfahrensdarstellung für den Verpackungsvorgang in der Verpackungsmaschine nach Anspruch 1 für die Verpackung eines Artikels mit Stiel (Lollipop).

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment and associated drawings. In these show:

Fig. 1

a packaging machine for the packaging of articles with stem (lollipops) according to the continuous principle in a schematic front view,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the article feeding and separating device,

Fig. 3

a schematic partial view of a brush device for article orientation,

Fig. 4

a schematic perspective partial representation of a blank clock sensor device of the article-applying and -Zazelungseinrichtung,

Fig. 5

a schematic partial view of a removal head and a Aufgaberinges the separating device in the removal of an article in perspective view,

Fig. 6

5 is a partial perspective view of the removal head according to FIG. 5 during the removal process, ie in conjunction with the delivery ring of the separating device during the removal of an article, as seen from the separating device;

Fig. 7

a representation of the removal head similar to that in Figure 6, showing the provision of a piece of packaging material to an article in the removal head,

Fig. 8

a schematic overall view of the removal head and packing head in front view,

Fig. 9

a perspective, schematic representation of a drive device for the removal head according to FIGS. 5, 6 or 7,

Fig. 10

1 is a partial perspective view of essential functional units of the packaging machine according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 11

a perspective, schematic representation of a portion of a packing head in conjunction with a rotary gripper for sealing the packaging to a handle of an article (Lollipop),

Fig. 12

a perspective partial view of a rear rotary head with rotary grippers in a schematic representation,

Fig. 13

a rotating station with front and rear turrets including the intermediate packing head in a schematic representation,

Fig. 14

a schematic representation of a front end of a heated rotary gripper with a pair of rotary gripper jaws, and

Fig. 15

a schematic process diagram for the packaging process in the packaging machine according to claim 1 for the packaging of an article with a stem (Lollipop).

1 shows a packaging machine 100, which operates on the continuous principle, wherein the article A (see Fig. 4) of a feeding and separating device 1, which is located on a horizontal U-profile frame 1 a of the machine (the latter is about Machine feet 1 b supported to the ground) by a removal head 10 which is rotatable about an axis of rotation 11 (Fig. 5) continuously received and passed together with a piece of packaging material 12 to a packing head 20, which is also about a stationary axis of rotation 21 (Fig. 8) is rotatable, with a rotary gripper 71 (see Fig. 11 to 14) assigned for screwing and sealing the associated portion of the packaging material piece 12 in a handle A1 of the article A each packing unit of the packing head 20. Via a delivery wheel 50, the finished packaged articles A are fed to a dispenser 40 designed as a delivery belt 40 and conveyed away from the packaging machine 100.

In Fig. 1, a front, before the packing head 20 coaxially arranged rotary head 60 is omitted for clarity, while a rear rotary head 70 is shown as part of a rotating station 80.

The packaging machine 100 is characterized in that it only has two packaging-essential, article-carrying heads, namely the removal head 10 and the packing head 20, between finished-packed article A and the article A from the feeding and separating device 1, thereby substantially compacting the packaging process , accelerated and made more efficient. (The delivery wheel 50 is only an auxiliary device independent of the packing operation). On the other hand, it is possible, as in the present embodiment, Article A with operating speeds of, for example, the working conditions of the packaging machine. about 1,000 cycles per minute, i. in the present case, the articles A are those which consist of a ball of hard caramel or other sweetener material affixed to a stem A1. In this embodiment, the ball of the article A is designated A2. In Fig. 1, the arrows K, L, M, N, O, P denote the respective directions of rotation of distributor disc 2 (arrow K), feeding ring 3 (arrow L), removal head 10 (arrow M), packing head 20 (arrow N), Dispensing wheel 50 (arrow O) and conveying direction of the delivery belt 40 (arrow P).

Fig. 2 shows a detail schematically the task and singler 1, ie a separating disc 2, which in a known manner from its axis 2a sloping towards the outside, along the outer periphery of the singling disc 2 a Aufgabering 3 with pockets 4 for receiving the Balles A2 of the article A is provided, on whose outer circumference pass over the pockets 4 in receiving slots 5, in which, with the product position being correct, the respective handle A1 of the article A is received radially outward (compare FIGS. 4 and 5). In addition to a Produktweiser 6 on the separating disc 2 provides a brush system 7 with individually driven brushes 7b, 7c, 7d in conjunction with a coil 7a, that the pockets 4 of Aufgaberinges 3 with the products A (Ball A2) filled and located on the article A. Stems through the brush system 7 and the coil 7a radially outward be transferred so that they are received in the receiving slots 5 with radially outwardly facing stem A1 (see Fig .. 4 to 6).

In this way, a very high degree of filling of the separating disc 2 is achieved, which is between 97% and 100%.

An outer cover 8 ensures the shielding of the separating disc 2 to the outside.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, details of the brush system 7 (FIG. 3) and an empty-cycle sensor device 9 explained below are shown in a different perspective and schematic representation. 3 again illustrates the different geometries of the brushes 7b, 7c, 7d, wherein the brush 7b forms a substantially elongated cylindrical body, with a first cylindrical portion 7b1, and a leading conical portion 7b2 of increasing diameter, for sorting the articles A with the balls A2 in the pockets 4, which also participates in this function, the cylindrical brush 7c. The disc-shaped brush 7c corresponding in width approximately to the width of the charging ring 3 serves once again for securely fixing the products A (not shown in FIG. 3) in the pockets 4. Small three-phase motors 13 individually drive each of the brushes 7b, 7c, 7d ,

In Fig. 3, the pockets 4 of the Aufgaberinges 3 are not shown on the bottom right. From Fig. 3 it is further apparent that below the Aufgaberinges a guide rail 14 which covers the pockets 4 down over the vast majority of the circumference of Aufgaberinges 3, so that the article A are received in the pockets tip over.

Upstream of a removal position for the article A is an empty cycle sensor device 9, which scans in the present embodiment by means of a forked light barrier 15, the stems A1 of Article A, wherein downstream of the removal position a blower (blower nozzle) 16 is for articles that without Stem (so only as a ball) are in one of the pockets 4 and can not be processed. In this area, the rail 14 (see Fig. 3) is not provided so that the articles can fall freely down into a corresponding collection container. However, in view of the operating speed, the gravitational force for product removal would not be sufficient, so that forcible ejection with defective articles without stem is provided by the blower 16. In addition, depending on an error signal of the idle-clock sensor device 9, a packaging means feed device is stopped, so that in this case no piece of packaging material 12 is guided into the removal head 10, since then there is no article A at the corresponding location of the removal head 10.

A positioning bracket 17 provided above the charging ring 3 and in the area above the stems A1 likewise serves for the correct positioning of the articles A and thus the positioning security. In view of the high working speeds, the most error-free orientation of the separated articles A is important.

The brush system 7 explained in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3 for the reliable placement of the articles A in the pockets 4 and thus to ensure a high degree of filling of the feed ring 3 can also consist of a single mold brush, corresponding in individual sections has adapted geometry to ensure the here split on three brushes 7b, 7c, 7d placement function.

5 shows a schematic and perspective partial representation of the article picking situation and the removal head 10 at the removal point at which the articles A are removed from the charging ring 3. Its direction of rotation is indicated by the arrow L, while the direction of rotation of the removal head 10 rotating about the axis of rotation 11 is designated by the arrow M. The articles A positioned in the charging ring 3 are removed from the shaft A1 at a removal point denoted by E in FIG. 5, the removal head 10 rotating in opposite directions to the direction of rotation of the charging ring 3 about the stationary axis of rotation 11. On its front are removal units 18, which in turn are pivotally mounted about a respective pivot axis 19 on the removal head 10.

In the present embodiment, the removal head 10 is arranged with six in the circumferential direction at a uniform angular distance, pivotable removal units 18) (see Fig. 6), wherein each removal unit 18 is associated with an additional and about a parallel pivot axis 22 pivotable packaging means forceps 23, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in more detail.

Each removal unit 18 consists of a holding jaw pair 24 with a front in the direction of rotation of the removal head, front holding jaw 24a and a lying in the direction of rotation of the removal head 10, rear holding jaw 24b. The holding jaws 24a, 24b of each holding jaw pair 24 are each arranged on the common pivot axis 19, around which they perform an opening and closing movement for detecting and holding the handle A1 of the article A, as well as about this pivot axis 19 and the holding jaw pair 24 in total relative to Rotary movement of the removal head 10 about the rotation axis 11 is pivotable. This serves to equalize the pitch of the articles A in the feed ring 3 to the pitch of the picking units 18 (jaw pairs 24) such that the pairs of jaws 24 make an accelerated movement both upstream and downstream of the pick location, while uniform movement occurs only in an area upstream and downstream of a transfer point where the articles are transferred to the packing head 20 occurs. Both areas merge into each other. The holding jaws 24a and 24b have, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, on their inner surfaces prismatic surfaces Z, for safe and reliable gripping of each cylindrical stem A1 of the article A. Moreover carries a large opening width of the holding jaw pairs 24 next The prism shape helps to safely grasp and guide the stems A1, thus ensuring extremely reliable product handling without having to rely on other management bodies.

Essential with regard to the removal of the articles from the Aufgabering 3 by a pair of holding jaws 24 is the direct detection of the stem in the greatest possible proximity to the ball A2, ie directly on a cylindrical outer surface of the Aufgaberinges 3, whereby at the same time a tolerance compensation with respect to the position of the stem. 1 is ensured on the ball A2, since positional deviations of the stem 1 with respect to the ball A2 with respect to a desired position here little or no effect (unlike the exposed end of the stem A1).

Of course, depending on the overall design of the packaging machine 100, fewer or more than six pivotable removal units 18 may be provided on the removal head 10.

In addition to detecting the articles A on the stems A1 in an upper end region, i. in the closest possible proximity to the ball A2 is another special feature of this removal head 10 in that it also has packaging tongs 23, i. not only the product removal from the task and singler 1 (singling disc 2) is used, but the removal head 10 already the packaging, i. the packaging material pieces 12 are discretely supplied by a packaging material supply device, not shown here, and thus the functions "removal" and "packaging material supply to the article" are effected in one head. This is illustrated in Fig. 7 and leads to a substantial increase in efficiency and a compression of the packaging functions and therefore allows to penetrate into new performance areas for the packaging of such articles, which have a stem.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6 (the latter illustrates the picking head 10 schematically in perspective frontal view), each picking unit 18, i. associated with each pivotable holding jaw pair 24 is a packaging tongs 23 which consists essentially of a U-shaped, i. slotted sheet, and is pivotable about a pivot axis 22 which is parallel to the holding jaw pivot axis 19, but separately driven by this and also independently. These packing pliers 23 performs an accelerated movement and serves to create the possibility already between sampling point on Aufgabering 3 and transfer point to the packing head 20 the packaging material required for the packaging of the item A 12 to the removal head 10 and this on the article A in conjunction to arrange with the holder of the same by the holding jaw pair 24.

• Öffnen und Schließen der Haltebackenpaare 24 der Entnahmeeinheiten 18,
• Schwenken der Haltebackenpaare 24 der Entnahmeeinheiten 18 (insgesamt),
• Schwenken bzw. Öffnen und Schließen der Packmittelzangen.

Wie in Fig. 7 im oberen rechten Bereich angedeutet ist und noch einmal vollständiger in Fig. 8 gezeigt, ist der Entnahmekopf 10 in "abrollendem Eingriff' mit dem Packkopf 20, welcher in vergleichbarer Weise und Anzahl Packeinheiten 36 aufweist, die aus jeweils einem relativ zu einer Rotationsachse schwenkbare Packkopf-Haltebackenpaare 37, denen jeweils ein gesondert schwenkbeweglich gelagerter Innenfalter 38 zugeordnet ist, bestehen, zur Durchführung des Einschlagens und Umhüllens des Artikels A durch einen Packmittelschlauch, wie nachfolgend noch erläutert wird.The respective control movements for each pair of jaws 24 as a whole, for the opening and closing movement of the jaws 24a, 24b of each pair of jaws 24, as well as the pivotal movement of each packing tongs 23 is derived from cams, as in connection with the rotation of the removal head 10 to the stationary Rotation axis 11 thereof are formed. For this purpose, reference is made to the schematic perspective view of FIG. 9. Control cams 25, 26 in conjunction with control rollers 27, 28 serve the movement control of the rear and front holding jaws 24b, 24a of the respective holding jaw pair 24, wherein the entire removal unit 18 rotates in a pot curve 29 about the stationary axis of rotation 11, including the each removal unit 18 associated packing tongs 23, the pivoting movement control by means of control cams 31 and corresponding cam followers 32 takes place. In this case, the requirements must be taken into account, on the one hand the piece of packaging material 12 overhanging the article A, ie close to the same by the Packmittelzange 23 and corresponding abutment on the holding jaws 24 set, on the other hand, an undisturbed removal of the article A from the Aufgabering 3 by the holding jaw pair 24 to ensure, without causing collisions between the packaging tongs 23 and the Aufgabering 3, or even a dangerous in continuous operation of such a packaging machine interference situation occurs in the region of the sampling point. This problem is solved in the present case in that the packing tongs 23, in particular Fig. 7 illustrates, a U-shaped plate, ie has a center slot 33, the packing tongs 23 in an opposite to the direction of rotation of the removal head 10 directed immersion movement an arm 34 of the front holding jaw 24a can be recorded in its center slot 33 and is guided past in this way at the removal point in an opposite pitch or plunge, as compared to the different phase positions of the holding jaw pairs 24 and associated packing tweezers 23 in the region of the sampling point in FIG. 7 is clarified. To hold a piece of packaging material 12 so that it hangs over the already gripped article A, to then be further folded around the article in the packing head 20, the front holding jaw 24A each have a clamping abutment 35. Therefore, the packaging material piece 12 is clamped between the front end of the packing tongs 23 and the clamping abutment 35 with a rear portion of the packaging material piece 12 and simultaneously laid over the article A, ie, the ball A2 thereof. In addition to the immanent continuous rotational movement of the removal head 11, three further movements are realized on this:

• Opening and closing the holding jaw pairs 24 of the removal units 18,
• Pivoting the holding jaw pairs 24 of the removal units 18 (total),
• Swiveling or opening and closing the packaging tongs.

As indicated in Fig. 7 in the upper right-hand area and once again shown more fully in Fig. 8, the removal head 10 in "rolling engagement" with the packing head 20, which has in a comparable manner and number of packing units 36, each consisting of a relative to a rotation axis pivotable packing head holding jaw pairs 37, each associated with a separately pivotally mounted inner folder 38, consist, to carry out the wrapping and wrapping of the article A by a packaging tube, as will be explained below.

In addition to the described with respect to the removal head movements of the holding jaw pairs 24, the holding jaw pairs 24 of the same may also be rotatable about a running in a radial plane vertical axis, if a reorientation of the position of the product, eg. B. by 90 °, before feeding the piece of packaging material required or useful. That The removal head can also additionally serve for a position reorientation of the article between the removal position of delivery ring 3 and a transfer position on the packing head 20.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the interaction between the removal head 10 and the packing head 20 and illustrates the processes which each take place within the heads 10, 20.

Prior to transfer of the article A with the packaging material piece 12 to a packing head holding jaw pair 37 with the packing head holding jaws 37a and 37b, the piece of packaging material is placed in an angular or U-shape around the article (ie around the ball A2 thereof), like FIG clarified (see also Fig. 15). The packing head holding jaws 37a, 37b of a packing head holding jaw pair 37 grip the article A, ie in each case with the packaging material piece 12 forming a packaging material hose in connection with the wrapping of the packaging material 12 with the help of the inner folder 38 and an outer folding sheet 39 (see FIG . 8th). As a result, an extreme protection of the product is achieved because the packing head 20, the packing head holding jaws 37a, 37b never immediately grab the article, but always under attack on the already interspersed piece of packaging material 12. The cylindrical packing material tube around the ball A2 is formed by means of a pivoting movement of the inner folder 38 and the circumferential movement along the outer folding sheet 39, as is familiar to the expert, so that further detailed explanations appear dispensable (vlg. Fig. 11).

In a similar manner as with the removal head 10, the discharge of all further swivel control movements for the pivoting of the packing head holding jaws 37 as a whole also takes place in the packing head 20 which rotates about the stationary axis 21, the opening and closing movement of the packing head (mounted on independent axes). Retaining jaws 37a, 37b, as well as the control of the pivoting movement of the associated Innenfalter 38 (coaxially with a packing head holding jaw 37b of the packing head Haltebackenpaares 37 stored) of stationary cams, which are provided in connection with the rotation axis 21 (similar to the removal head in Fig. 9).

In the present embodiment, the article A (Lollipop) on the one hand (above) to be wrapped with a rotary wing impact, while on the opposite side (on the stem A1) is a clean screwing and sealing the packaging material to the stem A1 for a consumer-friendly product is essential. Therefore, the packing head 20 is part of a rotating station 80 having a front turret 60 and a rear turret 70, as illustrated in Fig. 13 in a side view. For reasons of clarity, in particular the front rotary head 60 is not shown in the other illustrations, with the exception of FIG. 10. Each of the front and rear turrets 60, 70 carries a number of rotary grippers 61, 71 corresponding to the packing units 36, which rotate synchronously with the rotation of the packing head 20 about the rotation axis 21, so that the relative position of the packing head holding jaw pairs 37 to the rotary grippers 61 , 71 with corresponding rotary gripper jaw pairs 62, 72 remains unchanged.

10 shows again in a perspective sectional view the essential components of the packaging machine according to the present embodiment with the task and separating device 1 with the Aufgabering 3 and the product pockets 4, the removal head 10 with the removal units 18 including the packaging tongs 23 and the packing head 20th with the packing head holding jaw pairs 37 and the front rotary head 60, the rear rotary head 70 with the heated rotary grippers 71 and the delivery belt 40.

As shown in FIG. 13, the rotary grippers 71 of the rear rotary head 70 are completely different from the rotary grippers 61 of the front rotary head 60, the latter are in this case of conventional construction, as engaged in connection with a packaging tube opposite the stem of the product and for the formation of a rotary vane in a conventional manner.

In the following, reference is therefore made, with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, to the novel rotary gripper 71 provided on the rear rotary head 70, which are heatable according to the invention.

On the "stick side" of the article A (lollipop), it is necessary to cleanly screw in and seal the surrounding end of the packaging tube to the stem A1 and adjacent to the article-side end of the stem A1 and the ball A2. For this purpose, a rotary gripper 71 is used, i. one of the number of packing head holding jaw pairs 37 corresponding and synchronous with these rotating number of rotary grippers 71, which are arranged on the rear rotary head 70 and in turn about a longitudinal axis 75 relative to the rotary head 70 are rotatable. For this purpose, in the rotary head 70 - not shown - gear arrangement (stationary ring gear with rolling planetary gears) provided so that the rotary gripper 71 with a relation to the rotational speed of the rotary head 70 higher rotational speed of this means each one mounted in the rotary head 70 rotary gripper shaft 75a about its longitudinal axis 75 rotate evenly. The rotary grippers 71 have Drehgreiferbackenpaare 72 with a rotary gripper jaw 72a and a rotary gripper jaw 72b, which perform an opening and closing movement about a longitudinal axis 75 orthogonal axis F (pivotal movement). On their inner surfaces, a receiving recess 73 is provided, measured taking into account a diameter of the stem A1, which is received therein to screw the packaging tube end between stem A1 and rotary gripper 71 and smoothly seal to the stem A1, wherein the rotary gripper 71 about its longitudinal axis 75 the perform predicted rotational movement relative to the rotary head 70. The rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b are offset relative to their storage section about the axis F by about 90 °, so that the stem A1 of the products can be consistently smooth and embraced with appropriate game for sealing the packaging material.

The rotary grippers 71 are distinguished from the rotary grippers 61 on the front rotary head 60 in that they are heated, and by heating the rotary gripper 31 or at least one of the rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b, a heat-sealing and in conjunction With a corresponding packing material, a high degree of sealing quality can be achieved on the stem in the area of the transition from the stem A1 to the ball A2.

As the partial perspective view of the rear rotary head 70 illustrated in FIG. 12, the heating of the rotary gripper 71 or one or both rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b each of the rotary gripper 71 (here are always both rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b heated) by means of in the rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b used heating cartridges (not shown here), if necessary, but can also be used in the rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b Heizblättchen. The heating can also be carried out inductively or by laser or Elektronenstrahlbeaufschlagung. The power supply to the rotary grippers 71 of the rear rotary head 70 takes place taking into account the required rotational movement of the rotary gripper 71 about its longitudinal axis 75 (parallel to the axis of rotation 21 of the packing head 20 and the rear rotary head 70) via a first slip ring system 74 with slip rings 76 fixed to the housing and on the turret 70 supported contact brushes 77 and a second, not shown here and within the rotary head 70, in particular within rotary hook sleeves 81 (which are respectively connected to the rotary hook shafts 75 a, ie rotate at the rotational speed of the rotary gripper 71) arranged slip ring system, taking into account the rotation of Rotary gripper 71 about its longitudinal axis 75th

By changing the pressure and temperature on the rotary gripper pairs 71, the seal strength and thus the opening behavior of the packaging can be positively influenced.

In connection with the rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b, a preferably non-contact temperature measurement (infrared temperature measurement) is provided which is part of a control circuit for controlling the heating power to the rotary gripper jaw pairs. In this way, an accurate temperature control, taking into account the material properties of the packaging material and other product conditions can be achieved. The use of heated rotary grippers for sealing the packaging material also makes it possible to use packaging films which have stronger or greater resilience.

The temperature monitoring or measurement could also be done directly via temperature sensor in the heated parts of the rotary gripper 71. The application of heated rotary grippers 71 is not limited to the present embodiment or stemmed products, but is also suitable for other applications, e.g. in the manufacture of rotary wing packaging or packaging in double-twist or single-twist (bag folding, Bunch folding), especially when using relatively strong or high return force having packaging materials.

As already explained in connection with FIG. 13, opposite the above-described, rear rotary head 70 with the heated rotary grippers 71 on the other side of the packing head 20, there is the further front rotary head 60 with the rotary grippers 61, which are, however, preferably unheated, and one produce conventional rotary wing from the protruding packaging tube, which is then located on the opposite side of the ball A1 (ie above), when the stem A1 points down.

The dispenser, which conveys the finished packaged articles (lollipops) to a delivery belt 40 via a delivery wheel 50, is shown schematically in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows the heated rotary gripper 71 schematically with the rotary gripper jaws 72a and 72b, a power supply line spirally wound for compensating movement, and a line section 79 to the upper rotary gripper jaw 72a in FIG. 14, in which the heating cartridge is located. For the rotary gripper jaw 72b located at the rear in FIG. 14, the corresponding arrangement is provided. The power supply line 78 is electrically conductively connected to the second slip ring system within the rotary rotary gripper sleeve 81. It goes without saying that the first slip ring system 77 is conductively connected to the second slip ring system. An envelope of the line section 79 is grounded connected to the housing.

In Fig. 15, the product flow and the positional orientation of the article A in connection with the supply of a packaging material is shown schematically. The upper packaging material supply 110 and the lower packaging material supply 120 are provided for automatic packaging change. The products A arrive from the separating device 1 via the removal head 10, into which the piece of packaging material 12 is injected for transfer to the packing head 20, in which the product A wrapped with stem (Lollipop) and on the one hand screwed and sealed on the stem A1, on the other hand is closed with a rotary wing. After a circulation of about 270 ° of the finished packaged article is delivered from the packing head 20 to the dispensing wheel 50, which deposits the finished packaged article on the delivery belt 40 for removal from the machine.

With the present invention, a continuously operating packaging machine is proposed for the first time, which has only two packaging-essential, product-carrying heads, the removal head and the packing head and the removal head is provided with additional functional organs for supplying packaging.

Although particularly suitable for this purpose, the invention is not limited to the packaging of confectionery with stem, but it can be done with appropriate adaptation of the principles set out above in a similar manner, the packaging of other small-sized items in other types of folding. When packing articles with a handle, by grasping the articles on a stick in a section of stem as close as possible to the actual product (ball), the influence of errors and tolerances resulting from product production (attachment of the stem to the ball) is practically achieved Virtually eliminate influence on the further packaging process. The use of heated rotary grippers enables not only a clean sealing of packaging material on a stick, but in principle an improvement in the manufacture of packages with rotary blades.

Overall, a packaging machine according to the present invention has a compact, compact structure and is characterized by a for complicated products, such as products with stem, previously unattained packaging performance in a range of 600 to 1000 strokes per minute, at the same time dynamic quiet running, the latter, in particular because of the continuous working principle.

In addition to a low noise level, high product protection and low packaging material stress are achieved due to low dynamic stress and also the chosen packaging principle (injection of the packaging material already into the removal head). The mechanical wear and maintenance are therefore low, the efficiency and operational capability of the packaging machine accordingly high.

The invention provides, for the first time, a continuous product packaging machine with two product-processing heads, which makes it possible, in the case of complicated products (products with handle), in previously unachievable performance ranges of e.g. Approximately 1000 work cycles per minute to penetrate, while a compact and product and packaging sparing structure to realize, combined with high product safety and low susceptibility to failure of the packaging device.

Claims (56)

Method for packaging small-sized articles (A), in particular articles (A) with a handle (A1), wherein the articles (A) are received individually by a first device (10) and continuously conveyed to a second device ( 20) are transported, wherein a packaging means supply to the first device (10). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that on the way between the recording of the article (A) and its delivery by the first means (10), a reorientation of the position of the article, in particular with rotation of the article by about 90%, takes place. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a recording of the article by a separating device (1) takes place in a rotational movement and the supply of a packaging means an accelerated movement of a provided for fixing the packaging means on the associated article (A) packaging tongs (23 ). Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a pitch difference between the separated articles (A) and from the articles (A) receiving removal units (18) of the first device (10) by a forward and / or Recording the article (A) provided accelerated movement of the removal units (18), in particular pivotal movement about a pivot axis (19) is compensated. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a separation of the articles (A) takes place substantially in a horizontal deployment plane, the reception of the article (A) and its transport to the second device (20) on a in substantially in a vertical plane, the first circular path portion is carried out, the packaging material substantially radially to the movement of the article supplied to this, and the article through the second means (20) also on a substantially is guided in a vertical plane, second circular path section. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that prior to receiving an article (A) this checked and rejected defective articles (A). A method according to claim 6, characterized in that detecting a defective article (A) stops a supply of packaging material. Method for packing small-piece articles with a handle in a continuous mode of operation, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the separated articles (A) are gripped in the region of an article-side end of the handle (A1). A method according to claim 8, characterized in that after the formation of a packaging material tube around the article (A) taking place screwing it about the stem (A1) and in connection therewith sealing of the packaging means on the stem (A1) by means of heated rotary gripper (71) he follows. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotary gripper (71) perform an opening and closing movement and at the same time a rotational movement. Method according to at least one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the packaging material after formation of a packaging tube around the article on a side facing away from the stem (A1) turned to a rotary wing and screwed on a stem side to rest against the stem and sealed at the same time, especially heat sealed, will. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an operating speed of approximately 1,000 working cycles per minute is provided and in each working cycle a finished packaged article (A) is produced. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterized in that a temperature of the rotary gripper (71) is detected by a non-contact temperature measurement and a regulation of the temperature of the rotary gripper (71) to a predetermined operating temperature based on this temperature measurement. Apparatus for packaging small-sized articles, in particular articles with a handle, wherein isolated items are taken from a rotating picking head, passed to a rotating packing head and delivered after completion of the product packaging from a dispenser, characterized in that the removal head (18) at the same time a gripper head Packaging supply to the article to be packaged (A) is. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the removal head (18) is rotatable about a stationary axis of rotation (11) and removal units (18) which are mounted on its own, parallel to the axis of rotation of the removal head provided pivot axes (19) pivotally mounted on this. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the removal units (18) oppositely movable holding jaw pairs (24). Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that each holding jaw pair (24) is associated with a packaging pliers (23) which is pivotable about its own, to the pivot axis (19) of the holding jaw pair parallel pliers pivot axis (22). Apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the holding jaw pairs (24) about a common pivot axis (19) are pivotable and this parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the removal head (10). Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the pliers pivot axis (22) of the packaging pliers (23) parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the removal head (10) and / or the pivot axes (19) of the holding jaw pairs (24) runs. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the opening and closing movements of the holding jaw pairs (24), the pivoting movements of the holding jaws (24a, 24b) and the pivoting movements of the packaging tongs (23) of the removal head (10) of control cams (25, 26, 31) are derived, which are provided in connection with the stationary axis of rotation (11) of the removal head (10). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 16 to 20, characterized in that a holding jaw (24a, 24b) of each holding jaw pair (24), in particular in the direction of rotation of the removal head (10) ahead holding jaw (24a) of each holding jaw pair (24), a clamping abutment (35) for cooperation with an associated packaging tongs (23). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 21, characterized in that a packaging means feed device is provided adjacent to the removal head (10). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 22, characterized by only two rotating article-carrying heads (10, 20). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 23, characterized in that an article feeding and separating device (1) is substantially horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis (2a) and the removal and packing heads (10, 20) are substantially vertical horizontal rotation axes (11, 21) are rotatably arranged. Device according to claim 24, characterized in that the article-feeding and separating device (1) is a separating disk (2) with a feed ring (3) arranged on the outer circumference thereof, in which pockets (4) for receiving the articles (A) are located, wherein the separating disc (22) and the Aufgabering (3) are rotatable in opposite directions of rotation. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 25, characterized in that the dispensing device is a belt conveyor (40) arranged inclined. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 17 to 26, characterized in that the packaging pliers (23) slit and in the slot (33) in a plunge movement of the packaging pliers (23) a lever arm (34) of a holding jaw (24a) of a holding jaw pair (24 ) is receivable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 16 to 27, characterized in that upstream of a removal position of the article (A) by the holding jaw pairs (24) of the article loading and -Zellelungseinrichtung (1) an article detection device (9, 15) is provided , Apparatus according to claim 28, characterized in that in dependence on a signal of the article detection device (9, 15) an article-sorting device (16) and / or a packaging means feed device can be actuated. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the article sorting device comprises a blow-out device (16) and / or the article-detecting device is a fork laser light barrier (15) which detects an article handle (A1). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 25 to 30, characterized in that in connection with the separating disc (2) a brush arrangement (7) near an outer peripheral region of the separating disc (2), in particular one or more respectively driven shaping brushes (7b to 7d) Positional orientation of the article (A) each with their stems (A1) facing radially outward and inserted into the pockets (4) of Aufgaberinges (3) is provided. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 31, characterized in that the packing head (20) about a stationary axis of rotation (21) is rotatable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 32, characterized in that the packing head (20) has a plurality of packing units (36) with packing head retaining jaws (37a, 37b), each about the rotation axis (21) of the packing head (20 ) parallel pivot axes (21 a) are pivotable. Apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that each packing unit (36) comprises a packing head holding jaw pair (37) and an inner folder (38) arranged coaxially with an associated packing head holding jaw (37) but pivotable independently of pivotal movement thereof , wherein the packing head holding jaws (37a, 37b) of each pair (37) about a respective own pivot axis (21 a) are pivotable and the pivot axes (21 a) parallel. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 34, characterized in that an outer folder of the packing head is designed as a stationary folding sheet (39). Apparatus according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that for each Packkopf-holding jaw pair schwenkachsengelagert an inner and an outer folder is provided. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 36, characterized in that a plurality of rotating folding shafts is provided in connection with article holding punches on the packing head. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 34 to 37, characterized in that on both sides of the packing head holding jaw pairs (37) are provided synchronously with these rotating rotary gripper (61, 71), in particular heated rotary gripper, for the production of packages with at least one turning envelope. Apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that the rotary grippers (61, 71) on both sides of the packing head (20) at its rotary heads (50, 70) about its longitudinal axis (65, 75) are rotatably mounted. Apparatus for packing small-sized articles in a package with a twist, in particular articles with a handle, and with at least one rotary gripper, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 39, characterized in that the rotary gripper (71) is heated. Apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that each pair of packing head holding jaws (37) is associated with a rotary gripper (61, 71) in a front and / or rear rotary head (60, 70). Device according to one of claims 40 or 41, characterized in that the rotary grippers (61, 71) correlate to packing units (36) of the adjacent packing head (20) on a rotary head (60, 70) coaxial with the packing head (20). arranged and is rotatable synchronously with this, are arranged. Apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that the rotary gripper (61, 71) about a longitudinal axis (65, 75) is rotatable and at its free end a pair between an open and closed position about an axis F pivotable rotary gripper jaws (62a, 62b; 72a, 72b). Apparatus according to claim 43, characterized in that at least one of the rotary gripper jaws (72a, 72b) is heatable, in particular by heat conduction or contactless heat input. Apparatus according to claim 43 or 44, characterized in that both rotary gripper jaws (72a, 72b) are heatable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 45, characterized in that associated with the rotary grippers (71) is at least one independent heating device effective for each rotary gripper (71). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 46, characterized in that in the rotary gripper (71), in particular in the rotary gripper jaws (72a, 72b) at least one heating cartridge or heating flakes is arranged. Apparatus according to claim 43, characterized in that for each rotary gripper jaw (72a, 72b), an elastic power supply, in particular a helical spring-like guided about the axis F electrical supply line (79) is provided. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 48, characterized in that a power supply of the rotary gripper (71) via at least one slip ring system (74), preferably via two slip ring systems. Apparatus according to claim 49, characterized in that the first slip ring system (74) has slip rings (76) fixed to the housing and contact brushes (77) supported by the rotary head and is electrically conductively connected to the second slip ring system between the rotary hook shaft (75a) and the rotating head fixed slip rings. Device for packaging an article with a handle according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 50, characterized in that both rotary gripper jaws (72a, 72b) of a rotary gripper jaw pair (72) have a central, in the longitudinal direction of the rotary gripper facing receiving recess (73) for receiving a stem (A1) of the article (A). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 51, characterized in that an opening / closing movement of the rotary gripper jaws (62a, 62b, 72a, 72b) is derived from a cam device provided in connection with a stationary axis of rotation of the rotary head (60, 70) and a rotational movement of the rotary gripper (61, 71) by a rotary gripper shaft (75a) from a within the rotary head (70) arranged gear, in particular planetary gear with a stationary central gear, is derived. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 52, characterized in that a pair of rotary heads (60, 70) are each arranged one on each side of the packing head (20) coaxial therewith. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 43 to 53, characterized in that the rotary gripper (71), in particular at least one of the rotary gripper jaws (72a) is heatable by heat conduction, heat radiation, inductively or by electron or laser radiation. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims 40 to 54, characterized in that a temperature measuring device for detecting a temperature of the rotary gripper jaws, in particular a non-contact temperature measuring device such as an infrared temperature measuring device, is provided. Apparatus according to claim 55, characterized in that the temperature measuring device is part of a control circuit for controlling the temperature of the rotary gripper (71), in particular rotary gripper jaws (72a).

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