EP1993915A2

EP1993915A2 - Method for the creation of packages and device for carrying out said method

Info

Publication number: EP1993915A2
Application number: EP07703217A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Volker Till
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2006-03-01
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2008-11-26
Also published as: WO2007101517A3; MX2008011117A; BRPI0707051A2; ZA200806967B; AU2007222722A1; WO2007101517B1; CN101395061A; WO2007101517A2; US20090211464A1; JP2009528225A; DE102006009348A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for creating packages that are composed of several packaging units by wrapping said packaging units with a film material. According to said method, the film material is printed with the aid of at least one printing unit immediately before the wrapping process. Said at least one printing unit is located between the supply and the packaging station in the direction of travel of the film material.

Description

Method for forming containers and device for carrying out the method

The invention relates to a method for forming containers consisting of several packaging units according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for carrying out this method according to the preamble of claim 22.

Devices for forming packages consisting of several packaging units by wrapping them with a shrinkable, from a supply, i. Drawn from a roll Folienmateπal and shrinking the Folienmateπals to form a shrunken, the container cohesive enclosure in the form of a shrunken shrink film are known in various embodiments. The packaging units are, for example, product-filled and closed packages, such as e.g. Bottles, cans, packages of a single or multi-layer flat material, etc.

To form the containers, a plurality of packaging units are combined to form a package group and then wrapped or wrapped with the shrinkable film material. The assembly of the packaging units may be e.g. also in or on trough-shaped or flat carriers (for example on trays) made of a suitable material Regardless of the type of packaging units and the type of formation of the container elements, it is also customary that an already printed material is used as the film material. its imprint or equipment ua product and / or brand-related in terms of visual and / or graphical and / or color and / or content is very different, so it u.a. It is necessary to change the Folienmateπal when packaging packaging units with different products to containers in the rule.

Also known is a print head which is intended for printing flat printing material and with which a plurality of printing dots in a line close to each other or at a very small distance from each other, for example, at least one hundred and fifty printing dots per inch on a surface to be printed of the printed material are generated can, through a variety of individually controllable individual drones. The active print width of this printhead, also known as "Tonejet", is only dependent on the capacity of the bill of a printhead-controlling computer, for example, printheads of 1. 7 - 6.8 inches print width (corresponding to a 256 bit print head). Control or a 1024-bit control) With this print head, the printing of a two-dimensional print with a sufficiently large area by relative movement between the surface to be printed and the print head is possible only in a single axial direction.

The object of the invention is to provide a method with which the formation of each consisting of several packaging units containers, which are held together by a printed, shrunken film, in a rational manner with different features or with different print is possible. To solve this task, a procedure is Formed according to claim 1. An apparatus for carrying out the method is the subject of claim 22

A special feature of the erfmdungsgemaßen method is then that not only for the overall appearance of the respective container insignificant information, but at least a substantial part of the imprint of the packaging surrounding the packaging and the container together holding foil and thus the equipment of the container immediately prior to the formation of the respective Canned in a printing unit on the withdrawn from a supply roll Folienmateπal. This makes it possible to change using one and the same output or Folienmateπals alone by appropriate adjustment or conversion of the printing unit, the equipment of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the printing unit is designed so that it generates the respective printed image on the Folienmateπal depending on the control by an electronic control unit or a computer, namely according to an electronic or software-formed by a record and, for example, in a memory of Control device or the computer stored printmask. By changing this printing mask, the easy change and conversion of the container equipment is possible, in every respect, i. E. et al content, graphic, color, image, but also in terms of size and shape of the respective imprint. The invention thus offers u.a. the possibility, if necessary, of easily changing and / or updating the respective container equipment, for example also depending on the respective product and / or the respective brand. It is also possible to select and use the packaging equipment required for a product for printing on the Folienmateπals and to adapt the size of the imprint to the size of the container or adapted to select or even during an ongoing process to change the imprint or parts of the imprint ,

The printing unit preferably has at least one print head, which is preferably in the form of a "tone-jet" print head or else as a print head corresponding to such a "Tonejef print head." Such a print head has a print area which is used to print the area to be printed A plurality of individual nozzles, which are provided in close proximity to one another in a print head longitudinal axis and are each formed by a nozzle opening and an electrode associated with each nozzle opening, is present at each individual nozzle the associated Dusenoffnung only if when activating a Einzelelduse the electrode assigned to this is supplied with an electrical voltage whose polarity and / or voltage potential of the polarity and / or Spannungspotenti- al the printhead or the ink in the printhead differs, so you electrostatic forces a certain amount of ink is ejected from the Dusenoffnung the activated Einzelduse. A printhead of this type will also be referred to as an "electrostatic printhead" hereinafter Packaging units within the meaning of the invention are in turn any desired packaging, for example bottles filled with a product and sealed, such as bottles, cans, tubes, cardboard or other flat material, for example also packaging produced from a multilayer flat material, etc.

Packing units are within the meaning of the invention, a plurality of packaged together in a group packaging units with or without this packaging units carrying or partially receiving carrier.

Packages in the context of the invention are such bundling units which are formed by a shrinkable film material by wrapping and then shrinking this material, i. is held together or fixed by a shrunken shrink film.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures in an exemplary embodiment.

1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for producing containers containing a plurality of packaging units:

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the trained as electrostatic printheads printheads a printing unit, together with the Folienmateπal to be printed;

3 shows one of the print heads of the printing unit of FIG. 2.

In the figures, 1 is a device for producing containers by assembling a plurality of container units 2 into a respective container arrangement and for connecting each container arrangement 3 to a container 4 by means of a shrinking film 5 enclosing the container unit 3.

The device 1 has on a device frame 6, inter alia, an internal horizontal transport path forming conveyor 7, with which the packaging units 2 are moved in a horizontal transport direction A through the device, in a multi-lane Forderstrom in which at least two packaging units 2 transversely to Forderrichtung A are provided side by side.

As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the packaging units 2 of the device 1 are already fed as a multi-lane Forderstrom at an inlet 8.1 and then arrive at a jam section 7.1 formed by the conveyor 7, in which the packaging units 2 connect tightly in Forderrichtung A. , In an emitter unit 10 following the accumulation section 9, groups of packaging units are respectively formed, which then arrive as a unit 3 at a station 1 1, in which each unit 3 is wrapped with a foamed material length separated from the foil material 51 , which then by shrinking in a shrink tunnel 12 which forms the respective container 4 cohesive shrunken shrink film 5 forms the finished container 4 are not shown, on the outlet 8 2 of the device 1 subsequent feed fed to another use.

To produce the individual container units 3, an additional conveyor 13 is provided at the dividing station 10, which in the illustrated embodiment consists of two conveyor belts 14, each forming a closed loop and driven in rotation. These are arranged with the planes of their loops oriented in the vertical direction on both sides of the transport path formed by the conveyor 7. Between the conveyor belts 14 a plurality of webs 15 are provided at a distance, which serve as a driver for the packaging units 2 and are spaced such that with each web 15 from the accumulation section 9 each a bundle group 3 in the direction of transport A is mitgefühlt.

The web-shaped Folienmateπal 5.1 is held as a supply in the form of a roll 5.2 on a mandrel or a holder 5.3 and withdrawn from this role in a running or Forderrichtung B during operation of the device 1. Starting from the roller 5.2, the Folienmateπal 5.1 using a plurality of guide rollers initially through various devices 16 and 17 u.a. for a long compensation and / or to maintain a predetermined web tension contrary to the transport direction A to a printing station 18 through which moves the web-shaped Folienmateπal 5.1 after a deflection in the transport direction A and in which this material is printed in the manner described in more detail below. In the direction B of the Folienmateπals 5.1 follows on the printing station 18, a cutting station 19, in each of the printed Fohenmateπal 5.1 the time necessary for wrapping a bundle unit 3 separated and then fed via a requestor 20 Umhullungsstation 1 1.

The supply roll 5.2, the units 16 and 17, the printing station 18, the cutting station 19 as well as the transport element 20 are located within the device frame 6 below the transport path formed by the conveyor 7.

A special feature of the device 1 is that the printing of the film material 5.1 in the device 1 takes place immediately before the use of this material. This makes it possible to use as Folienmateπal 5.1 a neutral film, which is then provided only with the desired for the container 4 imprint.

In detail, the printing station 18 in the illustrated embodiment in running or Forderrichtung B of Folienmateπals 5.1 consecutively from a preheating unit 21 from a subsequent to the preheating unit 21 printing unit 22 from a subsequent to the printing unit 22 unit 23 for drying the respective imprint or Depending on the printing ink used for printing by heating or UV treatment, etc. A further significant feature of the device 1 is the formation of the printing unit 22. This consists according to Figures 2 and 3 of several print heads 24, the transverse or perpendicular to the direction B of Folienmateπals 5.1 at a small distance above this material or above the of the printing material layer 5.1 formed are arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, this pressure plane is a horizontal plane.

In order to achieve the highest possible printing performance (number of imprints per unit time) with the best possible Druckquahtat, the printheads 24 are formed in this embodiment as electrostatic printheads. For multicolor printing, at least three printheads are provided, each for printing a color set of multicolor printing. The printheads thus contain different inks in their colors, e.g. Red, blue and yellow. In principle, it is also possible to provide further printheads 24 on the printing unit 22, for example a fourth printhead 24 for black printing ink

As also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each printhead 24 essentially consists of a housing 25, which i.a. forms a closed interior 26 for receiving the liquid or viscous ink. Each housing 25 is designed so that the interior 26 narrows tπchter- or wedge-shaped to a lower housing section 25.1. At this housing section 25 1, which extends over the entire length of each print head 24 or its housing 25 and is oriented parallel to a housing or Druckkopflangsachse DL and thus parallel to the printing plane, is a plurality of individually controllable Emeldeldusen 27 to controlled application of the ink provided, in at least one row in the direction of the print head axis DL successively and in a tight array, so that, for example, one hundred and fifty individual nozzles 27 per inch or more are formed on the housing section 25.1. With the housing recess 25.1 having the individual nozzles 27, each print head 24 is arranged above the printed film material 5.1 or the printing plane to be printed at the specified small distance. The film material 5 1 is moved continuously or clocked past the respective print head 24 during printing in the direction B. By the already mentioned orientation of the print head 24 while the feed or running direction B is transverse, but preferably oriented perpendicular to the print head axis DL of the print head 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the printheads 24 are arranged with their Druckkopflangsachsen DL in the horizontal direction parallel to each other, preferably in a common horizontal plane.

Each individual nozzle 27 consists of an opening 28 and a needle-shaped electrode 29 assigned to this opening 28, which is arranged coaxially with the axis of the respective opening 28 and terminates at a short distance from this opening 28 within the housing interior 26. Each print head 24 is further configured such that at least during the printing process, the ink received in the housing interior 26 is present against the openings 28 of the individual nozzles 27 with a certain hydrostatic pressure. The cross section of the openings However, gene 28 is chosen taking into account the viscosity and / or the surface tension of the ink so that when not activated Emzelduse 27 despite the hydrostatic pressure ink from the openings 28 does not escape.

The electrodes 29 can be individually controlled via a control device 30, in such a way that when the embrasure 27 is not activated, the corresponding electrode 29 is at the same electrical potential as the ink in the housing interior 26. When an embrasure 27 is activated, the voltage potential becomes the associated electrode 29 by a corresponding activation or control by the control device 30 for a short time or impulsar- term changed, so that via the opening 28 printing ink for generating a pressure point 31 is applied to the Folienmateπal 5.1.

Since the print heads 24 are arranged with their print head axis DL transversely or perpendicular to the feed or running direction B of the Folienmateπals 5.1, the print job is carried on the Folienmateπal 5.1 each in rows perpendicular to the longitudinal extension or running direction B of Folienmateπals 5.2 over the entire width of area to be printed, eg extend over a majority of the width of the Folienmateπals 5.1, and progressing in feed or running direction B of the film material 5.1. The activation of the individual nozzles 27 is possible at high speed. Furthermore, only a single relative movement between the Folienmateπal 5.1 and the respective print head 24 is required for printing, namely only the advancing movement of the Folienmateπals 5.1. For these reasons, a high printing performance is achievable. The respective print image is generated purely digitally in the control device 30 by corresponding activation of the individual nozzles 27 and is stored in the control device 30 or in a local memory as a digital data record.

The printing of the film material 5.1 in the printing unit 22 takes place, for example, so that the imprint and / or the graphic and / or color design or equipment of the film material 5.1 is completely generated by the printing unit 22 on the neutral film material 5.1, or else with the Printing unit 22 a already existing on the Folienmateπal 5.1 existing imprint in a desired manner, for example, provided with a linguistic, color and / or graphic addition. By printing the Folienmateπals only in the device 1, d h. Only immediately before the use of this material to form the container 4 and by the control of the printing unit 22 and the local printheads 24 of the electronic control unit 30 using digitally or datenmaßig stored printing forms or print masks, there are various advantageous possibilities, ie the possibility a rapid changeover of the device 1 to different products, an adjustment and / or adjustment of the size of the respective imprint on the size of the container 4, etc. Furthermore, a problem-free change of the imprint on the film mateπal 5 1 alone by a new programming or a Program change of the electronic control device 30 is possible In particular, it is also possible during an ongoing process to print the printout and thus the equipment of the packages 4. the, for example, to redesign the printed image for each container 4, in particular in such a way that each printed image then composed of a constant, constant component and variable content and / or information. The changing printing components are, for example, numerical or alphanumeric information, for example information on the date of manufacture and / or best-before date or information in the form of a numerical code, etc.

It is understood that the advancing movement of the Folienmateπals 5.1 is controlled at least in the area of the printhead 24 by the electronic control device 30, in synchronism with the control of the printheads 24, so as to achieve a clear print image with high Qualltat. It is further understood that centering and guiding means for the film material 5.1 are provided in the region of the printing heads 24 in order to optimally align this material with respect to the printing heads 24, but in particular also by the predetermined distance between the printing heads 24 and the film material 5.1 to comply exactly.

In the preheating unit 21 preceding the printing unit 22 or the printing heads 24 there, the film material 5.1 is preheated such that the printing ink of the ink sets generated by the individual printing heads 24 hardens or sets, at least to the extent that undesired mixing of the individual printing inks is avoided. The Vorwarmeinπchtung 21 may have to improve the imprint in terms of contrast and / or sharp other elements, such as a corona element, not shown, with which the Fien lienπal 5.1 at least on its side to be printed before printing electrostatically charged.

In the direction of advancement or running direction B on the printing unit 22 following unit 23, the drying or setting of the ink takes place, by heating or other suitable means, for example by curing under UV light, etc.

The invention has been described above in an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 packaging device

2 packing unit

3 group of packaging units or container unit

4 containers

5 shrunk shrink film

5.1 film material

5.2 supply roll

5.3 mandrel or holder

6 device rack

7 internal conveyor

8.1 enema

8.2 Spout

9 storage area

10 one-piece unit

1 1 Unit for wrapping the packaging units 3

12 shrink tunnel

13 additional transporters

14 conveyor belt

15 footbridge

16, 17 Device for controlling the web tension or Folienbadspeicher

18 printing station

19 cutting station

20 feeder

21 preheating unit

22 printing unit

23 unit for drying the printing ink

24 printhead

25 housing

25.1 housing section

26 interior

27 individual nozzle

28 opening

29 electrode

30 electronic control device

31 pressure point

A transport direction of the packaging units 2

B feed or running direction of the film material 5.1

Claims

claims

1 method for forming from several packaging units (2) existing containers (4) by wrapping with a printed sheet-shaped Folienmateπal (5.1) at a packaging station (1 1), which is supplied from a stock (5.2) Folienmateπal, characterized in that that the printing of the Folienmateπals (5.1) at one of the packaging station (1 1) in Forderrichtung (B) of the film (5.1) preceding printing unit (22) takes place at least partially.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil material (5.1) withdrawn from the supply (5 2) is a neutral foil without imprint.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the film material withdrawn from the supply (5.2) is preprinted, and that the printing of the film material (5 1) complements the print image already present on this material.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the

Printing the Fohenmateπals (5.1) is multicolored.

5 Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the

Printing the Folienmateπals (5 1) using at least one printing unit (22), which generates the pressure or the print image in response to an electronic control (30)

6 A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the printing unit (22) generates the print image as a function of print masks stored electronically or in software in the control device (30).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed image during the formation of the container (4) is at least partially changed.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the

Sheet material (1 a) line by line transversely to a Folienmateriallangsπchtung or transversely to the Forderrichtung (B) of Folienmateπals (5 1) is printed, for example over the entire width or a majority of the width of the Folienmateπals (5.1).

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the

Printing with relative movement between the Folienmateπal (5.1) and the printing unit (22) or at least one print head (24) of the printing unit (22).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the film material (5.1) relative to the printing unit (22) or to the local at least one print head (24) is moved.

1 1. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one printing unit (22) has at least one electrostatic printing head (24) with a plurality of individually controllable individual nozzles (27) for the controlled release of printing ink, and in that the individual nozzles (27) in at least one row are arranged successively in a print head longitudinal axis (DL).

12. The method of claim 1 1, characterized in that the relative movement between the at least one print head (24) and the film material (5.1) is transverse or perpendicular to the print head longitudinal axis (DL).

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film material (5.1) during printing is oriented horizontally or substantially horizontally.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one print head (24) is arranged above the sheet material to be printed (5.1).

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two, preferably at least three print heads (24).

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for generating a multi-color imprint with each printhead (24) a color set of this imprint is generated.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing ink is dried or bonded after application to the film material (5.1) by the action of energy, for example by heating and / or UV light.

18. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film material (5.1) is heated before printing and / or charged statically.

19. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that from the film material (5.1) in a cutting station (19) each for the formation of a container (4) required length of the film material (5.1) is separated, and that the printing of the Foil material (5.1) before separation takes place.

20 The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that from the Folienmateπal (5.1) in a cutting station (19) each for the formation of a container (4) benotigte length of the Folienmateπals (5.1) is separated, and that the printing of the Folienmateπals (5.1) after separation.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Folienmateπal (5.1) after wrapping to form a packaging units (2) surrounding shrunken foil or sheath (5) is shrunk by heat.

22 Apparatus for forming from several packaging units (2) existing containers (4) by wrapping with a Folienmateπal at a Umhullungs- or packaging station (1 1), which fed from a supply (5.2) in a feed direction (B) Folienmateπal is, characterized in that between the supply (5.2) and the packaging station (1 1) at least one printing unit (22) for printing the film material (5.1) is provided.

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that the at least one printing unit (22) for a multi-color printing of the Folienmatenals (5.1) is formed.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the at least one printing unit (22) generates the printed image in response to an electrical control device (30).

25 Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the at least one printing unit (22) generates the printed image in dependence on in the control device (30) electronically or software-stored printmasks.

26. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing unit (22) or at least one print head (24) of this unit, the web-form Fien mateπal (5 1) printed line by line across a Bahnlangsπchtung, namely for example over the entire width or much of that width.

27 Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by means for generating the relative movement between the Folienmatenal (5.1) and the at least one printing unit (22) or at least one print head (24) of said printing unit (22) during the printing.

28. Device according to claim 27, characterized by feed means with which the film material (5 1) is moved relative to the at least one printing unit (22) or to the at least one printing head (24) there.

29. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one printing unit (22) has at least one electrostatic printhead (24) with a plurality of individually controllable Emzeldusen (27) for the controlled release of printing ink, and that the Emzeldusen (27 ) are arranged in at least one row consecutively in a print head axis (DL).

30. The apparatus of claim 29, characterized in that the at least one print head (24) with a Druckkopflangsachse (DL) transversely or perpendicular to the feed movement (B) of the Folienmateπals (5.1) is arranged.

31. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Folienmateπal (5.1) is arranged horizontally or substantially horizontally during printing.

32. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one print head (24) above the Folienmateπals (5.1) is arranged.

33. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two, preferably by at least three printheads (24).

34. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for generating a multi-color imprint each printhead (24) is associated with a color set of the imprint.

35. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by means (23) for drying the ink after application to the Folienmateπal (5.1) by E- nergieeinwirkung, for example by heating and / or by UV light.

36 Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by means (21) for heating and / or for electrostatically charging the Folienmateπals (5.1) before printing.

37 Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cutting station (19) for separating in each case one of the packaging station (1 1) for producing a container zugefuhrten Lange of Folienmateπals (5.1), wherein the at least one printing unit (22) in Forderrichtung (B ) of the film material (5.1) in front of the cutting station (19) or after the cutting station (19) is provided.

38. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a transport path formed by at least one feed dog (7), on which the packaging units (2) supplied to the device at an inlet (8.1) are assembled into a respective packaging unit (3) which subsequently in the packaging station (1 1) with the film material (5.1) is wrapped, and that the at least one printing unit (22) is arranged below the transport path, preferably together with the supply of the sheet material (5.1) formed by a supply roll (5.2) or a holder (5.3) for this stock.