EP2163478B1 - Method and apparatus for filling a tray with a group of individual products, as well as the package manufactured according to the method and the top blank of such a package - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves removing a product group from a product supply device by a gripping unit (81), and providing a package with a package upper part. The product group and the package upper part are connected with a movable setting unit (3) outside of a package lower part (11), after removing the product group from the product supply device. The setting unit is vertically moved with the packing lower part by the gripping unit. An access of the gripping unit at the setting unit is released for obtaining the filled package. An independent claim is also included for a device for implementing a method for filling a package with a group of individual products.

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling a trayartigem lower part and covering top multi-part packaging with at least one group summarized individual products, wherein the at least one product group taken by a gripping means accessing it from a product feeder and from above into the tray-like, provided with upright side wall bottom part is set and wherein the packaging is provided with the packaging shell. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for carrying out the method, packages produced by the method, and a lid blank of the formed package. Individual products can z. As cups, cans, glasses, generally rod-shaped body, but also other parts that can be summarized for placement on a packaging tray into a group.

It is known to place individual products such as closed cups in an arrangement of, for example, two by four cups in a tray-like base, ie in a box-like container having a circumferential side wall and open at the top, and to this arrangement a packaging top in the form of a U-shaped cover part. The leg walls of such a U-cover are glued to the outside of the wall of the base. Although it is possible to automate the production of such a filled packaging. The adhesive bond is undesirable. The bond requires a special manufacturing measure. The lid is torn off the base to reveal the cups in the base which are set for sale on a shelf. As a result of tearing the packaging can be unsightly and in particular a print damaged or illegible. The adhesive bond also reduces the throughput speed in a current production device.

Another known automated filling / packing method is that over a group of individual products, in particular closed cups, a lid part is set, the group is pushed by means of the lid part on a flattened with side panels blank and the side walls are then raised. In particular, also lower part and upper part are glued together or connected to a corresponding fastening means here. The product group is susceptible to damage as a result of being moved on a base. The production speed is particularly impaired.

In order to provide, if possible, a material-saving filled packaging without special fastener between the lower part and upper part, it is known in practice to fill a tray-like base with upright side walls with individual products in a standing group arrangement and by hand a material-saving, in profile U-shaped lid sit up. A lid blank made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard is used. Wing flaps form leg walls, which are inserted between the product group and tray walls. Insertion requires dexterity, and it is time consuming. The process is particularly costly due to staff deployment, and the production rate remains relatively low.

The invention is based on the following objectives. The packaging should be assembled with the lower part, at least one product group and upper part by means of an automated process with relatively high production speed. Aparativen effort of a process performing packer is to be reduced and the operation of the device should be optimized. The packaging parts should be composable without hand and be separated from each other by hand in order to obtain at the point of sale by means of the lower part and the individual products grouped therein a damage-free lasting attractive display sales packaging.

The method according to the invention, in conjunction with the method measures mentioned at the outset, is such that, when it is removed from the product feed device, the at least one product group and the upper packaging part are connected outside the lower packaging part to a displaceable setting unit which moves vertically by means of the gripping means for joining to the lower packaging part is, and that the completion of the filled, provided with the packaging top packaging of the access of the gripping means is solved at the thereby dissolving setting unit.

A device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention for producing filled packages in sequence comprises a product feeding device for individual products, a supply for upright side provided packaging bottoms, a delivery device for packaging tops, a packing device for inserting at least one group of supplied individual products in an associated supplied packaging bottom and a discharge device for removing the packages, wherein the packaging device is set up in such a way that it connects the at least one product group provided by the product supply device to form at least one packaging top part associated with the packaging top-side supply device and places the setting unit on the packaging unit Packaging lower part for producing the finished filled, provided with the packaging shell, closed packaging set zt.

By means of the method according to the invention, the particular packaging according to the invention is produced. A packaging upper part which is particularly adapted according to the invention for producing the filled packaging is formed by a cover blank having access holes which are adapted to the arrangement and position of the individual products of the associated product group such that each access hole for forming the setting unit forms a passage for a suction connection between the Top of the single product and an associated product suction element of a packaging device forms.

According to the invention, it is achieved, in particular, that in the course of filling the packaging base, the packaging shell is attached to the latter in a positionally secure manner without special connecting means having a high production speed with completely automated production and filling of the packaging. According to the invention, it is essential that the product group to be packaged and the lid upper part are joined together to form the setting unit. The setting unit, which is formed by means of the method steps in the manner of a temporary intermediate packaging, is set up and determined by to be taken up by inserting from above into this lower packaging part with the upright side wall already finished packaging base. The setting unit resulting from the method according to the invention is therefore such that the at least one product group is connected to the associated lid top unit uniformly to a transport unit and simultaneously moved for insertion into the packaging base. According to the method of the invention, the setting unit is formed such that it is dissolved when the access of the gripping means to the setting unit is released. This means that the at least one product group and the packaging upper part are no longer connected to an independent vertically displaceable packing unit, but together with the lower packaging part become components of the filled packaging. On the whole, the device according to the invention is relatively simple in that the insertion device is set up in order to cooperate both with the at least one product group and with the packaging upper part to be connected thereto. The feeding devices for the lower packaging parts and the upper packaging parts are machine-technically relatively simple, generally known units. Likewise, the discharge means for discharging the filled packages constitutes a means which simply and optimally cooperates with and operates with the feeder for the bottoms to be filled when packing and subsequently.

According to an advantageous method configuration, the packaging upper part is connected to the at least one product group by means of a gripping means arranged for lowering and lifting for forming the setting unit. In this case, a phase is provided in which at the same time the access to the at least one product group as well as to the packaging top takes place in order to first move the setting unit outside of the packaging bottom part and then for joining with it. Another method design, however, can also be, for example, that the packaging upper part is placed at least in one phase only on the top of the product group and is thereby connected to this displaceable setting unit.

Although it is conceivable that the packaging upper part is a cover plate or a box-like lid with peripheral edge for fitting into the packaging base is provided, is preferably used as a packaging upper part a flat lid blank with cover panel and hinged wing flaps, wherein the cover panel is adapted to the top of the associated product group; While the product group is held outside the packaging base, the wing flaps are folded to form a lid space such that upon folding the product group in the lid space at least partially comes to rest. In order in particular to increase the production speed, it is particularly advantageous that the wing flaps are folded on the way of the setting unit from a position in the product feeding device to a setting position above the associated packaging base. The wing flaps can be used to stabilize the product group when moving or possibly to hold in addition. This is done by the wing flaps of the lid blank for connecting the same with the associated product group are folded and clamped against these to form and move the setting unit.

The inventive method is preferably designed such that a lid blank is used with wing flaps, which are folded by means of the gripping means so that they arrive at least in the finished packaging for abutment against side walls of the tray-like packaging base. More preferably, the method is carried out so that a lid blank is used, which consists of foldable elastic restoring force developing material such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or dergleichem material, and its flaps are brought after folding between the product group and side walls of the tray-like base and held in that, when the gripping means are released from the setting unit, they come to bear against the inside of the lower part side walls under restoring force.

Suitably, the last-mentioned method comprises the step of folding the wing flaps by more than 90 °. This process design is particularly suitable for filling the package with at least one group of individual products which taper to become narrower towards their bottom, the wing flaps of the lid blank being folded in such a way during production of the setting unit to form a lid space with a trapezoidal U-profile that they subordinate the individual products to lateral free rejuvenation areas.

Suitably, the packaging upper part for producing the setting unit is held with suction force, which is exerted by the gripping means, and placed over at least one associated product group. Also preferably, to form the setting unit, the at least one product group is held by suction force exerted by the gripping means. In particular, with such a gripping means, the at least one product group and the packaging upper part can be held at least in one phase with height clearance when moving the setting unit.

Preferably, an upper packaging part is used, which has at least one access hole for at least one product suction element of the gripping means acting on the upper side of the product group, wherein the setting unit is held by a suction force acting through the at least one access hole. Preferably, a packaging top is used, which has access holes for producing the setting unit, which are each associated with an associated individual product, wherein each individual product is held by suction through the associated access hole to form the setting unit.

Although it is preferred to form the setting unit in that its parts are held with suction force of a gripping means, it can also be provided according to the invention that the at least one product group and the at least one packaging top are held together in an adjoining or exclusive clamping manner to form the setting unit.

Further developments of the device according to the invention with reference to the abovementioned embodiments of the method are in particular that a head gripping means operable with suction power and / or a side gripping means which preferably acts with clamping force are set up. A particular embodiment is that side gripping elements for folding and releasing of wing flaps of a lid blank, which forms the packaging upper part for the associated product group, are set up. Advantageously, the side gripping elements are designed such that they fold the wing flaps to form a border, in which the product group comes to rest in the setting unit.

A packaging top part of a packaging according to the invention is also adapted for gripping the setting unit, namely with a cover blank having access holes which are adapted to the arrangement and position of the individual products of the associated product group such that each access hole for forming the setting unit has a passage for a suction connection between the top of the single product and an associated product suction element of a packing device. A particular adaptation is that the lid blank is formed with portions of suction surfaces provided between longitudinal edges of the lid blank and longitudinal edge access holes and adapted to the suction surface size of top suction members formed by suction cups.

Subclaims are directed to the mentioned and still other expedient and advantageous embodiments of the invention. Particularly expedient and advantageous embodiments and possibilities of the invention will be described with reference to the following description of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the schematic drawing. Show it: Fig. 1A to 1F in phases of the execution of the method according to the invention, positions of the formation of a setting unit of a packaging according to the invention with a packaging top part according to the invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 in the flat-lying blank in each case the lower part or the upper part of the packaging according to Fig. 1F . Fig. 4 in plan view of an inventive device for producing filled packages according to Fig. 1F in a row and Figs. 5A to 5G a gripping means of a device according to the invention in the Fig. 1A to 1F corresponding positions and phases.

In Fig. 1F a filled packaging 1 produced by the method according to the invention is shown in the exemplary embodiment. The package 1 comprises a tray-like lower part 11, inserted therein, sealed with a film cup as individual products 21 and a cup covering the top 12. The lower part 11 is made of a rectangular lower part blank 110, the Fig. 2 is apparent. On a rectangular bottom panel 114 rectangular longitudinal side walls 111 and rectangular narrow side walls 112 are hinged. These are connected in the erected state via corner straps 113, for example by means of gluing or stapling, to form a circumferential Traywandung. The one narrow side wall 112 is formed lower than the remaining wall portions to form a cutout or a window for product view.

The upper part 12 is made of a in Fig. 3 shown rectangular lid blank 120 erected. This has a rectangular hole field 121, which is provided according to the number and arrangement of the cup with two by four holes 122. On each longitudinal side of the hole field 122, a rectangular wing flap 123 is articulated.

The blanks 110, 120 are made of cardboard, corrugated board or the same in folding spring elastic restoring force evolving material. The bottom field 114 forms the floor or the footprint for the two by four cups, which as such form a product group 2. The circular cross-section cup taper each narrowing towards its bottom. The perforated panel 121 is adapted to the surface of the product group 2 such that the top of the product group 2 covers the cover surface substantially, the wing flaps 123 folded down at the longitudinal sides of the product group 2 in the finished package 1 at least substantially 90 ° down and between the long side cup edges and the longitudinal walls 111 of the lower part 11 stuck. The wing flaps 123 stand on the bottom of the packaging. The leg length of the wing flaps 123 is dimensioned so that the hole field 121 rests almost on the cups.

The lid blank 120 has at the ends of its longitudinal edges locking tabs which are adapted to be in associated slots of the narrow side walls 112 of the lower part intervene. The set lid top 12 can be locked to the base 11 so. A simple release of the locking connection is in particular possible because the lower narrow side wall is pulled slightly outwards to release the noses from the also only minor engagement in the slots.

In Fig. 1A to 1E five positions 1 to V are shown in phases of packaging production by the method according to the invention.

How out Fig. 1A can be seen, the cover blank 120 is lowered in a flat position on the two by four cups of product group 2 juxtaposed individual products 21 (cup) in a horizontal position vertically downwards. In this case, the hole field 121 is applied to the top of the product group 2 or held with selectable, expediently small distance thereto. Starting from this in Fig. 1B the arrangement and position shown, which forms the first stage of a setting unit 3 according to the invention, the latter is offset, via the packaging base 11, as shown in FIG Fig. 1C is shown. During the displacement, so the transport of the setting unit 3 in the position above the packaging base 11, the wing flaps 123 are increasingly folded against resilient restoring force of the blank material under positive guidance. Finally, the wing flaps 123 are folded with an infold of more than 90 ° so far that they summarize according to the taper of the cup laterally below this, without that they necessarily abut against this. How to get in Fig. 1D sees, comes the product group 2 in a lid space to lie, which has a trapezoidal U-profile at the open end faces.

The setting unit 3 is connected to the in Fig. 1D outside the packaging base 11 reached formation and position lowered vertically downwards to be vertically inserted from above into the packaging base 11. In this case, the product group 2 is precisely aligned for placement on the bottom of the lower part 11. In Fig. 1E the setting unit 3 has been lowered so far that the lower region of the cup and the wing flaps 123 already enclose in the lower part 11. Starting from the position in Fig. 1E in which the setting unit 3 is still in the formation according to Fig. 1D is located, the setting unit 3 is lowered further down. In this phase, the wing flaps 123 in the setting unit 3 under elastic restoring force for spreading be released with the result that they come under spring restoring force to rest against the inside of the longitudinal side walls 111 of the lower part 11.

One recognizes by means of the Fig. 1D and 1E particularly good that the positively guided folding the flaps 123 over 90 ° and then eliminating the forced operation when the wing flaps 123 overlap with the lower part longitudinal walls 111, a particularly simple, effective and reliable introduction of the setting unit 3 and thus of the upper part 12 in the packaging base 11 forms. It arises in the Fig. 1F illustrated filled, previously described packaging. 1

As will be described in more detail, according to one embodiment FIGS. 5B to 5F held in the setting unit 3, the packaging shell 12 to the product group 2 at a fixed height distance. For example, it is also possible to place the packaging upper part on the product group in the setting unit.

A filling device 4 according to the invention, as in the embodiment of the Fig. 4 comprises means 5 to 9, which are arranged on a frame 41. The device 4 is constructed and arranged with its devices 5 to 9 so that two parallel juxtaposed operating / conveyor lines are formed. In a first line A is a product feeder 5 and, viewed in the feed direction behind, a top feed device 7 is arranged. In a second line B, a lower part feeder 6 and, viewed in the feed direction behind it, a discharge device 9 for filled packages 1 are provided.

The product feeder 5 has at its end in the line A successively arranged removal stations 501 and 502. The lower part feeding device 6 and the discharge device 9 are delimited from each other by two insertion stations 601, 602 which are arranged one behind the other in the line B. The core of the device 4 is a packing device 8, which is associated with a gripping device 80 to the stations 501, 502 and 601, 602. The gripping device 80 is shown only schematically dash-dotted lines. It comprises a first gripping means 81, which is assigned to the station pair 501, 601, and a second corresponding gripping means 81, which corresponds to the station pair 502, 602 assigned. The doubly provided gripping means 81 is based on the Figs. 5A to 5G described in more detail.

The removal station 501, 502 and the insertion station 601, 602 are double stations such that in pairs the two packing stations 501, 601 and 502, 602 are arranged side by side. In the packing device 8, two groups of two by four individual products 21 are taken from the line A to the line B and inserted into the inserting stations 601 and 602, respectively, in simultaneous parallel operation of the removal stations 501, 502.

The product feeder 5 is formed with a two-lane product feed. The individual products 21 are guided in parallel along the line A in two tracks by means not shown conveyor 51 into the removal stations 501, 502. In each removal station 501, 502 along the two-lane product feed a product group 2 is formed from two times four individual products and kept ready for removal. The base feeder 6 supplies package bottoms 11 erected along the line B, which are placed in the insertion stations 601, 602. The packaging bases 11 are adapted in size to accommodate each product group 2.

The upper part supply device 7 comprises a lid blank magazine 71, not shown in greater detail. For this purpose, cover blanks 120 are automatically removed and placed in exact position over each product group 2 in each removal station 501, 502. The gripping device 80 of the packing device 8 then completes the offset and insertion method for each station pair 501, 601 and 502, 602, as described above with reference to FIG Fig. 1A to 1F has been described. In the stations 601, 602, the filled packages 1 fall on the line B at the same time and are discharged by means of the discharge device 9 via a conveyor belt or another suitable means of transport.

The entire filling device 4 operates fully automatically. The device 4 can be set up with known drives and units. For example, the product feeder 5 may be formed with a modular belt conveyor, the bandwidth of which is sufficient to deliver individual products 21, in particular cups, more than to feed two lanes. Likewise, the other devices of the device 1 can be equipped with module assemblies that allow conversion to accommodate larger packages.

The product feeder 5 may be provided for grouping the cups for the removal stations 501, 502 with, for example, a servo motor driven cup picking stop which groups the cups in the two illustrated lanes into the two packs of two by four cups. The lid blank magazine 71 can be provided, for example, in the form of a driven horizontal magazine from which the lid blanks 120 are guided in inclined position by means of a suction device, not shown, in the stations 501, 502. In this case, the transport of the blanks via not shown Mitnehmerbalken done, which are transported for example by a servomotor-operated timing belt linear axis.

The lower part supply device 6 may, for example, not shown, pneumatically actuated pushers that pass the packaging bases 11 to the packing device 8. There, the device may be, for example, in a manner not shown, such that two conveyed lower parts 11 are clocked via a pneumatically operated inlet lock in conjunction with two side-working, motor-driven feed rollers in the insertion 601, 602. The pneumatically actuated locks position the lower parts 11 exactly at the filling positions of the insertion stations 601, 602.

In the embodiment of the device 4 according to Fig. 4 two packages I are generated in parallel, with each product group 2 exactly one packaging top is added. If necessary, the method or the device can be designed so that two lid packaging top parts are attached to a product group, for example.

In Figs. 5A to 5F Positions I to VI are shown in process phases which correspond to the phases or positions I to VI in FIG Fig. 1A to 1F correspond. In addition, in Figs. 5A to 5G essential components of the gripping means 81 shown, in turn, in duplicate Version for station pairs 501, 601 and 502, 602, part of in Fig. 4 not shown gripping device 80 of the packing device 8 is. The gripping means 81 is a gripping means in the form of a head equipped with lid suction members 811, product suction members 812 and side gripping members 813.

The suction elements 811, 812 are designed as vacuum suction devices, which are each connected to a pair of vacuum lines 821, 822. The lines 821, 822 extend parallel to the lines A, B of the device 4. The vacuum line 822 and thus the product suction elements 812 are arranged according to the distances of the cups of the product group 2. Thus, each cup of the product group 2 is associated with a product suction element 812. The product suction members 812 pass through the access holes 122 of the lid blank 120 to be respectively centrally placed on the cup lid. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, the gripping means 81 comprises two by four product suction elements 812. Each access hole 122 forms, in an associated arrangement, a passage for a suction connection between the top side of the individual product 21 and the vacuum line 822.

The vacuum pipe 821 of the lid suction members 811 is disposed adjacent to the vacuum pipe 822, respectively, and extends between the adjacent longitudinal edge of the hole panel 121 and the longitudinal edge access holes 122. In the embodiment, three lid suction members 811 are spaced at intervals of the holes 122 on each longitudinal side intended. To the size of the lid suction elements 811 edge portions 124 between the longitudinal edge access holes 122 and the longitudinal edges of the hole field 121 are adapted to the suction connection ( Fig. 3 ).

With the gripping means 81, which comprises the lid suction elements 811 and the product suction elements 812, which are spaced apart in height, it is achieved that the product group 2 and the packaging upper part 12 are held at a height distance h when moving the setting unit (detail in FIG Fig. 5B ). For this purpose, another, the fixed distance producing gripping means may be provided.

According to another embodiment, not shown, the packaging upper part can be placed on the product group in the setting unit. To insert the Setting unit or assembly of the packaging, for example, in addition to a gripping means holding the product group, a pressing means of the device can be set up, which joins the upper packaging part with the lower packaging part, for example, in sliding connection.

The gripping means 81 is also arranged with side gripping elements 813, which are associated with the wing flaps 123 of the lid blank 120. Each side gripping element 813 is formed by a rod 824 which is articulated by means of angle arms 823 and which extends along the associated flap flap 123 and lies in the exemplary embodiment on the flat lid blank 123 in the region of its outer edge. The angle arms 823, which are fixedly connected to the rods 824, are pivoted to the ends of transverse bars 825 about pivot axes 826.

In the exemplary embodiment, the gripping means 81 comprises three parallel transverse rods 825, which extend in a common plane in parallel over the suction cups supporting vacuum lines 821, 822 and are directed perpendicular to these lines.

The vacuum lines 821, 822 and the. Cross bars 825 form supporting parts of the gripping means 81 and are, as not shown in detail, in a support head of the gripping means 81 are firmly connected to each other.

The gripper 80 is mounted horizontally movable on a support 42 perpendicular to the lines A, B. In addition, the gripping means 81 is mounted vertically movable in the gripping device 80 in height. Both the horizontal movement and the vertical movement of the gripping means 81 can be performed and controlled, for example, by servo-motor driven synchronous belt linear units, which are not shown. Other suitable arrangements and drives are possible.

How out Fig. 5A can be seen, the gripping means 81 is set up and arranged to first remove and hold the lid blank 120, which is brought horizontally via the removal station 501 and 502, respectively. In this position 1, the lid blank 120 is in the in Fig. 1A shown flat position. It is aligned in the horizontal position by the three times two lid suction elements 811 held above product group 2. Product group 2 is the group which is to be withdrawn at removal stations 501 and 502, respectively.

In position 11, the gripping means 81 has been lowered so far that the product suction elements 812 are placed on the lids of the cups. Vacuum is applied to the conduits 822 so that each goblet of product group 2 is captured and maintained in a maintained formation. In this case, the lid blank 120 is at a small fixed distance above the cups. This distance is determined by a height offset between the lid suction elements 811 and the product suction elements 812. In position II, the setting unit according to the invention is produced in a first phase.

The angle arms 823 are hinged to the transverse rods 825 about the pivot axes 826 of a pivoting device, not shown, having a motorized drive means. The motor swivel linkage is such that the rods 824 are positively steered to the cross bars 825 to fold down the flap flaps 123 from the horizontal home position in the flat lid blank 120 downwards by more than 90 ° in the direction of the product group 2.

In position III, the pivot drive of the side gripping elements 813 has been actuated, the wing flaps 123 are folded down there first by about 45 °. The position III of the wing flaps 123 is reached while the gripping means 81 or the setting unit 3 is moved from the removal station 501 or 502 to the insertion station 601 or 602 with horizontal movement perpendicular to the lines A, B.

In the position IV, the wing flaps 123 are folded in the exemplary embodiment by about 95 °, so that they come to rest on the long sloping sides of the product group 2 and thus encase the cups. Thereby, the holding of the cups in the setting unit 3 can be assisted in addition to the attachment by means of the product suction members 812. The rods 824 act as a clamping means, which encloses the product group 2 longitudinally by clamping. It is also conceivable that this clamping means is provided without the arrangement of Saugnäpfen to form the setting unit.

In the position V, the gripping means 81 has been moved down vertically in the insertion station 601 or 602 vertically so far that the setting unit 3 engages in its lower part in the lower part 11. Even before the setting unit 3 is fully inserted into the lower part 11, the rods 824 of the motor-driven pivoting device are released by placing them in the in Fig. 5A shown starting position are swung back. As described above, the wing flaps 123 unfold as a result, so that they come to rest against the longitudinal side walls 111 inside. To fully insert the gripping means 81 is further lowered vertically until the cups stand up on the bottom of the package. In addition, the upper part 12 is further introduced in the vertical direction in the lower part 11 until the wing flaps 123 stand up on the bottom of the package. The upper part 12 is then framed by the lower part 11 in a tight fit. In Fig. 5F is the position VI reached.

Out Fig. 5G the resolution of the setting unit 3 can be seen. All suction elements 811, 812 are connected without suction by means of a vacuum device (not shown), which feeds the suction lines 821, 822, so that they detach from the cups or the packaging upper part 12. The two gripping means 81 are first moved vertically upwards and then horizontally into the starting positions in the removal stations 501, 502. There, the next product groups 2 are added and offset in the form of the setting units 3 outside of the lower parts 11 in the positions above to use them as described. In timed operation, the finished packages are removed by means of the discharge device 9. It can be seen that the device 4 can be operated automatically with high throughput.

The filling device 4 is equipped with a control unit 43 shown only in phantom. Such a control device is known in principle. It controls with mechanical and / or electronic means the clock operation of the entire device 4, wherein the drives and means are controlled to tune and synchronize the operation of the drives and devices for operating a current production of the filled packages 1 to each other.

Claims (28)

1. Method for filling a multi-part package (1) having a tray-like lower part (11) and a covering upper part (12), with individual products (21) combined into at least one group (2), wherein the at least one product group (2) is removed from a product feed device (5) by means of a gripping means (81) grasping it, and placed from above in the tray-like lower package part (11) provided with an upright sidewall, and wherein the package (1) is provided with the upper package part (12), characterised in that, during its removal from the product feed device (5), the at least one product group (2) and the upper package part (12) are combined outside the lower package part (11) into a displaceable placement unit (3) which is moved vertically by means of the gripping means (81) for assembly with the lower package part (11), and in that, to finish the filled package (1) provided with the upper package part (12), the grasping of the gripping means (81) at the placement unit (3), which ceases to exist as a result, is released.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a flat lid blank (120) with lid area (121) and wing flaps (123) hinged thereto is used as the upper package part (12), wherein the lid area (121) is adapted to the upper side of the associated product group (2), and in that, while the product group (2) is held outside the lower package part (11), the wing flaps (123) are folded in to form a lid space in such a way that, when they are folded in, the product group (2) comes to lie at least partially in the lid space.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the wing flaps (123) are folded in during passage of the placement unit (3) from a position in the product feed device (5) to a placement position above the associated lower package part (11).
4. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that, to form and displace the placement unit (3), the wing flaps of the lid blank (120) are folded in to connect it to the associated product group (2) and kept clamped against the latter.
5. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that a lid blank (120) is used with wing flaps (123) which are folded in by means of the gripping means (81) in such a way that, at least in the finished package (1), they come to abut against side walls (111) of the tray-like lower package part (11).
6. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that a lid blank (120) which is made of material that develops a resilient reset force when folded such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar material is used, wherein its wing flaps (123) after folding in are brought between the product group (2) and side walls (111) of the tray-like lower part (12) and held in such a way that, when the gripping means (81) is released from the placement unit (3), they come to abut against the inside of the side walls (111) of the lower part under the reset force.
7. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the lid blank (120) is provided with wing flaps (123) which are folded in in such a way that in the finished package (1) they stand upright on the bottom of the lower package part (11).
8. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the lid area (121) of the lid blank (120) at least in the finished package (1) is brought to abut against the product group (2).
9. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the wing flaps (123) are folded in by more than 90°.
10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the package (1) is filled with at least one group (2) of individual products (21) which taper, becoming narrower towards their bottom, and in that the wing flaps (123) of the lid blank (120) are folded in when making the placement unit (3), forming a lid space with a trapezoidal U profile, in such a way that they pass under the individual products in lateral free tapering regions.
11. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that, to make the placement unit (3), the upper package part (12) is held with suction force which is exerted by the gripping means (81) and placed over at least one associated product group (2).
12. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that, to form the placement unit, the at least one product group (2) is held by means of suction force which is exerted by the gripping means (81).
13. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that an upper package part (12) is used, which has at least one access hole (122) for at least one product suction element (812) of the gripping means (81) which engages the upper side of the product group (2), and in that the placement unit (3) is held by suction force acting through the at least one access hole (122).
14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that an upper package part (12) is used, which, to make the placement unit (3), has access holes (122) which are each assigned to an associated individual product (21), wherein, to form the placement unit (3), each individual product (21) is held by suction force acting through the associated access hole (122).
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the product suction element (812) is placed through the associated access hole (122) to form the placement unit (3).
16. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that, to form the placement unit (3), the at least one product group (2) and the at least one upper package part (12) are held against each other in clamping relationship.
17. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that, to form the placement unit (3) and during movement thereof, the upper package part (12) is connected to the at least one product group (2) by means of a gripping means (81) designed for lifting and lowering.
18. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that, to form the placement unit (3) and during movement thereof, the at least one product group (2) and the upper package part (12) are held with a distance (h) apart in height at least in one stage.
19. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18 for manufacturing filled packages (1) in sequence, characterised in that the apparatus has a product feed device (5) for individual products (21), a feed device (6) for lower package parts (11) provided with an upright sidewall, a feed device (7) for upper package parts (12), a packing device (8) for insertion of at least one product group (2) comprising delivered individual products (21), in an associated delivered lower package part (11), and a removal device (9) for removing the packages (1), wherein the packing device (8) is designed in such a way that, to form the placement unit (3), it connects the at least one product group (2), which is provided by the product feed device (5), to at least one upper package part (12) assigned by the upper package part feed device (7) and places the placement unit (3) on the lower package part (11) to make the finished, filled, closed package (1) provided with the upper package part (12).
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the packing device (8) comprises a gripping device (80) which can be operated with suction force and which, to make the placement unit (3) as well as to hold and place it, engages the upper side of the at least one product group (2).
21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterised in that the gripping device (80) comprises product suction elements (812) which are assigned to access holes (122) in the upper package part (12) and which act with suction force through the access holes (122) in which each engage an associated individual product (21) of the product group (2).
22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, characterised in that the gripping device (80) comprises at least one suction element (811) for the upper part, which is designed to place the upper package part (12) over the at least one product group (2) and assemble it with the lower package part.
23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterised in that the packing device (8) comprises a gripping device (80) which is designed with side gripping elements (813) to fold in and release wing flaps (123) of a lid blank (120) which forms the upper package part (12) for the associated product group (2).
24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterised in that the side gripping elements (813) are designed so as to fold in the wing flaps (123) in order to form a fitting means in which the product group (2) comes to lie in the placement unit (3).
25. Package having a tray-like lower package part which receives several individual products and an upper package part which covers the products, characterised in that the package was made by the filling method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.
26. Upper package part of a package according to claim 25, wherein the upper package part (12) is formed by a lid blank (120) which has access holes (122) which, in adaptation to the arrangement and position of the individual products (21) of the associated product group (2), are designed in such a way that, to form the placement unit (3), each access hole (122) forms a passage for a suction connection between the upper side of the individual product (21) and an associated product suction element (812) of a packing device (8).
27. Upper package part according to claim 26, characterised in that the lid blank (120) is made of material that develops a resilient reset force when folded and is designed with an area (121) comprising the access holes (122), to which are hinged wing flaps (123) which can be folded in under the reset force and which are designed so as to abut against side walls (111) of an associated lower package part (11) from the inside under the action of the reset force.
28. Upper package part according to claim 26 or 27, characterised in that the lid blank (120) is designed with sections (124) for suction surfaces which are provided between longitudinal edges of the lid blank (120) and access holes (122) at the longitudinal edges and are adapted to the suction surface size of suction elements (811) of the upper part formed by suction cups.

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