EP2170707A1

EP2170707A1 - Method and device for packaging packaged goods

Info

Publication number: EP2170707A1
Application number: EP08786172A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang STÖRIG; Elmar Sella
Original assignee: Packtron GmbH
Current assignee: Packtron GmbH
Priority date: 2007-07-18
Filing date: 2008-07-16
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-16
Also published as: DE102007033830A1; EP2170707B1; US20100163443A1; WO2009010524A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for packaging packaged goods (2) in a packaging material (4, 14), which surrounds the packaged goods (2) at least partially, the packaging material (4, 14) being unwound from a reel (9, 15) having at least one readable data memory (5) for material data, characterized in that the material data is read from the data memory (5) and processed, wherein at least one of the two following actions is performed: A) Regulating the packaging process as a function of the material data and B) creating a product pass based on the material data. The method according to the invention reduces the possibility of operating errors when packaging packaged goods (2) with packaging material (4, 14). The packaging process is more transparent due to the method according to the invention, and can be tracked and/or reconstructed even at a later time.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PACKAGING PACKAGING

The subject of the present invention is a method for packaging packaged goods and an apparatus for carrying out this method. In particular, the packaged goods can be stretched or strapped. When stripping packaged goods, this is wrapped with stretchable film (also called stretch film).

In particular, for the transport of goods, these are often packed and shipped on pallets, especially in containers, trucks, vans, railway cars, airplanes and / or ships transported. In order to ensure a security of the goods against damage in transit and to allow a good mobility of the pallets, here the goods to be transported are often secured or strapped by means of stretch film. Depending on the type of goods to be transported, another packaging material must be used here. Operating errors such as the use of incorrect packaging material can lead to accidents or transport damage to the goods in transit. If such damage occurs, it is often no longer possible to verify what the damage is based on, for example on a wrong choice of stretch film, which is not suitable for example for the stresses on a flight or also for incorrect parameters in the packaging process. Here it is often difficult to understand, which ultimately led to a corresponding injury.

Proceeding from this, the object of the present invention is to at least alleviate the disadvantages known from the prior art and, in particular, to ensure that the packaging of packaged goods reduces as far as possible the effects of operating errors by operating personnel. These objects are achieved by a method and an apparatus having the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims are directed to advantageous developments.

The inventive method for packaging packaged goods in a packaging material, which at least partially surrounds the packaged, wherein the packaging material is unwound from a roll having an at least readable data storage for material data, characterized in that the material data read from the data storage and verarbei with at least one of the following two actions:

A) Control of the packaging process depending on the material data and

B) Creation of a product pass based on the material data.

Under a packaged goods is understood in particular a single or a plurality of objects to be packaged, which are especially packed in addition, for example in cardboard packaging. An at least readable data memory is understood in particular to mean a data memory from which data can be read out and in which, if appropriate, data can be stored. Material data is understood to mean all data relating to the packaging material and / or the role of the packaging material. A regulation of the packaging process is understood to mean in particular the activation of a corresponding packaging machine. This may in particular be a stretch machine, by means of which the packaged item is completely or partially automatically wrapped with a stretch film. Here, for example, the packaged goods on a pallet from bottom to top one or more times, possibly overlapping wrapped with the stretchable stretch film. Alternatively or additionally, the packaged goods can be strapped. Under a strapping here the wrap of the packaged goods with a band, in particular of a plastic, understood, which is curious and with itself connected, in particular materially connected. The cohesive connection takes place in particular by gluing or welding.

The re-stretching or strapping is used, in particular, to secure the packaging material, which comprises, for example, goods packed in cardboard boxes during transport and / or shipping. In particular, this is understood to mean a transport on a forklift truck, lorry, vans, aircraft, ship and / or a railroad car. The term of the regulation of the packaging process includes the specification and regulation of all operating parameters of the packaging machine. In particular, the control also includes the issuance of a warning message, for example if an unsuitable type of stretch film has been selected.

The creation of a product pass is understood to mean the creation of a document which includes the essential data of the packaging of the product. In particular, the product passport is designed so that it can be seen when, with which packaging material, on which machine and / or with which operating parameters the packaged goods were packed.

Preferred is a process control, in which step A) comprises the selection of a packaging material.

This is advantageously possible in particular if the corresponding packaging machine can resort to different packaging materials or if carrying out a packaging process with an unsuitable material is not possible.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the data carrier is read out without contact. In particular, the data carrier comprises at least one of the following elements: a) a transponder; b) an RFID; and c) a barcode.

Under the non-contact reading of the substance is understood in particular a read-out without manual contact between reader and data carrier. In this case, a read-out process based on electromagnetic radiation is preferred. In particular, transponders and / or RFIDs (Radio Frequency Identification Devices) permit, in addition to a readout of the material data, the storage of data in the corresponding data memory so that data such as, for example, the remaining length of the corresponding roll are also stored in the transponder and / or RFID can.

The non-contact reading of the data has the advantage that no manual or haptic contact with the role of the packaging material must exist, but that the reading of the data can already be done if the roll is not yet inserted in the packaging machine.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, packaged goods data relating to the packaged goods are taken into account.

The packaged goods data may in particular be data that includes the type of packaged goods, dimensions, mass and quantity of the packaged goods. The packaged goods data can be taken from a data carrier and / or manually entered or selected.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the material data comprise at least one of the following information: a) a type of packaging material;

- A - b) one type of packaging material; c) a material composition of the packaging material; d) a thickness of the packaging material; e) a residual amount of packaging material; f) a width of the packaging material; g) a quality level of the packaging material; h) a stress-strain behavior of the packaging material; i) information about tear resistance of the packaging material; j) information on puncture resistance of the packaging material; k) information on the liability of the packaging material to the packaging material;

1) information on the chemical resistance of the packaging material; m) information on the resistance of the packaging material to electromagnetic radiation; n) details of the manufacturer of the packaging material; and (o) information enabling the exact date and circumstances of the manufacture of the packaging material to be determined.

The type of packaging material is understood in particular whether it is, for example, stretch film, strapping, cardboard or the like. A type of material is understood in particular to be the specific name of the material. A composition of the material is understood, in particular, to mean a parameter which is characteristic of the structure or chemical composition of the material, for example of what type of polyethylene an expansion film is formed. Typical thicknesses of the packaging material in stretch films are, for example, in the range of 10 micrometers to 40 micrometers. The remainder of the packaging material is understood to mean the amount which can effectively be used for at least one packaging process. In particular, this is understood to mean a residual run length, preferably a stretch film or a strapping material. The width of the packaging material is understood to be that dimensioning of the packaging material which is available for packaging the material, for example the width of a stretch film. The quality level of the packaging material is understood in particular to mean a parameter which characterizes the applicability and / or loading capacity of the packaging material. By way of example, this may be an expansion or stretching coefficient in the case of a stretch film, which indicates the maximum stretchability of the stretch film possible in the packaging. Information about the tear and / or puncture resistance of the packaging material is understood to mean data that allows conclusions to be drawn about the tear and / or puncture resistance of the packaging material. For example, stretch films which have coefficients of elongation at break of 150% to 500% are advantageously used during stretching. Information about the adhesion of the packaging material to the packaging material is relevant, for example, for stretching operations, since in this case, at least partially overlapping winding adhesion of the stretch film to underlying layers of the stretch film is advantageous, since thereby the stability of the package is increased.

The information on the chemical resistance of the packaging material are particularly important if, for example, a transport and / or storage of the packaged goods are planned or possible in or in environments in which corrosive chemicals are present or may be present. The same applies to the resistance to electromagnetic radiation, in particular with respect to UV radiation.

The information about the manufacturer, for example, allow a manufacturer-specific operation of the packaging machine in which, for example, manufacturer-specific specifications are taken into account or resorted to. In particular, batch and / or lot numbers of the packaging material are understood as indications which permit the exact time and precise circumstances of the production of the packaging material to be determined. In a particularly advantageous manner, the combination of at least one of the parameters a) to o) is used to conduct a procedure which essentially excludes incorrect operation and thus leads to good packaging results with minimized costs and at the same time low accident risk based on incorrect packaging and at the same time traceable at any time is, with which material from which manufacturer the packaging was carried out.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control of the packaging process comprises at least one of the following steps: i) selecting a type of packaging material; ii) selecting a particular type of packaging material; iii) controlling a stretching ratio of a stretch film during stretching; iv) controlling or regulating a number of windings of the packaging material present in at least partial regions of the packaged goods around the packaged goods; v) checking a residual length of the packaging material; vi) controlling a degree of overlap of adjacent wrapping layers of the packaging material; vii) controlling a pitch angle in a winding of the

Packaging material; viii) controlling or pre-stretching the packaging material; and ix) controlling an application voltage of the packaging material.

The selection of the type of packaging material is understood here in particular whether the packaged goods should be stretched or strapped, ie stretch film or strapping is used. In particular, the selection of the type of packaging material involves the selection of a specific quality level, a thickness, a tear and / or puncture resistance of the packaging. understood. A control or regulation of a stretching ratio of a stretch film during stretching is understood to be the specification of a stretching ratio and, if appropriate, its monitoring. To stretch the stretching film is stretched during stretching. The control or regulation of a present at least in some areas of the packaged goods number of windings of the packaging material to the packaged material is particularly important when stretching, since here, for example, in the foot and / or head area of the winding often several layers are wound one above the other. Often, the winding is also wound in the middle region in such a way that at least partial overlapping of the layers takes place. When taking into account the residual length of the packaging material, it is checked whether the remaining amount of packaging material that is still effectively available still suffices for the complete performance of the packaging process. If not, the packaging process will not start and / or the user will be warned.

The control or regulation of a degree of overlap of adjacent winding layers of the packaging material and the control or regulation of a pitch angle in a winding of the packaging material is particularly important for the wrapping of packaging material, for example, during stretching, as about an overlap degree of adjacent winding layers and / or a pitch angle of the packaging material during winding the stability of the packaging can be influenced. This can be done in particular depending on the amount, height and / or mass of the packaged goods. The control or regulation of a pre-stretching of the packaging material is particularly relevant if film, preferably stretch film, is used as the packaging material, since restoring forces are initiated via the adjustment of the pre-stretching and a subsequent corresponding deformation of the film, which effect a fixation of the packaging material. The control or regulation of an application voltage of the packaging material can in particular be made variable in terms of time over the packaging process. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one of the steps i) to ix) is carried out as a function of at least one of the following parameters of the packaged goods: i) the type; II) the amount;

III) of the mass;

IV) the dimensions;

V) a planned use;

VI) a planned mode of transport; and VII) safety requirements of the packaged goods.

Under the nature of the packaged goods is understood, for example, whether they are goods that are completely or only partially packed in cardboard boxes. The quantity takes into account the number of individual pieces in the packaged goods. By mass, the total mass of the packaged goods is understood. Under the dimensions of the packaged goods are the dimensions of the packaged goods and in particular the dimensions relevant to the packaging such as the outer dimensions of the packaged goods to be packaged.

A regulation as a function of a planned use of the packaging material is understood to take into account in the regulation of the packaging process how the packaging material is to be used after transport. In particular, it can be taken into account to what extent damage to the transported goods or their outer packaging can be tolerated. Under a scheme depending on a planned mode of transport of the cargo is the consideration of the transport understood, for example, when transporting by ship lower demands on the packaging are made when transporting by truck or airplane. In particular, an average empirical force determined for certain types of transport is taken into account when selecting the packaging material and carrying out the packaging process. The regulation as a function of safety-relevant requirements of the packaged goods is understood to mean, for example, that if the packaged goods are fragile, a higher lateral stability is produced by the packaging material than if the goods are not fragile. Thus, for example, when stretching a pallet with fragile goods, a thicker film, a higher pre-stretch, a higher number of winding layers and / or a lower pitch angle can be specified and optionally regulated.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the product pass comprises at least one of the following information:

A) the type of packaging material;

B) the type of packaging material; C) the stretching ratio of stretch film during stretching;

D) the number of windings of the packaging material around the packaged goods;

E) a degree of overlap of adjacent winding layers;

F) a pitch angle in a winding of the packaging material to the packaged goods;

G) a pre-stretching of the packaging material;

H) an application voltage of the packaging material;

I) the nature of the packaged goods;

J) the quantity of the packaged goods; K) the mass of the packaged goods;

L) the planned use of the packaging material;

M) a planned shipping method of the packaged goods; and

N) safety-related requirements of the packaged goods.

O) manufacturer of the packaging material; P) information allowing the exact time and circumstances of the packaging material to be determined; Q) the time of the packaging process; and R) information about the packer.

In particular, the product passport may be produced in at least one of the following forms: a) as a printout, for example on paper; b) as an expression on the packaging material; c) on a decentrally stored electronic data store; and d) as readable electronic data storage associated with the packaged goods or the packaging, in particular in the form of a transponder and / or RFID.

The product pass preferably comprises a corresponding coding to which the corresponding data can be assigned. The product pass allows the reconstruction of the packaging process, so that, on the one hand, it can be demonstrated, for example, advantageously for the packer, that he has fulfilled the requirements of the sender, recipient, carrier and / or owner of the packaged goods. On the other hand, in the event of an accident involving, for example, slipping cargo, information may be obtained on the nature and operation of the package, which will enable the accident to be clarified and / or the packaging materials or processes to be improved.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is proposed, which in particular has corresponding means for carrying out the corresponding method steps.

In particular, it can be a stretch or strapping machine, which in particular comprises read and / or write heads for communication with transponders and / or RFIDs. The device may in particular comprise a control means in which the method according to the invention runs. Furthermore, a product packed according to the method according to the invention is claimed.

The details and advantages disclosed for the method according to the invention can be applied to the device according to the invention and the product according to the invention and transmitted and in each case vice versa.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures, without being limited to the details shown there. They show schematically:

1 shows a first embodiment of a stretch machine;

Fig. 2 shows an example of a packaging material on a roll;

3 shows a second embodiment of a stretch machine; and

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a strapping machine.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a stretch machine 1, namely a pallet-winding-stretch machine. In this are to be packed items 2 as packaged goods on a pallet 3. These packaged goods 2 are wrapped by the stretch machine 1 with a film 4 in which the pallet 3 is rotated by a rotation means 8, while a film roll 9 on a stator 10th is moved up and down. When wrapping the pallet 3 and the packaged goods 2, the film 4 is stretched.

The stretch machine 1 is operated by the method according to the invention.

For this purpose, the film 4 on a only schematically indicated disk 5. The data carrier 5 comprises in particular a so-called RFID or a

Transponder, which is formed on, on or in a sleeve, not shown, on the film 4 is wound up. The stretch machine 1 has means 6 for communication with the data carrier 5. If the data carrier 5 is a transponder, reading devices corresponding to the means 6 for reading data can be formed which can communicate with the identification unit 5 via electromagnetic radiation, preferably in the RF range (radio frequency range). Alternatively or additionally, the pallet 3 can also have a further data carrier 20, which likewise can preferably be read out and / or described without contact by corresponding means 6 for communication with the data carrier 20. Preferably, the data carrier 20 on the pallet 3 comprises the product pass according to the present invention.

According to the invention, the stretch machine 1 is operated in dependence on the material data read from the data carrier 5. Furthermore, a product pass from at least parts of the material data and possibly packaging good data is created and stored on the data carrier 20. The storage takes place via the means 6 for communication with the data carrier 20. Furthermore, the remaining length of film 4 is stored on the data carrier 5 of the film 4. The remaining exemplary embodiments of stretch and strapping machines are likewise operated according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a packaging material, namely a film roll 9 from a wound on a sleeve 7 film 4. The sleeve 7 comprises in its interior an RFID as a data carrier 5 with material data on the film 4. Alternatively or additionally, the film itself, for example, in periodic Intervals include further identification units, in particular corresponding barcodes.

FIG. 3 shows a further example of a stretch machine 1 operated according to the invention. This is a so-called horizontal winder. In this, a packaging material comprising at least one article to be packaged 2, usually a relatively bulky packaged article 2 such as a carpet or large-format building boards, is wrapped with a film 4. The film 4 is here wound onto a sleeve 7 and thus forms a film roll 9, which comprises a data carrier 5. The stretch machine 1 comprises means 6 for communication with the data carrier 5 for reading out material data stored on the data carrier 5. This reading takes place without contact, for example by electromagnetic radiation when using an RFID as a data carrier 5. In this stretch machine 1, the rotating means 8 move the film roll 9 around the packaged product 2, this can be moved by appropriate feed means 11.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a strapping machine 13 operated according to the invention. This is a so-called frame strapping machine 13, in which a packaged product 2 is strapped with a band 14, usually a plastic and / or metal band. The tape 14 is stored on a tape roll 15, which comprises a data carrier 5. The strapping machine 13 comprises means 6 for communication with the data carrier 5 for reading out material data stored on the data carrier 5. The reading is carried out without contact, for example by electromagnetic radiation using at least one RFID as a disk 5. In a frame strapping machine 13, the belt 14 is guided by a formed in the frame 16 and in the drive unit 19 tape guide channel 17, so that first of the frame 16 limited space 18 is surrounded by band 14. In this case, the guide of the belt 14 through the tape guide channel 17, for example, by in the drive unit 19 formed (not shown) drive wheels, which force the belt 14 drive. Now, if the tape guide channel 17 is charged with the tape 14, it can be done by contracting the tape 14, a strapping of the packaging material 2 in the space 18. For this purpose, the band guide channel 17 is provided on the inside with spring-operated closures, which open when contraction of the band 14 and release the band 14 in an advantageous manner. After the band 14 abuts the packaged product 2 and / or after a predetermined tension is applied to the band 14, the band 14 becomes self-contained connected, for example, welded and / or glued and then separated so that the packaged material 2 remains strapped with closed band 14.

According to the invention, the strapping machine 13 is operated as a function of the material data on the data carrier 5 and optionally of packaged goods data, so that, for example, the material of the band 14 (for example metal or plastic) is selected according to the packaged product 2 and, for example, the position of the band 14 on Packaged 2 or the number of bands 14 per packaged 2 is determined.

The inventive method reduces the possibility of operating errors in the packaging of packaging material 2 with packaging material 4, 14. The packaging process is transparent by the erfmdungsgemäße method and can also later be reconstructed and / or reconstructed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I stretch machine 2 to be packed items

3 pallet

4 foil

5 data carrier

6 means for reading data 7 sleeve

8 rotating agents

9 film roll

10 tripod

I 1 feed means 12 control means

13 strapping machine

14 band

15 roll of tape

16 Frame 17 Tape guide channel

18 room

19 drive unit

20 more volumes

Claims

claims

A method for packaging packaging material (2) into a packaging material (4, 14) which at least partially surrounds the packaging material (2), wherein the packaging material (4, 14) is unwound from a roll (9, 15) having a at least readable data memory (5) for material data, characterized in that the material data from the data memory (5) are read out and processed, wherein at least one of the following two actions is performed: A) control of the packaging process depending on the material data and B) Creation of a product pass based on the material data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step A) comprises selecting a packaging material (4, 14).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data carrier is read out without contact.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data carrier (5) comprises at least one of the following elements: a) a transponder; b) an RFID; and c) a barcode.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the packaged goods (2) relevant packaged goods data are taken into account.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material data comprises at least one of the following information: a) a type of packaging material (4, 14); b) one type of packaging material (4, 14); c) a material composition of the packaging material (4, 14); d) a thickness of the packaging material (4, 14); e) a residual amount of packaging material; f) a width of the packaging material (4, 14); g) a quality level of the packaging material (4, 14); h) a stress-strain behavior of the packaging material (4,

14); i) information about tear resistance of the packaging material (4, 14); j) information on puncture resistance of the packaging material (4,

14); (k) information on the liability of the packaging material (4, 14) on the

Packaging material (4, 14);

1) information on the chemical resistance of the packaging material (4, 14); (m) information on the durability of the packaging material (4, 14) in

Reference to electromagnetic radiation; n) details of the manufacturer of the packaging material (4, 14); and

0) Information that allows the exact time and circumstances of the packaging material (4, 14) to be determined.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control of the packaging process comprises at least one of the following steps:

1) Selection of one type of packaging material (4, 14); ii) selecting a particular type of packaging material (4, 14); iii) controlling a stretching ratio of a stretch film during stretching; iv) controlling or regulating a number of windings of the packaging material (4, 14) present around the packaged product (2) at least in partial regions of the packaged good (2); v) checking a residual length of the packaging material (4, 14); vi) controlling an overlapping degree of adjacent winding layers of the packaging material (4, 14); vii) controlling a pitch angle in a winding of the packaging material (4, 14); (viii) control or regulation of pre-stretching of the packaging material (4, 14); and ix) controlling an application voltage of the packaging material (4, 14).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the steps i) to ix) is carried out in dependence on at least one of the following parameters of the packaged product (2):

I) of the species;

II) the amount;

III) of the mass; IV) the dimensions;

V) a planned use;

VI) a planned mode of transport; and

VII) safety-relevant requirements of the packaged goods (2).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the product passport comprises at least one of the following information:

A) the type of packaging material (4, 14);

B) the type of packaging material (4, 14);

C) the stretching ratio of stretch film during stretching; D) the number of turns of the packaging material (4, 14) around the

Packaged goods (2); E) a degree of overlap of adjacent winding layers;

F) a pitch angle at a winding of the packaging material (4, 14) to the packaged goods;

G) a pre-stretching of the packaging material (4, 14); H) an application voltage of the packaging material (4, 14);

I) the type of packaged goods (2);

J) the quantity of the packaged goods (2);

K) the mass of the packaged goods (2);

L) the planned use of the packaged goods (2); M) a planned shipping method of the packaged goods (2);

N) safety-related requirements of the packaged goods (2);

O) manufacturer of the packaging material (4, 14);

P) information enabling the exact time and circumstances of the packaging material (4, 14) to be determined;

Q) the time of the packaging process; and

R) Information about the packer.

10. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Product packaged according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 10.