EP2210813B2 - Method and device for packaging small articles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for packaging small-sized articles, in particular with a handle (Lollipop).

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

At one off US5450706 Known packaging machine Lollipops are separated from a supply in a substantially in a horizontal deployment plane article-task and - singularized, and the isolated Lollipops are removed from the pockets by means of a removal head, by fixed thereto on a plate gripper assemblies and then handed over to the packaging head. To remove the lollipops, a swivel plate is used in conjunction with a base plate and a stalk gripper which grips the stem.

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

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

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for packaging small-sized items, especially with a handle, which allow to achieve higher packaging quality with high packaging quality and to create the conditions, even in the packaging of complicated items in the High-performance area. In particular, a higher quality packaging for the article is to be achieved.

The above object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device having the features of claim 9.

The methods and apparatus of the present invention are particularly advantageous in that they are the first in the field of continuously operating machines, i. Packaging machines with continuous passage of the article through the machine, only two rotating heads, namely a rotating picking head and a rotating packing head, are provided so that reduce the machine times for the packaging of an article and by a higher integration density of the packaging operations or required for this Packaging units also for complicated items, such as eg Stalked articles, push into the high performance region of e.g. 1,000 products per minute is possible. According to the invention, the articles are picked up by a rotating removal head and passed on to a rotating packing head and are preferably dispensed after completion of the product packaging by a dispensing device.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the associated subclaims.

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

In the context of the present application, the new methods and devices are provided, in particular with regard to the packaging of articles with handles (lollipops).

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

The device according to the invention is also advantageously further developed in that the packaging material supply is displaced into the removal head, whereas hitherto a separate gripper head has been provided between the removal head and the packing head of continuously operating machines is. The first head in the machine, which receives the individual articles from an article-feeding and separating device, such as a separating disk, thus also contains the means previously associated with a separate gripper head for feeding packaging material into the removal head to the article and the article together with the packaging material to be delivered directly from the removal head to the packing head.

As a product example, the present application relates, in particular, to the packaging of small-sized articles with a stem, so-called lollipops, without being limited thereto. Such articles have not hitherto been able to be packaged with high performance machines which have a product output of e.g. equip approx. 1,000 pieces per minute. An advantageous process for the packaging of such products according to the working principle of continuously operating packaging machines is that the isolated, a stem having articles are not taken as before on the free end of the stem, but are included in the range of an article-side end of the stem, i. immediately or as close as possible behind the ball of the product. This results in the advantage that e.g. Positional error of the stem to the ball does not affect the product handling, so that a very safe product removal takes place, and tolerances (for example, eccentricities between stem and ball) have no influence on the further packaging process.

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

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

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

Fig. 1

eine Verpackungsmaschine für die Verpakkung von Artikeln mit Stiel (Lollipops) nach dem kontinuierlichen Prinzip in schematischer Vor- deransicht,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Artikel-Aufgabe- und -verein- zelungseinrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Teildarstellung einer Bürsteneinrichtung zur Arti- kelorientierung,

Fig. 4

eine schematische perspektivische Teildarstellung einer Leertaktsen- soreinrichtung der Artikel-Aufgabe- und -vereinzelungseinrichtung,

Fig. 5

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

Fig. 6

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

Fig. 7

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

Fig. 8

eine schematische Gesamtdarstellung von Entnahmekopf und Pack- kopf in Vorderansicht,

Fig. 9

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

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Teil-Gesamtdarstellung wesentlicher Funktions-einheiten der Verpakkungsmaschine nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 11

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

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Teilansicht eines hinteren Drehkopfes mit Dreh- greifern in schematischer Darstellung,

Fig. 13

eine Drehstation mit vorderem und hinterem Drehkopf unter Ein- schluss des zwischenliegenden Packkopfes in schematischer Darstellung,

Fig. 14

eine schematische Darstellung eines vorderen Endes eines beheiz- ten Drehgreifers mit einem Paar Drehgreiferbacken, und

Fig. 15

eine schematische Verfahrensdarstellung für den Verpackungsvor- gang in der Verpakkungsmaschine nach Anspruch 1 für die Verpa- ckung eines Artikels mit Stiel (Lollipop).

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

Fig. 1

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

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the article task and -Zcelungseinrichtung,

Fig. 3

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

Fig. 4

a schematic perspective partial representation of a blank clock sensor device of the article posting and separating device,

Fig. 5

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

Fig. 6

a partial perspective view of the removal head after Fig. 5 in the removal process, ie in conjunction with the Aufgabering the separating device during the removal of an article, seen from the singulator,

Fig. 7

a representation of the removal head similar to that in Fig. 6 depicting the provision of a piece of packaging material to an article in the removal head,

Fig. 8

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

Fig. 9

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

Fig. 10

a perspective partial overall view of essential functional units of Verpakkungsmaschine after Fig. 1 .

Fig. 11

a perspective, schematic representation of a partial section of a packing head in conjunction with a rotary gripper for Ansiebling the packaging to a stem of an article (Lollipop),

Fig. 12

3 is a schematic partial perspective view of a rear rotary head with rotary grippers;

Fig. 13

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

Fig. 14

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

Fig. 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the Fig. 3 and 4 are in different perspective and schematic representation again details on the one hand of the brush system 7 ( Fig. 3 ) and an empty-cycle sensor device 9 explained below. It clarifies Fig. 3 again, the different geometries of the brushes 7b, 7c, 7d, wherein the brush 7b forms a substantially elongated cylindrical body, with a first cylindrical portion 7b1, and a leading conical portion 7b2 with increasing diameter, for sorting the article A with the balls A2 in the pockets 4, which also participates in this function, the cylindrical brush 7c. The disk-shaped, in its width about the width of Aufgaberinges 3 corresponding brush 7c is used again for secure fixing of the products A (in Fig. 3 not shown) in the pockets 4. Small three-phase motors 13 individually drive each of the brushes 7b, 7c, 7d.

In Fig. 3 bottom right pockets 4 of Aufgaberinges 3 are not shown. Out Fig. 3 It can also be seen that below the Aufgaberinges a guide rail 14 which covers the pockets 4 down over the vast majority of the circumference of Aufgaberinges 3, so that the articles A are received in the pockets tip over.

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

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

That in conjunction with the Fig. 2 and 3 explained brush system 7 for the reliable placement of the article A in the pockets 4 and thus to ensure a high degree of filling the Aufgaberinges 3 may also consist of a single mold brush having a correspondingly adapted geometry in individual sections to the here on three brushes 7b, 7c, 7d split placement function to ensure.

Fig. 5 shows in a schematic and perspective partial representation of the article recording situation and the removal head 10 at the sampling point at which the article A are removed from the Aufgabering 3. Its direction of rotation is indicated by the arrow L, while the direction of rotation of the removal head 10 rotating about the axis of rotation 11 is designated by the arrow M in the clockwise direction. The articles A positioned in the feed ring 3 are placed on the stem A1 at an in Fig. 5 taken with E designated removal point, wherein the removal head 10 in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of Aufgaberinges 3 about the stationary axis of rotation 11 rotates. On its front are removal units 18, which in turn are pivotally mounted about a respective pivot axis 19 on the removal head 10.

In the present embodiment, the removal head 10 is provided with six arranged in the circumferential direction at a uniform angular distance, pivotable removal units 18 (s. Fig. 6 ), wherein each removal unit 18 is associated with an additional and about a parallel pliers pivot axis 22 pivotable packaging tongs 23, as shown in Fig. 6 and 7 can be seen in more detail. The pliers pivot axis 22 extends parallel to the axis of rotation 11 of the removal head 10 and parallel to the pivot axis 19 of the removal units 18 (holding jaw pairs 24).

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

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

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

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

As the Fig. 5 and 6 (The latter illustrates the removal head 10 schematically in a perspective frontal view), each removal unit 18, ie each pair of swivel jaw pair 24 associated with a Packmittelzange 23, which consists essentially of a U-shaped, ie slotted plate, and about a pliers pivot axis 22, the parallel for holding jaw pivot axis 19, but runs separately from this and also controlled independently, is pivotable.

This packaging tongs 23 performs an accelerated movement and serves to create the possibility already between sampling point on Aufgabering 3 and transfer point to the packing head 20 for the packaging of the article A required piece of packaging material 12 to the removal head 10 and this on the article A in conjunction to arrange with the holder of the same by the holding jaw pair 24.

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

The respective control movements for each pair of jaws 24 as a whole, for the opening and closing movement of the jaws 24a, 24b of each pair of jaws 24, as well as the pivotal movement of each packing tongs 23 is derived from cams, as in connection with the rotation of the removal head 10 to the stationary Rotation axis 11 thereof are formed. For this, reference is made to the schematic perspective view Fig. 9 directed. Control cams 25, 26 in conjunction with control rollers 27, 28 serve to control the movement of the rear and front holding jaws 24b, 24a of the respective holding jaw pair 24, wherein the entire removal unit 18 rotates in a pot curve 29 about the stationary axis of rotation 11, including each removal unit 18th associated pliers pivot axis 22 with packing tongs 23, the pivoting movement control by means of cams 31 and corresponding cam followers 32 takes place. In this case, the requirements must be taken into account, on the one hand the piece of packaging material 12 overhanging the article A, ie close to the same by the Packmittelzange 23 and corresponding abutment on the holding jaws 24 set, on the other hand, an undisturbed removal of the article A from the Aufgabering 3 by the holding jaw pair 24 to ensure, without causing collisions between the packaging tongs 23 and the Aufgabering 3, or even a dangerous in continuous operation of such a packaging machine interference situation occurs in the region of the sampling point. This problem is solved in the present case in that the packaging tongs 23, in particular Fig. 7 illustrates, a U-shaped plate is, that has a central slot 33, which can accommodate the Packmittelzange 23 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the removal head 10 immersion movement an arm 34 of the front holding jaw 24a in its center slot 33 and in this way at the removal point in an opposing pitching or immersion movement is passed, as compared to the different phase angles of the holding jaw pairs 24 and associated packing tongs 23 in the region of the sampling point in Fig. 7 is clarified. To hold a piece of packaging material 12 so that it hangs over the already gripped article A to then be further folded around the article in the packing head 20, the front holding jaw 24A each have a clamping abutment 35. Therefore, the packaging material piece 12 is clamped between the front end of the packing tongs 23 and the clamping abutment 35 with a rear portion of the packaging material piece 12 and simultaneously laid over the article A, ie, the ball A2 thereof. In addition to the immanent continuous rotational movement of the removal head 11, three further movements are realized on this:

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

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

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

Fig. 8 schematically shows the interaction between the extraction head 10 and packing head 20 and illustrates the processes that take place respectively within the heads 10, 20.

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

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

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

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

How out Fig. 13 can be seen, the rotary gripper 71 of the rear rotary head 70 are completely different from the rotary grippers 61 of the front rotary head 60, the latter in this case of conventional construction, as in connection with a packaging material hose opposite to the stem of the product engaged and for the formation of a Rotary vane provided in a conventional manner.

The following is therefore with reference to the Figures 11 . 12 , and 13 only referred to the novel, provided at the rear rotary head 70 rotary gripper 71 reference, which are heated according to the invention.

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

The rotary grippers 71 are distinguished from the rotary grippers 61 on the front rotary head 60 in that they are heated, and by heating the rotary gripper 31 or at least one of the rotary gripper jaws 72a, 72b may be a heat sealing and in conjunction with appropriate packing material a high Ansiegelqualität on Stalk be realized in the area of the transition from the stem A1 to the ball A2.

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

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

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

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

As already in connection with Fig. 13 2, opposite the above-described rear rotary head 70 with the heated rotary grippers 71 on the other side of the packing head 20, there is the further front rotary head 60 with the rotary grippers 61, which are preferably unheated, and produce a conventional rotary blade from the protruding packaging material hose, which is then located on the opposite side of the ball A1 (ie above), when the stem A1 points down.

The dispenser which conveys the finished packaged articles (lollipops) to a delivery belt 40 via a delivery wheel 50 is shown schematically in FIG Fig. 1 shown.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The invention provides, for the first time, a continuous product packaging machine with two product-processing heads, which makes it possible, in the case of complicated products (products with handle), in previously unachievable performance ranges of e.g. Approximately 1,000 work cycles per minute to penetrate, while a compact and product and packaging sparing structure to realize, combined with high product safety and low susceptibility to failure of the packaging device.

Claims (15)

1. Method for the continuous packaging of small articles (A), in particular articles (A) with a stick (A1), in the high performance range of, for example, 1000 operating cycles per minute,
   whereby the articles (A) are distributed essentially in a horizontal positioning plane by an article feeding and distributing device (1), and the articles (A) are individually accepted in a rotary motion by a pick-up head (10), rotatable about a stationary axis of rotation (11) and arranged above the article feeding and distributing device (1), by opposed movable holding jaws (24a, 24b) of pairs of holding jaws (24) which are pivotable as pick-up units (18) about separate pivot axes (19) extending parallel to the rotation axis (11) of the pick-up head (10), on the pick-up head (10) and are located to circulate with it, and said articles are transported continuously to a packing head (20) which acts to form the packaging completely,
   whereby the packing head (20) is also arranged above the article feeding and distributing device (1) and is rotatable about a stationary axis of rotation (21), the articles are guided in the pick-up head (10) on a first circular track section running essentially in a vertical plane, and packaging material is fed essentially radially to the motion of the article (A) towards it and clamped near the article (A), which is held by an associated pair of holding jaws (24), by a packing material tongs (23) and a clamping counterpart (35) on the associated pair of holding jaws (24), wherein the packing material tongs (23) are pivoted about a tong pivot axis (22) rotating with the pick-up head (10) and being parallel to the pivot axis (19) of the associated pick-up unit (18).
2. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the packaging material is inserted into the pick-up head (10).
3. Method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a piece of packaging material (12) is placed in an angular or U shape around the article (A) in the pick-up head (10), and / or packing head holding jaws (37a, 37b) of a pair of packing head holding jaws (37) grasp the article (A) as the piece of packaging material (12) is placed in an intermediate position, in particular to form a packaging material tube.
4. Method in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the packing material tongs (23) provided to attach a piece of packaging material (12) to the associated article (A) are accelerated before the packaging material is fed into the pick-up head (10).
5. Method in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, on the path between acceptance of the article (A) from the article feeding and distributing device (1) by the pick-up head (10) and the delivery of the article (A) from the pick-up head (10) to the packing head (20), the orientation of the position of the article (A) is changed, in particular by rotating the article (A) by approx. 90°, and / or the article (A) is guided also by the packing head (20) on a second circular track section running essentially in a vertical plane.
6. Method in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the distributed articles (A) are provided by the article feeding and distributing device (1) by a rotating motion in a counter clockwise direction, and / or the packing head (20) is driven in a counter clockwise direction to cooperate with the pick-up head (10) driven in a clockwise direction.
7. Method in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 1 to 6, characterised by

   - acceptance from above of a distributed article (A) by a pair of holding jaws (24) pivotable on the pick-up head (10) about a pivot axis (19) and a rotational motion of the article (A) in a clockwise direction by the pick-up head (10),

   - radial feed of the packaging material into the pick-up head (10) between pick-up of the article (A) from the article feeding and distributing device (1) and delivery of the article (A) to the packing head (20),

   - the placing of a piece of packaging material (12) near the article (A) in the pick-up head (10) while pivoting the packing material tongs (21), allocated to the pick-up unit (18) of the pick-up head (10), about its curve-controlled driven tong pivot axis (22) fixed in the pick-up head (10) and extending parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the pick-up head (10) and of the pivot axis (19) of the pick-up units (18), and

   - complete forming of the packaging of the article (A) by the packing head (20) which rotates in a counter clockwise direction and acceptance of the articles (A) by packing head holding jaws (37a, 37b) located to pivot on the packing head (20).
8. Method in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a difference in separation between the distributed articles (A) in the article feeding and distributing device (1) and the pick-up units (18) of the pick-up head (10) accepting the articles (A) is compensated by an accelerated motion of the pick-up units (18) provided before and/or after acceptance of the article (A), in particular a pivoting motion about the pivot axis (19) of each pick-up unit.
9. Device for the packaging of small articles, in particular articles with a stick, with only two rotating heads carrying articles, whereby, arranged above an article feeding and distributing device (1), are a pick-up head (10) rotatable about a stationary axis of rotation (11) and a packing head (20) rotatable about a stationary axis of rotation (21) which is in rolling engagement with said pick-up head,
   the pick-up head (10) is provided with pick-up units (18) which comprise opposed movable holding jaws (24a, 24b) of pairs of holding jaws (24), whereby the pick-up units (18) are provided to pivot about separate pivot axes (19) extending parallel to the axis of rotation (11) of the pick-up head (10), on the pick-up head (10),
   packaging material is fed essentially radially to the motion of the article (A) in the pick-up head (10) to said head, and each pick-up unit (18) with the pairs of holding jaws (24) has assigned thereto a set of packing material tongs (23) which are pivotable about a tong pivot axis (22) which is fixed in the pick-up head (10) and parallel to the pivot axis (19) of the associated pick-up unit (18) and which are used for clamping the piece of the packaging material (12) near the article (A) held by the associated pair of holding jaws (24) between the packing material tongs (23) and a clamping counterpart (35) on the associated pair of holding jaws (24).
10. Device in accordance with claim 9, characterised in that the packing material tongs (23) consist of a sheet which is pivotable about the tong pivot axis (22) parallel to the pivot axis (19) of the pick-up units and the axis of rotation (11) of the pick-up head (10), and the tong pivot axis (22) is provided separate from the pivot axis (19) of the pick-up units (18) and can be controlled independently of the latter, preferably the packing material tongs can be controlled to perform an accelerated motion.
11. Device in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 9 or 10, characterised in that the pivotable pick-up units (18) with the pairs of holding jaws (24) are provided with equiangular spacing on the pick-up head (10) and circulate around with it.
12. Device in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 9 to 11, characterised in that, in conjunction with the rotation of the pick-up head (10) about the stationary axis of rotation (11), control movements are provided en bloc for each pair of holding jaws (24) for the opening and closing motion of the holding jaws (24a, 24b) of each pair of holding jaws (24) as well as the pivotal motion of each packing material tongs (23) derived from stationary control cams (25, 26, 31) in conjunction with control rollers (27, 28) which provide control of the motion of the pivot axes (19) fixed in the pick-up head (10) and of the tong pivot axes (22).
13. Device in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 9 to 12, characterised in that the pivot axes (19) of the pick-up units (18) and the tong pivot axes (22) of the packing material tongs (23) allocated to the latter are fixed stationary and rotatable In the pick-up head (10) and rotate with said head, and are rotatable during the rotation of the pick-up head (10) by control rollers (27, 28) or cam followers engaging with stationary control cams (25, 26, 31).
14. Device in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 9 to 13, characterised in that the articles (A) are guided on the packing head as they rotate through approx. 270° until completely packed.
15. Device in accordance with at least one of the foregoing claims 9 to 14, characterised in that a packing material feeding device is provided adjacent to the pick-up head (10), the packaging material is inserted into the pick-up head (10), and a motion control to

    - open and close the pairs of holding jaws (24) of the pick-up units (18),

    - pivot the pairs of holding jaws (24) of the pick-up units (18) en bloc,

    - pivot the packing material tongs (23)

    is provided in the pick-up head (10).

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