EP2364917A1 - Method and device for handling items - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves impinging the grouped articles by an application unit (16) during a handling movement with the help of the application unit that is following the conveyed articles in sections and are put into another handling process in temporal connection with the former handling process. The articles are integrated into a container (18) during the former handling process by a band-like strapping that is attached by the application unit and clasping the articles in horizontal direction. An independent claim is also included for an application unit for use in a container manufacturing device for handling two articles integrated into a container.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of at least two articles combined into one container. The invention further relates to an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and combined into a container, moving by means of a conveyor, articles.

There are various options available to combine individual articles into larger containers. Thus, for example, beverage containers can be combined and packaged by means of shrink film wrappings into containers of four, six or more containers. The production of containers is usually unavoidable, since such containers form the most common variant of sales units for beverage containers and bottles made of PET plastic. The containers are partially recombined for transport and / or put together in layers and palletized. The shrink films used for the production of known containers require certain production steps, which have a relatively high energy requirement. In addition, the film used causes costs for production, for the provision, for handling and for later disposal, since it is no longer needed after the sale. The machine equipment for providing the so-called. Film wrapping modules and other handling stations causes high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the so-called. Shrink tunnel, in which the beaten to the container film is shrunk by Heißluftbeaufschlagung around the bottles, requires a relatively high energy and capital investment.

An alternative variant to container manufacture is that the articles to be joined are held together with a strapping strapped horizontally around the outsides of the articles, which is placed around the articles during an uninterrupted conveying process and then fixed. During the application of the strapping, the articles need not be stopped because the strapping can be applied in a continuous process during the uninterrupted promotion of the articles around them. Usually, the strapping is made by two or more straps, wire, plastic, metal, paper, or one stretched around the outsides of the articles, and then tensioned at their ends Composite formed. The ends of the bands may optionally be glued together, welded, clamped, knotted or otherwise connected.

The application of the strapping can take place, for example, by means of a so-called application head. In this way, the strapping can be applied with an application head which is pushed from above over the articles located on a horizontal conveyor and moved in the horizontal direction and which moves in synchrony with the feed speed of the horizontal conveyor. Optionally, the strapping device can also comprise a gantry or articulated robot with a strapping head, which moves in the vertical direction over the articles during the application of the strapping and at the same time moves along with the articles in the horizontal conveying direction.

Since these application heads are constructed relatively complex and have a certain amount of time for the application of the strapping and therefore must be moved over a specific conveyor line, usually for further treatment steps or processes on the container no space and / or hardly process time, should not reduce the processing speed which is usually undesirable. Often, however, it is necessary to provide the containers produced by strapping with suitable support means to allow easy and comfortable handling. In particular, such a carrying handle is intended to improve the handling comfort for the end customer, who can comfortably carry and implement the containers with the aid of the above-attached carrying handle or loops.

The EP 0 174 015 B1 discloses an application device for attaching carrying handles to articles such as packaging containers for drinks. The handle material is fed from a continuous strip and placed on a drum before it is cut and applied to the objects from above. A pair of application arms engages the corresponding recessed drum and thereby engages adhesive end portions of the handle portion to move against the side surfaces of the article.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a quick, inexpensive and easy to handle way of producing containers, in which the containers with both a strapping and with a Carrying handle to be provided. With the present invention, the corresponding manufacturing processes should at least be accelerated.

These objects of the invention are achieved with the subject matters of the independent claims, wherein features of advantageous developments of the invention result from the respective dependent claims. In order to achieve the stated aim, the invention proposes a method for treating at least two articles combined into a container, in which the previously grouped articles act on them during a conveying movement by means of an application device following the conveyed article at least in sections and in temporal relationship with a first Treatment process to be subjected to a second treatment process. This integrated method makes it possible to apply a handle to a container treated by means of a strapping application device largely without a time delay. When it is said in this method that the second treatment process takes place in temporal connection with the first treatment process, it is meant that the second treatment process can take place approximately simultaneously, immediately after or immediately before the first treatment process. This is typically achieved by the fact that the two treatment processes take place in a temporally combined or integrated manner, preferably within a common application step and by means of an integrated application device.

Normally, the articles are combined during the first treatment process by means of at least one, applied by the application device ribbon-like, the articles wrapping in the horizontal direction strapping into a container. In addition, in this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the articles are provided during the second treatment process with a band-like carrying device or carrying loop which overlaps the container at its upper side. In this case, the carrying device or the carrying loop can in particular be supplied from a strip supply and be brought to a suitable length in the region of the application device and cut off.

A further embodiment variant of the method according to the invention can provide that the carrying strap applied to the container is held in a middle section approximately centrally above the container and at a distance therefrom, while its two free ends are pivoted on both sides by vertical means Side surfaces of the container approximated, pressed and fixed there. The handling devices for the carrying strap can hold these at the contact points in particular in each case by means of negative pressure. This carrying handle may possibly contribute to the additional position stabilization of the container formation, so that the beverage container can move to a lesser extent against each other, especially if the handle has a slightly diagonal position and the article at least slightly braced against each other.

Since the simultaneous or immediately successive application of the strapping and the carrying straps may take longer than the transport speed dictates, a particularly useful variant of the method according to the invention may be to treat immediately consecutive packages of separate application devices during the conveying movement and spatially offset from each other, moved during their treatment operations with the containers and moved after completion of the treatment operations with a return stroke against the conveying direction and fed to a subsequent group of articles. In this case, at least two similar application devices or heads are used which handle and handle time-shifted successive containers, so that the conveying speed can be maintained at an original level, which is generally matched to the mere strapping of the containers. Alternatively, three or more similar application devices can be used for each of a number of successively moving containers, if this is useful or necessary for reasons of faster processing.

The present invention further comprises an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and grouped by a conveyor moving articles, a strapping device for applying a band-like strapping the articles in the horizontal direction strapping and means for applying a, the container Having at its top cross band-like carrying device or carrying strap. This application device can, for example, be connected to a supply of tape for feeding the carrying device or the carrying loop. In addition, it can with a suitable cutting device for cutting the tape supply into sections each be provided appropriate length. The cutting device can in each case cut lengths of tape in lengths suitable for carrying loops from the endless strip supply.

According to a further embodiment variant, the application device according to the invention can have a holding device for temporarily fixing a middle section of the carrying loop approximately centrally above the container and spaced therefrom, which also has pivoting devices for guiding and attaching the two free ends of the carrying strap to vertical side surfaces of the container. This handling device for the strap can hold them at the touch points each by means of negative pressure.

Furthermore, the application device according to the invention can have guide and conveying devices for feeding the required strip sections for the carrying loop in the horizontal direction above the bundle and for placing the cut strip section approximately centrally above the bundle.

Finally, the present invention relates to a device for producing containers from a plurality of articles combined by strapping, comprising a conveying device for the continuous transport of grouped articles and an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and combined into a container, moving by means of the conveyor, articles. The application device has a strapping device for applying a band-like strapping, which straps around the articles in the horizontal direction, and a device for applying a strap-like carrying device or carrying loop which overlaps the bundle at its upper side.

If in the present context usually only spoken of articles, so this can be the most varied types of cargo, eg. Bottles, beverage containers, cans etc. Thus, for example, PET beverage containers are increasingly summarized by means of tape strapping to packs. In this connection, the present invention offers the mentioned advantages.

By combining the application of the handles and the strapping in a common application device, the entire length of the packaging line can be shorter. Individual modules, in which the containers each have to be split again and the corresponding application head must be brought back into a synchronized movement, can be omitted. In addition, since the container at Strapping process in a spatially and force moderately fixed position, the bonding process when applying the - easily be placed at an angle - handle with simultaneous application of pressure forces on the container is made particularly reliable.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Transportstrecke mit aufeinander folgenden Behältergruppen, die von mehreren Applikationsvorrichtungen zur Aufbringung von Gebindeumreifungen und von Handgriffen beaufschlagt werden.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Transportstrecke gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine Detailansicht der Transportstrecke gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsvariante eines Teils der Applikationsvorrichtung zur Aufbringung der Handgriffe.
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsvariante eines Teils der Applikationsvorrichtung zur Aufbringung der Handgriffe.
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer dritten Ausführungsvariante eines Teils der Applikationsvorrichtung zur Aufbringung der Handgriffe.
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer vierten Ausführungsvariante eines Teils der Applikationsvorrichtung zur Aufbringung der Handgriffe.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures illustrate and illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the present invention in their details and functions.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a transport path with successive groups of containers that are acted upon by several application devices for applying container strapping and handles.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the transport path according to Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the transport route according to Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a portion of the application device for applying the handles.
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a part of the application device for applying the handles.
• Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a part of the application device for applying the handles.
• Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a portion of the application device for applying the handles.

Based on the schematic representations of FIGS. 1 to 3 is a transport path 10, each in groups 12 of two, four or more upright beverage containers 14 illustrates that are summarized by means of inventive application devices 16 strapped containers 18, which are provided on an upper side respectively with handles or loops (not shown) , The application devices 16 each allow an approximately simultaneous application of the container strapping and the carrying straps. For this purpose, each of the application devices 16 each comprise a strapping device 20 for applying a band-like, the beverage container 14 in a horizontal wrapping, strapping and a device 22 for applying a container 18 at its top cross-band-like carrying device or carrying strap. For this purpose, each of the application devices 16 is connected to a supply of tape for feeding the carrying device or the carrying loop, as described with reference to FIG FIGS. 4 to 7 is illustrated in more detail. In addition, it is provided with a suitable cutting device for cutting the tape supply into sections of the appropriate length. The cutting device lengthen each band sections in appropriate length for carrying straps from the endless tape supply.

As further based on the Figures 1 and 2 can be seen, to achieve a sufficiently high processing speed in the production of the container 18 typically several such application devices 16 are arranged one behind the other, since they must move synchronously with the standing on the transport path 10 beverage containers 14. When lowering ( Fig. 1 ) or lateral deliveries ( Fig. 2 ) of the strapping, which depends on the particular concept of the strapping modules 20, the carrying handle with a separate gripping and pressing element, which is part of the device 22, applied to the container. Subsequently or in time, the strapping device 20 completes its additional task, such as the strapping and / or the rotation of the container 18. At the end of such a synchronized movement, the application device 16 is no longer in engagement with the container 18 and can then return to the conveying direction F of the container Make transport route 10 in its starting position. Depending on the chosen plant performance of the desired minimum cycle time for the strapping and application process, two, three or more such application heads 16 can be connected in series to achieve the required power. The containers 18 are not made synchronously by the application heads 16, but with a time delay, as shown in the Figures 1 and 2 hinted at.

By combining the application of the handles and the strapping in a common application device 16, the entire length of the packaging line can be shorter. Individual modules, in which the container 18 each again brought to division and the corresponding application head must be brought back into a synchronized movement, can be omitted. Since, moreover, the containers 18 are in a spatially and force-fixed position during the strapping process, the bonding process during application of the - without any problems, also obliquely placing - handle made under simultaneous application of pressure forces on the container 18 particularly reliable.

The FIGS. 4 to 7 show in schematic representations four different embodiments of a portion of the application device 16 for applying the handles on the tops of the container 18. The first two variants according to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 each provide a mechanism of the application device 16, in which the appropriate length of the support loops 26 prior to their fixation on the containers 18 by means of a horizontally above the container 18 carried carrying loop section moving cutter (not shown there) is cut and cut. In the other two variants according to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 is a mechanism of the application device 16 is provided, in which the cutting unit or cutting blade 46 (see, eg. Fig. 6 ) is attached to a defined position and appropriately cut strips are transferred as carrying straps 26 to the moving carriage of the application device 16.

Furthermore, the first variant of the application device 16 according to FIG Fig. 4 the device for applying the carrying strap 22 with a feed unit 24 for the carrying straps 26 of an endless supply, not shown here. With multiple deflections provided with splices carrying straps 26 are transported on a carrier tape 28 to a rotating impression cylinder 30. Below the impression cylinder 30, a pair of superimposed rollers 32 are arranged, with the help of the carrying straps 26 are transferred to a conveyor belt 34 which rotates circumferentially and the carrying straps 26 conveys to their intended position above the container 18. For this purpose, a triangular deflection of the conveyor belt 34 is provided with an upper roller 32 and two lower, located on a horizontal plane lower conveyor rollers 36. Between the two lower conveyor rollers 36, which are located above the container 18 with the beverage containers 14, is a vacuum gripper 38 is provided, which is arranged approximately centrally above the container 18 and thus approximately centrally between the two conveyor rollers 36. This central vacuum gripper 38 ensures that the carrying strap 26 can be fastened correctly spaced on the container 18. With two in the direction of movement of the two arrows 40 down in the direction of the shell sides of the container 14 of the container 18 pivotable Andrückern 42, the carrying strap 26 is brought into the correct position in which it is adhered to the container 18. The two Andrücker 42 have at their two downwardly facing ends, where the Carrying strap 26 with its two ends adheres, each switchable vacuum holding devices 44, so that the strap 26 can be held without additional mechanical fixation by means of the Andrücker 42, brought to the container 18 and pressed there, so that the splices of the carrying strap 26 for a fixed adhesive connection.

A second variant of the application device 16 according to Fig. 5 again shows the means for applying the carrying strap 22 with a feed unit 24 for the carrying straps 26 of an endless supply, not shown here. With multiple deflections provided with splices carrying straps 26 are transported on a carrier tape 28 to a rotating impression cylinder 30, with the aid of the carrying straps 26 are transferred to the conveyor belt 34 which rotates circumferentially and the carrying straps 26 transported to their intended position above the container 18 , The remaining structure of the device 22 corresponds to the in Fig. 4 described variant. It differs from this essentially only by the other supply of the carrying straps 26 by means of the carrier tape 28 to the impression cylinder 30th

The in the Fig. 6 shown third variant of the means 22 for applying the carrying straps 26 has a different way of conveying the carrying straps 26 from the endless supply not shown here to the vacuum gripper and pressing devices 38, 40, 42, 44, since here the carrier tape 28 is severed by means of a cutting blade 46 becomes when a piece of appropriate length between the two Andrückern 42 and vacuum holding devices 44 has been promoted. The carrier tape 28 with the carrier loop 26 thereon is in turn conveyed to a conveyor belt pair 48 located at the same horizontal level as the vacuum gripping and pressing devices 38, 40, 42, 44 above the containers 18, with a multiply deflected feed unit. Between the left Andrücker 42 and the mentioned conveyor roller pair 48 is the cutting blade 46, by means of which the carrier tape 28 and / or the carrying strap 26 is cut to length. Between the cutting blade 46 and the conveyor roller pair 48 is an additional vacuum gripping device 50, which ensures the reliable guidance of the free end of the carrier tape 28 after the separation of the applied to the container 18 portion of the carrying strap 26. The attachment by means of the pivotable presser 42 along the pivot paths 40 takes place as already described above. At the right end, to the right of the right pusher 42, is a clamp 50 for pulling the lanyard 26 horizontally along its length between the two pushers 42 and vacuum holding means 44 and for holding the carrying strap 26 prior to its attachment to the beverage container 14, as shown in FIG Fig. 6 is indicated.

The in the Fig. 7 shown fourth variant of the means 22 for applying the carrying straps 26 in turn has a slightly varied manner of conveying the carrying straps 26 from the endless supply not shown here to the vacuum gripper and pressing devices 38, 40, 42, 44. Here, the carrier tape 28 is conveyed via a counter-pressure cylinder 30, which is arranged at the level of horizontally transported above the container 18 carrying strap 26. Except for the not shown here, but preferably also fixedly mounted in the application head cutting device with the cutting blade 46 correspond to the structure and operation of the device shown largely the third variant Fig. 6 ,

The strapping devices 20 (not shown here in each case) (cf. FIGS. 1 to 3 ) can before, simultaneously or after the application of the straps according to the FIGS. 4 to 7 described variants for the application of the strapping on the container 18 provide.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

transport distance

12

group

14

beverage containers

16

applicator

18

container

20

strap application

22

Device for applying the strap

24

feed

26

wrist strap

28

carrier tape

30

Impression cylinder

32

upper rollers

34

conveyor belt

36

lower conveyor rollers

38

vacuum gripper

40

pan direction

42

pressers

44

Vacuum holding devices

46

cutting blade

48

Conveyor roller pair

50

Vacuum holding device (additional)

52

clip

Claims (13)

Method for treating at least two articles combined to form a container (18), in which the previously grouped articles act on them during a conveying movement by means of an application device (16) following at least sections of the articles being conveyed and in a temporal relationship with a first treatment process a second treatment process be subjected. The method of claim 1, wherein the articles during the first treatment process by at least one, by the application device (16) applied band-like, the articles wrapped in a horizontal direction strapping to a container (18) are summarized. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the articles are provided during the second treatment process with a band-like carrying device or carrying loop (26) which overlaps the container (18) on its upper side. Method according to Claim 3, in which the carrying device or the carrying loop (26) is fed from a strip supply and brought to a suitable length in the area of the application device (16) and cut off. A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the carrying loop (26) applied to the bundle (18) is held in a central portion approximately centrally above the bundle (18) and spaced therefrom, while its two free ends are provided by means of pivoting means (42). on both sides of vertical side surfaces of the container (18) approximated, pressed and fixed there. Method according to Claim 5, in which the handling devices for the carrying loop (26) hold them at the contact points by means of negative pressure. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which, during the conveying movement, directly successive containers (18) are treated by separate application devices (16) which offset in time and space to work with each other during their treatment operations with the containers (18) and moved after completion of the treatment operations with a return stroke against the conveying direction and a subsequent article group (12) are supplied. Application device (16) for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped articles combined into a container (18) and moved by means of a conveying device, comprising a strapping device (20) for applying a band-like strapping which envelopes the articles in the horizontal direction, and a device (22) for applying a, the container (18) at its top cross-band-like carrying device or carrying strap (26). Application device according to claim 8, which is connected to a supply of tape for feeding the carrying device or the carrying loop (26) and which is provided with a cutting device (46) for cutting the tape supply into sections of respectively suitable length. An applicator device according to claim 8 or 9, including holding means for temporarily fixing a central portion of the carrying loop (26) approximately centrally above and spaced from the container (18), and the pivot means (42) for guiding and mounting the two free ends of the container Carrying strap (26) on both sides of vertical side surfaces of the container (18). Application device according to claim 10, in which the handling devices for the carrying loop (26) hold them at the contact points by means of negative pressure. Application device according to claim 10 or 11, the guiding and conveying means for supplying the required band portions for the carrying loop (26) in the horizontal direction above the container (18) and for placing the cut tape portion approximately centrally above the container (18). Apparatus for producing containers (18) from a plurality of articles combined by strapping, comprising a conveying device for the continuous transport of grouped articles and an application device (16) for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and one container (18) combined, moving by means of the conveyor article, a strapping device (20) for applying a band-like strapping the articles in the horizontal direction strapping and means (22) for applying a, the container (18) at its top cross-band-like carrying device or lanyard (26).

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