EP3738895B1 - Method and device for making a multi-pack with a plurality of beverage containers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for producing a multipack with several beverage containers.

For packaging beverage containers, the beverage containers or bottles can be grouped on horizontal conveying devices and combined into groups with a defined number of containers using packaging means. For example, strappings are known, which are applied to a group of beverage containers and hold the beverage containers of a respective group together. Packaging means are also known which consist of thermoplastic material and are shrunk onto a group of articles. Such packaging materials, referred to as shrink film, are applied to the respective group of articles before being subjected to heat and are subsequently shrunk onto the respective group of articles.

Since in practice the consumption of packaging material should be kept as low as possible, containers are also known in which several beverage containers are held together by a flat packaging blank which forms several openings. A respective beverage container passes through each of the openings with its upper part. The beverage containers are held together in a positive and/or non-positive fit via such a packaging blank and form a respective multipack. For example, such multipacks are known which comprise four, six or eight beverage containers.

the US3509684A1 disclosed an apparatus for packaging bottles. The device includes a feed device with star wheels, which assemble groups of bottles and set them down on a conveyor belt. The groups are then fed to a strapping device which attaches a respective flexible band to a respective group of bottles. After the band has been attached, the groups are transported further, whereupon a carrier is attached to a respective group of beverage bottles.

In the WO 2009/097546 A1 a packaging line is also disclosed. The packaging line has two different conveying paths for articles. Next are along two packaging machines are provided for the packaging line, which apply tertiary packaging to a combination of articles. The articles can then be passed on to a shrink tunnel together with the applied tertiary packaging via a transfer robot.

the DE 10 2013 113 754 A1 discloses an article conveying and handling apparatus. The conveying and handling device includes a strapping station for combining articles. The strapping station is followed by a stacking area for the formation of pallet layers with several adjacent strapping bundles per layer. In addition, a handling device is provided which can receive groupings of articles and transfer them to the strapping station.

A multipack, in which the beverage containers are held together by such a packaging blank, for example, by the EP 0 456 357 A1 disclosed. In the production of the multipack disclosed in the EP application, beverage containers are divided into several rows via guide rails. Furthermore, a holding element is brought into contact with a beverage container arranged in front of a respective group and another holding element with a beverage container arranged at the rear of a respective group. The beverage containers of a respective group are brought into a defined alignment relative to one another via the guide railings and the holding elements, so that a packaging blank is then placed on the beverage containers via its multiple openings can be set up. Due to the necessary alignment of the beverage containers using guide rails and holding elements, it may be the case that the beverage containers are unintentionally damaged due to surface contact or the optical appearance of the beverage containers is unintentionally impaired due to surface contact through scratches or deformations. Furthermore, the device for producing such multipacks according to the EP application has a complex structure.

For this reason, one object of the invention can be seen as providing a generic device and a generic method with which the risk of unwanted damage or unwanted impairment of the optical appearance of beverage containers can be at least reduced. Furthermore, an object of the invention can be seen as providing a generic device which is characterized by a simplified structure. In addition, an object can be seen as providing a method that can be implemented with reduced design effort.

The above object is solved by a method and a device comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous configurations are described by the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a method for producing a multipack with several beverage containers. A multipack produced as part of the method can, for example, comprise exactly four, exactly six or exactly eight beverage containers.

One step of the method provides for aligning a plurality of beverage containers provided for a respective multipack with one another, so that a packaging blank can then be applied to the aligned beverage containers. The aligned beverage containers provided for a respective multipack can form a respective grouping to which a packaging blank is subsequently applied, so that the packaging blank holds the beverage containers of a respective grouping together in a form-fitting and/or non-positive manner. In particular, a respective lateral lateral surface of a respective aligned beverage container of a respective grouping can be in abutment or surface contact with a lateral lateral surface of at least one further aligned beverage container of its respective grouping.

A packaging blank is then applied to the several beverage containers already aligned and intended for a respective multipack, with the beverage containers already aligned and intended for a respective multipack passing through openings in the packaging blank and then being held together by the packaging blank.

A respective packaging blank can thus have two opposing broad side surfaces and be penetrated by several openings. In particular, a respective packaging blank can consist of plastic or cellulose-containing material.

Provision is made for several groupings, each with several beverage containers, to be set down on a horizontal conveyor device via at least one handling device, so that the several beverage containers in a respective grouping are aligned with one another immediately when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device for the application of a respective packaging blank. It is conceivable here that, at least approximately at the same time, several groups, each with several beverage containers, are placed on the horizontal conveyor device via at least one handling device, so that the several beverage containers of a respective group are already aligned with one another for the application of a respective packaging blank immediately when they are placed on the horizontal conveyor device.

In practice, embodiments have proven themselves in which several groupings, each with several beverage containers, are placed on a horizontal conveyor device at a distance from each other via at least one handling device, so that the multiple beverage containers of a respective grouping are already ready for the application of a respective packaging blank are aligned with each other.

As an alternative to this, it can be provided that several groupings, each with several beverage containers, are set down on a horizontal conveyor device via at least one handling device without spacing, with the several beverage containers of a respective grouping already being aligned with one another immediately when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device for the application of a respective packaging blank.

It may be that the groupings are only spaced apart from one another after they have been set down on the horizontal conveyor device, so that the several beverage containers of a respective grouping continue to be aligned with one another after the spacing for the application of a respective packaging blank. In particular, embodiments have proven themselves in which groups that are ahead for spacing are accelerated while maintaining the orientation of their respective beverage containers relative to groups that are behind.

A respective packaging blank is also applied to the beverage containers of a respective grouping that have been placed on the horizontal conveyor device and are aligned with one another.

As part of the method, it can be provided that the application of a respective packaging blank to the beverage containers that have already been aligned and are intended for a respective multipack without contact of lateral lateral surfaces of the beverage containers that have already been aligned and intended for a respective multipack on a holding and / or management element takes place.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be provided that a movement of the already aligned beverage containers intended for a respective multipack caused by the horizontal conveying device can be carried out without the lateral lateral surfaces of the beverage containers already aligned and intended for a respective multipack resting on a holding and holding device designed to maintain the alignment / or management element takes place.

• sämtliche Getränkebehälter einer jeweiligen Gruppierung zeitlich während einer Bewegung über die Horizontalfördereinrichtung ausschließlich eine Kontaktierung zu jeweils mindestens einem weiteren Getränkebehälter und zur Horizontalfördereinrichtung besitzen, und/oder dass
• sämtliche Getränkebehälter einer jeweiligen Gruppierung zeitlich während einer Bewegung über die Horizontalfördereinrichtung ausschließlich eine Kontaktierung zur Horizontalfördereinrichtung besitzen.

So it may be that

• all beverage containers of a respective grouping exclusively have contact to at least one other beverage container and to the horizontal conveyor device during a movement over the horizontal conveyor device, and/or that
• all beverage containers of a respective group have only one contact with the horizontal conveyor device during a movement over the horizontal conveyor device.

It is conceivable that the drinks containers already aligned and intended for a respective multipack are stored during the application of the respective Packaging blank are moved without interruption and preferably at an at least approximately constant transport speed on the horizontal conveyor. Such embodiments are distinguished by a high throughput and careful handling of beverage containers.

It can also be the case that a respective packaging blank is applied to the already aligned beverage containers of a respective group via at least one application head, with the at least one application head for applying packaging blanks to groups executing a lowering movement oriented in the direction of a respective group.

The beverage containers of a respective grouping can be moved forward during the application of the respective packaging blank, with the at least one application head moving along with the respective beverage containers of a respective grouping during the application of the respective packaging blank.

It is conceivable that the at least one application head receives at least one packaging blank from a stack with a plurality of packaging blanks positioned to the side of the horizontal conveyor device, then following the respective at least one packaging blank received from the stack with a plurality of packaging blanks above at least one grouping, which includes a plurality of packaging blanks that have been placed on the horizontal conveyor device and are already aligned Beverage container includes, positioned and then executes a lowering movement oriented in the direction of the respective group. The at least one application head can thus be moved back and forth between the stack and the horizontal conveying device.

It may be that the at least one application head applies several packaging blanks to several different groups after performing a respective lowering movement, which several different groups each include several beverage containers placed on the horizontal conveyor device and already aligned.

The at least one application head can thus hold several packaging blanks at the same time, perform a lowering movement and, after this respective lowering movement has been carried out, the at least one application head up to that point apply packaging blanks held to a number of different groupings, which each comprise a number of beverage containers that have been placed on the horizontal conveyor device and are already aligned with one another.

It may be that the multiple groupings, each with multiple beverage containers, are deposited on the horizontal conveyor device at a distance from one another via the at least one handling device and maintain their distance from one another at least until the respective packaging blank is applied. Thus, the several groupings, each with several beverage containers, can be arranged spaced apart from one another on the horizontal conveyor device during the application of a respective packaging blank or can be moved spaced apart from one another by means of the horizontal conveyor device.

Provision can furthermore be made for the at least one application head to apply packaging blanks to the several different groups or to the several beverage containers of the several different groups with a time delay after a respective lowering movement has been carried out. As a result, a force that has to be provided at a certain point in time by means of the at least one application head for applying packaging blanks can be kept low.

Embodiments have also proven themselves in which the at least one application head executes the lowering movement oriented in the direction of the respective grouping and thereby applies the respective packaging blank to the beverage containers that are already aligned with one another, in that the at least one application head pushes a respective beverage container of a respective grouping into a respective opening of the respective packaging blank so that the beverage containers of a respective grouping pressed into the openings of the respective packaging blank are held together in a non-positive and/or positive manner via the respective packaging blank.

It may be that the at least one application head for pressing the beverage containers into the openings applies a respective defined force in the area of a respective opening on the packaging blank, with the respective defined force being applied to the packaging blank along the circumference of a respective opening with a time offset.

It may be that the packaging blank is aligned horizontally above the respective beverage containers of a respective group before the beverage containers of a respective group are pressed into the openings via the at least one application head. It can also be the case here that the at least one application head has a plurality of manipulation elements. A respective manipulation element can be guided to press a respective beverage container into a respective opening via a contact surface under force in the region of a respective opening against the packaging blank, which has been oriented at least up to that point horizontally. The contact surface can have a curved and/or sloping profile compared to the packaging blank, which has been oriented at least up to that point horizontally.

The application head can also have several manipulation elements, with a respective manipulation element being placed on the packaging blank in the area of a respective opening and being moved in a rotating manner once placed on the packaging blank in the area of the respective opening, resulting in the respective necessary for pressing the respective beverage container into the respective opening provided defined force is applied to the packaging blank along the circumference of the respective opening with a time offset.

It has proven useful if the at least one application head has at least one suction and/or gripping instrument, which at least one suction and/or gripping instrument grips the packaging blank before and/or during the pressing of the beverage containers of a respective group into the openings at least holding an application head. In particular, it may be that the at least one suction and/or gripping instrument holds the packaging blank before and/or during the pressing of the beverage containers of a respective group into the openings via vacuum on the at least one application head.

It may be that the packaging blank has several retaining tabs for at least one of its openings and preferably for each of its openings, which are arranged below a respective upper edge of a respective beverage container when the beverage containers of a respective grouping are pressed into the openings, so that the The packaging blank is then held essentially immovably on the beverage containers via its holding bottles in the axial direction relative to the beverage containers.

It may be that the retaining tabs are aligned or pre-bent before the beverage containers are pressed into the openings, as a result of which the retaining tabs point upwards from the packaging blank each resistance force, which forms the respective resistance force of the packaging blank in an edge region of the openings when applied to the respective plurality of beverage containers of a respective grouping.

It may be the case here that a respective mean diameter of the openings is increased during the pretreatment to reduce a respective resistance force. As an alternative or in addition to this, it is possible that during the pre-treatment, fixing tabs or holding tabs formed in a respective edge region of the openings are folded over or pre-bent at least in certain areas, so that the fixing tabs or holding tabs can then be removed from a plane in which the openings are arranged. stick out.

It is also conceivable that the packaging blank is pressed onto a device with at least one stretching matrix as part of the pre-treatment. The number and arrangement of the expansion matrices may correspond to the number and arrangement of the openings in the packaging blank, with the packaging blank being pressed onto the at least one expansion matrix in such a way that the at least one expansion matrix passes through the openings at least in certain areas. If multiple expansion matrices are provided, the multiple expansion matrices can be combined into one format part.

• einen vorzugsweise als Tragplatte ausgebildeten Träger besitzt sowie
• mehrere Dehnmatrizen umfasst, wobei vorgesehen ist, dass
• die mehreren Dehnmatrizen jeweils an dem vorzugsweise als Tragplatte ausgebildeten Träger angeordnet sind und sich jeweils in Gegenrichtung des vorzugsweise als Tragplatte ausgebildeten Trägers zumindest abschnittsweise verjüngen.

One aspect can therefore relate to a format part for the pretreatment of flat packaging blanks each having a plurality of openings, which format part

• has a preferably designed as a support plate carrier and
• comprises several expansion matrices, it being provided that
• the multiple expansion matrices are each arranged on the carrier, which is preferably designed as a support plate, and each taper at least in sections in the opposite direction of the carrier, which is preferably designed as a support plate.

It is also conceivable that incisions and/or perforations are made in the edge regions of the openings during the pretreatment. In particular, radial incisions and/or radial perforations can be made in the edge areas.

As an alternative or in addition to this, it is conceivable that during the pretreatment the respective edge area of the several openings is moistened or liquid is applied to it. It can also be the case that the respective edge area of the multiple openings is heated during the pretreatment.

In various embodiments, the at least one application head can comprise at least one centering means, which restores the alignment of the multiple beverage containers of a respective group to one another, which is intended for the application of a respective packaging blank and is configured immediately when it is placed on the horizontal conveyor device, before the application of a respective packaging blank.

The at least one centering means can be formed by a rigid frame which, coming from above, is guided around a respective grouping and, as a result, the alignment of the multiple beverage containers of a respective grouping provided for the application of a respective packaging blank and formed immediately when it is placed on the horizontal conveyor device restored to each other as needed.

The at least one centering means can also be formed by several centering elements, which perform an infeed movement and thereby restore the alignment of the several beverage containers of a respective group to one another, which is provided for the application of a respective packaging blank and is configured immediately when it is placed on the horizontal conveyor device.

Within the scope of the method, the beverage containers can be formed by beverage cans. It can also be the case that the beverage containers are formed by beverage bottles and in particular by glass bottles and/or PET bottles.

The invention also relates to a device for producing a multipack with a number of beverage containers. The device can optionally be used to carry out the previously described embodiments of the invention process be trained. Features that have already been described above for various embodiments of the method can also be provided in embodiments of the device described below and are not mentioned several times. Likewise, features described below, which relate to various embodiments of the device, can be provided in the method already described above. The device comprises a horizontal conveying device for moving groups that each comprise a plurality of beverage containers.

The device also includes at least one working device which can apply a respective packaging blank to the groups comprising several beverage containers, so that the beverage containers of a respective group pass through openings in the packaging blank and are held together by the respective packaging blank.

Part of the device is at least one handling device, via which the beverage containers of a respective grouping can be placed on the horizontal conveyor device in such a way that the beverage containers of a respective grouping already have an alignment with one another provided for the application of the respective packaging blank immediately when they are placed on the horizontal conveyor device.

• die Getränkebehälter einer jeweiligen Gruppierung unmittelbar bei Absetzen auf der Horizontalfördereinrichtung eine für das Aufbringen des jeweiligen Verpackungszuschnittes vorgesehene Ausrichtung und wobei vorgesehen ist, dass
• Getränkebehälter einer jeweiligen Gruppierung mittels der mindestens einen Handhabungseinrichtung derart auf der Horizontalfördereinrichtung abgesetzt werden können, dass die Gruppierungen unmittelbar bei Absetzen auf der Horizontalfördereinrichtung in einer Transportrichtung bzw. Förderrichtung der Horizontalfördereinrichtung zueinander beabstandet sind.

In various embodiments, the device can comprise at least one handling device, via which beverage containers of a respective group can be deposited on the horizontal conveyor device in such a way that

• the beverage containers of a respective grouping have an orientation provided for the application of the respective packaging blank immediately when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device and it is provided that
• Beverage containers of a respective grouping can be placed on the horizontal conveyor device by means of the at least one handling device in such a way that the groupings are spaced apart from one another in a transport direction or conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor device immediately when they are placed on the horizontal conveyor device.

The groupings can accordingly be deposited on the horizontal conveyor device at a distance from one another in a conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor device by means of the at least one handling device.

The at least one horizontal conveying device can have a circulating conveyor belt or a circulating endless traction device, on which the beverage containers of a respective group are deposited.

The device can be designed or equipped in such a way that the groups, each comprising several beverage containers, can be moved continuously via the horizontal conveyor device into a working area of the at least one working device without surface contact of their lateral lateral surfaces with support and/or guide elements or guide rails.

Embodiments have proven themselves in which the at least one handling device is formed by at least one multi-axis robot or by at least one industrial robot.

If necessary, the device can comprise a control and/or regulating device connected to the horizontal conveyor device, wherein the control and/or regulating device can activate the horizontal conveyor device for the uninterrupted movement of the deposited groupings.

Furthermore, the working device can have at least one application head, wherein the at least one application head for applying packaging blanks to groups can execute a lowering movement oriented in the direction of a respective group.

It is conceivable that the at least one application head can be moved back and forth between the horizontal conveyor device and a stack with a plurality of packaging blanks positioned to the side of the horizontal conveyor device.

Furthermore, the at least one application head can be designed in such a way that the at least one application head can apply a plurality of packaging blanks to a plurality of groups with a time delay after a respective lowering movement has been carried out.

It is also conceivable that the at least one application head comprises at least one centering means, which one for the application of the respective Packaging blank provided alignment of several beverage containers of a respective group can restore each other as needed.

It may be that the at least one application head comprises a carrier and several manipulation elements arranged hanging on the carrier, via which the packaging blanks can be subjected to a defined force in the area of several openings, so that a respective beverage container of a respective grouping can be inserted into a respective opening of the packaging blank is pressed. The multiple manipulation elements arranged hanging on the carrier can be designed in such a way that the multiple manipulation elements arranged hanging on the carrier can apply a respective defined force along the respective circumferential course of the respective opening to the packaging blank at different times in order to press a respective beverage container into a respective opening.

It may be that the multiple manipulation elements each form a contact surface via which the respective manipulation element can apply the defined force in the area of the respective opening to the packaging blank and which contact surface in the area of the respective opening is oriented obliquely in relation to the packaging blank and/or has a curved profile can be placed on the packaging blank.

It is also conceivable that the plurality of manipulation elements can each perform a rotational movement in order to apply the defined force at different times along the circumference of the respective opening.

It may be that the at least one application head comprises at least one suction and/or gripping instrument, via which at least one suction and/or gripping instrument the packaging blank can be detachably fixed to the at least one application head while a respective beverage container is being pressed into a respective opening. It has proven particularly useful if the at least one suction and/or gripping instrument can detachably fix the packaging blank to the at least one application head while a respective beverage container is being pressed into a respective opening and can fix it via negative pressure.

The at least one application head can comprise a plurality of lateral partitions, between which a respective packaging blank intended for application to beverage containers of a respective group can be arranged in a form-fitting manner or with little play.

Furthermore, it may be that the device comprises a pre-treatment module for preparing the packaging blank for application to the beverage containers of a respective grouping. The pre-treatment module can comprise at least one device which is designed to reduce a resistance force occurring in a respective edge area of the openings when the packaging blank is applied.

It is conceivable that the at least one device of the pretreatment module includes at least one expansion matrix. The at least one expansion matrix can be detachably arranged in the pretreatment module. Furthermore, the at least one device of the pretreatment module can have a plurality of stretching matrices, it being possible for the plurality of stretching matrices to be arranged in a different arrangement and/or in a different number in the pretreatment module.

It can also be the case that the at least one device of the pretreatment module comprises at least one cutting device and/or at least one perforating device. In addition, it may be that the at least one device of the pretreatment module comprises at least one cutting device and/or at least one perforating device. It is also conceivable that the at least one device of the pretreatment module comprises at least one humidification device, in particular at least one steaming device, and/or that the at least one device of the pretreatment module comprises at least one heating device.

It may be that the device is designed to combine multiple beverage containers into a respective multipack, which multiple beverage containers are formed by multiple beverage cans and/or by multiple beverage bottles.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und verdeutlicht einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.
• Fig. 2 zeigt weitere Aspekte der Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 und verdeutlicht weitere Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und verdeutlicht weitere Aspekte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.
• Figuren 4 bis 6 zeigen jeweils eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines Applikationskopfes, wie er bei diversen Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung vorgesehen sein kann.
• Figuren 7 bis 9 zeigen einzelne Details eines Manipulationselementes des Applikationskopfes gemäß der Aufführungsform aus den Figuren 2 bis 4.
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht eines Multipacks, wie er von diversen Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und mit diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens hergestellt werden kann.
• Fig. 11 zeigt eine schematischer Perspektivansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und verdeutlicht einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.
• Figuren 12 und 13 zeigen einzelne Details der Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 11.
• Fig. 14 zeigt im Flussdiagramm einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are shown in simplified form and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• 2 FIG. 12 shows further aspects of the embodiment of a device 1 and clarifies further steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• 3 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the invention and clarifies further aspects as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• Figures 4 to 6 each show a schematic view of an embodiment of an application head, as can be provided in various embodiments of the device according to the invention.
• Figures 7 to 9 show individual details of a manipulation element of the application head according to the performance from the Figures 2 to 4 .
• 10 shows a schematic view of a multipack as can be produced by various embodiments of the device according to the invention and with various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• figures 12 and 13 show individual details of the embodiment of a device according to FIG 11 .
• 14 shows individual steps in a flow chart, as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

Identical reference symbols are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments only represent examples of how the invention can be configured and do not represent any final limitation.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and figures, including their different views or respective individual features, can be independent of each other or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

the 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention.

The device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment 1 can produce a multipack 4, as exemplified in 10 is shown. Such a multipack 4 comprises a plurality of beverage containers 2 and a packaging blank 41. The packaging blank 41 has an associated opening 42 for each of the beverage containers 2, into which the respective beverage container 2 passes with an upper portion, so that all beverage containers 2 of the respective multipack 4 are shaped and/or are held together in a non-positive manner via the common packaging blank 41 .

In the 10 illustrated embodiment of a multipack 4 comprises eight beverage containers 2, which are each designed as a beverage can. In further embodiments, it can be the case, for example, that a multipack 4 has only two beverage containers 2 , four beverage containers 2 or six beverage containers 2 . As an alternative to the in 10 In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage containers 2, which are designed as part of a respective multipack 4, can also be beverage bottles or PET bottles. The upper head and/or neck area of the beverage bottles or PET bottles can pass through a respective opening 42 of a packaging blank 41 and be held together via the respective packaging blank 41 in a positive and/or non-positive manner. A multipack not shown in the figures of the present patent application can therefore be designed as a six-pack, for example.

In the Figures 1 to 3 the beverage containers 2 are shown only schematically for reasons of clarity. In order to assemble or produce the respective multipack 4 , the device 1 comprises a first module 10 , a second module 20 and a horizontal conveying device 5 which can carry beverage containers 2 on from the first module 10 to the second module 20 . The second module 20 is arranged downstream of the first module 10 in the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveying device 5 .

To a multipack 4 according to the embodiment 10 To be able to produce, beverage containers 2, which are intended for the respective multipack 4, must have a relative arrangement to one another, in which the openings 42 of the packaging blank 41 are aligned with the beverage container 2 and an upper region of the beverage container 2 is then pushed through the openings 42 can be. If beverage containers 2 are not aligned to match one another, the beverage containers 2 do not or only partially hit the openings 42 when the packaging blank 41 is applied, which entails problems when the respective packaging blank 41 is applied.

In the case of devices known from the prior art, groups 3 are frequently formed from a plurality of beverage containers 2 via dividers, which groupings 3 each include the number of beverage containers 2 provided for a multipack 4 . In order to be able to ensure that the beverage containers 2 of such a grouping 3 are aligned with one another when a respective packaging blank 4 is applied, in which the packaging blank 41 can be applied to the beverage containers 2, devices known from the prior art also have guide rails which extend along the horizontal conveyor device 5 in the conveying direction FR. Also known are holding elements that may be part of the respective divider, which are moved with the beverage containers 2 and support the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 during their movement along a horizontal conveyor device 5 . The device 1 from the exemplary embodiment 1 has a simplified structure. Corresponding holding elements and/or guide rails are shown in the device 1 1 not provided. The beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 thus contact the horizontal conveyor device 5 exclusively via their respective bottom surface, with lateral lateral surfaces of the beverage containers 2 never being in contact with guide rails and/or holding elements during a movement of the beverage containers 2 by means of the horizontal conveyor device 5.

In order to be able to ensure that a respective packaging blank 41 can be applied to beverage containers 2 without any problems or to be able to ensure that the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 have a suitable alignment with respect to one another for applying the packaging blank 41, the first module 10 includes a handling device 15, which in the present case has a gripping head 17, but which in various embodiments can also comprise a plurality of gripping heads 17 (cf. 11 ). The handling device 15 is in 1 only schematically shown and can be designed in practice, for example, as an industrial robot or multi-axis robot, which is equipped with at least one corresponding gripping head 17. Beverage containers 2 are picked up from a supply 72 (cf. 11 ) received, then moved in the direction of the horizontal conveyor 5 and placed on the horizontal conveyor 5 in the direction coming from above.

The beverage containers 2 are set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5 via the handling device 15 in such a way that a grouping 3 of beverage containers 2 is formed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 immediately when they are set down, the number of beverage containers 2 of which corresponds to the number of the respective multipack 4 to be produced (cf. 10 ) matches. In addition, the beverage containers 2 are set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5 via the handling device 15 in such a way that the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 formed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 already have an alignment with one another immediately when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5, which is necessary for the application of the respective packaging blank 41 is suitable. Since this means that there is no need for classification using holding elements and guidance using rails, there is no risk of the beverage containers 2 being scratched or damaged as a result of surface contact with guide rails and/or holding elements.

In the embodiment according to 1 the beverage containers 2 are deposited on the horizontal conveyor device 5, so that a surface contact is formed between the beverage containers 2 and the horizontal conveyor device 5. However, it is also possible for an outer packaging, such as a tray, to be transported by means of the horizontal conveyor device 5, with the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 being deposited on the outer packaging transported by means of the horizontal conveyor device 5 in such a way that the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 have an alignment with one another provided for the application of the respective packaging blank 41 immediately when they are set down on the outer packaging transported by means of the horizontal conveyor device 5 .

Time after the groupings 3, which each comprise a plurality of beverage containers 2 already aligned with one another, have been formed on the horizontal conveyor device 5, the groupings 3 are moved via the horizontal conveyor device 5 in the conveying direction FR. The horizontal conveyor 5 is available with a control and/or control device S, which controls the horizontal conveyor device 5 for the uninterrupted movement of groups 3 placed on it at the same conveying speed or one that remains constant over time. The groupings 3 then leave the first module 10 and reach the second module 20, which follows the first module 10 in the conveying direction FR.

In order to keep the risk low that the beverage containers 2, which are already aligned with one another for the application of a packaging blank 41 when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5, will unintentionally shift towards one another during a movement in the conveying direction FR, it can be provided that the horizontal conveyor device 5 has a revolving endless traction means or has a circulating conveyor belt, between which circulating endless traction means or between which circulating conveyor belt and the beverage containers 2 there is high static friction. For example, the endless traction means or the circulating conveyor belt can have a large number of knobs and/or consist of a material that can be used to create high static friction between the beverage containers 2 and the endless traction means or the beverage containers 2 and the circulating conveyor belt.

The schematic view of 2 further clarifies that the second module 20 has a working device 25 which comprises an application head 26 and in figures 2 and 3 is only shown schematically in each case. The detailed structure of such an application head 26, as is also the case for the device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment Figures 1 to 3 may be provided is the following Figures 4 to 9 refer to. The working device 25 can also be designed as a multi-axis robot or industrial robot, which is equipped with at least one application head 26 and is able to simultaneously receive several packaging blanks 41 from a stack not shown in the figures.

After receipt, the application head 26 is moved in the direction of the horizontal conveyor device 5, so that the application head 26, together with the several packaging blanks 41 previously held by the application head 26, is located above the several groupings 3 to which the packaging blanks 41 are to be applied. Following this, the application head 26 is lowered in the direction of the groupings 3 and then applies the packaging blanks 41 to the groupings 3 .

For the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3 is not absolutely necessary for the application head 26 to draw packaging blanks 41 directly from a magazine 48 (cf. 11 ) takes. It is also possible for a transfer tool 90 to be provided, which removes packaging blanks 41 from a magazine 48 and initially places them on a plurality of matrices 18 . The application head 26 can then receive the packaging blanks 41 placed on the multiple matrices 18 and apply them to the groupings 3 .

Since the groupings 3 are moved without interruption in the conveying direction FR during the application of the packaging blank 41 by means of the horizontal conveying device 5, the application head 26 is moved along with the groupings 3 in the conveying direction FR after lowering and until the packaging blanks 41 have been completely applied to the groupings 3. If all the packaging blanks 41 have been applied to the groupings 3, the beverage containers 2 designed as part of a respective grouping 3 together with the respective packaging blank 41 form a multipack 4 (cf. 10 ).

In order to apply the packaging blanks 41 to the groupings 3, the packaging blanks 41 must be pressed onto the respective beverage containers 2 in the direction of the respective beverage containers 2. Accordingly, the working device 25 or the application head 26 must apply a certain force to the respective packaging blank 41 in order to apply each packaging blank 41 , which force acts in the downward direction or in the direction of the respective beverage container 2 .

In order to avoid that the working device 25 or the application head 26 has to apply a relatively high total force at a certain point in time, specific embodiments have been developed accordingly 2 proven, in which the working device 25 or the application head 26 applies the packaging blanks 41 to the groups 3 with a time delay. In the embodiment after 2 In this case, a packaging blank 41 is first applied to a grouping 3 which is arranged foremost in the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveying device 5 . Following this in time, packaging blanks 41 are successively applied to groupings 3 which follow the grouping 3 arranged foremost in the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveying device 5 .

How to 1 already mentioned, the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 are picked up by means of the handling device 15 or by means of the gripping head 17 placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 in such a way that the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 are aligned with one another immediately upon being placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5, in which case packaging blanks 41 can be applied to the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 by means of the application head 26. In order to further reduce the risk that beverage containers 2 already aligned for the application of a packaging blank 41 will unintentionally move towards one another during a movement from the first module 10 in the direction of the second module 20 and, as a result, a packaging blank 41 will not, or only with problems, be placed on a respective group 3 is applied, the working device 25 or the application head 26 can comprise a centering frame which, if necessary, restores the alignment of the beverage containers 2 to one another that was already formed immediately when the beverage containers 2 were set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5 .

Through 2 it also becomes clear once again that in the area of the second module 20 no guide rails or holding elements are provided which extend in the conveying direction FR and which may be moved together with the groupings 3 . Thus, also in the area of the second module 20, groups 3 or beverage containers 2 are never in surface contact with guide rails and/or holding elements.

In the embodiment according to figures 1 and 2 it is provided that the handling device 15 or the gripping head 17 deposits beverage containers 2 as a group 3 on the horizontal conveyor device 5 . In alternative embodiments, however, it can also be provided that the application head 26 deposits beverage containers 2 as a grouping 3 on the horizontal conveyor device 5, so that the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 already have one provided for the application of the respective packaging blank 41 when they are placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 have alignment with each other. Subsequently, the application head 26 can receive a packaging blank 41 and then apply it to the respective grouping 3 that is still arranged on the horizontal conveyor device 5 .

the 3 shows a further embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention and clarifies further aspects as they apply to various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (cf. figure 5 ) can be provided. Also for the embodiment after 3 the application head 26 can have a structure such as he through that in subsequent Figures 4 to 9 illustrated embodiment is illustrated. The horizontal conveyor device 5 and the first module 10 are shown here in accordance with the exemplary embodiment figures 1 and 2 formed so that reference can be made to the previous description. Compared to the embodiment figures 1 and 2 the embodiment differs according to 3 in the manner of applying flat packaging blanks 41 via the working device 25 or via the application head 26. How to 2 already mentioned, the packaging blanks 41 must be pressed onto the respective beverage containers 2 in the direction of the respective beverage containers 2 via the application head 26 .

Thus, in order to apply each packaging blank 41 , the application head 26 must apply a specific force to the respective packaging blank 41 , which acts in the downward direction or in the direction of the beverage container 2 in question. So that the application head 26 does not have to apply a relatively large force at a certain point in time, the packaging blanks 41 are also in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG 3 applied to the groupings 3 with a time delay via the application head 26 .

From a synopsis of 2 With 3 it becomes clear that the order in which the packaging blanks 41 are applied to the groupings 3 changes in 3 opposite to 2 differs. while in 2 First, a packaging blank 41 is applied to a grouping 3 arranged first in the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveying device 5 and the further groupings 3 follow, in 3 a respective packaging blank 41 is arranged at least approximately at the same time on a grouping 3 arranged at the front in the conveying direction FR and on a grouping 3 arranged at the rear in the conveying direction FR. Only chronologically thereafter will in 3 a respective packaging blank 41 is applied to the further groupings 3, which are located between the grouping 3 arranged at the front in the conveying direction FR and the grouping 3 arranged at the rear in the conveying direction FR.

Also for groupings 3, which are located between the groups 3 arranged at the front and rear in the conveying direction FR, the application of packaging blanks 41 takes place in pairs, so that two packaging blanks 41 are applied at least approximately at the same time to each two groupings 3.

Also in the embodiment after 3 no guide rails or guide rails and/or holding elements are provided in the area of the second module 20, which could be in contact with lateral lateral surfaces of beverage containers 2. The beverage containers 2 are moved in the area of the second module 20 via the horizontal conveying device 5 without lateral lateral surfaces of the beverage containers 2 resting against guide rails and/or holding elements.

the Figures 4 to 6 each show a schematic view of an embodiment of an application head 26, as can be provided in various embodiments of the device 1 according to the invention.

The schematic perspective view of the 4 shows here that the application head 26 has a carrier 34 which is designed as a carrier plate 35 and on which a plurality of manipulation elements 37 are suspended. If the application head 26 is moved by means of an industrial robot 30, the carrier 34 or the carrier plate 35 remains continuously in a horizontal orientation.

For all beverage containers 2 of a respective multipack 4 to be produced, the application head 26 includes its own manipulation element 37, the structural design of which is shown in FIGS Figures 7 to 9 is shown in detail in each case and which comes into surface contact with the packaging blank 41 under force when it is applied to the beverage container 2 . About the application head 26, as in the Figures 4 to 6 is shown, three packaging blanks 41 can be applied to beverage containers 2 at least approximately at the same time, so that several beverage containers 2 can be combined via three packaging blanks 41 into three multipacks 4 at least approximately at the same time via the application head 26 .

The perspective view after 4 also shows that the application head 26 includes a plurality of lateral partitions 43 and a rear wall 46 . The side partitions 43 and the rear wall 46 are oriented perpendicular to one another. The lateral partitions 43 and the rear wall 46 are each arranged hanging on the carrier 34 or on the carrier plate 35, from which carrier 34 or from which carrier plate 35 the manipulation elements 37 are also carried in a hanging manner.

The spacing between two adjacent lateral partitions 43 is selected in such a way that a respective packaging blank 41 can be arranged between two adjacent partitions 43 with a positive fit or with little play. The rear wall 46 defines a position for one between adjacent partition walls 43 arranged packaging blank 41 fixed in a further spatial direction. A packaging blank 41 can therefore be in contact with the rear wall 43 and with two adjacent lateral partitions 43 or only slightly spaced from the lateral partitions 43 or slightly from the rear wall 46 .

Since the side partitions 43 and the rear wall 46 prevent a relative movement of a received packaging blank 41 in relation to the manipulation elements 37 in several spatial directions, it can be guaranteed with a high level of certainty that the manipulation elements 37 will move precisely to a predetermined position of the packaging blank 41 when the packaging blank 41 is applied Packaging blank 41 meet.

The side partitions 43 also have another function, which from a synopsis of figures 1 and 4 becomes clear. As previously mentioned, groups 3 of beverage containers 2 are formed in the area of the first module 10, these groups 3 being formed spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction FR by the horizontal conveyor device 5 and thereby entering the area of the second module 20.

In order to be able to apply packaging blanks 41 to the groupings 3 in a targeted manner so that the beverage containers 2 meet the openings 42, it is necessary for a relative spacing formed between successive groupings 3 to correspond very precisely to a predetermined target spacing. In the event that a beverage container 2 slips unintentionally during the movement over the horizontal conveyor device 5, it may be that this beverage container 2 is too close to a group 3 that is in front or too close to a group that is 3 that is behind. In order to correct such an error or to then move the beverage container 2 into a position in which the beverage container 2 precisely hits a respective opening 42 when the packaging blank 41 is applied, the respective beverage container 2 is shifted over the lateral partitions 43 if necessary.

As 4 shows, the side partitions 43 each taper in the opposite direction of the carrier 34. To apply the packaging blank 41, the application head 26 is moved in the direction of the beverage containers 2 or in the direction of the respective groupings 3, with the side partitions 43 moving into a free space submerged, which is formed between successive groupings 3. If there is a beverage container 2 in this free space that has slipped unintentionally or whose position does not match a target position, a lateral partition 43 pushes this beverage container 2 back into a specified target position. As a result, the beverage containers 2 hit the openings 42 of the packaging blank 41 with pinpoint accuracy, which can also reduce the risk of a tear occurring in the packaging blank 41 while the beverage containers 2 are pressed into the openings 42 .

The shape of the side partitions 43, which tapers in the opposite direction of the carrier 34, has also proven effective in preventing damage to the beverage containers 2 when they come into contact with the side partitions 43 and preventing the beverage containers 2 from tipping over while being pushed.

In order to cut a packaging blank 41 from a magazine 48 or from matrices 18 (cf. 11 ) in order to be able to move the packaging blank 41 then removed in the direction of the groupings 3 and to be able to hold the respective packaging blank 41 moved in the direction of the groupings 3 firmly on the gripping head 26 until it is placed on a respective grouping 3, the gripping head comprises 26 several suction instruments 39. The suction instruments 39 can each be subjected to negative pressure or can fix flat packaging blanks 41 to the working tool 15 via negative pressure. For this purpose, the working tool 15 comprises a plurality of suction instruments 39 for each flat packaging blank 41 to be received, so that the respective flat packaging blank 41 can be held securely on the working tool 15 via the respective plurality of suction instruments 39 .

In figure 5 the suction instruments 39 are shown enlarged again. Also shows figure 5 again increases the carrier 34 or the carrier plate 35, on which the manipulation elements 37, the lateral partitions 43 and the rear wall 46 are each attached hanging.

From the perspective view 6 , which shows the application head 26 from below, it can be seen that the lateral partitions 43 are oriented parallel to one another. Right side is in 6 a packaging blank 41 is shown, which is held by the application head 26 between two lateral partitions 43. The packaging blank 41 already forms a respective one for each beverage container 2 Opening 42 into which the respective beverage container 2 can be inserted or pressed. For clarification is in 6 already shown a beverage container 2, which was pressed into an opening 42 of the packaging blank 41 via the application head 26 and is now fixed to the packaging blank 41.

In the embodiment shown in the figures of the present patent application, the packaging blank 41 already forms an associated opening 42 for each beverage container 2 2 of the respective group 3 when it is applied to a respective group 3 . In further embodiments, however, it can also be the case that an area provided for forming the openings 42 is pre-punched in the packaging blank 41 and that the openings 42 are only formed when the packaging blank 41 is applied to the beverage containers 2 . The beverage containers 2 can be guided against the pre-punched area with the application of force, the pre-punched area being at least partially severed from the packaging blank 41 and openings 42 being formed in the flat packaging blank 41 as a result. Such embodiments of a packaging blank 41 can also be made correspondingly by means of the embodiment of an application head 26 Figures 4 to 6 be applied to several beverage containers 2.

In 7 an embodiment of a manipulation element 37 is shown. The manipulation element 37 is part of the embodiment of the application head 26 according to FIG Figures 4 to 6 , but can be used independently of this embodiment in a general context or possibly be part of further embodiments. The manipulation element 37 comprises a contact surface 38 which is brought into surface contact with the packaging blank 41 under the action of force in order to press a beverage container 2 into an associated opening 42 . The contact surface 38 has a curved shape.

From a synopsis of figures 7 and 8th it then becomes clear that the contact surface 38 of the manipulation element 37 does not rest all around or only in certain areas on the packaging blank 41 immediately when it hits the packaging blank 41 . If the manipulation element 37 based on its position 8 moves further in the direction of the beverage container 2, the contact surface 38 of the manipulation element 37 comes into contact with the packaging blank 41 at a certain point in time along the entire circumferential course of the respective opening 42 formed in the packaging blank 41 due to an elastic deformation of the packaging blank 41 and then presses the beverage container 2 through the opening 42 until the beverage container 2 is firmly held on the packaging blank 41. Due to the curved shape of the contact surface 38, a force necessary to press a respective beverage container 2 into a respective opening 42 is applied to the packaging blank 41 along the circumferential course of the opening 42 with a time offset.

Thus, when a beverage container 2 begins to be pressed into a respective opening 42 , the manipulation element 37 first comes into surface contact with the packaging blank 41 in a plurality of areas offset along the circumferential course of the respective opening 42 . Only as the respective beverage container 2 is pressed further into the respective opening 42 is an area in which the manipulation element 37 comes into contact via the contact surface 38 with the packaging blank 41 enlarged over a large area, thereby increasing the risk of the packaging blank 41 being torn unintentionally in the area of the respective opening 42 can be kept very low.

Apart from the curved course of the contact surface 38, there are other embodiments for forming the contact surface 38 of the manipulation element 37, with which the force required to press a respective beverage container into a respective opening 42 is applied to the packaging blank 41 at different times along the circumferential course of the respective opening 42 leaves. For example, the contact surface 38 can be designed in a straight line and set at an angle with respect to the packaging blank 41 .

Embodiments have also proven themselves in which the manipulation elements 37 embodied as part of an application head 26 are rotated for the time-staggered application of a force provided for pressing a respective beverage container 2 into a respective opening 42 . In this case, an axis of rotation can run along a longitudinal axis of the respective beverage container 2 . The shape of the contact surface 38 of the respective manipulation element 37 can also have a curved course or be set at an angle with respect to the packaging blank 41 .

In 9 are again individual aspects of the presentation 8 shown in detail or enlarged. The curved or curved course of the contact surface 38 of the manipulation element 37 can also be seen. Also shows 7 , that the packaging blank 41 in the region of a respective opening 42 more Holding tabs 49 has. A respective beverage container 2 also forms an upper edge 51 or fold (cf. 10 ) from which runs around a closure of a respective beverage container 2 designed as a beverage can.

After a respective beverage container 2 has been pressed into a respective opening 42, the retaining tabs 49 are each arranged below the respective upper edge 51 and fix the packaging blank 41 immovably in the axial direction on the respective beverage container 2 designed as a beverage can. In order to keep the force required to press the beverage containers 2 into the openings 42 low, embodiments have proven themselves in which the retaining tabs 49 are pre-bent before the beverage containers 2 are pressed into the openings 42 or, if necessary, in an upright orientation accordingly 8 be transferred. For this purpose, the device 1 can comprise a plurality of matrices 18, as will be described below.

the 10 shows a schematic view of a multipack 4 as it can be produced by various embodiments of the device 1 according to the invention and with various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The multipack 4 from the embodiment according to 4 comprises eight beverage containers 2, each designed as a beverage can, and a packaging blank 41, via which the beverage containers 2 are held together. The packaging blank 41 can be made of plastic or cellulose-containing materials, for example.

the 10 shows that the packaging blank 41 forms a respective opening 42 for each beverage container 2, through which the respective beverage container 2 passes with an upper part. In order to apply the packaging blank 41 to the beverage containers 2 , the packaging blank 41 is pressed onto the beverage containers 2 with a defined force coming from above, with the beverage containers 2 passing through the openings 42 with their upper part. 4 once again makes it clear that the beverage containers 2 must be aligned with one another so that the upper part of the beverage containers 2 can pass through the openings 42 when the packaging blank 41 is applied.

The orientation of the beverage containers 2 to each other is such that the beverage containers 2 along their respective longitudinal direction with their respective associated opening 42 of the packaging blank 41 are aligned. After applying the packaging blank 41 to the beverage container 2 accordingly 10 the beverage containers 2 are held together positively and non-positively via the packaging blank 41 . It is conceivable that the beverage containers 2 of the multipack 4 are held together via other connections, which 10 are not shown. In particular, an adhesive bond can be formed between lateral lateral surfaces of immediately adjacent beverage containers 2 . A respective upper edge 51 of the beverage container 2 is arranged above the packaging blank 41 after the packaging blank 41 has been applied to the beverage container 2 .

the 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they occur in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (cf. 14 ) can be provided. The device 1 comprises a provision 72 which transports beverage containers 2 in several parallel rows. For transport in several parallel rows, the provision 72 has several guide rails 21, with a single-row beverage container stream being moved between immediately adjacent guide rails 21.

The embodiment after 11 also includes a horizontal conveyor 5, which moves beverage containers 2 placed on it in the conveying direction FR. The conveying direction FR and the direction of movement, by means of which the provision 72 transports beverage containers 2 in several parallel rows, are oriented parallel to one another.

The device 1 also includes a handling device 15 with a plurality of gripping heads 17, via which the handling device 15 can receive beverage containers 2 that have been moved in a number of parallel rows via the provision 72 and set them down as a grouping 3 on the horizontal conveyor device 5. Also in the device 1 after 11 It is provided that the beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 already have an alignment with one another that is intended for the application of the respective packaging blank 41 or is suitable for this purpose immediately when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5 .

In order to be able to apply packaging blanks 41 to the groups 3 comprising a plurality of beverage containers 2, the device 1 has one Working device 25 with the present six application heads 26. The application heads 26 can in this case have a structure corresponding to the previous to the Figures 4 to 6 Possess the embodiment described and apply packaging blanks 41 to groupings 3, as previously described in the Figures 4 to 6 associated description has already been explained.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a magazine 48 which accommodates the packaging blanks 41 which have not yet been applied to groups 3 . For this purpose, the magazine 48 comprises a plurality of prongs 19 , each prong 19 reaching through a respective opening 42 of a respective packaging blank 41 accommodated in the magazine 48 . The packaging blanks 41 are thus held in the magazine 48 by the tines 19 .

In practice it may be that the gripping heads 26 have to exert a relatively high force in order to apply a respective packaging blank 41 to a respective grouping 3 . Considering the multipack 4 out 10 It can be seen here that an upper edge 51 of a respective beverage container 2 designed as a beverage can must be inserted through a respective opening 42 if a respective packaging blank 41 is to be applied to a respective grouping 3 . Since the packaging blank 41 has to be elastically deformed in this case, it is possible that when the packaging blank 41 is applied to a respective group 3, one or more of the beverage containers 2 may tip over unintentionally.

In order to reduce a resistance of the packaging blanks 41 in the area of the openings 42, the packaging blanks 41 are in the device according to 11 first placed on dies 18, with each die 18 dipping into a respective opening 42 of a respective packaging blank 41. It is possible here for the gripping heads 26 to remove a respective packaging blank 41 from the magazine 48, followed by the dies 18 plunging into the openings 42 of the respective packaging blank 41 and then by means of the dies 18 elastically deforming or closing a respective edge region of a respective opening 42 .

In the embodiment 1 after 11 however, it is envisaged that a detailed in 12 illustrated transfer tool 90 a respective packaging blank 41 is removed from the magazine 48 and then placed on the dies 18 so that a respective die 18 is immersed in a respective opening 42 of a respective packaging blank 41 . The transfer tool 90 then leaves a vicinity of the matrices 18 and is moved back in the direction of the magazine 48 . Simultaneously with the movement of the transfer tool 90 in the direction of the magazine 48, the gripping heads 26 are moved in the direction of the packaging blanks 41 placed on the dies 18 and then come into contact with the packaging blanks 41 still lying on the dies 18. The packaging blanks 41 are then pressed downwards onto the matrices 18 via the application heads 26, as a result of which edge regions of the openings 42 are stretched.

The application heads 26 then remove the packaging blanks 41 from the matrices 18 , move the packaging blanks 41 removed from the matrices 18 in the direction of the groupings 3 arranged on the horizontal conveyor device 5 and then apply the packaging blanks 41 to the groupings 3 . Since edge areas of the openings 42 have previously been stretched by means of the matrices 18, a resistance which has to be overcome in order to apply the packaging blanks 41 to groupings 3 is reduced compared to embodiments without such a previous stretching of the edge areas.

As already mentioned above, the packaging blanks 41 are placed on the dies 18 by means of a transfer tool 90 , with a respective die 18 entering a respective opening 42 of a respective packaging blank 41 . The number of matrices 18 must therefore correspond at least to the number of openings 42 which the packaging blanks 41 form. So that the matrices 18 can dip into the openings 42, the arrangement or the position of the matrices 18 must also be matched to the respective arrangement or position of the openings 42 which form the packaging blanks 41.

In order to produce different multipacks 4, packaging blanks 41 may be required that differ in terms of the respective number of openings 42 and/or their respective position or arrangement in the packaging blank 41. It may therefore be necessary for the dies 18 to be exchanged if different multipacks 4 are to be produced by means of the device 1 in successive packaging processes.

In order to be able to carry out such an exchange of matrices 18 quickly and easily, several matrices 18 are provided in the embodiment according to FIG 11 combined into a respective format part. If packaging blanks 41 are changed in the device 1, which differ in terms of a number and/or arrangement of the openings 42, format parts are exchanged, which format parts each comprise a plurality of matrices 18. Format parts comprising several matrices 18 can be exchanged, for example, by a user or an industrial robot. There are also embodiments in which format parts comprising a plurality of matrices 18 are exchanged as required by means of a driverless transport system.

the figures 12 and 13 show individual details of the embodiment of a device 1 11 . 12 shows the previously mentioned transfer tool 90, which can remove packaging blanks 41 from a magazine 48 and place them on the matrices 48. For each packaging blank 41, the transfer tool 90 has four associated carrying plungers 92, which are each spring-mounted and can grip a respective packaging blank 41 pneumatically.

the 13 shows in particular again the already in 11 shown gripping heads 17, which drink containers 2 from a supply 72 (cf. 11 ) and place them as a group 3 on the horizontal conveyor 5. The beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 already have an alignment with one another provided for the application of the respective packaging blank 41 when they are set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5 .

the 14 shows individual steps in a flow chart as can be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 from the exemplary embodiment 14 can by means of a device 1 according to the previous in the Figures 1 to 3 and 11 described embodiments are implemented in each case.

As part of a first step of the method 100, to which number 110 refers, a plurality of groupings 3, each with a plurality of beverage containers 2, are placed on a horizontal conveying device 5 via a handling device 15 in the direction from above. The discontinuation of the handling device 15 takes place in such a way that the multiple beverage containers 2 of a respective Grouping 3 are already aligned to each other for the application of a respective packaging blank 41 immediately when set down on the horizontal conveyor 5.

Method step 120 follows method step 110 in terms of time, in which the groupings 3 with their already aligned beverage containers 2 are moved via a horizontal conveyor device 5 in the direction of a working device 25 . During the movement of the groupings 3 with their already aligned beverage containers 2 in the direction of the working device 25, the beverage containers 2 of the groupings 3 are at no time in contact with guide elements that extend along a conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveying device 5 or holding elements that are intended to rest on lateral Lateral surfaces of beverage containers 2 are formed.

During the movement of the groupings 3 over the horizontal conveying device 5, immediately adjacent beverage containers 2 already aligned for the application of the packaging blank 41 can be in surface contact with one another via their lateral lateral surfaces. Beyond this surface contact, the already aligned beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 only have further contact with the horizontal conveying device 5.

Therefore, for the implementation of method 100, there are no changes along a conveying direction FR (cf. Figures 1 to 3 ) of the horizontal conveyor 5 to be arranged guide elements necessary. Retaining elements, which move with the groups in devices of the generic type known from the prior art, are not necessary or provided for in the device 1 either.

After a respective grouping 3 with its beverage containers 2, which were still aligned up to that point, entered the working area of the working device 25 (cf. figures 2 and 3 ) has occurred, method step 130 is carried out. In method step 130, a respective packaging blank 41 is applied to a respective grouping 3, as a result of which the respective beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 are held together positively and non-positively via the respective packaging blank 41.

The application of packaging blanks 41 on groupings 3 can according to the previous description 2 or. 3 respectively. Throughout the movement of groupings 3 into the working area of \u200b\u200bthe working device 25 and during the application of packaging blanks 41 to the groupings 3, the already aligned beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping 3 are at no time in contact with guide rails which extend along the conveying direction FR. Also, the already aligned beverage containers 2 of a respective grouping are never in contact with holding elements during the entire movement into the working area of the working device 25 and during the application of packaging blanks 41.

A concluding note is given at this point to the descriptions of embodiment variants of the invention, with these description passages referring to the accompanying drawings. If "schematic" representations and views are generally referred to in connection with the figures and their descriptions, this in no way means that the representations in the figures and their description should be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite capable of extracting enough information from the schematic and abstract drawings to make it easier for him to understand the invention, without his understanding being impaired in any way by the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions . The figures thus enable the person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive concept formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the description on the basis of the more specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more specifically explained mode of operation of the device according to the invention.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications or variations can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Reference List

1

contraption

2

beverage container

3

grouping

4

multi pack

5

horizontal conveyor

10

first module

15

handling device

17

grab head

19

tines

20

second module

25

work facility

26

application head

34

carrier

35

backing plate

37

manipulation element

38

contact surface

39

suction instrument

41

packaging blank

42

opening

43

Lateral partition

46

back panel

48

magazine

49

retaining tab

51

upper edge

72

deployment

90

delivery tool

92

support ram

100

proceedings

110

first step in the process

120

second process step

130

third step

FR

conveying direction

S

Control and/or regulating device

Claims (18)

1. A method (100) of manufacturing a multipack (4) comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2), the method (100) comprising the steps of:

   - aligning a plurality of beverage containers (2) with respect to one another, which beverage containers (2) are provided for a respective multipack (4), so that a packaging blank (41) can subsequently be applied to the aligned beverage containers (2), and

   - applying a packaging blank (41) to the plurality of beverage containers (2), which beverage containers (2) are already aligned and provided for a respective multipack (4), wherein the beverage containers (2) already aligned and provided for a respective multipack (4) pass through openings (42) of the packaging blank (41) during the application of the packaging blank (41) and are subsequently held together by the packaging blank (41), the method (100) further providing that

   - a plurality of groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2), are deposited on a horizontal conveying device (5) via at least one handling device (15), in such a way that the plurality of beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) are already aligned with one another for the application of a respective packaging blank (41) immediately upon being deposited on the horizontal conveying device (5), and in that

   - a respective packaging blank (41) is applied to the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3), which beverage containers (2) are deposited on the horizontal conveying device (5) and are aligned with respect to one another, and in which method (100) provision is made that

   - a respective packaging blank (41) is applied to the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) by means of at least one application head (26), which beverage containers (2) are already aligned with one another, wherein the at least one application head (26) is carrying out a lowering movement oriented in the direction of a respective grouping (3) in order to apply packaging blanks (41) to groupings (3), wherein

   - the at least one application head (26) comprises at least one centering means, which centering means, in time before the application of a respective packaging blank (41), restores the alignment of the plurality of beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) with respect to one another as required, which alignment is provided for the application of a respective packaging blank (41) and is formed immediately upon placement on the horizontal conveying device (5).
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

   - the application of a respective packaging blank (41) to the beverage containers (2), which beverage containers (2) have already been aligned and are provided for a respective multipack (4), and/or

   - a movement of the beverage containers (2), which beverage containers (2) have already been aligned and are provided for a respective multipack (4), which movement is affected via the horizontal conveying device (5),

   takes place without lateral surfaces of the beverage containers (2) bearing against a holding element and/or guiding element, which holding element and/or guiding element is designed to maintain the alignment, which beverage containers (2) have already been aligned and are provided for a respective multipack (4).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the beverage containers (2), which beverage containers (2) have already been aligned and are provided for a respective multipack (4), in time during the application of the respective packaging blank (41) are moved over the horizontal conveying device (5) without interruption or approximately without interruption and preferably at an at least approximately constant transport speed.
4. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, in which the application head (26) receives at least one packaging blank (41) from a stack of a plurality of packaging blanks (41) positioned laterally of the horizontal conveying device (5), subsequently positions the respective at least one packaging blank (2) received from the stack above at least one grouping (3), which grouping (3) comprises a plurality of beverage containers (2) deposited on the horizontal conveying device (5) in an already aligned manner, and then executes the lowering movement oriented in the direction of the respective grouping (3).
5. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one application head (26) applies a plurality of packaging blanks (41) to a plurality of different groupings (3) after performing a respective lowering movement, the plurality of different groupings (3) each comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2) deposited on the horizontal conveying device (5) in an already aligned manner.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one application head (26) applies packaging blanks (41) to the plurality of different groupings (3) in a time-delayed manner after performing a respective lowering movement.
7. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 6, in which the at least one application head (26) carries out the lowering movement oriented in the direction of the respective grouping (3) and in doing so applies the respective packaging blank (41) to the beverage containers (2) already aligned with respect to one another, wherein the at least one application head (26) impresses a respective beverage container (2) of a respective grouping (3) into a respective opening (42) of the respective packaging blank (41), so that the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3), which are impressed into the openings (42) of the respective packaging blank (41), are held against each other in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner via the respective packaging blank (41).
8. The method according to claim 7, in which the at least one application head (26) has at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39), which at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39) holds the respective packaging blank (41) at the at least one application head (26) temporally before and/or temporally during the impressing of the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) into the openings (42), and it being provided in particular that the at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39) holds the respective packaging blank (41) at the at least one application head (26) via negative pressure temporally before and/or temporally during the impressing of the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) into the openings (42).
9. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the beverage containers (2) are each formed by beverage cans.
10. A device (1) for producing a multipack (4) comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2), the device (1) comprising:

    - a horizontal conveying device (5) for moving groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2), and

    - at least one working device (25), which working device (25) can apply a respective packaging blank (41) to the groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2), so that the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) pass through openings (42) of the respective packaging blank (41) and are held against one another via the respective packaging blank (41),

    - wherein the device (1) comprises at least one handling device (15), by means of which handling device (15) the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) can be set down on the horizontal conveying device (5) in such a way that the beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) already are in alignment with respect to one another provided for the application of the respective packaging blank (41) immediately upon being deposited on the horizontal conveying device (5) and wherein

    - the working device (25) has or comprises at least one application head (26), which application head (26) is equipped and configured in such a way that, for applying packaging blanks (41) to groupings (3), it can execute a lowering movement oriented in the direction of a respective grouping (3), and wherein

    - the at least one application head (26) comprises at least one centering means, which centering means can restore, as required, an alignment of the plurality of beverage containers (2) of a respective grouping (3) with respect to one another, the alignment being provided for the application of the respective packaging blank (41).
11. The device according to claim 10, in which the groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising a plurality of beverage containers (2), can be moved continuously via the horizontal conveying device (5) into a working region of the at least one working device (25) without surface contact of their lateral surfaces with holding elements and/or guiding elements.
12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one handling device (15) is formed by at least one multi-axis robot.
13. The device according to one of claims 10 to 12, comprising a control device and/or regulating device (S) connected to the horizontal conveying device (5), which control device and/or regulating device (S) can control the horizontal conveying device (5) for uninterrupted movement of the deposited groupings (3).
14. The device according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the at least one application head (26) is movable back and forth between the horizontal conveying device (5) and a stack comprising a plurality of packaging blanks (41), which stack is positioned laterally of the horizontal conveying device (5).
15. The device according to one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the at least one application head (26) is formed and configured in such a way that it can apply a plurality of packaging blanks (41) to a plurality of groupings (3) in a time-delayed manner after performing a respective lowering movement.
16. The device according to one of claims 10 to 15, which is constructed and provided for producing a multipack (4) comprising a plurality of beverage containers, which plurality of beverage containers (2) are each formed by beverage cans.
17. The device according to one of the claims 10 to 16, in which the at least one application head (26) comprises a carrier (34) and a plurality of manipulation elements (37), which manipulation elements (37) are arranged suspended from the carrier (34), via which manipulation elements (37) the packaging blank (41) can be acted upon in each case with a defined force in the region of a plurality of openings (42), so that a respective beverage container (2) of a respective grouping (3) is impressed into a respective opening (42) of the packaging blank (41), and wherein the plurality of manipulation elements (37) arranged suspended from the carrier (34) are designed in such a manner that the plurality of manipulation elements (37) arranged suspended on the carrier (34) can apply a respective defined force to the packaging blank (41) in a time-displaced manner along the respective circumferential profile of the respective opening (42) in order to impress a respective beverage container (2) into a respective opening (42).
18. The device according to claim 17, in which the at least one application head (26) comprises at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39), via which at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39) the packaging blank (41) can be fixed releasably to the at least one application head (26) during the impressing of a respective beverage container (2) into a respective opening (42), and wherein the at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39) is being designed in particular in such a way that the at least one suction instrument and/or gripping instrument (39) can fix the packaging blank (41) to the at least one application head (26) detachably and via negative pressure during the impressing of a respective beverage container (2) into a respective opening (42).

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