EP3814237A1

EP3814237A1 - Handling and/or packaging apparatus and method for packaging articles

Info

Publication number: EP3814237A1
Application number: EP18800128.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Spindler; Thomas Stadler; Jens Losert
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2018-06-27
Filing date: 2018-11-08
Publication date: 2021-05-05
Also published as: CN214608269U; WO2020001800A1; DE102018115521A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a handling and/or packaging apparatus (10) and to a method for the secondary packaging of article groups. The apparatus (10) according to the invention comprises a conveyor section (12) for transporting a plurality of articles (13) in mass flow (26) and/or in series transport in a defined conveying direction (16) and a second conveying section (18), located close to the first conveying section (12) and/or extending parallel thereto, for successive transporting of secondary packaging (19), which are each provided and prepared for receiving one article group formed from a plurality of articles (13). Moreover, the apparatus (10) comprises a handling device (22) associated with the conveying sections (12, 18), having at least one gripper head (24), which is provided and designed for simultaneously receiving and capturing one article group each from the first conveyor section (12), for transferring the article group to the second conveying section (18) and for inserting the article group into one of the secondary packagings (19) conveyed there. An activatable and/or controllable retaining device (40) is associated with the second conveying section (18), whereby the at least one secondary packaging (19), equipped with articles (13), can be retained, at least in phases, before and/or during the inserting of the article group, relative to leading secondary packagings (19) and/or those already equipped with articles (13), and/or can be delayed relative to the transport speed of the leading secondary packagings (19).

Description

Handling and / or packaging device and method for packaging articles

The present invention relates to a handling and / or

Packaging device for repackaging article groups with the features of independent claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for transferring articles conveyed in mass flow and / or in series transport into outer packagings which are moved continuously or intermittently along a conveying path, with the features of independent method claim 15.

The automated loading of outer packaging with article groups such as beverage boxes or cartons with beverage containers is normally carried out discontinuously, since in such cases the secondary packaging or beverage boxes, which are typically transported in the uninterrupted product stream by means of conveyor belts or other horizontal conveying devices, have to be stopped for each loading operation, even if they have to be stopped in the rest Process flow with continuous

Conveying speed can be transported. The packaging machines set up for the automated loading of the outer packaging with article groups usually require the outer packaging to stand still for a precise loading, at least for the actual insertion process of the article group. Such a discontinuous assembly naturally has the disadvantage of a comparatively low output, since the conveyance of the outer packaging or boxes has to be stopped again and again in order to insert the articles or containers there with the desired precision.

There are various approaches in the prior art for reducing these recognized disadvantages, for example through a quasi-continuous conveyance of

Outer packaging during its loading with articles, which can be found, for example, in WO 96/32323 or in GB 836 632.

In view of the disadvantages in the prior art, it can be seen as a primary object of the invention to provide a simply constructed and reliably working device for packaging articles or for their insertion in outer packaging, as well as a corresponding packaging method, in which disruptive discontinuities in the Funding can be reduced or even avoided. The above task is handled by a handling and / or

Packaging device and solved by a method for transferring articles transported in mass flow and / or in series transport in continuously or intermittently moving packaging along a conveyor line, which have the features of the respective independent claims. Further advantageous configurations are described by the respective subclaims.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention proposes, in addition to the method described below, a handling and / or packaging device for repackaging article groups and / or for inserting article groups in overpacks, which have a first conveyor line for transporting a large number of articles in mass flow and / or in row transport in a defined and / or changing conveying direction and a second conveying section located at least in sections near the first conveying section and / or running parallel to it for the successive transport of overpacks, which overpacks for receiving at least one each several articles formed article group are provided and prepared. If, at this point or in the broader context of the description of the invention, there is talk of a defined and / or changing conveying direction in the conveying run, this means either elongated conveying sections or deflections in the conveying sections, so that, for example, also T-shaped deflections, curves etc. should be included in this definition. Also multiple changes in direction of the

Funding history is also covered by this definition.

In this context, it should also be pointed out that the packaging generally referred to in the present description context as outer packaging can be formed by various containers which must in principle be suitable for holding the articles, ie at least one article group or several articles inserted together there. In practice, the outer packaging can be formed, for example, by cartons, trays, beverage crates, etc. which are open at the top and into which the articles with their at least one controllable gripper head can be inserted from above by means of the handling device explained in detail below. If there is also generalization of articles, then these are mass-flowable piece goods, their further handling and / or their transport and / or dispatch typically takes place by means of outer packaging. So the articles can in particular through containers, beverage containers, bottles, cans or the like. be formed, which can be stacked and / or palletized by means of the outer packaging

Packaging units can be summarized.

Furthermore, the handling and / or

Packaging device a handling device assigned to the conveyor lines and / or movable between the conveyor lines with at least one gripper head which, for the simultaneous pick-up and detection of an article group in each case, from the first conveyor line to its transfer to the second conveyor line and for insertion of the article group into one of the conveyed there Outer packaging is provided and designed. If in the present context of a

Handling device is spoken with at least one gripper head, this can be, for example, a gantry robot, a multi-axis robot, a parallel kinematics robot or another suitable handling device, which between the at least two conveyor lines for transferring several articles simultaneously to the

Outer packaging can be moved back and forth while being raised and lowered as required.

On a movable tool head of this handling device there is at least one controllable gripper head for the simultaneous picking up of several articles such as beverage containers or bottles, which can be equipped with controllable article grippers such as suction grippers or with controllable gripping tulips or the like with which the articles, Beverage containers or bottles are recorded in their neck or head area and securely held for transfer into the outer packaging and for

Settling in the outer packaging can be released reliably. If the handling device is equipped with only one gripper head, an outer packaging with a defined number of articles,

Beverage containers or bottles can be equipped, for example with a number of articles arranged in a rectangular combination of a total of twenty or twenty-four or more articles, beverage containers or bottles. The gripper head must therefore have a number of normally corresponding to the number of articles to be gripped

jointly controllable article grippers, which also correspond in their spatial arrangement to one another the arrangement of the articles in the article group or can be adaptable to this arrangement.

Optionally, however, the handling device can also be equipped with two or three identical gripper heads, which allow a correspondingly larger number of articles to be gripped simultaneously and, for example, in two or three in a row to sell transported packaging. Through the so created

One possibility is the simultaneous loading of several outer packaging with respective article groups, in particular with article groups of the same type

correspondingly high throughput possible when equipping outer packaging with articles.

An activatable and / or controllable retention device is assigned to the second conveyor line, on which the outer packaging is conveyed, with the aid of which the at least one outer packaging equipped with articles or to be fitted with articles is at least in phases before and / or during insertion of the article group in relation to the preceding and / or outer packaging already loaded with articles can be retained and / or delayed in relation to the transport speed of the preceding outer packaging.

This restraining device, which can be activated and / or controlled as required, serves primarily for the exact alignment of the next with articles

populating packaging and / or the respective new calibration of the

Handling device with the exact position of the outer packaging to be filled with articles. Since the outer packaging is usually in the continuous

Product flow transported on the second conveyor line and transported on the second conveyor line after being equipped with articles, the problem can arise that the positions of the currently to be loaded

Outer packaging is not detected or recognized with the required precision and may therefore not be known exactly. However, the exact position of at least the outer packaging currently to be fitted is for an exact positioning of the

Handling device, which carries with its at least one gripper head the articles picked up by the first conveyor section and is to be placed in the outer packaging provided for this purpose, is essential.

In order for the necessary exact coordination when positioning the

Handling device in relation to or above which during the

Filling with items of packaging that is normally carried on without having to use complex sensors with optical image evaluation or other detection algorithms, the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention uses the controllable and / or, if necessary, activatable retention device assigned to the second conveying path, which on the one hand the packaging before and / or during can delay their loading with articles, which however On the other hand, it can help to determine the exact position of the respective outer packaging that is in contact with the retention device, as well as the subsequent outer packaging, and thus make it available to the handling device in the interest of an exact positioning and insertion process when loading articles.

If at this point we are talking about a positioning or a recording of the positions of the outer packaging, then we are also referring to recordings or specifications of the conveying speeds of the outer packaging, since the controllable or, if necessary, activatable retention device, in addition to the above-mentioned aspects of exact positioning can define a conveying speed of the outer packaging, which can be lower than the advancing speed of the second conveying device, since the restraining device can brake the outer packaging, which is currently to be loaded with articles, in relation to the advancing speed of the second conveying device.

Optionally, the restraint device can be equipped with a sensor, in particular with an optical sensor, which can preferably detect whether at the level of the optical sensor in particular, and thus in the area of the outer packaging or box flow, which intervenes as necessary and if necessary, this

retarding lifting cylinder or other locking elements of the restraint device is currently an outer packaging or a box or not. Only if the optical sensor detects the absence of an outer packaging or a box and thus a gap in the area of the restraint device, can the locking elements or lifting cylinders of the restraint device be extended into the area of this gap and the empty packaging or boxes still stored in this way.

The typical sequence in the targeted creation of a gap between successive outer packaging or boxes provides that after the filling of an outer packaging or a box or after the simultaneous loading of up to three or four outer packaging or boxes with articles or containers, the clamping jaws to the next the following outer packaging or the next empty box that has not yet been loaded with articles or containers, and this outer packaging or this box and all those following it

Outer packaging or boxes are held and thus jammed, while the outer packaging or boxes filled with articles or containers due to something faster feed rate of the horizontal conveyor is moved away in the conveying direction and a gap is generated after them.

The positioning of the restraint device and the positioning of the clamping jaws which are laterally delivered to the outer packaging or to the box can initially be done relatively roughly, normally by linking the position control on the basis of the position data which moves with the known speed

Outer packaging or box stream moving handling device during the loading of the outer packaging or boxes, so that the current position and speed of the first unpacked outer packaging or box in the outer packaging or box stream can be derived relatively accurately and thus the position control for the retention device is available. By means of a suitable drive, the restraint device can therefore be moved along the second

Conveyor line are moved into the appropriate position, with activated and against the first empty outer packaging or the first empty box that follows the outer packaging or boxes filled with articles or containers, this empty outer packaging or this box as well as all this outer packaging or to hold this packaging or boxes following this box or to delay it in relation to the transport speed of the horizontal conveyor device.

As soon as the optical sensor against delivery of the jaws against the

Side walls of the empty outer packaging or the empty box and after at least a slight delay of the restraint device compared to the

Transport speed of the horizontal conveyor a gap

recognizes the preceding outer packaging, which is equipped with articles or beverage containers, the lifting cylinders or the swiveling flaps (depending on the features of the restraint device) can be activated and moved into the outer packaging or box flow. At the same time or with a slight delay, the clamping jaws on the empty outer packaging or on the empty box can then be deactivated again and opened or moved apart, as a result of which they have previously been clamped

Outer packaging and all subsequent outer packaging pent up thereon come into contact with the activated lifting cylinders or the pivotable flaps by the feed movement of the horizontal conveyor device of the second conveying path and there at the transport speed of

Horizontal conveyor device at least slightly reduced feed speed of the retaining device continue to be present. This system of the pent-up empty outer packaging or boxes on the activated lifting cylinders or swiveling flaps of the restraint device provides a precise and reliable position and due to the position of the restraint device that can be precisely detected and evaluated by a control system

Speed information of the next with articles or containers

populating packaging or beverage crates, which at the same time can provide the desired positioning specification for the handling device with its gripper heads, which is also required for the desired freedom from errors when operating the machine, so that the articles or containers can be delivered exactly to the correct packaging packaging or boxes moving at a defined conveying speed Bring down or can drop off there.

The handling device with the at least one gripper head of the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention is variably controllable and movable between the conveyor lines with the articles and the outer packaging, in particular for receiving groups of articles from the first conveyor line, for transferring them to the second conveyor line, for inserting the Article group in one of the outer packaging transported there, as well as for moving the gripper head back to the mass flow and / or for row transport of the articles on the first conveyor line, in order to subsequently take up further article groups from there.

It is also provided that the handling device with the at least one gripper head after picking up an article group from the first conveyor line, at least while inserting the article group into the outer packaging, has approximately the same transport speed as the outer packaging moving on the conveyor line parallel to and / or along the second Conveyor path is movable or is moved. In this way, the special advantages of the invention come into play, namely the high achievable in this way

Assembly services when inserting the articles into the outer packaging, since the outer packaging can continue to move during the insertion process. In addition, the stops which are unavoidable in the prior art and which considerably reduce the loading performance of such systems can be avoided each time articles are inserted into the outer packaging by means of the gripper heads. In addition, the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention permits a comparatively safe and trouble-free driving of a vehicle equipped in this way

Packaging machine and a safe processing of boxes, beverage crates, boxes and / or other containers serving as outer packaging. As mentioned above, the gripper heads of the invention

The handling and / or packaging device each have a plurality of article grippers for each article to be gripped, each gripper head expediently comprising a plurality of jointly controllable article grippers, the number of which corresponds to the article group that can be gripped simultaneously by the gripper head. With a larger number of article grippers in the gripper head, the article grippers, for example, in one

Rectangular arrangement can be positioned in the gripper head according to the article groups to be inserted into the outer packaging, it can also be advantageous if at least some of the article grippers or groups of article grippers in the gripper head can be adjusted in their horizontal distances from one another.

When the articles are transported in a mass flow on the first conveyor section, they are transported, for example, in a dense package, which can make it difficult for the article to be gripped by the article grippers. A common variant therefore provides for article conveyance in row transport, whereby it makes sense to have a number of

to provide rows next to one another, each with articles transported one behind the other, which also corresponds to the arrangement of the article groups to be accommodated and their arrangement in the outer packaging. If the outer packaging is prepared to accommodate a 4x5 rectangle arrangement with a total of twenty articles, the articles are expediently transported in four parallel rows on the first conveyor line, normally adjacent rows by so-called.

Alley plates are separated from each other. From these, for example, four parallel rows, the gripper head can then simultaneously pick up twenty articles with its appropriately positioned twenty article grippers by picking up five articles from each of the four parallel rows of the first conveyor line, which are conveyed in succession.

In a variant of the handling and / or

Packaging device can in particular be provided that the distances of the article grippers or the groups of article grippers in the gripper head during a

Working cycle reducible and / or variable according to the target positions of the articles of an article group within the respective outer packaging, in particular

can be enlarged.

This is the case with the inclusion of an article group from a first one

Conveyor line, which comprises several parallel individual rows separated from each other by alley plates, with articles being transported one behind the other without gaps, it is also necessary to bring the article grippers into corresponding positions within the gripper head, With a 4x5 rectangular arrangement of the article grippers in the gripper head, a spacing of the four article gripper rows to be positioned exactly above the rows is necessary in order to compensate for the spacing of the adjacent rows caused by the alley plates. However, since the articles within each row are normally conveyed in touching contact and thus without gaps one behind the other, the article grippers of each of the four article gripper rows must also be positioned closer to one another in the direction parallel to the conveying direction of the first conveyor line than the article gripper rows located next to one another in a direction transverse to the conveying direction.

On the other hand, several technical reasons can make it necessary to change these distances between the article grippers in the gripper head, such as the target arrangement of the individual articles of an article group within the outer packaging, or the special features of the immersion process when the article group is lowered vertically into the respective outer packaging. In the case of an outer packaging which has no separating elements for the spacing of the articles from one another, it may be necessary, for example, to bring the article grippers as closely together as possible, since the articles should also be in contact with one another in the outer packaging formed, for example, by a folding carton.

In the case of outer packaging with dividers, such as can be formed by an open beverage crate, the article grippers must be positioned as precisely as possible above the respective target positions for the articles formed by beverage containers, since the container bottoms otherwise run the risk of being lowered into the beverage crate to collide or to put on the dividers, which can result in a fault in the loading of the crate with the beverage containers. In this case, the articles in each row of articles that had previously been transported without gaps on the first conveyor line in order to distance a small distance from one another, while the articles may have to be brought closer to one another across the rows of articles, since the dividers in a beverage crate may be thinner can as the alley plates of adjacent rows on the first conveyor line.

In all versions of the outer packaging used, which are to be equipped with article groups, a further aspect can be added, which can make it sensible or necessary to adjust the distance between the individual article grippers in the gripper head. In order to prevent the articles from colliding with the edges of the outer packaging during the handling processes, which typically run at a relatively high speed To prevent this, it may also be sensible to initially minimize the distances between the article grippers in the gripper head after the articles have been picked up from the first conveyor line, in order to maintain the greatest possible distance between the articles on the edge and the circumferential edges of the outer packaging, while after the lowering process has started, if the lower sections of the articles or beverage containers are already below the upper edge of the peripheral edge of the outer packaging, a spacing of the

Article grippers from each other may be necessary, for example because of the above

Separators within the outer packaging formed, for example, by a beverage crate.

In this context, a further optional equipment option can further reduce the risk of the articles colliding with the outer packaging edges or edges. Such an equipment option can be formed, for example, by side ramps or bevels which, in the form of foldable or laterally adjustable strips, cover at least the longitudinal edges of the outer packaging or beverage crates and deflect the articles there in the manner of a funnel when lowering into the outer packaging if they are due to otherwise would position them on the edges or edges.

These moldings can offer the additional advantage that they have the

Keep packaging or beverage crates in their vertical position and on

To prevent rising or lifting of the horizontal conveyor of the second conveyor line. You can thus reliably prevent the outer packaging or boxes from rising and hold them in their positions, especially when the handling devices with their gripper heads move out of the outer packaging or boxes again after an insertion process and therefore no additional

Support offers more and / or if the back pressure on the second conveyor line becomes so high during the conveying process that individual outer packaging or boxes could be pushed upwards. It makes sense to keep between the bars folded down or brought into position and the upper edges of the

Outer packaging or beverage crates a little play, so that there is no braking effect.

Optionally, these optional strips can each be articulated so that, if necessary, they can be pivoted about an axis parallel to their longitudinal direction, which means that the outer packaging or boxes underneath can be released upwards for removal if necessary. The optional swivel mechanisms or articulated suspensions for the swiveling ones Strips in order to pivot them upward for removal of the outer packaging or boxes, can optionally be coupled with motor drives, for example with electric motors, with pneumatic or with hydraulic drives. Such optional drives enable automatic or semi-automatic swiveling and thus a coupling with a process control for the entire system. However, a purely passive suspension is also conceivable, which requires the bars to be pivoted manually if they are to be pivoted upward.

At this point it should be explicitly clarified that the swiveling strips can optionally also be formed by simple sheets or the like, since the bevels or ramps mentioned above and serving as an insertion aid for the articles in the outer packaging do not have to be required in all applications , Also such longitudinal sheets, which are arranged parallel to the conveying direction of the outer packaging or boxes on both sides at the appropriate positions, fulfill the above-mentioned purpose of the box guide in the same way. Such guide plates or strips are equally suitable to reliably prevent the outer packaging or boxes from rising and to keep them in their intended positions when the gripper moves out of the boxes again and therefore no longer offers additional support and / or if in the course of Conveying process, the dynamic pressure becomes so high that individual boxes could be pushed upwards.

It should also be pointed out that the strips or guide plates mentioned, which can optionally be designed without the ramps, do not necessarily have to be pivotable, but can also optionally be plugged in, displaceable or otherwise fastened, and in this way by moving or removing them Leadership positions can be brought.

In the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention it can be provided that the above-mentioned activatable and / or controllable

Retaining device for delaying and / or holding back the empty packaging to be loaded with articles relative to a transport speed of the second conveyor line is formed by foldable barriers, by pivotable flaps, by at least one movable contact bar, run-up bar or the like. According to an advantageous embodiment variant, it can also be provided that the aforementioned activatable and / or controllable restraining device for delaying and / or restraining the empty outer packaging, which is to be equipped with articles, with respect to a transport speed of the second conveyor line by means of translationally movable and thus intervene variably in the flow of the outer packaging or

insertable barriers are formed. For example, in accordance with such an advantageous embodiment variant, a pair of mutually deliverable lifting cylinders can be provided, which can be advanced against each other in an approximately horizontal direction in order to intervene in the flow of the outer packaging and this in relation to preceding outer packaging and already loaded with articles on the second conveyor line to delay or hold back.

In addition, it can be provided that the activatable restraint device, the pivotable flaps and / or displaceable lifting cylinders can be moved at least in phases at the transport speed along the conveying path or can be moved with respect to this at a reduced feed speed, as a result of which the outer packaging adjoining it and all the subsequent outer packaging are compared with the transport speed the conveyor line can be delayed.

In addition, in a further embodiment of the invention

Handling and / or packaging device can be provided that their activatable and / or controllable retaining device for delaying and / or retaining the empty outer packaging and to be equipped with articles comprises at least one pair of clamping jaws that can be set against one another compared to a transport speed of the second conveying path. hydraulically or pneumatically with a horizontal stroke across

Direction of transport to the side of the outer packaging or beverage crates and can keep them clamped.

In this way, the pair of mutually adjustable clamping jaws can laterally engage one of the outer packaging in the extended position and this and the subsequent outer packaging of the box or

Outer packaging stream compared to the transport speed of the second

Braking and / or holding back the conveyor section, which can make a significant contribution to the exact positioning of the outer packaging already explained above for the phase of inserting the articles held by means of the gripper heads and inserted or lowered therein.

Such a configuration with mutually adjustable clamping jaws can advantageously be coordinated with the pair of mutually adjustable lifting cylinders and / or with the foldable and / or translationally movable barriers and / or the pivotable flaps and / or the at least one movable run-up bar or the like are moved and / or activated, the mutually coordinated movements and / or activations being controllable in particular by sensor signals of at least one sensor detecting the box or outer packaging stream.

For example, an advantageous embodiment variant of such a configuration can provide for a particularly exact positioning of the outer packaging, and thus also in connection with the gripper heads, in a phase of inserting the articles into the respective outer packaging provided by the various adjusting elements of the restraint device equipped in this way in a meaningful manner can be combined and coordinated in their positioning movements.

So it is especially in connection with a beginning

Inserting an article group into the outer packaging intended for this requires that the gripper head is positioned exactly in the right place and moved in the same direction parallel to the outer packaging underneath at exactly the same speed, since otherwise the precise positioning of the articles in the outer packaging does not guarantee under all circumstances can be. In order to ensure such coordinated movement of the outer packaging and the gripper heads, the retention device can be controlled, for example, in such a way that the outer packaging moving with the conveying speed of the second conveying path, which has not yet been loaded with articles, is delayed by means of the laterally adjustable clamping jaws and slowed down compared to the conveying speed of the second conveying path. In this way, the outer packaging already loaded with articles, which in the direction of transport adjoins the outer packaging which has been detected by means of the clamping jaws and is delayed in this way, moves somewhat faster, while at the same time there is a gap between these previously touching

Outer packaging is created. This gap can be detected by means of a suitable sensor system, for example by means of an optical sensor which is based on a light barrier principle and which can in particular be assigned to the restraint device or mounted there.

The restraining device, which can be moved back and forth on longitudinal rails in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the second conveying path, is made possible in this way by means of an evaluation of the signals of the optical sensor, the actuation of the pair of lifting cylinders which can be adjusted against one another and / or the foldable and / or translatory movable barriers and / or the pivotable Flaps, the movable run-up bar, etc., which are arranged upstream of the pair of mutually adjustable clamping jaws. As soon as it is ensured in this way by the sensor signal evaluation that by activating these retaining elements the rearmost one, which has already been spaced apart by a gap, is not

If the outer packaging of the outer packaging previously loaded with articles is detected or touched, the frontmost outer packaging of the row of outer packaging delayed by means of the clamping jaws can run against the activated lifting cylinders, folding bars, etc., by releasing the clamping jaws that can be adjusted from the side.

Such a coordinated activation and deactivation of the individual control elements of the restraint device has the particular advantage that the packaging can be positioned very precisely with only a small amount of sensor effort in each assembly cycle, by freeing it against the effective barrier by loosening the clamping jaws on the side the

Restraint device can run. This position serves as an initialization for each individual assembly process, since the position data and speed values can be evaluated in a simple manner and made available to the handling device with its gripper heads, which can be found in each of the successive ones

Placement cycles enables a precisely fitting placement and insertion movement and control of the gripper heads.

An additional positioning and / or calibration of the packaging, which is pent-up against the transport direction of the second conveyor line, is not necessary, since normally not more than four to six packaging at the same time by means of an appropriately configured one

Handling device and a corresponding number of gripper heads operated in parallel with article groups. Because the dimensions of the

Outer packaging is known and is normally subject to only a relatively small scatter, the gripper heads and article grippers can also be controlled and positioned with sufficient precision for the outer packaging which is held in front of the foremost retained outer packaging.

Another optional equipment variant of the invention

The handling and / or packaging device can provide that it is assigned a detection device for scanning and detecting contour contours and / or a shape of outer packaging to be equipped with articles. in this connection can in particular output signals of the detection device for optimized positioning and adaptability of the at least one gripper head

Handling device on an outer packaging deviating from a standard shape and / or contour when it is loaded with articles and / or processed.

This optional additional detection device is used to detect the contours of the outer packaging to be filled with articles, which can be used for more precise positioning of the gripper heads. The detection device can in particular be formed by an optical detection device such as a camera or the like, but optionally also by an ultrasound detection device or another type of detection device. The essential task of

It is sensible for the gripper heads or the handling device assigned or mounted there to scan the contours of the outer packaging formed, for example, by beverage crates, which may be slightly deformed under certain circumstances, so that their shape or their contour contours do not conform to a standard contour or an expected contour equivalent. For example, individual beverage crates can be slightly curved inwards on their side walls, which can lead to deviations and inaccuracies when equipping the crate when fitting the crate or the outer packaging deformed in this way with items such as beverage containers and thus when positioning the corresponding gripper head above the crate could lead with containers.

In order to identify such potential problems and, if necessary,

To be able to readjust easily if necessary, a detection of the box contours by means of the detection device can be used. In the case of a plurality of outer packagings or boxes which are conveyed one behind the other and which have such or a similar contour deviation, the exact positioning by means of the retaining device can also be impaired or not guaranteed to the desired extent. Positioning the gripper heads exactly in the center above the respective crates, with their central position being recognized by the detection device, avoids inaccuracies and problems when loading beverage containers.

Optionally, the restraint device can have a modular structure and can be moved, for example, with the aid of guide rails which expediently run parallel to the second one

Conveyor line and can be arranged and run in approximately the same horizontal plane as the second conveyor line on its two sides. By means of such

Guide rails can be parallel to the second conveyor line or the

Horizontal conveyor movable restraint including the depending Equipment arranged on it, such as clamping jaws, locking cylinders, etc., are guided horizontally, so that the outer packaging or beverage crates

can be held, pent-up and retained as needed. The

Restraint device can in particular be formed by a module which can move along the guide rails and which, for example, comprises an electric drive motor which interacts with a belt drive around the module forming the restraint device in the conveying direction of the outer packaging or boxes or

to move opposite to the conveying direction. Such guide rails, each with an associated belt drive and modules of the same structure, are located

It makes sense to do this on the right as well as on the left side of the second conveyor section 18, the modules being controlled synchronously.

In summary, it can be a special characteristic of the

Device according to the invention are referred to that the continuous inflow or transport of the outer packaging, cartons or boxes on the parallel

Continuous transport of the supplied items oriented, which are transferred in groups in the successively transported outer packaging, that is the

Continuous transport of the outer packaging on the basis of the continuous supply of articles, containers or bottles should arise or should be coordinated with it. The particular advantages of the invention have already been mentioned, namely the achievable higher outputs, the avoidance of stops of the continuously transported outer packaging and the simultaneously achievable reliable transport conditions and the reliable processing conditions of outer packaging such as boxes and cartons.

To achieve the above object, the invention proposes in addition to the handling and / or described in various embodiments

Packaging device furthermore a method for transferring articles conveyed in mass flow and / or in series transport into outer packagings moved continuously or intermittently along a conveying path, the outer packagings in each case being able to accommodate at least one article group formed from a plurality of articles, at least one article group in each case by means of at least one

Gripper head from the mass flow and / or the row transport detected and lifted and from above into one of the mass flow or the

Row transport of the articles along the conveyor line or on a

Horizontal conveying device of the outer packaging moving outer packaging is used, after which the outer packaging is removed, and wherein the at least one with Outer packaging equipped with articles or to be equipped with articles at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the article group compared to outer packaging that is in front and / or already equipped with articles

is withheld and / or delayed in relation to the transport speed of the preceding packaging. The method can dispense with the fact that the outer packaging has to come to a standstill during the insertion of the articles, as a result of which a high processing speed and a correspondingly high throughput can be achieved. After inserting an article group into an outer packaging, the gripper head is moved back for mass flow and / or row transport of the articles in order to pick up further article groups therefrom.

As a precaution, it should be pointed out at this point that the concept of the defined and / or changing conveying direction in the conveying path is optional

Elongated conveyor sections or deflections in the conveyor sections means and should include, which also includes, for example, T-shaped deflections, curves, etc., along which the articles can be conveyed in order to be finally inserted into the outer packaging by means of the handling device mentioned above.

In the method according to the invention, it is preferably provided that the at least one gripper head of the handling device, after receiving an article group, is moved at least at the same transport speed as the outer packaging moved on the conveyor line parallel to and / or along the conveyor line, at least while the article group is being inserted into the outer packaging , Optionally, the method can provide that several outer packagings can be loaded with respective article groups by means of multi-part gripper heads, the two, three or more gripper heads preferably each having one

Handling device coupled or hung on this.

In an optionally provided variant of the method according to the invention, each gripper head can comprise a plurality of jointly controllable article grippers, the number of which corresponds to the number of articles of each article group that can be grasped by the gripper head. In this context it can be provided that at least some of the article grippers or groups of article grippers in the gripper head within a detection and

Inserting an article group in one of the outer packaging can be adjusted in their horizontal distances from each other. For example, the method can provide that the distances between the article grippers or the groups of article grippers in the gripper head are reduced during a work cycle and / or are variable and, in particular, increased according to the target positions of the articles of an article group within the respective outer packaging.

As above in connection with a variant of the

handling and / or packaging device according to the invention already

described, it may make sense to push the articles closer together or to distance them from each other after they have been taken over from the first conveyor line in adaptation to the respective circumstances when inserted into the respective outer packaging, whereby a pushing together or spacing in different axial directions depending on the current cycle phase may be useful or necessary, for example, to collide the article with the circumferential edges of the

Avoid packaging and / or with dividers within the packaging.

The method according to the invention can also provide that all the outer packaging which is simultaneously equipped with articles is retained at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the respective article group in relation to preceding and / or outer packaging already equipped with articles and / or to the

Transport speed of the leading packaging is delayed.

Delaying and / or holding back items to be stocked

Outer packaging can, for example, be activated and / or controlled

Restraint device, in particular by means of foldable barriers, by means of pivotable flaps, by means of translationally movable barriers such as retractable and extendable lifting cylinders, by means of at least one movable run-up bar or the like. The method according to the invention can provide, for example, that the empty outer packaging to be equipped with articles is delayed and / or held back with respect to the transport speed of the second conveyor line by means of a pair of mutually deliverable lifting cylinders, the pair of mutually deliverable lifting cylinders engaging in the box flow in the extended position and can slow down and / or withhold the outer packaging relative to the transport speed of the second conveyor line.

According to a further option, the method according to the invention can provide that the activatable and / or controllable retention device for delaying and / or retaining the empty outer packaging and to be equipped with articles compared to a transport speed of the second conveyor line includes at least a pair of mutually adjustable clamping jaws, which clamping jaws are in the extended position able to the side of one of the outer packaging

to attack and to brake and / or to restrain this and the subsequent outer packaging of the box or outer packaging flow relative to the transport speed of the second conveyor line.

As has already been explained above on the basis of an embodiment variant of the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention, it may be advantageous to coordinate the pair of mutually adjustable clamping jaws in coordination with the pair of mutually adjustable lifting cylinders and / or with the foldable and / or translationally movable barriers and / or to move and / or activate the pivotable flaps and / or the at least one movable run-up bar or the like, the coordinated movements and / or activations, in particular by sensor signals, of at least one of the box or outer packaging stream

sensing sensor can be controlled. In this way, the positions of the outer packaging can be calibrated for each assembly cycle, as has already been described above.

In all of the described method variants, it can also be provided that the activatable restraint device interacts at least in phases with the

Transport speed is moved along the conveyor line or is moved with respect to this at a reduced feed speed, as a result of which the outer packaging adjoining it and all the subsequent outer packaging are delayed in relation to the transport speed of the conveyor line.

Furthermore, the method can provide for outline contours and / or a shape of outer packaging to be equipped with articles and the positioning of the at least one gripper head when the outer packaging is equipped with articles to be adapted to an outer packaging that deviates from a standard shape and / or contour. For example, an optional detection device for scanning and detecting contour contours and / or a shape of articles to be fitted

Outer packaging is used so that output signals from the detection device can be used and / or processed for optimized positioning and adaptability of the at least one gripper head of the handling device to an outer packaging that deviates from a standard shape and / or contour when it is loaded with articles. Such a detection device to be understood as an equipment option can be used to detect the contours of the outer packaging to be equipped with articles, which can advantageously be used for more precise positioning of the gripper heads. The detection device can in particular be an optical one

Detection device such as a camera or the like, but optionally also be formed by an ultrasound detection device or a different type of detection device. The essential task of the detection device, which is expediently assigned to the gripper heads or the handling device or mounted there, is to scan the contours of the outer packaging formed, for example, by beverage crates, which under certain circumstances can be slightly deformed, so that their shape or their contour contours do not conform to a standard contour or corresponds to an expected contour. For example, individual beverage crates on their side walls can be slightly curved inwards, which is what happens when the crate is loaded or the outer packaging is deformed in this way with items such as beverage containers and thus with the

Positioning the corresponding gripper head over the box could lead to deviations and inaccuracies when loading containers.

In order to identify such potential problems and, if necessary,

At this point, it should also be pointed out that all aspects and design variants which were explained in connection with the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention relate or can equally be partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if at one point in the description or also in the definition of claims for the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention, certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. Conversely, the same applies, so that all aspects and design variants that have been explained in connection with the method according to the invention are equally partial aspects of the invention Handling or / or packaging device concern or can be. Therefore, if there are certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects at a point in the description or also in the definition of claims for the method according to the invention, then this applies equally to the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention.

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

1 shows, on the basis of a schematic plan view, the basic structure of an embodiment variant of a handling and / or

Packaging device.

2 shows a total of six schematic top views (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F) in successive process phases of the loading of beverage crates with beverage containers by means of a first variant of a handling according to the invention - And / or packaging device for repackaging groups of articles, the boxes being moved continuously in a conveying direction.

3 shows a total of six schematic top views (FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F) in successive process phases the loading of beverage crates with beverage containers by means of a further variant of the handling according to the invention - And / or packaging device for repackaging groups of articles, the boxes being moved continuously in a conveying direction.

4 shows a total of five schematic side views (FIGS. 4A, 4B,

4C, 4D and 4E) several successive process phases of a first conveying and loading variant to clarify synchronization and accumulation phases when conveying the boxes in the conveying direction and when loading them with containers.

5 shows a total of five schematic side views (FIGS. 5A, 5B,

5C, 5D and 5E) several successive process phases of a second Conveying and loading variant to clarify synchronization and

Stagnation phases when transporting the boxes in the direction of conveyance and when loading them with containers.

6 shows in four perspective detailed views (FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D) optional equipment and design variants of the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows in two schematic views (side view FIG. 7A and top view FIG. 7B) an optional further equipment variant of the invention

Handling and / or packaging device which is equipped with a detection device for detecting the contours of the outer packaging to be equipped with articles.

8 shows a total of three schematic views (FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C) of an embodiment variant of the handling and / or

Packaging device.

9 shows a schematic top view of an embodiment variant of the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention.

10 shows a total of four schematic perspective and detailed views (FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D) of sections of conveyor lines and of parts of a handling device of an embodiment variant of the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention.

Identical reference numerals are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples, such as the

The handling and / or packaging device according to the invention and the method according to the invention can be configured and do not represent a final limitation.

The schematic plan view of FIG. 1 is only intended to illustrate the basic structure of a handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention, which is used for the outer packaging of article groups, which in the exemplary embodiment described below is achieved by transferring beverage containers into beverage crates serving as outer packaging for receiving a defined one on the top side Number of regularly arranged or appropriately grouped beverage containers is to be illustrated.

The handling and / or

Packaging device 10 comprises a first conveyor section 12 for transporting a plurality of upright articles 13, here formed by upright beverage containers 14 (see in detail FIGS. 2A to 2F in this regard), which in mass flow and / or row transport in a defined conveying direction 16 leading to the device 10 are transported. In addition, the device 10 comprises a second conveyor line 18 located near the aji of the first conveyor line 12 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, running parallel to this, for the successive transportation of outer packaging 19 in the form of beverage crates 20, which as outer packaging 19 each hold at least one of several articles 13 or

Beverage containers 14 formed article group are provided and prepared (see also FIGS. 2A to 2F and FIGS. 3A to 3D).

As can already be seen from the schematic plan view of FIG. 1, the outer packaging 19 formed by the beverage crates 20 are also moved on the second conveying path 18 to the device 10 in the same conveying direction 16 as the articles 13 formed by the beverage containers 14 on the first conveying path 12 However, this parallel alignment of the two conveyor lines 12 and 18 to one another is not absolutely imperative, but can also vary in practice if necessary, so that non-parallel conveying directions 16 of the two conveyor lines 12 and 18 for the articles 13 or beverage containers 14 or for the outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 are also conceivable and manageable.

Furthermore, the handling and / or packaging device 10 shown comprises a handling device 22, which is spatially and functionally assigned to the two conveyor sections 12 and 18, with a gripper head 24 or with a plurality of gripper heads 24 which can be controlled in parallel, and which, for the simultaneous recording and detection of a respective article group each existing gripper head 24 from the first conveyor line 12 and for its transfer to the second conveyor line 18 within the device 10 and for inserting the article group, i. H. the group of beverage containers 14, into one of the outer packaging 19 or

Beverage crates 20 are provided. The handling device 22, indicated only schematically in FIG. 1, with at least one gripper head 24 or with a plurality of gripper heads 24 which can be moved and controlled approximately synchronously, can, for example, by a gantry robot, a multi-axis robot, a parallel kinematics robot or another suitable handling device 22 can be formed, the gripper head 24 or the gripper heads 24 of which between the two conveyor sections 12 and 18 for transferring simultaneously several articles 13 or beverage containers 14 to those moving in the parallel conveying direction 16 Outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 moved back and forth and at the same time can be raised and lowered as required.

The on a movable tool head (not shown in detail) the

Handling device 22 located controllable gripper head 24 or the plurality of gripper heads 24 serve the simultaneous reception of several articles 13,

Beverage container 14 or bottles. For this purpose, the gripper head 24 or the gripper heads 24 are equipped with controllable suction grippers or with controllable gripping tulips or the like, with which the articles 13, beverage containers 14 or bottles are gripped in their neck or head area and for the transfer and the approximately vertical

Inserting into the open top packaging 19 beverage crates 20 can be held securely and can be reliably released for placement in the packaging 19 provided for this purpose or in the beverage box 20 provided for this purpose.

If the handling device 22 is equipped with only one gripper head 24 in the simplest configuration, normally an outer packaging 19 or a beverage crate 20 can be equipped at the same time with a defined number of articles 13, beverage containers 14 or bottles, for example with a number in a rectangular combination arranged beverage containers 14 out of a total of twenty or twenty-four or more beverage containers 14 or bottles. However, the handling device 22 can preferably also be equipped with two or three identical gripper heads 24, which allow a correspondingly larger number of articles 13 or beverage containers 14 to be gripped simultaneously and, for example, to be placed in two or three outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 transported one behind the other.

As a result of the possibility thus created of simultaneously equipping a plurality of outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 with respective groups of articles 13 or beverage containers 14, a correspondingly high throughput when equipping outer packaging with articles 13 or containers 14 is possible.

The schematic representation of FIG. 1 also shows the second conveying path 18 which leads out of the device 10 in the conveying direction 16 to the right or continues in the conveying direction 16, the conveying direction 16 thereof for conveying away the beverage crates 20 equipped with beverage containers 14 for their further Handling such as palletizing is unchanged. Normally, the section of the second conveyor line 18 leading out of the device 10 to the right is its continuation, since the beverage crates 20 are not removed or removed from the second conveyor line 18 when they are equipped with beverage containers 14.

The total of six schematic top views of FIGS. 2A to 2F illustrate in detail the first embodiment variant of the device 10 described in FIG. 1 only in its most important funding principles

Successive process steps in the loading of beverage crates 20 continuously transported in series with article or container groups 15 of a total of twenty beverage containers 14, which are initially in a mass flow 26 on a first horizontal conveyor 28 forming the first conveyor section 12 in the conveyor direction 16 (here from right to left pointing) and conveyed into an engagement and / or takeover area 30 of the handling device 22.

FIGS. 2A to 2F illustrate the use of a first variant of a handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention for repackaging article groups, while FIGS. 3A to 3F explained below illustrate the use of a second variant of the handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention ,

The containers 14 initially conveyed in the mass flow 26 are gradually divided and brought together on their conveying path by means of vertically standing alley plates 32 into rows of containers 14 which are regularly transported one behind the other. As can be seen from the top views of FIGS. 2A to 2F, there are a total of five such vertically standing alley plates 32 above the first horizontal conveyor 28 of the first conveyor section 12, which initially have a distance at the end of the mass flow 26 which is approximately a width by two

to allow beverage containers 14 transported next to one another to pass, while this distance becomes smaller in the further course of the conveying direction 16 until only exactly one container 14 can be transported between two adjacent alley plates 32. The containers 14 conveyed in the mass flow 26 in the conveying direction 16 are displaced in this way or pushed into the alleys provided for them and thus divided into a total of four parallel rows 34 of containers 14 conveyed one behind the other without any spacing. From this total of four parallel rows 34 can thus be dimensioned and matched to the number of rows Gripper heads 24 of the handling device 22 each have five containers 14 removed for each box 20, so that each group 15 for a box 20 comprises a total of twenty containers 14 in a 4x5 rectangle grouping 15.

On a parallel to the first horizontal conveyor 28 of the first

Second horizontal conveyor 36, which forms the conveyor section 12 and forms the second conveyor section 18, the beverage crates 20 to be filled or to be filled with containers 14 are conveyed in the same conveying direction 16 and, like the containers 14, are conveyed into the engagement and / or takeover area 30 of the handling device 22 , where each of these boxes 20 is equipped with a container group 15 of a total of twenty containers 14. While the containers 14 are conveyed in the mass flow 26, the second horizontal conveyor 36 transports them

Beverage crates 20 in only one row in a row.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 2F, the outer packaging 19 formed by the beverage crates 20 is also on the second

Horizontal conveying device 36 of the second conveying path 18 moves in the same conveying direction 16 to the engagement and / or takeover area 30 of the device 10 as the articles 13 formed by the beverage containers 14 on the first

Horizontal conveyor 28 of the first conveyor section 12.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 2A to 2F, the handling device 22, which operates in the engagement and / or takeover area 30 of the handling and / or packaging device 10 and oscillates between the conveying paths 12 and 18, comprises a total of three gripper heads 24 which can be controlled in parallel and which serve for the simultaneous picking up and detection of a total of three article groups 15 with twenty each

Beverage containers 14 (here in a 4x5 rectangular arrangement) are able to capture them on the first horizontal conveyor 28, lift them out of the rows 34 and pick them up, transfer them from the first conveyor section 12 to the second conveyor section 18 and from there in each case at the top into the beverage crates 20 that are ready or at low speed on the second horizontal conveyor 36.

As further indicated by FIGS. 2A to 2F, the gripper heads 24 of the handling device, which are only shown schematically there, can be suspended movably in three axes on a gantry robot, as a result of which the gripper heads 24 between the two conveyor lines 12 and 18 for transferring several beverage containers at the same time 14 to the outer packaging 19 or moved in the parallel conveying direction 16

Beverage crates 20 moved back and forth while being raised and lowered as needed. In order to be able to receive the beverage containers 14 and, if necessary, to release and set them down again, the gripper heads 24 are preferably equipped with controllable suction pads or with controllable gripping tulips or the like, with which the beverage containers 14 or bottles are grasped in their neck or head area and for them Transfer and the almost vertical insertion into the open ones

Outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 can be securely held and reliably released for placement in the beverage crate 20 provided for this purpose.

As can be seen in FIG. 2A, the three are located immediately

gripper heads 24 arranged next to one another in a position above the three beverage crates 20 located first in the row on the second horizontal conveyor 36, since they have already used their container groups 15 of twenty containers 14 there. In the meantime, the continuously conveying first horizontal conveyor device 28 can continue to run, while an abutment bar 38 for accumulating the replenished ones

Container 14 in the four adjacent rows 34 provides. By slowly moving in the conveying direction 16, the contact bar 38 also ensures that the containers 14 are positioned, which are subsequently to be taken over by the handling device 22 with its three gripper heads 24 (cf. FIG. 2B in this regard) and are transferred into the next beverage crates 20 that are being brought up should (see Figures 2C and 2D).

The second conveyor section 18, on the second horizontal conveyor device 36 of which the beverage crates 20 are conveyed, is a controllable and, if necessary, activatable or deactivatable restraint device 40 in the form of two pivotable flaps 42 and laterally adjacent to the pivotable flaps 42

Beverage box 20 assigned clamp jaws 44, with the help of which the respective front beverage box 20 and the subsequent adjoining boxes 20 at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the

Container group can be held back from preceding and / or beverage crates 20 already loaded with containers 14 and / or can be decelerated compared to the transport speed of the preceding beverage crates 20.

Like the bearing bar 38 assigned to the first conveyor section 12, the pivotable flaps 42 assigned to the second conveyor section 18 as well as the clamping jaws 44 coupled to this in their position are in the conveying direction 16 or counter to this Movable direction, so that the beverages 14 to be equipped

Beverage crates 20 can be retained compared to the crates 20 that are already equipped with containers 14, but do not have to be delayed to a standstill. Rather, it is provided according to the present invention that the handling device 22 with the through the gripper heads 24 from the first

Conveyor path 12 received beverage containers 14 at least during the insertion of the container 14 into the provided beverage crates 20 at approximately the same transport speed as the crates 20 moved on the second conveyor path 18 is or can be moved parallel to and / or along the conveyor path 18, so that by the constantly moving beverage crates 20, even during their loading with containers 14, can achieve significantly higher loading capacities when inserting the containers 14 into the crates 20 than was previously the case when the crates were stationary and only to be accelerated and moved again after insertion.

2A, it is shown how the beverage crate 20, which rests first on the pivotable flaps 42, and all on the second

Horizontal conveyor 36 following further boxes 20 are held back by the pivotable flaps 42 and the clamping jaws 44 acting laterally on the front box 20 and / or are moved at a lower conveying speed than the boxes already filled with containers 14, which point to the left on the

Horizontal conveyor 36 are moved on. The gripper heads 24 of the

In this phase, handling device 22 is located directly above the foremost three boxes 20, which abut restraint device 40.

After these three boxes 20 each with the intended number

Beverage containers 14 are equipped, the pivotable flaps 42 of the retaining device 40 movable about vertical axes open and let the filled beverage crates 20 pass in the conveying direction 16, while the controllable ones

Clamping jaws 44 delay and hold back the next box 20 (see FIG. 2B).

In the meantime, the abutment bar 38 assigned to the first horizontal conveying device 28 has moved further in the conveying direction 16 and has in

Correspondingly, also let the four rows 34 with beverage containers 14 continue to run in the conveying direction 16. 2B the takeover of three further container groups 15 of twenty containers 14 each by the three gripper heads 24 on the 2C illustrates the transfer to the beverage crates 20 that are available on the second conveyor stretch 18 and delayed by the retaining device 40 compared to the preceding crates 20, which in turn are equipped with the beverage containers 14 according to FIG. 2D.

At the same time, the contact bar 38 continues in the conveying direction 16 and allows the rows 34 with beverage containers 14 adjacent to it to follow in order to bring them back into the correct take-over position for pick-up by the gripper heads 24, which is shown in FIG. 2E.

The order in which the boxes 20 which have been conveyed back are retained or built up in order to create a gap with those already loaded with containers 14

leading boxes provides that the clamping jaws 44 are first opened in order to let the first box 20 thereby released and all the boxes 20 connected thereafter run against the pivotable flaps 42 brought into the blocking position (according to FIGS. 2C and 2D) , which can also ensure the desired exact length of the gap thus created to the leading boxes 20.

The exact coordination in the control of the clamping jaws 44 and the pivotable flaps 42, which are each part of the restraint device 40, is explained in detail with reference to the following FIGS. 4A ff.

FIG. 2D again shows the insertion of the containers 14 into the available boxes 20, while FIG. 2E allows the boxes 20 equipped with containers 14 to pass in the conveying direction 16 when the restraint device 40 is deactivated and the pivotable flaps 42 are opened and the jaws 44 are moved apart. 2E, the gripper heads 24 are already in their take-over position above the first horizontal conveyor 28 and can accommodate further groups of containers, which they form according to FIG. 2F

ready to move and delayed by the restraint 40 boxes 20 to use them there (see FIG. 2D and FIG. 2A).

The transition from the process phase according to FIG. 2E to the following process phase according to FIG. 2F in turn provides that the boxes 20 which have been conveyed in order to produce the desired gap to the preceding boxes already equipped with containers 14 can initially pass with the jaws 44 open in order to counteract the pivotable flaps 42 (see FIG. 2F) brought into the blocking position, after which the clamping jaws 44 are moved against each other for the subsequent process phases in order to hold the box 20 clamped therebetween. As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2A to 2E, it is provided that the activatable restraint device 40 at least in phases with the

Transport speed is moved in the conveying direction 16 along the second conveying path 18 or is moved with respect to the latter at a reduced feed speed, as a result of which the beverage crates 20 lying thereon and all of them adjoin it

subsequent beverage crates 20 are at least slightly decelerable relative to the transport speed of the conveyor line 18. While the boxes 20 continue to be conveyed at a reduced transport speed, they are loaded with containers 14 by the gripper heads 24 moving at the same speed in the conveying direction 16, without this causing irregularities in the filling of the boxes.

The altogether six schematic top views of FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate, using a second embodiment variant of the device 10, which is only described in its principles in FIG. 1, again in detail the successive process steps in the assembly of conveyed continuously in series

Beverage crates 20, each with groups 15 of a total of twenty beverage containers 14, which are initially conveyed in a mass flow 26 on a first horizontal conveyor 28 forming the first conveyor section 12 in the conveying direction 16 (here pointing from right to left) and into an engagement and / or takeover area 30 the handling device 22 are conveyed.

FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate the use of an alternative second variant of the handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention for repackaging article groups, which, however, differs only slightly from the first variant shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F.

Here, too, the containers 14 are in turn conveyed in the mass flow 26 and divided and brought together by means of the vertical alley plates 32 into four rows 34 of containers 14 which are conveyed regularly one behind the other. From this total of four parallel rows 34, the gripper heads 24 become the

Handling device 22 removed five containers 14 for each box 20 and inserted there.

On the parallel second horizontal conveyor device 36, which forms the second conveyor section 18, the beverage crates 20 to be filled with containers 14 are conveyed up and, like the containers 14, into the engagement and / or takeover area 30 the handling device 22 is conveyed, where each of these boxes 20 is equipped with container groups 15 for a total of twenty containers 14 each.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3A to 3F, the im

Engagement and / or takeover area 30 of the handling and / or

Packaging device 10, which operates and oscillates between conveyor sections 12 and 18, in turn, three handling devices which can be controlled in parallel

Gripper heads 24 which, for the simultaneous pick-up and picking up of a total of three article groups 15, each with twenty beverage containers 14 (here in a 4x5 rectangular arrangement), are able to pick them up on the first horizontal conveyor device 28, lift them out of the rows 34 and pick them up, to transfer them from the first conveyor section 12 to the second conveyor section 18 and to insert them there from above into the beverage crates 20 which are ready or are being transported at low speed on the second horizontal conveyor device 36. The

Gripper heads 24 are preferably the same as already described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2F.

As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the three are located immediately

Container 14 in the four adjacent rows 34 provides. The contact bar 38 also ensures, by slowly moving in the conveying direction 16, that the containers 14 are positioned, which are subsequently to be taken over by the handling device 22 with its three gripper heads 24 (cf. FIG. 3B in this regard) and are transferred into the next beverage crates 20 that are being brought up should (see FIGS. 3C and 3D).

The second conveyor section 18, on the second horizontal conveyor 36 of which the beverage crates 20 are conveyed, is the controllable and, if necessary, activatable or deactivatable restraint device 40 in the form of two mutually deliverable lifting cylinders 43 (instead of the pivotable flaps 42 in the first

Embodiment of Fig. 2), which can form an opening and closing barrier for the boxes 20, as well as laterally at the front of the

pivotable flaps 42 adjoining beverage crate 20 clamping jaws 44 assigned, with the help of which the respective front beverage crate 20 and the following adjoining crates 20 at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the container group are held back from preceding and / or already crated beverage crates 20 and / or from the transport speed of the leading beverage crates 20 can be delayed.

Like the bearing bar 38 assigned to the first conveyor section 12, the lifting cylinders 43 assigned to the second conveyor section 18, which can be set against one another in the horizontal adjustment or movement plane and transversely to the conveying direction 16, and the clamping jaws 44 coupled with this in their position are movable in the conveying direction 16 or counter to this direction , so that the beverage crates 20 to be filled with beverage containers 14 can be retained compared to the crates 20 already equipped with containers 14, but do not have to be delayed to a standstill. Rather, it is provided according to the present invention that the handling device 22 with the through the gripper heads 24 from the first

Conveyor path 12 received beverage containers 14 at least during the

Inserting the containers 14 into the provided beverage crates 20 at approximately the same transport speed as the crates 20 moved on the second conveyor path 18 is or can be moved parallel to and / or along the conveyor path 18, so that they are constantly moving even while they are being loaded Containers 14 moving beverage crates 20 significantly higher assembly performance when inserting the container 14 in the crates 20 can be achieved than was previously the case with stationary crates.

FIG. 3A shows how the beverage crate 20 lying against the mutually advanced lifting cylinders 43 and all the other crates 20 following the second horizontal conveyor 36 are held back by the reciprocating lifting cylinders 43 and / or with less

Conveying speed are moved as the boxes already filled with containers 14, which are moved to the left on the second horizontal conveyor 36. The gripper heads 24 of the handling device 22 are in this phase

immediately above the foremost three boxes 20 which abut the restraint device 40.

After these three boxes 20 each with the intended number

Beverage containers 14 are equipped, open around perpendicular to the conveying direction 16 Oriented axes of movement movable lifting cylinder 43 of the restraint device 40 and let the filled beverage crates 20 pass in the conveying direction 16, while the controllable clamping jaws 44 for the delay and the retention of the

next box 20 (see FIG. 3B).

Meanwhile, that of the first horizontal conveyor 28

assigned system bar 38 moves in the conveying direction 16 and has in

Correspondingly, also let the four rows 34 with beverage containers 14 continue to run in the conveying direction 16. 3B shows the takeover of three further container groups 15, each with twenty containers 14, by the three gripper heads 24 on the first conveyor section 12, FIG. 3C illustrates their transfer to those available on the second conveyor section 18 and by means of the retaining device 40 the preceding boxes 20 delayed beverage crates 20, which in turn are equipped with the beverage containers 14 according to FIG. 3D.

At the same time, the abutment bar 38 continues in the conveying direction 16 and allows the rows 34 with beverage containers 14 adjoining it to follow, in order to bring them back into the correct take-over position for pick-up by the gripper heads 24, which is shown in FIG. 3E.

leading boxes provides that the clamping jaws 44 are first opened in order to let the first box 20 thereby released and all the boxes 20 connected thereafter run against the lifting cylinders 43 (according to FIGS. 3C and 3D) that have been brought into the blocking position, which can also provide the desired exact length of the gap to the leading boxes 20 that is created in this way.

3D again shows the insertion of the container 14 as a complete one

Container groups 15 into the available boxes 20, while FIG. 3E, with the retention device 40 deactivated and the lifting cylinders 43 correspondingly opened or moved apart and the clamping jaws 44 moved apart, allows the boxes 20 equipped with containers 14 to pass in the conveying direction 16.

3E, the gripper heads 24 are already in their take-over position above the first horizontal conveyor 28 and can take up further groups of containers which, according to FIG can transfer delayed boxes 20 through the restraint device 40 in order to use them there (cf. FIG. 3D and FIG. 3A).

The transition from the process phase according to FIG. 3E to the following process phase according to FIG. 3F in turn provides that the boxes 20 which have been conveyed in order to produce the desired gap to the preceding boxes already equipped with containers 14 can initially pass with the jaws 44 open in order to counteract the to be brought into the blocking position of the lifting cylinder 43 (cf. FIG. 3F), after which the clamping jaws 44 are moved against each other for the subsequent process phases in order to hold the box 20 clamped between them.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3A to 3E, it is provided that the activatable restraint device 40 at least in phases with the

Transport speed in the conveying direction 16 along with the second conveyor line 18 or is moved with respect to this at a reduced feed speed, whereby the adjoining beverage crates 20 and all adjoining beverage crates 20 can be delayed relative to the transport speed of the conveyor line 18. While this with reduced

Conveying 20 further conveying speed, the boxes 20 are loaded with containers 14 by the gripper heads 24 moving at the same speed in the conveying direction 16, without this causing irregularities in the filling of the boxes.

It can also be mentioned here that the taxable

Restraint device 40 with the pivotable flaps 42 (cf. the first

Design variant of the device 10 according to Figures 2A to 2F) or

lifting cylinders 43 that can be set against each other (cf. the second embodiment of the device 10 according to FIGS. 3A to 3F) and those that can be set against each other

Clamping jaws 44, if necessary and in the interest of accelerated loading of the beverage crates 20 with container groups 15, can be released into the crates 20 that are already available and delayed by means of the retaining device 40 during the insertion process, because as soon as the containers 14 are a bit into the crates 20 that are ready are lowered, the containers 14 largely slide into the respective intended positions by themselves and can hardly be used incorrectly, so that the boxes are released immediately after the container 14 is released from the gripper heads 24 and can move on. The schematic side views of FIGS. 4A to 4E illustrate the actuation of the pivotable flaps 42 (see FIGS. 2A to 2F) or the lifting cylinders 43 that can be moved against one another (see FIGS. 3A to 3F), which form the controllable restraint device 40, using a first embodiment variant , and, if necessary and in coordination with the respective control of the flaps 42 or lifting cylinders 43, the clamping jaws 44 which can be placed laterally on the boxes 20 during the loading processes of the boxes 20 with beverage containers 14 by the gripper heads 24 of the handling device 22 while simultaneously promoting the boxes 20 in

Conveying direction 16 with a transport speed or v ₂ .

Since the control of the restraint device 40 basically remains the same, only the actuation of the mutually deliverable ones is described below

Lift cylinder 43 referred. It should be expressly emphasized that the control of the pivotable flaps 42 does not deviate from this in its essential principles.

4A illustrates the boxes 20 abutting the active restraint device 40, while at the same time the feed movement of the

Handling device 22 is synchronized with the gripper heads 24 to the feed speed of the boxes 20. The transport speed v- _\ a front portion of the second horizontal conveyor 36, which also the

Restraint device 40 with the mutually deliverable lifting cylinders 43 and the clamping jaws 44 is smaller than the transport speed v _{2 of} a rear section of the horizontal conveyor device 36. The conveyed on the two sections of the horizontal conveyor device 36, which are each formed here by endlessly rotating conveyor belts Boxes 20 are all adjacent to one another, since the transport speed v _{2 of} the rear section is greater than the transport speed v- _{\ of} the front section (conveying direction 16 is from right to left), so that the boxes 20 can be stowed on the restraint device 40. The side jaws 44 are as shown in FIG. 4A

Process phase deactivated, which is indicated by the broken lines of the jaws 44.

4B shows how the boxes 20 have moved further to the left in the conveying direction 16, while at the same time the containers 14 are inserted into the foremost three boxes 20 by the gripper heads 24, which here only schematically points vertically downward Arrows is indicated. The transport speed of the front portion of the horizontal conveyor 36, which also the Restraint device 40 with the mutually deliverable lifting cylinders 43 and the clamping jaws 44 is still lower than the transport speed v _{2 of} the rear section of the horizontal conveyor device 36, so that the boxes 20 are still stowed on the active restraint device 40. The lateral clamping jaws 44 are also deactivated in the process phase shown in FIG. 4B, which in turn is indicated by the broken lines of the clamping jaws 44.

The illustrations of FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate how the front three boxes 20 equipped with containers 14 are located on the front section of FIG

Horizontal conveyor 36 is moved further and distanced from the following boxes 20. In order that the front three boxes 20, which have been filled with containers 14, can be distanced in the manner shown (cf. FIG. 4D), the

Transport speed of the front section of the horizontal conveyor device 36, to which the retaining device 40 and the clamping jaws 44 were previously assigned, compared to the transport speed v _{2 of} the rear section of the

Horizontal conveyor 36 increases so that the rear boxes 20 moved thereon are conveyed somewhat more slowly than the front three boxes 20.

In addition, in the phase according to FIG. 4C, the restraint device 40 is swiveled by pivoting the pivotable flaps 42 (see also FIGS. 2B and 2E) or by moving the lifting cylinders 43 out of the conveying path of the

Beverage crates 20 (see also FIGS. 3B and 3E) and thereby partially deactivated, while the lateral clamping jaws 44 are activated in the process phase shown in FIG. 4C and retain the crate 20 which they clamped, so that the crate 20 and those connected to it Boxes 20 cannot follow the leading boxes 20 when the flaps 42 are open or the lifting cylinders 43 have moved apart.

The deactivated lifting cylinders 43 are due to the weaker ruling or

broken line of the corresponding symbol indicated in Fig. 4C. The now activated and laterally delivered to the box 20 and this clamping jaws 44 are identified by the corresponding ruling in Fig. 4C.

4D shows a subsequent process phase, in which the front three boxes 20 equipped with containers 14 move further on the front section of the horizontal conveyor device 36 and the subsequent boxes 20 with the retention device 40 activated by means of the activated lifting cylinders 43 be held back. In contrast, the lateral clamping jaws 44 are deactivated again in the process phase shown in FIG. 4D, which is indicated by the broken lines of the clamping jaws 44. The transport speed v- _{\ of} the front

Section of the horizontal conveyor 36 is again smaller than that

Transport speed v _{2 of} the rear section of the horizontal conveyor device 36, to which the restraint device 40 and the clamping jaws 44 are now assigned, whereby the boxes 20 are now accumulated on the active restraint device 40 despite the higher transport speed v _{2 of} the rear section of the horizontal conveyor device 36.

4E finally shows a subsequent process phase, in which the restraint device 40, which is formed from the pivotable flaps 42 (FIG. 2) or the lifting cylinders 43 (FIG. 3) and the clamping jaws 44, at one speed v ₃ is accelerated from the first, corresponding to Fig. 4D retained boxes 20 in the conveying direction 16, said strip rate v ₃ of the retention device 40 must be greater than the conveying speed v ₂ of the horizontal conveyor 36. the thus separated from the retaining means 40 boxes 20 may thus in Following with the respective

Conveying speed v- _\ or v _{2 of} the corresponding horizontal conveyor 36 can be moved. It goes without saying that at least the clamping jaws 44 must be open in this process phase, but also the pivotable flaps 42 or lifting cylinders 43, depending on which variant is to be used here.

These process phases described and shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E are repeated cyclically.

The schematic side views of FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate the actuation of the pivotable flaps 42 (see FIGS. 2A to 2F) or the lifting cylinders 43 that can be moved against one another (see FIGS. 3A to 3F), which form the controllable restraint device 40, using a second embodiment variant , and, if necessary and in coordination with the respective control of the flaps 42 or lifting cylinders 43, the clamping jaws 44 which can be placed laterally on the boxes 20 during the loading processes of the boxes 20 with beverage containers 14 by the gripper heads 24 of the handling device 22 while simultaneously promoting the boxes 20 in

Conveying direction 16 with a first transport speed v _1; which always coincides with the second transport speed v ₂ . Since in this second embodiment variant it must apply that the two

Transport speeds v- \ and v _{2 are the} same, the two shown could

Sections of the horizontal conveyor 36 of the second conveyor section 18 can also optionally be replaced by a single horizontal conveyor 36, but this is not shown here.

Since the control of the restraint device 40 does not fundamentally differ, irrespective of the use of the flaps 42 or the lifting cylinders 43, reference is again made below only to the actuation of the lifting cylinders 43 which can be set against one another. It should be expressly emphasized that the control of the pivotable flaps 42 does not deviate from this in its essential principles.

5A illustrates that on the active restraint device 40

adjacent boxes 20, while at the same time the feed movement of the

Handling device 22 is synchronized with the gripper heads 24 to the feed speed (Vi = v ₂ ) of the boxes 20. The transport speed of the front portion of the second horizontal conveyor 36, which also the

Restraint device 40 with the mutually deliverable lifting cylinders 43 and the jaws 44 is assigned, remains constant the same as that

Transport speed v _{2 of} the rear section of the horizontal conveying device 36. The two sections of the horizontal conveying device 36 shown can thus be mentally replaced by a single longer section.

The boxes 20 conveyed on the two sections of the horizontal conveyor 36, which are each formed here by endlessly circulating conveyor belts, lie against one another without gaps and are accumulated because the feed speed v _{4 of} the restraint device 40 is slightly lower than the transport speeds Vi and v _{2 of} the horizontal conveyor device 36 (conveying direction 16 is from right to left), so that the boxes 20 by this speed difference on the

Restraint device 40 can be pent up. The lateral clamping jaws 44 are deactivated in the process phase shown in FIG. 5A, which is indicated by the broken lines of the clamping jaws 44.

5B shows how the boxes 20 have moved further to the left in the conveying direction 16, while at the same time the containers 14 are inserted into the foremost three boxes 20 by the gripper heads 24, which is shown only schematically here is indicated by arrows pointing vertically downwards. The feed speed v _{4 of} the restraint device 40 with the reciprocally actuated lifting cylinders 43 and the clamping jaws 44 opened here is still slightly smaller than that

Transport speed v- _\ or v _{2 of} the horizontal conveying device 36 or the two sections of the horizontal conveying device 36, so that the boxes 20 continue to be accumulated on the retaining device 40 activated by the delivered lifting cylinders 43. The speed of movement v _{5 of} the handling device 22 with the at least one gripper head 24 parallel to the conveying direction 16 corresponds exactly to that during the insertion process of the containers indicated in FIG. 5B

Feed speed v _{4 of} the restraint device 40, which thus also the

Conveying speed of the boxes 20 defined, regardless of the faster

Transport speed or v _{2 of} the horizontal conveyor 36.

The side jaws 44 are also shown in Figure 5B

Process phase deactivated, which in turn is due to the interrupted ruling of the

Jaws 44 is indicated.

5C and 5D illustrate how the front three boxes 20 equipped with containers 14 on the horizontal conveyor 36

moved on and distanced from the following boxes 20. Thus, the front finished assembled with containers 14 three boxes 20 in the manner shown (see. Fig. 5D) can be detached, are unchanged transport speed of n * _\ (= v ₂₎ of the horizontal conveyor 36, the jaws 44 to a foremost transported box 20 of the boxes 20 not yet equipped with containers 14 are delivered, while at the same time the lifting cylinders 43 move apart and are not in engagement with the box flow. The case with respect to the transport speed of n * _\ (v = ₂₎ of the horizontal conveyor 36 reduced feed rate v ₄

Restraint device 40 ensures that the box 20 gripped by the delivered clamping jaws 44 and the boxes 20 adjoining and pent up there are conveyed somewhat more slowly than the front three boxes 20, which are already equipped with containers 14.

The deactivated lifting cylinders 43 are due to the weaker ruling or

broken line of the corresponding symbol indicated in Fig. 5C. The now activated and laterally delivered to the box 20 and this clamping jaws 44 are indicated by the corresponding line in Fig. 5C. 5D shows a subsequent process phase, in which the front three boxes 20 equipped with containers 14 are moved further on the front section of the horizontal conveyor device 36 and the following boxes 20 are held back by the now activated lifting cylinders 43 when the retaining device 40 is activated. The lateral clamping jaws 44, on the other hand, are deactivated again in the process phase shown in FIG. 5D, which is indicated by the broken lines of the clamping jaws 44. The feed rate v ₄ the

Restraint device 40 is again lower than the transport speed or v _{2 of} the horizontal conveyor device 36, as a result of which the boxes 20 to be filled with containers 14 are accumulated on the active restraint device 40.

The sensible sequence of the coordinated activations and deactivations of the elements 43 and 44 of the pent-up boxes 20

Restraint device 40 is to be explained in more detail with reference to the schematic representations of FIGS. 6A to 6D.

The illustration in FIG. 5E finally shows a subsequent process phase in which the restraint device 40, which is formed from the pivotable flaps 42 (FIG. 2) or the lifting cylinders 43 (FIG. 3) and the clamping jaws 44, has a detachment speed v ₃ is accelerated from the first, corresponding to FIG. 5D retained boxes 20 in the conveying direction 16, said strip rate v ₃ of the retention device 40 must be larger v- than the conveying speed _\ and v ₂ of the horizontal conveyor 36. the fact that then both the lift cylinder 43 as the clamping jaws 44 must also be moved apart and must therefore be deactivated so that further boxes 20 with the conveying speed v- _\ or v _{2 of} the horizontal conveying device 36 can pass therebetween (no longer shown in FIG. 5E, but rather the subject of a process phase immediately following this) , need not be mentioned separately. The boxes 20 separated in this way from the restraint device 40 can thus be described below with the respective one

Conveying speed or v _{2 of} the divided or one-piece horizontal conveyor 36 can be moved on.

These process phases described and shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E are repeated cyclically.

Based on the perspective view of Fig. 6A and the perspective

Detailed views of Figures 6B, 6C and 6D is also an optional equipment and Embodiment variant of the handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention, which is shown only partially in the drawing, is illustrated. As

Outer packaging 19 functioning beverage crates 20 move in the

6A to the right, as it is shown

Conveying direction 16 can be seen. The second conveyor section 18, formed by the second horizontal conveyor device 36, on which the beverage crates 20 are conveyed, is indicated here for the sake of simplicity as a simple arrow, which at the same time indicates the

Transport direction for the boxes 20 in the conveying direction 16 clarified.

Parallel to this and in approximately the same horizontal plane as the second

Conveyor path 18 runs a guide rail 48 for the horizontal guidance of the restraint device 40, which is movable parallel to the second conveying path 18 or the horizontal conveying device 36 and with which the beverage crates 20 can be dammed up and retained as required (see FIGS. 2A to 5E). As can be seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, the restraint device 40 is formed here by a module which can be moved along the guide rail 48 and which comprises an electric drive motor 50 which interacts with a belt drive 52, around which the

Restraining device 40 module to move in the conveying direction 16 of the boxes 20 or opposite to the conveying direction 16. Such a guide rail 48 with associated belt drive 52 and the same module is located

logically also on the left side of the second conveyor section 18, which is not shown in FIG. 6A for reasons of simplification.

6A, 6B, 6C and 6D can also be seen in detail in the illustrations of FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, the right-hand lifting cylinder 43 of the two mutually adjustable lifting cylinders 43, which can be extended transversely to the conveying direction 16, in order in this way to support the adjacent ones Beverage crate 20

hold back if the restraint device 40 is to be activated. In addition, the right clamping jaw 44 of the two clamping jaws 44, which can be set against each other and can be placed laterally on the beverage box 20 shown, can be seen. Both the lifting cylinders 43, which are adjustable in the horizontal direction transversely to the conveying direction 16, and the clamping jaws 44, which can be adjusted parallel to this, that is to say also in the horizontal direction transversely to the conveying direction 16, can, for example, be designed as pneumatic modules which are adjusted by means of a controllable compressed air supply, that is to say extended and retracted can be, which has the advantage of a high adjustment speed with sufficiently high clamping forces. If necessary, several boxes 20 can thus be moved along the

Guide rail 48 movable restraint 40 are retained, however, do not have to be delayed to a standstill. For example, the beverage crate 20 lying against the mutually advanced lifting cylinders 43 and all the other crates 20 following on the second horizontal conveyor 36 can be restrained and / or moved at a lower conveying speed by the reciprocally actuated lifting cylinders 43 and the clamping jaws 44 that act laterally on the crate 20 at the front than the boxes (not shown) which have already been filled with containers 14 and which are moved further on the horizontal conveyor device 36.

While the perspective detail view of FIG. 6B clearly shows the right lifting cylinder 43 seen in the conveying direction 16, the perspective detail view of FIG. 6C particularly shows the right clamping jaw 44. Both

Individual components 43 and 44 of the retaining device 40 of modular construction and movable along the guide rail by means of the belt drive 52 are each in a non-activated state in the representations of FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, since neither the lifting cylinders 43 nor the clamping jaws 44 in the Project the conveyor path of the box 20 shown or block it.

The perspective detailed view of FIG. 6D also shows the guide rail 48 and the module of the restraint device 40 which is displaceably mounted thereon from the other side, which can be regarded as the opposite module of the illustration in FIG. 6A, since the lifting cylinder 43 and the clamping jaw 44 are also located is in a symmetrical arrangement to the module shown there.

Based on the detailed view of FIG. 6D, an equipment option and control variant of the ones that can be activated and controlled as required should also be provided

Restraint device 40 are described in detail, which can be used for all of the previously described variants according to FIGS. 1 to 5E and which can each be contained there.

As already explained several times above, the restraint device 40 serves primarily for the exact alignment of the outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 to be filled next with articles 13 or containers 14 and also for the respective re-calibration of the handling device 22 in order to coordinate the exact positions of the handling device 22 with their gripper head 24 or their Gripper heads 24 and the outer packaging 19 or boxes 20 to be fitted with articles 13 or containers 14.

Since the outer packaging 19 or boxes 20 are normally transported in an uninterrupted product stream on the second conveyor line 18 and, after being equipped with articles 13 or containers 14, are also transported on the second conveyor line 18 and are fed to a further treatment such as palletizing, the problem can arise that the positions of the outer packaging 19 or boxes 20 currently to be loaded are not detected or recognized with the desired precision and are therefore possibly not exactly known. However, the exact position of at least the outer packaging 19 or boxes 20 to be loaded is for an exact positioning of the handling device 22 which, with its at least one gripper head 24, carries the articles 13 or containers 14 received by the first conveying path 12 and in the outer packaging 19 provided for this or boxes 20 should be essential.

In order for the necessary exact coordination when positioning the

The handling variant 22 of the handling and / or packaging device shown uses the one associated with the second conveyor section 18 in relation to or above the outer packaging 19 that is normally conveyed on during the loading with articles 13 and does not have to use complex sensors with optical image evaluation or other detection algorithms Controllable and / or, if necessary, activatable retention device 40, which on the one hand can delay the outer packaging 19 before and / or during its loading with articles 13, but which on the other hand can contribute to the exact position of the respective outer packaging 19 which is in contact with the retaining device 40 , as well as the subsequent packaging 19 and thus the

Handling device 22 in the interest of an exact positioning and

To provide the insertion process when loading the outer packaging (s) 19 or boxes 20 with articles 13 or containers 14.

If at this point a positioning or a detection of the positions of the outer packaging 19 or boxes 20 is mentioned, then this also means the recording or specification of the conveying speeds of the outer packaging 19, since the controllable or, if necessary, activatable retention device 40 in addition to the mentioned aspects of exact positioning

Conveying speed of the outer packaging 19 can define, in particular is lower than the feed speed of the second conveyor device 36, since the retaining device 40 the outer packaging 19, which is currently to be loaded with articles 13, compared to the feed speed of the second

Horizontal conveyor 36 can brake.

6D shows an optical sensor 54 which is arranged on the actuator of the lifting cylinder 43 and which can detect whether the lifting cylinder 43 intervenes at the level of the optical sensor 54 and thus in the region of the lifting packaging or box flow on both sides and possibly delays it of the restraint device 40 is currently a box 20 or not. Only when the absence of a box 20 and thus a gap in the area of the restraint device 40 is detected by the optical sensor 54, can the lifting cylinders 43 be extended into the area of this gap and the still empty boxes 20 can thus be stowed.

The typical sequence in the targeted creation of a gap between successive boxes 20 in accordance with FIGS. 4C to 4E and 5C to 5E provides that after the loading of a box 20 or the simultaneous loading of up to three or four boxes 20 with articles 13 or containers 14 (cf. FIGS. 4B and 5B) first the clamping jaws 44 are placed on the next empty box 20, which has not yet been equipped with articles 13 or containers 14, and this box 20 and all the boxes 20 following it are held and are thus dammed up while the boxes 20 filled with articles 13 or containers 14 are moved away in the conveying direction 16 due to the somewhat faster feed speed of the horizontal conveyor device 36 and a gap is generated after them.

The positioning of the restraint device 40 and the positioning of the clamping jaws 44 on the side of the box 20 can initially be done relatively roughly, normally by linking the position control along the

Guide rail 48 based on the position data of the

Movement speed v ₅ moving with the box current

Handling device 22 (cf. FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B) during the loading of the box, so that the current position and speed of the first box 20 not yet filled in the box stream can be derived relatively precisely and thus the

Position control for the restraint 40 is available. By means of the drive motor 50, the restraint 40 can therefore on each side of the

Box currents on the second conveyor line 18 are each moved along the guide rails 48 into the appropriate position, with activated and against the first empty box 20, which follows the boxes 20 loaded with articles 13 or containers 14, the clamping jaws 44 that have been driven, to hold this empty box 20 and all boxes 20 following this box 20 or to the horizontal conveyor 36 in relation to the transport speed v / _\ or v ₂ delay.

As soon as the optical sensor 54 after delivery of the jaws 44 against the empty box 20 and after at least a slight delay

Retention device 40 with respect to the transport speed v _\ and v ₂ of the horizontal conveyor detects 36 a gap on the leading end, with articles 13 or beverage containers 14 fitted box 20, the lift cylinder 43 or the pivotable flaps 42 may be activated (according to specification of the retention device 40) and be driven into the box stream 20. At the same time or with a slight delay, the clamping jaws 44 on the empty box 20 can then be deactivated again and opened or moved apart, as a result of which the previously clamped box 20 and all the following boxes 20 pent up thereon by the advancing movement of the horizontal conveyor device 36 in contact with the activated lifting cylinders 43 or the pivotable flaps 42 come and there opposite

Transport speed v- _\ or v _{2 of} the horizontal conveyor device 36 at least slightly reduced feed speed v _{4 of} the restraint device 40 are still present.

This installation of the pent-up empty boxes 20 on the activated lifting cylinders 43 or swiveling flaps 42 of the restraint device 40, because of the precisely detectable position of the restraint device 40, which can be evaluated by a control system (not shown in more detail here), provides precise and reliable position and speed information of the next item 13 or containers 14 to be packaged 19 or beverage crates 20, which at the same time the desired and required for the desired freedom from errors in the operation of the machine 10 positioning specification for the handling device 22 with their

Can deliver gripper heads 24 so that they can bring the articles 13 or containers 14 exactly at the correct setting positions or can also set them down at outer packaging 19 or boxes 20 moving at a defined conveying speed.

Furthermore, FIG. 7 shows in two schematic views an optional further equipment variant of the handling and / or

Packaging device 10, which here has an additional detection device 46 for detecting the contours of the outer packaging 19 to be equipped with articles 13 Is provided. The schematic side view of FIG. 7A and the schematic top view of FIG. 7B illustrate the detection device 46, which is preferably arranged on the handling device 22, in particular by an optical device

Detection device 46 such as a camera or the like, but can optionally also be formed by an ultrasound detection device or another type of detection device. The essential task of the gripper heads 24 or the handling device 22 which is expediently assigned or mounted there

Detection device 46 consists in scanning the contours through the

Beverage crates 20 formed packaging 19, which can occasionally be slightly deformed, as indicated by the top view of FIG. 7B. There is the rear one

Beverage crate 20 of three crates 20 conveyed one behind the other in conveying direction 16 on its side wall facing the middle crate 20 is slightly arched inwards, which is what happens when the crate 20 is loaded with beverage containers 14 and thus in the

Position the corresponding gripper head 24 over the box 20

Deviations and inaccuracies in equipping with containers 14 could result.

In order to recognize these potential problems and to be able to easily readjust the gripper head 24, the box contours can be detected by means of the

Serve detection device 46. In the case of a plurality of boxes 20 which are transported one behind the other and which have such or a similar contour deviation, the exact positioning by means of the retaining device 40 (cf. FIGS. 2 to 5) cannot be guaranteed. Positioning the gripper heads 24 exactly in the middle above the respective boxes 20, their central position being recognized by the detection device 46, avoids inaccuracies and problems when loading them

Beverage containers 14.

The three schematic views of FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show a possible embodiment of a part of a handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention, in which the handling device 22 has a total of six gripper heads 24 which can be moved simultaneously and synchronously with one another for simultaneously loading six beverage crates 20 each a container group 15 comprises. Each of these six can be gripped simultaneously by a gripper head 24

Container groups 15 (see the side view of FIG. 8B) have a total of twenty

Beverage containers 14, which can be accommodated in the gripper head 24 by means of the article grippers 25 and inserted into the beverage crates 20 conveyed on the second horizontal conveyor device 36. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the beverage containers 14 are arranged in five parallel rows 34 on the first horizontal conveyor 28 of the first

Conveying path 12 is conveyed into the detection area of the handling device 22, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 8A and 8C.

By means of a handling and / or on a machine frame 56

Packaging device 10 arranged input terminal 58 can

Machine control programs can be activated or influenced, or other / other information can be displayed to a user.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment variant of the handling and / or packaging device 10 according to the invention, with the first conveyor line 12 with the multiple rows in the detection area of FIG

Handling device 22 brought beverage containers 14 parallel to the second conveyor section 18 with the also in the detection area of the

Handling device 22 runs towards empty beverage crates 20. However, the conveying direction 16a, in which the beverage containers 14 are conveyed in multi-row transport, runs opposite to the conveying direction 16b, with which the loaded boxes 20 are transported out of the device 10. The first conveying direction 16a of the beverage containers 14 to be inserted into the boxes 20 runs from right to left in the plan view of FIG. 9, while the second conveying direction 16b of the boxes 20 to be equipped with the containers 14 runs parallel to it from left to right.

10A shows a schematic perspective view of sections of the conveyor lines 12 and 18 as well as parts of the handling device 22 of the embodiment variant of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9

Handling and / or packaging device 10. Also there is the one with a total of six that can be moved and controlled simultaneously and approximately synchronously

Gripper heads 24 equipped handling device 22 recognizable, which is in the process of being in the process of taking, with its article grippers 25, for example formed by suction grippers or the like, a total of 120 beverage containers 14 from the five parallel rows 34 in order to insert them into empty beverage crates 20 which are conveyed up on the second horizontal conveying device 36 in the second conveying direction 16b.

Figures 10A to 10D also leave another optional

Recognize equipment option, which on the one hand the more stable box guide in the

Outer packaging or box flow on the second conveyor line 18 is used, but also is suitable for reducing the risk of collision of the articles 13 or beverage containers 14 with the upper side box or outer packaging edges or edges. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this equipment option is formed by lateral ramps or bevels 60 located on both sides at the edge of the outer packaging or box flow and at the upper lateral edges of the boxes 20, which inclines at least that

Cover the longitudinal edges of the outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 and, in the manner of a funnel, deflect the articles 13 or beverage containers 14 there when lowering into the respective crate 20 if they would otherwise touch the edges or edges due to their positioning.

As shown particularly clearly in FIGS. 10B to 10D, the lateral ramps or bevels 60 are located on mutually facing sides of a pair of pivotable strips 62, which are located on both sides of the conveying path of the conveying path 18, so that they at least the longitudinal edges of the Cover outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20.

If necessary, these pivotable strips 62 can be pivoted upwards by their articulated suspension 64 in order to be able to lift the boxes 20 upwards from the horizontal conveyor 36 in the event of faults. The schematic arrows in FIG. 10C, which are identified by the reference number 66, illustrate the optional swiveling or folding possibility with which the two strips 62 each by means of their articulated suspensions 64 in a manner one to their own

In the longitudinal direction parallel axis can be pivoted so that if necessary they release the boxes 20 below for removal upwards.

The pivot mechanisms or articulated suspensions 64 for the

pivotable strips 62, in order to pivot them upward in the direction of arrow 66 for removal of the boxes 20, can optionally be coupled with motor drives, for example with electric motors, with pneumatic or with hydraulic drives. Such optional drives enable automatic or semi-automatic swiveling and thus a coupling with a process control for the entire system. However, a purely passive suspension is also conceivable, which requires the bars 62 to be pivoted manually if they are to be pivoted upward in the direction of the arrow 66.

The pivoting strips 62 have the particular advantage that they are the

Hold outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 in their respective vertical positions and can effectively prevent the horizontal conveyor 36 of the second conveyor section 18 from rising or lifting. You can thus reliably prevent the boxes 20 from rising, especially in the cases, and hold them in the positions shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D when the gripper moves out of the boxes 20 again and therefore no longer offers additional support and / or when in the course of the conveying process, the dynamic pressure becomes so high that individual boxes 20 could be pushed upwards. So that no braking effect is formed by a touching or sliding contact of the outer packaging 19 or crates 20, it is useful to remain between the strips 62 which are folded down or brought into their position (see, for example, FIG. 10C) and the upper edges of the outer packaging 19 or beverage crates 20 sufficient but little play.

At this point, it should be expressly made clear that the pivotable strips 62 can optionally also be formed by simple sheets (not shown), since the bevels or side ramps 60 shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D do not have to be necessary in all applications. Such longitudinal sheets, which are arranged parallel to the conveying direction of the boxes 20 on both sides at the positions as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, fulfill the above-mentioned purpose of the box guide in the same way. Such guide plates or strips are equally suitable to reliably prevent the boxes 20 from rising and to keep them in their positions shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D when the gripper moves out of the boxes 20 again and therefore no longer offers additional support and / or if the back pressure becomes so high in the course of the conveying process that individual boxes 20 could be pushed upwards.

It should also be pointed out that the strips 62 shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D or the guide plates (not shown here), which can optionally be designed without the ramps 60 shown, do not necessarily have to be pivotable, but can also optionally be plugged in, moved or otherwise Can be fastened in this way and can be brought by moving or removing them from their management positions.

The following is given as a supplementary note to the above statements: albeit in connection with the figures and their above

Descriptions of "schematic" representations and views in general are by no means meant that the representations of 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 schematically and abstractly drawn representations that facilitate his understanding of the invention, without having to draw from the drawn and possibly not to scale proportions of parts of the shown and explained handling and / or packaging device and / or other drawn

Elements in any way would be impaired in his understanding. Rather, the figures enable the person skilled in the art as a reader, on the basis of the specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the specifically explained structure of the handling and / or packaging device according to the invention, to gain a better understanding of the general and / or abstract in the claims and in the general part of the description to derive formulated inventive ideas.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes of the invention can be made without leaving the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

10 device, handling and / or packaging device

12 first conveyor line

13 items

14 containers, beverage containers

15 Article group, container group

16 Direction of conveyance

16a first conveying direction (the article or container)

16b second conveying direction (of the outer packaging or beverage crates)

18 second conveyor line

19 outer packaging

20 crate, beverage crate, beverage crate

22 handling device

24 gripper head

25 article grippers

26 mass flow

28 first horizontal conveyor

30 engagement area, takeover area, engagement and / or

over region

32 alley plate, vertical alley plate

34 row (successively conveyed beverage container or container) 36 second horizontal conveyor

38 system bar

40 restraint device

42 swiveling flaps

43 lifting cylinders, mutually adjustable lifting cylinders

44 jaws, mutually adjustable jaws

46 detection device, optical detection device

48 guide rail

50 drive motor, electric drive motor

52 belt drive

54 optical sensor

56 machine frame

58 Entry terminal 0 side slope, side ramp

2 bars, foldable bar, swiveling bar

4 articulated hangers (strips)

6 folding direction, swiveling direction (of the strips)

Vi first transport speed

v ₂ second transport speed

v ₃ release speed of the restraint device v ₄ feed speed of the restraint device v ₅ movement speed of the handling device

Claims

Expectations

1. handling and / or packaging device (10) for repackaging

Article groups (15) and / or for inserting article groups (15) in

Outer packaging (19),

- With a first conveyor section (12) for transporting a large number of articles (13) in mass flow (26) and / or in row transport in a defined and / or changing conveying direction (16),

- With a second conveyor line (18) located at least in sections near the first conveyor line (12) and / or running parallel to this

successive transport of outer packaging (19) for a

Inclusion of at least one formed from several articles (13)

Article group (15) are provided and prepared,

- And with a handling device (22) assigned to the conveyor lines (12, 18) and / or movable between the conveyor lines (12, 18) and having at least one gripper head (24), which for the simultaneous picking up and detection of a respective article group from the first conveyor line ( 12), for the transfer to the second conveyor line (18) and for inserting the article group (15) into one of the outer packaging (19) transported there, is provided and designed,

- The second conveyor section (18) being an activatable and / or controllable

Restraint device (40) is assigned, with which the at least one outer packaging (19) equipped with articles (13) or to be fitted with articles (13) is at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the article group (15) in relation to the preceding and / or already Articles (13) equipped outer packaging (19) retained and / or compared to the transport speed of the

leading outer packaging (19) can be delayed.

2. Handling and / or packaging device according to claim 1, the

Handling device (22) with the at least one gripper head (24) can be variably controlled and moved between the conveyor lines (12, 18) with the articles (13) and the outer packaging (19), in particular for receiving article groups (15) from the first conveyor line (12), to transfer them to the second

Conveyor line (18) for inserting the article group (15) into one of the outer packaging (19) transported there and for moving the gripper head (24) back to Mass flow (26) and / or row transport of the article (13) on the first

Conveyor line (12) to receive further article groups (15).

3. Handling and / or packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, the handling device (22) with the at least one gripper head (24) after receiving an article group (15) from the first conveyor section (12) at least during the insertion of the article group (15 ) in the outer packaging (19) at approximately the same transport speed as the outer packaging (19) moved on the second conveyor line (18) parallel to and / or along the second

Conveyor path (18) is movable.

4. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 1 to 3, the handling device (22) has a plurality of gripper heads (24) for simultaneous loading of several outer packaging (19) with respective article groups (15).

5. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each gripper head (24) comprises a plurality of jointly controllable article grippers (25), the number of articles each of which can be detected by the gripper head (24)

Article group (15) corresponds, with at least some of the article grippers (25) or groups of article grippers (25) in the gripper head (24) being adjustable in their horizontal distances from one another.

6. Handling and / or packaging device according to claim 5, wherein the

Distances of the article grippers (25) or the groups of article grippers (25) in the

Gripper head (24) can be reduced during a work cycle and / or can be varied, in particular enlarged, according to the target positions of the articles (13) of an article group (15) within the respective outer packaging (19).

7. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 1 to 6, the activatable and / or controllable retaining device (40) for delaying and / or retaining the empty and to be equipped with articles (13)

Outer packaging (19) with respect to a transport speed of the second conveyor line (18) by foldable and / or by translationally movable

Barriers and / or is formed by pivotable flaps (42) and / or by at least one movable run-up bar or the like.

8. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 1 to 6, the activatable and / or controllable retaining device (40) for delaying and / or retaining the empty and to be equipped with articles (13)

Outer packaging (19) compared to a transport speed of the second

Conveyor line (18) is formed by a pair of mutually deliverable lifting cylinders (43) which, in the extended position, engage in the box or outer packaging stream and brake and / or hold back the outer packaging (19) with respect to the transport speed of the second conveying line (18).

9. Handling and / or packaging device according to claim 7 or 8, the activatable and / or controllable retaining device (40) for delaying and / or retaining the empty and with articles (13) to be packaged (19) relative to a transport speed of the second conveyor line (18) comprises at least one pair of mutually adjustable clamping jaws (44) which, in the extended position, engage laterally on one of the outer packaging (19) and this as well as the subsequent outer packaging (19) of the box or

Outer packaging stream compared to the transport speed of the second

Braking and / or restraining the conveyor section (18).

10. Handling and / or packaging device according to claim 9, wherein the pair of mutually adjustable clamping jaws (44) in coordination with the pair of mutually adjustable lifting cylinders (43) and / or with the foldable and / or translationally movable barriers and / or the pivotable Flaps (42) and / or the at least one movable run-up bar or the like can be moved and / or activated, the coordinated movements and / or

Activations, in particular, can be controlled by sensor signals of at least one sensor that detects the box or outer packaging stream.

1 1. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the activatable retention device (40) at least in phases with the transport speed along the second conveyor path (18) can be moved or compared with this at a reduced feed speed, whereby the at least an adjacent packaging (19) and all subsequent packaging (19) can be delayed in relation to the transport speed of the conveyor line (18).

12. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, which is associated with a detection device (46) for scanning and detection of outline contours and / or a shape of outer packaging (19) to be equipped with articles (13).

13. Handling and / or packaging device according to claim 12, wherein

Output signals of the detection device (46) for the optimized positioning and adaptability of the at least one gripper head (24) to an outer packaging (19) which deviates from a standard shape and / or contour and can be used and / or processed when it is equipped with articles (13).

14. Handling and / or packaging device according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which on one side at an edge or on both sides at the lateral edges of the second conveyor line (18) above the lateral edges of the conveyed there

Outer packaging (19) located strips (62) are arranged, which form a passive guide for the outer packaging (19) transported on the second conveyor line (18).

15. Method for transferring articles (13) transported in mass flow (26) and / or in series transport into continuous or intermittent along one

Conveyor path (18) moving outer packaging (19), each of which accommodates at least one article group (15) formed from several articles (13), at least one article group (15) using at least one gripper head (24) from the mass flow (26) and / or the row transport detected and lifted and from above into one of the next to the mass flow (26) or the

Row transport of the articles (13) along or on the conveyor line (18) moving outer packaging (19) is used, after which the outer packaging (19) is removed, the at least one outer article or article (13) to be equipped with articles (13) (19) at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the article group (15) against previous and / or already packed with articles (13) outer packaging (19) and / or against the transport speed of the preceding outer packaging (19) is delayed.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein after inserting an article group (15) into an outer packaging (19) the gripper head (24) to the mass flow (26) and / or Row transport of the article (13) is moved back to pick up further article groups (15).

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the at least one gripper head (24) after receiving an article group (15) at least while inserting the article group (15) in the outer packaging (19) approximately with the same

Transport speed like that moving on the conveyor line (18)

Outer packaging (19) is moved parallel to and / or along the conveyor line (18).

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, in which several simultaneously

Outer packaging (19) by means of multi-part gripper heads (24) with respective

Article groups (15) can be equipped.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein each gripper head (24)

comprises several jointly controllable article grippers (25), the number of which

The number of articles corresponds to each article group (15) that can be gripped by the gripper head (24), with at least some of the article grippers (25) or groups of article grippers (25) in the gripper head (24) within a detection and insertion process

Article group (15) in one of the outer packaging (19) in their horizontal distances from each other.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the distances between the article grippers (25) or the groups of article grippers (25) in the gripper head (24) are reduced during a working cycle and / or according to the target positions of the articles (13) of an article group (15) within the respective outer packaging (19) are variable and in particular are enlarged.

21. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, in which all the outer packaging (19) loaded simultaneously with articles (13) at least in phases before and / or during the insertion of the respective article group (15) compared to preceding and / or already with articles (13 ) equipped outer packaging (19) retained and / or compared to the transport speed of the preceding

Outer packaging (19) are delayed.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the delay and / or retention of the outer packaging (19) to be equipped with articles (13) by means of an activatable and / or controllable retention device (40), in particular by means of a foldable and / or means Barriers which can be moved in translation and / or by means of pivotable flaps (42) and / or by means of at least one movable run-up bar or the like.

23. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the empty and with articles (13) to be packaged (19) by means of a pair of mutually deliverable lifting cylinders (43) compared to the transport speed of the second conveyor line (18) and / or delayed are retained, the pair of mutually deliverable lifting cylinders (43) engaging in the extended position in the box flow and the outer packaging (19) opposite the

Braking and / or holding back the transport speed of the second conveyor line (18).

24. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the activatable and / or controllable retaining device (40) for delaying and / or retaining the empty outer packaging (19) to be equipped with articles (13) with respect to a transport speed of the second conveyor line ( 18) comprises at least one pair of clamping jaws (44) that can be moved against one another, which, in the extended position, engage laterally on one of the outer packaging (19) and this and the subsequent outer packaging (19) of the box or outer packaging flow relative to the transport speed of the second conveyor line (18 ) brake and / or hold back.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pair is deliverable against each other

Clamping jaws (44) can be adjusted against each other in coordination with the pair

Lift cylinder (43) and / or with the foldable and / or translationally movable barriers and / or the pivotable flaps (42) and / or the at least one movable run-up bar or the like is moved and / or activated, the coordinated movements and / or activations are controlled, in particular, by sensor signals of at least one sensor that detects the box or outer packaging current.

26. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 25, wherein the activatable

Restraint device (40) is moved at least in phases at the transport speed along the conveying path (18) or is moved with respect to the latter at a reduced feed speed, as a result of which the contact with it

Outer packaging (19) and all subsequent outer packaging (19) are delayed compared to the transport speed of the conveyor line (18).

27. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 26, in which outline contours and / or a shape of outer packaging (19) to be equipped with articles (13) is detected and the positioning of the at least one gripper head (24) when loading the outer packaging (19) with articles (13) is adapted to an outer packaging (19) that deviates from a standard shape and / or contour.