ES2896683T3 - Method and device for packaging stacked small-piece products - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for packaging products (P) of small pieces, in particular confectionery products, which are formed giving rise to groups of products (G) stacked, in a packaging material (VM) in sheet form, with a gripper device that comprises several clamps (18), the clamp (18) presenting in each case holding jaws (21) for holding the group of products (G) wrapped by the packaging material (VM) in sheet form at least partially and pleating units arranged in front and behind the clamping jaws (21) to generate a closure by interlocking and closing ends (VE) in the form of a funnel or in the form of a fan of the container (V), and the clamping device specifying a trajectory of gripper for the grippers (18), which runs through at least a specified longitudinal section, which is greater than the length of a group of products (G), parallel to the conveyor direction (F) specified by a conveyor ( 4) that feeds the group of products (G) to the gripper device.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Method and device for packaging stacked small parts products

The present invention relates to a device and a method for packaging small-piece products, in particular confectionery products, which are formed into groups of stacked products. In the confectionery industry, grouping small-piece products into stacked product groups and packaging without fear of confectionery damage represents a major challenge. In particular, the finished manufacture of the container is extremely complicated.

Devices and methods for packaging product groups are known from CH 390 131 A, US 4352265 A, and WO 2014/012913 A1. From JP 2008 137716 A a device for packaging confectionery products is known. Furthermore, tubular packaging devices with pleating units are known from WO 01/08977 A2 and WO 02/22445 A1.

Therefore the object of the present invention is to simplify a device and a method of the type mentioned at the beginning.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 3.

A device for packaging small-piece products, which are formed into stacked product groups, in particular confectionery products, with a web-shaped packaging material comprises a gripper device with several grippers, each having jaws for holding the group of products wrapped by the web-shaped packaging material at least partially and pleating units arranged in front of and behind the clamping jaws for generating an interlocking closure and funnel-shaped ends of the package. The gripper device specifies a gripper path for the grippers, which runs through at least a specified longitudinal section, which is larger than that of a group of products, parallel to the specified conveyor direction by a conveyor equipment that feeds the group of products to the gripper device. Common gripper devices are designed as container heads and rotate around an axis. On the contrary, the gripper device according to the invention is capable of following at least one part away from the path specified by the conveyor (for example, at least 2 times the length of the product or 1.5 times the length of the group). of products or until the entire package is manufactured). This opens up the possibility of transferring packaging material in web form, without it being previously broken into corresponding product sections. The next partitioning operation can then be carried out, for example, in the gripper device, which generally guarantees better access than the conveyor. Preferably, the gripper device can be approached with the grippers from above, while support from below by the carrier continues until the grippers receive it. Correspondingly, after delivery of the product or group of products, the grippers move upwards again. Preferably, the gripper path between the reception of the products or groups of products and the delivery is rectilinear.

The grippers have crimping units in front of and behind the clamping jaws, which crimp the packaging medium tube for closing the open ends of the packaging medium tube and form a latching closure and funnel-shaped or hook-shaped closing ends. hand fan. In this sense, it is a quick and easy way to generate an eye-catching closure. The packaging material can be constructed in such a way that sealing also takes place in the region of the "pleating knot", for example with a cold sealing adhesive or by means of pairs of heated pleaters. Attached, for example, with a correspondingly sealed longitudinal flap, a primary package with an elegant design is then formed. Therefore, no additional external packaging is necessary and the packaged group of products can be brought for sale in this way.

The procedure comprises the following stages:

to. separation of products into units and formation of product groups with a length L,

b. transfer of product groups to a conveyor,

c. position orientation of the products in a product group, thus shortening the length L of the product group,

d. feeding of a packaging material in web form,

and. at least partial wrapping in the form of a flexible tube of the product group with the packaging material,

F. reception of the groups of products wrapped at least partially in each case with a clamp,

g. manufacture of a container through the following partial stages,

i. formation of a closed packaging medium flexible tube at the perimeter made of the packaging material, ii. lateral placement of clamping jaws of a gripper inserting the packaging material into a group of products in each case and assumption of the transport of the group of products by means of the conveyor,

iii. cutting of the flexible tube of packaging medium between two groups of wrapped products, held in each case by a clamp,

IV. closure of the open end of the flexible tube of packaging medium including the product group,

v. delivery of the group of packaged products from the clamp.

Most small-piece products, in particular confectionery products, have a design, which, depending on the orientation on a subfloor, has a different center of gravity position. For unitizing and forming product groups, it is advantageous when the position of the center of gravity is as low as possible, because then the products generally assume their most stable position on a subfloor. However, in the case of a juxtaposition of products, this generally also results in a length L, which corresponds to the maximum length of this arrangement. However, this arrangement is not favorable for the position in the package, since it would lead to packages that are too long. Therefore, after the separation of the products into units and the formation of product groups, a position orientation is carried out. As for most shapes (eg parallelepiped shape, lenticular shape etc.) of these products this means a straightening of the products, so that also their position of center of gravity is shifted upwards. As a consequence, a gripper grabs the group of products thus straightened together with the packaging material which wraps it in the form of a flexible tube at least partially. The gripper therefore receives the group of products with the packaging material, which has not yet been cut. Thus the finished manufacturing of the flexible tube of packaging medium (eg flexible foil tube) is carried out during the clamping of the group of products by the clamp. Most of the common grippers are arranged, for example, on a packaging head, which is rotated about a pivot axis (see for example WO 02/22445 A1). However, such a packaging head is not suitable for transporting the packaging medium tube as yet uncut. The use of a piece also opens the possibility of approaching the most diverse areas of the perimeter of the product group and carrying out additional packaging measures. On receipt of the partially wrapped group of products, the gripper's clamping jaws are placed laterally, inserting the packaging material into a group of products in each case, and they assume the transport of the group of products by means of the conveyor. The grippers offer the possibility of carrying out additional process steps on the packaging material on the underside of the product group. On the conveyor, the group of products generally rests with its lower side, so access is difficult there. The grippers position the packaging material already over a large area of the perimeter of the group of products, but allow such access.

According to a variant of the method, when the product groups are transferred to the conveyor, a first shortening of the length L can already take place and the products of a product group can be transferred successively from a row product arrangement to a stack arrangement. products in a fan, overlapping at least partially. This fan-shaped arrangement of products facilitates orientation to the next position and prevents blockage or jamming of the products. In addition, it is thereby ensured that for a straightened position orientation to be carried out, unfavorable product shapes (for example parallelepipedal shape etc.) can also be used. A lenticular shape represents a less serious problem, but also in this case the fan arrangement of products is favourable, because it makes the process run less prone to failure.

Furthermore, the conveyor can present pockets for a group of products in each case, whereby the receiving length of the pockets is shortened to straighten the products or the group of products. The receptacle may for example be provided with a sliding front and/or rear wall. However, elements are also possible which catch in the region of the receptacle and straighten the products.

There is also the possibility of using a unitized separating plate for separating the products into units, which has recesses arranged in groups for one product in each case, whereby the products enter the interior of the recesses from above and are delivered at a transfer station down from the slots to the conveyor. Therefore, for example, the feeding of products can be carried out as bulk product. A rotation of the separating plate in units automatically causes a filling of the recesses by the products arranged en masse on the rotating plate. Charging can happen by vibration feeding. The recesses are arranged in such a way that a group of products is necessarily formed with products arranged one behind the other. In this case, the products generally slide along a sliding surface, because the recesses are preferably open downwards. According to one embodiment, this sliding surface can then be interrupted in the transfer zone of the transfer station, so that the products fall downward from the recesses and fall into a container of the conveyor. In this sense, the drop height can be very small. The movement of the turntable and that of the conveyor are favorably coordinated with each other.

In a further method variant, provision is made for the web-shaped packaging material to be fed flat from above by the product groups transported by the conveyor, It is then formed by molding equipment into a flexible tube of packaging medium that is open at the bottom and the section of the conveyor that receives the group of products is hooked onto the open flexible tube from below. The conveyor and the grippers have a common transport path along a given longitudinal section, so that groups of products can also be transferred very easily, when a transport path adapted to the longitudinal extent of the product group is carried out. jointly by both the conveyor and the gripper. This is not the case with rotating container heads, where in theory there is only one tangential point, at which the transfer takes place.

It can additionally be provided that the grippers continue to transport the product groups together with the packaging material in essentially the same conveyor direction as the conveyor previously. Due to the fact that the grippers essentially take over the transport of the product groups via the conveyor and essentially maintain the conveyor direction, the packaging material does not necessarily need to be separated into individual product sections before transfer, but can be handled as so far as tape material. This offers the possibility of producing the flexible tube of packaging medium, while the gripper has already received several product groups. In the case of the other conventional rotating container heads, this is not possible.

There is also the possibility that a longitudinal flap is formed and sealed during the production of the container and the configuration of the packaging medium hose. The use of a sealed longitudinal flap also paves the way for using the package as a primary package. In the longitudinal fin configuration, cold sealing adhesives are used, the adhesion zones of which are applied to the same side of the packaging material and then pressed against each other during the process. In this way, temperature-sensitive products can also be packaged. Depending on the product selection, heat-sealing foils can of course also be applied. Such a longitudinal flap can be created as long as the gripper has already received several groups of products.

The longitudinal fin can then be placed on the side of the product group, for a more striking appearance.

Depending on the gripper design and the respective product shape, by fixing the gripper, a certain pretension can already be created in the packaging medium hose between two product groups, which are each held by a gripper. In a further embodiment, however, provision is made for the packaging medium hose to be prestressed between two product groups at least additionally in order to cut it. Therefore, a channeled introduction of a previous tension that favors the cut is carried out. If a certain pre-tension already exists by simply accessing and transporting the tweezers, this pre-tension is consciously increased again. In this case, for example, additional units in the gripper are suitable, which create this pretension.

In a further method variant, provision is made for two counter-rotating blades to be used for cutting the packaging medium tube, which can be moved simultaneously and jointly backwards parallel to the conveyor direction and only pivot periodically towards the conveyor. transport path of the product groups and the packaging medium hose. The knives preferably move together at conveyor speed, so that there is no relative movement between the flexible tube of packaging medium and the knives in the conveyor direction. The blades cut the flexible tube of packaging medium between two groups of products, then plunge downwards and return again against the direction of the conveyor. Thereby an oscillating movement of the blades towards and against the conveyor direction is formed.

In addition, in the delivery of the group of packaged products, the gripper can deliver them to a conveyor equipment, which continues to transport at least initially the group of packaged products in the direction of transport or at most with an offset of half the height of the group of products. packing. The packaged group of products is therefore carefully delivered from the gripper for further transport. Unnecessary drop heights are therefore avoided.

Correspondingly, the clamping jaws can be controlled in such a way that they grip the product group(s) at least partially enveloped by the web-shaped packaging material before the web-shaped packaging material is has been split into partial parts associated with the respective product or the respective group of products.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below by means of drawings. They show:

Figure 1 a perspective schematic representation of an embodiment of a device that carries out the method according to the invention,

Figure 2 a perspective representation of a primary container manufactured by means of the device of Figure 1 with lenticular-shaped products,

FIG. 3 shows the separation plate in units from FIG. 1 in an enlarged perspective view, FIG. 4 an enlarged perspective view of the unit separation plate from FIG. 3, FIG. 5 a perspective view of the transfer station on the unit separation plate,

Figure 6 the transfer station of figure 5 in a top view,

Figure 7 a perspective view of the feeding of packaging material to the straightened product groups,

FIG. 8 an enlarged perspective view of the gripper device from FIG. 1,

Figure 9 an enlarged fragment of the front end of the gripper device,

Figure 10 an enlarged fragment of the clip device, showing the creation of the longitudinal flap (flap seam),

Figure 11 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, showing the change in position of the longitudinal fin,

Figure 12 an enlarged representation of a group of products in lens form in a flexible tube of packaging medium with longitudinal fin,

Fig. 13 the product group from Fig. 12 after the change of position of the longitudinal fin, Fig. 14 a sequence of development, which reproduces the different actuation possibilities of a gripper in perspective view,

FIG. 15 a perspective view of a clamp, which creates an additional pretension in the packaging medium hose,

Figure 16 the product group from Figure 13 after creating an additional prestress,

Figure 17 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, showing a first stage of cutting the flexible tube of packaging medium,

Figure 18 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, showing a second stage of cutting the flexible tube of packaging medium,

Figure 19 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, showing a third stage of cutting the flexible tube of packaging medium,

Figure 20 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, showing a fourth stage of cutting the flexible tube of packaging medium,

Figure 21 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, which represents the pleating of the ends of the container,

Figure 22 an enlarged fragment of the gripper device, representing the delivery of the group of packaged products to a conveyor equipment,

Figure 23 an enlarged front view of a further embodiment of a conveyor

and

Figure 24 a development sequence of a further embodiment of a conveyor with straightening equipment.

As can be distinguished in particular by means of figure 2, the packaging of products in lenticular form P, which are formed giving rise to a group of products G, is explained in more detail below. Of course, the device described below and the corresponding procedure also they are suitable for other product shapes (eg spherical shape or parallelepiped shape). Some of the process steps or parts or regions of the entire device are also suitable for the packaging and handling of individual products. In particular, the gripper device to be described in more detail below therefore also serves for the handling and processing of individual products and the respective packaging material.

The device 1 represented in figure 1 comprises a unit separation equipment 2, a transfer station 3, a conveyor 4, a packaging medium feeding station 5, a gripper device 6 and a conveyor equipment 7. From the transfer station 3 to conveyor equipment 7 essentially maintains a constant linear conveyor direction F. Device 1 is used for the production of a group of VP packaged products (see figure 2). The products P are in the present case confectionery products in the form of lentils (eg drops), which are formed into a product group G, consisting of five products P, and are to be packaged together. However, the number and shape of the products P can be arbitrary, as long as they can be grouped in this way. The flexible tube-shaped package V is formed from a web-shaped packaging material VM. In the present case the package V must serve as the primary package and must therefore be hermetically sealed. Also special in this V-pack are the two funnel-shaped or trumpet-shaped closure ends VE in the form of pleated "knots", as well as a longitudinal flap LF arranged in the form of a flap seam. The packaging material ^{V m} thus surrounds the product group G completely. The VM packaging material is constructed in such a way that the foil layers both in the area of the fin seam and in the area of the knots adhere to each other. It is therefore a closed container V, which does not open by itself, in which the group of products G is kept in the predetermined product formation.

The unit separation equipment 2 comprises a unit separation plate 8 which rotates continuously. The unitized separating plate 8 has circular recesses 9 in the area of its outer circumference, which are arranged along a partial circle and thus run around in the form of a ring (see FIG. 3). The recesses 9 are combined in recess groups 10. Five recesses 9 each form a recess group 10. The recesses 9 are arranged so close to each other that they touch or overlap slightly. It is therefore possible that the products P arranged in the recesses 9 within a group of recesses 10 touch or almost touch. The product is fed as bulk material. The loading of the separating plate into units 8 is carried out through a vibration feed. The products P are then accommodated individually in the recesses 9 and thus form groups of products G arranged one behind the other. The recesses 9 have dimensions such that only one single product P is received. Deflectors, among others in the form of brushes and guide devices (not shown), are used to support the unit separation process. Recesses 9 are already arranged in groups on the unitized separating plate 8. This means that the length of the product group G on the unitized separating platen 8 is greater than the length of the product group G arranged inside the package. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the separating plate into units 8 rotates counterclockwise and transports the products P separated into units and grouped towards the transfer station 3. In this sense, the products P housed in the Recesses 9 of the unitized separating plate 8 slide horizontally during rotation of the unitized separating platen 8 through the sliding surface of a sliding track (see FIGS. 4 to 6).

In the area of the transfer station 3, the conveyor 4 is arranged below the unit separation plate 8. The conveyor 4 runs with its conveyor direction F essentially tangential to the part circle of the recesses 9. The conveyor 4 has a feed chain 12, of which some of the drag stops 13 are shown. The feed chain 12 is usually a roller chain, on which the drag stops 13 shown are arranged at a predetermined distance (stop spacing of drag). The drive stops 13 are made relatively narrow and are hooked from below into a rail 14 with side walls. Between two drive stops 13 and the rail 14 a moving receptacle 15 is therefore molded. To carry out the transfer of product to the supply chain 12 located deeper, the sliding track 11 is interrupted. As a result of gravity, the products P reach the receptacle 15, which flows synchronously to the group of products G. The size (length) of this receptacle 15 is configured in such a way that the respective number of products P, which are collected in a package V , is received in each case.

For the separation of the products P into units in the unit separation equipment 2 it is advantageous when the products P are transported horizontally, ie with a low center of gravity. The products P therefore adopt their most stable position. However, the more stable position does not correspond to the formation of products, which occupy products P later in the container V.

The conveyance of the products P transferred to the chain compartment 15 is carried out with a support plane TE contained in the receptacle 15. The continuous speeds of the separating plate in units 8 as well as of the feeding chain 12 are synchronized with each other, so such that the segmented recesses 9 of the unitized separation plate 8 always coincide with a drag stop partition or receptacle 9. The positional association between unitized separation plate 8 and feed chain 12 is thus ensured.

For the packaging of the group of products G, the orientation of the products P on their lateral surface is necessary. For this, the product groups G arranged in a flat position must be straightened. That is, the center of gravity of the products P is raised and the products P are then in an unstable position. Position orientation is performed within the continuous feed chain 12. The geometry of the products P requires fixing the straightened product group G, so that it does not tip over. In the case of a lenticular-shaped product P, the lateral surfaces of the product P do not allow it to stand upright without support. The rail 14 therefore also represents a lateral limitation. The actual straightening operation is carried out by means of a straightening lever 16 pivotally arranged on the drag stops 13. The movement of the straightening lever 16 is caused through a cam control system fixed to a frame and a control cam 17 arranged at the other end of the straightening lever 16. The straightening lever straightening 16 pivots counterclockwise into the chain compartment 15 and straightens the product group G. By means of the pivoting movement a shortening of the size or length of the chain compartment and consequently a shortening of the length is realized. L of the product group G. The product group G horizontally in the receptacle 15 has a length L1 and the straightened product group G, which has been pushed by the straightening lever 16 against the rear end of the receptacle 15, has the length L2. The length L2 is less than the length L1. The product group G situated at the beginning is thereby moved into a vertical product group G (see FIG. 7).

In this reciprocal orientation the product group G is moved by the conveyor 4 to the packaging medium feed station 5. The packaging material VM is fed in web form. By means of molding equipment not shown in detail (molding flanges, etc.), the flat-fed continuous packaging material VM is formed into a flexible packaging medium tube PS that is still open at the bottom. The straightened product group G is inserted into this PS packaging medium hose, which is still open below, by means of conveyor 4. The feed chain 12 is inserted through the hose opening of the PS packaging medium hose, so that the product group G is enveloped by the packaging material VM to a greater extent.

The straightened product group G continues to be transported through the supply chain 12 until it reaches the area of the gripper device 6. The gripper device 6 has belt-shaped rotating chains, on which grippers 18 are arranged in parallel. distances between certain spaces. The clips 18 therefore run counterclockwise within a "clip tape" 19 . The gripper band 19 in each case describes a circular arc shape at the ends and runs in a straight line in between. The lower belt strand runs essentially parallel to the conveyor direction F. The grippers 18 are activated on the product groups G in the belt strand of the gripper belt 19 and move correspondingly in a straight line above the product line in the direction of conveyor F. The gripper belt 19 is a rotating unit, continuously driven, which is correspondingly covered along the perimeter with 18 evenly distributed grippers. The grippers 18 are arranged at an identical distance from the space between the drag stops of the feed chain 12. They run in synchronism with the feed chain 12. That is, the forward speed of the feed chain 12 corresponds to the forward speed of the gripper belt 19. In addition, the configured PS packaging medium hose, still open below, also moves in synchronism with the forward speed of the gripper belt 19 (see Figures 8 and 9). .

Each clamp 18 has a clamp bridge 20, two clamping jaws 21 which open and close, and in each case a pair of pleats 22 in front of and behind the clamping jaws 21. As a result of an exact position association between a gripper 18 and a receptacle 15 a transfer of the straightened product group G as well as the packaging medium hose PS in contact with the outer side, still open below from the supply chain 12 to the gripper 18 of the gripper tape 19. The clamping jaws 21 of the gripper 18 are controlled by cams and have an open and a closed position. A gripper 18 pivots by deflecting the gripper band 19 in the region of the transfer of the straightened product group G towards the product plane (see FIG. 9). In this sense, the open clamping jaws 21 are guided laterally in front of the packaging medium tube PS, as well as the products P contained therein, without touching them. The transfer is carried out according to a parallel orientation of the gripper 18 towards the direction of the conveyor F of the conveyor 4. To do this, by means of a curved track fixedly housed in the frame, the introduction of the closing movement of the clamping jaws is carried out. 21. The clamping jaws 21 are each provided with recesses 23 adapted to the products P. The products P are therefore clamped both positively and positively by the clamping jaws 21. The product group G straightened as well as the packaging medium tube PS are now engaged both in the receptacle 15 and in the lateral clamping jaws 21 . The pairs of pleaters 22 present in the gripper 18 are in the closed position and have no contact with the packaging material VM, as well as with the group of products G. Then the fastening by means of the feed chain 12 is detached. For this, the straightening lever 16 is again pivoted out of the socket 15. This again happens by means of a cam control system. The feed chain 12 consequently releases the product group G and plunges below the product plane. The drag stops 13 run along the level of the product floor and leave the packaging medium flexible tube PS.

The dimensioning of the clamping jaws 21 is carried out in such a way that it comprises the entire group of products G straightened over the entire length L2. As an alternative, with a view to different product dimensions (predominance of product tolerances), there is also the possibility of making the gripper 18 in several parts, in order to consequently immobilize each product P individually and fix it. In order to prevent marginal products from losing their orientation (inclination in the still open PS packaging medium tube), in addition to the notches 23 at these locations there may be special stop elements. Therefore, the encapsulation of product group G from all sides is also guaranteed.

The finished production of the container V now takes place within a gripper 18 of the continuously driven gripper belt 19 . The partial steps necessary for the production of the package V are carried out along a linear path in the direction of the conveyor F (see FIGS. 10 to 16). Each gripper 18 of the gripper tape 19 goes through these processing steps. In the illustrated embodiment, a roller chain, not shown in detail, serves as a continuously rotating drive element. The clamps 18 are housed with their clamp bridges 20 on guide rails (not shown) fixed to the frame and directly follow the movement of the chain. The introduction of force takes place in the guides of the clamps 18 and not in the chain fall. The drive train is operated by rotating continuously. The representation reproduces the functional construction. The elements for the gripper guide, support and control are not represented in detail.

The clamping jaws 21 and the pairs of pleaters 22 are each rotatably mounted on the clamp bridge 20 and carry out pivoting movements to fulfill their function. The introduction of movement is done by means of curved tracks fixed to the frame through roller levers. The movements of the individual elements are designed in such a way that both the product group G and the flexible packaging medium tube PS are processed optimally (without damage). The distance of both pairs of pleaters 22 is designed in such a way that this, in the closed state, corresponds to the length L2 of the straightened product group G plus a minimum interval.

After gripping a group of products G by the clamping jaws 21, with the pair of pleaters 22 still open, a sealed longitudinal flap LF (see Figure 10) is manufactured. This happens by rotating the sealing rollers 24 and 25. For this, the foil layers arranged one above the other in the region of the longitudinal fins LF to be formed are provided with cold-sealing adhesives. The first sealing rollers 24 firmly press these foil layers against each other and the second sealing rollers 25 are driven and in the region of the longitudinal fin LF formed by frictional force transmission provide the advancement of the media tube. PS packaging. For this the sealing rollers 25 are pressed against each other. The packaging medium sections belonging to the longitudinal flap LF are already formed in the region of the tube formation by means of a forming channel. The clamping jaws 21 of the grippers 18 fix the straightened group of products G and move it synchronously at the peripheral speed of the sealing rollers 24 along the zone of the longitudinal seam formation. Due to the continuous PS packaging medium hose, several clips 18 are always located above the region of the longitudinal seam formation. As already mentioned, in the illustrated embodiment the closing of the sheet layers is done by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive mask located on the inner side of the sheet. For the tight wrapping of the product groups G by means of the packaging medium tube PS, the sealing rollers 24 and 25 are arranged directly below the product base.

The pairs of pleaters 22 of the clips 18 during the closure of the longitudinal flap LF are in the closed position.

Depending on the method, the closed longitudinal fin LF is suspended vertically downwards (see figure 12). For the realization of the packaging character described, the orientation of the longitudinal fins lF towards the horizontal plane is necessary. Shaping is done by separate molding equipment. In the illustrated embodiment, these are driven folding rollers 26 (see FIG. 11), which, depending on their geometry, position the longitudinal flap LF horizontally against the bottom of the packaging medium tube PS. The upper side of the folding rollers 26 lies in one plane with the upper sides of the sealing rollers 24 and 25, so that the longitudinal flap LF without a vertical part lies completely horizontally in the flexible packaging medium tube PS. (see figure 13). As an alternative, the shaping of the longitudinal fin LF can also be realized by means of stationary baffle plates as well as additional shaping arrangements. The clamping jaws 21 of the gripper 18 fix the group of products G straightened forward. The pairs of pleaters 22 of the clip 18 remain in the open position.

The packaging medium tube PS as well as the straightened product groups G located therein are transported after leaving the folding rollers 26 by the clamping jaws 21 of the continuously driven gripper 18 . Continuous support from the product fund is not necessarily necessary.

After the folding rollers 26 the flexible sheet tube FS is slightly prestressed between two clamps 18 by a sending movement of the corresponding pairs of pleaters 22. In this sense, by means of a curved track fixed on the frame (not shown), a movement is introduced into the respective pair of pleaters 22, which decreases the external diameter of the flexible tube of packaging medium PS, seen in the direction of conveyor F, before and after the group of products G (see figures 15 and 16) straightened. As a result of the reduced hose cross-section, an additional tension is introduced in the region of the PS packaging medium hose between two clamps 18, so that it is tensioned in the longitudinal direction. For this, the contour of a pair of pleaters 22 is designed in such a way that it completely surrounds the PS packaging medium tube at the beginning of the contact during the delivery movement. A pair of pleaters 22 consists of at least two pleaters, which engage one another. In the illustrated embodiment, both pairs of pleaters 22 have a common pivot point 27 for optimal deformation of the hose, the axis of which is oriented parallel to the conveyor direction F (see FIGS. 14 and 15). The pleaters of a pair of pleaters 22 are pivoted symmetrically to the product center and touch the packaging medium flexible tube PS simultaneously on both the front side and the rear side.

For the production of the container V, it is necessary to separate individual sections of the foil tube FS (see Figures 17 to 20). The flexible tube of packaging medium PS fixed and prestressed by means of the clamping jaws 21 and pairs of pleaters 22 is transported by means of the gripper belt 19 through a separation device 28. The advancement of the gripper tape 19 continues to be carried out continuously. The separation cut is made by means of a shear cut in the center between two blades 29 and 30 configured as a clamp. Knife 29 and bedknife 30 rotate below the product plane in opposite directions about a common pivot point. In order to carry out the safe cutting of the prestressed PS packaging medium tube, both knife blades are subjected to a reciprocal pretension in the region of the point of contact of the cutting edges. The pretensioning of the packaging medium hose PS acts in this respect by supporting the cutting process, in order to prevent a breakage of the packaging medium hose PS or of the hose section to be formed by the knives 29 and 30. In addition, this supports the orientation of the cutting line perpendicular to the conveyor direction F of the packaging medium tube PS. In order to avoid relative movements in the direction of conveyor F between the blades 29 and 30 and the flexible tube of packaging medium PS both blades 29 and 30 are subjected to an oscillating movement in the axial direction (in and against the direction of conveyor F ) about its axis of rotation.

In FIG. 17, the blades 29 and 30 are located before hooking into the packaging medium hose PS. The knives 29 and 30 are then engaged with the packaging medium hose PS (see FIG. 18). The blades 29 and 30 additionally move axially with their rotation with a synchronous speed with respect to the gripper band 19, so that no relative movements predominate in this direction. Figure 19 shows the completion of the separation cut. The axial movement of the knife 29 and counter knife 30 undergoes a reversal of direction. As a result of the separation of the hose sections, pre-tensioning of the configured PS packaging medium hose by the initial delivery movement of the pairs of pleaters 22 between two clamps 18 is eliminated. A free space is formed between the separate hose sections (see FIG. 20). The rotation as well as the contour of the knives 29 and 30 is designed in such a way that during the return stroke of the separating device 28, the grippers 18 as well as the packaging medium hose PS continue to be transported without collision.

The separation operation is followed by the completion of the container V. The pairs of pleaters 22 of the gripper 18 undergo a further shipping movement, introduced by the external curved track fixedly housed in the frame. The pleat pairs 22 decrease the hose cross-section at the edge sides of the straightened product group G in such a way that a pleated node is formed. As a result of the preparation of the VM packaging medium, the pleated knot obtains its shape. The inner sides of the sheet adhere to each other due to externally introduced pressure (see figure 21). As a result of the sending movement of the pleating pairs 22, a shortening of the free hose section takes place. The clearance between two adjacent clamp hose ends 18 continues to increase.

Following the pleating, the product is delivered. For this, the pairs of pleaters 22 as well as the clamping jaws 21 of the pliers 18 are subjected to an opening movement, introduced by means of the external curved path, housed fixed to the frame. In order to prevent sticking as well as sticking of the configured closure ends VE as well as of the packaging medium tube PS in the clamps 18, the pairs of pleaters 22 are completely opened before the clamping jaws 21 are closed. open (see Figure 22).

The packaged product group VP is delivered in the embodiment shown to a continuously driven delivery belt 31 of the conveyor unit 7. Other embodiments allow, inter alia, the use of slides, free delivery, as well as transfer in an organized transportation system. The now free gripper 18 is consequently deflected upwards in correspondence with the course of the gripper band 19 . In the area of the lower band of the gripper belt 19, the grippers 18 move like gondolas suspended on both sides and thus complete the packaging V.

In the following, a further embodiment for the positional orientation of the products P is now described by means of FIG. 23. The essential difference lies in the shortening of the length of the receptacle 15, so that the lens-shaped products P are not accommodated. flat in the receptacle 15, but slightly fan-shaped. By this measure, a partial straightening of the product group G has already taken place and a blockage is counteracted in the next straightening operation by the straightening lever 16. Whereas with lens-shaped products P there is not so much the problem of blockage, in other forms of product, a fan arrangement in the receptacle 15 is necessarily necessary, in order to be able to carry out the straightening operation. The transfer station 3 is formed in correspondence, to achieve this fan-shaped arrangement in the receptacle 15. Additionally the receptacle 15 is formed by a single drag stop 13.

In addition, a further embodiment for the position orientation of the products P is now described by means of figure 24. The essential difference exists in the other configuration of the drag stop 13. The straightening of the products P is carried out by means of a linear movement of a forward slider 32 within the receptacle 15 of the feed chain 12. Control of the slider 32 is via a curved track fixed to the frame by coupling gears. The size of the receptacle 15 as a consequence of the linear movement of the slider 32 is shortened in such a way that the products P are straightened and by the anterior and posterior limitation of the receptacle 15 they are fixed in their new position orientation. In this case the length of the receptacle 15 is exclusively specified by a single drag stop 13. These drag stops 13 are repeatedly arranged on the drive chain, for example a roller chain, of the feed chain 12 in the division default.

The dimensioning of the cam control system, as well as the coupling gear, is designed in such a way that the movement introduced towards the products P causes their straightening and no damage to the product P is caused. In the embodiments represented with ellipsoidal outline of the product P the external surfaces of the products P slide against each other during the straightening operation. In this sense, the shape of the cross section of the product helps to avoid the interlocking of products P during the straightening operation. The prior orientation of the position of products inside the receptacle 15, in another type of cross-section of the product, must avoid a blockage of the products P during the straightening operation.

In addition to the linear delivery movement of the front slider 32, support elements can be applied in the area of the supply chain 12 as well as external product guides (not shown) fixed to the frame, for example rail), which support the orientation of the product position during the straightening movement.

In the illustrated embodiment, a roller chain serves as a continuously rotating drive element. The drag stops 13 are housed in guide rails fixed to the frame and directly follow the movement of the chain. The force input takes place in the guides of the drag stop 13, not in the chain fall. The chain strand is operated in continuous rotation.

Depending on the process, the management of empty cycles using continuous processes with continuously fed process products poses great challenges in the process.

In this case an empty loop is defined as follows:

- absence of product P, which produces an incomplete group of products G in the transfer zone from the separation plate in units 8 to the feed chain 12.

- Absence of group of products G in the zone of the feeding chain 12, which produces a completely empty container V.

The aim is to maximize the efficiency of the processing operation, so that by means of a given procedural safety the absence of individual products P in the area of the product transfer from the unit separation tray 8 to the chain of production is to be avoided. feed 12. In this sense, recesses 9 of a group of recesses 10 can be detected by sensors as incompletely filled on the separating plate in units 8. The transfer station 3 is closed by a separately connected locking disc exclusively for this group of products, so that there is no transfer of the products P from this incompletely filled segment (group of recesses 10) to the supply chain 12. The incompletely filled segment of the separating plate into units 8 during an additional turn of the unit separation platen 8, is fed to the unit separation process in its compos current issue. No product P is transferred to the receptacle 15 located in the transfer zone of the synchronously running feed chain 12. The feed chain 12 furthermore moves continuously. The empty receptacle 15 runs through the entire section of the feed chain 12 up to the product transfer zone including the gripper belt 19. The closing clamping jaws 21 of the gripper 18 cannot make any contact with the products. P. In order to fix the flexible tube of packaging medium PS within this clamp 18, in one possible embodiment the design of the clamping jaw arrangement is selected such that its closing movement is spring-loaded. The external curved paths arranged fixed on the frame exclusively execute the movement for opening the clamping jaws 21 by means of a roller lever of the gripper 18. This design ensures that the clamping jaws 21 reduce to a minimum minimum their distance from one another in the event of a lack of product formation, so that the PS packaging medium hose is clamped directly by the clamping jaws 21. The processing of the PS packaging medium hose is carried out in this direction in the further advance path of the gripper tape 19 analogously to the described procedure without deactivating the individual processing steps. After separation of the packaging medium hose PS by the separation device 28, an empty container is ejected, which is handled independently of the product flow of the packaged VP products.

A further embodiment to avoid the empty bag formed is the decentralization of the separating plate drives in units 8 opposite the supply chain 12. In this sense, according to the previous representation, the blocking of the separating plate segment in units 8 incomplete filling is done by means of a blocking disc. The feed chain 12 is continuously driven. An additional position offset is applied to the unitized separation plate 8 by means of the drive control, so that in the area of product transfer to the supply chain 12 the next group of products G from the unitized separation plate 8 completely filled is synchronized to the position of the receptacle 15 of the feed chain 12. Empty receptacles 15 as well as incompletely filled receptacles within the feed chain 12 are avoided by this embodiment.

The creation of a package V with the aid of the web belt 19 can also be carried out with individual products P instead of product groups G. Otherwise, the product group G does not necessarily have to be oriented in the side surface. The products P can be fed to the gripper belt 19 also horizontally. The feeding of products can be carried out through other equipment than a separating plate in units 8, for example, by band feeding, direct entry into the continuous feeding chain 12, etc. The formation of the product groups G does not need to be done by segmenting the separating plate into units 8 into individual groups. The supply chain 12 need not necessarily be configured as a continuous chain branch. Also possible is the implementation by means of independently driven drive stops 13 (individual linear drives). The transfer of the products P to the supply chain 12 is also possible with auxiliary devices for the safe ejection of the gap 9 from the separating plate in units 8. The straightening of the products P is also conceivable by means of the relative movement of two stops drives 13, which are arranged in individual controlled linear drives. The straightening of the products P can also be controlled from the sliding wall of the receptacle 15 or from a straightening lever 16 arranged in this area. The forward wall of the receptacle 15 is fixed in this embodiment. The straightening can also be done by the relative movement of two elements of the drag stop 13 and can center the group of products G, for example, in the area of the center of the drag stop. The product outline does not necessarily need to be elliptical for straightening. Other sections of product require a prior orientation of the arrangement within the receptacle 15, in order to straighten it. To avoid blocked (immobilized) products P during the straightening operation, it is also possible to introduce disturbing movements directed at the group of products G. In this sense, among others, the vibrations cause a disintegration of a blocky formation, so that the straightening operation is not prevented. The drive stops 13 can also be driven by other continuous, rotatable drive elements. The drive of the drive stops 13 is likewise possible via individual drives. The gripper belt drive 19 can also be realized as an individual drive for each gripper 18 (linear drives). Instead of cold sealing, heat sealing or other sealing technologies are also conceivable. Several or all pairs of sealing rollers may be driven. The pivot points of the two pleaters of a pair of pleaters 22, in another embodiment, can also be arranged with an offset from each other. A concentric axis of rotation is not necessarily necessary. Consequently, the form of pleating is substantially influenced. For the realization of asymmetric containers V, the separation cut can also be made eccentrically between two clamps 18.

reference list

1 device

2 unit separation equipment

3 transfer station

4 transporter

5 packing medium feeding station

6 clamp device

7 conveyor equipment

8 unit separation plate

9 notch

10 group of notches

11 slide track

12 feed chain

13 drag stop

14 lane

15 receptacle

16 straightening lever

17 control cam

18 clamp

19 clip tape

20 clamp bridge

21 clamping jaws

22 pair of pleaters

23 undercut

24 sealing roller

25 sealing roller

26 folding roller

27 turning point

28 separation team

29 blade

30 bedknife

31 delivery tape

32 slider

TE support plane

L product group length

L1 length of the product group in the cutout group or in the pocket

L2 length of the product group depending on the position orientation or in the container PS flexible tube of packaging medium

P product

G product group

VE closing end

F conveyor address

v container

VM packaging material

longitudinal fin LF

VP group of packaging products

Claims (3)

1. Device for packaging products (P) of small pieces, in particular confectionery products, which are formed giving rise to groups of products (G) stacked, in a packaging material (VM) in sheet form, with a device for clamp comprising several clamps (18), the clamp (18) presenting in each case holding jaws (21) to hold the group of products (G) wrapped by the packaging material (VM) in sheet form at least partially and pleating units arranged in front and behind the clamping jaws (21) to generate an interlocking closure and funnel-shaped or fan-shaped closing ends (VE) of the container (V), and the clamping device specifying a gripper path for the grippers (18), which runs through at least a specified longitudinal section, which is greater than the length of a group of products (G), parallel to the conveyor direction (F) specified by a conveyor (4) that feeds the gr type of products (G) to the gripper device. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping jaws (21) are controlled in such a way that they grip the group(s) of products (G) at least partially enveloped by the packaging material (VM) in the form of sheet, before the packaging material (VM) in sheet form has been broken into partial pieces associated with the respective product group (G). 3. Procedure for the packaging of products (P) of small pieces, in particular confectionery products, which are formed giving rise to groups of stacked products (G), with the following stages: to. separation of the products (P) into units and formation of groups of products (G) with a length L, b. transfer of product groups (G) to a conveyor (4), c. position orientation of the products (P) in a group of products (G), whereby a shortening of the length L of the group of products (G) occurs, d. feeding of a packaging material (VM) in web form, and. at least partial wrapping of the product group (G) in the form of a flexible tube with the packaging material (VM), f. reception of the groups of products (G) at least partially in each case with a clamp (18), g. manufacture of a container (V) through the following partial steps, i. formation of a flexible tube of packaging medium (PS) closed at the perimeter made of packaging material (VM), ii. lateral placement of clamping jaws (21) of a gripper (18) inserting the packaging material (VM) in a group of products (G) in each case and assumption of the transport of the group of products (G) by means of the conveyor (4 ), iii. cutting of the flexible tube of packaging medium (PS) between two groups of products (G), wrapped, held in each case by a clamp (18), IV. closure of the open ends of the flexible tube of packaging medium (PS) including the group of products (G), presenting the clamps (18) in front of and behind the clamping jaws (21) pleating units, which for the closure of the end open tube of the packaging medium hose (PS) pleat this and form a latch closure and funnel-shaped or fan-shaped closure ends (VE), v. delivery of the group of packaged products (VP) from the clamp (18).