US20030101685A1 - System for providing a product package with a carrying handle - Google Patents

System for providing a product package with a carrying handle Download PDF

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Publication number
US20030101685A1
US20030101685A1 US10/006,940 US694001A US2003101685A1 US 20030101685 A1 US20030101685 A1 US 20030101685A1 US 694001 A US694001 A US 694001A US 2003101685 A1 US2003101685 A1 US 2003101685A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rotating element
arms
foil strip
foil
strip
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/006,940
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Johannes Jansen
Stefan Opgenorth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Project Automation and Engineering GmbH
Original Assignee
Project Automation and Engineering GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to EP01126848A priority Critical patent/EP1312551B1/fr
Application filed by Project Automation and Engineering GmbH filed Critical Project Automation and Engineering GmbH
Priority to US10/006,940 priority patent/US20030101685A1/en
Assigned to PROJECT AUTOMATION & ENGINEERING GMBH reassignment PROJECT AUTOMATION & ENGINEERING GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: JANSEN, JOHANNES, OPGENORTH, STEFAN
Publication of US20030101685A1 publication Critical patent/US20030101685A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/14—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for incorporating, or forming and incorporating, handles or suspension means in packages

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a system that provides a product package with a carrying handle.
  • Product package systems include, as a minimum, means for advancing the product, means for the forward-feeding of a foil strip designed to serve as a carrying handle, as well as one or several rotating elements.
  • the foil strip is guided across the rotating elements in such fashion that, as the rotating elements turn, one end each of the foil strip is attached to opposite sides of the product, forming a carrying handle on the product package.
  • the product package to be so equipped includes, in particular, merchandise packaged in plastic or cardboard, such as beverage bottles or canned goods as well as other items that come in multiple units. These multi-unit packs are provided with a carrying handle for easier handling and transporting.
  • the product whether individually or in groups such as six-packs, is surrounded by outer packaging to which a strip of foil, usually consisting of a plastic material, is attached as a carrying handle. Items thus equipped with a carrying handle are mass products and, accordingly, there is a need for the automated attachment of these carrying handles to be as simple, trouble-free and throughput-intensive as possible.
  • the product is advanced on the conveyor by a distance that corresponds to its width, whereby a length of the foil strip is dispensed that is sufficiently long to form the carrying handle.
  • the plate is again tilted 90° into a vertical position in the process of which the other end of the foil strip is attached on the product package on the side opposite the first end.
  • suitable cutting devices such as a cleaver the foil strip is cut either before or after the second end of the handle is attached to the product package.
  • the prior art also describes retaining elements mounted on the plate, which serve to hold the foil strip on the plate, usually centered, so that the movement of the plate reels off an adequate length of the foil strip for forming the handle.
  • the synchronism, required when using a plate, in terms of the rotation of the plate and the feed rate of the product, is difficult to maintain and can lead to problems.
  • the carrying handle may not be long enough, resulting in too small an opening for convenient carrying with one hand.
  • prior-art systems typically feature sensors or other means for determining the position and thus the length of the foil strip.
  • the need for precise synchronism makes it impossible to obtain the necessary high throughput rates. Synchronized settings of this type also require periodic checking which is relatively costly in terms of time and money.
  • the invention provides improvements to product packaging systems that are designed to increase their throughput and render the attachment of carrying handles less error-prone.
  • the system incorporates at least one rotating element with at least three arms.
  • the system also eliminates a plate-shaped element that is present in prior art designs.
  • a system with at least three arms significantly increases throughput since within a particular timeframe multiple arms can attach carrying handles to a larger number of products.
  • the particular advantage of the system lies in the fact that a multi-arm rotating element rather elegantly overcomes the difficulty of obtaining the right strip length for producing an easy-to-grasp carrying handle.
  • the problem with prior-art designs is that, when using a plate that has solid planar sides, it is not possible to attach the foil strip on the opposite side simply by rotating the plate. Instead, it is necessary first to fasten the foil strip typically near the axis of rotation so as to be able to unreel a sufficiently long piece of foil-strip material for instance off a dispensing reel, for forming a grasping space above the package. In most cases, this requires an extremely precise setting of the forward feed of the products on the conveyor.
  • the carrying handle is preferably produced from a self-adhesive foil strip.
  • a self-adhesive foil strip Particular preference is given to a prefabricated foil strip that includes on one side of the strip a neutral, i.e. nonadhesive section surrounded on the outside by two self-adhesive sections.
  • this ready-to-attach foil-strip material is in the form of rolls with foil-strip lengths of 5,000 to 15,000 meters, the advantage being that the foil-strip dispenser needs to be refilled less often which in turn benefits the maintenance-free operating time of the system.
  • nonadhesive foil strips in conjunction with this invention. Foil strips of that nature may be attached to the product package by a separate gluing, stapling or similar operation. In that case the system, and preferably its arms, should incorporate the provisions necessary for fastening the strip to the rotating element.
  • the angular distance between the arms mounted on the rotor of the rotating element is uniform.
  • the advantage of this is that, if the length of the arms is also identical, handle sections of always the same size are produced in the cove between two arms. It follows that the carrying handles can be produced to be consistently of the same length without deviation. Time-consuming inspections are unnecessary, the length of the handle is predefined and essentially uniform.
  • the system per this invention includes means for adapting the foil strip to the angular geometry between the arms of the rotating element. Such adaptation may be accomplished for instance by means of a vacuum which causes the foil strip to hug the cove between the arms. Electrostatic conformation to the contour is also possible.
  • the adaptation of the foil strip to the inward curvature between the arms is assisted by a counter element that adapts the shape of the foil strip to the angular geometry between the arms of the rotating element.
  • the counter element preferably brings this about by exerting a certain amount of pressure on the foil strip, causing a sufficient length of foil-strip material to be pulled off a foil-strip dispenser such as a reel and guiding the foil strip along the contour of the cove rather than stretching it between the arms.
  • the counter element is in the form of another rotating element with the same number of arms as the rotating element that carries the foil strip.
  • the arms of the second rotating element push the foil-strip material into the coves between the arms of the first rotating element.
  • the rotating element that serves as a counter element and the rotating element carrying the foil strip rotate synchronously in opposite directions.
  • the arm of the second rotating element that functions as the counter element automatically reaches into the middle between two arms of the rotating foil-strip-carrying element, thus pushing the foil strip into the cove.
  • the drive mechanism driving the rotating foil-strip-carrying element is preferably coupled with the second rotating element that provides the counter action. This will automatically synchronize the mutually opposite rotation of the rotating elements, preventing misalignment in advantageous fashion.
  • the system according to this invention is advantageously equipped with at least one cutting device for cutting the foil strip.
  • the cutting devices may be designed in essentially conventional fashion for instance so as to be extensible from the associated arm of the rotating element.
  • a particular advantage is offered by a design employing a cutting device in the form of a fixed blade that serves to cut the foil strip carried by the rotating element.
  • the cutting device is installed in a fixed position. The rotating element carrying the foil strip and the cutting device are so positioned relative to each other that the foil strip carried by the rotating element is cut as the rotating element passes the stationary cutting device. The momentum of the rotary movement causes the foil strip to be severed by the cutting blade.
  • the ends of the arms of the rotating element carrying the foil strip are equipped, suitably spaced from the arms, with guides through which passes the foil strip.
  • the guide may for instance be in the form of a roller that is preferably connected, laterally with only one end, to the tip of the respective arm of the rotating element. This creates a gap between the guide and the end of the arm of the rotating element in which gap the blade of the cutting device can engage during the rotation, allowing the foil strip to be severed without difficulty.
  • the length of the arms of the rotating element is adjustable.
  • they may be extended telescope-style. This is easily feasible with a rotating element per this invention and offers the advantage of permitting a length variation of the precut carrying handle between the arms in adaptation to other product sizes.
  • the rotating element consists essentially of a rotor with arms attached to it.
  • the arms are removable. This offers the advantage of permitting the replacement of individual arms for instance in the event of damage without requiring a replacement of the entire rotating-element assembly. This constitutes another significant advantage over the prior-art plate that must be replaced when damaged. It also provides the possibility to mount arms of different lengths for instance when telescopic extensibility is not being considered.
  • This advantageous design enhancement makes the system per the invention extremely versatile. This feature also allows the mounting of arms designed for the fastening of nonadhesive foil strips and incorporating corresponding, special provisions for the attachment of nonadhesive foil strips on the product concerned. Overall, these capabilities significantly expand the flexibility of the system.
  • the arms are mounted on a rotor whose circumference can be increased. This makes it possible in advantageous fashion to vary the distance, i.e. the angular spacing, between the arms, thus providing additional adaptation capabilities for diverse types of packaging and a range of package sizes. It also provides the possibility to mount a larger number of arms on the rotor. These are preferably inserted in appropriately provided slots in the rotor and then locked in place.
  • the rotation of the rotating element is torque-controlled.
  • the rotating element is set in motion the moment a product is advanced and touches an arm at an angle that is a function of the number of arms on the rotor, which in the case of a three-arm rotating element is 120°.
  • a torque-detecting servomotor easily and precisely controllable, drives the rotating element.
  • the torque-controlled rotation prevents the arms from impacting on the product and thus from damaging it.
  • the torque controlling the rotation is preferably adjustable, which offers an advantage by permitting adaptation to light-weight or heavy products.
  • Torque-controlled rotation of the rotor also makes it possible for the foil strip to be advanced by the feed system as a function of the rotation of the rotating element, meaning that the forward feed of the foil strip is essentially governed by the rotation of the rotating element. This is an advantageous way to eliminate complex adjustments for synchronizing these functions.
  • the rotating element can be equipped with provisions for an at least temporary retention of the foil strip on the arms of the rotating element. This prevents in advantageous fashion any slippage of the foil strip separating it from the arms or from the contour of the coves between the arms of the rotating element.
  • FIGS. 1 a to 1 e illustrate in diagrammatic form the operating principle of a system per this invention for the automated attachment of a carrying handle on product packages.
  • FIGS. 1 a to 1 e explain the mode of operation of the system according to this invention. Since these illustrations are merely intended to explain the basic operating principle, not all components of the system are shown, to the extent that they reflect prior art.
  • FIG. 1 a shows how the prepackaged products 1 a to 1 c are transported, via a conveyor system such as a conveyor belt, not illustrated, in the feed direction F.
  • the rotating element 3 has three arms 4 a to 4 c that guide the foil strip 5 .
  • the arms 4 are mounted on the rotor 11 at a uniform angle W relative to one another. This creates coves 15 between the arms 4 .
  • the foil strip 5 is dispensed off a reel, not shown, and guided via suitable foil-strip feed guides 6 to the rotating element 3 .
  • the foil strip 5 is unreeled by the rotary movement of the rotating element 3 .
  • the system also incorporates a cutting device 7 .
  • the cutting device consists of a blade 8 , which is mounted in a stabilizing cylinder 9 .
  • a second rotating element 10 is positioned above the rotating foil-strip-carrying element 3 .
  • FIG. 1 a In the situation depicted in FIG. 1 a , the product 1 a has already been equipped with a carrying handle 2 . The next step will be the attachment of a carrying handle on product 1 b .
  • the arm 4 a of the rotating element 3 extends in a vertical position.
  • the arm 4 a which in FIG. 1 a extends in a vertical position, is shown with a darker outline in all figures, permitting facilitated tracking of its position during the attachment of a carrying handle on product 1 b .
  • a loose end 12 of the foil strip 5 which is to become a carrying handle 2 is located next to the vertical arm 4 a .
  • end 12 is self-adhesive, with the self-adhesive side facing the product 1 b .
  • the product is transported, via the conveyor, not shown, in the feed direction F and strikes the vertical arm 4 a and thus the self-adhesive end 12 of the foil strip 5 .
  • the end 12 is attached to one side of the product package 1 b.
  • FIG. 1 b now shows the rotary movement of the individual rotating elements.
  • the rotating element 3 carrying the foil strip 5 and the rotating element 10 serving as the counter element rotate in opposite directions.
  • the rotating element 3 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction
  • the rotating counter element 10 turns in the clockwise direction.
  • the arrows 13 and 14 show the respective directions of rotation.
  • the counter-clockwise rotation of the rotating element 3 causes the foil strip for the carrying handle, extending along the cove between the arms 4 a and 4 b , to be guided over product 1 b .
  • the rotary movement of the rotating element 3 took the foil strip 5 past the cutting device 7 where the blade 8 cut the foil strip 5 , the result again being two self-adhesive ends 16 and 17 .
  • the cutting action takes place when one of the arms extends in a vertical direction.
  • FIG. 1 c emphasizes the relative position between the rotating element 3 carrying the foil strip 5 and the rotating element 10 acting as the counter element.
  • the rotating elements 3 and 10 are of identical dimensions and are so synchronized that each arm of a rotating element, when in a vertical position, points exactly at the center of the cove 15 between two arms 4 of the other rotating element. Since the arms 4 of the rotating elements 3 and 10 are identical in length, the vertically extending arm of one rotating element (in the example shown, arm 4 c of the rotating element 3 ) reaches into the gullet of the cove 15 of the other rotating element (in the example shown, rotating element 10 ), but does not have to touch it. In its position shown in FIG.
  • the arm 4 d of the rotating counter element 10 extends in a direction essentially parallel to the foil strip 5 , which is being pulled off the reel, not shown.
  • the continued rotary movement of the two rotating elements 3 and 10 causes the arm 4 d of the rotating element 10 to press against the foil strip 5 , thus helping to pull the latter out of the feed guide 6 .
  • This illustration also demonstrates the function of the rotating element 10 as a counter element in that its arm 4 d presses the foil strip 5 against the concave contour of the cove 15 between the arms 4 a and 4 c .
  • FIG. 1 d the arm 4 d of the rotating counter element 10 extends in a direction essentially parallel to the foil strip 5 , which is being pulled off the reel, not shown.
  • the continued rotary movement of the two rotating elements 3 and 10 causes the arm 4 d of the rotating element 10 to press against the foil strip 5 , thus helping to pull the latter out of the feed guide 6 .
  • This illustration also demonstrates the function of the rotating element 10 as a counter
  • the rotary movement of the rotating element 3 causes the section of the foil strip 5 that is positioned in the cove between the arms 1 a and 1 b and constitutes the carrying handle, to be guided over the product 1 b to the side of product 1 c opposite the first end 12 .
  • FIG. 1 e shows the completion of an operating cycle of the system.
  • the arm 4 b now extends in a vertical direction. It is in this position that the self-adhesive end 16 is attached to the product 1 b , thus completing a finished carrying handle 2 on product 1 b .
  • the conveyor now advances the product packages until product 1 c strikes the vertically extending arm 4 b of the rotating element 3 , causing the end 17 of the foil strip 5 to be attached to the right side of product 1 c . At this point a new cycle can begin. As can be seen in FIG.
  • the arm 4 d of the rotating element 10 is also in a vertical position, pointing at the center of the cove 15 between the arms 4 a and 4 c .
  • This causes the foil strip 5 to hug the contour of the cove 15 after the pressure exerted by the arm 4 d has unreeled enough foil-strip material 5 to extend over the length of the contour of the cove 15 , defining at this point the length of the next, essentially ready-to-attach carrying handle.
  • the seating of the foil strip 5 in the cove 15 may be assisted for instance by a vacuum, by electrostatic attraction or by clamping devices to prevent the foil strip from slipping out of the cove.
  • the length of the carrying handle is determined in advantageous fashion altogether independent of any contact with the product, thus eliminating any alignment problems or errors. This ensures a handle opening 18 that will always be large enough to be grasped with one hand.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
US10/006,940 2001-11-12 2001-12-04 System for providing a product package with a carrying handle Abandoned US20030101685A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01126848A EP1312551B1 (fr) 2001-11-12 2001-11-12 Machine pour munir un article d' une poignée de transport
US10/006,940 US20030101685A1 (en) 2001-11-12 2001-12-04 System for providing a product package with a carrying handle

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01126848A EP1312551B1 (fr) 2001-11-12 2001-11-12 Machine pour munir un article d' une poignée de transport
US10/006,940 US20030101685A1 (en) 2001-11-12 2001-12-04 System for providing a product package with a carrying handle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030101685A1 true US20030101685A1 (en) 2003-06-05

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US10/006,940 Abandoned US20030101685A1 (en) 2001-11-12 2001-12-04 System for providing a product package with a carrying handle

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US (1) US20030101685A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1312551B1 (fr)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050155323A1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-07-21 Kpl Packaging S.P.A. Machine for applying partly adhesive straps to relative products
US20070215505A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Walker Terry D Shrink-Wrap Packaging Incorporating Reinforced Integral Handle
US20070215504A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Walker Terry D Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle
CN105711908A (zh) * 2015-10-29 2016-06-29 山东明佳科技有限公司 用于包装袋上粘结提手的装置
CN107697368A (zh) * 2017-11-16 2018-02-16 青岛德隆装备有限公司 一种风车式捏带机
US20210362899A1 (en) * 2018-11-07 2021-11-25 Khs Gmbh Device and method for attaching carrying handles to packaging means or groups of packaging means
US20220289417A1 (en) * 2019-09-13 2022-09-15 Khs Gmbh Method and Device for Attaching Carrying Handles to Packaging Means or Groups of Packaging Means
US11577873B2 (en) * 2018-07-25 2023-02-14 Khs Gmbh Device and method for attaching handles to packages or containers, such as bottles, cans, boxes, pouches, and similar containers, or to groups of packages or containers

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202012103582U1 (de) * 2012-09-19 2012-10-08 Project Automation & Engineering Gmbh Umverpackung für Gebinde
EP2977328B1 (fr) 2014-07-22 2016-08-31 Project Automation & Engineering GmbH Dispositif et procédé d'équipement automatique d'une marchandise avec une poignée de transport

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2688471B1 (fr) 1992-03-11 1994-05-27 Cefma Machine automatique pour la pose en continu de poignees auto-collantes.
IT1255976B (it) * 1992-11-30 1995-11-17 Apparato per applicare maniglie adesive a colli
CH687193A5 (de) * 1993-08-09 1996-10-15 Rothenberger & Co Vorrichtung zum Anbringen einer bandfoermigen Handhabe an einem Paket.
FR2787416B1 (fr) 1998-12-16 2001-02-23 Cefma Dispositif pour la pose en continue de poignees autocollantes sur des objets, paquets ou lots
EP1088761A1 (fr) * 1999-09-23 2001-04-04 Project Automation &Engineering GmbH Dispositif pour appliquer automatiquement des poignées de transport à des marchandises

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050155323A1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-07-21 Kpl Packaging S.P.A. Machine for applying partly adhesive straps to relative products
US7080493B2 (en) * 2003-09-26 2006-07-25 Kpl Packaging S.P.A. Machine for applying partly adhesive straps to relative products
US20070215505A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Walker Terry D Shrink-Wrap Packaging Incorporating Reinforced Integral Handle
US20070215504A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Walker Terry D Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle
US7775349B2 (en) 2006-03-17 2010-08-17 Millercoors Llc Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle
CN105711908A (zh) * 2015-10-29 2016-06-29 山东明佳科技有限公司 用于包装袋上粘结提手的装置
CN107697368A (zh) * 2017-11-16 2018-02-16 青岛德隆装备有限公司 一种风车式捏带机
US11577873B2 (en) * 2018-07-25 2023-02-14 Khs Gmbh Device and method for attaching handles to packages or containers, such as bottles, cans, boxes, pouches, and similar containers, or to groups of packages or containers
US20210362899A1 (en) * 2018-11-07 2021-11-25 Khs Gmbh Device and method for attaching carrying handles to packaging means or groups of packaging means
US11753199B2 (en) * 2018-11-07 2023-09-12 Khs Gmbh Device and method for attaching carrying handles to packaging means or groups of packaging means
US20220289417A1 (en) * 2019-09-13 2022-09-15 Khs Gmbh Method and Device for Attaching Carrying Handles to Packaging Means or Groups of Packaging Means
US11939097B2 (en) * 2019-09-13 2024-03-26 Khs Gmbh Method and device for attaching carrying handles to packaging means or groups of packaging means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1312551B1 (fr) 2004-06-30
EP1312551A1 (fr) 2003-05-21

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: PROJECT AUTOMATION & ENGINEERING GMBH, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:JANSEN, JOHANNES;OPGENORTH, STEFAN;REEL/FRAME:012363/0686

Effective date: 20011022

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION