WO2009127418A2

WO2009127418A2 - Method for the packaging of small articles, particularly of truffles or caramels having a chocolate coating, in a continuous mode of operation, and packaging machine, particularly for carrying out the method

Info

Publication number: WO2009127418A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/002800
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steffen Kahl; Wilfried Seibt; Gert Wehner
Original assignee: Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co.Kg
Priority date: 2008-04-18
Filing date: 2009-04-16
Publication date: 2009-10-22
Also published as: ES2845611T3; EP2282942A2; DE102008019605A1; WO2009127418A3; EP2282942B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the packaging of small articles, particularly truffles or caramels having a chocolate coating, or of delicate pieces of sweets, in a continuous mode of operation, and a packaging machine therefor. The method is characterized by a particular variability of article orientation and type of packaging based on the definition of a central axis (1) and the modular association of article-carrying packaging units (20, 30, 40), while utilizing a corresponding layout of the packaging machine (100). The invention further provides a novel folding method in conjunction with a respective folding head for carrying out the folding of small bags in a continuous mode of operation, a novel removal device for plate feeding systems in such packaging machines, and a novel pivoting head having a variable pivoting gripper oscillation. The invention can be utilized in high-performance packaging machine construction.

Description

Process for packaging small-sized articles, in particular chocolates or caramel with chocolate coating, in continuous

Mode of operation and packaging machine, in particular for

Implementation of the procedure

The present invention relates to a method of packaging small-sized articles, in particular chocolate-coated chocolates or caramels, in a continuous mode and by a packaging machine of modular construction and a packaging machine with which the aforementioned method can be carried out.

The packaging of small-sized confectionery, such as hard or soft caramels, chocolates or other small-sized confectionery articles, especially with chocolate coating, has long been in the field of higher performance according to the so-called continuous working principle, i. with packaging machines provided with a plurality of rotating heads (workstations) for product pick - up, transfer and packaging of the products so that the articles can be processed in a continuous process with high performance depending on product type and type of wrapping (packaging type) and other constraints 1200 cycles per minute.

However, such high packaging rates are often relatively easier only with packaging, such as e.g. achievable parallelepiped shaped products and often require a specially coordinated design and configuration of the individual article-carrying and the packaging process working heads of the machine, so that for different types of packaging (types of impact) or small series such machines no sufficient variability or ease of conversion, not only on the part of the manufacturer but also for the user.

So far, in such packaging machines or packaging systems in general, only the product supply and product separation, eg in conjunction with a tray feeder, a belt or chain feeder or processing of the mass strand variable convertible, while the product leadership and orientation by the packaging machine itself is substantially constant and by the predetermined structure of the rotating heads. Examples of Applicant's product packaging lines with tape feed, work from the mass strand or with tray feed are shown in FIGS. 16 to 22.

In addition to changes to the article supply and -dellzelung it is also known within the packaging stations the packing head different packaging components to assign depending on the selected type of impact. However, even in this case, the basic structure of the respective packaging machine, in particular the product orientation remains constant throughout the article by the machine, i. the mode of transferring the articles inside the machine remains unchanged due to the configuration of the heads.

The invention is therefore based on the object to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide a method and a packaging machine, in particular for carrying out the method, which make it possible a previously unattained diversity with regard to the processable product formats and sizes and the types of folding (folding) also in combination with each other and in connection with different feeding and separating systems with high variability of the orientation of the articles within the packaging process, so that such a method and packaging machine with sufficient performance is more useful to the user than with Previous systems due to the rigid design and concatenation of the article-carrying packaging devices within the packaging machine is the case.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a packaging machine according to claim 47.

Essentially, the inventive method and the modular packaging machine according to the invention differs from previously known systems and facilities in that not only feed or discharge systems are modular adaptable to different packaging tasks or impact-related stations within the packaging station and in terms of the packing head and the cooperating with him packaging organs modifiable but that at least one of the article-carrying packaging devices itself is interchangeably mounted on the machine frame of the packaging machine (claim 47). In connection with the definition of a central axis on the machine frame around which an n-part workstation, here a removal station or article gripper station, works and the packaging material is fed to the article, so at least one of the article-carrying packaging itself, in In the present case, preferably a picking wheel or an article gripper head rotatable about the central axis or a downstream packing head (in addition to the ancillary equipment which has been known to be modularly assignable up to now) are exchangeably received on a machine frame. These are designed as independent modules depending on the desired product orientation within the packaging process or the design of the packaging machine as a two- or three-head machine or even with different packing heads and their associated packaging organs, such as turning station or folding station. The packaging machine can thus quickly be adapted in a modular manner to different packaging tasks, product types, types of wrapping and user wishes.

In this way, packaging methods can be carried out with a wide variety of product feeding and separation and variable product orientation within the packaging machine and largely free choice of packaging (weft) according to user requirements with such a modular packaging machine with continuous operation. The required feeding / separating and packaging devices are assembled in an article-oriented manner and the article-carrying packaging devices are assigned to the central axis and the associated article gripper station. In this way, more complicated types of wrapping and packaging, in particular combined wads, such as e.g. FaIt- and twist stops on an article (bag folding) for the first time on a continuous and high performance, preferably working in the middle class area, very productive to produce.

Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention are shown in the respective dependent claims.

For example, by the method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention, it is possible not only to change the format but also to change the type of folding to a greater extent. Thus, new, high-quality continuous mode of operation such as "top-twist" (twist wrapping on top of the product, fold wrapping on a bottom side), in addition to the change of feeding and separating units and the changing of folding or folding stations in the area of the packing station, According to the invention, workstations such as removal heads and gripper heads, ie, for example, a removal wheel and the article gripper head (which rotates about the central axis) can be exchanged, and thus also product orientations can be interpreted variably during the detection or during the passage of the article through the packaging machine.

With the packaging method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention which is preferably provided for this purpose, the article-carrying packaging device itself is the modular feature of the present application (as such, a take-off wheel receiving the article from a supply and / or singling device will be used as such). , an article gripper head rotatable about a central main axis of the packaging machine (possibly also acting as a removal wheel) and the packing head), so that in addition to the change of feeding and separating units (eg change from a plate machine to a belt machine and vice versa) and the change of turning or folding stations in the packaging station also workstations, such as removal heads and gripper heads are interchangeable to product orientations within the packaging process during article passage through the Verpackungsmaschi ne to change.

This makes it possible to realize high-quality impact types, such as "top-twist" in continuously operating packaging machines.

The invention is particularly intended for the packaging of delicate chocolate coated confectionery pieces, e.g. For example, double-twisting, top-twisting, sachet folding (sachet), stanoling and special folding can be achieved with high packaging performance, preferably in the mid-range range of up to 800 working cycles per minute. However, the invention is not limited to such chocolate products.

Furthermore, relatively large articles of, for example, a diameter of 30 mm to 40 mm can be processed. According to an advantageous embodiment of the packaging machine according to the invention, for the self-protection, regardless of the above-described modularity of the packaging machine is claimed by interchangeably provided article-carrying packaging, is in connection with a singler feeder system a discharge device for the provision of receiving pockets of a separator, Preferably, a Aufgaberinges same, located articles proposed in a movement path of a holding jaw gripper device of a removal station, which may be, for example, a gripper wheel in a three-head packaging machine or an article rapier head of a gripper station in a two-head packaging machine. Preferably, this discharge device comprises a punching device having at least one lower punching wheel and a plurality (preferably three) of vertically and circumferentially movable lower punches in connection with a special lower punching gear which subsequently lift the articles out of receiving pockets of the singling wheel, possibly with simultaneous holding of the article an upper punch which can be moved by means of a punch mechanism, so that the article in question can be detected by separation of the separating plate by holding jaw pairs of a subsequently arranged device for removing or receiving the articles in the packaging machine.

The always vertically oriented, articulated in Unterstempelgetriebe mounted lower punch can be stored, preferably adjustable, eccentric, so that an adjustable variable Hubveränderung, in particular Vergößerung over a coaxial storage of the lower punch on the associated motion transmission element is possible.

Preferred embodiments of this discharge device are set forth in the associated subclaims.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, for which protection is claimed independently of the modularity of the packaging machine, both in combination with and independently of the aforesaid devices, according to the invention is a special folding method and folding station with a corresponding folding head provided, wherein the folding process is characterized in that for a fold wrapping, in particular for a first folding, following a U-shaped, open envelope of the article to Forming a front-side installation of the packaging material to the article a material relaxation solving, material relaxing pre-folding (or breaking) is performed on this packaging material before a complete, preferably with a very thin folding organ successful application of the fold takes place by a Fertigfalter to the article.

Preferably, this material tension-reducing pre-folding with subsequent finish folding, so a double execution of the same folding step at least once, but preferably twice performed within a complete folding process. Preferred embodiments of a corresponding folding method and a preferably provided for carrying out such a folding method folding head, for which also not only in connection with the other components of the present application, but also claimed independent protection, are set forth in the remaining claims.

In particular, for a relatively stable packaging thus folding forces can be minimized and a constantly secure holding of the packaging material can be ensured, so that a spring-back popping the fold is avoided.

According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a rotary station for the formation of rotary envelopes, in particular for the handling of relatively large sized products and e.g. for a "top-twist" impact, wherein for compensating the axial packing shortening when screwing in the rotary blades of the rotary gripper can perform an axial oscillatory movement, which is derived cam-controlled.

At the same time an adjusting device for the effective stroke of the screwing is provided, in particular made possible by the adjustability of a start of the oscillatory movement of the rotary gripper relative to an opening or closing time of the rotary gripper jaws of the rotary gripper. For the opening and closing movement preferably a second independent curve is provided, and a stroke adjustment for the axial movement of the rotary gripper is effected by a Verstellgetriebe that a relative positioning of control cam (preferably drum curve) for the oscillatory movement of the rotary gripper to the position of the closing and Öffnerkurve for the control of the opening and closing movement of the rotary gripper jaws causes. For such Turning or such a rotary head, which can be used and used both in combination with the modular design of the packaging machine as well as other non-modular packaging machines that operate on the continuous working principle, is also not only protection in the context of present inventive concept, but also claimed independently.

The continuous packaging machine according to the invention allows the combination of turning and folding station in the packaging station to produce e.g. from top twist packaging; For this purpose, protection is independent of the other features and advantageous developments of the subject of the application, but also in combination with these claims.

The packaging machine according to the invention is preferably provided with a central gear with corresponding cams for the derivation of rotational and gripper jaw movements of rotating on the central axis of rotation article gripper station, preferably from this central gear also the drive movements for the packaging station (packing head and associated FaIt- and / or turning stations ) be derived.

The feeding and separating station, which is preceded by the article-carrying packaging devices in the sense of the present application, is preferably mechanically connected to the "basic machine", but individually driven separately.

The modular design of the packaging machine but also allows the rest of the transition to largely separate, independent control concepts for the individual packaging devices by independent servomotors. Also within the packaging facilities can for controlling the folding operations or mechanical-electric hybrid drives (derivative of the movements of cams and use of micromotors) for a more individualization of the drive concept for the individual workstations and within the same for the derivation of product or control movements (eg for the control of Rotary grippers in a turning station within the packaging station). Preferably, a common control device (CPU), the control of the individual drives and servomotors is provided. The packaging method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention also make it possible to solve complicated packaging tasks, such as the packaging of lollipops, with high efficiency. Thus, for example, the article gripper station, unlike the preferred embodiments of the present invention explained below, may have a construction as known, for example, from EP 1 712 472 A1 of the Applicant. This also applies to the other components, such as separating plate or packing head or packaging station, so that the content of EP 1 712 472 A1 hereby by express reference as a further embodiment of the invention with regard to an embodiment of the present invention modularly and interchangeably mounted on the machine frame packaging devices , as article gripper head and packing head with associated impact stations, is expressly made the subject of the present application and forms part of the disclosure of the present application.

Further advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from a following explanation of preferred embodiments thereof. In the figures show:

Fig. 1a is a schematic representation of .Grundtyps' a modular packaging machine in preparation for training as a two- or three-head packaging machine in a schematic side view and in a design of a packaging station with two turning stations for the production of packaging in double twist, and

Fig. 1b is a schematic representation in front view of the embodiment of

Basic pattern of the packaging machine according to Fig. 1a as a three-head packaging machine, wherein different with the packaging machine according to FIGS. 1 b and 1 b coupled supply / singulation devices for articles to be packaged in a diagonal oblique or side view are shown as

1c separating plate (plate machine),

1d linear feed device (belt or chain feed device,

Tape machine), and Fig. 1e mass strand feed device;

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of an article removal / handover for a

Two-head packaging machine with the article of a separating plate in a schematic representation;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the article transfer from a separating plate to an article rapier head with a discharge device in a perspective view of Fig. 2, but in a relation to the illustration in Fig. 2 substantially rotated by approximately 180 ° view, i. seen from a machine frame of the packaging machine forth in a schematic representation;

4 shows a lower punch wheel of the discharge device according to FIG. 3 in a perspective, schematic representation;

Fig. 5 is a Unterstempelgetriebe the Unterstempelrades of Figure 4 in perspective, schematic representation ..;

Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the Ausfördereinrichtung with upper punch and the lower punch gear of the lower punch wheel of Fig. 4 and 5;

7 shows a packaging machine in a schematic representation according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a two-head packaging machine with a belt feed device;

Fig. 8 schematically shows a packaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention for a three-head packaging machine according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 9 schematically shows a packaging method according to another embodiment of the present invention for a three-head packaging machine having a picking wheel according to a second embodiment; Fig. 10 schematically shows a packaging method according to another embodiment of the present invention for a three-head packaging machine having a picking wheel according to a third embodiment;

Fig. 11a, b schematically perspective partial representations of an embodiment of article-holding devices (holding jaw pairs with rotationsbeweglichen holding jaws) on the picking wheel of FIG. 9, wherein the view of Fig. 11 b relative to that of Fig. 11 a by about 180 ° is turned;

12a a packaging station with a folding station and a rotating station according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a perspective, schematic representation;

FIG. 12b shows a packaging station according to FIG. 12a in the partial cutout and with respect to FIG. 12a on an enlarged scale; FIG.

13 is a folding station according to FIG. 12 in a perspective, schematic partial

Presentation;

14 shows a schematic phase representation of a folding method, preferably according to a folding head according to FIG. 13;

15 shows an embodiment of a turning station in a schematic, perspective view;

16 is a schematic illustration of a packaging process and article pass through a prior art tape-fed packaging machine;

17 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and article passage through a packaging machine with tape feed (II) according to the prior art;

Figure 18 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and article passage through a packaging machine with strand feed (I) according to the prior art. Fig. 19 is a schematic illustration of a packaging process and article pass through a prior art string feeder (II) packaging machine;

Fig. 20 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and article pass through a prior art strand feed packaging machine (III);

Fig. 21 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and article passage through a packaging machine with plate feeder (I) according to the prior art;

22 shows a schematic illustration of a packaging method and article passage through a packaging machine with plate feed (II) according to the prior art;

The exemplary embodiments of the invention explained below are suitable both for continuously operating packaging machines with two article-carrying packaging devices in which the article gripper station directly receives the separated articles coming from a feeding or separating system and passes them on in the same or changed orientation to a packaging station the packaged articles are conveyed away, or applicable to packaging machines having three or more article carrying packaging devices, wherein a picking wheel for receiving the articles from a feeder and passing same or changed orientation to an article gripper station with an article rapier head , to which a packaging material is supplied, is provided to transfer from this second head in the same or changed orientation of the article together with the piece of packaging material to the packaging station to become ben. Optionally, in the sense of a packaging machine with four article-carrying packaging devices to the packaging station still a dispensing wheel for the orderly filing of the packaged items on a discharge conveyor (web band) join.

Fig. 1a shows a schematic side view of a basic type of packaging machine 100 according to a first embodiment, in which case only one packaging station 40 with a packaging head 41 and opposite turning stations 42, 43 is shown, as he used for the production of packages in double-twist (with two Rotary blades) is used. The absence of a removal station (cf removal station 20 in Fig. 1b) or an article gripper station 30 (see Fig. 1b) is intended to indicate in Fig. 1a that these article-carrying packaging devices have a variable design and optionally complete the packaging machine 100 of these may be added (three-head packaging machine) or that even only one article gripper station 30, rotatably mounted about a central stationary axis of rotation 1 is additionally used, when forming the packaging machine 100 as a two-head packaging machine.

FIG. 1 a therefore illustrates the modular basic concept of the packaging machine 100.

However, this does not mean that the packaging station 40 or the packaging head 41 could not also be exchangeable, as could the additional impact means (turning stations 42 and 43). However, this is in rarer cases, as regards the packing head 41, made use of, while the interchangeability of the impact type determining additional stations within the packaging station 40, here the turning stations 42 and 43, the skilled worker is familiar. The representation with regard to the assembled packaging station 40 in FIG. 1 a is therefore not to be understood as limiting or prejudicing.

Optionally, therefore, as indicated in Fig. 1 in particular for a removal station 20 and an article gripper station 30, these heads in various configurations, in particular with regard to an orientation of the article when passing through the packaging machine 100 interchangeable and may preferably the removal station 20 with the article gripper station 30 merge (two-head packaging machine). However, it is also provided an interchangeability of the packing head 41 within the packaging station 40.

Fig. 1b shows in principle and in front view such a design of the "prototype" according to Fig. 1a as a three-head packaging machine with three article-carrying packaging devices (namely the removal station 20, the article gripper station 30 and the packaging station 40) Accordingly, and only schematically indicated here, a removal head 21, an article rapier head 31 and a packing head 41 are provided. Their direction of rotation is indicated by arrows in FIG.

In the context of the present application, therefore, on the one hand in the case of a two-head packaging machine, as an extraction station or as a removal device, an article of manufacture is used. kel gripper station 30 with an article gripper head 31 as well as, in the case that the removal station 20 is part of a three-head packaging machine, as shown in Fig. 1b, a removal wheel 21, the article from a supply and / or singulator 10 receives.

FIGS. 1c to 1e show examples of such feeding and separating devices 10 schematically as a plate feed with singling plate 7 in FIG. 1c, belt or chain feed with a linear feed device 8 in FIG. 1d or a strand feed device 9 in FIG.

Such feeding and singulating devices are mechanically coupled to the packaging machine 100, depending on the product type and delivery system, and are driven by at least one remote, separate drive, as is conventional.

The packaging machine 100 is characterized in its modular construction in that a central axis 1 is fixed to a machine frame 2 of the packaging machine 100, about which an n-part work station, namely the article gripper station 30 with the article gripper head 31 is rotatable and to which also not shown here packaging material is supplied from a packaging material supply device, also not shown here, to be applied to a respective article and passed with this to the packaging station 40. It has already been pointed out that the packing station 40 with the packing head 41, here equipped with opposite rotating stations 42 and 43, is of course not limited to such an embodiment, but other folding stations or folding heads opposite the packing head 41, or else combinations of folding stations and turning stations, z. B. for a top-twist folding, as explained below, within the packing station 40 in conjunction with the packing head 41 may be provided. It is pointed out again that the packing head modular exchangeable on the machine frame 2 in a different configuration, for. B. depending on the size of the article to be packaged, is provided.

In the present embodiment, the axes between folding station 40 and article gripper station 30 are arranged offset at an angle α of approximately 20 ° to each other and the packaging station 40 is laterally offset above the article gripper station 30.

However, this angular offset can be changed in the context of the overall design of the packaging machine 100, in particular be selected in a frame of about 10 ° to about 60 °.

Schematically, further folding stations 11 or folding elements optionally assigned to the packing head 41 are shown in FIG. 1b as possible components of the packaging machine 100, which make it possible to use further types of wrapping, such as e.g. Stanolieren to realize.

Furthermore, additional functions can be implemented in this area, such as the provision of tear-open aids on packaged articles, label dispensers or closure aids for packaging (glue point).

According to the continuous operating principle, both the removal station 20, here formed by a removal wheel 21, a plurality of each pivotally mounted on the removal wheel 21 holding jaw pairs to order items from one of Zuführungsbzw. Receive singulating and forwarding to the article gripper station 30, the article rapier head 31 also with corresponding, in the context of the present application mostly referred to as gripper jaw pairs holding jaw pairs comprises. In a corresponding manner, the packing head 41 of the packaging station has 40 holding jaw pairs for fixing the articles, without this being shown in greater detail here. Particular features of the present embodiments will be discussed in more detail below. Essential in the context of this embodiment is the interchangeable, i. interchangeable storage of at least one of the three article-carrying packaging devices, here the removal station 20, the article gripper station 30 and / or the packaging station 40, i. a removal wheel 21 and / or an article gripper head 31 and / or a packing head 41, in adaptation to an article type or an article orientation or a selected type of packaging (impact type), as will be explained in more detail below.

Although this is not explained or shown here, the packing head can also have other configurations and be equipped, for example, with rotating folding shafts, passing the article between the article gripper station and the packing head by means of an expandable transfer stamp. The packing station 40 with the packing head 41 is rotatable about a second fixed axis (packing head axis) 44 and 12 in Figure 1 b is a dispenser for the (in this case disordered) discharge of packaged articles from the packaging machine 100 is designated.

With such a modular structure of the packaging machine 100, which in particular removal wheel 21, but possibly also Article gripper head 31 or packing head 41 relates, depending on the desired product impact high flexibility also in terms of orientation of the article within the packaging machine 100, the controller the corresponding holding members (gripper jaw pairs) are selected depending on the type of article, so that even in small series such a packaging machine, which preferably operates in the mid-range up to 800 products per minute, both manufacturers and users quick changeover of the packaging machine is given, namely in terms of formats as well as in terms of feasible types of wrapping and types of packaging in great variability and variety.

In contrast to previous solutions, in the present packaging machine 100, for example, not only the rotating station 42, 43 (or a folding station or two folding stations alternatively proposed there) can be changed depending on the type of impact on the packing head axis 44, or can different units, such as singling platens 7, belt or chain feeder 8 or strand feed 9 be provided as feeding or separating device 10 for the article at the entrance of the packaging machine 100, but it is in particular the removal station 20 with the removal wheel 21 and / or the article gripper station 30 with the article gripper pot 31 and / or the packaging station 40 with the packing head 41 and associated stations such as rotating station 43 interchangeably mounted on the machine frame 2 of the packaging machine 100 and with respect to the "fixed point" on the machine, namely the central axis 1 to account for different types of articles, article orientations and one Chlagarten can be combined in a highly flexible manner. It can also be provided that the packaging machine 10, as indicated in Fig. 1a, the packing head provides as a fixed workstation, so that only the article gripper station 30 (two-head) and / or the removal station 20 (removal head 21) interchangeably on Machine frame 2 is. This means that a combination of predetermined, solid article-carrying packaging devices, with interchangeably arranged and as a supply of article-carrying, rotating heads is possible.

In this case, preferably in connection with the central axis 1, a central transmission, not shown here, from which the movements of the article gripper head 31 including those of the associated gripper jaws are derived by means of control cams, and it is preferably also a drive control for the packaging station 40 of this Derived central transmission. In a similar manner, the removal station 20 with a drive, derived from the central transmission, can be cam-controlled. However, especially with regard to the modular machine concept, it is also possible to decentralize the drives for the article-carrying packaging devices 20, 30 and 40 and separate them, e.g. on the basis of individual servomotors, under the control of a central control unit (CPU). The drive of the dispenser 12 is also decentralized.

Furthermore, required movement controls within the article-carrying packaging devices 20, 30, 40, in particular in the area of the packaging station 40, possibly further motorized actuating means such as micromotors, possibly also be provided as hybrid motion control devices in conjunction with cam-controlled elements or cam-controlled in a conventional manner respectively.

Thus, a highly flexible transport of the articles of the selected supply and treatment device 7 or 8 or 9 is ensured taking into account the type of article and the type of wrapping (packaging), and in particular realized by exchangeable removal wheels 21 in the removal station 20, as will be explained below. The removal wheel 21 has the function of removing the articles from the feeding or separating device 10 for transfer to the article rapier head 31, wherein for certain types of impact also an orientation of the article can be changed.

For certain product orientations also located on the central axis 1 article gripper head 31 is changed and, if necessary, an exchange of the packing head 41, in particular in conjunction with associated stations such as a folding station or turning stations 43, provided. Depending on the article feed and orientation as well as article singulation, the packaging machine 100 shown in Figures 1a and 1b can be loaded into a two-head packaging machine having three article-carrying heads (picking wheel 21, article picking head 31, packing head 41) (see Figs 7), which is distinguished by a very product-sparing design, and is known, for example, for the packaging of lollipops from EP 1 712 472 A1, the contents of which are incorporated by reference into the subject matter of the present application. Such a two-head packaging machine is preferably explained in connection with a singling principle explained below in more detail for receiving the articles from a separating plate 7 and taking it directly into the article rapier head 31. In this case, therefore, a special removal wheel 20 is dispensed with.

The modular nature of the packaging machine 100 is also reflected in the optional use of further folding members or stations 11 arranged on the circumference of the packing head 41, which are suitable for special impacts such as e.g. Stanolieren can be provided, or Zusatzfunktioπen as Aufreißhiϊfe, label dispenser and packaging closure aids (glue point) realize.

The dispenser 12 also forms a separate modular unit with its own drive, wherein preferably an ordered or one, as shown schematically in Fig. 1b, disorderly article delivery can take place. In the case of the disorderly discharge shown here, the articles are conveyed via an ejector in the packing head 41 onto a delivery belt of the delivery device 12. In the case of an ordered delivery, by contrast, the articles are removed from the packing head 41 via a transfer wheel (not shown here) and deposited in a defined manner on a web belt of the removal device 12.

An exemplary embodiment of a novel product or article removal from a singling plate 7, which here forms the feed and singling device 10, for a two-head packaging machine 100 will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. However, such a submission can also be applied in a comparable manner for a three-head packaging machine, in which the articles are not transferred from the separating plate 7 directly to the article gripper station 30 with the article rapier head 31, but first to the unloading wheel 21 that then instead the article rapier head 31 acts as a removal station 20. It is also possible, for example, depending on the type of product, to provide such a packaging machine of the present embodiment explained here with a separating plate and a gripper head, as is known from EP 1 712 472 A1 for the packaging of lollipops.

According to the present embodiment, the separating plate 7 has on its outer periphery in a separate from an inner task area 7b, same or opposite directions to this task area 7b rotating Aufgabering 7a a plurality of receiving pockets 12, in the article 13, the first unordered abandoned on the separating divider 7 were distributed and absorbed by rotational forces. The Aufgabering 7a rotates in the arrow direction (counterclockwise in Fig. 2). The inner task area 7b, from which the disordered articles 13 are distributed in the receiving pockets 12, can rotate in opposite directions depending on the product and the method in the clockwise direction or also in the same direction (clockwise).

After the articles 13 are received in the receiving pockets 12 relatively low-lying, in the present embodiment, a special discharge device 50 is provided which is designed and provided to individually lift each article 13 from the receiving pockets 12 and in a trajectory of the article gripper head 31 of the article To provide gripper station 30 to be gripped by pairs pivotable about pivot axes 32 gripper jaws 33 of the article gripper head 31 about parallel to the central axis 1 about pivot axes 34 pivotable article stations 35 of the article rapier head 31 and further conveyed in the direction of arrow by the rotary article gripper head 31 ,

In the present two-head packaging machine 100 so the article gripper station 30 acts as a removal or removal station, which immediately receives the article 13 from the singler 7 for transfer to a pack head 41, not shown here, wherein in the course of article movement on and by means of Article rapier head 31 also supplied here a packaging material section not shown and applied to the article 13. In order to clamp the piece of packaging material, in a manner similar to that already shown in the Applicant's EP1712472A1, a pivotable packaging pliers 36 is assigned to each article station 35 pivotably provided on the article gripper head 31, in each case one gripper jaw pair 33, 33. For reasons of clarity, the preceding gripper station is not shown in FIG. 2 but is omitted in order to more clearly illustrate the outfeed device 50 with an upper punch 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the article 13 is gripped by the gripper jaws 33 at its end faces and taken over by the respective gripper jaw pair 33, 33.

The discharge device 50 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

It has, in addition to an upper punch 51, which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 52, as a main component a lower punch wheel 53 (see Fig. 4) which, as Fig. 6 illustrates, is arranged below the singling positioner 7 such that the lower punch wheel 53 carries the eccentrically supported lower punch 54, in the present case, there are three lower punches 54, alternately and depending on the pitch of the receiving pockets and the rotational speed of the singulator 7 in constantly vertical orientation (see Fig. 4-6) from below into the receiving pockets 12 dip and the Lift article 13 from the receiving pockets 12, for transfer to the gripper jaw pairs 33, 33, as illustrated in particular also Fig. 3.

For storage of the article 13 during the lifting out by the lower punch 54 is the upper punch 51, the movement is ensured by a not further illustrated here Oberstempelgetriebe 55.

Alternatively, it is also possible by form-fitting support of the article 13 on the lower punch 54, ie by forming a surface thereof in adaptation to the article in question 13 and forming an article-guiding and holding geometry on the lower punch 54, on the stock-safe upper punch 51st to dispense entirely and the article 13 without such a position assurance in the movement path of the additionally pivotable about the axis 34 and with the article gripper head 31 circulating gripper jaw pairs 33, 33 provide. In the present embodiment, the articles 13 are first isolated within the singling plate 7 (perforated plate) in the receiving pockets 12, wherein the article 13 further promoted by the separating plate 7 in the arrow direction (counterclockwise) in the circumferential direction and thereby transported on a support ring 6, ie pushed. Alternatively, NEN the article 13 also directly by the singler, eg in form-fitting designed receiving pockets, stored and fully supported by this again. The article rapier head 31 rotates, as shown by arrows also in Figs. 2 and 3, in a clockwise direction.

The receiving pockets 12 of the singulator 7 are adapted to the shape of the article 13 and e.g. round, oval, square or rectangular. Products with rectangular or oval basic configuration and base area can be transported either left (tangential) or transversely (radially) to the direction of movement by the separating plate 7. In the present case, the articles 7 are of rectangular configuration and are arranged radially oriented in the singulator 7 and the receiving pockets 12 so that they are clamped by the gripper jaws 33, 33 over their length after provision by the discharge device 50.

Accordingly, in the case of transport along the direction of movement of the separating actuator, the receiving pockets thereof are arranged in the tangential direction on the circumference or, as in the present case, for transport with an article main axis transverse to the direction of movement, the receiving pockets are arranged in the radial direction, so that in the present Embodiment Art 13 are transferred transversely to its transport direction to the article rapier head 31.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 clarify, and also on the basis of the article transfer, as is clear from the snapshots in Figures 2 and 3 is shown, the Unterstempelrad 53 is provided in the present case with three Unterstempeln 54, in Unterstempelrad 53 are stored and driven so that they consistently during a whole cycle of the Unterstempelrades 53 in a vertical position, ie with the stamp surface facing upwards.

Accordingly, they perform a plunging movement into the receiving pockets 12 of the singling actuator 7, tuned to the pitch of the receiving pockets 12 and the peripheral speed thereof, respectively to sequentially lift an article 13 out of the associated receiving pocket 12 and to the article rapier head 31, i. to pass to the gripper jaws 33, 33.

To control the movement of the position of the lower punch 54 is a special punch gear 60 with special gear arrangement, as shown in FIG. 5 can be seen. The lower punches 54 are mounted together with a corresponding guide gear 56 by shafts 57, each guide gear 56 the same number of teeth as a central, stationary and fixed to the frame arranged sun gear 58. At this is supported for each guide gear 56 a drivable intermediate gear 59, that the guide gear 56 rotates drives. The intermediate gears 59 are as well as the shafts 57 mounted in the housing of the Unterstempelrades 53. The number of teeth of the intermediate gears 59 is arbitrary. The lower punches 54 are preferably connected eccentrically with the shafts 57 and the respective associated guide gear 56. However, the lower punches 54 may also have their point of articulation on the axis of the shafts 57 or centrally to the shaft-fixed guide gear 56, as is the case in the present embodiment.

An eccentric articulation of the lower punches 45 has the advantage that in this way the stroke that the lower punches 54 perform for lifting the article 13 out of the receiving pocket 12 can be increased. Of course, such a prolonged period of immersion of the lower punch 54 into a respective receiving pocket 12 must be taken into account when designing the pitch of the receiving pockets 12 and when adjusting the rotational speeds of the charging ring 7a and the punching wheel 53.

Preferably, the degree of eccentricity of the storage of the lower punch 54 is adjustable, so that the size of the stroke of the lower punch in adaptation to the size of the article 13 and a situation of acquiring removal or gripper wheel is variably adjustable in a wide range, to the extent to equip the lower punches 54 with a different Ausförderhub.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower punches 54 approach the receiving pockets 12 of the singling plate 7 on a circular path from below, wherein the bearing ring 6 is interrupted in the region of the arrangement of the lower punch wheel 53 in order to make room for a free passage of the lower punch 54 the respective receiving pocket 12 of the separating actuator 7.

Moreover, by means of a conical outlet region 6a of the bearing ring 6 illustrated in FIG. 3, it is ensured that between the bearing ring 6 and the adjacent Stamp 54 only a narrow gap occurs, so that over this gap the article 13 is pushed by the support ring 6 on the lower punch 54, as Fig. 6 illustrates.

The functioning of the discharge device for transferring an article 13 from the singling plate 7 to the article gripper head 31 is as follows:

At the beginning of an upward movement of the respective lower punch 54, the upper punch 51 moves over an article-filled receiving pocket 12 of the separating actuator 7, so that a closed chamber is formed, which fixes the respective article 13 in a form-fitting manner. In the further course of the upward movement (see Fig. 3), the article 13 between the lower punch 54 and upper punch 51 is clamped and thus kept safe. The opened holding jaws, i. the gripper jaws 33 of the article gripper head 31 functioning as a removal unit in this case move into a position opposite the side surfaces of the articles 13. This is done from the side above in conjunction with the rotation of the article gripper head 31 or an additional pivotal movement of the article station 35 about the axis 34th

In the transfer position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the clamping between the lower punch 54 and upper punch 51 is loosened with simultaneous clamp detection of the article 13 at its opposite end faces by the gripper jaws 33, which now take over the guidance and support of the article 13.

The further exemplary embodiment of a two-head packaging machine 100 according to FIG. 7 shows the possibility of a belt or chain feed 8 as feeding and singulating device and illustrates, as already explained with reference to FIG. 1, at the same time the angular offset between packing head 41 and rapier head 31 The direction of movement of longitudinal conveyor device 8 as well as article gripper station 30 and packaging station 40 are indicated by the arrows in FIG. Preferably, the linear feeder 8 (feeder belt and / or chain) has a dusting belt (not shown) and a delivery belt or delivery chain provided directly in the transfer area to the article rapier head 31, in which the articles 13 are at a discrete article distance in accordance with the pitch of the gripper jaws 33 are separated on the article gripper head 31 and taking into account the feed rate and rotational speed of the gripper jaw pairs 33 of the gripper head 31. With regard to such a tape feed 8 to a two-head Packaging machine 100, the supply of the articles takes place here from one side, which is opposite to that in a subsequently described three-head packaging machine 100, ie in the illustration of FIG. 7 from the right, while in the arrangement of an additional removal wheel 21 (three-head packaging machine , see Fig. 1b), such a tape feed from the left is provided.

Of course, also for a three-head packaging machine, an article can be fed by means of a separating actuator, as has been explained above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

The longitudinal conveyor 8 in FIG. 7 can optionally also be a chain feed device. In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the orientation of the articles is preferably transverse to the transport direction, and as wrapping may e.g. a sack fold with a fold wrap on the bottom and a twist wrap on the head of the product may be provided by appropriate formation of the packaging station 40 as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, further Ausführungsbeiεpiele for the inventive packaging method as an appropriately designed packaging machine 100 will be explained with reference to a three-head packaging machine, wherein, as in the schematic representation of Fig. 1b, three article-carrying packaging devices, namely the removal station 20 with the removal wheel 21, the Article from a feeding and / or separating device 10 accommodates an article gripper station 30 with the article rapier head 31, which further conveys the received articles 13 by assigning a piece of packaging material to a packaging station 40 with a packing head 41, in which the packaging of the article takes place. Preferably, in the removal station 20 and / or in the article gripper station 30 thereby changes of the article orientation are provided in the packaging process, while the article orientation is generally not changed in the packing head 41, but also should not be excluded.

In Fig. 8, a first embodiment of the procedure is schematically illustrated by the packaging of an article 13 in the double-twist, wherein in a similar manner, sealed packaging "Protected Twist" or sachet folds (sachet) can be performed and this method by using a Extraction wheel 21 is characterized as removal station 20, through which the articles 13 are received without changing the orientation of a feed belt 8 consisting of Stauband 8a and 8a dicing belt and without changing the article orientation to the article rapier head 31 in the article gripper station 30. The process or packaging process, the packaging of here hemispherical chocolates 13 in the double twist envelope is schematically illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the corresponding device-technical embodiments are not shown, but each with the aid of holding or gripper jaw pairs, preferably cam-controlled done. After receiving the singulated in the separation belt 8b Article 13 and guiding the same without changing direction in the picking 21 these are transferred to the gripper jaws of the article rapier head 31, wherein the article rapier head 31 at the same time the packaging material, ie a piece of packaging material 5 is supplied, and this the article 13 is applied, with the aid of a packaging tongs 36 (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3). Previously, the article 13 is rotated by 90 °, as illustrated by the article picking and shooting of the packaging material piece 5 rotated position of a bottom surface of the article 13. Since these are chocolate-coated articles 13, the piece of packaging material 5 is in turn formed in two layers with an inside flap 5a and an outside flap 5b, both pieces of packaging material 5a, 5b are adhered directly to each other (the piece of packaging material 5a is shortened in length relative to the piece of packaging material 5b) Article 13 introduced, as indicated schematically in Fig. 8, in the usual but conventional. A packaging material supply device is designated by 4.

In the packing head 41, a packing tube 13a is first formed after receiving by corresponding holding jaw pairs from the gripper jaws of the article rapier head 31, as shown schematically in Fig. 8, not shown here, both sides of the packing head 41 arranged rotating stations for a double-twist of the article ensure that is then dropped randomly on a delivery belt of a discharge device 12 via an ejector, not shown here.

FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment for the packaging machine 100 or for the packaging method, wherein the removal station is exchanged with respect to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, ie a removal wheel 21 'is used instead of the removal wheel 21 on the machine frame 2 of the packaging machine 100. This Picking wheel 21 'now allows a change in article orientation by way of receiving the article 13 from the separating belt 8b to the article rapier head 31, in which the packaging material piece 5 is fed, wherein, as the arrows in Fig. 9 with respect to the removal wheel 21st 'illustrate that an additional rotation of the article 13 about a transverse axis or about an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the removal wheel 21' and a pivot axis of the associated holding jaw pairs, takes place substantially at 90 °. For this purpose, the holding jaw pairs of the removal wheel 21 'in addition to its pivotability again rotatable about a further axis, so that there is a quasi "gimbal" suspension or storage for the article holder.

A corresponding construction of an article unit 22 for an article 13 on the removal wheel 21 'will be explained below with reference to FIG. 11, wherein FIGS. 1 a and 11 b each show a view from downstream of and upstream of the article unit 22. After transferring the articles 13 to an article gripper station 30 ', a further rotation of the article 13 in the article gripper station 30 is made in the example according to FIG. 9, in other words, compared to the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and. 9 also uses another article gripper head 31 'in this embodiment, such that a rotation of the article orientation by 90 ° about a radial vertical axis of the corresponding gripper jaw pairs takes place. This is also indicated by the opposing arrows in the region of an article 13 of the article rapier head 30 '.

Thus, while the article 13, after rotation in the picking wheel 21 '(rotation about a parallel axis to the rotation axis of the picking wheel 21'), assumes a position in which a bottom surface of the article 13 is directed towards a trajectory of the article 13, it rotates around one Vertical axis by corresponding cam-controlled actuation of the Article 13 holding gripper jaw pairs of article gripper head 31 each item turned there so that it occupies a position in which its bottom surface faces outwards, so practically in the direction of the central axis 1 of the article rapier head 31 ' has.

Again, as shown schematically in Fig. 9, in the article gripper head 31 'the packaging material piece 5 is applied to the article 13, held by means of the packaging pliers 36, not shown here and transferred in this configuration to the packing head 41, wherein the holding jaw pairs the article steady with U-shaped folded piece of packaging material, ie without direct contact of the article 13, but always from the outside with the interposition of the already U-shaped folded around the piece of packaging material 5. As a result, a particularly gentle capture transfer of Article 13 is realized.

Prior to an explanation of an embodiment for the realization of the additional article rotation in the picking wheel 21 'according to FIGS. 11a and 11b, reference should be made to a further exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10, that, like FIG. can be used for top-twist wrapping and that uses a third type of picking wheel 21 "." Again, the articles 13 are picked up and picked up by the singling belt 8b by respective pick-and-place pairs of jaws in the first wheel, ie in the picking wheel 21 ". However, the article 13 but tilted here about a tangential axis by about 90 ° or rotated so that after this rotation or tilt by appropriate pivot control of the removal-holding jaw pairs about a tangential axis on the removal wheel 21 "a bottom surface of the article 13 to shape points, ie in the direction of the corresponding axis of rotation of the removal wheel 21 ", as illustrated in Fig. 10. Such a position, either by additional rotation within the second head, i. is effected within the article removal head 31 'of Figure 9, or is effected according to the embodiment of Figure 10, in which case a rotation in the second head, i. in Article gripper head 31, is unnecessary, is a prerequisite for a realization of the folding type "Top Twist", as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

The individual variants can be mixed in a corresponding manner depending on the selected type of impact and combined with each other, so that the article 13 is at the beginning of the wrapping by a piece of packaging material 5 in the "correct" position with respect to the packaging in the packing head 41.

The "gimbal" mounting of the articles 13 already mentioned with regard to a rotation of the articles 13 in the picking wheel 21 'will be explained in detail with reference to the associated embodiment for the picking wheel 21' in Figures 11a and 11b Rotation of the article 13 can be stopped by rotatable holding jaws, so that optionally in conjunction with the respective assignment of an article rapier head 31 or 31 ', ie with additional article rotation in the second head, the removal wheel 21' with or without rotation of the article 13 in the removal wheel 21st 'can transport this. The removal wheel 21 preferably has the rotatably mounted article units 22 controlled by curves, each article unit 22 having two opener levers 23 each carrying a rotatably mounted holding jaw 24. About tie rods 25, the holding jaws 24 can be pivoted shutdown by 90 °. This pivoting movement is effected by a cam-driven pivoting lever 26, so that a rotation of the article 13, which is, however, locked, is effected. Both a pivot axis of the pivot lever 26 and a pivot axis for the holding jaws 24 (which substantially coincides with or parallel to an article transverse axis) therefore extend substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the removal wheel 21 '.

Subsequently, in a further embodiment of the invention, a packaging station 40 with a packing head 41, a rotating station 43 and a folding station 45 provided in place of the second rotating station 42 in FIG. 1a will be explained. First, a following embodiment of the rotating station 43 will be explained.

1a, turning stations 43 are provided for the packaging of articles of lesser size and with correspondingly smaller turns, in which a compensation of the shrinkage of the packaging material due to deflection is compensated by arranging an axis of rotation of the rotating station inclined to an axis of rotation of the associated packing head 41, so that the associated rotary gripper an oscillation (by inclination), ie perform a movement in the axial direction, due to the rotational movement of the rotating station. Such a solution, however, is insufficient when large articles are wrapped in a twist wrap, e.g. in a diameter range between 30 mm and 40 mm, since a much larger axial travel for the rotary gripper in conjunction with the corresponding greater shortening of the packaging material when screwing the rotary wing is required.

As FIG. 12 illustrates, the larger design of the rotating station 43 with the axially movable and larger installation space engaging rotary grippers 46 on a front side of a corresponding rotary head 47 also leads to a change of the packing head 41 in such a way that it has concave sections 41a associated with the respective rotary gripper position (In contrast to the usual circular cylindrical design of an outer peripheral surface of the packing head 41) is executed to a sufficient Opening and closing movement of rotary gripper jaws 48 of the rotary gripper 46 to allow in a collision-free manner.

Returning to the movement control, in particular longitudinal movement control of the rotary gripper 46 (only one of which is shown on the front end side of the rotary head 47 in FIG. 12a), these rotary grippers 46 rotate in synchronism with corresponding pairs of holding jaws 49 of the packing head 41 (of which FIG. 12a is also shown for reasons of clarity, a pair of holding jaws 49 (pointing upwards), in a conventional manner.

Alternative embodiments of the packing head, e.g. with rotating folding shafts under stamp-supported article transfer between packing head and upstream station are also possible.

An oscillation movement of the rotary gripper 46 is generated with a drum cam 70, which is shown in Fig. 15 showing the rotary head 47 in greater detail, to which reference will now be made. In this groove curve 70 are circumferential Kipphebe! 71 is provided which transmit the control movement generated by the drum cam 70 from the fixed drum cam 70 to the axially displaceable rotary gripper 46. The rotary grippers 46 preferably execute a maximum oscillation stroke with each rotation of the rotary head 47.

However, this is adjustable, which would be achievable on the one hand by using different drum curves and / or predetermining the curve engagement position between the cam and cam follower in the circumferential direction, in the present case, however, in a continuously adjustable manner by an adjustment device 75, by an adjustment of the for driving effective stroke is caused by a shift of the oscillation start time relative to a closing time of the rotary gripper jaws 48 of the rotary gripper 46. This is accomplished by rotating the drum cam 70 relative to a closing and opening cam 72. The prerequisite for this is a gearbox decoupling of axial longitudinal or oscillatory movement of the rotary gripper 46 from the closing and opening movement of the rotary gripper jaws 48. This is realized in the rotary head 47 according to this embodiment of the invention in that the closing and Öffnerkurve 72 a toothed segment 73rd drives, which is thereby given a reciprocating pivotal movement. With the toothed segment 73 is a spur gear 74 in engagement, which is rotatably mounted on a push rod 76 and is rotated in both directions of rotation. With the spur gear 74, a cam sleeve 77 is fixedly connected, which is supported against the rocker arm 71. In this way, the push rod 76 is moved axially and the rotary gripper jaws 48 of the rotary gripper are opened and closed. During an oscillatory movement (axial movement) of the rotary gripper 76, the spur gear 74 slides axially in the toothing of the toothed segment 73, so that the axial movement (oscillation movement) of the rotary gripper 46 is decoupled from the closing and opening movement of the rotary gripper jaws 48.

As already illustrated in FIG. 12a for the packaging station 40, the turning station 43 on the other side of the packing head 41 faces a folding station 45 in order to execute types of wrapping such as sachet, top twist and diagonal letter folding on one side of the corresponding article.

Of course, two other turning stations 43 can be used for other types of impact, such as double twist wrapping, or folding stations 45 can be arranged on either side of the packing head in case of an impact on both sides of a diagonal letter folding. In the present exemplary embodiment, the structure of the folding station 45 and a special folding method will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 on the basis of the bag folding. In this context, reference is also made to Fig. 12b, which shows a central section of the packaging station 40 in an enlarged view, with the turning station 43 and the rotary jaws 48 of the associated rotary gripper 46 on the right side and details of the packing head 41 with the holding jaw pairs 49 and more Faltorganen a Faltkopfes 78 in the folding station 45th

For bag folding, the article 13 (see Fig. 12b) is transferred from the article rapier head 31 into the packing head 41 in the manner explained above together with the piece of packaging material 5 (see Fig. 14, not shown in Fig. 12b). The holding jaws 49 of the packing head 41 enclose the article 13, wherein the piece of packaging material (not shown in FIG. 12b) is taut around the article and clamped in the shape of a "U" together with the article 13 (see FIG a starting position for a folding process, as will be explained below with reference to Fig. 14. A starting position for the bag folding explained below is designated by "80" in FIG. In the front part of a packing head shaft is the folding station 45 with the folding head 78, which performs the folding operations for a bottom fold (bag bottom). In the rear part of the packing head shaft is the Turning station 43 with the turret 47, which forms a rotary wing at the top of the package, thus completing the packaging process. As shown, the packing head 41 is located midway between the turret 47 and the folding head 78.

Referring to Fig. 14, but also to Fig. 12b and Fig. 13, a folding operation of the bag bottom begins with a protruding surface 5/1 of the U-shaped packaging material portion facing the packing head center through a pre-folder 79, followed by the same Folding of the folding in the same direction of movement Fertigfalter (burglar) 81 follows. This is close to the article or on the associated surface of the article 13, is very flat and thus able to completely sweep the surface to be folded 5/1 of the piece of packaging material.

The special feature in this context is that here the same folding step is carried out sequentially by pre-and Fertigfalter 79, 81, the Vorfalter 79 acts terialspannungsmindernd so that an accurate folding by the Fertigfalter (burglar) 81 even at relatively stiff Films and packaging materials with relatively strong springback characteristics can be achieved.

A side of the Fertigfalters 38 in the direction of movement upstream Packstoffhals 5/2 is folded by means of a side brush 82 and laid on the Fertigfalter 81 and burglar 81.

A packaging material salt lying downstream in the direction of movement (see arrow in FIG. 14) is then placed on a stationarily provided folding plate as a side folder 83 over the previously produced folds.

In the further course of the rotation of the folding head 78 of the relatively long trained in the circumferential direction Seitenfalter 83 serves as a pressure piece for the already produced folds and frontally arranged packaging material laughing. The bottom fold of the bag is completed by another pre-folder 84 and subsequent Fertigfalter (burglar) 85 by these inwardly over the second side folder 83 (pre-folder) or finished folds (Fertigfalter 85). Again, the pre-folder 84 serves the solution and elimination of material stresses and ultimately a clean folding, which is completed by the Fertigfalter 85. Again, a folding step by means of two rectified folding movements is realized, which leads to a particularly high-quality folding or leaves greater latitude in terms of the packaging materials used. On both sides along a main direction of the article 13 now remaining packaging material bottles 5/3, 5/4 are created by the folding head 41 mounted in the folding members Innenfalter 86 and Außenfalter 87. In the process, the packaging material bottle 5/3, which lies upstream in the direction of movement, is folded in through the inner folder 86 and the packaging material 5/4, which lies downstream in the direction of movement, is pressed by the outer folder 87 onto the packaging material 5/3 applied by the inner folder 86.

Thus, a bottom surface and the side surfaces of a bag are completely enclosed by the packaging material. With the help of the rotary vane jaws 48 of the supernatant packaging tube is then taken and completed by forming a rotary wing of the packaging process. Within such a folding or packaging cycle, the greater part of the time available for the bottom folding over a predetermined angular range of rotation of the packing head 41 is available, while a smaller and shorter part is used for the formation of the Dreheinheinschlages. By vorerläuterte adjustment of Oszillationszeitpunktes in relation to a closing time of the rotary hook jaws 48, these time relations can be adjusted and thus an optimization of the packaging process can be achieved, so that a sufficiently large angular range for the execution of the more complicated bottom folding is available, while a relatively small angular range of the packing head - Rotation for the conclusion of the packaging by twist wrapping is used.

Fig. 13 shows the folding head 78 again in a single representation, wherein it should be noted with respect to the motion control of the aforementioned folding organs on an outer cam 88 which controls the movement of the first Vorfalters 79, while the stationary outer cam 89 controls the Fertigfalter (burglar) 81. The deflection forces required for external cam gears are applied by tension springs 90. In addition, movement of the side sill 82 is controlled by a groove cam 91.

For the control of the second Vorfalters 84 and the second Fertigfalter (burglar) 85, a first four-bar linkage 92 is provided, which is driven by a path of a spatial, stationary cam groove 93, while the second Prefalter 84 and the second Fertigfalter (burglar) 85 by a second four-bar linkage 94 are supported, whose movement control is effected by a further path of the spatial cam groove 93. The invention makes it possible for the first time to realize with a continuous packaging machine bag folds and other relatively complicated impact shapes, in a novel folding process, a relatively stable packaging U-shape by means of two separately controllable folding organs, a Vorfalters and a Fertigfalters (burglar) for the folding step, folding, with a corresponding procedure is also realized for a bottom fold. Again, two separately controllable folding organs, namely a second Prefalter and a Fertigfalter (burglars) are used, whereby occurring folding forces are minimized, a popping open the fold is avoided and a high quality of the folding is ensured with secure holding of the packaging material.

Moreover, the new concept for the removal of the articles to be packaged from a singling plate leads to a smoothness of the packaging machine, which has hitherto been unrivaled in the envisaged performance range, with extreme product protection.

The machine concept also allows for the first time the packaging of very large products in the intended performance range in continuous operation.

Finally, it should not go unmentioned that in conjunction with rotary envelopes and turning stations and heated rotary gripper for sealing of packaging material can be used, as this is the subject of EP 1 712 472 A1, which here also insofar expressly by reference to the subject of the disclosure of present application is made.

Moreover, according to the invention, the modular machine construction in the area of the article-carrying packaging devices, in particular in the region of a removal station or an article gripper station, leads to a high variability with regard to possible impact shapes and article orientations within the packaging machine.

Claims

claims

1. A process for packaging small-sized articles, in particular chocolate-coated chocolates or caramels (100), in a continuous mode by a packaging machine of modular construction, wherein, depending on an article type and / or an article orientation and / or a type of packaging, in particular a wrapping Type of packaging, the article (13) supplied by a predetermined, from predetermined conveyor systems selectable feeder means (10) for a predetermined packaging process isolated and guided to at least one central stationary axis of rotation (1) rotatable article gripper station (30) this is also a supply of packaging material for packaging the article (13), then the packaging material with the article (13) at least about a stationary axis of rotation (44) rotatable packaging station (40) is fed, wherein the packaging station (40) a packing head ( 41), d em depending on the type of packaging predetermined, selectable from various institutions Einschlageinrichtungen (42, 43), in particular rotary and / or folding stations are assigned, and then the packaged article (13) are conveyed away.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the articles (13) separated by an at least one rotation axis rotatable article-singling device, in particular a singling plate (7), or by a longitudinal conveyor, in particular a belt or chain conveyor (8) for the supply of isolated articles (13) or by means of a continuous strand strand feed device (9) with separation of the separated articles from the strand of material, are supplied.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the isolated article (13) received and prior to its disclosure to a further device, in particular a gripper or packaging station (30) to at least one axis, preferably at least one article axis or a be rotated to such a parallel axis.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that between receiving the article from a separating or feeding device (10) and passing the same to a further device, the articles (13) are rotated at least once by approximately 90 °.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the axis, in particular article axis, substantially parallel to an axis of rotation which forms a center of curvature of a movement path of the article (13), and / or substantially radially perpendicular to this axis of rotation, in particular passing through this center of curvature and / or substantially tangential to the path of movement of the article (13).

6. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the article (13) is pivoted axially parallel to the axis of rotation and / or rotated about a removal Haltebacken- or gripper jaw axis by additional parallel drive elements for the removal jaws or gripper jaws or these parallel drive elements are deactivated and the articles are transferred to another packaging device as grasped.

7. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 6 _; characterized in that the articles (13) with their longitudinal axis are arranged radially in the article separating device (7) and are gripped over their length by the removal device.

8. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a series of articles in the longitudinal conveyor initially compacted and then spaced before removing the article from the longitudinal conveyor the articles are defined.

9. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the articles (13) from the singling device (7) are conveyed substantially vertically into a movement path of a at least one rotation axis (1) rotatable removal device (30).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the articles (13) before being transferred to the removal device (30) are supported from below and held from above.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the articles (13) removed by a at least one stationary rotation axis rotating unloading wheel (20) from the feed device (10) and, in particular after further rotation about an article axis, to the article Grab station (30).

12. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the articles (13) through the article gripper station (30), which is supplied to the packaging material, taken from the feeder (10) and the packaging station (40) be handed over.

13. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the articles (13) with associated piece of packaging material (5) through the article gripper station (30) to the packaging station (40) are guided along a stationary packaging material guide sheet.

14. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in conjunction with a recording of the article (13) with these associated pieces of packaging material through the Verpackungεstation (40) the packaging pieces U-shaped placed around the associated article (13) become.

15. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 14, characterized in that prior to packaging of the article (13) according to predetermined types of packaging the packaging material piece (5) is folded to an end open packaging tube (13a).

16. A method for packaging small items in the fold wrapping, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, characterized in that for a complete formation of a fold on at least one side of an article (13) two folding steps in each case several times, in particular with pros and Ready folding, be executed.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that for the complete formation of a fold impact at least one folding step repeatedly by a material terialspannungsvermindernde pre-folding and genaufaltende finish folding takes place.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that pre-and final folding are performed in temporally immediate succession.

19. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 16 to 18, characterized in that for a fold wrapping, in particular for forming a bag bottom for sack fold, at a first free of packing material surface of the U-shaped wrapped by the piece of packaging material (13) a material chip - Anungsvermindemdes pushing a facing the center of the surface, protruding portion (5/1) of a base of the U-shaped packaging material piece (5).

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that then smoothing and finish folding by final application of the section (5/1) of the piece of packaging material (5) to the surface of the article (13).

21. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 16 to 20, characterized in that one, preferably in the direction of movement upstream, first side packing material salt (5/2) by a Seitenfalter (82) via a provided for the Fertigfaltung, flat folding member (81). is placed.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a second, the first lateral Packmittelfalz (5/2) opposite, lateral Packmittelfalz by another, preferably stationary, side folder (83) is placed over the already produced wrinkles.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the stationary Seitenfalter (83) acts as a stationary folding plate as a pressure surface for the opposite folds on the article over a predetermined angular range of movement of the article (13) in the packaging station.

24. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, for a fold impact on a further surface of the article (13), which is still initially free of packaging material, in particular a bottom surface, a material stress-reducing impingement facing the surface, projecting portion of the base of the U-shaped packaging material section takes place.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that then a finish folding of the section to an applied to the article fold, in particular bottom fold, by a flat application, preferably in parallel folding movement to the movement of the abutment, and then remaining, opposite and outwardly projecting End sections (5/3; 5/4) of the U-shaped piece of packaging material (packaging material bottles) are folded onto the article.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the upstream in the direction of movement of the article Packstofflasche (5/3) by means of a packkopfseitigen Innenfalters (86) folded on the bottom surface of the article (13) and downstream in the direction of movement of the article in the packing station The packaging material bottle (5/4) is pressed onto the fold applied by the inner folder (86).

27. A method for packaging small-size articles in twisting and turning, in particular in sack folds, preferably according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the packaging takes place in a rotating packaging station (40) of a continuously operating packaging machine and at least one, preferably an end of a packaging material hose opposite a fold wrapping is gripped by rotary gripper jaws (84) of a rotary gripper (46) and the packaging material material is screwed in to form a rotary stop.

28. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 16 to 27, characterized in that movements for a prefolding and a first finished folding by outer cam discs (87, 88) are controlled with return spring pressure of the associated cam follower.

29. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 21 to 28, characterized in that a movement of the first Seitenfalters (82) by a cam groove of a folding station (45) is controlled.

30. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 24 to 29, characterized in that a movement for a second prefolding by a first four-bar linkage (92) and a movement for a second finish folding by a second four-bar mechanism (94) are controlled, in turn by two tracks of a spatial cam groove (93) of the folding station (45) are controlled in each case.

31. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 27 to 30, characterized in that the movement of the article (13) takes place in the packaging station (40) during the formation of the fold over a larger angular range than during the formation of the Dreheinheinschlag.

32. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 15 to 31, characterized in that in conjunction with a unilateral or multi-sided formation of a Dreheinschlages an axial shortening of the screwed-in packaging material by a preferably cam-controlled axial movement associated rotary gripper (46) or by achsgeneigter arrangement of a rotary gripper-carrying rotary station with respect to a central axis of rotation of the packaging station (40) is compensated.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that an oscillating axis movement of rotary grippers to compensate for the Axialverkürzung of the packaging material in conjunction with the formation of a Dreheinschlages by a cam groove, preferably a drum cam (70) is controlled.

34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that a relative position of a cam follower with respect to the groove curve, in particular drum curve (70) is variably adjustable in the circumferential direction, for setting a variable axial stroke of the rotary gripper (46) and / or a variable Axialhubgeschwindigkeit Rotary gripper (46) in response to an increase of the associated portions of the cam groove and a relative position of the associated cam follower in the circumferential direction thereof.

35. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 32 to 34, characterized in that a Drehgreiferhub adjusted by relative movement of the drum cam (70) relative to a closing and Öffnerkurve (72) for cam-controlled opening and closing of the rotary gripper (46), in particular a Start of oscillation of the rotary gripper (46) is varied relative to a closing time of the rotary gripper (46).

36. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 35, characterized in that a discharge of the packaged article from the packaging station disorderly on a delivery belt or ordered by a rotating delivery station, which by means of gripper jaws the finished packed items from the packaging engages ckungsstation and in a predetermined position on a dispensing device, such as a discharge conveyor belt or a discharge conveyor, passes.

37. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 36, characterized in that the packaging process is fed by feeding from a first feed direction through a three-head packaging machine (100) to a picking wheel (20), an article rapier head (30) and a packing head (41) or feeding the articles (13) from a second feed direction opposite to the first feed direction by a two-head machine with an article rapier head (31) to which the packaging material is also fed, and a downstream packing head ( 41).

38. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 37, characterized in that modules of the packaging machine, in particular a reinzelungs- and / or feeding device, a removal station, an article gripper station, a packaging station or a discharge device for the articles independently , Be driven in particular by servomotors.

39. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that an article gripper station (30) is driven by a central transmission and a drive of at least one further station, in particular the packaging station (40), is derived from the central transmission.

40. Method according to claim 38, characterized in that the central gearbox contains control cams for the motion control of assemblies such as gripper or holding jaw pairs and packaging tongs of the article gripper station and / or a removal station and / or a packaging station.

41. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 40, characterized in that sub-stations of the packaging station (40), such as a rotating station (43) or a pair of both sides of a packing head (41) of the packaging station (40) arranged opposing Turning stations (43) or a folding station (45) or a pair of folding stations arranged on both sides of the packing head are jointly driven by a central gear, assemblies of the folding station (45) are driven by cams of a central gear.

42. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 41, characterized in that workstations, in particular a feed device, a separating and / or removal station, an article gripper station, a packaging station and / or a discharge device from a central control device (CPU) or at least partially individually controlled and / or driven by decentralized control and / or drive modules.

43. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 42, characterized in that within packaging devices, in particular the removal station and / or the article gripper station and / or the packaging station, micro-motors for the motion control of assemblies of the packaging devices, such as rotary grippers, folders or gripper or holding jaw pairs are provided.

44. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 43, characterized in that the packaging devices are driven and controlled by a mixture of transmission elements, such as a central transmission with cams, which are scanned by cam follower ger, and servomotors and / or within the Packaging devices micromotors for motion control of assemblies, such as rotary grippers, folders or gripper or holding jaw pairs are provided.

45. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 44, characterized in that a drive control of peripheral assemblies, such as a feeder, a singulator or a discharge station are controlled by servomotors, while at least the gripper station is driven by a central gear.

46. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 45, characterized in that sub-stations of the packaging station, such as turning station or folding station are at least partially driven / controlled by servomotors, in particular in connection with a mechanical or micromotor control of assemblies of this sub-type. stations.

47. Modular packaging machine for the continuous packaging of small-sized articles, in particular of chocolates or caramel with chocolate coating, with a Machine frame and a plurality of article-carrying packaging devices, which are mounted on the machine frame, in particular for performing the method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 46, characterized in that at least one of the article-carrying packaging means (20, 30, 40) replaceable on the machine frame (2) is stored.

48. Packaging machine according to claim 47, characterized in that the article-carrying packaging means are a removal head (21) of a removal station (20), a rapier head (31) of an article gripper station (30), or a packing head (41) of a packaging station (40) ,

49. Packaging machine according to claim 47 or 48, characterized in that a dispensing wheel of a dispensing station is arranged interchangeably on the machine frame downstream of the packaging station.

50. Packaging machine according to at least one of claims 48 to 49, characterized in that the article gripper head (31) is rotatable about a stationary axis of rotation (1) as a central machine axis and at least one further article-carrying head, in particular the removal wheel (20) and / or the packing head (41) associated with this article rapier head (31).

51. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to 50, characterized by a separating and / or feeding device (10) for feeding the articles to the article-carrying packaging means (20, 30, 40).

52. Packaging machine according to claim 51, characterized in that the separating and / or feeding device is a separate module, preferably with independent, separate drive means, such as e.g. a servomotor, is.

53. Packaging machine according to claim 51 or 52, characterized in that as a singling and feeding device (10) a rotating about a vertical axis of rotation separating plate (7) provided with on the outer circumference receiving pockets (12) for the article (13) is provided.

54. Packaging machine according to claim 53, characterized in that the separating plate has an inner article feeding area and on the outer circumference a in has the same or opposite direction of rotation to the direction of rotation of the task area rotating Aufgabering (7a), in which the receiving pockets for the article are located.

55. Packaging machine according to claim 53 or 54, characterized in that the receiving pockets (12), in which the articles (13) are separated, are arranged radially aligned.

56. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 51 to

55, characterized in that the articles (13) are received by one of the article-carrying packaging means (30) from the supply means (7) over its length.

57. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to

56, characterized in that the separating and feeding device (10) is a belt or chain conveyor (8), in particular with a Stauband for the collection of articles, and a separating belt downstream of Staubarides.

58. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 51 to

57, characterized in that the separating and feeding device (10) includes a soft caramel mass strand (9).

59. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to 58, characterized by only two article-carrying packaging devices, in particular an article gripper station (30) and a packaging station (40).

60. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to

59, characterized in that the article gripper station (30) has an article rapier head (31) and, in particular pivotably, on this gripper gripper pairs (33, 33) and packaging material blanks are fed to the article rapier head (31).

61. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

60, characterized in that the article rapier head (31) of an article supply device (10), in particular a linear belt or chain feed guiding device (8) or a separating plate (7) rotating around a substantially vertical axis of rotation with receiving pockets (12) arranged on the circumference for occasionally picking up articles (13), in particular over their length in a radial arrangement, or a strand strand feeding device (9) assigned.

62. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

61, characterized in that the article gripper head (31) gripper jaw pairs (33, 33) as removal units with this associated packaging pliers (36) for assignment and common transfer of an article (13) with a piece of packaging material to the downstream packing head (41).

63. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 51 to

62, characterized in that the feed device (10) mechanically coupled to the article-carrying packaging means (20, 30) and in particular by a decentralized drive device separately and independently of drive the packaging means is driven and controlled.

64. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

63, characterized in that the packing head (41) on the machine frame (2) above and with a predetermined axial offset with respect to a rotary axis of the article rapier head (31) containing vertical plane to the article rapier head (31) about a stationary axis of rotation ( 44) is rotatably arranged.

65. Packaging machine according to claim 64, characterized in that the central, stationary axis of rotation (1) of the article gripper head (31) and the stationary axis of rotation (44) of the packing head (41) at a predetermined angle of about 10 ° to about 60 ° are arranged offset from each other.

66. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

65, characterized in that the article gripper head (31), in particular for the consideration of different article orientations in the feed device, is interchangeably mounted on the central, stationary axis of rotation (1).

67. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 62 to

66, characterized in that the pivotable removal units are at at least one further, in particular axis-parallel rotation axis for at least one rotation of the article (13) prior to transfer to the packing head (41) form.

68. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to

67, characterized by three article-carrying packaging devices (workstations), in particular a removal station (80), an article gripper station (30) and a packaging station (40).

69. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to

68, characterized in that depending on the article type and / or article orientation and / or packaging an article gripper station (30) received on a central machine axis (1), a predetermined feed device (10) and / or a predetermined gripper head (31) and / or a predetermined packaging station (40) are assigned modular.

70. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 51 to

69, characterized in that the central axis (1) of the article gripper station (30) is associated with a central gear with control cams for deriving all article movements in the article gripper station.

71. A packaging machine according to claim 70, characterized in that a drive of the packaging station is derived from the central gear and drive movements within the packaging station, in particular for controlling folding operations of cams or individual drives, such as microengines, are derived within the packaging station.

72. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 71, characterized in that the feed device and / or a removal station and / or the article gripper station and / or the packaging station and / or a discharge device in each case by individual drive means independently and decentrally, in particular Servomotors, are controllable.

73. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to 721, characterized by a mixture of at least one centrally driven packaging device and at least one decentralized individually driven Feeding device and / or decentralized individually driven packaging devices and / or a decentralized individually driven discharge device.

74. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

73, characterized in that the packing station itself has a modular construction and the packing head depending on article type or packaging on the one hand or on both sides of a packing head plane different rotating with the packing head rotating or folding stations or along a receiving circumference of the packing head a stationary folding device, preferably a folding sheet or Zuzzeinrichtungen, such as Aufreißhilfen-introduction, label dispenser, packaging closure-Einbringvorrichtungen or other folding means for performing other types of impact, eg Stanolieren, preferably modular exchangeable, are assigned.

75. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

74, characterized in that the packaging station has the packing head, a folding station and a turning station or with the packing head two turning stations or with the packing head two folding stations.

76. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to

75, characterized in that at least one of the packaging devices, preferably two sequentially provided packaging devices, even modular interchangeable have different holding, transfer or Einschlagorgane.

77. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

76, characterized in that the packing head has a plurality of Packkopf- holding jaw pairs or folding shafts, in particular with these each associated inner and / or Außenfalter.

78. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 74 to

77, characterized in that the gripper head and / or packing head have cooperating transfer stamp units in the article transfer.

79. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to

78, characterized in that adjacent to the article gripper station (30) a packaging material supply device (4) for substantially horizontal or inclined supply of packaging material sections to the article gripper head (31) is provided, wherein the packaging material sections preferably consist of a plurality of differently sized, different material packaging material section pieces (5a, 5b) for forming a multi-layer article packaging.

80. The packaging machine according to claim 79, characterized in that the packaging material sections themselves have opening aids or closure aids or are assigned to the packing head devices for forming opening or closing aids and auxiliary devices such as label dispensers in a modularly exchangeable manner.

81. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 80, characterized by a packaging station (40) downstream, modular interchangeable arranged discharge device, in particular ejector with delivery conveyor for disorderly removal of the packaged article or delivery wheel for removal of the packaged items from the packing head and parent Storage of the articles on a webbing.

, Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 53 to 81, characterized in that in the region of the receiving pockets (12) of the circulating separating actuator (7), in particular with the receiving pockets (12) arranged in the same or in opposite directions to the inner article-feeding area of the separating actuator (7) rotating Aufgaberings (7a), below the same one, preferably partially divided, support ring (6) for supporting the in the receiving pockets (12) recorded article (13) is provided.

83. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 53 to 81, characterized in that the receiving pockets form a positive receptacle for the articles.

84. Packaging machine with separating plate (7) as a feeding device in continuous operation, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to 83, characterized in that the separating plate (7) has a discharge device (50) for providing the article (13) to a rotating removal device (30), in particular a removal wheel (20) of a three-head packaging machine (100) or an article rapier head (30) of a two-head packaging machine (100) is assigned.

85. A packaging machine according to claim 84, characterized in that the discharge device (50) at least one Unterstempelrad (53) with a plurality of these in a Unterstempelgetriebe preferably eccentrically mounted lower punches (54) for alternately sequential immersion in the subsequent receiving pockets (12). of the separating actuator (7) and lifting the articles (13) out of the receiving pockets (12).

86. A packaging machine according to claim 84 or 85, characterized in that the discharge device (50) has an upper punch (51) with a punch mechanism (52) for position-locking engagement with the raised by a lower punch (54) article (13) prior to a transfer to the Removal device (30).

87. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 84 to 85, characterized in that the lower punch has a shape contour for position-secured receiving an article.

88. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 85 to

87, characterized in that the, preferably three, lower punches (54) are each mounted either coaxially or eccentrically on shaft-fixed guide gears (56) in always vertically upright orientation, each guide gear (56) via an intermediate gear (59) is driven which, in turn, is supported on a stationary, centrally disposed, sun gear (58) which is fixed to the frame, the sun gear (58) and the guide gears (56) being equal in number of teeth.

89. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 85 to

88, characterized in that the lower punch (54) are guided on a circular path and the lower punch gear with respect to a division of the receiving pockets (12) in the separating plate (7) is tuned and / or eccentric, articulated mounting of the lower punch to the associated Shafts and / or guide gears (56) is provided for a stroke adjustment, in particular stroke magnification for an article request stroke of the lower punch (84) and / or a degree of eccentricity of the storage of the lower punch (54) and thus a stroke of the same variable adjustable.

90. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 85 to

89, characterized in that a lower punch (54) and the upper punch (5) including the article when lifting it out of the receiving pocket (12) of the separating actuator (7) form an at least partially closed chamber, in the article (13) form fit taken from above and below.

91. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 85 to

90, characterized in that holding jaw pairs (33, 33) of the removal device (30) in a transfer position a of the lower punch (54) carried article (13) detect at its free end faces.

92. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 53 to

91, characterized in that the receiving pockets (12) have a radially aligned in the separating plate aligned longitudinal axis and the articles (13) are gripped by the removal device (30) over its length.

93. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 53 to

92, characterized in that a removal device rotates clockwise, while the separating plate at least in the region of its provided with the receiving pockets outer periphery, in particular a provided with the receiving pockets (12) Aufgaberinges (7a) rotates counterclockwise.

94. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to

93, characterized in that a removal station by a removal wheel (21) upstream of an article rapier head (31) for a three-head packaging machine (100) or by an article rapier head (31) for a two-head packaging machine (100 ) is formed.

95. Packaging machine according to claim 94, characterized by an optionally activatable or disconnectable coupling gear for removal or Greiferbackenpaare a removal wheel or an article rapier head for rotation of removal or gripper jaws of the removal or gripper jaw pairs about an axis of rotation parallel to the central, stationary axis of rotation of the removal - or gripper head and / or a pivot axis of the removal or gripper jaw pairs.

96. Packaging machine according to claim 95, characterized in that the article-carrying removal or Greiferbackenpaare two preferably tangential axes pivotable opening lever (23), each with a rotatably mounted holding jaws (24) (removal or gripper jaws) via tie rods (25) to preferably 90 ° are pivotable.

97. Packaging machine according to claim 96, characterized in that a stopable drive of the pull rod pairs (25) of each removal or gripper jaw pair by a cam-controlled pivot lever (26) is formed.

98. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 97, characterized by a modular interchangeable on the machine frame (2) picking wheel (2) with parallel to the axis of rotation of the removal wheel (21) extending pivot axes pivoting Abnahmebackenpaaren for article transfer to the article rapier head ( 31) without changing an article orientation in the picking wheel (21) and then changing an article orientation in the article rapier head (31) by gripper jaw pairs pivotally mounted in the gripper head before transfer to the packing head (41).

99. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 97, characterized by a modular interchangeable on the machine frame (2) picking wheel (21 ') with around parallel to the axis of rotation of the removal wheel (21') extending pivot axes pivoting Abnahmebackenpaare for article delivery to the article Gripper head (30 ') with a change in an article orientation in the picking wheel (21') with rotation of the article (13) about an axis of rotation of the removal wheel (21 ') and / or the pivot axis of the holding jaw pairs parallel axis of rotation and subsequent acquisition and transfer of the article to the Packing head (40) without changing the article orientation or with another change of the article orientation in the article rapier head (30 ').

100. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 99, characterized by a removal wheel (21 ") accommodated with a modular interchangeable on the machine frame (7) with withdrawal jaw pairs pivotable about the pivot axis parallel to the rotation axis of the removal wheel (21") for transferring articles to the article holder. Gripper head (30) with change of an article entierung in the picking wheel (21 ") with rotation of the article (13) about an axis tangential to a trajectory of the article (13) extending axis and takeover and transfer of the article to the packing head (40) without changing the article orientation or with another change of article orientation in Article rapier head (30, 30 ').

101. A packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 100, characterized in that in the packaging station (40) the packing head (41), which preferably has an inner folder (86), and an outer folder (87), and packing head holding jaw pairs ( 49) for holding the articles (13), and / or associated with the stationary folding means, at least one modular exchangeable rotating station (43) is assigned.

102. A packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 101, characterized in that the turning station (43) has rotatable rotary grippers (46) about a rotary gripper axis running parallel to the stationary rotation axis of the rotating station (43), wherein in connection with a packaging material shortening in the direction of Rotary gripper axis in forming a twist stop an axial position of the rotary gripper (46) by tilting the axis of rotation of the rotating station relative to a stationary axis of rotation (44) of the packing head (41) during one revolution of the rotating station (43) is variable.

103. Packaging machine according to claim 101, characterized in that the rotary station (43) around parallel to the stationary axis of rotation (44) of the rotary station (43) extending rotary gripper axes rotatable rotary gripper (46), wherein in conjunction with a packaging material shortening in the direction of the rotary gripper axis in training a torsion an oscillating movement of the rotary gripper (46) in the direction of the rotary gripper axis is preferably derived from a groove curve, in particular drum curve (70), in particular by means of a Kipphebelantriebes.

104. Packaging machine with a rotating station and with this rotating sowei axially movable rotary gripper, in particular according to claim 103, characterized by an adjusting gear (75) for variably setting a Oszillationshubes and / or an oscillation speed of the rotary gripper (43) by variable Fest- Plotting an intervention time between a rocker arm drive and a drum cam (70).

105. Packaging machine according to claim 103 or 104, characterized in that the drum curve (70) arranged modular exchangeable and different drum curves can be used to set different Oszillationscharakteristika.

106. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 102 to 105, characterized in that an opening and closing movement of the rotary gripper (46) independently of the drum curve (70) for the oscillatory movement of a closing and Öffnerkurve (72) via a push rod ( 76) is derivable curve-controlled.

107. Packaging machines according to claim 106, characterized in that a variable setting of an effective stroke of the oscillatory movement of the rotary gripper by relative rotation between the drum curve (70) for the oscillatory movement and the closing and Öffnerkurve (72) for opening and closing the rotary gripper ( 46).

108. Packaging machine with a rotating station and with this rotating, axially movable rotary grippers, in particular according to claim 107, characterized in that an adjusting mechanism (75) is provided for the choice of a Oszillationszeitpunktes relative to a closing time of the rotary gripper (46), preferably comprising one of the closing and Öffnerkurve (72) pivotally driven toothed segment (73) which is in mesh with a rotatably mounted on a push rod (76) spur gear (74) fixedly connected to a cam sleeve (77) which opposes one with the drum cam (70) located, with rotating rocker arm (71) for axial movement of the push rod (76) is supported, wherein during an oscillatory movement of the rotary gripper (46) the spur gear (74) in the toothing of the toothed segment (73) is slidable.

109. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 108, characterized in that in the packaging station (40) the packing head (41), preferably an inner folder (86), an outer folder (87) and Packkopf-Haltebackenpaare (49) for Holding the article (13), and / or the associated stationary folding members, at least one modular exchangeable folding station (45) is assigned.

110. Packaging machine, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to 109, characterized in that a packaging station (40) has a folding station (45) with a folding head (78) which is coaxial to the packing head (41) and another station, as a further folding station or a turning station (43) is arranged, wherein the packaging machine operates according to a continuous operating principle.

111. Packaging machine, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims 47 to 110, characterized in that a folding head (78) at least a first pair of folders (79, 81), consisting of a Vorfalter (79) and a Fertigfalter (81) provided for the same folding within a folding process, wherein preferably pre- and Fertigfalter (79, 81) via associated outer cam discs (88, 89) are controllable.

112. Packaging machine according to claim 110 or 111, characterized in that for a second folding within the folding process, a second pre-folder (84) and second Fertigfalter (85) are provided for the same folding, preferably the second pre-folder (84) and the second Fertigfalter ( 85) are each driven by a four-bar linkage (92, 94) whose motion control is provided by a respective own track in a spatial groove curve (drum curve) (93).

113. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 110 to 112, characterized in that the folding head (78) has at least one side folder (82, 83) which is controllable by a groove cam (91).

114. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 101 to 108, characterized in that in the packaging station together with the packaging head two oppositely arranged rotary stations for the formation of two rotary blades are provided on the packaged article.

115. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 101 to 114, characterized in that in the packaging station (40) the packing head (41) on the one hand a folding head (78) and on the other hand opposite Turning station (43) is assigned, for forming a Dreheinheinschlages, preferably on an upper side of the packaged article (13) and a folding impact, preferably on a bottom side of the packaged article (13).

116. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 109 to 113, characterized in that in the packaging station the packing head opposite two folding stations are assigned to form a fold on both opposite sides of the packaged article.

117. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 48 to 116, characterized in that the packing head (41) has concave recesses (41a) on the circumference, in particular in connection with at least one associated rotary station (43) in the packaging station (40), in particular for a packaging of products with a diameter of more than 30 mm in the twist wrapping.