WO2009130071A1

WO2009130071A1 - Packing machine for packages made of objects; method for production of packages and package

Info

Publication number: WO2009130071A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/051705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Zeiner; Kurt Perl; Michael Hartl
Original assignee: Krones Ag
Priority date: 2008-04-22
Filing date: 2009-02-13
Publication date: 2009-10-29
Also published as: CN102015462A; DE102008020299A1; EP2265502A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a packing machine (100) for packages (30) made of objects (3). In a station (50) a plurality of groups (10) separated from the objects (3) are wrapped by a cut section of film (48). A cutting device (40) is arranged in front of the station (50) for wrapping and said cutting device separates the cut section of film (48) from a foil web (48) wound up on a roller (42). The cutting device (40) comprises a laser (45) which separates the cut foil (48) from the foil web (45). Furthermore, the invention discloses a package (2) which is wrapped in a cut foil (48) which was separated with a laser (45) from a foil web (41) pulled off a roll (42).

Description

PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PURPOSES OF OBJECTS; METHOD OF MANUFACTURING TIES AND PACKAGES

The present invention relates to a packaging machine for containers of objects. The generic packaging machine comprises a station on which isolated groups, which consist of several objects, are wrapped with a foil blank. Before the station for wrapping a cutting device is provided which separates the film blank from a unwound from a roll of film web.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing containers from objects.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a container from a scattered group of objects, which is wrapped with a foil blank.

German Offenlegungsschrift DE 24 58 656 discloses a device for cross-cutting endless paper webs to predetermined formats. The device for cross-cutting continuous paper webs to predetermined formats is provided with a cutting device that operates synchronously with the paper speed during the cutting process. The laser beam used for cutting the paper web is adjusted by means of a deflection device to the web speed of the paper web, so that the expected cut of the paper web is obtained. The company brochure of Krones AG on the fully automatic packaging machine Vario Pack Pro is a packaging machine for a wide range of applications. Here, the bottles entering the packaging machine are separated into groups. The films used to wrap the individual groups are removed from a roll and separated with a mechanical cutting machine. The groups are then wrapped with the film and then go through a shrink tunnel. By shrinking the film to the group thus the container is created.

German laid-open specification DE 42 07 725 A1 discloses a method and a device for packaging objects in a continuously running process. The objects are subdivided into groups before packaging, or separated into groups. Each group is supported at least in the running direction at the front and at the rear during the entire packaging process. The packaging material is unrolled from a roll during the entire packaging process. In a cutting device, the film web is separated into individual film sections, which are ultimately used for wrapping the individual groups. The cutting device comprises a foil cutting knife for separating the individual foil sections from the roll.

The translation of European Patent DE 603 10 836 T2 discloses a packaging machine for wrapping objects, and a method for operating such a machine. The film sections used for wrapping are separated by a continuous belt which is withdrawn from a roll. The separation is done with a circular knife that cuts through the continuous band. International Patent Application WO 2007/110738 A1 discloses an apparatus and a method for producing labels. The labels are made from a plastic film that is rolled up on a roll. The film to be cut is sucked on a take-up roll by means of air and the laser is controlled in dependence on the rotational speed, or direction of rotation of the drum so that the necessary labels can be produced from the film. Although this document describes the cutting of films by means of a laser, the laser must be complicated to control in connection with the film mounted on a drum. The labels cut from the film stick to the drum and are transferred to a corresponding other drum. This is in contrast to the invention where film sections are processed without caching onto a roll. There is no packaging machine disclosed here, can be made with the container of objects that are wrapped with a foil, or a foil blank.

From WO 2007/031502 a device for producing shrink sleeve labels is known, wherein areas of these label sections are connected to each other by means of a laser.

The invention has for its object to provide a packaging machine for containers that works reliably and efficiently while using a minimum of mechanical means.

The above object is achieved by a packaging machine for containers, comprising the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention has for its object to provide a method for the manufacture of containers, with the efficiently largely trouble-free container can be made of objects.

The above object is achieved by a method that comprises the features of claim 9.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a container of a discrete group of articles, which is manufactured with a device, or a method, which works efficiently and trouble-free.

The above object is achieved by a container that comprises the features of claim 12.

The packaging machine according to the invention for containers of objects has at least one station for wrapping a plurality of groups of items separated with a foil blank. Before this station for wrapping a cutting device is provided which separates the film blank from a unwound from a roll of film web. The cutting device in this case comprises a laser which separates the film section from the film web.

The station for wrapping the respective group is a station downstream for shrinking wrapped around the respective group foil blank. After shrinking the foil blank to the respective group, the container is present. The shrunk onto the respective group foil blank thus holds the individual elements of the group together and thus forms the container, which can be transported as a unit. The shrinking of the film blank is usually done by thermal energy. The wrapped around the respective group foil blank has a tubular shape. This tubular shape is retained even after shrinking the foil blank to the respective group.

The objects which form a group and are wrapped with a foil blank, represent liquid container. The liquid container can take various forms and consist of different materials. Preferably, the liquid containers are bottles or cans. The liquid containers may be made of a plastic material.

In the method according to the invention for the manufacture of containers from objects, the objects are first separated into groups. These groups later represent the containers. One group at a time is fed to a station for wrapping the group with a foil blank. The film blanks are unwound from a roll and separated by means of a laser, which acts as a cutting device.

It is advantageous if the container from a scattered group of objects is wrapped with a film section, said film section has been singled with a laser from a withdrawn from a roll of film web.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. Figure 1 shows a side view of a part of a packaging machine, in which the objects separated into a group are wrapped with a foil blank.

Figure 2 shows a part of the supply path of the articles, wherein the objects are separated into groups.

Figure 3 shows a schematic partial view of a packaging machine, in which case essentially the area is shown, in which the groups are wrapped with a foil blank.

Figure 4 shows a container which has been produced with the packaging machine according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a partial view of a packaging machine 100, with which objects 10 separated into groups 10 can be enveloped with a foil blank 48. In the illustration shown in Figure 1, the objects 3 are shown as bottles. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that this may not be construed as limiting the invention. The production of containers from objects grouped into groups by covering a foil blank 48 and the subsequent shrinking of the foil blank 48 onto the groups 10 can be carried out with different objects. Essentially, in the present invention, the articles 3 are liquid containers. The objects 3 or the groups 10 are transported in the direction of the arrow 12 in the packaging machine 100. Before wrapping the groups 10, the separation takes place in groups 10 in a correspondingly designed station 20. Subsequently, the groups 10 a film blank 48 available with which the groups 10 are wrapped. To produce a corresponding foil blank 48, a foil web 41 is fed to a cutting device 40. According to the invention, a laser is provided in the cutting device 40 which separates the individual film blanks 48 from the film web 41. The wrapping of the groups 10 of objects 3 is not shown in the illustration of FIG. However, after the groups 10 of articles 3 are wrapped with the foil blank 48, the groups 10 thus wrapped are fed to a station 30 for shrinking the foil blank 48 onto the groups. Essentially, the shrinkage of the foil blank 48 on the groups 10 by increased temperature. The wrapped with the film blank 48 groups 10 go through in the station for shrinking a corresponding shrink tunnel (not shown), in which ultimately the foil blank 48 fits tightly to the group 10 and thus holds together the group 10 of the objects 3 and thereby forms the container.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the station 20 for separating the objects 3 into corresponding groups 10. The objects 3 move according to the direction 12 shown in FIG. 2 in the packaging machine 100. In the station 20 for singulating the objects 3 in FIG Groups 10, the incoming objects 3 are divided into corresponding groups 10, which are ultimately wrapped with a foil blank (not shown). With the packaging machine 100 according to the invention, the articles 3 can be put together in groups 10 of any size. At least two objects 3 are referred to as a group 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the articles 3 are designed as bottles. det, which are separated and grouped into groups 10.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a packaging machine 100, with which individual groups 10 of objects 3 are wrapped with a foil blank 48. As already mentioned in the description of FIG. 1, the individual objects 3 are separated in a station 20 into the corresponding groups 10, which are then introduced with a foil blank 48 in a station 50 for wrapping. Below the station 50 for wrapping the groups 10 with the film blank 48, at least one roller 42 is provided, on which a film web 41 is rolled up. It is recommended to provide at least two rollers 42, so that a quick change between the individual rollers 42 can be performed. A change is required when the film web 41 is completely withdrawn from a roll 42 and the next roll 42 for further processing, or wrapping of the groups 10 with the film blank 48 must be introduced into the processing or should. The film web 41 is withdrawn from the roller 42 and fed to a cutting device 40. In the cutting device 40, a laser 45 is provided, which separates the individual film sections 48 from the incoming into the cutting device 40 film web 41. There are several possibilities which are well known from the prior art, such as a laser 45 from a film web 41 several foil blanks 48 can be separated. For the sake of completeness, a possibility is described here. The laser beam, which separates a foil blank 48 from the film web 41, z. B. with a pivoting mirror (not shown) over the width of the film web 41, so as to separate the required foil blank 48 from the foil web 41.

From the cutting device 40, the film blanks 48 are transported by means of a feed unit 43 from below to the station 50 for wrapping the groups 10 upwards. In the station 50, the individual groups 10 are wrapped in succession, each with a foil blank 48. The thus wrapped groups 10 are then transported to a station 30 for shrinking the foil blank 48 onto the group 10. In the station for shrinking prevails at an elevated temperature, thereby laying the film blank 48 completely to the group 10 of the individual objects 3 at. By this close concern of the film blank 48 to the individual objects 3 of the group 10 thus obtained a container 2, which is held together by the shrunk-film blank 48.

The use of a laser 45 for separating the film blanks 48 from the incoming film into the cutting device 40 41 has the advantage that act on the incoming film web 41 when cutting in the cutting device 40 no mechanical means. Thus, the risk of congestion of the film web 41 in the cutting device 40, or a failure of the mechanical means is excluded. Thus, the efficiency of a packaging machine increases considerably.

Figure 4 shows a schematic embodiment of a container 2, which has been produced with the device according to the invention, or with the inventive method. Although in the following description of the shrunk onto the container 2 shrunk film blank is provided with further elements, this is not intended as a restriction kung of the invention be construed. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that a container 2 can also be produced merely by shredding a foil blank 48 alone onto the group 10 of the articles 3. In the embodiment shown here, the container 2 is provided with a carrying handle 1. On both sides of the carrying handle 1, two perforations 7 and two engagement slots 8 are formed. The perforations 7 serve to open the container 2 easier, so that a customer can reach the existing in the container 2 items 3, or bottles. The two engagement slots 8 have the advantage that it is easier to get to the handle 1 so as to transport the entire container 2. The shrunk-on foil blank 4 holds the objects 3 together to form a container 2.

Claims

Claims :

A packaging machine (100) for containers (2) comprising articles (3) having a station (50) for wrapping a plurality of groups (10) separated by articles (3) with a foil blank (48) located in front of the station (50). for wrapping a cutting device (40) is provided which separates the film blank (48) from a roll (42) unwound film web (41), characterized in that the cutting device (40) comprises a laser (45), the film blank (48) separates from the film web (41).

2. Packaging machine (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the station (50) for wrapping the respective group (10) has a station (30) for shrinking the wrapped around the respective group (10) foil blank (48), wherein the shrunk-on foil blank (48) and the respective group (10) represent the container (2).

3. Packaging machine (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the station (30) for shrinking means are provided which generate a thermal energy, which shrinks the wrapped around the respective group (10) foil blank (48).

4. Packaging machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that around the respective group (10) wrapped foil blank (48) has a tubular shape.

5. Packaging machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the objects (3) are liquid containers.

6. Packaging machine (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the liquid containers are bottles.

7. Packaging machine (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the liquid containers are cans.

8. Packaging machine (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the liquid containers are made of a plastic material.

9. A method for producing containers (30) from articles (3), characterized by the following steps:

-that the objects (3) are separated into groups (10), which later represent the containers (2);

in that one group (10) is successively supplied to a station (50) for wrapping the group (10) with a foil blank (48),

- That the foil blanks (48) before being supplied to a station (50) for wrapping the group (10) unwound from a roll (42) and isolated by means of a laser (45), which acts as a cutting device.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the station (50) for wrapping the respective group

(10) a station (30) for shrinking is arranged downstream, in which the wrapped around the respective group (10) foil blank (48) is shrunk and thus ultimately the container (2).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the shrinking of the film blank (48) is carried out thermally.

12. container (2) from an isolated group (10) of objects (3), which is wrapped with a foil blank (48), characterized in that a cutting device (40) for wrapping the respective group

(10) using a blank (48) with a laser (45) from a withdrawn from a roll (42) film web (41) isolated.

13 containers (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that a shrinking of the group (10) enveloping foil blank (48) forms the finished container (2).

14. Container (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the shrinking of the film blank (48) is a thermal process.

15. Container (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the groups (10) isolated objects (3) are liquid containers.