WO2017148557A1

WO2017148557A1 - Section of a packaging line for beverage containers and method for handling beverage containers during their transport along a packaging line

Info

Publication number: WO2017148557A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/082098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Luber; Peter Koch; Jürgen Werner; Herbert Spindler; Roland Hofstetter
Original assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2016-03-02
Filing date: 2016-12-21
Publication date: 2017-09-08
Also published as: DE102016203435A1; CN208802211U; EP3423361A1; EP3423361B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a section (1) of a packaging line for beverage containers (3). The section (1) comprises a shrink tunnel (13), by means of which tunnel (13) thermoplastic packaging material can be shrunk onto groups of beverage containers (3) to form packaged units (5). The section (1) also comprises at least one manipulator (20), designed to receive and handle, preferably by gripping and/or interlocking engagement, packaged units (5) produced by means of the shrink tunnel (13). The at least one manipulator (20) is positioned directly downstream of the shrink tunnel (13).

Description

Section of a packaging line for beverage containers and procedures for handling beverage containers during their transport along a packaging line

The present invention relates to a section of a packaging line for

Beverage containers and a method for handling beverage containers during their transport along a packaging line.

In the packaging of articles, in particular beverage containers, bottles o. The like. To containers, the articles are assembled in the desired manner and covered with a shrink film. The shrink wrap is shrunk around the articles by supplying hot air in a shrink tunnel. The articles enter with the shrink film over an entrance in the shrink tunnel and leave the

Shrink tunnel after the shrinking process via an exit. By the

Shrink tunnel may extend a conveyor or horizontal conveyor to move the articles during the shrinking process through the shrink tunnel.

Before the articles are fed into the shrink tunnel, thermoplastic packaging material is applied to an assembly of articles to form a package from the respective assembly over the thermoplastic packaging material in the shrink tunnel.

Such a shrinking device is known for example from German Utility Model Publication No. DE 20 2007 018 402 111. The shrink tunnel of the DE utility model is connected to a gas supply device, via which the packaging materials are charged with a fluid-tempered medium. For this purpose, the fluid-tempered medium passes through a flow chamber and is guided in the direction of a plurality of outlet openings. By loading the packaging material with the gaseous medium, the packaging material can be shrunk onto articles.

In generic devices according to the DE utility model follows on the shrink tunnel, a horizontal conveyor, on which the article after

Get up from the shrink tunnel and possibly moved in the direction of other workstations. On the horizontal conveyor or during their transport through the respective horizontal conveyor the articles then cool and can be subsequently manipulated by the other workstations. Before feeding to the other workstations, it may be necessary to group or distribute the articles so that the bundles reach the respective workstation with a particular distribution or grouping. For this purpose, the workstation may be preceded by a device for grouping or distributing.

If a shrink tunnel is taken out of service, all articles are driven out of the shrink tunnel in order not to be damaged due to the temperature level prevailing in the shrink tunnel. The respective subsequent to the shrink tunnel horizontal conveyor can serve as a buffer, which all of the shrinking tunnel located in the container at a

Decommissioning of the shrink tunnel can record. If the shrinking tunnel or the packaging line is put into operation again, the

Horizontal conveyor or the buffer upstanding container then be moved in the direction of a respective workstation.

Such devices or sections of a packaging line require a lot of space. In addition, it may be necessary that the containers in one

Reorientation or grouping must be brought in order to be able to be processed by the workstation. Accordingly, it would be desirable, starting from the prior art, to have devices which have a high degree of flexibility.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a generic section of a packaging line or a generic method available which require little space and have a high flexibility. The device should also be characterized by a simple structure. The procedure should be easy to implement.

The above objects are achieved by an apparatus and a method comprising the features in claims 1 and 12. Further advantageous

Embodiments are described by the subclaims.

The invention relates to a section of a packaging line for

Beverage containers. The beverage containers may be formed, for example, by bottles or PET bottles or cans. The section comprises a shrink tunnel, by means of which shrink tunnels for producing containers, thermoplastic packaging material

Assemblies on beverage containers is shrinkable. The shrink tunnel may for this purpose have a housing with two mutually aligned openings, the beverage containers entering through one of the two openings in the housing, are then moved through the shrink tunnel and the

Leave the shrink tunnel as a container over another opening or out of the

Shrink tunnel are discharged through the further opening. To transport the beverage containers or containers through the shrink tunnel, a

Horizontal conveyor be positioned within the shrink tunnel. in the

Shrinking tunnel can be arranged at least two opposing shaft walls between which the beverage containers are moved. The shaft walls can each have openings through which tempered air emerges and is moved in the direction of the thermoplastic packaging material. It makes sense for the section of the packaging line to comprise a work station which is arranged upstream of the shrink tunnel in the direction of flow of the beverage containers and via which workstation thermoplastic packaging material can be applied to compilations on beverage containers. The workstation may be directly upstream of the shrink tunnel in the flow direction of the beverage containers.

Further, the workstation may be preceded by an inlet for beverage containers, via which the beverage containers are continued to the workstation. The inlet may comprise a plurality of parallel aligned gutter plates over which the beverage containers are guided in parallel rows. The section also comprises at least one manipulator, which is designed for preferably clamping and / or positive reception and handling of containers produced via the shrink tunnel. The at least one manipulator follows downstream directly on the shrink tunnel.

Next, the section of the packaging line in preferred

Embodiments at least one downstream of the shrink tunnel following

Include working device, via which further packaging material can be applied to the container produced by means of the shrink tunnel. It is conceivable, for example, that the at least one downstream of the shrink tunnel following Working device can provide the respective container with a tray or formed from plastic and / or cardboard and / or other materials outer packaging. Thus, the at least one downstream following the shrink tunnel

Working device for applying a respective cellulosic or formed from cardboard and / or cardboard and / or plastic and / or other materials

Outer packaging formed on the container. It is also conceivable that the at least one working device following downstream of the shrinking tunnel is designed as a stretch wrapper. Thus, the at least one working device downstream of the shrinking tunnel can be designed to apply a further packaging material designed as a stretch film to containers.

A detection range of the at least one manipulator can thus extend at least approximately as far as an opening of the shrink tunnel, from which opening the containers emerge from the shrink tunnel. Thus, the at least one manipulator can receive and manipulate containers, if necessary, directly or at least approximately immediately after leaving the shrink tunnel. In the context of the present invention, the term "directly" can be understood as meaning that no further station or working device, such as a horizontal conveyor or the like, is interposed between the at least one manipulator and the shrink tunnel Further, the term "direct" in the context of the present invention may be used be understood that, as previously mentioned, a

Detection area of the at least one manipulator extends at least approximately up to an opening of the shrink tunnel, from which opening the containers emerge from the shrink tunnel.

In particularly preferred embodiments, it can also be provided that the at least one working device downstream of the at least one

Manipulator immediately connected. Such embodiments are further characterized by a small footprint of the section of the packaging line.

Further, embodiments have proven in which the shrink tunnel and / or the at least one manipulator is associated with at least one device for cooling the container. It is conceivable in this case that the at least one device for cooling the container comprises at least one fan, via which at least one fan, the container can be acted upon by a coming in the direction from above and another in the direction of coming from below airflow. The bundles can be seen in the area of an exit of the shrink tunnel by the in the direction from above coming air flow and the coming from below

Air volume flow are applied. The device can be positioned such that the containers can be cooled or subjected to an air volume flow before being received by the at least one manipulator. It may also be that the at least one manipulator means for

Has cooling the container or that the at least one manipulator a

Device for cooling the container is assigned. If the at least one

Manipulator, as described below, designed as a parallel kinematic robot or as an industrial robot, it may be that an air flow is directed by means of a coordinated movement of several working arms on the container and the at least one manipulator temporally following up receiving and manipulating container. The device for cooling the container may in this case have at least one nozzle via which an air volume flow for cooling the container can emerge and which nozzle is mechanically in communication with the plurality of working arms, so that the nozzle moves by means of a coordinated movement of the plurality of working arms or can be offset.

As just mentioned, it may be that the at least one manipulator is designed as a parallel kinematic robot. In particular, the at least one manipulator can be designed as a tripod and thus have three independently movable working arms. Embodiments in which the at least one manipulator is designed as a parallel kinematic robot have proven to achieve a high throughput when handling containers along the packaging line.

It is also conceivable that the at least one manipulator is designed as an industrial robot. In further embodiments, the at least one manipulator may comprise at least two hanging gripping arms, which cooperate for handling containers and are movable along the packaging line and obliquely to the flow direction of the container.

It is further conceivable that the section comprises a storage area for temporarily receiving containers, in which storage area containers are oriented through an obliquely oriented to their flow direction and through the at least one

Manipulator induced movement are transferable. The shrink tunnel, the at least one manipulator and the at least one workstation can thus be positioned in a linear arrangement. The memory area can be laterally to the linear Connect installation. In particular, the storage area can connect laterally in the region of the at least one manipulator to the linear installation.

A capacity of the storage area for beverage containers may correspond to at least one capacity of the shrink box for beverage containers. If the shrink tunnel is taken out of service, in practice all at a certain time in the shrink tunnel recorded container or

Beverage containers are removed from the shrink tunnel so that there are no containers in the shrink tunnel after this time. In embodiments known from the prior art, these containers removed from the shrink tunnel are connected directly to the shrink tunnel

Horizontal conveyor, which is designed as empty travel route,

cached. Advantageously, in the described embodiment with storage area can be dispensed with such an empty drive route, whereby the

Section of the packaging line can be made compact or space-saving. The storage area can be arranged offset laterally or obliquely to the flow direction of the container along the packaging line. It may also be that the at least one manipulator has its own horizontal conveying device, above which a clamping and / or gripping device designed as part of the at least one manipulator is movably suspended. The own

Horizontal conveyor of the at least one manipulator may optionally as

Memory area to be formed.

Furthermore, the section of a packaging line may comprise a control device, coupled to the at least one manipulator, via which the at least one manipulator for generating an arrangement and / or orientation of the containers provided for the at least one working device can be actuated. It is conceivable in this case that the at least one manipulator for producing the respective arrangement and / or orientation provided for the at least one working device can rotate and / or displace oblique containers to their flow direction. Also, if necessary, the at least one manipulator can form a supply current having a number of n parallel rows from a supply current having a number of n parallel rows, wherein the number n is formed differently from the number m.

Furthermore, the section may comprise at least one optical sensor for detecting a condition of containers, wherein the at least one manipulator is in operative connection with the at least one optical sensor, so that containers whose If the actual condition deviates from a desired condition, it may be possible to discard it before it is fed to the at least one working device via the at least one manipulator. The at least one optical sensor system can be designed as a camera system. Next, the at least one optical sensor or the

Camera system to be coupled to the previously described control device, wherein the control device causes the dispensing of the respective actual condition of the desired condition, the separation of the respective container via the at least one manipulator. For example, the target condition as the quality of

Shrinking the thermoplastic packaging material may be given to compilations to beverage containers. If the quality of the shrinkage does not correspond to the predetermined target condition or if the actual condition differs from the predetermined desired condition, the respective container, as previously described, can be discarded via the at least one manipulator. It is also conceivable that the at least one manipulator to a

Control device is coupled, which brings about when discarding a respective container over the at least one manipulator effected replacement by another container, wherein the actual condition of the other container of the desired condition corresponds. The further containers can be positioned, for example, in the previously described storage area, in which the at least one

Manipulator transferred a segregated container and temporal succession receives another container, the other container instead of the

Separate container is moved in the direction of at least one working device. It is also conceivable that containers whose actual condition differs from a nominal

Condition differs, oriented over a diagonal to their flow direction

Movement via the at least one manipulator in the memory area can be transferred.

It may also be that the section comprises at least one horizontal conveying device, via which manipulated containers can be fed to the at least one working device, wherein the at least one manipulator for stacking the containers is formed on the at least one horizontal conveying device. As mentioned below, for example, for the purpose of maintenance, repair or

Decommissioning be provided that all at a given time in the Shrink tunnels located beverage containers are removed from the shrink tunnel. In this case, it may be that the beverage containers located at the given time in the shrink tunnel are at least partially accepted and stacked by the at least one manipulator after discharge from the shrink tunnel. As previously mentioned, the at least one manipulator may have its own horizontal conveyor. The containers can be stacked on their own horizontal conveyor. When restarting the

Shrink tunnels, the containers can be moved in stacked form to at least one working device. It may also be that, when the shrinking tunnel is put into operation again, a stacked formation of the containers is removed via the at least one manipulator and the containers are carried on in non-stacked formation to the at least one working device.

In addition, embodiments have proven in which the at least one manipulator for stacking the container on the at least one

Horizontal conveyor is formed and in which at least one downstream of the at least one manipulator following working means is provided, via which further packaging material can be applied to the container in a stacked formation.

It is also conceivable that the at least one manipulator for producing a specific and a palettierfähigen position corresponding target orientation of multiple containers is formed to each other. After establishing the desired orientation, the plurality of containers can be compacted, as a result of which a palettable layer is produced. The palletizable layer can then be deposited on an associated pallet or transferred to an associated pallet. It is also conceivable that the section comprises a horizontal conveyor, which is followed by a grouping, by means of which Gruppierstation a certain orientation of the container to each other for a palettable position can be produced. Here, the at least one manipulator for positioning the container on the

Horizontal conveyor be formed. The at least one manipulator can thus be designed as a turning and / or distribution system for containers.

The invention also relates to a method for dealing with

Beverage containers during their transport along a packaging line.

Features, which have already been described in various embodiments of the According to the invention section may also be provided in conceivable embodiments of the method according to the invention and are therefore not mentioned redundantly. In addition, the following features, which relate to conceivable embodiments of the method according to the invention, for the

be provided according to the invention section of a packaging line.

As part of a first step of the process beverage containers are fed to a shrink tunnel, wherein thermoplastic packaging material is shrunk onto compilations of beverage containers and thereby respective containers are made from the compilations. In the shrink tunnel, the thermoplastic packaging material can be subjected to a tempered fluid flow in order to shrink the thermoplastic packaging material to the particular composition of beverage containers. For example, compilations formed from two, four, or six beverage containers may be produced, to which thermoplastic packaging material is applied, the compositions being compatible with their respective thermoplastic materials

Subsequently, the packaging material enters the shrink tunnel or is fed to the shrink tunnel.

Before forming the compilations, the beverage containers may be guided in parallel rows. The compilations may be delayed by delaying or accelerating leading beverage containers

Flow direction subsequent beverage containers are formed.

In a further step of the method according to the invention, the containers are removed from the shrink tunnel. Here, the container in the direction of at least one following on the shrink tunnel in the flow direction

Working equipment to be moved. In the shrink tunnel, the containers can be moved in a linear direction and optionally via a horizontal conveyor.

It is further provided that after removal from the shrink tunnel, the containers reach a detection area of at least one manipulator immediately following the shrink tunnel, which at least one directly adjoins the shrink tunnel

Shrinking tunnel following manipulator container preferably clamped and / or positively receives and handles. The detection range of the at least one manipulator can connect at least approximately directly to an exit or an opening of the shrink tunnel.

It may also be that the container of one on the at least one

Manipulator be supplied in a flow direction of the container following working device, which applies additional packaging material on the container.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the container before

Receipt by the at least one manipulator by means of a

Air flow to be cooled. It is conceivable here that the containers are cooled by an airflow coming from below and by another air volume flow coming from above. In this case, containers in the region of the shrinking tunnel and / or in the area or detection area of the at least one manipulator can be cooled by means of the air volume flow.

In particular, respective containers can be cooled before receipt by the at least one manipulator.

Practice has shown that containers immediately after leaving the

Shrink tunnels can have a high temperature. By the described

Cooling is the possibility of containers at least approximately immediately after leaving the shrink tunnel by means of at least one manipulator

receive.

It may be further that all at some point in the

Shrink tunnels located beverage containers are removed from the shrink tunnel, so that thereafter no beverage containers are in the shrink tunnel. In addition, at the given time in the shrink tunnel

Beverage containers or containers located after removal from the shrink tunnel at least partially received by the at least one manipulator and transferred by means of at least one manipulator obliquely to its flow direction in a storage area. For example, this may be necessary if the shrink tunnel is to be taken out of service at times or if there are any problems that need to be rectified. Time after at least a proportionate transfer of located in the shrink tunnel at the given time in the container

Memory area, the respective containers located in the storage area means of the at least one manipulator taken from the storage area and in

Direction of at least one working device to be moved.

In other embodiments, it may also be that the container via the at least one manipulator in one of the previously mentioned at least one

Work device provided arrangement and / or new orientation can be brought. For example, this can be selectively rotated and / or oblique to their containers

Offset flow direction and / or delayed or accelerated to subsequent containers.

In addition, a condition of containers can be sensory checked, with packages whose actual condition deviates from a desired, condition, are discarded before being supplied to the at least one working device via the at least one manipulator. The desired nature, as previously described, as the quality of the shrinkage of the thermoplastic

Packaging material may be formed on compilations to beverage containers.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a conceivable embodiment of a section of a packaging line;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of another conceivable

Embodiment of a section of a packaging line; FIG. 3 shows individual steps as they may be in a conceivable embodiment of a method according to the invention.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples, such as

Invention can be configured and do not represent a final limitation. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a conceivable embodiment of a section 1 of a packaging line for beverage containers 3.

The section 1 comprises in the embodiment of Figure 1 an inlet 7, via which individual beverage containers 3 in indicated by means of arrow representation

Flow direction SR are promoted. The inlet 7 comprises a plurality of gutter plates, over which parallel tracks for guiding the beverage containers 3 are formed in parallel rows.

When the beverage containers 3 are transferred from the inlet 7 into the workstation 9, leading beverage containers 3 can be accelerated with respect to subsequent beverage containers 3, so that between the leading beverage containers 3 and the respectively following beverage containers 3 certain distance is formed. Leading beverage containers 3 and trailing beverage containers 3 then form a respective compilation in the area of the workstation 9

Beverage containers 3 off. Even in the workstation 9 itself, the distance between leading beverage containers 3 and lagging beverage containers 3 can be formed. About the workstation 9 is on the respective

Assemblies of beverage containers 3 applied thermoplastic packaging material. FIG. 1 shows with reference to FIG. 13 a shrink tunnel which directly adjoins the work station 9. To get out of the compilations

Beverage containers 3 and their respective thermoplastic packaging material form a respective container 5, the thermoplastic packaging material is applied in the shrink tunnel 13 with thermal energy, wherein the thermoplastic

Shrinking packaging material to the respective composition and thereby a container 5 from the respective composition and its thermoplastic

Packaging material is formed.

The shrink tunnel 13 comprises a device 14 for cooling the container 5. Before leaving the shrink tunnel 13, the containers 5 pass through the device 14. Via the device 14, the containers 5 are each cooled with one coming from below and one from above impinged air flow coming. After passing through the device 14 or after cooling, the containers 5 leave the shrink tunnel 13. The section 1 also comprises at least one downstream or in

Flow direction SR on the shrink tunnel 13 following work device 30, via which on the package produced by means of the shrink tunnel 13 5 further

Packaging material or stretch film is applied. The following in the flow direction SR on the shrink tunnel 13 working device 30 is therefore designed as a stretch wrapper. In the embodiment of Figure 1, an outer packaging is applied to the container 5 by means of the working device 30. The outer packaging can, for example, as a tray or as formed by cardboard and / or cardboard

Umverpackung be formed. The working device 30 and the shrink tunnel 13 is a manipulator 20 interposed, which connects directly to the shrink tunnel 13 or

which without further of the working device 30 and the shrink tunnel 13

intermediate stations immediately after the shrink tunnel 13 follows. Of the

Shrink tunnel 13 can be formed by a first module, the manipulator 20 by a second module, wherein the second module directly connects to the first module.

It may be that the manipulator 20 has its own

Horizontal conveyor comprises, which connects directly to the shrink tunnel 13. The manipulator 20 can detect and manipulate upstanding containers 5 on the own horizontal conveyor. The coverage of the

Manipulator 20 may be at least approximately up to an opening of the

Shrink tunnels 13 extend over which opening containers 5 leave the shrink tunnel 13.

The manipulator 20 is formed in the embodiment of Figure 1 as Parallelkinematik- robot 21 and tripod and has a plurality of working arms whose movements for receiving and handling containers 5 are coordinated.

In reference to numeral 17, a memory area of the section 1 is shown. The manipulator 20 or the parallel kinematic robot 21 can accept containers 5, an obliquely oriented to the flow direction SR movement for the respective

bring the containers 5 received and thereby transfer the containers 5 into the storage area 17 and deposit them in the storage area 17. The transfer of the container 5 in the storage area 17 by the manipulator 20 can via a Control device S are predetermined, which is coupled to the manipulator 20 and the parallel kinematic robot 21. In this way, a continuation of the respective container 5 to the working device 30 is at least temporarily prevented. If the shrink tunnel 13 is taken out of service, all recorded at a certain time in the shrink tunnel 13 container 5 or

Beverage containers 3 are removed from the shrink tunnel 13, as in

Shrink tunnel 13 a high temperature level prevails, which would lead to damage of the respective container 5 at a long residence time of containers 5 in the shrink tunnel 13. It may be that at the given time in the shrink tunnel

13 and subsequently removed from the shrink tunnel 13 containers 5 received by the manipulator 20 and the parallel kinematic robot 21, transferred to the memory area 17 and sold in the memory area 17. If the shrinking tunnel 17 is subsequently put into operation again, the containers 5 transferred to the storage area 17 and deposited in the storage area 17 can be removed from the storage area 17 via the manipulator 20 or the parallel kinematic robot 21 and further in the direction of the working device 30 to be moved. Even with disturbances it may be necessary to remove all containers 5 from the shrink tunnel 13. A transfer into the storage area 17 can then take place via the manipulator 20, as described above.

In FIG. 1, as previously mentioned, stretch film can be applied to the respective containers 5 via the working device 30. The working device 30 is thus designed as a stretch wrapper. For this purpose, it is necessary to bring the container 5 before being fed to the working device 30 in a corresponding predetermined orientation and orientation. On the controller S can this

Information about a provided for the working device 30 target orientation and target orientation of the container 5 be deposited. By means of the information, the control device S can effect a handling of the containers 5 or alignment of the containers 5 via the manipulator 20 or the parallel kinematics robot 21 such that the containers 5 reach the working device 30 in the predetermined desired orientation and desired orientation ,

In addition, the section 1 has an optical sensor 23, which as

Camera system 24 is formed and is in communication with the control device S. The optical sensor 23 or the camera system 24 provides information to the Control device S to the actual condition of containers 5, which the

Exit shrink tunnel 13. For example, the optical sensor 23 or the camera system 24 can supply information on the quality of the shrinkage of the thermoplastic packaging material to the respective composition of beverage containers 3. The control device S compares the actual condition of containers 5 with a predetermined desired condition. If the actual condition of a container 5 or more containers 5 deviates from a predetermined desired condition, the control device S may be a separation of the respective one container 5 or the respective plurality of containers 5, the actual condition of which deviates from the predetermined desired condition , via the manipulator 20 and via the parallel kinematic robot 21 effect. For example, segregated container 5 of the

Manipulator 20 and the parallel kinematic robot 21 are transferred to the memory area 17. For various embodiments is also conceivable that the

Manipulator 20 a segregated container 5 replaced by another container 5, the actual condition of the desired nature corresponds. The further containers 5 may possibly be stored in the storage area 17 or are located in the storage area 17.

In particular, in embodiments according to Figure 1, in which the container 5 are provided by means of the working device 30 with stretch film, can be dispensed with an additional grouping and / or distribution system, so that the section 1 a high flexibility while still requiring little space in the flow direction SR Container 5 has.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of another conceivable

Embodiment of a section 1 of a packaging line. The section 1 of the embodiment of Figure 2 has according to the section 1 of the

Embodiment of Figure 1 an inlet 7, a workstation 9, a

Shrink tunnel 13 and a device 14 for cooling the container 5. In addition, the section 1 has a manipulator 20, which is designed as a parallel kinematic robot 21. The manipulator 20 or the parallel kinematic robot 21 directly adjoins the shrink tunnel 13. The components mentioned are identical to

Embodiment of Figure 1 is formed, so that is referred back with respect to the structural and functional design on Figure 1.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, a layer-forming belt 18 is additionally provided which directly adjoins the manipulator 20 or the parallel-kinematics Robot 21 connects. By means of the manipulator 20 are containers 5 on the layer forming belt 18 in a specific and for a palettierfähige position

intended orientation to each other positionable. Information about the specific orientation are stored on the control device S, which controls the at least one manipulator 20 for the corresponding positioning of the containers 5. Furthermore, 18 two movable feed elements 6 are provided in the region of the layer forming belt 18, which can compress the located on the layer forming belt 18 and aligned over the manipulator 20 container 5 and thereby produce a palettierfähige layer of the containers 5. Opposite the flow direction SR, along which the containers 5 move in the shrink tunnel 13, a further flow direction SR 'of the container 5 on the layer forming belt 18 is offset by 90 °. After a palletizable layer has been formed from the containers 5 on the layer forming belt 18 by means of compression by the feed elements 6, the palletizable layer is continued to a palletizing device 22. The palette device 22 then sets the palettierfähige position on an associated and in the figures present patent application not shown with palette.

A working area of the manipulator 20 may extend at least in sections over the ply-forming belt 18 in order to pass on packs 5 in the specific orientation to the ply-forming belt 18 or to deposit them on the ply-forming belt 18. It may also be that the manipulator 20 has its own

Horizontal conveyor has, to which reference is made in Figure 2 by way of example with numeral 60. The manipulator 20 can produce a specific orientation of the container 5 for a palletizable layer on its own horizontal conveyor 60 and the container 5 thereon by means of its own horizontal conveyor 60 to the

Pass on layer forming belt 18 or move in the direction of layer forming belt 18.

FIG. 3 shows individual steps as they may be in a conceivable embodiment of a method according to the invention. Thus, as part of a first step beverage containers 3 are fed to a shrink tunnel 13, wherein

thermoplastic packaging material on compilations

Beverage containers 3 is shrunk. As a result, several

Beverage containers 3 combined into a container 5.

Following this time or after shrinking the thermoplastic

Packaging material, the container 5 are removed from the shrink tunnel 13, whereupon the containers 5 reach at least one manipulator 20 immediately following the shrinking tunnel 13 into the detection area. The at least one

Manipulator 20 accepts container 5 and handles after receiving the respective container 5. From the receipt and handling by the at least one manipulator 20 resulting in the container 5 in one for a

Working device 30 provided orientation and / or arrangement are brought. Subsequently, the containers 5 are continued in the direction of the working device 30. By the working device 30 then stretch film is applied to the container 5.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 section

3 beverage containers

5 containers

6 delivery element

7 inlet

9 workstation

13 shrink tunnel

14 device for cooling

17 storage area

18 layering tape

20 manipulator

21 parallel kinematic robots

22 palletizer

23 Optical sensor

24 camera system

30 working equipment

32 horizontal conveyor

S control device SR flow direction

Claims

claims

Section (1) of a packaging line for beverage containers (3), which section comprises:

- A shrink tunnel (13), by means of which shrink tunnels (13) for producing containers (5) thermoplastic packaging material

Assemblies on beverage containers (3) is shrinkable and

at least one manipulator (20), which is designed for preferably clamping and / or positive reception and handling of containers (5) produced via the shrink tunnel (13),

- wherein the at least one manipulator (20) downstream of the container (5)

immediately following the shrink tunnel (13).

Section of a packaging line according to claim 1, comprising at least one working device (30) downstream of the at least one manipulator (20), via which further packaging material can be applied to the containers (5) produced by means of the shrinking tunnel (13).

Section of a packaging line according to claim 2, wherein the at least one working device (30) immediately downstream of the at least one manipulator (20).

Section of a packaging line according to one or Claims 1 to 3, in which at least one device (14) for cooling the containers (5) is associated with the shrinking tunnel (13) and / or the at least one manipulator (20).

Section of a packaging line according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, comprising a storage area (17) for temporarily receiving containers (5), in which storage area (17) containers (5) through an oblique to their

Flow direction (SR) oriented and by the at least one manipulator (20) induced movement can be transferred.

6. Section of a packaging line according to claim 5, wherein a capacity of the storage area (17) for beverage containers (3) corresponds to at least one capacity of the shrink tunnel (13) for beverage containers (3).

7. Section of a packaging line according to one of claims 2 to 5, comprising a to the at least one manipulator (20) coupled control means (S), via which the at least one manipulator (20) for generating a for the at least one working device (30) provided Arrangement and / or orientation of the container (5) can be controlled.

8. Section of a packaging line according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least one optical sensor (23) for detecting a condition of containers (5), wherein the at least one manipulator (20) with the at least one optical sensor (23) in operative connection stands, so that containers (5) whose actual nature deviates from a desired condition,) can be separated out via the at least one manipulator (20).

9. section of a packaging line according to claim 5 and claim 8, wherein container (5) whose actual nature deviates from a desired condition, via an obliquely to their flow direction (SR) oriented movement via the at least one manipulator (20) the memory area (17) can be transferred.

10. Section of a packaging line according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising at least one horizontal conveyor over which manipulated containers (5) of at least one working means (30) can be fed, wherein the at least one manipulator (20) for stacking containers (5). is formed on the at least one horizontal conveyor.

1 1. Section of a packaging line according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one manipulator (20) for producing a specific and a palettierfähigen position corresponding target orientation of multiple containers (5) is formed to each other.

12. Method for handling beverage containers (3) during their transport along a packaging line, the method comprising the following steps:

- Supplying beverage containers (3) in a shrink tunnel (13), wherein thermoplastic packaging material to compilations Beverage containers (3) is shrunk and thereby respective containers (5) are produced from the compilations,

Removing the containers (5) from the shrink tunnel (13),

- Wherein the container (5) after removal from the shrink tunnel (13) in the

Detection area of at least one directly following the shrink tunnel (13) following manipulator (20) reach, which at least one directly on the shrink tunnel (13) following manipulator (20) container (5) vorzuweise clamping and / or positively receives and handles.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the container (5) on the at least one manipulator (20) in a flow direction (SR) of the container (5) following

Working device (30) are supplied, which applies further packaging material on the container (5).

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the container (5) before

Receipt by the at least one manipulator (20) by means of a

Air flow to be cooled.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein all to a

Be removed in the shrink tunnel (13) beverage containers (3) are removed from the shrink tunnel (13), so that thereafter no beverage containers (3) are in the shrink tunnel (13) and in which at the time in the shrink tunnel (13) Beverage containers (3) after removal from the shrink tunnel (13) at least partially received by the at least one manipulator (20) and by means of the at least one manipulator (20) obliquely to its flow direction (SR) in a

Memory area (17) are transferred. 16. The method according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, in which containers (5) via the at least one manipulator (20) in a for the at least one working device (30) provided arrangement and / or new orientation are brought.

17. The method according to one or more of claims 13 to 16, in which a condition of containers (5) is sensory checked, with containers (5) whose actual condition deviates from a desired condition, before being supplied to the at least one working device (30) is discarded via the at least one manipulator (20).

18. The method according to one or claims 13 to 17, wherein the container (5) after discharge from the shrink tunnel (13) by means of the at least one manipulator (20) are stacked and supplied in stacked formation of the working device (30).

19. The method according to one or more of claims 12 to 18, wherein the container (5) via the at least one manipulator (20) in one for a

palettierfähige position provided target orientation are brought to each other.