DE102010015853A1 - Method and device for treating articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for treating at least two articles combined into a bundle is disclosed, in which the previously grouped articles are acted upon by an application device at least in sections following the conveyed articles during a conveying movement and are subjected to a second treatment process in time connection with a first treatment process , Furthermore, an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped articles combined into a bundle and moved by means of a conveying device is disclosed, which has a strapping device for applying a strap-like strapping that wraps around the articles in the horizontal direction and a device for applying a bundle to the bundle Includes top-side band-like carrying device or strap. Furthermore, a device for producing containers from several articles combined by means of strapping is disclosed.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of at least two articles combined into one container. The invention further relates to an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and combined into a container, moving by means of a conveyor, articles.

There are various options available to combine individual articles into larger containers. Thus, for example, beverage containers can be combined and packaged by means of shrink film wrappings into containers of four, six or more containers. The production of containers is usually unavoidable, since such containers form the most common variant of sales units for beverage containers and bottles made of PET plastic. The containers are partially recombined for transport and / or put together in layers and palletized. The shrink films used for the production of known containers require certain production steps, which have a relatively high energy requirement. In addition, the film used causes costs for production, for the provision, for handling and for later disposal, since it is no longer needed after the sale. The machine equipment for providing the so-called. Film wrapping modules and other handling stations causes high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the so-called. Shrink tunnel, in which the beaten to the container film is shrunk by Heißluftbeaufschlagung around the bottles, requires a relatively high energy and capital investment.

An alternative variant to container manufacture is that the articles to be joined are held together with a strapping strapped horizontally around the outsides of the articles, which is placed around the articles during an uninterrupted conveying process and then fixed. During the application of the strapping, the articles need not be stopped because the strapping can be applied in a continuous process during the uninterrupted promotion of the articles around them. Typically, the strapping is formed by two or more straps, wire, plastic, metal, paper or composite material stretched around the outsides of the articles and subsequently biased at their ends. The ends of the bands may optionally be glued together, welded, clamped, knotted or otherwise connected.

The application of the strapping can take place, for example, by means of a so-called application head. In this way, the strapping can be applied with an application head which is pushed from above over the articles located on a horizontal conveyor and moved in the horizontal direction and which moves in synchrony with the feed speed of the horizontal conveyor. Optionally, the strapping device can also comprise a gantry or articulated robot with a strapping head, which moves in the vertical direction over the articles during the application of the strapping and at the same time moves along with the articles in the horizontal conveying direction.

Since these application heads are constructed relatively complex and have a certain amount of time for the application of the strapping and therefore must be moved over a specific conveyor line, usually for further treatment steps or processes on the container no space and / or hardly process time, should not reduce the processing speed which is usually undesirable. Often, however, it is necessary to provide the containers produced by strapping with suitable support means to allow easy and comfortable handling. In particular, such a carrying handle is intended to improve the handling comfort for the end customer, who can comfortably carry and implement the containers with the aid of the above-attached carrying handle or loops.

The EP 0 174 015 B1 discloses an application device for attaching carrying handles to articles such as packaging containers for drinks. The handle material is fed from a continuous strip and placed on a drum before it is cut and applied to the objects from above. A pair of application arms engages the corresponding recessed drum and thereby engages adhesive end portions of the handle portion to move against the side surfaces of the article.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a quick, inexpensive and easy to handle way of producing packages in which the packages are provided with both a strapping and a carrying handle. With the present invention, the corresponding manufacturing processes should at least be accelerated.

These objects of the invention are achieved with the subject matters of the independent claims, wherein features of advantageous developments of the invention result from the respective dependent claims. To achieve the stated object, the invention proposes a method for the treatment of at least two combined into a container article in which the previously grouped articles during a conveying movement by means of an application device which follows the conveyed article at least in sections, and is subjected to a second treatment process in temporal connection with a first treatment process. This integrated method makes it possible to apply a handle to a container treated by means of a strapping application device largely without a time delay. When it is said in this method that the second treatment process takes place in temporal connection with the first treatment process, it is meant that the second treatment process can take place approximately simultaneously, immediately after or immediately before the first treatment process. This is typically achieved by the fact that the two treatment processes take place in a temporally combined or integrated manner, preferably within a common application step and by means of an integrated application device.

Normally, the articles are combined during the first treatment process by means of at least one, applied by the application device ribbon-like, the articles wrapping in the horizontal direction strapping into a container. In addition, in this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the articles are provided during the second treatment process with a band-like carrying device or carrying loop which overlaps the container at its upper side. In this case, the carrying device or the carrying loop can in particular be supplied from a strip supply and be brought to a suitable length in the region of the application device and cut off.

A further embodiment variant of the method according to the invention can provide that the carrying strap applied to the container is held in a middle section approximately centrally above the container and at a distance therefrom, while its two free ends are approximated by means of pivoting devices and pressed against vertical side surfaces of the container be fixed. The handling devices for the carrying strap can hold these at the contact points in particular in each case by means of negative pressure. This carrying handle may possibly contribute to the additional position stabilization of the container formation, so that the beverage container can move to a lesser extent against each other, especially if the handle has a slightly diagonal position and the article at least slightly braced against each other.

Since the simultaneous or immediately successive application of the strapping and the carrying straps may take longer than the transport speed dictates, a particularly useful variant of the method according to the invention may be to treat immediately consecutive packages of separate application devices during the conveying movement and spatially offset from each other, moved during their treatment operations with the containers and moved after completion of the treatment operations with a return stroke against the conveying direction and fed to a subsequent group of articles. In this case, at least two similar application devices or heads are used which handle and handle time-shifted successive containers, so that the conveying speed can be maintained at an original level, which is generally matched to the mere strapping of the containers. Alternatively, three or more similar application devices can be used for each of a number of successively moving containers, if this is useful or necessary for reasons of faster processing.

The present invention further comprises an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and grouped by a conveyor moving articles, a strapping device for applying a band-like strapping the articles in the horizontal direction strapping and means for applying a, the container Having at its top cross band-like carrying device or carrying strap. This application device can, for example, be connected to a supply of tape for feeding the carrying device or the carrying loop. In addition, it can be provided with a suitable cutting device for cutting the tape supply into sections of suitable length. The cutting device can in each case cut lengths of tape in lengths suitable for carrying loops from the endless strip supply.

According to a further embodiment variant, the application device according to the invention can have a holding device for temporarily fixing a middle section of the carrying loop approximately centrally above the container and spaced therefrom, which also has pivoting devices for guiding and attaching the two free ends of the carrying strap to vertical side surfaces of the container. This handling device for the strap can hold them at the touch points each by means of negative pressure.

Furthermore, the application device according to the invention can guide and conveying devices for feeding the required band sections for the carrying strap in the horizontal direction above the container and for the placement of the cut to length Band section approximately centered above the container.

Finally, the present invention relates to a device for producing containers from a plurality of articles combined by strapping, comprising a conveying device for the continuous transport of grouped articles and an application device for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and combined into a container, moving by means of the conveyor, articles. The application device has a strapping device for applying a band-like strapping, which straps around the articles in the horizontal direction, and a device for applying a strap-like carrying device or carrying loop which overlaps the bundle at its upper side.

If in the present context usually only spoken of articles, so this can be the most varied types of cargo, eg. Bottles, beverage containers, cans etc. Thus, for example, PET beverage containers are increasingly summarized by means of tape strapping to packs. In this connection, the present invention offers the mentioned advantages.

By combining the application of the handles and the strapping in a common application device, the entire length of the packaging line can be shorter. Individual modules, in which the containers each have to be split again and the corresponding application head must be brought back into a synchronized movement, can be omitted. Since, moreover, the containers are in a spatially and force-fixed position during the strapping process, the gluing process during the application of the handle, which is also easy to place at an angle, with the simultaneous application of pressure forces to the container is made particularly reliable.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures illustrate and illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the present invention in their details and functions.

1 shows a schematic side view of a transport path with successive groups of containers that are acted upon by several application devices for applying container strapping and handles.

2 shows a schematic plan view of the transport path according to 1 ,

3 shows a detailed view of the transport route according to 1 ,

4 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a portion of the application device for applying the handles.

5 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a part of the application device for applying the handles.

6 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a part of the application device for applying the handles.

7 shows a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a portion of the application device for applying the handles.

Based on the schematic representations of 1 to 3 becomes a transport route 10 each with groups 12 of two, four or more upright beverage containers 14 illustrates that by means of inventive application devices 16 to strapped containers 18 are combined, which are provided on an upper side with handles or loops (not shown here). The application devices 16 each allow an approximately simultaneous application of the container strapping and the carrying straps. For this purpose, each of the application devices comprises 16 in each case a strapping device 20 for applying a ribbon-like, the beverage container 14 strapping in a horizontal direction and a device 22 for applying a container 18 at its top cross band-like carrying device or carrying strap. For this purpose, each of the application devices stands 16 with a tape supply for supplying the carrying device or the carrying strap in combination, as shown by the 4 to 7 is illustrated in more detail. In addition, it is provided with a suitable cutting device for cutting the tape supply into sections of the appropriate length. The cutting device lengthen each band sections in appropriate length for carrying straps from the endless tape supply.

As further based on the 1 and 2 can be seen, are to achieve a sufficiently high processing speed in the production of the container 18 typically several such application devices 16 arranged in a row, as they synchronize with those on the transport route 10 standing beverage containers 14 have to move. When lowering ( 1 ) or lateral deliveries ( 2 ) The strapping frame, depending on the chosen concept of strapping modules 20 depends, the carrying handle with a separate gripping and pressing element, the part of the Facility 22 is applied to the container. Subsequently or temporally done the strapping device 20 their additional task such as the strapping and / or the rotation of the container 18 , At the end of such a synchronous drive is the application device 16 no longer in engagement with the container 18 and then a return stroke against the conveying direction F of the transport route 10 to his starting position. Depending on the chosen plant performance of the desired minimum cycle time for the strapping and application process, two, three or more such application heads can be used to achieve the required power 16 be connected in series. The containers 18 are doing from the application heads 16 not synchronously produced, but delayed, as in the 1 and 2 hinted at.

By combining the application of the handles and the strapping in a common application device 16 the entire length of the packaging line can be shorter. Individual modules where the containers 18 each again brought to division and the corresponding application head must be brought back into a synchronized movement, can be omitted. As well as the containers 18 When strapping in a spatially and force-fixed position, the bonding process when applying the - easily slanted to be placed - handle with simultaneous application of pressure forces on the container 18 especially reliable.

The 4 to 7 show in schematic representations four different embodiments of a part of the application device 16 for applying the handles to the tops of the containers 18 , The first two variants according to 4 and 5 each see a mechanics of the application device 16 before, in which the appropriate length of the straps 26 before being fixed on the containers 18 by means of one with the horizontal above the container 18 conveyed carrying loop section along moving cutting unit (not shown there each) is cut and cut to length. In the other two variants according to 6 and 7 is a mechanics of the application device 16 provided, in which the cutting unit or cutting blade 46 (see, for example. 6 ) is attached to a defined position and suitably cut strips as carrying straps 26 on the moving carriage of the application device 16 be handed over.

Furthermore, the first variant of the application device 16 according to 4 the device for applying the strap 22 with a feeder unit 24 for the carrying straps 26 from an endless supply, not shown here. With multiple deflections are provided with splices carrying straps 26 on a carrier tape 28 to a rotating impression cylinder 30 transported. Below the impression cylinder 30 are a pair of superposed roles 32 arranged, with the help of the carrying straps 26 to a conveyor belt 34 which rotates circumferentially and the carrying straps 26 to their intended position above the container 18 promoted. For this purpose, a triangular deflection of the conveyor belt 34 provided with an upper roller 32 and two below, on a horizontal plane located lower conveyor rollers 36 , Between the two lower conveyor rollers 36 that are above the container 18 with the beverage containers 14 are a vacuum gripper 38 provided, which is approximately in the middle above the container 18 and thus approximately in the middle between the two conveyor rollers 36 is arranged. This central vacuum gripper 38 ensures that the strap 26 properly spaced on the container 18 can be attached. With two in the direction of movement of the two arrows 40 down in the direction of the shell sides of the container 14 of the container 18 swiveling presser 42 becomes the carrying strap 26 put in the right position, in which they attach to the container 18 is glued. The two presser 42 have at their two down-facing ends where the strap 26 adheres with its two ends, each switchable vacuum holding devices 44 on, so the strap 26 without additional mechanical fixation by means of the presser 42 held on to the container 18 introduced and can be pressed there, so that the splices of the strap 26 can provide a tight connection.

A second variant of the application device 16 according to 5 again shows the means for applying the strap 22 with a feeder unit 24 for the carrying straps 26 from an endless supply, not shown here. With multiple deflections are provided with splices carrying straps 26 on a carrier tape 28 to a rotating impression cylinder 30 transported, with the help of the carrying straps 26 to the conveyor belt 34 which rotates circumferentially and the carrying straps 26 to their intended position above the container 18 promoted. The remaining construction of the device 22 corresponds to the in 4 described variant. It differs from this essentially only by the other supply of the carrying straps 26 by means of the carrier tape 28 to the impression cylinder 30 ,

The in the 6 shown third variant of the device 22 for applying the carrying straps 26 shows another way of promoting the carrying straps 26 from the endless supply not shown here to the vacuum gripper and pressing devices 38 . 40 . 42 . 44 on, because here the carrier tape 28 by means of a cutting knife 46 is severed if a piece of appropriate length between the two Andrückern 42 and vacuum holding devices 44 was promoted. The carrier tape 28 with the carrier loop thereon 26 In turn, with a multi-deflected feed unit to one on the same horizontal level as the vacuum gripper and pressing devices 38 . 40 . 42 . 44 above the container 18 located conveyor roller pair 48 promoted. Between the left presser 42 and the mentioned conveyor roller pair 48 is the cutting knife 46 , with the help of which the carrier tape 28 and / or the wrist strap 26 is cut to length. Between the cutting knife 46 and the conveyor roller pair 48 is an additional vacuum gripper 50 responsible for the reliable guidance of the free end of the carrier tape 28 after separating it onto the container 18 applied portion of the strap 26 provides. The attachment by means of the swiveling presser 42 along the pivoting paths 40 takes place as previously described. At the right end, right from the right presser 42 , is a bracket 50 for horizontal pulling of the carrying strap 26 over their length between the two Andrückern 42 and vacuum holding devices 44 and to hold the strap 26 before being attached to the beverage containers 14 provided, as in 6 is indicated.

The in the 7 shown fourth variant of the device 22 for applying the carrying straps 26 again shows a slightly varied way of promoting the straps 26 from the endless supply not shown here to the vacuum gripper and pressing devices 38 . 40 . 42 . 44 on. Here is the carrier tape 28 via an impression cylinder 30 transported at the level of horizontal above the container 18 transported carrying strap 26 is arranged. Except for the not shown here, but preferably also fixedly mounted in the application head cutting device with the cutting blade 46 Correspond to the structure and operation of the device shown largely according to the third variant 6 ,

The Umreifungseinrichtungen not shown here in each case 20 (see. 1 to 3 ) can before, simultaneously or after the application of the straps according to the 4 to 7 variants described for applying the strapping on the container 18 to care.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

transport distance

12

group

14

beverage containers

16

applicator

18

container

20

strap application

22

Device for applying the strap

24

feed

26

wrist strap

28

carrier tape

30

Impression cylinder

32

upper rollers

34

conveyor belt

36

lower conveyor rollers

38

vacuum gripper

40

pan direction

42

pressers

44

Vacuum holding devices

46

cutting blade

48

Conveyor roller pair

50

Vacuum holding device (additional)

52

clip

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 0174015 B1 [0006]

Claims (13)

Method for treating at least two containers ( 18 ) summarized articles, in which the previously grouped articles during a conveying movement by means of an at least partially following the transported articles application device ( 16 ) are subjected to this and subjected to a second treatment process in temporal connection with a first treatment process. Method according to Claim 1, in which the articles, during the first treatment process, are conveyed by means of at least one, by the application device ( 16 ) applied band-like, wrapping the articles in a horizontal direction strapping to a container ( 18 ). Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the articles during the second treatment process with a container ( 18 ) at its top cross-band-like carrying device or carrying strap ( 26 ). Method according to Claim 3, in which the carrying device or the carrying loop ( 26 ) supplied from a strip supply and in the region of the application device ( 16 ) is cut to a suitable length and cut off. Method according to claim 3 or 4, in which the containers ( 18 ) applied strap ( 26 ) in a middle section approximately in the middle above the container ( 18 ) and spaced therefrom, while its two free ends are pivoted ( 42 ) on both sides of vertical side surfaces of the container ( 18 ), pressed and fixed there. Method according to Claim 5, in which the handling devices for the carrying loop ( 26 ) Keep each at the contact points by means of negative pressure. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein during the conveying movement immediately successive containers ( 18 ) of separate application devices ( 16 ), which work offset in time and space, during their treatment processes with the containers ( 18 ) and moved after completion of the treatment operations with a return stroke against the conveying direction and a subsequent article group ( 12 ). Application device ( 16 ) for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and one container ( 18 ), moved by means of a conveying device, which comprises a strapping device ( 20 ) for applying a band-like strapping wrapping the articles in a horizontal direction and a device ( 22 ) for applying one, the container ( 18 ) at its top cross-band-like carrying device or carrying strap ( 26 ). Application device according to claim 8, provided with a supply of tape for feeding the carrying device or the carrying strap (10). 26 ) and which are provided with a cutting device ( 46 ) is provided for cutting the tape supply into sections of appropriate length. Application device according to claim 8 or 9, which has a holding device for the temporary fixing of a middle section of the carrying strap ( 26 ) approximately in the middle above the container ( 18 ) and spaced therefrom, and the pivoting devices ( 42 ) for guiding and attaching the two free ends of the carrying strap ( 26 ) on both sides of vertical side surfaces of the container ( 18 ) having. Application device according to Claim 10, in which the handling devices for the carrying loop ( 26 ) Keep each at the contact points by means of negative pressure. Application device according to claim 10 or 11, the guiding and conveying means for feeding the required band sections for the carrying loop ( 26 ) in the horizontal direction above the container ( 18 ) and for the placement of the cut tape section approximately in the middle above the container ( 18 ) having. Device for producing containers ( 18 ) comprising a plurality of articles combined by strapping, comprising a conveying device for the continuous transport of grouped articles and an application device ( 16 ) for the integrated treatment of at least two grouped and one container ( 18 ), moved by means of the conveying device articles, a strapping device ( 20 ) for applying a band-like strapping wrapping the articles in a horizontal direction and a device ( 22 ) for applying one, the container ( 18 ) at its top cross-band-like carrying device or carrying strap ( 26 ) having.

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